Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

All things considered, Danny Nightingale was having a good day for once!

His annual check-in with Frostbite had gone well that morning. They’d been worried about how Danny was adjusting to Gotham’s level of ambient ectoplasm. It wasn’t as potent as Amity used to be, but all things considered, Danny had a clean bill of health!

He'd gone to visit Sam and Tucker up in Chicago, where they were both studying, to tell them the good news- he was accepted into Gotham University on a full-ride scholarship! Courtesy of Dick and Babs for helping him through his essay and cover letter for said scholarship. And now, he was out celebrating with Dick and his family at the Martha Wayne Foundation's Annual Charity Gala!

With the fucking Waynes!

He was having fun, being shown off to practically every member of the Wayne family in attendance like a new puppy, (He knew Jazz was close with them, but never expected to be this welcomed, a bit weird to be honest.) and finally felt like his life was his again—like he could finally catch a break he desperately needed. After everything that had happened the year before, Danny felt like he was on cloud nine! 

Standing there, glass of Champagne in hand, he laughed with Dick and Jason on either side of him at some joke Duke made at Tim's expense, a genuine smile on his face. As foreign as it felt, this was nice.

...till something wrapped around his core like a snake coiling around its prey and pulled taut.

The feeling made his core flare and thrum like he was getting ready to change forms, but it hurt so much. Whatever was coiling around his core was trying to force the change like tearing a steel door open from its hinges. Tears pricked on the corners of his eyes and his vision when green. 

Danny had to fight this.

***

"You could always take Danny as your plus one." A distracted calmness rose from the redhead surrounded by psychology textbooks at a small dining table.

The city lights lit up the cozy living room just enough to see around the somewhat small space. Dark curtains lined both sides of the windows on either side of the wall the TV was mounted to. A natural wood TV stand sat beneath the TV, lined with books, a couple of retro and newer video game consoles, and quite a few movie DVDs. A large square rug outlined the threshold of the living room and little dining area they had. A plush three seat sofa sat behind a natural wood coffee table in front of the TV stand. Half of the two-seated dining table that sat against the wall in front of the kitchen was brimming with psychology textbooks, a few spiral notebooks, a Ghostbusters coffee mug, and the coffee maker keeping half a pot of coffee warm. A tiny kitchen space was tucked into the corner behind a half wall by the front door.

"I didn't think Danny liked parties," Dick Grayson said, straightening his tie in the circle mirror hanging by the front door.

"He doesn't. But he's home again and needs to socialize." She said casually, not looking up from typing on her laptop. She glanced at a notated textbook in her lap before typing again.

"Home again?" Dick repeated, a bit confused. "I thought he stayed with you long-term nowadays."

From what Dick remembers of the incident with the Fentons the year prior, Danny had fully moved in with Jazz and was finally free of all that haunted him back in Amity Park. Was he still going back? Were Maddie and Jack trying to contact them again? The half-frustrated sigh and the dejected look on Jazz's face gave him more questions than answers. 

He knew that stare. She wore that stare the night Tim practically interrogated her as to what happened with Danny. She was choosing her next words, unsure what she could talk about. Fidgeting with the well worn hem of the oversized Superman hoodie (technically, it was Dick's, but he didn't care) that went down and covered her knees. That expression came up a lot these days whenever the conversation shifted to specifics involving Danny.

He ran a hand through his hair, took a breath, and walked up to the small table. He pushed aside the urge to overanalyze. Now's not the time to play detective.

"He does, but he's been busy with... a lot of things. I'll tell you later." She waved away the topic, tucking back a few flyaway hairs that fell out of the messy bun on top of her head and flipping a page in one of the textbooks on the table.

"Ya know, I can be fashionably late if you wanna talk about it," Dick suggested coolly, leaning against the back of the empty chair across from Jazz, arms folded across the top.

"The last time you were 'fashionably late,' Tim chewed you out for half an hour." Jazz shot back, the smallest smirk on her face.

Dick couldn't help but grin back at her. "We were 15 minutes late, sue me. Besides, this is completely different."

"Wing," Jazz rolled her eyes and shook her head, trying to hide another smirk.

"Alright, Gale, I'll drop it." Dick smiled, rounding the table to plant a kiss on Jazz's forehead.

"Danny! Dick's here!" Jazz leaned back in her chair to peer down the hallway to her right. She looked up at Dick, pulling him down to her by his tie to steal a quick kiss.

There was a moment of clattering in the other room before Danny slid down the hall in his socks, pajama bottoms, and one of Jazz's old Gotham University hoodies.

"Disco!" Danny cheered as he caught himself on the back of Jazz's chair. Dick practically stumbled into the hug Danny pulled him into.

"How ya doing, Spooks!" Dick chuckled, clapping Danny on the shoulder when he let go.

"Good! I got accepted to GU!" Danny beamed as he held onto Dick’s forearms briefly.

This was the first piece of genuinely good news since the restraining order on their parents and their name change had finally gone through.

He knew they needed some good news.

Especially Danny...

"Oh my god, Danny, that's amazing!" Dick gaped, looking at Jazz briefly as she shrugged with a cheeky smile.

"He said he's gonna frame his acceptance letter." Jazz teased as she started typing on her laptop again.

"Well, tonight's as perfect a time as any to celebrate! You still got that suit from graduation?" Dick asked brightly.

Danny's eyes lit up. "Gimme a minute!"

***

The roar from his motorcycle cut through the paparazzi chatter as the Lost Prince of Gotham pulled up to the Martha Wayne Foundation's Annual Charity Gala.

The red carpet was flanked on either side with various reporters, news outlets, paparazzi, and the like. It made the Pits growl in his chest.

The crowd cheered as he handed the keys and his helmet to the valet and started down the red carpet. He wore a simple suit, black suit jacket, burgundy dress shirt, black tie, slacks, and dress shoes to match. He casually ignored the questions that were hurled his way, waving to the crowd and occasionally posing for a camera or two as he subtly scanned for the other Bats. Normally, he'd avoid going to these kinds of things altogether, but this one was important.

The Pits stirred as he managed to pull off a polite smile for the press.

“Wow, someone’s eager to get this over with,” Tim said as he broke away from an impromptu interview with a reporter and stepped in stride with Jason.

“Hey! I wouldn't hear the end of it if I was late to my event, Timmy.” Jason replied coolly, waving to a cameraman he accidentally made eye contact with. 

Tim shrugged beside him, straightening out his suit jacket. He wore a simple black suit with black dress shoes except for a yellow dress shirt underneath that stuck out like a sore thumb against all the black. Jason raised an eyebrow.

“Since when did you wear yellow?” Jason teased lightly.

“I lost a bet to Bernard. That's it. ” Tim groaned as a light blush started to surface on his cheeks.

“Oh, I'll get the details eventually, don't you worry.” A charming song of a voice called out from behind them. Jason glanced back and grinned.

Barbara sat in her wheelchair, her auburn hair neatly braided to the side and flowing down one shoulder. She was dressed in a simple black dress that slipped off one shoulder and had a slit up to her knee on one side. A pair of black heels peaked out from under the bottom hem.

“Timmy, sorry to say it,” Jason clapped Tim on the shoulder playfully, “but Barbie can sniff out blackmail like a bloodhound . You're toast.” 

Jason and Barbara shared a laugh then. Tim rubbed his face with his hands and sighed, red as a tomato.

A chill went up Jason's spine. His blood ran cold, and the pits writhed like a worm on a hook. It made his breath catch in his throat. His grip on Tim's shoulder tightened slightly, and by the way Babs was looking at him, he’d gone pale, too. As quickly as it came on, it was gone, replaced with a light tug, just enough to get his attention.

His hand slid loosely off Tim's shoulder while he scanned the crowd in the direction of the tug. He made eye contact with someone stepping out of a car at the end of the red carpet.

Two men got out of a sleek black car. The first was dressed in a navy blue suit with a light blue tie, brown dress shoes, short dark hair parted down the middle like normal, a slight tan complexion, and that classic goodie two-shoes smile. About time Dick Grayson showed up. The shorter man behind Dick made the Pits shutter.

He was a head shorter and had a sleek frame like a dancer. He seemed to fill out the simple black suit he wore nicely. His fluffy black bangs draped across his forehead and dangled above his brow bone. The rest of his hair was slightly shaggy and faded out to a stark white at the base of his neck. He had a silver star earring in his left ear and a planet earring in his right that caught the camera flashes as it swayed on a small silver chain from his earlobe. The man’s icy blue eyes almost had a cat eye sheen to them. Jason saw the shorter man shiver, eyes going wide, brows furrowing for a moment before softening slightly when he finally made eye contact with Jason.

Time slowed for a moment. The pits were eerily quiet in Jason's chest making him even more unsettled than he already was. The crowd had parted slightly, showing a clear and narrow path down the length of the red carpet. Jason thought he heard something in the wind.

Was that... purring?

The controlled chaos of the red carpet rushed back to his senses as Dick moved in front of the smaller man again, turning back to him as if to say something to him.

"Jason, you okay?" It was Babs at his side, tugging at his sleeve. She looked up at him from her wheelchair, her face full of concern.

Jason let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. "Yeah, Barbie. I'm fine. Dick just got here." 

"Is Jazz with him?" She tried to mask the lingering concern in her voice with a bit of excitement, but he knew she didn't fully believe him.

"No..." Jason frowned as he tried to get another look at the smaller man behind Dick as they moved through the crowd towards them. Either the crowd was too thick or the man was shorter than he thought. "He's got a guy with him."

Barbra and Tim shared a confused look.

"Do you recognize him?" Barbra asked.

Tim sighed after scanning the crowd. "So that's where my old suit went."

Jason paused.

Something about the way those blue eyes shined seemed... eerily familiar. 

"Can't say I do, Barbie." Jason settled on finally.

Tim huffed. "Should've known." Under his breath.

Jason folded his arms over his chest as the two men walked up to the three of them. A playful smirk surfaced as Dick looked over at him finally.

"What happened to Jazzercise?" Jason questioned, matching Dick's smirk.

"Caught a case of Thesis paper blues. But," Dick drawled with a grin, wrapping an arm around the shorter man's shoulders. "We've got Spooks instead. Tim, Barbara, Jason, meet Danny Nightingale."

Danny's gaze flickered between the three of them nervously. He gave a small wave as a light blush rose to his cheeks.

Jason barely caught the purring again.

Tim sighed and held out his hand to Danny for a handshake, which Danny almost didn't catch. "Good to see you again, Danny," Tim clipped. "Keep the suit."

Again? Jason blinked.

"Good to see you too..? W-wait- this is yours?? " Danny stammered, a little embarrassed.

Cute. Jason smiled softly.

Tim frowned and waved away the thought. "Think of it as a graduation present." Danny just nodded.

"You're not Jazz, but it's good to see you, Danny! See, didn't even know it was gone." Babs smiled kindly, holding her arms out for a hug, which Danny happily leaned into. 

“Babs! You look great tonight! I'm more fun than Jazz anyway.” Danny joked casually with a chuckle. 

Tim stared at Barbara, eyes wide and brimming with a mix of anger and betrayal.

"When did you-?" Tim sucked in a breath. "Shelving that for later." He breathed softly.

A rogue laugh bubbled out of Jason's throat. “Like you were losing sleep without it.”

Jason locked eyes with Danny again; that cat-like sheen seemed more like a glow now that he was closer. Danny swallowed nervously under Jason's gaze. Some distant bell rang in the back of Jason's mind every time he looked at Danny, yet he couldn't put his finger on it.

Danny stuck out his hand to Jason, that nervous smile of his on full display. "You must be Jason, right? I've heard a lot about you, but I don't think we've met.”

Jason raised an eyebrow, shaking Danny's hand. He opened his mouth to say something when a chill ran up his spine again more intensely than before. It was like taking in a cold breath of fresh air into panicked lungs. Danny jolted like he'd been shocked, flicking his gaze down at their hands, then back up to Jason. Jason pushed past the feeling, finding his words.

"Saved the best for last, I'm guessing? It's nice to finally meet the menace of a brother Jazzercise won't shut up about." Jason teases, letting go of Danny's hand.

"Now that I can believe." Danny chuckled easily, his shoulders still tense. That purring? No, it was more of a low hum, which was almost lost under the rest of the noise around them.

"Pretty soon, she won't have much to complain about, though." Danny fidgeted with one of the buttons on his suit jacket as he spoke.

Jason raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah?" 

Everyone but Dick, who sported a half concealed smile, looked a bit confused. Babs's face lit up, her hands gripping the arms of her wheelchair as she leaned forward towards Danny.

"You got the scholarship-"

"I got the scholarship to Gotham University!!" Babs and Danny spoke in unison, both beaming.

"Yes!! I knew you'd get in! Way to go, Danny!" Babs and Danny did a double high-five.

"I got my acceptance letter on Wednesday after I saw you at the library!" Danny stepped back, still smiling like an idiot.

"What can I say? I'm a good luck charm." Babs joked with a grin.

Danny and Dick chuckled, Tim shook his head, and Jason couldn't help but snicker. 

"I'm going on in. Proud of you, Danny." Tim nodded, slipping past Jason to link arms with a familiar blonde man with a Red Robin Pin on his lapel.  

"Have you figured out what you're gonna study? Wait, lemme guess. Astronomy?" Babs continued as she led the way through the crowd, Danny following in step beside her.

"Close, Astro Engineering with a minor in Astronomy," Danny added with a grin of his own. The tension in his shoulders melted away. Jason hung back with Dick behind the two nerds.

"Who was going to tell me Jazzercise had a brother?" Jason questioned, looking pointedly at his older brother beside him.

"A cute brother to boot. What? I can't help it the handful of times he's been to the manor, you weren't there." Dick held his hands up defensively.

"Sure. We'll go with that." Jason scoffed with no real heat behind it.

"But seriously, I want Danny to have a good time tonight. 'And he has to come home in one piece, and preferably not black out drunk.' Her words, not mine." Dick quoted playfully. Jason blew out a laugh.

"Yeah, yeah, I hear ya, Big Bird." Jason glanced at Danny, still chatting Babs's ear off just ahead of them. That low hum was still faintly audible. Danny smiled genuinely at Babs while they talked. The pits stirred in his chest like a dog waking from its nap.

As the Gala kicked off with an opening speech from Bruce and a word from Jason, the night was mostly uneventful. Jason made his rounds to the normal attendees, occasionally slipping into a conversation involving Danny and some other Bats in attendance.

Jason had slipped away to grab another drink when the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, the smell of ozone, like lightning about to strike. A glass shattered onto the marble tile floor of the room. Jason turned around sharply, his focus locking onto Danny's distant gaze in the crowd. Dick was at his side, hand on Danny's shoulder trying to snap him out of whatever trance he was in. Danny's eyes were a solid Lazarus Green and glowing . Black chains reached from a small circle underneath Danny and disappeared into his back. Jason carefully waded his way through the crowd towards them, swallowing the beginnings of a panic attack in his throat.

"What's going on? What happened ?" Jason growled lowly. He hadn't meant it to be a growl, but it happened anyway.

"I- I don't know, he was fine-" Dick stopped in his tracks as the green circle brightened and widened under Danny's feet. Black runes burned into the edge of the circle. Dick, Jason, and the crowd jumped back to the edge of the circle around Danny. The pits snarled, seeing Danny’s pained and teary face.

Danny levitated about 5 feet off the ground as more black chains erupted from the circle underneath him and latched tightly onto both wrists, arms, ankles, and legs. Immediately, a bright white light encompassed Jason's vision briefly. After the light subsided, Danny was still floating and bound by the black chains, but he was completely different.

Danny’s entire appearance was inverted. Black hair is fading to white hair now completely white. It defied gravity, swishing each time he thrashed against the chains, as if he was floating in water and not in the air. His skin was paler and had a slight green undertone. A tiny galaxy of nebulae, planets, and asteroids formed a crown that floated off the top of Danny’s head, his white hair grazing the bottom ring of small nebula clouds. A long and flowing mantle made of the night sky itself cascaded from Danny’s shoulders. Tufts of nebulae clouds made up the collar, and the bottom hem faded away into stardust. Replacing the simple suit was a simple black reagal shirt that glittered every so often like stars trying to shine through clouds at night. His pants were plain black, and the boots seemed to be hand crafted and an ashy moon rock grey.

It was beautiful.. 

Except for the part where Danny was actively in danger.

Danny kept thrashing against the chains, eyes completely green and tears still streaming down his cheeks. Jason moved to the edge of the circle, stepping in the charred runes as he did. It was hot like walking on sunbathed concrete. A piercing, shrill scream erupted from Danny, stopping Jason just as he was about to move again. Danny threw his head back and screamed .

It sounded like more than just Danny screaming.

A haunting chorus of screams encompassed the room, reaching every nook and cranny. The screams ranged from Angry to terrified, some were Vengeful by the sounds of it. The only way Jason knew it was coming from Danny  was because everyone else around them hadn't moved .

Frozen in place, Jason included, unable to comprehend what in the hell was happening in front of them.

The Pits snarled, itching to be let loose on whoever was behind this. Fear and panic clung to every fiber of his being. Jason shook his head to steel himself. He had to FOCUS!

The chains quickly lowered Danny down into the bright green circle. It was now or never if Jason was going to do something about this. Jason shifted his weight, leaning forward so his arm could wrap around Danny's waist once he got lower- a hand gripped his other arm to steady him, and Jason scooped his arm up-

Jason's arm swiped through Danny's waist.

Before Jason could readjust to try again, Danny disappeared into the green void. The circle shrinks up in the blink of an eye, as if it wasn’t there in the first place.

White tile and broken glass came back into focus as green seeped into the edges of Jason’s vision. A broken champagne flute was the only reminder of whatever the fuck just happened. A voice overhead bellowed something, but Jason didn’t catch it. The world was swimming. Jason felt like he was drowning in Lazarus water all over again. 

Danny was right there- screaming, thrashing, fighting for his life right in front of him, and Jason failed him. Another person Jason failed to save. He wasn't any better than everyone who failed him when he died in that fucking warehouse! More blood was spilled because of him. Danny could be dying right now. Because of him. Jason had to fix this, find Danny, No one was getting away with this-

Jason blinked tears from his vision as the green cleared just a bit.

When had he started crying?

Someone was talking to him. His heart thrummed in his ears. His body was trembling with panic- he couldn't get a breath in to save his life. Someone stood in front of the broken champagne flute on the ground.

Brown dress shoes.

“Jaybird, I need you to breathe.”

Jason blinked more tears away. He forced himself to take in a shaky breath, hold it, and slowly let it out like Dick muddily instructed.

“There ya go, Jaybird. Just breathe with me, yeah?”

But Danny wasn’t doing great. He was probably still screaming- Jason knew for a fact Danny was still screaming. Fear and panic rattled through him still. More faint now that Dick was helping to ground him in the moment, but still there.

“You’re doing great, Jay. Can I touch you?” Jason blinked away more tears as he subtly nodded to his brother.

A hand was rubbing his shoulder. Jason looked up at his brother, then gradually looked around the room.

The crowd was long gone, the only ones in the room besides Dick and Jason, was Bruce.

He was walking up to them when Jason turned and spotted him.

“Take it easy, Jason. There’s no rush.” Bruce reassured calmly.

But there was a rush. Danny slipped through Jason’s fingers, and he could be dead right now.

Jason shook his head at the cataclysmic thoughts threatening to pull him under just like Danny-

“I’m fine…” Jason switched on the communicator Dick handed him the three of them strode towards the doors. “What’s the situation?” Jason stated dryly, giving Dick a small smile as a silent thanks. Dick smiled back.

