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Chapter Text

Danny died and was consequently resurrected over and over for a good, solid two minutes when he was fourteen. He became a halfa. Then, because he’s selfless and loves his friends, family and home; at age fifth teen he challenged Pariah Dark and fought him in combat, knocked his crown off his head and tossed him the sarcophagus of forever sleep. Now at age sixteen Danny has been deemed the King of Ghosts much to his dismay and inherited the ring of rage and crown of fire.

Why the recap you ask? Well simple, Danny can’t get rid of the crown. It doesn’t matter if he’s in ghost form or human, in the ghost zone or home on the mortal plane. Honestly, it’s a real inconvenience and he’s so close to tracking down one of the magic people in the justice league to help him hide it. None of the books in his new, seemingly endless, library in his castle keep were any help.

Well, one was a little helpful. Were all other books were about enhancing the crowns power and how to wield it, even a whole book on the futility of destroying it, he did find one about manipulating its appearance. With a lot of practice and a now off limits due to dangerous hazards room in is keep, he could at least make it not so intimidating. He tried invisible, but it’s like the crown demanded to be visible.

Which is what has led us here. To Danny really wishing he either didn’t have or could get rid of the crown. He looks ridiculous; a twenty-two-year-old who casually wears a flower crown to class every day. He has tried to own it, manipulates the crown into different styles, colours, sizes, even has it appear to add sparkles or decorative beads, gems and pearls.

But he is known on campus as the soft flower crown boy in the engineering department. Worse still he goes to Gotham University. After getting the GIW shutdown, the anti-ecto acts repealed and putting out a decree that the ghosts can’t just come brawl him anymore; he decided to go to the next city with large amounts of ambient amounts of ectoplasm. So naturally, Gotham it was.

Sam and Tucker think he’s crazy living here. They’re probably right, it’s not good to be known as the soft boy in Gotham. But considering the other whispers are along the lines of “I would think he’s the next rouge if he wasn’t so cute in that flower crown” he’ll deal with being the soft boy over a budding villain.

Anyway, right now, he really really wishes he wasn’t stuck in a flower crown. Today’s flower crown was dark crimson red accented with sparking black beads. He was hoping it would look edgy but alas it just gave vampire vibes. Apparently, the art students who found him in the library thought it looked cool, kidnapped him and dressed him up in their scrap fabrics to look like a dark brooding vampire prince.

Ironic considering he was The Ghost King.

His clothes went missing so he had no choice but to stay in his new dark academia fit for the rest of the day. That lead to the need for a good, sweet treat of a white choc hot chocolate, so he stopped in at his favourite café just outside campus.

After ordering he was standing around scrolling through his group chat with Sam and Tucker when a hand wrapped around his arm. He followed the hand along a lean pale arm up to the most stunning man he had ever seen. Pale skin, cute dimples, perfectly trimmed black brows, glorious black hair that he totally wasn’t jealous of and the most gorgeous crystal blue eyes.

He really wished he wasn’t wearing a flower crown in front of this ten out of ten specimen of a man. Or the vampire-esk outfit that he was corralled into wearing. He looks stupid in front of this guy in his clearly designer clothes.

“Ahhh.” Danny didn’t know what to say.

“Hey babe, there you are I was wondering when you’d get here. Did you order your drink yet?” The handsome man asked him with a pointed look, hand still on his arm and walking in front of him.

“Ahhh, yeah, I got my hot chocolate… I didn’t realise you were here before me… I was gonna text you.” Danny tried to play along, clearly something was up.

“Great. Shall we sit?” The handsome man smiled, turned to the girl at the counter and did a little hand signal. Probably to say bring our drinks together as he guided Danny to the high stools along the window counter.

“Yeah.” Damn, he sounded like an idiot. He was smart, how does he normally sound smart. Wow, he hasn’t flirted with anyone since Sam, damn his lack dating right now.

“So, babe, how was class?” The guy asked while leaning his perfect chin on him hand. His eyes seemed to sharply scan the room and linger on a blond man with brown eyes.

Said man was watching the handsome guy with an intense glare, hands holding his takeaway cup a little too tightly for his liking. Whatever this was Danny was not vibing with it. He scouted his chair a tad closer to the guy.

“Class was good. I got an A on my aerodynamics paper after I destroyed the professor.” Danny said, getting an eyebrow lift from the man opposite him.

