Tim, officially, does not have a new caretaker.

Tim, unofficially, does have a new caretaker.

A large, large man with long flaming purple hair that was capable of touching the floor if it didn't move like fire with sharp glowing green eyes and a neutral, if a bit of a resting bitch face, expression on his face.

Comparatively, he was not dressed oddly. Nothing but a white compression shirt, grey sweatpants and a pair of black sandals. The only thing odd about it was the sword constantly strapped to his waist, though Tim ignored it when he saw the man using it to chop ingredients.

Fright, he called himself, and Tim never asked if it was his actual name or not. He was just glad someone came over as constantly as he does.

He doesn't know where the man goes at night, after making sure he's tucked into bed and asleep, but he never pried. Mostly because he wasn't supposed to know that, and he doesn't want Fright to catch onto the fact that he was constantly sneaking out at night either.

So they'll both keep their secrets.

===

Fright Knight was at a loss with himself.

His master, Pariah Dark, had been once again released from the Sarcophagus of Forever Sleep and he wasted no time to return to his side. Even with his previous betrayl.

The events that followed were unexpected.

His master did not continue his eons long war with life. Though it had long since turned silent with his imprisonment, it was still brewing under the current of 'peace' that the Ghost Zone fell into.

Fright Knight knew that well.

So, what exactly was he supposed to do when his master returned to his time as naught but a humble farmer and started to rebuild the bridge he had long burnt with the Master of Time?

He felt... conflicted.

Of course, reconnecting with the Ghost of Time was a good thing, and he has been subject to witness just how much passion they had for each other during days long past.

But his master picking up a life that was not one honed through blood was always an odd thing for him to experience. Two peas in a pod, as some would say they were.

War and Fear.

Where War went, Fear followed. Rivers of flowing blood with storms of fear promised was something too tempting for him to resist.

Fear was a sword, and he was War's blade.

So it was not something easy for him to adjust to when War settled down into peace and sought prosperity instead of his namesake. Of course, he, as always, adjusted regardless of the situation and followed his master in his newest endeavor.

It was much harder to preserve a life, than it was to end it. They both came to realize. On his master's part, farming was something he pondered over and donned for a brief time eons ago, the new methods of today clashing wildly with what little he knew of the activity before War sung to him again. For Fright Knight, he had not a single nail's worth of experience in the act, never having had an interest like War did and as such, never learned.

It felt rather odd to use his blade to cut gifts from the land, but if he replaced them with images of enemies long since snuffed, it wasn't exactly hard.

He could not stay there for long; however, it was just too... different, from what he was used to. The Ghost King knew this and told him he was free to be left to his own devices so long as it did not affect the rules the Master of Time had set for them.

Or rather, War. But as Fear was in his service, he was not exactly exempt from said constraints, either.

So he wandered, keeping to his 'human' persona he was told to set for himself here. He was thankful that these beings called Meta's existed as no one gave him more than a second glance.

Though if that was more something to do with his height he did not know.

He came upon a city, one of shadows and filled with curses in numbers that even made him pause in slight bafflement. Lady Gotham, the city's spirit, brushed against him as soon as he stepped foot within her haunt, and it did not take long for them to reach and accord.

Fear was allowed to stay, so long as he did not do anything she did not permit. He was fine with said rules, after all, what was another constraint compared to those set by Time itself?

He had a favorable view of this city, just the ambient fear alone made it worth stepping inside. It was better than War's attempt at peace, though it was nothing due to the being itself he was just... used to being surrounded by fear.

Then he met a human child by the name of Timothy Drake. A meeting by chance and nothing else, but he did need something to do by Lady Gotham's suggestion.

So he became the boy's 'caretaker' though if he were a good one was something he could not comment on.

He did not need sleep, his new ward did, so when night fell, he always stepped out of the city to go back to his master and reappeared the next morning.

The thing about his new master's attempt at peace, was that he was quite willing to give away the gifts he received from the land. Which was helpful, considering he had no idea how to acquire money in this new age.

I am not immune to magical animal transformation fics. Also, my cat!Danny agenda. So, like, Damian finding a magically transformed Danny, mistaking him for a regular cat, then sneaking him into the manor obviously tickles my fancy. But also, Cat!Danny winning Alfred over by being a complete narc every time one of the bats try to do something stupid while injured is just... *chef's kiss*

Red Hood climbs up onto a roof with the intention of watching some drug smugglers below, only to find Robin, crouched in the perfect hiding space Jason had noticed. The boy is eating fries from a curled down Batburgers bag and sipping a Riddler Shake.

Jason: What are you doing here, Boy Wonder?

Tim: Probably the same thing you are. Spying on criminals.

Jason: ...

Tim: Want some fries? They're Jokerized, just to warn you.

Jason: Why?

Tim: Kon-El got some to try the last time he sneaked into Gotham and it turns out they're really good.

Jason: No, why would you offer me fries?

Tim: I have enough to share and I can always buy more?

Jason: Why are you being nice to me?

Tim: I'm offering fries, not a kidney. Why wouldn't I?

Jason: Because of the knife to the throat or, you know, that time I beat you within an inch of your life?

Tim: ...

Jason: ...

Tim: What the fuck was your time as Robin like?

Jason: The fuck?