“You want good news or bad news, Hood?” It was Babs on the other line.

“Rip off the bandaid, Oracle.” Jason breathed, running a hand through his hair. The last bit of green washed from his vision with the night air as it blew across his skin, cooling him down.

Him, Dick and Bruce piled into a sleek black car, headed for the manor. Specifically, the Batcave.

“Not a lot of good news.” It was Jazz this time. “I managed to help Oracle get a program running that can search for ecto signatures all across Gotham.”

“Bad news, it's going to take a minute to refine the search just by Ecto signatures alone.” Babs again. “Gotham is a hot spot for ghosts and ecto entities.”

Jason looked at Dick beside him in the backseat who was just as lost as he was.

“Wait, back up. Why are we ghost-hunting?” Dick chimed in.

“Because-” Jazz paused. “Because Danny's a ghost- well, half ghost.” Jazz explained, a bit anxiously.

“What?” Dick breathed, caught off guard more than anything.

“Yeah, get with the program, Nightwing!” Stephanie lightly teased, trying to ease the tension.

“When did this happen??” Dick continued.

“We don't have enough time to get into the finer details- and it's not my story to tell! But Danny died when he was fourteen and came back due to being exposed to an incredibly high amount of ectoplasm.” Jazz explained, the calmness returning to her voice again.

Jason saw the jigsaw puzzle clicking together in Dick's head. His mouth opened slightly.

“There's more to it than that! Danny isn't just a half ghost; he's the Ghost King, ” Jazz continued. “Which means people try to summon him from time to time, thinking that he's Pariah the Dark, the last Ghost King. Judging from the spotty security footage and everyone's statements, it sounds a lot like a summoning.”

Jason's mind was reeling, trying to process every bit of information that was just thrown at him. It was a bit far-fetched, but not super outta left field. Hell- Jason was dead for six months before being resurrected in the Lazarus Pits. Danny, being half dead, paled in comparison. To Jason, at least.

“Do all summonings come with chains and the screams of the damned? ” Jason questioned as they took a tight turn down the main drag.

“I'm not sure.. What do you mean, ‘Screams of the damned?’” Jazz inquired.

“Is this the right line of communication for Danny Nightingale's friends in Gotham?” A lower and a bit more gruff toned voice interjected, frustration clear as day.

“This is an encrypted line. Who are you?” Bruce snapped as he pulled through the manor's front gates.

“I understand it's been a full year since I spoke with all of you last, but you couldn't have forgotten about me that quickly.” There was a forced chuckle from the new, gruff voice.

“Everyone calm down,” Babs chimed in, more directed at Bruce than anyone else. “It's Dr. Frost, the specialist that aided Dr Thompkins last spring.”

“Yes, fret not, I'm here in regards to Danny's well being.” Dr. Frost added with a restrained calmness.

How in the hell did he know Danny was in trouble?

Dick beat Jason to the punch. “What do you mean, Doc?”

Jazz sighed. “Frost, the cat's outta the bag; we've brought everyone mostly up to speed.”

Silence fell over the coms. That was never a good sign.

“It's hard to ignore The Great One's cries for help

 when it shakes the entirety of the infinite realms ,” Frost spoke slowly and coldly. Biting back a bit of his anger.

“You guys didn't mention that!” Jazz snapped.

“Guess that explains the screams of the damned,” Jason added as he stepped out of the car, falling in step with Bruce and Dick, already pulling out his tie and shucking off his suit jacket.

“I'll arrive at the manor shortly. Unless you require assistance in rescuing The Great One.” There was an edge to Frost's words that resonated with Jason at that moment. Say the word, and he'd raise hell to save Danny.

Jason almost didn't catch the “Oh no...” that escaped from Babs's end.

“What is it, Oracle?” Bruce stopped in the middle of the main area in the Batcave. Dick and Jason weren’t too far behind him.

“ The League has Danny,” Babs's voice shook. 

“Danny's at the Lazarus Pits.”

Everyone was quiet. Jason's blood ran cold, and his breath caught in his chest.

“This changes things...” Tim barely broke the silence, standing at the Batcomputer, arms crossed, pouring over the information already gathered on the screens in front of him.

“Not by much,” Tim added, “But it still changes how we approach this.”

Jason bit back his anger as the Pits snarled again. “Yeah. We go in, save Danny, and kick some ass. All hands on deck.”

“That's probably what they're expecting us to do-” Dick started, but Tim held up a finger.

“That's only true.” Tim turned around to face the three other men in the room, already suited up in his Red Robin suit. “If they know that Danny is the Ghost King. Think about it. Jazz said it herself: people summon the Ghost King because they think Danny is someone else. And the Lazarus Pits are ancient. The League of Assassins probably want Danny to power up the Lazarus Pits.” Tim explained, a proud smile on his face.

“That's still pretty bad, Timmy.” Jason glared at him with his arms crossed.

“Yeah, but it means that this is a much simpler operation, in a way.” Tim turned back around to the monitors on the Batcomputer.

“We’ll have to get eyes on the inside to see what all we’re working with,” Bruce added, walking over to get his suit and go change.

“If you need eyes, then I believe I can be of assistance.” Frost’s voice was clearer and still had that edge to it as he rounded the corner of the tunnel and walked into the room.

Dr. Frost was an imposing figure to stand in a room with. He was roughly 6’7” or 6’8”. Duke and Tim supposedly measured him one time while he took a nap on the library couch while he stayed with them last year. He was moderately muscular from what he could gleam from the loose and wrinkled navy blue long sleeve shirt he wore. His sleeves were pushed up to his elbows, showing off his intricate and mechanical prosthetic left arm. Along with that was a pair of dark blue jeans and a pair of brown loafers. His stark white hair was pulled into a low ponytail, with a few stray hairs falling to frame his face. Bright purple eyes stared back at them behind a simple pair of thin-framed glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. He carried a metal briefcase in his left hand and held onto the leather strap of his messenger bag that was slung across his torso with his right. Bruce, batman suit draped over his arm, walked over to Dr. Frost. Greeting him with a kind smile and a handshake. 

“Dr. Frost, I apologize-” Bruce began, yet Frost cut him off. 

“Think nothing of it, This is a tense situation we all have found ourselves in. We must take it all in stride if we are to save The Great One. Go, do what you must.” Dr. Frost interjected with a hearty chuckle, eyes crinkling with the gesture. Sleek metal fingers wrapped around Bruce’s hand firmly as Dr. Frost set down the metal briefcase and accepted the handshake. Bruce's arm flinched slightly.

“Thank you, Dr. Frost.” Bruce nodded and let go, falling back in step as he made his way to the changing rooms.

Dr. Frost caught Jason’s stare as Bruce walked away and smiled cheerfully. Jason could feel the caged anger radiation from Frost from his gaze alone. Who was this guy?

“Ah, I see you’re doing well these days, young one.” Frost began. Jason tilted his head a bit in response. “I could oversee part of your recovery while The Great One was being treated here in the cave. Pleased to meet you while you’re conscious. I am Dr. Archimedes Frost, royal physician to his majesty, the Ghost King, at your service.” Frost just nodded as a pseudo bow, still keeping that cheerful smile which was mostly teeth. His canines were slightly pointed.

“Wow. That’s one hell of a, ‘Last time I saw you, you were smaller’ introduction. Jason Todd.” Jason stuck out his hand for a handshake out of reflex. “Also known as Red Hood, I guess.” Jason reluctantly added. He might as well be up to speed if they’re gonna work together on this. Jason knew why Bruce flinched so badly. The chill from Frost’s metal hand seeped into Jason’s hand and ran up his arm like a dry sponge soaking up water. It made the Pits, which had been simmering and snapping in his chest since all this started, settle down to a low growl—still seething, just less loud.

Before the two could continue their sidebar, Tim was at his side, shooing him away towards where they kept everyone’s spare suits. Frost put his hands on his hips with an eyebrow raised, looking at Tim.

“Go suit up, we’ve gotta hit the ground running if we’re gonna pull this off.” Tim started cooly, arms crossed over his chest now. Jason rolled his eyes and ran to grab his suit.

Once everyone was suited up and Tim went over the plan with everyone, Jason was the first one to hit the road, following the coordinates Babs had sent to everyone.

The Pits eased back into the simmering angry mess it had settled into once the panic subsided.

“He’ll be back home in one piece. Don’t you worry.”

Chapter Text

Standing there, glass of Champagne in hand, Danny laughed with Dick and Jason on either side of him at some joke Duke made at Tim's expense, a genuine smile on his face. He downed the last sip of Champagne in his champagne flute. As foreign as it felt, this was nice.

“I'm gonna grab some snacks, want anything, Spooks?” Jason nudged Danny gently to get his attention. Danny looked up at him and smiled.

“Ooh, do they have those little cheese squares?” Danny asked curiously.

“I think so. You want another drink while I'm at it?” Jason added.

“Yeah, thanks Jason!” Danny smiled brightly up at Jason, probably looking like an idiot, but Danny could care less.

Jason smiled warmly back at him, “You got it, Spooks.” And turned, wading through the crowd of people who stood between them and the snack table.

Danny turned back into the conversation happening in front of him, about to jump in…

...till something wrapped around his core like a snake coiling around its prey and pulled taut.

The feeling made his core flare and thrum like he was getting ready to change forms, but it hurt so much. Whatever was coiling around his core, was trying to force the change like tearing a steel door open from its hinges. Tears pricked in the corners of his eyes and his vision went green. 

Danny had to fight this.

He looked down at his core which glowed a bright green light under the black chains surrounding it. He couldn't normally see the outline of his core like this unless Frostbite was showing it to him with that crystal ball thing.

Everything about this was wrong. And painful.

Breathing itself became uncomfortable. He felt the chains nudge against his ribs with each breath and flare of his core. He put a hand over his chest, over his core to try and touch the black chains that peaked through his dress shirt like it was intangible.

Anxiety and adrenaline coursed through his veins. He could grab at the chains, but they wouldn't budge. They suddenly tightened their hold, sending another wave of crippling pain through him. Tears clouded his vision as he focused all his attention to maintaining his human form. 

“Spooks?” Dick questioned as he turned to look at Danny finally. The champagne flute Danny was holding shattered onto the floor by his feet.

“Danny?! Hey-” Dick started, putting a hand on Danny's shoulder as Jason slipped through the crowd around them and flanked Danny's other side.

“What's going on, what happened?" Jason growled beside Danny. Another wave of pain as the chains tightened around his core, trying to force his ghost form to take over then. Danny wasn't about to let himself be caught and dragged off somewhere, not like his parents did- never again!

Panic started to blend into the concoction of pain and adrenaline that encompassed Danny's senses. His concentration on maintaining his human form slipped just enough…

The ground fell out from beneath Danny's feet. Or was he floating- he didn't have time to look- more black chains latched tight onto his limbs as his core flooded his form like a damn bursting open.

White rings of bright light surrounded Danny as his ghost form took over. He could feel the weight of the Crown of Flames hovering just over his head.

Damnit! Danny cursed through the searing pain coursing through him. Not like this- Not again!!

Danny thrashed against the chains with all his ghostly strength his core could provide him. The chains creaked and groaned yet never snapped.

Danny could easily break through anything people tried capturing him with- not even the Fenton Grappler or the Wraith Wrangler could hold Danny back these days!

Why weren't these breaking??

With every pull and tug against the chains, their grip on Danny's limbs got tighter and more taut, securing him where he was. His core was firing on all cylinders to maintain the strength and his ghost form at the same time. A shrill scream echoed from his core.

Danny needed help- he couldn't break out of this by himself, he was well aware of that now! He had to wail- to call for help- praying that there was anyone out there to help him!

Danny threw his head back and screamed.

The sound erupting from his throat synchronized with his core. He could hear the people of the infinite realms calling out to him in response. Their screams and cries of terror, anguish, rage- all of it rang in his ears like standing next to church bells.

All at once, the chains pulled taut. Danny felt himself being pulled down by them.

Danny kept thrashing what little he could against the force of the chains. Something swiped up through Danny's waist, causing his back to arch.

The last thing Danny saw before sinking into the floor…

Was Jason, looking down at him, brow knitted together in confusion. Determination quickly bleeding into a distant and panicked gaze.

A high cave ceiling loomed behind a green circle closing up above Danny's head where he could no longer see Jason's gaze on the other side.

The chains lowered Danny quickly into place in mid-air above five large bubbling cave pools. The chains came to a startling halt, sending another wave of sharp pain through Danny's body, radiating from where the chains anchored him.

Danny was leaning forward, his head wilted as he closed his eyes. The world was starting to spin now that he couldn't hear the infinite realms. His core still let out a shrill scream from his chest in defiance. He could feel fatigue already trying to seep into his body as the pain eased.

“Feisty tonight, aren't we Ghost King?” A smooth yet cynical voice called out from somewhere below Danny. He almost couldn't hear them over the ringing in his ears.

“Who are you…” was all Danny could choke out. His throat had started to feel sore now that he'd stopped screaming.

“I'd think you would still remember me, Your Majesty.” Danny could hear the condescending smirk on the man's face as he spoke. 

Oh great. Danny thought. Another fruit loop to replace the last one. Danny audibly groaned.

“Our visits are but a blink of an eye to you,” isn't that right, Pariah The Dark?” The man quoted smugly. Danny opened his eyes to look down at the man he was talking to.

Standing on a platform near the only exit out of the cave, was a sturdy looking man dressed in some type of ceremonial robes if Danny had to guess. His dark hair was slicked back with stark white hair on either side of his head. He had a dark and thin goatee outlining the smug smirk he wore on his face. Both hands rested behind his back comfortably. Yup. Another fruit loop.

“I'm not Pariah…” Danny called back a bit. He cleared his throat before he spoke again. “You guys gotta do some research, it's not that hard.” Danny shot back before what’s-his-face could respond.

The man waved his hand to someone Danny couldn't see from his vantage point. Danny was flung forward by the chains, stopping abruptly just before the railing of the platform the man stood on. Danny winced at the sudden movement.

“I beg your pardon?” The man raised an eyebrow at Danny. He could hear the subtle frustration in the man's voice.

Danny groaned loudly. “I'm. Not. Pariah. The name's Phantom.” Danny reiterated, his own frustration more prominent in his voice. The man glared at Danny.

“Pariah or not, Phantom, you are the Ghost King, are you not? You and I still have business to take care of.” The man waved his hand again as he started walking down the narrow walkway. Danny trailed beside him on the other side of the railing, propelled by the chains.

“For centuries, the Lazarus Pits have been replenished with the help of the Ghost King's power. It is the lifeblood of the Lazarus Pits.” The man droned on. Danny felt his eyelids getting heavier.

“This has only happened once before with these certain Lazarus Pits housed within Gotham’s underbelly. The Pits had lost the mystical properties that were given to us by a Ghost King of the past. Your Predecessor, Pariah the Dark, had aided us during that dark period of time so that we may flourish once again. I fear that those dark times are upon us now.” The man stated, gesturing to the Pits as he was now at ground level. Danny was thrusted forward to peer into the pits. A pained noise bubbled from his throat.

Each of the five cave pools had a slight lip and a thick, rocky pathway separating them from each other. The water in said Pits was a dark green substance that seemed to bubble and simmer. The dark water, if you could even call it that, had a faint green glow to it. Some kind of film lingered on the top like oil sitting on water. Danny almost puked at the smell wafting from them. It was like sticking your head into a dumpster full of trash and rotting ectoplasm. Now that Danny had a better look at the Pits, he could tell where the black chains came from. Each of the five pits had a black chain coming out of its center. One for each of Danny's wrists, ankles, and one for his core.

Panic reared its head once again, threatening to sink its teeth into Danny.

“You guys swim in this stuff??” Danny blurted out.

“We don't not swim in the Lazarus Water. It kills the healthy yet heals the sick and revives the dead.” The man glared at Danny.

“So let me guess,” Danny scoffed out a nervous laugh, “You're going to bleed me dry to fill up your ectoplasm swimming pools.” He guessed, jokingly.

“Again, the Lazarus Pits are not swimming pools. But yes, your essence is needed to revive the Lazarus Pits, Your Majesty.” The man added casually as he waved his hand again, walking back up the pathway he came from. Danny was trusted back into position above the center cave pool, leaning forward slightly. Danny was joking- they couldn't actually be planning to drain him, right??

“W-wait, you're insane- I-I don't have enough Ectoplasm for this-” Danny called out shakily, watching the man stride back up the pathway like he was out for a normal stroll. Panic clung to Danny's senses, his core screaming like a hot kettle.

“Hm? What was that? I cannot hear you, Your Majesty.” The man looked up at Danny with a mischievous grin, holding a hand up in the air.

Runes outlining the circumference of the five pools started glowing a dark green color. That same glow raced up the black chains towards Danny. A force latched onto him like Leeches preparing to feed.

“Stop!! You can't do this- Let go of me- UNHAND ME AT ONCE!!!” Danny's voice bellowed with the entirety of the infinite realms.

“This won't hurt a bit, I'm sure.” The man lowered his hand.

It was like Danny was getting electrocuted to death all over again. Ectoplasm drained quickly from Danny's body, coiling down the black chains and began filling each pool steadily, stirring up the dark water as it did. Danny screamed in pain again, trying to pull away from the chains that held him. His entire body was on fire, his core whined in defiance, fighting to replace the constant depletion of ectoplasm. Danny squeezed his eyes tight, unable to focus on anything but the excruciating pain.

Somewhere in the distance, he could hear the man cackling. Saying something Danny couldn't hear, nor cared about. Danny tried thrashing against the chains again, but each time he did it felt like he was going to tear his limbs off if he wasn't careful.

It felt like an eternity passed before there was silence from the man in the distance. Danny was being drained of ectoplasm faster than his core could make it. Every fiber of his being was screaming in pain, the shrieks and cries of the infinite realms clawing their way out of his throat, but it was all he could do. Powerless to break himself out, his strength had already left him a while ago. The only thing keeping him suspended in the air above the pits was the chains themselves.

Danny felt the chain around his core snap and fade away, his core quickly absorbing the ectoplasm it was carrying like a dry sponge. Fatigue soaked into his muscles just as quickly. Then the chain at his left ankle- left wrist- right ankle-

Thank the ancients… Someone heard him…

The cave blurred around him as black creeped into the edges of Danny's vision. What little strength Danny had in him at this point was left on the cool wind rattling through him. Danny could rest now… Surely whoever came to save him could take care of the rest…

****

Danny went soaring across the cave, headed towards the far right pool of Lazarus Water. Jason had his back to it as he fought off one of the league of assassin members who were maintaining the spell. Duke was in front of him, fighting off two league members of his own.

“Hood! Phantom on your six!” Duke called out to him.

Jason dodged a knife and swiftly turned on his heels, dashing towards the edge of the Pit.

Danny glided through the air on his back, still in his cosmic Ghost King form, eyes closed, with one black chain still wrapped around his right wrist. He was flying towards the center of the Pit. Shit! Jason wasn't going to be able to grab him! Not unless Jason felt like taking a dip in the Pit himself.

Another chain hurled towards Danny's chest and latched on, suspending him above the center of the Pit. His boots dangled just above the water's surface.

“He didn't touch the water, did he?” Steph asked quickly over the coms.

“No, nice work, Spoiler.” Jason crouched on the edge of the Pit catching his breath. He spotted Spoiler over by one of the assassins standing on the runes, one arm pinning them to the wall, the other holding a batarang to their throat. An empty threat, but a threat no less.

Danny floated over to the side of the pit, just within Jason's reach. Jason hooked his arms under Danny's armpits. He was trying to pull with the slack in the chains to move Danny closer to the edge of the pit.

