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After two years of keeping his ghost half a secret, his parents find out by accident. Danny had been a little too lax on transforming in his room without looking inside first. The one time his parents decided to burst in, had to be the day he pulled an all nighter hunting ghosts and just wanted to sleep. Danny closes his eyes as he remembers all the threats they threw at him as he made his escape. He briefly met up with Sam and Tucker to go over his escape plan. Which brought Danny to Gotham for Plan A, to find long lost older brother. Danny found out he was adopted shortly after his accident. With the Fenton’s opinions about ghosts it was a good idea to have everything you need incase you need to run. Which is a good reason Jazz has all of the important stuff when she moved for college in Gotham. She was Plan B. Finding his older brother was harder than he would have liked. Tucker told Danny the last news or information they had on Jason Todd was that he died 8 years ago overseas. But there have been sightings of him since then. With the rumor that he only faked his death. The last person to see him was Bruce Wayne. Danny groaned at the thought of interacting with another fruitloop billionaire. However, Sam has met him a few times and said that he’s dumb but he listens, especially to kids. He also does a lot of good things for Gotham.
So here he is, standing in front of the gate leading up to the manor. He looked every part of an orphan Bruce Wayne would take in. Threadbare NASA hoodie, dirty torn up oversized jeans, and red converse that were falling apart. Not to mention black hair and blue eyes, which most of Bruce’s children have. He anxiously ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the ends slightly. Danny sighed, turning away to try again tomorrow. Stopping when the intercom turned on.
“Excuse me dear boy, but do you need something?” The British voice sounded warm and welcoming, almost Grandfatherly.
Danny swallowed a lump in his throat, oh screw it, he thought before replying. “I-I'm looking for someone Mr. Wayne last saw.” Danny bites his lip, “I'm looking for Jason Todd.” The silence that followed seemed to last forever. Just as Danny was about to leave the gate opened and the intercom spoke.
“Come on up dear boy. Master Bruce will be here shortly for you two to speak.”
Danny sighed in relief. Clutching his backpack he began his trek up to the manor
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After a brief introduction at the door, Alfred led Danny to the kitchen. Danny sat down at the kitchen island while Alfred got out a few mugs.
“Do you prefer hot chocolate or tea, Mister Daniel.”
“Just Danny is fine”
“Do you prefer hot chocolate or tea, Mister Danny.”
Danny sighed, “hot chocolate is fine. Thank you.”
Danny nervously picks at his fingernails as Alfred makes up a few mugs of hot chocolate. Danny kept his gaze on the countertop, continuing to pick at his broken, brittle nails. His gaze was broken when a Wonder Woman mug was placed in front of him. Alfred gives him a soft smile as he places another two mugs beside him, keeping a hand on one.
“Master Bruce will be here shortly. Do you mind if I sit with you?”
Danny nods, “I don’t mind. It is your home after all.” He takes the mug into his hands. The warmth giving him something else to focus on while also occasionally sipping it.
Alfred hums a reply, sipping on his mug of tea. He takes another look at the boy, trying to see if he was hiding any injuries. The only thing Alfred could see was his utter exhaustion. He could just tell it had been a long journey for him. Alfred had called Bruce shortly after allowing Danny venture onto the grounds. He refrained calling Jason, not sure if Danny had any ill intent towards him. Looking at him closer, Alfred could tell the striking similarities he had to when Jason had been 16, shortly before his death. Alfred silently prayed they were not in another cloning situation, but the boy seemed genuine in his plea to speak to Bruce.
Eventually both of them could hear voices approaching the kitchen. Danny tensed, grasping his half empty mug even tighter. Alfred recognized the voices of Bruce and Dick. Not surprised that Dick had tagged along, but disappointed Bruce did not inform him of such a thing. He did not want to frighten Danny with more people than he had asked for.
Bruce came through the door first, his gaze on Alfred. “Sorry Alfred, I would’ve gotten here sooner but traffic was awful. Now what was the reason you called me to come home?” Before Alfred could reply his gaze shifted to beside him. Where Danny sat anxiously, looking anywhere but Bruce’s face. Bruce’s eyes widened in realization of who Danny resembled before quickly fading into a typical Brucie smile. Alfred cleared his throat, gaining Bruce’s attention.
