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Danny wasn’t sure what to think. Jason had said he could trust the other bats, he had even grudgingly admitted that they were family. But Danny knew that family didn’t always mean acceptance.
The rest of the bats didn’t even know Jason was liminal! They knew he’d been resurrected, but what if knowing he was still connected to death made them change their mind? What if they rejected Jason? It would be all Danny’s fault. And even if they accepted Jason, they might not accept Danny who was more than just a little liminal.
But the Anti-Ecto Acts needed to be repealed. Maybe they’d be willing to help with that at least, since even those with only a little contamination were affected and Gotham stank of ecto-contamination.
What was he supposed to do?
“Hey, I can hear you overthinking from over here.” Jason said from the drivers seat of the car they were taking back to Gotham. Dick was a little ways behind following on a motorcycle.
“Listen,” Jason said, glancing at him through the rearview mirror, “I know you’re probably stressed, but it’s going to be okay. If I thought for even a little bit that they’d react negatively, then I wouldn’t tell them shiii– stuff, I wouldn't tell them stuff.” Jason corrected with a cough, his ears turning red.
Danny snorted. He tried to relax. Even if they reacted negatively, Danny thought to himself, he could get both Jason and himself out if needed.
And he had to try. For the good of all the citizens of the Infinite Realms that didn’t deserve to be hunted down and experimented on.
And it helped that Danny could sense Jason’s intentions. He didn’t project emotions the same way a ghost did, but it was enough to feel that Jason really trusted the rest of the bats.
It was probably another thirty minutes because of traffic till they were leaving the more populated area of the city and started to pass progressively larger and more ostentatious houses.
“Umm… didn’t you say we were going to see the rest of the bats? Do you guys have some hideout out here?”
Jason glanced back at him. “Oh, uhhh… So, I guess I forgot to mention who Batman was didn’t I?” Jason chuckled awkwardly. “My, umm, my dad’s Bruce Wane.” Jason said then fell silent.
Danny blinked at him.
“Is he super rich or something?” Danny said looking out at the fancy houses.
Jason spluttered. “Don’t you know who Bruce Wayne is?!”
“Am I supposed to? Is he famous or something?”
Jason sighed, cursing under his breath. “Sorry, I forgot you’re not from Gotham. But still, most people still know the name Wayne.” he glanced at Danny through the rearview mirror again. “Bruce is a billionaire who helps fund most of the support programs in Gotham, as well as the Justice League, though that part is kept secret. He’s also Batman, in case that wasn’t clear.” Jason said the smirk evident in his voice.
Danny huffed, but couldn’t help but smile.
Finally, they pulled up to a large gate and Danny could only barely see the roof of the house beyond the rows of trees that stood between the road and the house.
With a beep, the gate swung open and they started up the exaggeratedly long driveway. Danny stared through the window trying to see the house, and couldn’t help gaping when the house, no, the mansion came into view. “This is where you grew up?! It’s big enough to be a museum or hotel or something!”
Jason chuckled. “Technically, I only lived a few years here, but yeah. It’s massive, and takes some getting used to.”
Jason parked in front of the house and climbed up the steps where the door was opened by a butler. A butler. What even was this? Vlad would be seething with envy.
“Good afternoon, Master Jason.” the butler said before turning to Danny with a smile. “Hello, young sir. I am Alfred Pennyworth.”
“Umm… Hi, Mr. Pennyworth. I’m Danny.”
He smiled. “A pleasure to meet you, Mister Danny. You may call me Alfred.”
“Umm.. ok. Danny’s just fine. You don’t need to add a mister or anything.” Danny shifted uncomfortably.
Alfred just smiled at him, before leading them inside.
Jason chuckled, “He’s still going to call you mister. Alfred is very proper, no matter how many times we try to get him to call us by just our first names he insists on being extra proper.”
“Almost everyone is gathered in the game room. Master Bruce is with his colleagues, but he’ll be here for supper.”
“Thanks, Alfred. Dick was just behind us, so he’ll also be up soon.” Jason said.
Alfred nodded. “Go ahead and introduce our guest to the others. I shall prepare some refreshments and bring them shortly.”
“Thanks, Alfred.” Jason said, smiling fondly. Alfred smiled back before waking off.
“Well,” Jason clapped his hands together, “ready to meet the rest of the family?”
Danny hesitated. He was doing this for Jason, for the rest of the ghosts and liminals. For himself.
He nodded. “Lead the way.”