Tim: A mentally unstable individual violently attacked me because he was scared or mad at Batman. That's like a bi-monthly occurrence for me, minimum. At least you were really insane and want to get better now-

Jason: I never said I wanted to stop killing.

Tim: I said get better. You want to be in control of yourself instead of being all Lazarus crazy, right?

Jason: Yes. But that doesn't mean I won't kill.

Tim: That's still wanting to get better. You think half the rouges who rotate through Arkham are actually trying to get better by even that much?

Jason: No.

Tim: Me, either. So that makes you an improvement over the usual. Plus, you know, the trauma from being murdered and all.

Jason: That's not an excuse to attack a kid.

Tim: No, but it's an explanation, which, again, is better than the usual. And you're showing signs of genuine remorse. That's huge around here. How often do we get that?

Jason: Anyone ever tell you your standards are kinda fucked up?

Tim: They'd have to pay closer attention for that.

Jason: Fucking what?

Tim: Doesn't matter. It's not like you're going to talk to anyone and even if you did, who'd believe you?

Jason: ...

Tim: So, you want some fries?

Jason: Yeah, sure.

Jason: These are good.

Tim: Right?

Jason: Is this nori?

Tim: Uh-huh; with paprika, kosher salt, and msg. I think there might be something else in there, but I haven't been able to place it.

Jason: Potato starch.

Tim: Oh, that makes sense.

Jason: I am definitely Jokerizing my fries from now on.

Tim: Try them with the Riddler Shake, too. The mint really compliments them.

Jason: I'll do that.

Tim: Wait. Doesn't that guy work for Black Mask?

Jason: Yes, he does.

Tim: So...want to pull a World's Finest?

Jason: What?

Tim: You know, a team-up?

Jason: You-? Fucking- You know what? Sure. Let's pull a World's Finest. *under his breath* Little freak.

that’s rough buddy

AU of my Gotham/Tim Drake! Danny where Danny doesn’t know any knowledge beforehand about the DC universe.

Jason slides the knife against the Replacement’s neck.

Danny sighs. “I can’t believe I’m dying again.”

Jason pauses. “What the fuck did you just say, Replacement?”

Danny rolls his eyes at him and Jason rethinks his decision of not offing the little fucker right away.

“You think you’re the first one to die in this household? Get a grip. I did it first, way before you did, jackass.”

Tim is 14. He’s a child. What the fuck is Jason doing?

“When…?”

“How do you think I became Gotham, little bird?”

Jason freezes. And then he’s scrambling backwards, the knife flung away in his horror.

Tim shifts into Gotham and Jason bites back a cut of regret and bitterness.

He… no, what? What even is happening?

“Why is the Joker not dead? You… you told me that you loved me. That Gotham… that-”

“I’m cruel, little bird. The Joker would not suffer as much if he were dead.”

“He’s killing people! He’s killing your own!”

“So everyone thinks.”

“What?”

“I am Gotham, little bird. Mass hallucinogenic gasses are so within my reach to the point it is concerning. Perhaps you should help Ivy with the city clean up?”

“Huh?!”

Tim Drake, Danny’s human identity in this universe, is a boy trapped in an empty manor with absentee parents a low socialization.

Danny Phantom, on the other hand, is Gotham City himself. He could fly, he could interact, he could be the heart of his city like he needs to be. From the lowest of the lows to the highest of the highs, Danny loved the people that were his. Well, most of them. Child molesters often found themselves crossing paths with a vengeful, mostly recovered Robin.

He is the city, he is Gotham. And with his status came more changes, ones he welcomes more readily that the changes that came with his title of Ghost King.

Being a city couldn’t change him as much as it would have, had he gained the title before becoming King. But now, his shadows are dark, curling around his shoulders and curling away what little light he allowed into his city. His skin, having once glittered green with stars and galaxies and black holes, clouds over just a bit. It gives him a misty quality. His hands become sharper, stronger. Gargoyle-like. He wonders what he looked like to Batman, holding his broken son cradled safely to himself. He’s crueler, now, but that’s easily balanced by his years of being a vigilante himself.

He loves these changes. They are loved in a way changing into Dead Danny Phantom and Ghost King Danny Phantom will never be loved. And even though his human features are different in a way he never had to deal with as Danny Fenton, because it was his body that he died in, Danny finds himself enjoying the distinction. And he enjoys when they combine, because in the end, they’re just facets of who he is, now.

Gotham flies through his city, and enjoys it as a whole. A bigger picture.

Tim Drake walks through his city, and enjoys it as an individual. The smaller picture.

Being Gotham reminds him of what he had to protect as a whole. A duty he gladly bears.

Being Tim reminds him of the people he’s meant to help, the stories he doesn’t get as Danny. A connection he gladly encouraged.

Gotham is power. He is duty, he is fierce love. But for the good of the whole.

Tim is kindness. He is choice, he is gentle devotion. But for the good of the individual.

He’s both.

Danny. Danny Phantom.

Phantom glides through the smog.

The ebb and flow of people is his life blood, the thrumming of life and death and fear and hate and love and everything the city is sung through him and Danny sung back with everything he had. Danny is the gargoyles perched high, watching everything. He’s the stone curves of the sewers, sheltering his rats and mutant murderous crocodile man. The is no love comparable to a city’s mutant rats and their sewers. Ancients, he loves his city.