“You got him- ack!” Steph grunted as the assassin she was holding broke the spell, throwing her off of them. Both chains faded from Danny who dropped out of the air suddenly. Jason lifted him up, but Danny’s lower half plopped into the Lazarus Water.

As soon as Danny hit the water, his eyes shot open wide. His body glowed as bright as the Lazarus water and Jason almost dropped him. Danny gasped, taking in a raspy breath, before coughing hard like he'd gotten some of it into his lungs. Jason quickly pulled Danny onto the rocky path at the edge of the pit, rolling Danny onto his side as he coughed.

Black ichor spattered against the grey rocks from Danny’s mouth as he coughed. Danny's Ghost form flickered violently between his human form and back to his ghost form. Danny's body tensed up in pain as he let out a choked scream before collapsing. Jason paused, shocked for a moment. He’d failed Danny again. Jason shook his head like a wet dog shaking off water. 

Not now- Get ahold of yourself!

Jason scooped up Danny quickly. “I've got Phantom! He's not doing so hot.” Jason started to make his way towards the opening of the cave. He dodged and weaved between various people fighting- bats and assassins alike- running as fast as he physically could in order to get Danny the hell out of there! Green seeped into the edges of his vision. He didn’t have the time to panic right now.

“Thank the ancients!” Jazz breathed out in relief over the coms.

“Perfect. Frost is waiting for you above ground in the Batmobile, Hood.” Babs stated calmly on the other end.

“Bats, scatter! We're done here!” Tim called out over the coms. “Rendezvous at the cave!”

Jason quickly made it to the Batmobile where Frost opened the door to one of the back seats for him, sitting Danny down gently.

“Well done, young one.” Frost shut the door, rounding the other side of the Batmobile to hop into the driver side back seat as Jason got behind the wheel.

“Thank me later.” Jason blurted out, starting up the Batmobile and tearing out of there, heading back to the cave.

Thankfully, the rescue mission went without a hitch. Mostly, that is. Danny had still gotten exposed to Lazarus Water unfortunately, no idea what that was doing to him.

All Jason knew was that he was thankful the interior was completely black, or else they'd have a helluva time getting black ichor stains out of the back seats. Danny had kept coughing, flickering between both forms, then passing back out in his human form, still dressed in the black suit from the gala. The front of his white dress shirt was now stained with black droplets. The Pits were satisfied, having beat up quite a few League members, yet they still growled at the sight of Danny in distress. The chatter over the coms turned into white noise as Jason focused on driving.

Jason drove like a bat outta hell down the streets of Gotham. It didn't take them nearly as long as it normally would have to get back to the batcave, fortunately. Once they arrived, Jason slid over the roof of the batmobile, flung open the door, and scooped Danny up into his arms again. Frost was already ahead of him, taking bigger strides up the tunnel.

“Bring him into the Medbay, quickly!” Frost called out to Jason over his shoulder.

“Right behind ya, Big guy.” Jason called back, not too far behind Frost. Danny coughed hard again, his body shaking in Jason's arms as he flickered, then going limp shortly after. Jason frowned under his mask and followed Frost into the Medbay, setting Danny down gently onto the prepared cot. Dr. Thompkins replaced Jason at Danny’s side as the green at the edges of Jason’s vision creeped further in. Panic slowly filled the void the adrenaline was leaving as Jason looked at Danny’s limp unresponsive body on the cot.

The fact that Jason couldn’t breathe came rushing to the forefront of his mind, stirring the panic within him. Jason backed out of the Medbay and into the main room of the batcave. His own heartbeat thrummed in his ears against the silence that dampened the room. Jason quickly pulled off his Red Hood mask, letting the cool air of the batcave wash over his face. He tried to steady his breaths, in for four, hold, out for four.

“Master Jason,” He jerked away from the sudden sound. It was Alfred, calm as ever. Jason glanced over at him, watching Alfred peer into the Medbay before settling his gaze back on Jason. “I received a new batch of loose leaf tea just the other day, if you would like a cup.” Alfred continued calmly.

Jason knew what he was doing. For the first few months after Jason came back to the land of the living, he lived in the manor. Every time Jason woke up from a nightmare, or a flashback, or just needed some space from everyone else, he’d retreat into the kitchen, regardless if Alfred was in there or not. If Alfred was in there or he'd find Jason curled up in a corner, he’d stop what he was doing, ask Jason if he wanted anything, and give him his full attention. Nine times out of ten, he and Jason would talk over a pot of tea and some of Alfred’s world famous cookies, or whatever bread or biscuit they had in the kitchen. Alfred always made time to hear him out, let him cry if he needed to, without trying to fix it, just listen. So, Alfred knew right away when panic began to settle over Jason.

Jason swallowed thickly. The words he wanted to say stuck in his throat as he looked away from Alfred.

“Master Danny is in good hands.” Alfred said gently. “I believe you’ve done all that you can, for now.”

Jason took in a shaky breath. “What- What about Jazz…”

“Miss Jasmine is on her way with Miss Barbara. They will be here shortly.” Alfred stated calmly.

Jason nodded slowly, taking in another shaky, deep, breath. “You uh- still got those.. Shortbread cookies…?”

Alfred smiled brightly, taking Jason’s Red Hood mask from his shaking hands before it dropped onto the ground. “Of course. Would you like for me to bring Miss Jazmine to join us when she arrives?”

Jason shook his head a bit as the two of them walked towards the elevator. “She doesn't have to…”

“Alright then.” Alfred noded, stepping in stride with Jason into the elevator. Silence blanketed the elevator ride. Their footsteps echoing through the empty halls as they made their way to the kitchen. Jason took a seat at the medium sized table nestled under the window. Smooth oak gilded under his fingertips as he sat down, trying to ground himself in the present. He could hear Alfred moving carefully around the kitchen, filling and setting the kettle to boil, grabbing down the black and gold tea set Jason had picked out the first time they sat down for a cup of tea like this, and plaiting some of the shortbread cookies from one of those metal tins. Jason closed his eyes as he continued to take in easy, deep breaths, calming the simmering panic shaking his hands. 

A soft clunk onto the table. Vanilla and chamomile wafted faintly into Jason’s nose as he took in another slow breath. He opened his eyes, seeing Alfred pouring himself and Jason a cup of tea each. The two men were silent then while Jason found his words.

“...I failed him, Alfred.” Jason started, “He was right in front of me, screaming his lungs out, and I couldn't grab him… He got exposed to Lazarus Water because of me… I can still hear him screaming…” Jason paused, hands fidgeting with his gloves. Alfred just sat back in his chair, one hand on the table by his teacup, listening.

“Yeah, we saved him- but he's still hurting- it makes me want to hunt down Ra's Al Ghoul and beat him within an inch of his life- but I… I can't. Not when he's like this…” Jason continued, putting his elbows on the table and his face in his hands.

“It doesn't make sense- I barely know the guy, but- I feel obligated to do as much as I can… Maybe it's cause he's Jazz's brother. And Jazz's been there for all of us… but…” The words he had left him as he ran his hands through his hair. Silence fell over the two of them again. Jason lifted his head, dragging his hands down into his lap again, trying to get a read on Alfred’s expression.

Alfred was thinking, no he had something to say and Jason knew it. He wouldn't look at Jason for a moment, eyes shifting to the various things sitting between them on the table. Jason grabbed one of the shortbread cookies and popped it in his mouth.

“How was Master Danny when you got to him?” Alfred asked calmly.

Jason took a sip of his tea to wash down the cookie. “He was suspended by the spell over one of the Lazarus Pits. He would've taken a full dip in the damn thing if it wasn't for Steph.” Jason recalled somberly, looking down at the tea in his cup.

“You were able to grab him, correct?” Alfred asked, taking a sip of his own tea.

“I was, but… the spell dropped outta the blue. The water only got below his waist…He started coughing up this black stuff, like something outta horror movie…” Jason said somewhat distantly.

Alfred made a noise of acknowledgement, mid sip. “Yet, he wasn't fully submerged. And you managed to get him out of there, I assume?”

“Yeah… Frost was with him in the back… I drove as fast as I could…” Jason spoke around part of another shortbread cookie.

“To me,” Alfred started, placing his hand on the table next to his cup again, “it sounds as if you did the best you could, all things considered.”

The Pits stirred in Jason's chest. Jason bit his tongue to stop himself from raising his voice. “My best wasn't enough this time… he's still in pain because I wasn't quick enough- or strong enough-” The other half of the shortbread cookie in Jason's hand crumbled into a powder between his fingers.

Alfred didn't flinch, didn't bat an eye. He just looked at Jason, concern etched into the lines on his face, then back down at his own cup. There was a pause.

“Your best brought him home, Jason.” Alfred finally settled on, making eye contact with him, then glancing over Jason's shoulder at something. The Pits slowly eased, Jason unfurled his hand, letting the cookie crumbs spill onto the table.

A soft knocking on the doorframe sounded behind Jason.

Alfred smiled warmly. “Miss Jasmine, do you need something?” He asked politely.

Jason turned in his seat to look behind him, throwing an arm over the back of his chair. He watched as Jazz took a few hesitant steps into the kitchen. Eyes puffy and red like she'd been crying. Her long and bright auburn hair pulled back into a quick ponytail. Black leggings poked out from under one of Dick's Superman hoodies that fit her like a dress, stopping at her knees. The plain black socks on her feet silenced her footsteps against the cool tile.

Her composure lasted about halfway into the kitchen towards the table. She'd met Jason's gaze when the dam broke, fresh tears cascaded down her cheeks.

“Th-Thank you- for- for saving him!” Jazz choked out through the tears. Jason was out of his seat and already pulling her into a hug. Jazz hid her face in Jason's chest, muffling her sobs.

“Anytime, Jasper.” Jason consoled, rubbing Jazz's back. She trembled in his arms as she cried.

“Ja-Jasper…?” Jazz echoed shakily. She broke away from the hug, wiping her face with her sleeves.

“Yeah. Cause, Casper’s in the medbay.” Jason smirked, proud of the breathy laugh he earned from Jazz.

“Oh come on- that one was terrible!” A smooth voice groaned with a smile from the kitchen door.

Dick Grayson, still in his Nightwing suit, strode over to Jazz and Jason with his hands thrown up in the air, yet a smile lingering on his lips.

“Like you're one to talk, Jazzercise.” Jason narrowed his eyes, his smirk lingering.

Dick gasped, clutching at nonexistent pearls at the base of his neck. “How dare you- Jazzercise is some of my best work!” Dick protested, trying to hide how his smile brightened as Jazz let out another laugh beside him. She was laughing while soaking up fresh tears with her sleeves.

“Like Spooks is any better?” Jason contested with no real heat behind it. He shifted his weight to his back leg and crossed his arms.

“I still don't know how you came up with Spooks.” Jazz giggled, “You didn't even know Danny was half ghost.”

“Oh, I had my suspicions. Neither of you know how to keep a secret.” Dick teased, his smile brightening into a grin.

“What?? I can keep secrets, thank you very much! How'd you know, anyway?” Jazz protested, turning to Dick defensively. A soft smile tugged on the corners of her mouth.

Alfred chuckled to himself somewhere behind them underneath the clinking of plates and porcelain. Dick took in a breath through the nose, looking away from Jazz, his smile faltering as he suppressed a laugh. Jason blinked, his bewilderment on full display.

“I can't believe I'm saying this,” Jason muttered to himself, “You've met Batman, right?” Jason questioned. Dick had a hand over his mouth, snickering as he tried to tame the giggles trying to surface.

“Yeah, I've met Bruce-”

“You've met Batman, right?”

“Jason, I'm-”

“What do you think happens when you're raised by the World's Greatest Detective?”

“To be fair,” Dick interjected, curbing his giggles finally, though his smile shone through his composure. “It wasn't that hard to piece together.”

“Oh really?” Jazz snapped with a smirk, “Where's your evidence, Boy Wonder?” She poked Dick in the chest as she poke.

Dick raised his eyebrows. “First off, Church mice are louder than Danny.”

“You've been over to their place, Jaybird. How hard would it be to walk across those floorboards and not make a single sound?” Dick gestured to Jason with a confident smirk.

“Cass could probably do it.” Jason shrugged.

“Sure- but Cass isn't a civilian.” Dick retorted. Jazz opened her mouth, but Dick went on.

“Secondly, I've seen things move through Danny.” Dick continued. “That hit and run three months ago when we went out to brunch with Danny? Based on the trajectory of that bullet, it should have landed in Danny's shoulder- and it went through him. Like thin air. Danny walked away without a scratch.”

Dick gestured to Jason suddenly. Jason shifted in his spot and shoved his hands into the pockets on his leather jacket. 

“Jason tried catching him tonight- and his arm went right through him.” Dick added, leaning closer to Jazz for added effect. Jazz turned away from him, seemingly unimpressed despite the smile trying to curl on the corners of her mouth again.

“Still not convinced, huh?” Dick teased, tilting his head to the side with his hands on his hips. It was amusing seeing someone ruffle Big Bird's feathers like this without saying much. Jazz just huffed in response, that sly smile peaking through the “serious” front she put up. Dick shifted his weight to one side, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Nightingale. Do you know how many sets of fingerprints Danny has on his bedroom door alone?” Dick asked confidently, his voice was low and steady. He had that smug look on his face. This was it, hook line and sinker. Jazz turned back around slowly, jaw dropped.

“Richard! You dusted my apartment for prints??” Jazz accused, a twinge of anger came through.

“You shouldn't have given me a key then.” Dick replied easily.

“Why would you do that to yourself?” Jason chuckled as he glanced at Jazz who looked slightly betrayed.

“I thought that out of all the Bats, he was the one most likely to not go investigate my apartment like a creep!” Jazz breathed out a chuckle, still sounding slightly betrayed.

“That was your first mistake.” Jason chuckled with her.

“Gimme your best guess, Nightingale.” Dick pressed cooly.

Jazz sighed, taking down her hair and running her hands through it before putting it back up in a high ponytail. “None.”

Dick grinned like a Cheshire cat.

“Ooo, so close.” He held up three fingers, “One set for either side of the doorknob, and a set on the wood.” Dick smiled with smug pride.

There was a beat of silence.

Then a giggle chimed through the kitchen. The half serious, semi betrayed facade falling away into easy laughter. Dick held up a fist to Jason, chuckling. Jason reciprocated the fist bump, a genuine smile on display. Those were rare these days.

“Fine, you win this time, Dico.” Jazz said through the last bits of laughter.

“I knew Danny was at least a meta. Never would have guessed half ghost, that's for sure.” Dick added coolly.

Jazz's smile dimmed a bit. Reality settling back into the conversation. Her hands retreated into the sleeves of Dick's Superman hoodie again.

“How is he, by the way?” She asked, a bit cautious.

“They said he's stable. They were wrapping things up in the medbay last I checked. We're ready to go ahead with the debrief whenever you're up for it.” Dick replied soothingly. Jazz nodded, looking between the two brothers.

“Thanks. We should head back down and get this over with. What was it you said earlier, Jason? Rip off the bandaid?” Jazz smiled softly.

Jason smiled back. “Yep, better sooner than later. We'll meet you down there.”

Jazz nodded again, leaning into Dick's side as the two of them walked, keeping the soft smile she gave Jason. Dick wrapped an arm over her shoulder as they left Jason and Aflred in the kitchen.

Jason turned, right as Alfred approached him again. Behind him, what little dishes they'd used were drying on the dish rack by the sink. Jason smiled, reaching over to pull Alfred into a hug.

“Thanks Alfie. Don't know what I'd do without ya.” Jason was calm, the pits settled like a cat mid nap in a sunbeam. Alfred hugged him back gently.

“I'm sure you'd be just fine, Jason. Regardless, you know where to find me if you need me. Day or night.” Alfred replied coolly.

Jason broke away from the hug, scooping up his Red Hood Mask from the island counter.

“Let's go see what all the fuss is about.” Jason called as he strode on ahead of Alfred, out of the kitchen and towards the elevator.

Jason had a feeling that his night was just getting started. The pits stirred awake in his chest.

Chapter Text

“If I may,” Dr. Archimedes Frost started, closing the leather bound journal around a fountain pen, “On behalf of the people of the Infinite Realms, thank you all for rescuing The Great One. Your generosity will not go unnoticed.”

Frostbite in his human form, bowed to the group of Gothamites known as “The Bats.” Without the vigilante suits and domino masks, The Great One's Gotham friends appeared “normal” as Danny would say. They'd spread themselves out within the area surrounding the so-called Bat Computer. Cassandra, Stephanie, Dick, and Damian, a content and purring cat in his lap, had made themselves comfortable on the floor alongside Jasmine. Tim had rolled the desk chair to the far left side of the area to sit out of the way. Bruce leaned against the railing that outlined the area with Duke and Alfred on either side of him. Posted on the ramp behind Barbara on the right side was Jason, sporting the same stern demeanor as the Batman himself. Dr. Leslie Thompkins flipped through a spiral bound notebook opposite of Frost in front of the Bat Computer.

“Me too. I can't thank you all enough for what you've done for Danny.” Jazz spoke up from her spot on the floor. The redness around her eyes had all but vanished now that the tears had ceased for the time being.

“We're not out of the woods yet, unfortunately,” Dr. Thompkins added, “In order for us to tackle Danny's current condition, we have to start with the basics. What we're about to delve into may seem far-fetched and hard to believe, but it's true.

“Since the incident last spring, I've been working alongside Dr. Frost who was kind enough to educate me on just how to treat those who have been exposed to ectoplasm and ecto entities such as Danny himself.” Thompkins explained promptly, flipping a couple pages in her notebook.

Frost caught her initial glance towards Jason before sweeping across the group and making eye contact with Frost, giving a gentle nod.

Frostbite shifted where he stood, as all eyes were now on him. He swallowed thickly, his typically cool nerves now prickled the back of his neck.

“Specifically, Danny is what we call a Halfa. Beings that are only half ghost. They are rare and we are still learning more about them as time goes on,” Frost began, flipping his notes back open with a flourish, looking up at the monitor behind him for the snapshot of blood test results among the other digital notes they had on display.

“This being said, just like any other ghost, Danny has a core that requires ectoplasm to sustain itself and maintain equilibrium,” Said Frost plainly.

“Think of it as a ghost's heart, if you will. It can filter and process ectoplasm. The ectoplasm in turn helps to heal Danny's body of any injuries and provide energy to the body.” Thompkins clarified, seeing some of their faces crinkling with confusion.

A small hand rose into the air. The sleeping cat stirred in Damian's lap. “Does this mean the Lazarus Pits are also ectoplasm?”

Frost beamed at the question, pointing to him with a metal finger. “Excellent question! While the Lazarus Pits do contain ectoplasm, I'm afraid there's more to them than that. More on that later.” 

Frost whipped around to the monitor behind him, squinting a bit, searching for something amongst the open tabs and files on screen. Thompkins reached over the keyboard, bringing up two photos side by side. Both were of a frosted, glowing aqua orb encased in a crystal ball. Wispy aqua strands encircled the orb, keeping it just above a person's chest. On the left side, the orb was bright and solid above a scarred but normal chest; on the right, it had dimmed significantly, looking more wispy than solid, looming over a heavily bandaged chest.

“Ah! Thank you, Leslie,” Frost smiled warmly at Thompkins, who smiled back in kind.

“Here on the left is Danny's core as it is any other time. I use a specialized crystal ball to lift one's core just enough to observe. This is a typically harmless process. As you can see-” Frost turned back to the screen.

