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Jason was working on preparing some hot chocolate while the kid, Danny, sat at his table nibbling on a cookie. As much as Jason wanted to get straight to who had hurt the kid and where they were,
so he could dismember them
, he knew the kid needed some time to trust him.
“Where you from, Danny?” Jason asked with his back still turned to the kid.
“The Midwest.”
“And what brings you to Gotham?”
“Men in Black ripoffs.”
Jason paused his stirring of the hot chocolate. “What?”
“Never mind.”
“Kid, I’m sorry, but you clearly need help.”
“I’m fine.”
Jason turned and gave him his best expression of disbelief. “You’re clearly not.”
“There’s nothing you can do about it so it doesn’t matter.” The kid said scowling. “I should probably get going anyway. Thanks for the cookies.” The kid started to get up and Jason quickly shut off the stove but didn’t move forward.
“Wait a moment, kid. I won’t ask questions, but please stay. It would be rude to have me make hot chocolate and then not drink any.”
Danny paused, his expression uncertain.
“And I’ve got more cookies.”
“They are good cookies.” the kid grumbled, but he sat down so Jason counted it as a win.
He served the hot chocolate and they both enjoyed the drink and some cookies in pleasant silence before Danny started fidgeting again.
“Look, thank you. You’ve been very nice, but I really don’t want to lead them to you.”
“I can handle myself.”
Danny raised an unimpressed eyebrow.
“I really can. I grew up in Gotham, I’d be dead if I didn't know how to defend myself.” he smirked.
Danny snorted, but then his expression sombered. “You may normally be able to protect yourself, but they have weapons specifically made for us and they’ll be able to sense you.”
“Who are you talking about, kid?”
“The GIW. They’re a government branch made to hunt ghosts down.”
“Ghosts aren’t real.” Jason said, but the dread he’d been feeling earlier that evening was starting to resurface, and the Pit was swirling even though Jason didn’t feel any anger.
Danny rolled his eyes. But when Jason didn’t say anything else he said, “You don’t have to pretend. I’m like you.”
“Kid, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” The Pit was roiling and Jason’s heart was beating fast, but still no surge of anger.
Danny furrowed his brows. “You really don’t know…” he said quietly.
Jason just stared at him. Something was happening, and Jason wasn’t sure if he liked it. The Pit was active, but there was no anger. There was dread, but also a sense of calm. He felt like something was pulling him toward Danny, like there was a connection there.
Then Danny sighed and looked at him tiredly. “Alright, what I’m about to say may sound strange, but I need you to hear me out. Okay?”
Jason nodded.
“I’m guessing that you died, but then came back somehow.” Jason froze, but Danny continued. “The same thing happened to me.”