It would be nice, Danny thinks wryly, if they’d love me enough to stop blowing up buildings.

The sting of destruction to his city would hurt much more, had he not also been King. Regardless, every time there’s an explosion or general large scale property damage, he feels a stab of mild pain. Catching sight of his Bats, Danny stays invisible while following them. He wills the shadows to cradle them, to hide them further. He softens the stone, the mortar, the steel, just a hint. Their footsteps, silent and aided by the city himself. The wind steal away the noise of the grappling guns, so when Danny’s favorite vigilante duo (a fascination he shared with original text!Tim) broke into the building, not a single soul aside them are aware of the intrusion.

Batman skulks across the support beams, Robin following with an anticipatory grin. Danny floats, invisible, undetectable, besides them.

“C’mon!” A goon grunts beneath them. Danny tilts his head. A… Dresden Aberthy. Wow. That’s one hell of a name.

“Hurry it up! Boss said Batman’s going to get here soon!” Another goon- Robbert- said, waving around a gun like a moron at the terrified hostages. Danny could tell half of them were part of a tour bus, mostly because the other half were his Gothamites, bored and unfairly used to this kind of thing. The tourists… He’s fond of them, having kept track of their progress through his city. He doesn’t care for intruders on his haunt, but tourists like to appreciate his city and its doubtlessly Sam-approved architecture. Most of them. Rude tourists get pigeon shit on their heads and food stolen by his lovely rats.

He’ll have to make sure none of the bullets hit the tourists. He likes this group, even if he has enough awareness to question their sanity in choosing his city to sightsee. He knows it’s a mess. It’s Danny’s mess though, so whatever.

——

All said and done, Batman whoops ass and Robin rescues the hostages just fine. Danny grins proudly as Robin knees a guy in the crotch and punches a lady’s throat in order to incapacitate them.

After they tied the goons up, and interrogated them for Two Face’s plans- explode a quarter of Gotham to distract the Bats from his diabolical plan to murder half of Gotham’s judges and lawyers that have been going after him and his people- the duo retreats to the rooftop.

“Didja think Gotham saw that?”

Batman goes to reply, but Danny beats him to it, coming back to visibility with a wind touched laugh.

“I did, little Robin.” Danny smiles, fangs and shadows on display as his vigilantes startles and whips around to face him. “You did well.”

Robin- Jason!- gapes at him.

“I see you’ve recovered, little bird.”

“Gotham! Oh. Wow. People always said Gotham was a lady, but you’re a guy!”

“It was a Lady,” Danny confirmed. “It’s complicated, little bird.”

“So, you’re really… you’re really Gotham? The city?”

Danny looks at Robin with the weight of the city behind his gaze.

“I think you know the answer to that. But yes, I am your city.”

“Constantine,” Batman starts. “He said that city spirits only appear in times of grave danger.”

There is deference in his words. Batman is Batman for Gotham, after all. Danny just wishes he could… well, be friendlier with his knights. May this is a good place to start.

Are you in danger? What threats do we need to handle? How can I help? How can I protect? Please, let me help.

His Knight always felt more than he ever says. Danny smiles.

“Was Robin’s wellbeing not in grave danger?” Danny floats closer. “I am your city. You protect me, it is only right that I protect you, no?”

“Thank you for saving me, Gotham!” Robin’s grin is a touch more sincere than usual.

“Of course, Robin. You are loved.”

“Is there… a reason you’ve shown yourself today? Gotham.”

Danny chuckles, understanding the awkwardness that was Batman addressing someone with deference.

“I wanted to tell you that you did well tonight. Those tourists weren’t harmed in the slightest. Well done.” Danny gave Robin a playful but sincere thumbs up.

“They weren’t a match for us!”

“No, they weren’t.” Danny ruffles Robin’s hair, noticing how still he grew at it. “Robin was too fast for them. That maneuver at the end was masterfully executed.”

Batman clears his throat and Danny resists the urge to laugh at him. It would be mean.

“Thank you, for the… praise.”

Fuck it. He’s played well behaved for too long.

“Yes. I read in child rearing books that positive reinforcement is necessary for healthy development. You did well, Batman.”

Despite trolling Batman- and somehow holding a straight (and hopefully wise face)- he meant every word.

Allowing a small smile to slip at Robin’s chortles and Batman’s quiet sputtering, Danny moves on.

“Where is Nightwing, Batman?”

“He’s still on a mission...”

“If it is awkward to refer to me as Gotham, Phantom will do.”

Batman dips his head once. “In space, with the Teen Titans.”

“I see. Please tell him I request his presence,” Danny barely waits for Batman’s oddly acquiescing agreement before summoning a pigeon.

“Follow her,” Danny instructs the duo. “She’ll lead you to the places with explosives. I will guide you through her, to Harvey Dent.”

Danny winces as another explosion rings out.

“Your face is cracking!” Robin exclaimed, worried. He surged forward to stare at the hairline cracks appearing on Danny’s jaw.

“That would be the explosives. Any damage to the city will be shown on me.”

“Well take care of it.” Batman growled, shoulders straightening once more into an imposing symbol.

“Yeah!”