“ Typically harmless?” Bruce interrupted from the back,a bit of his Batman gruff shining through the stern brooding expression he wore.

“Yes, except when the core is weak or damaged in some way. It is only slightly painful. Such as moving a pulled muscle.” Frost clarified, turning back to them partially.

This must have satisfied the man, thankfully.

“Now, Danny being the Ghost King means his core requires more ectoplasm than you would think in order to function properly.” Thompkins explained.

Frost hadn't looked back again, pointing to the picture with his bio hand, holding the fountain pen as a pointer. His smile dimmed then as another set of photos were queued behind the first set.

“This picture was taken last spring. Where Danny's core was severely weakened during the Fenton's experiments.” Frost paused, turning back around, still pointing at the photos with his bio hand.

Silence creeped into the room, each face slowly shifted with a sudden realization. Tim opened his mouth to say something, looking to Bruce briefly who shot him a look, and the younger man deflated slightly, closing his mouth. They were waiting for someone to speak on it, something needed to be said, but the words were never found. Was it something he had said? Perhaps the cat wasn't entirely out of the bag…

“Do you all need a moment? A break?” Frost asked cautiously.

Silence lingered still. Unease settled in his bones.

“no… you can keep going..” It was Jazz. Small and slightly muffled from the side hug she leaned into.

Frost scanned the room, waiting for anyone to protest. Yet none came.

“Alright then… I needed a large supply of ectoplasm so that his core could prioritize healing his injuries first and foremost.” Frost paused, slowly turning his back to the group again, bringing up tests results on the Lazarus Water.

“The largest source of ectoplasm nearby, happened to be the Lazarus Pits. The “water” is heavily polluted and the ectoplasm they do contain is highly unstable due to being kept at such high temperatures. After filtering and stabilizing, I was able to store a fair amount of the ectoplasm with Dr. Thompkins for emergencies.

“However, I can only assume that the drop in ectoplasm levels within the water caused the pits to destabilize and weaken over time.”

“So you're the reason this all started.” Jason scoffed. Frost peered over his shoulder at him.

“Dr. Frost had no choice,” Thompkins shot back. “Without that ectoplasm, We would have lost Danny all together.” Jason folded his arms over his chest, looking away. Jazz sunk further into the oversized hoodie.

“Regardless, this brings us to Danny's current condition.” Frost stated, closing the tab and showing the other set of photos on screen. The left was the same, but the right side had a dimmer and spotted orb in the crystal ball. It was like looking at an old chunky glowstick trying to glow again.

“This is how his core looks after the summoning and being exposed to Lazarus water. Unfortunately, there seems to be more impurities than ectoplasm.” Frost pointed out.

Thompkins closed the tab for the photos and stepped away from the computer again. “Thankfully Danny didn't sustain any physical damage from the water itself like we assumed, but he does have some bruises.”

Frost scanned the group over once more, the tension still hung in the air, but he and the good doctor hadn't lost them quite yet.

Thompkins quickly brought up a photo of a notebook spread showing a crude, but helpful diagram next to more detailed notes. The diagram on the left page depicts a black circle with what looks like neon green gel pen scribbled over it, with two arrows pointing to black and neon green circles, an arrow from the black circle to a simple sick emoji next to the words, “Flu Symptoms”, another arrow from that to a face with its eyes scrunched and mouth open, and a black blob moving away from it.

“The corrupted ectoplasm is causing episodes to occur,” Frost stated, pausing to flip a few pages in his notebook. “As his body and core work to process the corrupted ectoplasm while Danny is unconscious, the impurities that are filtered out build up, causing congestion and other flu-like symptoms. This black substance is then expelled when he coughs.” 

The diagram on the right starts at the top of the page with a startled face next to a simple sun. Just underneath is a neon green stick figure with a tail for legs, an equals sign, the filtering process pictured as it is on the left with the circles, and a neon green arrow pointing up.

“This briefly wakes him up, causing his core to try and kick start the filtering process further by activating his Ghost form.” Frost explained, pointing to the beginning of the diagram like a professor during a lecture.

Below that is a cycle, a standard stick figure, the same green tailed stick figure, a green battery symbol with a red gel pen exclamation point in the center of it, and the words “Too Weak!” in the middle. Black inky arrows connect the three symbols in the cycle. 

“Because his core is weakened and cannot sustain his ghost form for very long, it causes him to flicker between the two forms uncontrollably.” Thompkins chimed in, pointing to the middle part of the diagram with the cycle. She closed her notebook finally, tucking her pen into the spirals on the side.

Finally, at the bottom of the page, shows a black stick figure with red zig zags drawn overtop the body, another equals sign, and a sleeping face with a few Zs hovering above.

“The pain from the flickering is what renders him unconscious again, and the process repeats. We started him on the filtered ectoplasm as soon as we could. Thankfully, the episodes are happening less frequently than before. With what we can go by, Danny should wake up within the next few days, if we’re lucky, ” Frost said simply, closing his own notebook in his metal grip. “However, he will need to be monitored over the next few days. Myself and Dr. Thompkins will do our best to watch over him, reporting any developments as they happen.”

Silence reared its head within the space once again, letting all the info sink in.

“Do you have enough ectoplasm?” Barbara spoke up finally. Not the conversation that Frost was expecting to happen, but he’d take it.

“Yes, as I mentioned previously, I had gathered more than I ended up using last spring. Given that we only need a constant flow of ectoplasm this time around, I’m confident that we’ll have plenty to treat him. This is one of the reasons why he must be monitored in order to change out the bags of ectoplasm.” Frost answered smoothly.

“I would like to remind you all to not overwhelm him once he does regain consciousness. I imagine you all have questions and want to be there for him, but be patient. Tonight has taken its toll on all of us, Danny included. I’m afraid the medical bay won’t be a comforting sight to wake up to. We would like to move him to a room in the manor at some point, but not tonight. For now, we let him rest. I recommend you all do the same.” Leslie glanced around the room as she spoke, addressing them like a mother would a stubborn child.

“Thank you both, please keep us updated.” Bruce breathed out with a heavy sigh. The words came out as if he'd meant to say something else.

Frost scanned the group while Leslie began closing out the notes and things on the Batcomputer behind him. No one met his gaze, let alone anyone else's. It was a mix of anger, sadness, and confusion amongst them. Jazz was curled against Dick's side, distant eyes bore into the floor at her feet. Waiting for the pin to drop.

“Of course,” Frost nodded, shooting Leslie a glance as she scooped up her notebook.

“We’ll “be out of your hair” as they say.” Frost gave a small smile back to the few who chuckled softly. He gestured to Leslie as a silent, “after you”. She thanked him under her breath as they  made their way back to the medbay. The two were halfway across the batcave before chaos erupted behind them.

“ EXPERIMENTED ON??? Are you kidding me!!”

“Called it-”

“What was I supposed to do- wait around while-”

“-Who the fuck are the Fentons??”

“-anything other than going in alone on a rescue mission!!”

That was all Frost heard before the door closed behind him. With the chaos muffled, the medbay was a refreshing type of silence to Frost's ears. The sterile scent of rubbing alcohol and nylon faintly lingered in the air. Cool grey tile paved their way across the floor of the side room. Monitors and medical equipment clung to the right wall, beeping and providing enough light to chase the creeping shadows to their corners. The familiar yet steady beat of the heart monitor beside the cot closest to the door put him at ease.

Sleeping just as soundly as they had left him before the debrief, was the Ghost King of The Infinite Realms himself. 

Each step felt as though he was trudging through a packed snowbank. A rouge yawn surfaced as metal fingers chimed against the folding chair beside the cot. Frost never could get used to visiting any of the realms of the living. Each one reminded him of the life he once lived, all those years ago. A part of him missed the simplicity of the wintery landscape he called an eternal home.

A pocket of warmth seeped through the constant numbing cold. Peering down to his side, he met those warm brown eyes of the good doctor, lifting the leather bound journal from under his right arm. He shook his head with a chuckle. Then again, he couldn't remember the last time he felt this warm.  

“A change in reading material I see.” He smirked playfully.

“Of course. You can’t expect me to sit and watch you sleep the whole time.” She returned his smirk with a smug smile of her own, tucking back the swirl of white bangs behind her ear.

“I wouldn't need to sleep if we were in the Far Frozen. Or food for that matter,” A yawn interrupted him, “Yet, I find myself needing them again.”

“Hmm,” She slipped the fountain pen into the breast pocket of his white coat, her hand lingering on his chest. “I tend to have that effect on people.” She shrugged, patted the breast pocket twice and flashed him a more sweeter smile as she walked past him.

If he did die a second time, Dr. Leslie Thompkins was going to be the cause of it. 

Frost shook his head, muffling another yawn as he scanned over the slumbering king. Dampened with sweat, Danny's dark hair clung to his face and neck. His face was flushed a rosy red with fever. Lichtenberg scars peaked out over the collar of the thin hospital gown. The thin quilts covering the rest of his body shielded him from the cool air that lingered throughout the batcave. Relief settled into Frost's form for the first time in hours. 

No change, thank the ancients. Frost sighed. The fever was concerning, but not a surprise considering his body was treating the corrupted ectoplasm like an infection of some sort. Frost glanced towards the two hanging IV bags, one chilled and full of bright green ectoplasm, the other was a standard fluid bag. He'd forgotten what was in it, with all of the chaos that ensued once Danny was brought into the medbay. 

Frost peeled back the washcloth covering Danny's forehead, dipping it into the basin of cool water on the table beside him, and wringing it out lightly before replacing it.

Leslie knows its contents.. She knows a great number of things, really. Frost was slowly learning more than just the basics of human medical treatments thanks to her. He forgot how comforting it was to work alongside another peer in the medical field.

Soft clattering of leather onto tile on the other side of the room brought the present back to his senses. He peered over the ridge of his glasses at the white haired woman now sat contently on the unused cot by the wall. Her knitted, burnt yellow sweater sagged comfortably on her form. The white lab coat was draped over her legs in place of a blanket. Brown leather loafers had been discarded onto the tile floor below. Pale hands peaked out from sweater sleeves in order to hold the book she was reading.

“He will be fine, Archie. My recommendation extends to you too.” Leslie spoke just above a whisper, yet remained as authoritative as before.

Frost breathed out a low and breathy laugh. “I cannot argue with doctor’s orders.” He shrugged off his own white coat, placing it in Leslie's free hand. She folded it with one hand and placed it behind her, never once looking up from her book. 

Frost stepped out of his own leather loafers and let the knot out of the ribbon tying his hair back. Just like clockwork, He sat on the side of the cot and swung his legs up to lay down. Leslie shifted her book to her right hand, letting her arm settle on Frost's chest while his head rested on her lap.

Letting the warmth that surrounded her wash over him, chasing away the bone deep cold just enough for comfort. Soothing strained muscles and aching bones that had been begging for an ounce of rest. His core purred softly, savoring the peace that was always few and far between.

Gentle fingers glided through his soft snowy hair, coaxing the fatigue he'd been fighting for days back into his bones. They'd often sit like this whenever they found themselves in each other's company. Some days it was the only way Frost managed to sleep. Leslie might know exactly when this habit of theirs started, but it was lost on him then.

Surrendering his restless mind and body to the soothing sensation of her fingers gently running through his hair, the soft slow breathing of the great one deeply asleep, and the ambient sounds of the medbay's equipment at work. Tension drained from his form, letting him sink limply into the plush cot mattress. Each time he blinked it became harder and hard to open them. To look up at the kind face who was making use of his currently useless glasses as she continued her reading. When he'd opened his eyes again, those warm brown eyes peered down at him with a smile so warm it made his heart melt.

“I'll be here, just get some sleep.” With a gentle kiss to his forehead, Frost let his eyes close, embracing sleep as it encompassed his senses.

Chapter Text

Eventually, Jason had enough of people spewing information at him for one night.

The Pits were already riled up from the bombshell that was the kid’s fucked up parents experimenting on him. FOR FOUR MONTHS. While everyone stood there- waiting for what?? If Jason had heard that phone call- caught a glimpse of Danny calling out in the background- He would’ve raised hell itself  to get him out of there. Of course Jazz would go after him- Of course she would get tired of waiting for B and them to get their shit together-

He was almost envious of Danny. 

Having a sister who’d risk it all at the drop of a hat

“They never had that urgency for you.”  

A gruff voice slithered through his racing thoughts. He knew that voice, that it was a lie. He knew they cared about him- they dropped everything to look for him that night-

Leaving Jazz in the dust…

Jason needed to punch something. The Pits roared, itching to track them down, destroying the place Danny had to suffer in for months on end, where all hell broke loose- anything to make sure they pay for the damage they caused! 

Jason peeled himself from his spot on the ramp, letting muscle memory walk him through the batcave. He put his hands behind his head, elbows dampening the ongoing conversation behind him. No one needed to be around him if the Pits decided that now was a great time for Pit Rage. It wasn’t like he remembered that night- his time with the league felt like it went on for an eternity back then and even those memories were repressed a while ago. But something about it all stirred the vengeful shit he’d left in the pits. Lies that were fed to him while he was vulnerable, convincing him that his family abandoned him and let him die at the hands of that fucking clown. Jason squeezed his eyes shut, punching down the painful memories threatening to surface.

“I think Robin is a cool name.” A kind, toothy grin curled on the smaller teen’s face.

“...I guess. I think that’s my name… maybe it was something else…” A sadness came over him..

He was left with the thrum of the opened portal as the king and his friends went silent. What were their names again..?

“If you want to, you can hang out with us!” The king grabbed his gloved hand, enthusiasm oozing out of his words.

“...Are you sure?” Was this the right move..? He didn’t know them… but something told him he’d be safe…

“Of course! Maybe it’ll cheer you up a bit.” Did he look sad..? He caught a glance of the worn out suit that clung to him… Looking at it made his heart hurt…

 I don’t want to be alone again… Bad things happen when I’m alone…

“...Where are you headed?”

A faint memory glided across his mind like a flag caught on the wind. Standing in the foyer of a grand cosmic castle. A young king with a kind smile. The more he tried to remember, the more the memory faded, lost to the distant white nose of the conversation still happening across the batcave.

The medbay door greeted him once he opened his eyes again. When did he get over here?

He took stock of his senses again, lowering his arms down. The raging storm of emotions that had been bubbling under his skin was dwindling down to a simmer. Cool and damp air of the batcave washed over him again, making goosebumps raise along his arms. A deep breath forced its way into his lungs- it was almost startling how calm he was now… The Pits have never settled down that quickly when he was on the cusp of a Pit Rage episode… except…

“If you want to, you can hang out with us… Maybe it’ll cheer you up a bit.”

Like a distant bell chime carried on the wind, that voice rang through his mind…

He blinked and was already stepping into the room. He’s already here, might as well go inside.

Immediately his gaze settled on the figure in the cot closest towards the door. The sight of it held him there, a hand still on the door, letting in the white noise.

A stark contrast to when Jason first met Danny earlier that evening. Instead of that warm, happy smile that brightened up the room, a soft frown scrunched in a wince of pain, was there in its place. A wet washcloth was half sliding off to the side of his forehead. His face was flushed and damp with sweat, dark circles adding a faint shadow under his eyes from where Jason stood, looking more tired than Tim fighting to stay awake. Both arms laid overtop the thin quilts that covered the rest of him and the thin hospital gown peeking out from under the quilts. Danny looked miserable-

“If you’re coming in, close the door.” A soft but stern voice almost startled him.

Jason’s gaze snapped over towards the far wall like a deer caught in headlights. Dr. Leslie Thompkins sat contently on the spare cot with a softly snoring Dr. Archimedes Frost laying his head in her lap. With one hand, she turned a page in the book resting on Frost’s chest, slightly propped up against his right hand. Her other hand lightly intertwined in the stark white locks sprawled out against the side of her thigh. The thin simple frame glasses now perched on her face as she glanced back down to her book.

Jason swallowed thickly, closing the door behind him.

“How bad is it out there?” She spoke like they were talking about the weather.

“Messy. I left after I got the jist of what the hell “Last Spring” was about.” Jason spat out, trying to keep his voice down.

“Hmm.. I hope they’re not hounding her about it.”

He scoffed. “I wouldn’t go out there if I were you.”

“If I have to move from this cot, I’m putting someone in it.”

Jason paused to look over at her, stopped just as he quietly fished out one of the folding chairs from a hidden panel in the wall. She peered over the glasses, meeting his wide eyed gaze.

“Tim's sleep deprivation would be a cake walk to this man.”

“ That bad?”

“He’s been awake for five days straight . No Caffeine.”

“Shit…” Jason breathed, setting up the folding chair in the corner between the two cots.

“I'm not sure he knew what sleep was a year ago.” She shook her head, her attention glued to the book on the sleeping man's chest. Now that Jason was closer, he knew that book. Jason softly chuckled.

“No wonder you're an expert on all this ghost stuff.”

“If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have had the diagrams.”

Jason chuckled, folding his arms over his chest.

“The real expert is dead to the world right now,” She paused, flipping a page, “You'd never get him to admit it.”

“Too full of himself?”

“Too humble.” A smile curled on her lips. “It's refreshing.”

As if on cue, a low grumble- almost a beastly growl- arose from the man in question. Leslie picked up the leather bound journal just in time as he stretched out slowly, like a cat lazing in a sunbeam. She looked away from her reading to watch him as he moved, eyes squinting in sleep. Frost carefully shifted, rolling onto his stomach, propped up onto his right elbow. A big yawn that faded out into a low growl erupted from behind the snow white hair falling down in front of his face, pooling slightly on Leslie’s lap. Strands of white parted to reveal a pair of half lidded, bright purple eyes scanning the room.

“Archie,” Leslie cooed softly, lifting the sleepy man’s chin up with her free hand, “You and I are headed upstairs.”

Frost blinked slowly, moving his head so his cheek rested in the palm of her hand. Leslie smiled warmly at him. Frost nudged past her hand, laying his head back down on her lap with the metallic left arm sliding behind her and his right cradling the back of his head. Both hands nestled at her right side by her hip. Frost buried his face into the brown fabric of her skirt, sleep settling into his form again.

“Shit.” Leslie sighed, looking away, hiding the rose twinge to her face. The journal was discarded somewhere on the cot, freeing her hands so she could try and move Frost's face back a bit.

“Take that as a no,” Leslie whispered. Jason bit back the laughter trying to bubble out of him.

A wet series of coughs shattered the soft silence beginning to settle into the room again. Jason whipped to the other cot beside him, immediately helping Danny as he tried to sit up. Each cough rattled Danny’s form as Jason had an arm around his back.

“Deep breath, then cough, you’re alright.” Jason reached over Danny to the box of tissues on the side table. Danny snatched one, taking in a shuttered breath and coughing hard, almost missing the tissue in the process. He sank into Jason’s chest catching each breath of cool air as it came. 

“There ya go, just breathe Casper.” Jason whispered, rubbing soothing circles into the smaller man’s back. Another grovely growl surfaced from the cot behind him.

“He’s alright, Archie.” The sare cot creaked slightly. “Come on, up you go,” One more growl of a yawn. “I need to check…” The words, low and gravely, faded away into a muffled grumble. Jason shuddered, it was like being in a room with a big cat. “Shhh… Whatever it is can wait.”

Danny whimpered softly as he moved, leaning his back into Jason’s grip. Shaking hands clenched around the thin quilt over his lap.

With his cheek laying on top of Jason’s upper arm, the dazed king stared up at him, eyes half lidded with fatigue. Those icy blue eyes dragged along his features, searching for something. Waves of emotions washed over Danny’s face, finally settling somewhere between confusion and fear.