“This is Danny. He came to ask you a few important questions.” Alfred got up from his seat, offering it silently to Bruce. Bruce took that as his que to introduce himself.
“Hello Danny, I'm Bruce Wayne. Nice to meet you.” He gestured to the chair, “do you mind if I sit next to you?” Danny tensely shrugged, still not looking at him as he repeated what he had told Alfred moments before.
“I don’t mind. It is your house after all.” At Danny’s permission Bruce sat in Alfred’s discarded chair. Danny took a deep breath, releasing his hold on his mug, as he finally raised his gaze to Bruce’s.
“I’m- I’m Danny, but Mr. Pennyworth already told you that. But, I, um,” he sighs before blurting out, “I’m looking for Jason Todd!” Both Bruce and Dick, who had been silently watching from the doorway, tense. “It’s a little difficult to explain but he’s my biological brother? Well I think he is, his name is on my birth certificate, but maybe it could be someone with the same name? Anyway I’ve tried to find him but I can never get a clear answer on if he’s alive or not.” His blue eyes pleading with Bruce, “what I did find was that you were the last person to see him. I thought you might know more.”
Bruce thought out his reply carefully, “Danny is there- are you safe?” Danny flinched and before he could think of an excuse Bruce continued. “I'm not trying to say that looking for your brother needs such a reason. But Danny you, you look like you are running from something.” Danny dropped his gaze to the floor. Tracing the grout with his eyes until he could think of an answer. Lie or tell the truth. Either one could land him in trouble.
Well hey, Jazz is my last resort, Danny thought. He mumbled his reply under his breath. Before Bruce could ask what he said he took a deep breath and spoke up, still not looking at anyone.
“They didn’t want me anymore.” The silence was suffocating. The three adults in the room did not need Danny to clarify on who ‘they’ were. Speaking those words aloud made it even harder for Danny to keep it together. He squeezed his eyes shut not wanting to see the pitiful looks he knows he will see. Tears leak past his eyelids as he quickly wipes at his face to erase them. As he’s frantically wiping his face, two large calloused hands gently pried them away. He kept his eyes glued shut, desperately trying to hold in his tears.
Without warning he was gently drawn into an embrace. Gentle hands wrapped around him. One cradles his head bringing it towards a broad chest. The other was rubbing circles on his back. Basking in this warm embrace Danny began to give in. He clutched the back of Bruce’s suit jacket, trembling as he tucked his head further into Bruce’s chest and sobbed. Releasing everything he has bottled up since he left Amity Park.
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After Danny calmed down, Alfred decided it was best to take the conversation somewhere more comfortable. The three of them were moved to the family room. Alfred left them to remake some beverages. Danny and Dick sat on the couch, both taking the opposite ends while Bruce took an arm chair across from them with a coffee table between them. Silence filled the room when Alfred left. No one knew quite how to start a conversation after the emotional rollercoaster Danny had gone through. Danny was nervously picking at his nails again. His normally pale face was swollen red from tears. A few more minutes in silence passed before Dick decided to speak, an easy going smile plastered on his face.
“So Danny, what kind of things do you like?”
Danny looks at him confused by such a random question, “what I like?”
“Yeah, foods, hobbies, interests, heroes.” Dick clarifies, still smiling at him. His soft, warm look in his sky blue eyes relieves Danny’s tense shoulders. Everything about Dick screamed caring, loving older brother as well as slightly overbearing. It reminded him of Jazz when she helped him take his mind off something. Danny rubbed his eyes before replying. Not wanting to cry again over the thought of Jazz. He started with the easiest question.
“Favorite hero? Martian Manhunter.” There was no hesitation in Danny’s choice of hero.
Dick nodded his head, “good choice, any particular reason?”
Danny gave Dick an ‘are you joking’ look, “um he’s an alien? Both him and Superman are examples of life in space! Do you know how groundbreaking that is! Not to mention how cool it is! It opens so many possibilities with this knowledge. We could-” Danny cut himself off, face turning red with embarrassment. “Sorry, I tend to get a little excited talking about this.” Danny looks down at his hands.