“I know you will. Stay safe.” Danny disappears, spreading his awareness and directing his Birds to the explosives that will go off the fastest.

Batman and Robin share a glance and leaps off the roof, ready to save their city once more.

——

Tim Drake wanders around Crime Alley, and meets a blonde nine year old trying to throw hands at her absentee Riddler knockoff of a dad. He dodges the brick en route to his face and kicks the guy’s knees out.

“You okay?”

The girl blinks. She stares at her dad, groaning on the dirty street of crime alley, and flicks her gaze back up to Tim, who waits casually.

“Yep. I’m Stephanie. We’re gonna be friends now!”

She grins at him, a baby tooth missing, and Danny melts.

“Heck yeah. Tim!” He introduces himself for the first time in a long time.

Maybe with Stephanie around, he’ll finally use the name Tim? Maybe he’ll get used to it, finally!

Danny Fenton is so damn sick of rich fruit loops. It’s worse now, since he’s one of them.

It’s not Vlad that he’s with, thank the Ancients, but Danny isn’t sure that this is better.

Because he’s Timothy Drake, a baby, and he’s been reincarnated after the Ancient of Reincarnation accidentally drank too much wine.

He’s going to kick their ass so hard when he gets back.

Danny huffs. He rolls over, ignoring the silent manor. Sure, he’s read the comics. Sure, he laughed and imagined being adopted by Batman- come on, Danny had black hair and blue eyes even back then, he was totally adoption bait- when his parents gave him reason to lose trust in their love. But that’s it, that’s all he thought it was. A day dream, a wish for a universe that didn’t exist.

Danny hadn’t understood the reality of the whole Infinite Realms thing, a place he was now the King of. Batman? Real. Danny? Reincarnated. Hotel? Trivago.

Like, this wasn’t what he meant, dammit.

And now he’s stuck as Timothy Drake, and Ancients, he was starting to see parallels.

——

Danny tried photography. He really did. He wanted to at least stick to the source material. But that’s not who he is. Even with the shiny new brain that memorized, catalogued, and put together clues at the snap of his fingers, but Danny’s never been one to take photos. It’s a respectable art, for sure, but Danny preferred to live in the moment instead of capturing it to remember forever. It’s just-

He watched the Graysons fall. He watched Dick Grayson turn into Robin. And Danny can’t and won’t ever betray his Obsession like that, ever again. He can’t let Jason die for his “story” to begin. That’s not how Danny works.

He’s there to protect.

Danny hasn’t ever been just Tim. Danny was also Tim and the Ghost King without a haunt. But now? Gotham is his haunt. He, in lieu of an actual city spirit, is Gotham. He’s also a Drake. And Drakes were meant to hoard.

Batman and Robin? They are his.

He claimed them, as a Drake. But that claim is weak. So he claimed them as their city, and that is a claim that will never be able to be challenged.

Danny’ll be damned before he allows some lanky starved clown beat the life out of one of his Robins. So, for the first time in his nine years on this planet, Tim-Danny goes ghost and flies.

“Who- who. Are you?” Robin slurred from his place in Danny’s hold. He is broken, yes. But not dead. Danny infuses some of his vitality, his ecto, into Jason’s injuries to help them heal.

“Gotham.” Danny replied, layering his ghostly voice with those of the city.

“Goth’m?”

“Gotham. Sleep, little bird. Your city has got you.”

When Robin, Jason, settled with a sense of trust that tugs at Danny’s core, Danny carried him to Batman, whose eyes were wild and manic. He glared menacingly at the green and white ghost in front of him, who was holding his broken and beaten son-

Well, it’d be menacing if Danny hadn’t watched him eat bricks and mortar, crashing into a building while using his grappling gun.

“You-”

“I am Gotham.” Danny cut him off. Despite his wary nature and natural paranoia, Batman settled at his city’s gaze rested on him. Danny knew that Batman recognized his city. Batman’s head bowed, but his eyes stayed on Robin. “You were supposed to take care of Robin.”

“I- I know.” And that voice was all Bruce Wayne the Dad instead of Batman the Vigilante. Danny gently placed Robin in Batman’s arms, taking in the tremors as he held his son close.

“Go back, Bruce. And make sure Jason knows how much you love him.”

He laughed as Bruce whipped his head upwards. “I am your city. You are mine as much as I am yours. I’ve known of you before you were born.”

Technically? Not untrue. But Bruce will chalk it up to weird magic shit. It’s not like it’s a secret that Gotham’s kind of curse. Besides, this way, Danny will be able to help out more often. And Bruce won’t be able to connect Tim Drake to the “Spirit of Gotham.”

“Return, my knight. This is not your city. I can not protect you as well as I can in Gotham.”

“Thank you… Gotham.”

Danny sighed. He wondered when he’ll have to field questions from a John Constantine. He’s pretty sure Bruce will call in magical help, even if it was his own city he was investigating.

Batman’s lucky Danny liked him enough to allow it.

So I am Guessing that Danny’s ghost form still looks the same and thus not like Tim Drake. Which would tie in a commenter’s idea that he thought of as a god and vessels situation. I also saw a comment that with all the stuff the Drake’s bringing things home from archeological digs maybe cursing Tim and that is how he became a vessel.