“Ro-Robin..?” Danny whispered under his breath, “You… have to hide…” There was a soft static beneath what sound he did make. Glimpsing at something behind Jason, Danny quickly hid his face in the pit of Jason’s shoulder.

A cold shiver ran up Jason’s spine. Something about the way he spoke, the name he used for him, made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. There was that familiar feeling again, like bumping into someone you were supposed to know, but you couldn't place who they were.

Did he just-

“You got that one for the night?” She turned back to the two of them. Snapping him back to the current moment.

Leslie held open the door with a sluggish and half asleep Frost standing behind her, his arms draped over her in a loose hug and his forehead resting on her shoulder.

“Yeah. Go get some sleep.” Jason reassured, if a bit uneasy.

“I’ll try. If you need me, come get me. I mean it.” She waved to him over her shoulder, letting the medbay door close behind them.

The ambient noise of the medbay engulfed them again, adding Danny’s shallow breathing underneath the other noise.

“Robin… You-you gotta go…”His voice was soft, holding a bit of static with it. His heart ached for some reason.

Danny eased himself away from Jason’s arm, slouching as he sat up. Both arms fixed to his side and pain hid in the harsh lines of Danny’s face underneath the damp strands of black trying to shield it.

“They’ll… be back… You can’t get… caught like.. Me…” Each word was a labor, utilizing what little breath he took in. Jason’s heart shattered onto the porcelain tile. Danny was far away from the sterile cool grey of the medbay. Back in whatever hell Jazz carried him from a year ago.

Jason focused, taking a beat to find his words. “I can take ‘em.”

Danny’s eyes flicked over to him, brows furrowed. “But… You..” Danny swayed towards him.

“They won’t know what hit ‘em, trust me. You’re safe, I promise.” Jason assured him, keeping a hand hovering at Danny’s back.

Danny made another soft noise as he sat up a bit straighter, turning more to look at the man half sitting on the cot next to him. “You’re… serious..?” he breathed out, still shallow, but less panicky.

“I swear on whatever life I’ve got left in me. They can’t touch you, not on my watch.” A soft smile curled on Jason’s lips unbeknownst to him. The pits almost seemed to purr.

Danny leaned against Jason’s shoulder, tears streaming down his already reddened face. Jason enveloped Danny in a gentle hug, placing his chin on his head. Danny clung to him like the other man would burst into stardust the moment he stopped. Sobs tore their way out of Danny, muffled by Jason’s shoulder and making every muscle tense with what little strength he had. Danny eventually started coughing again, accidentally getting some of the black ichor onto Jason’s shoulder. Danny slowly sat up again, blinking distantly before scanning the room.

“Where… are we..?” Danny leaned against the arm still behind him, helping support him as he gently laid back down again.

“The Batcave.”

“... The Batcave..? In Gotham..?”

“Nah, the one in Bludhaven.” Jason smirked at his own joke.

Danny breathed out a laugh. “...Where’d.. You go…?”

Jason pulled the quilts back up around Danny, sitting back down in the folding chair. “I’m right here, don’t worry.”

Danny rolled his head to the side Jason sat on, tired bright blue eyes contemplated for a moment.

“...I meant.. Forever ago… You.. left in… all that… goop, or whatever…” Danny sighed.

Jason was so lost. What the hell was this guy talking about?? Some kind of fever dream, probably. Some distant bell rang in the back of his mind. Did he know what Danny was talking about…?

Jason shook his head, focusing back on Danny, “We’ll talk about it later. Try and get some sleep for me.”

“Mmmm… On one condition…”

“Yeah? An’ what’s that?”

Danny blinked slowly, fighting to sleep for just a bit longer. “Will you…stay here…”

A warm smile settled onto Jason’s face. “Course. I’ll be right here, Casper.”

Sleep washed over Danny once again as he smiled softly.

Jason carded through his hair on the exhale, taking a lap around the room so the pits would settle back down. He knew this would be a long night.

Jason just had to be right.

Danny had woken up a few other times that night, all following the same worrying routine: waking himself up by a coughing fit, unsure of where he was or if he’d been taken by his parents again, Jason would hold him while he cried it out or just talk him through it, and then falling back asleep mid conversation.

Next thing he knew, he was two seconds away from slamming Duke through the spare cot beside him. It wasn’t a hard shove, but it was just enough for some part of Jason’s brain to kickstart his fight or flight response. He opened his hand like an eagle unclenching its talon, letting go of Duke’s forearm.

“I’ll grab a stick next time, jeez.” Duke stepped back, sucking a bit of air through gritted teeth while he rubbed at the place on his arm.

“I’m not a heavy sleeper-”

“I called out to you like six times.”

“Fair point.” Jason slowly stood, a few vertebrae popping as he stretched. “It’s not been pretty. He’s been waking up a bit more conscious but pretty out of it. Half the time he’s convinced that he’s back in his parent’s lab. Kept calling me Robin.” the last bit slipped out under his breath as he relaxed out of the stretch. He nodded towards the door in a silent, walk and talk, kind of way.

“Shit… You think we should move him?” Duke trailed behind Jason out the door and into the bacave's main area.

Jason flicked his gaze towards Duke like he had ten heads. “Right now?”

“No- I meant like, tomorrow or Sunday. So he’s not bothered by all the equipment.” Duke offered.

“That's the goal, but I doubt the manor is any better.” Jason groaned, stretching out the aches in his shoulders.

He wouldn't directly admit it, but Duke had a point. If they moved Danny, he might be able to sleep more than an hour at most between episodes. But whether Danny would be cleared to be moved at all was what hung in the air. It didn't take the world's greatest detective to take stock of the trembling of sore muscles fighting to be put to use again each time he lifted an arm or hand, the pitiful groans, whimpers, or choked cries that bubbled out of him with each ounce of pain when he moved too much or too quickly. He didn't know if they'd given Danny any pain meds yet-

“Wait, he called you Robin?” Duke asked, tilting his head a bit to the side.

“Ah, Good morning!” A boisterous voice echoed across the batcave. The source of said voice waved with his bio hand while taking a sip from the coffee mug he held in his metal one. The plain Grey sweatshirt looked more like a cropped sweatshirt on the taller man. It still hung loose, but showed off a bit of midriff. The joggers kinda followed suit, being loose around the waist, but stopping just above the ankles. A simple pair of borrowed house shoes covered his bare feet.

“How are you gentlemen this morning? I hope you were able to sleep well.” Frost beamed.

“Eh, I got some sleep at least.” Duke shrugged.

“I don't think me or Danny got much sleep last night.” Jason spoke through another yawn, stretching out the kink in his neck. He caught the odd glance from Duke out of the corner of his eye.

“So he did regain consciousness then. Did the episodes continue?” Frost frowned, taking another sip from his mug.

Jason nodded, “He had a handful of them. He's been really out of it. Scared out of his mind and convinced he's back in that fucking lab. I don't think we've should move him yet. Not without some kind of pain meds in him at least. Hell, breathing and sleeping seemed about all he could manage without some kind of pain.”

“And he called you Robin, apparently.” Duke added, clearly trying to get Jason to open up about it.

Archimedes frowned a bit more, tapping his metallic fingers along the handle of the coffee mug.

“I see… I appreciate you watching over him, Young one. Go, enjoy your breakfast, I'll take over for now.” Frost managed, his smile dimming to just a soft smile. He nodded to the two of them and walked off.

Young one? Absolutely adding that to the growing list of shit people keep saying but wouldn't elaborate on. The Infinite Realms was also on that list.

Just as Jason was about to turn towards the elevator, a glint caught his eye. Over by the bat computer next to Tim, Damian turned something over in his hands.

“Here. I want you to have a piece of me.” He curled the King's fingers around the gift. A gold edged piece of black metal with gold engraving on the back, a gold pendant cap threaded through a small hole at one end of the piece, letting it hang off a gold chain.

Slowly peaking his eyes open, those neon green orbs glazed over like he was about to cry.

“Robin…” The king breathed, a smile curling on his lips. “You beat me to it.”

Reaching into his pants pockets, the King searched for something. He pulled it out, holding it above his open palm.

Something tugged at his chest. The pits growled at the sight of it, but why was it lost in the fog. He took a step forward, but not in the direction he wanted to go in.

“I told you , it's gotta be a serial number-”

“You cannot search for a serial number with only two scratched numbers, Drake.”

“I can find a lot of things with less, Dami.”

“The fuck are you two bitching over now? ”

Tim held out his hand for the thing, but Damian quickly sidestepped behind his chair and palmed it to Jason. The pits settled back down again, weird. Deja vou swept over him briefly.

Tim whipped around to reach for whatever Jason had in his hand, but Jason was faster, holding it above his head with a smirk.

“Hey- Give it back! I need to search for that serial number!” Tim nearly fell as he jumped up to try and snatch the thing out of Jason's hand.

“The hell is it anyway?” Jason careened his neck up to look at it out of Tim's reach.

A gold edged piece of black metal, large enough to sit in his palm comfortably, with gold engraving on the back, a gold pendant cap threaded through a small hole at the end of the piece, letting it hang off a gold chain. The gold practically shimmered in the bright overhead lights of the batcave.

Chills danced through him, turning the thing over in his hands. He was dreaming. Fallen asleep standing up or still sitting in the medbay with Danny- that had to be what was going on. No way did this thing just appear out of thin air. He tried to focus on that memory, as fleeting as it was, but it was gone again, just like that. What the hell??

He brought it down to look at the engraving better, putting a hand on Tim's shoulder and shoving him back down into the swivel chair.

“Good luck trying to read it, I've already started looking into what language it's written in but nothing yet.” Tim huffing beside him.

He had no idea what Tim was throwing a fit about. Sure, the font was a bit like cursive, but it was clearly there. 

The engraving read, 

“I hereby swear my loyalty to you, the realms, and its people. To protect you and our people from all foes who dare cross our path. I shall be the harbinger of your wrath and the bearer of your generosity wherever you see fit. For I am your trusted Knight, O’ benevolent King, till I can serve you no longer. 

Eternally yours,

-Your beloved Fright Knight.”

He glanced up, flickering to the three shocked faces blinking at him. What was with him and just saying shit today??? He needed food and a nap, asap .

“You can read that?? How?!” Tim practically shouted, snatching the necklace out of his hand.

“Christ on a bike- when was the last time you slept? And where'd you get that from anyway?” Jason scolded, folding his arms over his chest.

“Supposedly, it is Nightingale's. Alfred found it while cleaning the man's suit coat.” Damian chimed in nonchalantly.

“ Oh, so we're stealing from sick people now?” Jason scoffed. Tim shot him a glare over his shoulder.

“I didn't steal anything. I asked to study it and promised Alfred I'd give it to Jazz when she got up.” Tim defended himself, squinting as he tried reading the scuffed up numbers on the far corner of the back with the engraving on it.

“Whatever you say, Watson .” Jason rolled his eyes, shaking his head.

“Owch, what happened to Sherlock?” Duke chuckled at Jason's side.

“Hey- I still knew Danny wasn't human before anyone else, and I was the one who pieced together Danny's disappearance too-”

“Did you do anything about it?” A lower feminine voice spat from behind them.

Coming up the ramp behind Duke, the other Nightingale joined the conversation. She was too calm for how ice cold her tone was. Duke stepped back towards the railing to give her some space, and to get a better view of his little brother in the chair. Tim sat up, eyes blown wide in surprise.

“...no. We should have…I'm sorry, Jazz…” Tim breathed, deflating a bit.

Jazz sighed, taking her hair down and shaking it out. She still had on Dick's old Superman hoodie, but with sleep shorts barely peeking out the bottom of it. Black socks still silenced her footsteps.

“You're lucky I'm willing to forgive you. But I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have lashed out at any of you last night.” Jazz met each of their eyes, the shine of a genuine apology in her own gaze.

Jason looked down at Tim, clearing his throat.

Tim furrowed his brow, confused.

He stared at his brother, deadpanned. Really. He glanced down at the necklace still in Tim's hands.

There was the lightbulb flickering on.

“Uh- Alfred found this in Danny's suit. Thought you would wanna hang onto it for him.”

“Don't stalk my brother, I know where you live.” Jazz stated, holding out her hand as Tim gave her the necklace.

“Do you know what it is?” Tim pressed a bit.

“Yes, and no. It was a gift, I think. He's had it forever.” Jazz explained, putting the necklace around her neck, probably so she wouldn't lose it.

“Hmm… Also, what's a Fright Knight?” Tim asked, sneaking it in as she turned around to walk back down the ramp.

“No interrogations until after breakfast. You all need to eat something.” Jazz hollered, gesturing for them to follow her towards the elevator.

“Come on, you can't pass out at the bat computer again.” Jason joked as Tim groaned, following him, Duke, and Damian down the ramp.

“It was one time people! One time!” Tim huffed, causing a chuckle to rise from Jason and Duke.

“Whatever helps you sleep at night, Timmy.”

Chapter Text

“You're serious. ”

“Serious as a heart attack. Trust me- I know how it looks- but it's what I've got so far.”

Both redheads shared a concerned glance before looking back at him as he paced in front of the rolling corkboard by the dining area; red string and all. He flipped and folded the black, red, and yellow infinity cube in his hands. It had been a gift from Bernard from one of their dates. Apparently, his nail beds have never looked healthier.

Not the point. He needed to focus. Tim was going to get to the bottom of this, sleep be damned . Ever since he found that cryptic necklace, all the pieces started surfacing, and he just couldn't stop. It was like reading a book you couldn't put down! But this wasn’t some novel- maybe one of those cheesy romance novels Jason was into- but that's beside the point ! If anyone in this family was going to piece it all together it was going to be him. He couldn't let them down, he'd been too distracted last year. He needed this like he needed air to breathe-

Okay- calm down. Let's go over the facts one more time. He reassured himself, taking a page from Bernard's book. He closed his eyes, letting a deep breath bring him back down to the dim living room and its assortment of dirty coffee mugs scattered about.

One of the two women cleared their throat. Right, Jazz and Babs were here too.

He'd initially called Jazz over to get her opinion on the situation. She'd be able to fact check him with everything on Danny and then some. Babs tagged along because she was, “worried about him anyway and wanted to check in”. This was good though. Babs was his usual partner in crime when it came to collecting anything and everything they could for a case.

He tossed the cube up as he turned his back to the corkboard, caught it, and looked between the two women.

“So-”

“Before you start your lecture,” Jazz offered, clapping her hands together, “I need some caffeine, and I know you have a stash around here somewhere.”

Tim blinked- did he use the last clean mug? Or was that yesterday? He definitely washed some mugs the other day- had to have been yesterday. Yesterday was Friday…? He leaned to the side trying to gauge how many mugs were on the drying rack beside the sink from his spot. The shapes that made up the sink and parts of the kitchen blended into one another amongst the dim light of his apartment.

“Tim?” Babs said, reaching up towards him like she was preparing to grab him if he lost his balance.

He leaned the other way past Jazz, scanning the blurred shapes that he knew was his living room. A few white blobs slowly came into focus, revealing the handful of mugs scattered across the room; wherever there was table space that didn't have notes, books, or folders on them.

Was that Bernard's hoodie or a blanket on the armchair? “I'll just wash some mugs.” He needed to round up the ones in the living room anyway, so why not. He breezed past Jazz, scooping up the coffee mug on the side table by the couch as he went.

“I'm surprised he doesn't have a fresh pot already.” Babs commented, rolling over towards the kitchen, “Second cabinet on the left, middle shelf.” He heard Jazz's soft footsteps across the hardwood as he rearranged the various mugs in his arms. Most were empty, but there were the rouge few that still had cold coffee in them.

Babs sat just outside the kitchen, watching Jazz wash out the coffee pot and start on the fresh batch. Once the sink was free, Tim made quick work of the dirty mugs, making sure to leave out one for each of them. Was it really Saturday? Time started to blur again, he was certain it was only a day since he slept last. It was pretty early, judging by the sunlight slowly trickling in.

“What time is it, anybody know?” Tim questioned, patting his pants pockets for his phone. It was around here somewhere.

“I thought you wore a watch, like, all the time.” Jazz remarked from the couch. Right! Tim glanced down at his wrist- aaand his smart watch was dead. Great.

“Forgot to put it back on charge.”

“It's 5:46.” Babs spoke up from beside the couch, setting her phone down next to Jazz.

“Saturday?”

“Close, Sunday.”

“Oh… Really? ”

Babs sighed, having transferred from her wheelchair to the couch. “Tim, when's the last time you slept.” She clipped, eyeing him suspiciously.

“Fr-hmm…” Tim trailed off. Last time he slept, Bernard stayed the night, practically dragged him away from what he was working on for that meeting on Thursday. Right, because he was almost late to the Gala Thursday night. Then all that happened with Danny. Poured over last spring's case file and the file they had for the Fentons and Nightingales, found the necklace Friday morning, that weird conversation with Jason and Damian, brunch at the manor, taking first watch over Danny Friday night, or was it Saturday night?

Tim pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to keep the growing headache from becoming a migraine.

“If you have to think that-” Jazz began, deadpanned.

“Wednesday night-”

“TIMOTHY JACKSON WAYNE-”

“nO- No,” He snapped his fingers, pointing at Jazz. “I took a nap after brunch on Friday.”

“Was your watch charged?” Babs bluntly asked

Tim blinked again, fidgeting with the infinity cube. “Yyyyyyeeesss….?”

“Hand me that, would you?” She leaned a bit towards Jazz, pointing at a black box on the coffee table. He squinted, the morning sunlight brightening the room finally. Jazz grabbed it before Tim could reach the other side of the coffee table, turning it over to Babs's open palm next to her. Blue light illuminated her face as she adjusted her glasses.

Shit. That's where his phone went.

“You took a nap Friday morning, right?” Babs didn't look up from his phone. 

“98% sure.” Tim groaned, forehead laying on the coffee table, sitting on his knees at the end beside Babs's wheelchair.

“Mmm. You slept for 5 hours, with 1 hour of it being Rem sleep.” Jazz peaked at the phone screen as Babs read over the details.

“So I might need more sleep- I can go to bed after you leave, just hear me out-” Tim lifted his head, wiping both hands over his face.

That soothing smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting past him and the beep from the coffee maker interrupted him. Tim sighed, trudging his way into the kitchen. “Two sugars, dash of cream?”

“Please and thank you.” Babs said easily, setting his phone onto the side table’s wireless charger.

“ Three sugars and a dash of cream, thanks!” Jazz added, checking her own phone in the meantime.

“Noted.” Tim replied, grabbing the cream out of the fridge. He whipped up both drinks with ease, carrying them over and carefully handing them off to his guests. He then circled back to pour himself a cup. Holding his mug with one hand, he moved the rolling corkboard between the two arm chairs by the coffee table and stood in front of it again. Silence blanketed the room as the three of them took a sip of coffee to varying degrees of delight. Tim carefully set down his mug, which was half empty already, and clasped his hands together, looking between Babs and Jazz for the second time this morning.

“Are we ready?” Tim asked, pushing up the sleeves of his zip up hoodie he forgot he was wearing.

“Mmm, go ahead.” Babs confirmed, setting her mug down on the side table. Jazz gave a thumbs up, taking another sip.

Deep breath in, and out.

“So-”

An obnoxious wind chime tune erupted from someone’s phone-

“Goddamnit!!” Tim shouted and fell into a crouch, cradling his head in his hands. Jazz sputtered a laugh into her drink, putting down her cup onto the coffee table. She sat on the edge of the couch coughing a bit.

“Sorry, that’s me,” Babs sighed, picking up her phone from beside Jazz. “It’s Jay, hang on- Hey, what’s up?”