“How did you destroy your professor?” The guy looked intrigued but still on alert, watching the blonde out the corner of his eye.

“Well, he claimed I cheated, so when I told him I didn’t he wanted me to prove it. So, I said ask me anything, he did, I answered. At one point he said I was wrong. I asked what he thought was correct and then completely deconstructed his argument. I hate that he thinks just because he’s older he’s automatically correct.” Danny explained.

“God, I hate when people automatically think they’re smarter than you just because they’re older.” He huffed.

“You got a lot of experience with ‘I’m smarter than you, age before intelligence’ snobs too?” Danny hoped that sounded like he knew the guy already.

“Yeah, all the chief officers of this, that and everything. I swear if I have to listen to one more all but senile idiot try and tell me how to run my family’s business then I will commit murder.” He said with a completely blank face, eyes dead serious.

“Well, you know sweets, I love a little murder date night. We can get dinner, stalk your coworker then taunt them for hours till they feel like they’ve gone insane. At the peak of their panic, we’ll swing down from the rafters and one of us will inject them with poison while the other incapacitates them.” Danny should not say unhinged things, hopefully the flower crown and artsy vampire fit were making him look soft and not budding villain.

Right then the waitress brought over their drinks, placed them in front of them and then returned to work. Danny quickly took a gulp of the sweet sugary drink before locking eyes with the now wholly focused on him man in front of him. He took a sip of his very dark coffee with an intrigued look on his face.

“How should we get rid of the body?” He sounded genuinely interested. Well, if Danny hadn’t blown his chance yet, why not.

“Freeze the body, then cut it up into little bits so we can feed it into a woodchipper over Gotham harbour. Little mess and near impossible to gather evidence.”

“I like it but what if we want no traces? We can do better.”

“We could always go fire but that draws attention. Pigs are a great option, but the teeth will be left. Dissolve in a bathtub of acid then take the tub to the dump for it to be destroyed.”

“I like you.”

And that’s when Danny’s brain froze.

Chapter Text

He liked him? He liked discussing ways to hide a body? Danny hadn’t even got creative yet. Wow, he was this handsome and liked to discuss murder, what a dream boat.

“How’s your coffee?” is what he finally asked after blue screening for five seconds.

“It’s good, want a sip, babe.” He offered the cup forward with a smirk. Danny smiled and took the cup, taking a gingerly sip before gagging and shoving it back at his good-looking counterpart.

“Bleh, how many shots of expresso is in this? It tastes like death, and I would know. I’ve died enough to be familiar with all death associated feelings and sensations. I’m like top authority on the subject.” Danny said before drowning the taste out with his own drink.

“Haha, it’s only like six shots. Also, what do you mean you’ve died before. That’s a concerning thing to say out of the blue.” He said with a curious head tilt.

“SIX? That’s the max they allow, what the hell draco that’s too much your heart will explode and join your missing spleen.” Danny is very concerned and the guy in front of him froze.

“How do you know about my spleen?” he whispered as he lent in. There was a calculating look on his face as he seemed to access Danny with a new outlook.

“Oh, right that, I see all things related to the dead, including the fact your spleen is missing. It’s hard to explain. Ahhh let’s go with I’m a warlock. Yeah, that works.” He whispered back picking his volume back up at the end as he leaned away to bring his drink to his lips again.

“Ok, more concerning topics to put on the back burner. Draco?” he smiled but his eyes held a sharp look. Damn, Danny hoped he could get that look to fade away.

“It’s a constellation, you give me dragon vibes.” Does this count as shooting his shot, that sounds flattering right.

“Funny you say that actually my-” right as he was speaking the blonde guy who had been watching them from the corner of the not overly full café came over and coughed.

Danny looked at him, he clearly had muscles and a sturdy frame. Even though his face was still soft with baby fat he had one mean glare going that was intimidating. He was looking between them like they had personally stolen and gutted his puppy.

“Hey Tim, Tim’s friend. What are you guys up to.” The guy was grinding his teeth. Eyes flicking between their bodies which were still close from where Danny scouted his seat in earlier. Danny gulped and angled his body away ever so slightly more.

“Bernard. This isn’t my friend; this is my boyfriend. I told you I had plans to meet him today. Did you follow me?” Tim, so that’s his name, ground out looking irritated at Bernard. Danny can’t believe he forgot he was there. That’s why Tim approached him in the first place, to shake someone.