Anyway I don’t like reblogging unless I have something to add and this time it is just questions.

Jason thought that Robin is Magic, and this is only going to re-enforce that. But now that his fate has been changed from the Red Hood pathe what will he become?

How does the conversation go when Jason wakes up back in the bat cave medbay?

Did the magical community sense Danny’s ghost form being used for the first time?

Let’s see what others can add on. @arzuera @dcxdpdabbles @evilminji @flamingpudding @hdgnj @hypewinter @im-totally-not-an-alien-2 @kizzer55555 @puppetmaster13u @zylev-blog

I think having read a whole lot of isekai stories gave me at least a bit of inspiration to hopefully contribute something good to this prompt. Because honestly, I love this prompt!

-----

Nine years old Tim-Danny was pacing. His little mind was running with all kinds of thoughts and remembering everything he knew of the original story. He had done his first big change and he wasn't sure how much he could now rely on the original story.

It had been a month. Nightwing was back on planet, and Batman had also been seen, but there was still no sight of Robin. Which expected. Jason was probably most likely still healing from his injuries. And he had a working plan on how to haunt the Joker.

Still Danny was here pacing in his room. Trying to remember more key points of the original and trying to figure out how the change he made would now influence it. By the looks of it he won't be breaking into Dicks appartment anytime soon, nor would he be taking the place of the third Robin. That was fine. He was sure Stephanie would have more fun. Plus he liked that he had become the 'Spirit of Gotham' instead.

He stopped pacing for a moment, contemplating this thought. Now that Danny wasn't going to become Robin, he also won't get Ra's attention. Which meant no missing spleen for his future. Good. He would have found a way to avoid it anyway, but this was making things easier. Also he would still like to make friends with Tim's group. Like having a clone friend when he previously had a clone sister? Yes please. Also he would like to save him sooner before the whole clone debacle escalated and then settled like it originally did.

Danny was just about to start another round of pacing while trying to remember the next big key event that was going to happen when he noticed movement outside his window.

He blinked once, before walking over to his window and realizing just who was out there running across his backyard like a free man. Right out there running around freely and apparently enjoying his regained mobility was Jason Todd.

Right, the Drakes were the neighbors of the Waynes.

Wait... the Drakes were the NEIGHBORS of the Waynes!

That was his chance! He rushed down the stairs nearly taking flight so he could get faster to the backyard. He would dile up his entire cute little kid act and make friends with Jason and then get access to Alfred's cookies!

What was the use of being reincarnated into a Batman story if he doesn't at least get to try these rumored cookies!

Next goal: Alfred's cookies.

Surely the next key event can wait a little longer, right?

Jason didn't yelp, he didn't, when a tiny head popped up over the ridiculously high fence. But! Even if he did? Who could blame him! The kid was tiny, and it was a tall fence ok!

Consider this: the story finds ways to reasssert itself, keep itself on track for certain major events.

Jason didn't die in Ethiopia? That's fine. He can live.

But, despite being cleared to go outside for a bit, he's still in no condition right now to be Robin. Not physically or mentally.

So when shit hits the fan and Bruce and Dick need help and Jason still isn't allowed out and little Timmy keeps trying to sneak out to go help (as a ghost, but Jason doesn't know that); well, if Jason can't stop him from going, the least he can do is give Timmy a bit of kevlar and magic to make sure he comes back safe.

And how can Danny-Tim say no? Jason is giving him Robin. Because Jason wants to keep him safe. He doesn't need it, but Jason insists and Danny-Tim can't convince him otherwise without outing himself (which is not something he's ready to do right now, possibly not ever).

Thus, Tim still becomes the third Robin. It's a bit more in flux than in the original story. Jason and Danny-Tim will pass the mantle back and forth, sharing it until Jason is ready to move on and pick up his own name and persona, out from under the shadow of Batman. But it's enough for Danny-Tim to still have all the proper connections to get up to the important shenanigans of Robin III's era.

Oh, that would be interesting. Danny-Tim would be enjoying the ability to have such a close bond to Jason as well. Dick comes back from space to several changes. A) Gotham has a spirit protector now. Who saved Jason from Joker. And told Bruce to do better. B) He has a new little brother now. Who is helping as Robin while Jason heals. And is so damn smart it's painful. C) Said little brother was living alone in Drake Manor. Because the Drake's just abandoned him. What the actual fuck?!

Dick now gets the joys of having two mischievous little brothers. Tim is a menace. Dick adores him. Also, Bruce is being super weird. Like, Gotham REALLY scared him into doing better. Apparently your city spirit showing up to have a word made him rethink some things. Apparently he is in therapy now? Also, being so very protective to Tim and Jason. Which Dick can't argue with. Jason nearly died. He has taken months to recover. And still has bad days. Dick is loving how protective Tim is of Jason. He follows him everywhere like a baby bird. It's so cute. Tim also has no issues just ignoring Bruce and doing his own thing. It's actually hilarious. Jason is absolutely the golden good child. Dick is angry and rebellious. Tim? Tim doesn't argue. He doesn't bother. He just does as he pleases. Sure it's because he's used to being ignored by adults. But it is SO much fun to watch.