Tim groaned louder than he wanted it to be. He reached over to the stack of napkins among the sea of folders and papers on the table, handing a few to Jazz to wipe her face with.

“I’m with Jazz.. And Tim…” Babs tagged on, watching Jazz wipe the coffee from her face and black knit sweater she wore.

“He wanted to go over some notes on Danny-” Babs started, the rest of her sentence falling short as Jason cut her off on the other end. She scrunched her face in thought for a second, glancing over at Tim. He probably looked as pathetic as Haley, Dick’s puppy, subtly begging for table scraps. Tim sat on the floor across from Jazz, slouched over the side of the coffee table with his chin resting on a stack of papers.

“Uh, lemme ask,” Babs held the phone against her shoulder, “How quick can you get ready and pack your notes? Jason’s calling a “sibling meeting” at his place.”

“Is this all your notes?” Jazz asked, gesturing to the spread on the table and what was pinned to the corkboard. Tim sighed deeply which quickly turned into a yawn. Glancing down to the black zip up hoodie, grey t-shirt, and black skinny jeans he’d been running around in for the past two days; it was a safe bet to say he needed a shower, brush his teeth, all that jazz- pun not intended. They’d also need to account for traffic and any other wrenches the gods were going to throw into his plans for today.

“We can be there in thirty at the latest.” Tim grumbled, dragging himself to his feet and picking up the case file tote at the end of the coffee table by Jazz. 

“Just put everything in here the best you can while I grab a shower.” Tim frowned, kinda wanted to cry if he was honest, and walked off into his bedroom; Grabbed a change of clothes and hopped in the shower. By the time he was back in the living room, Dressed in a clean red shirt, blue jeans, socks and a black jacket slung over one arm; Babs was putting the lid on the case file tote, every piece of paper and folder squared away, and Jazz walked out of the kitchen holding three travel cups in her arms with her bag slung over her shoulder.

“I wasn’t planning on sharing my notes with everyone just yet but I might as well get it over with.” Tim sighed, plopping into one of the wooden chairs at the dining table by the door.

“We don’t have to bring it if you don’t want to.” Jazz commented, slipping on her shoes as he did the same.

“It’s fine, it’ll be better to have everyone on the same page before we bring it up to Bruce.” He explained, slipping into his jacket and trading Babs her coat for the tote.

“Everyone got everything?” Tim asked over his shoulder, grabbing his keys off the hanger by the lightswitch. A black mass surged towards him, snatching it out of the air before it hit him in the face. His keys slid down his arm, suspended by the gotham university lanyard attached to the key ring. Blue light nearly blinded him for a moment. That’s where his phone was.

“To be fair, I didn’t mean to throw it that hard.” Jazz smirked.

“Yeah right,” Tim rolled his eyes, a soft smile on his face as he held the door open with his foot. “Jay better have food when we get there.”

*****

“So, you’ve got this whole Keep to yourself?” He asked, trailing behind the king, marveling at the portraits of past kings lining the grand staircase they walked down- well, he walked down.

The king floated lazily on his back a few inches above the railing beside him. Hands behind his head, legs crossed nonchalantly, and the flowy mantle made of space and stardust flicking against the aged wood.

“Yup,” The king replied, popping the P for emphasis. “Sam and Tuck are touring a college in Chicago. It’s just me hanging around back home, so I figured I’d come hang out with you, while you’re here.” The King smiled warmly, eyes closed in a carefree kinda way.

He felt special. More special than he usually did within the king’s presence. He hated how distant everything felt these days… Every fiber of his being longed to feel the weight of the king’s head on his shoulder again… he’d give anything to feel the bitter cold of the king’s hands in his… Now, all he felt was the led curtain of what life he got back, clinging to his senses, muffling the softest touch… ever since-

“Robin? You okay?” The king sat up, leaning in close, scanning his features as if his face would hold the answer. He blinked, his core betraying him as it purred louder than he’d liked it to, like a cat greeting their favorite human by the door .

“Yeah… I’m.. I’m okay… Promise.” He reassured with as much of a genuine smile he could muster. Those were few and far between these days. The king frowned. Not very convincing apparently.

The king reached out, resting both hands on either side of his face. Neon green orbs peering into his soul. “Wherever you are… Whoever has kept you away… I’ll save you from them . Bring you back where you belong.” The King rested his forehead against his. He barely felt the cold seep through. His core whined, syncing with the king’s loud purring.

It was his turn to frown. “What if I belong there…” He looked down to the metal necklace laying against the king’s sternum just past the open collar of his regal shirt. “They didn’t care enough to save me-”

“Who told you that.” The king’s voice dripped with a calm venom. He locked eyes with the king, the glow from that piercing gaze was like looking upon a dying star imploding.

He swallowed hard, closing his eyes. He couldn’t bare to see the king like this. Angry. At him. At least he thought the king was angry at him. Most people weren’t happy to see him these days.

The King was the exception. His king always looked at him like he hung the moon.

“ Those people are lying to you. You had a family, who risked their lives to try and save you- failure or not. If anyone is to blame, it's the monster who killed you in the first place.” The king's voice was low, holding tight to the calm venom that lingered in his tone.

He didn't say anything. He couldn't say anything. The king was right… right..? He didn't know what to think anymore… That vile man's lies creeped into his thoughts now and again, setting his core ablaze with rage like a bonfire! Of course the king was right- he couldn't let that vile man wash away the truth! 

Now, with the king… Surrounded by what little of the soothing cold he could feel radiate from his touch…

He was tired…

Hot tears streamed down his cheeks. He bit back the sobs threatening to overtake him, leaning into the king's hands on either side of his face. All he wanted was to be that carefree teen again, who found himself in this extravagant castle with his benevolent King who cherished him…

Was that too much to ask for…?

“Robin, look at me.”

Jason opened his eyes, the scent of freshly cooked bacon grounding him in the moment again as the sunlight filtered its way into the kitchen. He flipped off the burner for the bacon and eggs in the pan on the stove.

He blinked away the tears clouding his vision, the memory fading out like the other memories resurfacing lately. The Pits whined just like they did then, longing for something he was already forgetting. He could still feel the whisper of ice cold hands on the sides of his face. 

“Is the rest of the bacon almost-” Steph popped into the corner of his eye, stopping in her tracks when he went to wipe the tear tracks from his face, “Everything okay, Jason? I can take over from here if you need to step out for a sec.” She offered, concern laced into the lines of her face.

“Nah, I've got it. Just… spaced out for a sec..” Jason muttered, taking the food off the stove before it could burn.

“You sure?” Steph cautiously pressed.

Jason sighed, still wiping away tears as they came. “Everything's cooked, just… wash up for me, yeah?” He gestured to the sink and it's few dirty dishes that sat in it.

“Sure thing, do what you gotta do.” Steph gave him a soft smile as she stepped up to the sink.

Most of the people he called to his place were already there. Cass and Steph had crashed at his place after finishing up the case the three of them had been working on recently, plus he was stress cooking again and made too much dinner for just him, so it worked out. Duke came over with the stuff Jason forgot to get at the store for the breakfast he planned. Jazz, Babs, and Tim showed up a few minutes late, but it was fine. Leslie and Frost were always busy on Sundays so they couldn’t come, but Dick and Damian should be here any moment.

The pits wailed in his chest- that's new - so new it scared him.

A blob of black smeared to a halt in front of him. Tim came into focus among the rolling tears.

“Shit, Tim!” Jason choked out as he jumped back a bit. Jason wiped his clammy hands on the red sleeveless shirt he wore.

“Sorry- Jason, could you…” Tim trailed off, whatever he had to say dying on his tongue. Tim just stared at him, wide eyed and silent.

“What..”

“...You're..”

“Ye-yeah, yeah I know…”

Tim blinked, reviving the rest of his sentence from before. “...could you, step out into the hallway with me, uh, Dick and Dami just got here..” He spoke like those words were foreign.

Jason sniffed, nodding towards the front door, keeping his gaze low. Tim followed silently, he could feel his younger brother's shocked gaze on his back. The cold and stale hallway was refreshing. Dick turned towards him as he stepped out into the hall, his goofy smile souring into a frown. Damian had the same shocked expression as Tim did.

“Little wing..?” Dick asked, Jason kept his eyes to their shoes. Dick was wearing those blue and black sneakers Jason got him one year, and Damian wore a pair of black loafers.

“I'll be alright… just.. remembered some stuff…” Jason mumbled, drying up the last of the tears, finally. The pits had settled down a bit.

“Alright.. We wanted to ask about your necklace.” Dick stated, masking the concern in his voice.

“Yes, we believe it could have been one of these.” Damian spoke up, holding a polished moon rock necklace, identical to the one he had around his neck except for the silver decoration.

Jason unclasped his necklace, holding it in his hand and comparing the two. His had a polished silver edge, silver engraving on the back, and a silver pendant clasp in the same style as the gold pendant clasp on Danny's necklace. The moon rocks themselves were a smooth Grey with flecks of silver and some other stone in it, making it look like it had rainbow sparkles covering its surface. The brat was right, the stones were identical. It made the hairs of the back of Jason's neck stand up.

“Where'd you find the dup?” Jason handed Damian back the plain moon rock.

Damian cleared his throat a bit. “I discovered it while I was on a class field trip to the planetarium last week. I thought nothing of it until Drake discovered Nightingale's necklace that had the same writing as your moon rock.” Damian explained, clearly trying to shift gears like nothing happened.

Tim slid over next to Jason, studying the two moon rock necklaces with him. Jason could hear the gears grinding to life in Tim's skull.

“I still don't know how you can read that- it's just curly calligraphy lines etched into a rock- it's not a language!” Tim sighed frustratedly, squinting at the engraving. Weird . Sure, not everyone could read cursive, but it was right there in plain lettering.

“I'm starting to think you need glasses, Timmy.” Jason joked, nudging Tim in the ribs lightly.

The engraving read,

“As your King, I swear on the eternal life given unto me by the ancients, that I will stand by your side for as long as my reign will last. I am honored to serve as your King and I vow to put our people before all else. Just as you protect me, I shall protect you should any foe dare to come between us or our people. For a King is lost without his Knight.

Eternally yours,

-Your beloved King.”

The pits were silent again, yet his heart ached. Like mourning over someone you didn't know you lost.

“Where did you get that necklace, Jason? ” Tim pressed, looking up at him suspiciously.

“It was around his neck when he resurfaced from the Lazarus Pits,” Damian answered, both hands resting in his jacket pockets. “Grandfather tried to dispose of it, however I stole it back for him.” What a throwback, Dami.

“But you weren't buried with any jewelry, right Dick?” Tim asked, somewhat confused.

The man in question had some distance in his gaze as it lingered on the floor. 

“Dickie?” Jason said. Now he was concerned. Only a bit. Jason's death wasn't an easy topic to talk about for anyone in his family. Hell, Jason couldn’t make a death joke without some gloomy face popping up. Especially Dick.

“Grayson..?” Damian tugged on Dick's sleeve, snapping him out of whatever trance he was under.

“Huh? What was the question?” Dick blinked.

“Was Todd buried with any jewelry or personal effects?” Damian asked.

“Oh, no. He was dressed in the formal suit Bruce gave him. We did find a broken batarang that night-” Dick explained somberly.

“-only one half, the other is still missing.” Tim added like he knew something the rest of them didn’t.

“Well, before you unpack whatever that is,” Jason gestured to the smug smile Tim had plastered on his face, "lemme get through my spiel. Capeesh?” Jason eyed Tim, opening the door to his apartment for them.

Tim held up his hands defensively. “The floor is yours.”

Jason followed Tim back into his apartment. He waded past the arm of the couch and over to the four large cork boards lining the brick wall across from the couch. The TV stand was pushed into the corner and out of the way. Tim’s notes and papers were pinned across all four boards like Sherlock working on a case. This kind of spread wasn’t nearly as bad as some of the other case files he and Tim have had pinned to these boards. Hell, they were specifically for times like these. Whenever Tim needed more space to work and another set of eyes, they’d go through it over a pot of coffee. Jason turned his back to the boards now, glancing around at the array of siblings gathered in his living room.

“So. We need to talk about Danny. I think he needs to be moved out of the batcave and somewhere less triggering.” Jason began. “I’ve been thinking about it, and I think the best place for him to be, would be here.

“Why not the manor?” Duke suggested from his spot on the couch. Babs and Tim on either side of him.

“The manor gets kinda loud and Alfie already has a lot on his plate. Plus, you and the brat have school, and Bruce being in the same room with Danny like he is now, is out of the question. ” Jason pointed out.

“Fair, but I could take care of him too, I did it last year.” Jazz interjected from the loveseat. Dick shook his head at him, standing behind the loveseat.

“Jazz, you’ve got school and your internship at Arkham during the week. I’m not sure it would be that easy. Plus, we don’t know if the league is going to try and come after him again and let’s face it, you’re too easy of a target for them.” Jason stated. 

“Fair.” Jazz deflated a bit but folded her hands in her lap.

“Moving him out of Gotham wouldn’t be a good idea either, I’m guessing?” Dick questioned with an impressed smirk.

“I don’t think Bludhaven has any ambient ectoplasm, or at least the levels that Gotham has.” Barbie added from the right side of the couch.

“Gotham has ambient ectoplasm?” Dick asked, tilting his head a bit.

“Not as much as Amity used to have, but it's close enough. Danny’s been living off of it since he got here, but even then he has to pop back to the Infinite Realms sometimes.” Jazz explained. Dick's brows only furrowed further.

“Okay, so Dick and I are out of the running, Why should it be you that takes care of him?” Tim interjected, leaning forward in his seat, sipping on the coffee on his Superboy travel cup.

“Good question Watson,” Tim groaned at Jason as he went on, "I can work from home, so I can keep an eye on him and change out the bags. Me and Jazz seem to be the only ones he's comfortable around while he's this delirious.” Jason replied, placing his hands on his hips, unsure what to do with his hands for some reason. Probably just nerves.

“What about patrols?” Damian piped up from the dining room table, continuing to snack on a vegan muffin from breakfast.

“I’d be able to come over in the evenings except Wednesdays and Fridays, I’ve got my internship those days.” Jazz added, raising her hand a bit.

“That’s where Frost or Leslie comes in, so someone’s always with Danny if he needs anything.” Jason replied, glancing around the room at his siblings, trying to gauge their reactions. No one seemed totally confused or angry with it, so that was a good sign.

“How would you get him here?” Cass softly spoke up from the floor in front of the chair Steph sat in. Steph was trying to braid a section of Cass’s short hair in the back.

“Yeah, if we’re worried about the league finding Danny then it's gonna be almost impossible to avoid all the CCTV cameras between here and the manor.” Steph tagged on, not looking up from the tiny braid she was working on, but she had a point.

Jason smirked a bit. “ That’s where Duke and Frost come into play. Frost and Duke can both make themselves invisible-”

“Dr. Frost can bend light too?? Is that how he was able to scout out the Lazarus Pits that night?” Duke blinked, confused.

“It’s a ghost thing.” Jazz answered like it was a normal thing to respond with- which it really wasn’t -but like hell was Jason going to ask her to elaborate.

“Anyway- Frost can carry the equipment I’ll need and Duke can carry Danny. Both are out of sight of any cameras and it’ll just look like I’m coming home by myself. No need to replace the footage on the back end.” Jason explained, keeping his smirk.

“You think I’m that strong? ”

“He’s 98 pounds soaking wet , I’m pretty certain you can carry him to the car and up the steps.”

“While I bend the light at the same time?”

“We can run through it, don’t sweat it.”

Duke shrugged, seeming mostly convinced that it was going to work. Everyone fell silent then, mulling over the plan Jason proposed. Tim leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, thinking about something, probably not Jason’s plan if the glances to the boards were any indication.

“I’m impressed, you’ve really thought about everything.” Jazz spoke up with a smile, “I say we go for it, see if it helps. If anything, Danny’ll think he’s at my place and go back to sleep.”

“ Anywhere else would probably be more comfortable for him than the medical bay, Nightingale.” Damian said around the rest of his vegan muffin.

“So are we good with that plan? Anything to add, fearless tactician?” Jason asked, crossing his arms over his chest, looking right at Tim. His brother made brief eye contact with him before blinking and sitting back up.

“Huh? Oh, no notes, couldn’t have come up with a better plan for this one.” Tim rushed through his sentence.

“I doubt that, but thanks. Anyway, that’s all I got-”

“Thank GOD- Here, take my seat.” Tim jumped up excitedly, earning a few giggles from everyone else.

Jason sighed, somewhat regretting the fact that he let Tim bring his notes over. Might as well hear him out if he’s this pumped about it. Jason plopped down onto the couch next to Duke where Tim was a moment ago. Tim scanned over the cork boards, moving a few things around, taking a pen out from behind his ear and writing something down on a pad of sticky notes- where’d he get sticky notes?- and putting it on the side by an evidence bag holding Danny’s metal necklace- Did he steal Danny’s necklace from Jazz?-

“So! I’ve got a working theory on this whole situation.” Tim snapped Jason out of his thoughts with a loud clap of his hands. That smug- “I know something you don’t know” smirk reappeared on his face.

This otta be good.

“Danny met Jason after he died and Jason is his Fright Knight.”

“I think he’s finally lost it-”

“Nonono- let me explain ! Danny’s the Ghost King, right? Meaning he might know when new ghosts pop into the Infinite Realms-”

“How do you know tha-?” Jazz butted in.

“I had a lengthy conversation with Dr. Frost- Anyway! Jason died that night while trying to free himself with half a batarang-”

“How'd you-”

“-So somehow Jason met Danny as Robin- that’s why he keeps calling Jason ‘Robin’ without having met him as Robin when he was alive-”

“Sorry- he ambushed me in the hallway and wouldn't let me pass till I told him.” Duke sighed, not meeting Jason's look of betrayal.

“-Or maybe he knew of Robin whenever Danny got the moon rock necklace from the Planetarium-”

“Woah- wait a sec-” Jazz tried to cut in, sitting on the edge of her seat but Tim just kept going.

“-but that’s not the point! Somehow Jason becomes Danny’s Fright Knight because he has the moon rock necklace that is from a ‘Beloved King’ and Danny has the other half of the batarang from a ‘Beloved Fright Knight’ -”

Dick opened his mouth to cut in, but tim pointed at him, “Yes i stole it off your nightstand, no i'm not apologizing, and yes, i was able to get the serial number off of it-”

Tim took a breath, pointing to some sticky note next to the duplicate moon rock necklace. “Dami mentioned that Jason came out of the pits with it - even though he wasn’t buried with that necklace to begin with.” 

Tim scanned the room as he just kept fucking talking. Jason had to cover his mouth to not burst into laughter. When was the last time Tim was worked up like this? A glint of something caught Jason’s eye. The morning light reflected off the camera lens of Steph’s phone camera.

“Send me that later.” Babs whispered, leaning over to Steph as she did. This was absolutely going in Tim’s blackmail folder in the Clocktower’s computer. ASAP.

“That also explains the psychic link they have because Jason was the only one who knew Danny was awake and freaking out thinking Bruce was his dad the other night. Remember?-”

“Oh, he took another breath,” Duke whispered to Jason- they both nearly lost it.

“-Cause we were all playing cards upstairs, then Jason heard something and took off, and no one else heard it, whatever it was. That’s also why Jason’s been so protective of Danny in the first place-” 

Another sip of a breath.

“-because he has to protect the Ghost King!” Tim took a second to actually breathe, having moved around to the different boards, pointing to notes and papers he had pinned to the board, backing up his claims.