“No need to apologize, Danny. You seem very passionate about space.” Danny’s face lit up as he looked at Bruce.
“Yeah I wanted to be an astronaut when I was little. Went to space camp. Even did the Junior Cadet program.” A realization crossed Danny’s face as he sadly traced his scar on the palm of his left hand. “But I….I can’t do that anymore.” Dick moved closer to Danny.
“Why?”
Danny panicked, not sure why he told them that. “Oh I- um- I had an accident in my parents lab,” he glanced at his left hand, tracing the Lichtenberg scar that disappears under his hoodie sleeve. “Got quite the shock. I won’t be able to get in with how I am.” Glancing up to see their concerned faces Danny quickly tried to remedy it with another excuse. “Oh sorry, I almost forgot my grades! I have such poor grades there's no way I could get into a good school to accomplish it anyway.” Unfortunately that did not put the two adults at ease.
Bruce opened his mouth to voice his concerns, however he paused when he noticed the door opening. Danny and Dick noticed his hesitation and before they could say anything a new voice taunted from behind them.
“Jeez old man, did you adopt another one? Is that why Alfred called me here?” The gruff voice sounded annoyed. “Seriously, there is no need to call me here for another one of your adoption problems.” Danny flinched as he indirectly called him a problem. His footsteps grew louder as he approached, rounding the corner of the couch to get a look at who Bruce brought to the manor.
“Shouldn’t you be more concerned about how the demon-” He froze when he saw Danny. He just stares at Danny, words caught in his throat. Danny gulped nervously, staring back with big blue eyes. The stranger seemed massive compared to Danny. He looked taller than Bruce but more broad. He was wearing dark jeans with combat boots, a plain black shirt with a leather jacket. The strangest feature of the man was his hair, he had a tuft of white hair in the middle of his bangs. It was so strange it didn’t seem dyed. Danny shivered as he felt the familiar coldness of his ghost sense travel up his throat, but stopping short of his mouth. It made him cough slightly, but he did not break eye contact.
“Jason,” Bruce spoke up, turning the attention of the two boys to him. “This is-” Before Bruce could finish, Danny sprung up. Realizing the big brute in front of him is his brother. Jason’s gaze shifted back to Danny.
“I’m Danny,” he quickly avoided Jason’s gaze, not as confident as he once was. “Though you might know me better as James Todd?” Jason’s eyes widened with astonishment before softening. “I’ve known for a few years that I was adopted, but I never thought we would actually meet.” Danny shuffles his feet a little, not wanting to repeat what he said earlier but knowing he had to. Shakily taking a deep breath, he continued. “I, um, my parents kicked me out. They, um, found out something that they couldn’t accept and said I was no longer their son.” He paused, taking deep breaths to avoid another breakdown. Taking one final breath he continues. “I have nowhere to go. My sister is in college and I don’t want to ruin her life more than I already have. My last resort was finding you.” Danny finally looked up at Jason. His eyes were so full of hope, pain and unshed tears. Jason stayed frozen, waiting for Danny to continue.
“Since I had no idea how to find you I came here for help. I mean I really couldn’t find anything about you besides Mr. Wayne adopting you and that you might have died.” Jason almost flinched at the mention of his death. “Or maybe you wouldn’t want me back. Hell, I wouldn't want me with all of my baggage.” Danny looked away from Jason, running a hand through his already messy locks. Voice breaking, confidence totally lost, he muttered, “who am I kidding, I shouldn’t have come here. You have a life, why ruin it by adding me into it.” Danny turned to leave. However before he could he was abruptly pulled into a hug. Danny stood stock still as Jason’s arms wrapped around him. Not expecting this kind of reaction from the man.
“You would not ruin my life. In fact my life pretty much sucks most of the time.” Jason hugs him a little tighter. “I have a spare bedroom in my apartment. It’s yours. You can stay. There is no way in hell I would ever turn my little brother away.” After a brief hesitation Danny wraps his arms around Jason. He grasped the back of his jacket, burying his face into his chest. Jason could feel Danny tremble in his arms. His breaths slowly became unsteady as he silently cried with relief. Jason just held him tightly, whispering promises to him while glaring at nothing in particular. Vowing to find who hurt his baby brother and make them pay.