So, does Dick mellow out faster since Bruce is doing so much better and there's therefore less tension between them? Or does he spend lomger in his angsty rebellious phase since he's not getting as much Eldest Daughter from picking up Bruce's slack? Do the forces just kind of even out making Dick's character development about the same, if slightly to the left?

Also, does Danny ever figure out the story is reasserting itself? How does that make him feel? Better that he can't fuck anything irrevocably up? Worse that he can't make any truly significant changes to the course of events his family favorite people will have to endure? Nor even his own fate? But Jason is alive! So he can make some pretty meaningful adaptations. He can spare them some suffering, albeit not all.

Does he ever think back to that night at the circus and wonder? Does he ever regret?

Does he ever tell Dick?

Danny can't let himself think on it too much. It's too much, too sad, too painful. He just resolves to do more. Be better. Be stronger and faster. Think of all the plans he can make to ensure less pain is brought to his family. And then he remembers Damian. He is Gotham now. Bound to his family irrevocably. He felt when Damian was born. And... Can he leave him to that life? Can he justify that? In the name of keeping the story. What would taking him do? How would that change things. But, he... He can't wait. So he bides his time, plans for everything he can think of that this could change. He is SO glad he mastered portal and duplication before. His powers are weaker than before. Restrained due to his age yes. But, he can leave a copy here in human form. And portal to Nanda Parbat as Gotham.

Bruce? Wakes up to see Gotham hovering sheepishly over him at 2am. A small child and a box of files in his arms. He rubs a hand tiredly down his face and gives the city a look.

Danny: You are mine. As I am yours. Bound through duty and love. This is a child of your blood. Created by an enemy. Created to try and usurp his brothers. To becomes the next Demon's Head. I could not, would not leave him to that fate. He is yours, so he is mine. I know he will be happier, more loved here. Talia Al Ghul may try to steal him back. But he is under my protection now. Safe in my bounds.

Bruce took the child, his child, gently. Then looked through the files created by Ra's and Talia. He recognised the language and writing. It was all there. How they had created him. He looked sharply at Gotham, who smiled sadly at the little boy in his arms. Placed a gentle hand on his forehead.

Danny: I know this will complicate many things for you my Knight. And I am sorry for that. But he deserves a better fate than to be raised as a weapon for his Grandfather's use.

Bruce nodded shakily. The little boy in his arms was a perfect mixture of him and Talia. He immediately, and immensely loved him. Gotham was right, this would be difficult. A new challenge to face. But he was so glad this child could be saved from Ra's Al Ghul. Saved from the life that would have been his.

Bruce: Thank you. For saving my boys.

Danny smiled softly at Bruce and tapped him gently on the fore head.

Danny: I am your city, your home. I will always do my best. I am just sorry I didn't have the ability before.

Can someone write a fic where Bruce is on a JL mission and they somehow get a baby that they need to take care of until they find their parents. And all the JL members just cannot stop this baby from crying (this is before Clark has Jon so he’s pretty clueless with babies still) and eventually Bruce is like, “give them to me.”

And the JL is like “uhh, we don’t know if we should trust BATMAN with a baby, but at this point… fuck it.” And hand the baby over to him.

And Batman tucks the baby into his chest and softly bounces them, talking to them gently in a deep rumbly voice. “It’s okay sweetheart. Shhh, you’re safe.” And eventually, the baby doesn’t just stop crying, but falls asleep.

And the JL just stand there, gobsmacked. Because what the fuck??? Why is the Batman so good with babies??? And the rest of the mission Batman just has the baby because a) they don’t want them to wake up and start fussing again. And b) because Batman looks genuinely happy (as happy as Batman can be without deeply horrifying the JL).

This is..... Not what I was supposed to spend the last couple hours on....

Give me Bruce who in a furious tone yells out "JASON" but it isn't Jason who responds, its Tim- Because even after so many years, he still hasn't gotten used to B calling him by his real name.

Follow up on this concept- Batfam records fucking EVERYTHING right?? Imagine Batsiblings (minus Tim) fucking around and going through old footage.

Someone gets curious, probably Damian and well- now everyone wants to know. Dick might try to object but be overruled by "whats the harm"?

So they watch.

They see how Tim "inserted himself in the family" They see the kid who would sooner die than ask for help The kid who put on the mask when no one else could

But they also see Bruce They see the training, maybe not noticable to the normal gaze but to bats who have trained with the man personally?

He isn't pulling his punches like he should. And everytime Tims tiny frame crumbles against the mat, Bruce doesnt rush to his side offering apologies and radiating guilt.

He just.. stands there. Waiting for Tim to get up. If he doesn't? He just walks away. Then they see more- they see moments where the kid is practically booted out of the house the moment he takes off the mask, even after the roughest of patrols.

They hear the screaming matches or well- the one sided ones. Bruce screaming in a way that was so raw it made even Dick and Jason tense. But Tim remained calm, hands placiating as he talked a grown ass man out of episode after episode only to be cast aside later.

It reaches a breaking point when they see an exhausted Bruce call Tim "son" watch the way the kid lights up as if hed watched the man hang the stars in the sky.

Then he follows it with "Jason"

Tims expression falls, but Bruce either doesn't notice or doesn't care. He responds anyway, like a good soldier should.