This was the level of excited and unhinged energy Tim oozed whenever he was knee deep into a case and was on the cusp of a breakthrough.

“Watch this,” Jason whispered to Duke, “20 bucks says you're wrong.” Jason snorted out a laugh.

“20 bucks says I’m right!” Tim raised his voice a bit, pointing at him.

“20 bucks, and you owe me and Jazz a double date with you and Bernard.” Dick chimed in, winking at Jason as a silent sign of alliance.

“Winner picks the time and place!” Tim crossed his arms confidently, shooting a glare at Dick and Jason.

“You're clinically insane.” Duke laughed.

“Back up- The moon rock necklace?” Jazz stood up, clearly confused.

Jason, after he stopped laughing, slipped off his necklace and handed it off to Jazz. She inspected it, reading the back engraving.

“He really gave this to you?” Jazz turned to him, raising a brow with a cold tone. Dick and Jazz were really two peas in a pod, one just as overprotective as the other.

“Tim's guess is as good as mine, Jasper.” Jason shrugged, leaning back into the couch.

“The hell does that mean?” Jazz narrowed her eyes.

“Do you want my honest answer or the simple one?” Jason crossed his arms with a smirk.

“My apartment is a block out of Crime Alley- don't make me grab the Creep Stick.” Jazz shot back, pointing at him with the necklace still in her hand.

“The Creep Stick?” Jason confusingly echoed.

Dick's wide eyed glance over Jazz's shoulder caught Jason's attention, pure fear crystal clear on his face. “You don't want to be on the business end of the Creep Stick, Little Wing.” Dic shuttered.

“Like I'm scared of some twig. ” Jason scoffed. Jazz was bluffing, and he knew it.

She stood up straighter, he could feel the cold anger radiating off of her, looking down at him from his spot on the couch. He knew that stare, that ice cold glare that pierced your very soul .

  “I would stand down if I were you.” The king’s voice reverberated through the crowd of assassins surrounding him.

He could hear the whipping of fabric in a phantom breeze, the soft chime of mental against chain, and the low hum of a familiar core. A smear of stardust lowered, revealing the stark white hair that defied all laws of gravity, and the cosmic crown floating just above it. A mantle of space and stars cascaded off slim shoulders. The King peered back at him over his shoulder, an ice cold glare upon his face. This was serious.

“Did they hurt you?” That cold venom made its reappearance then.

“Anymore than usual, no. Not yet.” He replied stiffly. The newfound tension in the room was going to be his second death.

“Good.” The King turned his glare to the man in robes in front of him.

“State your name, Spector.” The man in robes spat out.

He could feel the King’s anger radiating from him and dropping the temperature of the room at the same time.

“So that’s how we’re starting the formalities.” The King sighed heavily, frustration clinging to every word. “Keep talking like that and your prison sentence gets long.”

The man barked a laugh. “Your empty threats don’t scare me, Spector.”

“Oh, give it a minute.” The King’s presence spread itself out, cold venom and anger seeping into every crevice of the room.

“I am High King Phantom of the Infinite Realms, Champion of the Dark Keep, Protector of Shades, and Ancient of the Stars . You, must be the man who kidnapped my Fright Knight.” He could hear the choir of the infinite realms echoing from the King's voice as he spoke.

The man in robes looked like he’d seen a ghost, pale and terrified.

“Your Majesty! I-I apologize, I did not recognize you-” The man stumbled over his words, dropping into a kneel. The whole crowd followed suit.

“You were expecting Pariah the Dark, right?” The king asked, standing his ground and holding back the raging blizzard of his wrath.

The man didn't lift his head- was this the first time he'd seen the man cave to anyone? He couldn’t let his guard down, even now.

“Y-Yes.. My apologies, Your Majesty. I believe you caught us at a bad time..” the man's voice shook slightly, head still low.

“Really. What were you doing?” The King sneered.

The man met the king’s gaze again, still kneeling. “Disciplining one of my pupils.” The man glared past the king and right at him like a father telling off his child.

The king glanced back over his shoulder at him before stepping in front of his view of the man.

“Count yourself lucky that I don't have Walker with me this time. I’m here to save my Fright Knight from this hell hole.”

Something dawned on the man's face.

“ This is your King…” The man stood with a false sense of confidence, hands behind his back and head held high. “Fine. Take him. He's useless anyway…”

The room grew even colder then.

“What, no strings attached?” The king spat.

“Hmm?” The man raised an eyebrow, playing dumb.

“Men like you always have a price for your kindness.” The king raised to be at eye level with the man then, the green glow of the king's eyes casting a very soft green light onto the man's face. 

The man looked away from the king, and over at him. Smiling a sinister smile as he did so. He reached a hand to him, pointing in his direction before he spoke again.

“Jason, you there?” Jazz spoke in a calm tone, snapping her fingers to get his attention.

Jason blinked as the present came back into view again. Jazz was sitting in front of him in one of the dining room chairs, face full of concern, and the moon rock necklace laying against the black knit sweater she wore. Dick was standing behind her, arms folded over his chest, covering up the Motley Crew logo on the front of his shirt. He glanced over to his right where Duke still was, just turned more towards him with his leg on the couch.

“You look like you've seen a ghost.” Duke replied, grabbing his sweatshirt from someone behind the couch and shrugging it on over his Latias and Latios t-shirt.

“You still have that shirt.” Jason mumbled, not the sentence he wanted to start with, but it was out of his mouth before he knew it.

“Oh yeah, its one of my favorites.” Duke smiled, looking down at his shirt.

“Jason, where'd you go?” Jazz asked, tilting her head a bit. She typed something into her phone.

“Uh.. I had a.. memory pop up again.” Jason told her, hand to God he was trying to lie, but the truth wormed its way out of him.

Whenever Jazz flipped into therapist mode, it was like she turned into some walking truth serum. She got B to spill case secrets over dinner her fist night at the manor, allegedly. Jason tried to steer clear of her when she's like this. Some truth shouldn't be aired out to the whole family, at least not yet.

“A memory? What about?” She looked at him, her eyes catching a shimmer off the ceiling light.

“...The king. Protecting me from… someone..” Jason felt a faint tug- blink and you'll miss it kind of faint- as her eyes bore into his each time they flickered back up from her phone.

“What did this king look like?” She asked calmly, waiting patiently for his response. It was almost creepy. Note to self, don't let this happen again.

“.... He had your glare.. its all hazy again…” Jason blinked slowly as a dull pain lingered through his head. It was like someone put a stone in his skull.

“Huh. You said, “again”, so I figure this has happened before?” Jazz tagged on, raising a brow.

“Yeah… they come on… and fade back out…” Jason winced as the dull pain slowly got more annoying.

Jazz made a noise of acknowledgement, still typing on her phone. Once their eyes met again, she sat up straighter, taking the dull pain and the tug with it, but his head still felt heavy.

“Eh, hey, don't push yourself. I won't pry any further..” Jazz locked her phone, sliding it back into her pocket, a bit of guilt in her eyes.

“Thanks..” Jason sighed.

“Alright, I think that's our cue. Steph, Cass, and Damian are headed back to the manor. Babs and Tim were headed home too. If you're up for it Little Wing, movie night at the manor is still on.” Dick stated, moving the chairs and TV back with the help of Jazz and Duke as Jason got his bearings again.

“We'll see.” Jason mumbled.

He saw them to the door, leaving him with the stillness of the early afternoon. He still had a few things to do before they could really set his plan into motion, but at least the hard part would be behind them.

Hopefully he didn't jinx himself again.

“Hold tight, Sir Charming. They can't keep you down for too long. Not when you're one of my bats.” A whisper of a feminine voice chimed, too distant and low for Jason to catch. A wisp of black lace faded into the shadow nestled in a far corner of Jason’s living room.

Chapter Text

The one thing they didn't account for that night was rain. It poured down like the Ancients turned on a shower head and let it drench the city of Gotham.

Frostbite never minded the rain, it was always a comforting sound when one was sitting in the security of one's home. Being in it however was a different story. In the Far Frozen, if the blizzard let up enough for it to rain, which was a rare occurrence, it was a nuisance. Making his fur damp and clinging to him, and the drying process was always a hassle. In realms of the living, he avoided going out in the rain like the plague. He traded the damp fur for damp clothing if he was without a raincoat, yet his hair was still a mess to dry out, as thick as it was.

This rainy night was unavoidable. Everyone had worked tirelessly to ensure that the great one was moved quietly and safely. He'd been there the night Jazz and Jason told the great one of their plan, making sure it was alright that they give him pain medicine in order for him to sleep through it. The Great one had agreed, allowing him and Leslie to make sure they were giving him the correct dosage, and monitoring how long it would stay in his system. The great one's metabolism always processed normal medicine at a faster rate, apparently in a similar way to Kryptonians. 

Jason had been working with Duke to ensure that he'd be able to keep up his invisibility while he carried Danny. Frost had even joined the two of them one chilly morning to run through it, without the great one and the equipment of course. Duke had carried a couple circle weights that added up to Danny's weight, while Frost just followed behind. Bruce, once he had been caught up on their plan, had insisted that they take one of his cars instead of a taxi. Perhaps to “sell it better” as they say. That part still had Frost confused, but it was out of his control, so he let it slide.

The other Bats and Birds had set up their patrol routes so that if anything were to go wrong, at least one of them would be nearby to help. Jazz and Barbara had been working together in the Clocktower on the nights that Jazz didn’t have her internship at Arkham Asylum. 

The two of them had ironed out the kinks in the Ecto-Signature search program which was supposedly far superior than the Fentons’ gadgets. Frost had overheard Jazz talking to Barbara on the phone on his way out of the manor with Leslie Thursday evening. Barbara had just mentioned something about picking up a strange area of effect that would linger over Batman or one of the other Bats or Birds while they were out on patrol.

“That's fascinating.” Frost mumbled, jotting the new information down in his journal as he held the door open for the good doctor.

“You wanna share with the class, Archie?” Leslie asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

“I'm amazed that they can detect Lady Gotham’s presence with the Clocktower’s search equipment.” Frost explained, sliding his journal into his leather messenger bag at his side as they walked out to Leslie's silver convertible. It was an older model, but it got the job done, as she liked to say.

“Lady Gotham?” Leslie echoed, unlocking her car and plopping down behind the wheel. The smell of aged leather and the partly dried out air freshener wafted past him as he opened the passenger door.

“She is Gotham’s City Spirit. Whenever a city has enough strong emotions and natural ambient ectoplasm in the area, it creates a City Spirit. Lady Gotham is one of the more powerful ones and is typically hard to locate with modern technology.” Frost lectured easily, sliding into the passenger seat. The leather squeaked slightly as he shifted around, maneuvering the seat back, allowing for more leg room.

“Because her frequency glitches it out like normal ghosts do?” Leslie guessed, starting up the car on the second turn of the engine. Her words underlined by the duet of clicks from their seat belts.

“Very good, Ms. Thompkins! Because her presence can stretch all across the city wherever she needs it to be, most devices try to pinpoint every instance of her energy. They typically break under the strain of keeping up with the sporadic energy spikes. Or, they aren't calibrated to detect that specific frequency, so her presence goes unnoticed.” Frost elaborated with a smirk as they started down the manor's long driveway.

“Sure dose sounds like Gotham.” Leslie chuckled as she drove, relaxing in her seat a bit. Perhaps he could see their search technology for himself once the great one was feeling better.

By the time Saturday finally rolled around that week, they were finally ready to set their plan into action.

Leslie had ministered the kryptonian pain medication to the great one while Frost made sure to pack up all the necessary equipment Jason would need.

He had been running through his own mental checklist when the sweet smell of her flowery perfume softly wafted into his nose. That soothing pocket of warmth returned at his side.

“He's asleep, finally. The dose should last until the morning at the latest, but I wouldn't bank on it turning out that way.” Leslie said, grabbing a couple packaged clear tubes for the IV bags and placing them into the large black suitcase they had found in Frostbite’s apartment. It was technically Vlad Masters's apartment for Frost to use whenever he was in Gotham.

Frost could care less for that apartment and Vlad Masters. Vlad had given him the keys and a black card and told him he had free reign and to use the card if he needed anything. Frost didn't trust Plasmius as far as he could throw the man, and he could throw him pretty far. Frost had agreed on one condition: Plasmius was to go to the council, update them and work with the council while their King was recovering. Vlad had agreed, stating something about turning over a new leaf.

Frost knew the realms would be fine, seeing as Clockwork would keep Plasmius on a short leash and the other ancients would watch him like a hawk. No one would let the man ruin all the progress King Phantom had been working on since taking the throne from Pariah. Yet, the times that Frost was able to pop back into the realms, via the small portal built into the back of the apartment's walk-in closet, Vlad had kept his promise. Even now, as their benevolent King lay sleeping in Gotham, Vlad would be working tirelessly with the council and the ancients to ensure all would be taken care of while King Phantom recovered.

Perhaps he really was striving to do better these days.

“Earth to Archimedes,” Leslie started, waving a hand in front of his face, “Is this everything? We're burning moonlight.” She leaned over the open suitcase again, tucking back a stray strand of white hair behind her ear.

“I believe so. If we've forgotten anything, I can always bring it myself at a later date.” Frost replied, scanning over the contents and zipping the suitcase closed.

“Good. Danny's dressed and ready to go when you all are.” Leslie assured, nodding to someone behind Frost.

He stood and turned, watching Duke as he gently lifted Danny from the cot. Duke seemed comfortable, dressed in a burnt yellow pullover hoodie, a pair of black cargo pants, and white sneakers. Danny was curled slightly in Duke's arms, wearing a thick overcoat, an oversized Wonder Woman t-shirt, Grey sweatpants, and black slip-on shoes. His black bangs flopped into his face, trying to hide the neutral expression of deep sleep on his face.

Frost slung the black duffle bag, containing the case his crystal ball sat in and the temperature controlled box for the ectoplasm bags, across his torso. He adjusted the neck of his grey sweatshirt under his own black overcoat. Frost picked up the black suitcase off the floor by its side handle, turning back to Duke.

“Let's head out. We're taking the black Chevy in the back.” Jason called from the medbay door. He was shrugging on a brown leather jacket, overtop a plain red shirt. His black leather boots, which peaked out from the bottom of the bootcut jeans he wore, squeaked slightly against the tile as he held the medbay door open from the other side.

Frost started for the door, when something caught his prosthetic elbow, Duke went on ahead of him. Frost whipped his head around to the source of what stopped him, only to find the good doctor gazing up at him. She stood at his side with both hands wrapped around his arm. She let go once he was looking at her. She straightened out her light blue sweater that grazed against the waistband of her black pencil skirt. She had on her favorite brown loafers too.

“Be careful. Don’t let either of you be seen, alright? I packed another dose of the pain medicine for later on if Jason needs it- let him know it's there, okay? And don't forget to check his core when you get there.” Leslie stated firmly, pointing at him with a dusting of red on her cheeks. She was rambling, which he quickly recognized was a tell of just how worried she was for him. His core purred at the thought. 

“Thank you, Ms. Thompkins. I will do my best.” He smiled warmly down at her and shifted the suitcase to his bio hand. Cold metal fingers glided against the soft white hair at the back of her head. He leaned down to plant a gentle kiss against her warm forehead. His metal hand slid down to her cheek, where his thumb grazed across her reddened cheekbone. She gazed up at him, eyes blown wide in surprise.

“You have my keys, yes? If you'd be so kind, could you keep my plate warm for dinner tonight?” Frost added, taking his hand away.

“S-sure,” She stumbled, falling in step beside him as he walked across the medbay, “I'm using the black card for Chinese- that really fancy one on the corner of 5th.” She tagged on, trying to put up her confident demeanor again.

“You're put up in the Diamond District, Dr Frost?” Jason questioned, letting the door close behind them.

“Not by choice, Young one,” Frost chuckled, meeting the curious glance from Jason as they started to walk across the batcave. “Vlad Masters lent me his summer home here in Gotham.”

“Fucking rich people.” Jason chuckled, rolling his eyes with his hands in his jacket pockets. He glanced over at Bruce who was dressed in his Batman suit, talking with Alfred in the middle of the cave's main area with his cowl in his hands.

“ Thank you! Some people just throw around money like it grows on trees.” Leslie scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Yeah, tell me about it,” Jason threw over his shoulder as he stopped just when Bruce walked up to their group. “We're about to head out.”

“Good. Everyone has their coms set up?” Bruce asked, which was a very good question. Frost set down the suitcase gently and patted his pockets. Jazz had handed them all out before she left-

“You missing something, Archie?” Leslie asked, holding the communicator in between her thumb and index finger.

Frost just smiled at her again, “I'd lose my head if it wasn't attached, where-”

“Tell ya later, now go .” She clipped, placing it in his metal grasp with a smile of her own.

With one last glance over his shoulder at her, Frost continued down through the tunnel leading to the parking garage and over to the car Jason had mentioned. Duke was leaning on it, one of the backseat doors open where the sleeping king was sat in the middle, sound asleep as ever.

“Danny's all set, where's Jason?” Duke asked.

“He was speaking to Batman, I believe he'll be down shortly.” Frost stated, still wearing the warm smile he'd given Leslie while he loaded the suitcase into the trunk with Jason's personal suitcase, just as they planned.

Duke made a sound of acknowledgement, adjusting the communicator in his ear. Frost took the moment to put his own in his ear and turn it on. A voice already came through from the other end.

“-just leaves the boys. Signal, Frostbite, Hood, are you guys on the road yet?” Barbara's voice chimed into his ear. Frost chuckled at the idea of his true name being their codename for him.

“Just about, had to touch base with Batman.” Jason responded through the communicator as he rounded the corner of the tunnel, jogging over to the car.

“Perfect. Right on schedule, boys. Be careful and drive safe.” Barbara added, they could hear the hopeful smile in her voice.

“Copy that, Oracle.” Jason replied as the three of them piled into the car. Jason behind the wheel with Duke, Danny, and Frostbite in the backseat in that order. 

The car started on the third turn of the engine, they were on their way down the long driveway of Wayne Manor and onto Gotham’s streets. Frost, Duke, and Danny, as long as Duke kept a hand on the smaller man's shoulder, had disappeared from view halfway down the long driveway before they got in view of any street cameras.

Frostbite knew the drive would be longer, considering the evening traffic of people getting off from work and all, but his worries fell upon Duke. With the rain and the added traffic dragging their drive out to around an hour and twenty minutes, he wondered just how long the poor young man could hold up his invisibility. For Frost himself it came as natural as breathing, yet this was something Duke had to train himself to maintain.

The creek of the emergency break being set snapped him from his worries and back to the task at hand.

Right, the plan.

Frost could see the outline of Duke shifting and scooping the sleeping king up into his arms again. This was his cue. Frost rested a hand on Duke’s upper back and allowed his own intangibility to wash over the three of them as they phased through the right side of the car.

Frost silently thanked the ancients that he was still able to use his abilities here. If not for the sake of the mission at hand, but to save him the hassle of getting drenched from the rain pelting down.

Frost dipped a hand into the trunk of the car, grabbing the black suitcase by the side handle again, and let it phase through the trunk. Right on time for Jason to come around and unlock it, revealing only his personal suitcase as the trunk's contents.

Wonderful, just as they planned! Next was the tricky part: navigating the stairs. 

Jason, unfortunately, lived on the top floor of the old, red brick apartment building that was squished between two other buildings. Jason brought down the trunk lid, locking the car with a short beep. Jason lead the way up the stoop, hauling his own suitcase at his side and swinging the building's main door open wide. Frost followed Duke in, thankful for his abilities as the main door wafted right through them.

It took them a mildly silent eternity to make their way up the several flights of stairs to Jason's apartment. At some point, Frost had felt Duke's own invisibility slip, however the old couple they passed seemed none the wiser. Frost gave Duke a light push with his bio hand as it still set on the teenager's upper back.

As soon as Jason had opened his apartment door and set down his suitcase, giving them enough natural time to file into the apartment's living room and out of sight of the doorway, both of them dropped their abilities. Duke gently set Danny onto the couch, catching his breath while he sat on the floor next to it. Frost sighed, wiping the few beads of sweat from his forehead. More from stress than physical exertion. He leaned on the back of the plush loveseat by the dinning table. 

“Mission… accomplished…” Duke breathed, holding down the button for his communicator in his ear. Frost caught the thunk of the front door closing and both locks being set.

“Good job guys, how's Sleeping Beauty?” Barbara chimed on the other end. Frost smiled at the great one's codename, ever careful in case someone from the outside was brave enough to listen in.

“I've got him from here, Starshine,” Jason whispered, coming around the other side of the couch. “Working on it now, Oracle.” He commented, gently sitting Danny up, supporting him with one arm and the other slipping off his overcoat and shoes. The smaller man melted into Jason’s chest while he worked around his limp frame to free his arms of the thick overcoat. 

Now free of the unnecessary outerwear, Jason curled an arm around Danny's back while the other arm slid up underneath Danny's knees. He lifted the sleeping king into his arms like it was the easiest thing in the world. Frost bent down to retrieve the black suitcase from the floor beside him, following Jason into the first room on the right.

It was a cozy bedroom upon first glance. A soft king sized bed set against the right wall as soon as you entered, facing a brick wall with a dark wooden bookshelf sat up against it, full to the brim with books, small knick knacks, and a few spare blankets on the lower shelves. Nestled in the corner facing the door sat a plush armchair with a floor lamp and a small side table next to it. If he squinted in what moonlight was trickling in, he could just make out the book on the side table: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. Frost made a mental note of it for later with a smile. A plain wooden dresser leaned against the left wall by the door, facing the glass sliding door on the opposite wall. Thick blackout curtains blocked out half of the sliding door, leaving just enough moonlight for them to work.

Frost pulled back the black comforter as Jason walked around to the opposite side of the bed. Jason's knee sank into the mattress as he knelt onto the bed. Danny made a soft groan and mumbled something when Jason lowered him down onto the bed.

“I know, Casper. Shhhh… I gotcha.” Jason whispered as he brought the comforter up under Danny's arms. Jason sat on his knee on the side of the bed for a moment, a hand lingering on Danny's upper arm, watching as he faded back into a deep sleep. He rose up to stand at the side of the bed again, straightening the comforter.

“Ah, I see your affinity for nicknames hasn't changed, Young one.” Frost mused with a smile, opening up the black suitcase at the end of the bed.

Jason gave him a confused glance, taking an IV kit from Frost. “You say that like we've met way before last week.”

Frost was silent for a moment, making sure he was setting up the IV bag correctly. What an odd thing to say, Frost knew for certain they had met during his stay in the infinite realms. Frost was there when the young man had been crowned the Imperial Fright Knight. Even when they discussed changing the name of the King's Knight, Robin simply stated, “I dunno, The Imperial Fright Knight sounds pretty cool to me.” He thought that the odd look Jason had given him when they met here in Gotham was just because he didn’t recognize Frost in his human form.

Or.. perhaps the curse the great one mentioned was true after all…

“I suppose it has been a few years since your last visit to the infinite realms and my human form can be deceiving. But yes, we met when you'd appeared in the infinite realms. You were smaller then, around the same size as Danny used to be. You two were inseparable if I remember.” Frost rambled as he began unpacking the rest of the equipment.

“Jason?” Duke called out from the foot of the bed, reaching out for the other man.

Frost flicked his gaze over right as Jason swayed towards the wall, catching himself on the wood headboard and leaning over the side of the bed. Jason winced in pain, eyes squeezed shut and held the side of his head. Frost swore there was something smudged on his forehead, right above the space between his eyebrows.

“Jason, what's wrong, are you-” Frost began, emptying his hands-

When a pale hand slowly reached up towards Jason's face, like someone gently reaching for a snowflake, and cupped the man's cheek. Jason lowered his hand and eventually himself down to the floor beside the bed, letting his cheek sink into the space beside Danny's neck. Danny's hand curled around and carded through Jason's hair as he settled down. Soft, echoing murmurs reverberated from Danny as his eyes were open slightly, glowing a bright green. Frost recoiled from the soft whine of the great one's core drilling into his ears.

He met the bewildered glance from Duke as they both stood at the end of the bed. Had- had Jason collapsed? Perhaps a dizzy spell- that wouldn't necessarily yield the pained expression Jason wore then. Frost passed Duke on his way to Jason's side, crouching down to look him over.

The shadow clinging to the edge of the black out curtain stretched out into the light. Frost followed it as it tugged on the other shadows casted through the room, threatening to swallow what light they did have in the room. Slowly, the shadows melted back into place, leaving a black lace pattern gliding across the floor. Shiny black heels dug into the carpet just past the sweeping lace headed towards the bed.

His body moved on its own as he stood and backed away, giving the small, in comparison to Frost, thin figure a wide berth.

The lace was nearly invisible against the silk black dress underneath, spanning the length of the torso and stopping just shy of her knees. Thin fingers, adorned with a few jeweled rings, poked out of the bellowing lace sleeves, finding purchase on the back of Jason's shoulders.

“Don't push yourself, Little King. You leave Sir Charming to me, alright?” An airy chime of a voice rang through the room.

Frost could feel the soft murmur of the king's reply echo through him. A shiny black bob fanned out briefly as the figure turned her head to the side, casting a cold glare back at them from over her shoulder. Inky black irises flickered between himself and Duke.

“Pick ya jaws up off the floor an help a gal out, wouldja?” She called, the airy tone growing colder by the second.

“Of course- Duke, the armchair if you please.” Frost rushed, moving of his own will this time to Jason's other side, sliding one of his arms over Frost's shoulders and his bio hand grabbing Jason's waist. Frost lifted the man up and set him down in the plush armchair Duke brought over from the corner. 

The woman in black draped herself over one of the arms of the chair. She leaned Jason against her side, gently gliding her fingers through his hair.

“There we go,” The woman cooed softly, “Go on, do whatcha gotta do.”

“Riiight…” Duke nodded slowly, glancing over at Frost again, trying to steel himself and focus.

“If you'll take care of this..” Frost trailed off, returning Duke's nod with one of his own. The two of them worked silently as they set up the rest of the equipment. Frost double checked the set up they had, which was mostly the same, minus the bulky monitors and things the medbay had.

“That's, everything right?” Duke asked cautiously.

Frost hummed with a nod, glancing past Duke where Jason was still passed out in the armchair, leaning against the woman's side. Frost closed the black suitcase, setting it off to the side by the doorway. He couldn’t shake how small the room felt now. He cleared his throat before addressing the elephant in the room.

“To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit, Lady Gotham?” Frost inquired, standing at the foot of the bed again.

“Oh, you know, I was in the neighborhood and figured I could lend a hand,” Lady Gotham mused with a cheerful smile. 

“Who's your friend, Frosty?” She tagged on, nodding over to Duke.

“Ah, Lady Gotham, this is Duke Thomas, also known as Signal. Duke, this is Lady Gotham, Gotham’s City Spirit.” Frost introduced politely, gesturing between the two as he spoke. Duke stiffened under Lady Gotham’s gaze.

“Ah, so you're the Starshine that's runnin’ with the Bats and Birdies nowadays,” She held out her free hand to Duke, palm down and the silver rings on full display.

“Nice to meet you, Lady Gotham.” Duke stepped forward and shook her hand nervously.

“Charmed.” Lady Gotham replied with a smile.

“Signal, Frostbite, Hood, check in. I'm seeing that same area of effect over the apartment on my scanners, be careful.” Barbara cut in through the earpiece. Frost nearly jumped out of his skin at the sudden noise in his ear.

“We're alright, Oracle. Sleeping Beauty's all set up and comfortable.” Duke explained, if a bit vague.

“Oh! Make sure she gets my best side, it isn't every day a gal meets her secret admirer!” Lady Gotham giggled, still running her fingers through an unconscious Jason's hair at her side. She held the demeanor of a confident mother soothing her child back to sleep after a nightmare.

“What was that, Signal? We're getting a lot of interference on your end.” Barbara interjected, a bit of concern laced into her tone.

“I'll explain later. Mission accomplished, everyone's fine, Sleeping Beauty is all set.” Duke reiterated, sitting on the edge of the bed.

The room grew significantly colder then. Lady Gotham glanced to the wall to her left as if spotting something off in the distance. A soft sigh escaped her as she turned her attention back to the conversation, placing a kiss on the top of Jason’s head. “Take care of Little King, Red Bird..” She whispered.

“Okay. Let me know when you're headed home.” Barbara stated on the other end.

“Will do, Oracle.” Duke added, taking his finger off the button on his earpiece.

“Well boys, I do appreciate the chit chat. But alas, I've got places ta be, people ta see.” She sighed dramatically, placing Jason's head on the arm of the chair as she stood.

“And don't sweat it, Red Bird's gonna just be fine.” She stated confidently, waving away the thought. 

The shadows seeped further into the room once again as she walked across the floor. She passed behind the armchair and sank down into the shadow casted by the curtains as if she was descending down a set of stairs.

“Buh bye!” Lady Gotham giggled distantly. 

The cocktail of moonlight and city lights chased the shadows back to their nooks and crannies throughout the room.

A calm quiet blanketed the room finally as two out of its four occupants were dead to the world for the moment. Frost was thankful for moments such as these. The small blips in time that allowed him to catch his breath, if only for a second.

“What. Just happened…” Duke whispered, cracking the silence.

“A whirlwind of things, I’m afraid.” Frost breathed out a chuckle.

There was a grumble from the armchair as Jason stirred. Duke stood up out of reflex.

“Fuck…” Jason breathed, “Lemme guess.. I blacked out again…” He rubbed a hand over his face, pushing himself up to a sitting position in the armchair.

“Sure, we'll go with that...” Duke sighed, sitting back down on the side of the bed.

“There's a bit of good news, the mission was a success.” Frost interjected with a soft smile.

“Good… any bad news I should know about…?” Jason asked, rubbing his eyes a bit.

Frost went over his mental checklist one more time, fidgeting with the leather buckle on his messenger bag. What was he forgetting…

“… And don't forget to check his core when you get there.” Leslie's rambling echoed across his mind.

That's right!

“I almost forgot,” Frost began, pulling the silver case out of his bag and setting it down on the end of the bed. “I need to check The Great One's core before I leave.”

Duke and Jason watched him curiously as he flicked open the case and retrieved the crystal ball. He sat on the bed at Danny’s side. Frost let his intangibility wash over the ball, his metal hand and up to his elbow, watching Danny's breathing closely.

With the next exhale, Frost slowly lowered the ball through the top of Danny's chest. Danny's eyes fluttered open, holding a faint green glow. There was that whine of the smaller man's core Danger!Flee,not-safe,not-safe stinging his ears. Danny tensed up, causing Frost to hold the ball steady for a moment.

“Its alright, I'm just checking your core. This'll only be a moment.” Frost assured, hearing his own core hum safe,calm,protected,safe in response. The whine diminished, and Danny slowly let out the breath he'd been holding, letting the tension drain from his muscles. A dark silhouette gently sat on the other side of Danny. Danny held one of the silhouette's hands with a soft, tired smile.

Frost continued lowering the ball through his chest. He could feel the crystal ball enveloping the icy core like a bubble. 

“Slow breath in, Danny.” Frost calmly instructed, moving slowly in time as Danny took a shaky, deep breath in. A sharp pain, accompanied by a prickling sensation, bolted through the nub of Frost's upper arm; right at the connection point for his prosthetic. He sucked in a sip of a breath through gritted teeth as the pain came on. Frost envied the simplicity of his ice arm then, wishing more than anything to be relieved of the phantom pain. Just one if many a price he paid to walk among the living while he visited. He prayed to the ancients his arm wouldn’t start shaking.

Eventually, Frost rose the crystal ball up above Danny's chest with his core safely and clearly displayed within. Wispy strands of aqua drew taut, keeping the ball where Frost held it. Opaque wisps of aqua shifted and swirled the outer surface, covering a few spots of the crystal ball with flakes of thin ice. The bright green underneath swirled in the opposite direction with pockets of inky black rising and dipping within the green like oil trying to mix with water. Thankfully no cracks or fractures. That was a relief.

“That… black stuff, is the corrupted ectoplasm, right?” Jason's low but soft voice whispered on Danny's other side.

“Yes, and the treatment is working. There's more regular ectoplasm than corrupted in his system now.” Frost pointed out. “Deep breath out, take your time, Danny. You're doing great.”

Danny closed his eyes as he slowly let out all the air in his lungs as Frost gently lowered his core back down into place. It took everything in him to steady his metal arm as the pain only worsened, crawling into his shoulder. Once Danny's core was resting comfortably as it was before, Frost eased the crystal ball back out of the man's chest. Danny took a few deep breaths, coughing a bit as he did, but it wasn't long before sleep took over him once again.

“What do you usually look out for?” Jason asked, still holding Danny’s hand in his, looking down at the now empty crystal ball. Frost couldn't help but smile. A slightly pained smile, but a smile nonetheless.

“The color and transparency of one's core is important as a transparent core is a sign that its weak. Cores should be bright and a bit difficult to look at without some kind of eyewear.” Frost explained, setting the ball back in the foam nest of the case. He began pushing the sleeve up onto his shoulder, revealing the top of his metal prosthetic.

“Oh. Oh… so his core isn't supposed to be like that…” Jason nodded slowly, a recognized somber in his eyes.

“Correct. I typically look at the ectoplasm within the core as well in case the person's core isn't regulating the appropriate temperature or in this case, how well it's filtering out impurities.” Frost went on, clicking up a lever on the outer side of the prosthetic. The pressure released with a hiss, allowing him to easily slip the arm off, laying it in his lap. He peeled away the insulated coverings from the nub itself, the cool air of the room soothing the lingering pain just slightly. Jason hummed a bit in response, so Frost continued.

“Lastly, I check for any fractures, cracking and overall damage. There's a laundry list of reasons a ghost's core could be cracked. The other factors typically help narrow down the list depending on the core you're looking at. The same way someone might have pain somewhere, but the pain might not narrow down the diagnosis, therefore you have to take in account the other symptoms too.” Frost lectured a bit, not looking up from where he had began working out the phantom pain still lingering in his nub with his good hand. Leslie was better at this than he was, considering the ice arm of his true form never gave him this much grief. Frost's breath hitched as he pressed a bit too hard into a sore spot. Silence creeped back into the room, but only briefly.

“How do you know who has a core and who doesn't?” Duke asked, sitting cross-legged towards the foot of the bed.

“Well, all living beings have a dormant core until it activates upon death. Ghost cores typically have their own way of communicating with another ghost's core while they're both in the same proximity.” Frost explained as the end of his sentence turned gravely. The pain was finally easing away, leaving the odd tingling sensation.

“Mhm… “ Duke hummed, looking away in thought, hands laying on his legs.

Frost picked up the thick lining for his prosthetic and slipped it back on his nub. A crackled whine barely caught his attention then. For a moment he thought it was the great one’s core trying to reach out to him again, but this was different. The great one’s core always had a whistle under it, like the blizzard winds breezing past your ears. He stopped, metal arm in hand, and just listened.

Another whine, distorted and soft, with a distinct crackling underneath, like sitting near a campfire slowly turning to embers…

Frost shifted his gaze up- locking eyes with Jason. He hadn’t moved, still sat on the edge of the bed like before. Still holding Danny’s hand and Jason’s thumb gliding against Danny’s knuckles. Jason’s eyebrows furrowed in a silent, “You heard that?” Frost couldn’t stop the smile from curling on his lips. He nodded, looking back down to his arm as he worked to reattach it again. He glanced over at Jason one more time, seeing the storm of indecision clear as day on the man’s face.

“...Could Jason have a core?” Duke asked curiously. There was the question Jason had been mulling over, given the look of surprise he gave his younger brother. Frost flexed his metal hand again now that it was snugly back on. 

“What makes you ask such a question?” Frost asked in response. He knew the answer, yet he wanted to see where Duke’s line of thought was. Duke was still one of the Bats, one of few who worked closely with the World's Greatest Detective. Just how close was Duke from the truth?

“Well, Jason's died before, right? So that would mean his core activated and then… then would it still be activated even though he came back?” Duke explained himself, oblivious to the look of disbelief being slowly overshadowed with realization on Jason's face.

“That's a very good theory. One that will have to go disproved for tonight. I for one don't want to be caught in this rain anymore than I already have been.” Frost chuckled, packing up the crystal ball into its case and returning it back to his bag.

“Yeah, don't you have, ya know, school or something tomorrow?” Jason added, standing to stretch.

“But don’t you want to know? It could be what proves Tim’s theory-” Duke started, standing up with him.

“It's too late for this shit, Starshine. You need to get back to the manor before B has a hernia.” Jason scoffed, shooing the two of them out of the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

Without another word, Jason ushered Frost and Duke out of his apartment, sending the pair down the winding stairwell back down to the apartment stoop. Frost listened in as Duke informed Barbara over the comms of their departure. Frost phased them through the apartment building's main door while the two were cloaked under his invisibility. The two walked a few blocks out to the nearest bus stop before reappearing. Frost ducked under the overhang, dropping the hood of his overcoat and shaking out his damp hair from his ponytail. Duke plopped down onto the bench under the overhang with a soft sigh. The steady pattering of rain onto the hard plastic roof of the overhang filled the dead air between them. Blurs of cars breezed past them on the street as the traffic opened up. Frost sat on the other side of Duke, taking out the small brush he kept in his bag and started to brush out the wet tangles in his hair, a few frustrated growls escaping him.

It wasn't long before the late night bus rolled to a stop at the curb, its doors squeaking open for them. Frost paid for both their tickets with what cash he had on him and both of them found a comfortable silence among the few other passengers. 

Frost drank in the calmness of the moment, closing his eyes and leaning back into his seat. Letting the time flow past him now that the night was his. His only task was to make it back to his apartment and have dinner with Leslie like he promised. A pleasant evening in, out of the rain, spending time with her “outside the office” as she liked to say. His core rumbled at the thought.

“Frostbite, It's Thompkins, how far out are you?” The good doctor's voice chimed from the communicator in his ear.

Frost opened his eyes again, shaking away the sleep starting to weigh on him. The seat beside him was empty, which surprised him in a way. The Bats were silent when they needed to be. He glanced out the window, seeing the towering buildings of the diamond district just a few blocks ahead of him. The bus lurched to a stop, opening the doors with a hiss.

“I've just arrived at the bus stop outside the district. It shouldn't take me long to get home.” Frost replied as he stepped off the bus, rolling the empty suitcase at his side while he walked down the sidewalk.

“Good. I was serious about Chinese for dinner, you're lucky it's still warm.” She said matter-of-factly.

“Sounds delicious, Ms. Thompkins. Is Oracle still listening? I'm curious if Signal made it home safely.” Frost added, stopping at a crosswalk.

“Last I heard he was home and heading to bed. Poor thing.” She commented.

“Ha, well I'm glad. I'm just about to pass the corner shop now, I-” A flash of green flickered in his periphery- a jotting force coiled around the anchor point of his prosthetic, yanking him hard off balance and stumbling into the alley.