The videos stop and the cave goes silent for a long time. That is until Tim walks in holding a bag of popcorn, freezing as soon as he is percieved by his siblings.

"Um... are you okay"?

Because of course- his first instinct is to ask to help them.

Dick and Cass are rushing forward to hug him meanwhile the others make silent conversation on just how exactly they plan to teach their dad a lesson after he taught Tim oh so many.

(Damian has dibs on breaking his nose since Jason claimed the knee caps)

Ok. Ok. Yes.

But also.

Do you know that our brains have all sorts of self defense mechanisms. And one of those is blocking out trauma. Many times people just don’t remember what happened while they were depressed. Or in survival mode. Or whatever.

So what if when Bruce finally started healing and moving forward his brain just… blocked away everything that happened during that time.

He knows Tim is Robin. Knows Tim became Robin sometime after Jason died. But that’s about it. How Tim became Robin or what their relationship was like is completely gone from his mind.

He knows he probably wasn’t at his best. And assumes that’s why Tim is so independent and always wanting to help/look after him.

He doesn’t know what he did.

Doesn’t know why his other kids are suddenly so, so angry with him. Why they’re attacking him and saying strange things.

At first he assumes they’re being mind controlled.

Until one of them says something about Tim. And why should they (insert thing here. Stop? Help him up? Patch up his wounds?) when he never did that for Tim. And he just.

???

Tim is the one that makes the attack stop, of course. But can’t keep the others from hauling the clearly confused and concerned man to the Batcave and forcing him to watch the videos.

Bruce. Bruce is horrified. And so, so guilt ridden. He makes it his goal to make up for every bit of harm he put on Tim.

Forces himself to go back and watch all the old videos.

Every. Single. One.

He has to know what all he did. How much harm he caused.

He’s never going to forgive himself. The fact Tim has already forgiven him does not help.

Tim, for his part, sees this all as ancient history and would like everyone to stop acting so weird please.

Also, Damian, Jason you both tried to kill me. Why are you upset?

Shazam identity reveal AU where the league knew Captain Marvel was a child named Billy since day one but he stubbornly refuses to transform or tell his full name for the whole 4 years he’s been on the team and everyone’s so confused because they know like. 95% of his identity already why is he hiding this specific part?

They start thinking he’s some kind of criminal or had a dark past he’s hiding from them. They know so much about him, though. They know he’s homeless, they know he’s had bad foster homes, they know his parents died tragically and his uncle stole his inheritance. he shares everything. Everything except the one thing that would show he truly trusts them. Why? What have they done to convince him they weren’t trustworthy?

Then. He accidentally transforms back during a battle. Batman instantly scans his face with the facial scanner that’s built into his mask because he’s paranoid as hell of course he has one of those. And he sees exactly why he hid it for so long.

The tension in the air is so palpable that the entire league feels it and they look back and forth between them waiting for the bomb to drop.

Cyborg is the one who blurts it out (he IS a facial scanner)

“Your last name is BAT SON??”

Billy groans into his hands in defeat and Batman sighs, finally understanding why the secret was kept so desperately.

From then on the league refuses to call Billy anything other than Big Red Robin or just Big Robin. Robin but big. they call Batman Captain Dad at every possible opportunity. Whenever Billy does something wrong someone threatens to tell his dad on him then call Batman. The robins last names may as well not exist because from then on they are only ever called Damian Bat-son or Red Hood Bat-son or Stephanie Bat-daughter, except for Red Robin who’s called Little Red Robin or, if they’re feeling brave, the Little Red Cheese. The bat children and Billy’s nicknames become so confusing and meshed together that conversations get very confusing and the names just become interchangeable. The press is convinced that Captain Marvel is Batman’s secret love child within a week.

It gets so chaotic so fast, no one knows how this happened but names mean nothing anymore and Batman is getting a DNA test. So much opportunity for chaos!

3/5

Clockwork moved Danny and de aged Dan and Ellie to Gotham, pulling a favor from Lady Gotham to make sure no one (ie the fentons and the GIW) would find them. He erased them from all media records, and Tucker created decent fake records, enrolling the kids into daycare and Danny into a job at Arkham as a guard who quickly became loved by most of the staff(and inmates). (Danny was one of the few people who treated the inmates like human beings, never being scared of them, joking with them, genuinely being interested in them.) (they were 100% willing to kill for their new guard)

Unfortunately, the batfamily noticed the new security guard who had amazingly forged records(if anyone else had looked at them, they wouldn’t know they were forged.) Which lead to Batman paying them a visit.

Half an hour after Batman went to visit, Batman was viciously researching a group called the GIW, and Danny showed up at the door of Ivy’s garden with his kids in toe, begging for sanctuary.

Batman and Robin are fighting Poison Ivy! She throws pollen at them...the wrong type. Also, it misses and hits some kid with a camera.

She meant to throw cuddle pollen.

She threw sex pollen.

She freezes, horrified, because Robin is a kid. Luckily, it misses.

Unluckily, it hits an even smaller kid.

She and Batman and Robin all hurry to the kid's side, Ivy mentally trying to figure out if the kid'll survive being sedated long enough for her to make the cure.

The kid, though, won't stop sneezing. And itching his face and neck. Also wheezing a little.

Anyways that's how Tim finds out that he's super allergic to Ivy's sex pollen, and it doesn't do what it's supposed to with him, because his body just goes into "Allergy Season Mode".

Good news; the swelling of his airways made it possible to decontaminate him without any actually getting in his bloodstream.

Bad news; he called Robin Dick by accident when he'd been disoriented by the sudden onset of Extreme Allergies, and now Batman and Robin are very interested to know how he knows Robin's name.

Polaris meets constellation

Damian was quite confused. For all Mother spend time with him, it is usually overseeing his training or the two of them talking in one of their rooms. Mother never takes him out of Nanda Parbat.

Mother makes it sound as if it's a birthday gift. His birthday was 3 weeks ago, Damien knows mother knows it was 3 weeks ago, she was there for the celebration.

Damian can feel as the plane touches down onto the ground. Mother makes no show of asking him to follow her; she knows that he will. 

Damian doesn't think that he's ever seen mother outside of Nanda Parbat.

They seem to have landed in a forest. The entire Forest is a sea of lush greens and browns. He can hear animal noises he has never heard before. He hopes that he can see one at least on the way back.

He doesn't think that they're anywhere close to Nanda Parbat. Damian tries to stay close to his mother. He didn't know how long they will be walking but he suspects it will be a while.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They come across a house that is not big by any means but it's not quite small either. It seems to be made out of wood, probably built with the same materials that are in this Forest. It looks quite old.

Mother knocks on the door. Damian doesn't know why he's surprised that she did that, it means there are people in the house if she's trying to be polite.

The person that opens the door seems to be a woman. She has long black hair that is pulled back into a braid. The woman seems to be wearing some sort of black and violet wrap dress. Damian can see chains wrapped around her waist as well as her neck.

 He believes they are some sort of fashion statement.

Mother and the woman just stare into each other's eyes for a moment before the woman turns to look at Damian. she looks him over then turns back to his mother and nods. 

the woman steps away from the door signaling for them to walk in. 

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Damian walks in he seems to notice how it's not the headquarters that he expected. It seems to be an actual home. There are photos up on the walls of a man, woman and child. there seems to be no pictures of the child younger than five in the entryway.  

The man in the photos has a darker complexion and seems to wear Egyptian style clothes in all of the photos. The woman that let them in seems to be the woman in the photos.

The younger child seems to catch his attention. She looks like a young girl. She seems to have dark brown hair and has the same green eyes as him, the ones he shares with mother.

Mother tells him to sit on the couch and wait for her there as she goes to talk to the woman in the kitchen. Mother does not tell him what they will be talking about. 

As he looks around the living room he notices more pictures than the ones that were in the entryway. The ones in the living room also have his mother.

His mother seems to be smiling. He hasn't seen his mother smile since he was five. As he gets older he notices that more and more.

His mother looks happy in the photos. 

She looks young as well.

There's a photo close to the window that has the child in his mother's arms. this seems to be the only photo of the child as a baby it would seem. 

The baby looks like the ones that he sees in the baby photos that mother used to show him. He knows she didn't mean for him to remember he was quite Young, sometimes he thinks the memories are a dream.

 Damian remembers how his mother used to always dismiss the nurses and just rock him back asleep when he had a nightmare.

Before he started training she used to kiss his forehead whenever he presented her with something; whether it was a small rock he decided was pretty or it was a new blade he had been gifted by a league member on her staff.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As he hears movement coming towards the room he sits down on the couch. 

The person that walks in isn't his mother like he thought it was, Nor is it the woman that he saw at the door. He believes it's the young girl from the photos. 

She seems to be 12, maybe 13. He was correct when he thought earlier that she had mother's eyes. 

He hates the jealousy that he feels when he makes that thought. Mother always told him he looked like a father but mother the one who raised him it's logical to want to be closer to her. Even if it's just in looks.

The girl looks shocked.

He does not know if it's because there is someone in the living room or if it's himself that she is shocked by.

she seems to shake her head to snap out of it. 

He's never seen someone express so much emotion on their face. 

She walks up to him and says “hi”

Damien Hesitantly replies “hello”

Just after he replies, Mother walks into the room with the woman from the door.

 Mother is smiling. He hasn't seen mother smile in a long time. He thought the picture from earlier would be the only one he would see.

“Habibi, this is your sister Eleanor“

Damian had been making the connection since he walked in from the door but it's very different when it's set out loud.

He didn't expect his birthday present from mother to be a sibling.

Fae! Adjacent Danny, adjacent bc I’m really tired and can’t remember all of the rules.

Even before he died, there was something off an out Danny. It’s why his bullies existed, and why his friends were so loyal.

Danny was fae. Kind of. Different, to say the least. Those who fit in instinctually felt a sense of weirdness, of a just barely there shiver. Those who were outcasts loved it.

It stands to reason that when Danny moved to Gotham, everyone and their goddamn cousins loved him. Gotham was made of misfits, and Danny was one of their own.

“Oops.”

Danny shrieked.

The bloodied vigilante leaning against his wall was concerning. But even worse…

“My window!! Oh my god! Why?!”

“Your- is that- that’s seriously your first concern? I’m actually offended.”

“Oh, is the dumbass bleeding out on my carpet giving me sass? Watch the attitude, you’re half a quarter pint from death right now.”