“Right, and his name is?” He was looking Tim dead in the eyes who held the gaze but clearly had no idea what to respond with. When he took a second too long to answer with a fake name Danny decided to respond.

“My name is Danny, I’m an engineering student at Gotham U. How do you know my precious Polaris star, my draco?” Laying it on thick but he was grabbed to play a part. He held his hand out, but it was ignored. Brown eyes turned to him filled with disgust.

“Draco, really? Because his last name is Drake. That’s real original, vampire boy.” He spat out then turned back to Tim “Since when did your tastes change to goth boys in, is that a flower crown. What sort of sissy little bitch are you?” His attention was back on him by the end.

Wait, Drake. Tim. Tim Drake. Oh, oh no. This was Tim Drake CEO of Wayne Enterprises opposite him. Oh, wow what is his life. Why can’t things ever be easy.

“What’s wrong with my flower crown. It’s pretty.” Danny did not like this guy. “Also, its Draco because of the constellation not his name. our names don’t define us. I’ll ask again how do you know my man?”

“Your man? Huh. Well, your man is my boyfriend so how about you leave before I put you in your place you little vampire punk.” Bernard spat at him, literally he could feel the little droplets on his face. He brought his hand up and wiped it away.

“Hey, don’t talk to Danny like that.” Tim stood up from his seat, he was shorter than the other but held an air about him that dripped deadly intention. “And you’re not my boyfriend. We broke up six months ago. Back. Off.”

“What’s wrong Timmy. Afraid your ‘boyfriend’ can’t beat a real man.” He looked smug, oh Danny wants to smash his face in, so much.

“He is a real man. You think anyone who’s anything less than a real man would wear a damn flower crown? It’s stunning, he’s pretty and he knows it. He’s more of a man you have ever been.” Tim jabbed his finger into Bernards chest.

“Then why’s he sipping your drink like you’re all close. I know you think we’ve broken up but like hell we have,” He grabbed Tims arm and started to pull him towards the door. “Your mine and I won’t have you getting all buddy buddy with some emo wannabe.”

Danny sprung to action. He jumped out of his chair and grabbed Tim’s other arm pulling him straight from Bernards grip. Bernard turned on his heel and looked at Danny with pure rage. He had to look up to meet Danny’s eyes, right now he was glad to have inherited his dads height and half his muscle mass. Danny narrowed his eyes, carefully controlling the green that wants to seep through his vision.

“You said you wanted to put me in my place, right? You, me, the alley behind here, now. Let’s see who comes out on top. And don’t be mistaken, the winner doesn’t get Tim, he isn’t a prize. I just want to show you what happens when you pick a fight you can’t win.”

“You’re on goth brat.” With that Bernard marched outside followed by Danny. Tim followed after a short pause, protests falling from his lips.

Chapter Text

Danny stood opposite Bernard in the run down back alley behind the café. The brick walls were dull, the ground dirty and littered with throw away coffee cups and the scent of rotting food hung in the air from the multiple dumpsters lining the alley. A perfect seen to fight.

Danny cracked out his shoulders while keeping his eyes on Bernard who was doing the same. He seemed to be putting in the effort to make himself look larger. Danny just huffed and took off the black velvet jacket the arts students had made and dressed him in, passing it to Tim.

“You don’t have to do this for me Danny. Seriously. I apricate your help but this is too much.” Tim looked pained if the frown wrinkles on his forehead were any indication. Danny put his hand on Tim’s shoulder softly.

“It’s fine. You came over to me clearly trying to lose someone and it didn’t work. Now, this is just personal for the insults about how I look. I always wear the flower crown, but the art students put a lot of effort into this fit and I won’t have him insult it through insulting me.” Danny smiled, then raised his voice.

“I’ll be fine my north star; he won’t touch me.”

“Cocky ain’t ya!” Bernard yelled hearing just what Danny wanted him to.

“Only because I know my own power. Hey, let’s make a deal?” This was a risk but the way Tim was looking at him he knew he had to help. Plus, dealing with annoying ex’s was a good way to get in the good books with someone right?

“What sort of deal?” Oh, good he took the bait.

“If you can beat me, I’ll break up with Tim and he’ll never see me again,” He looked pleased at that, “but if I win you will only see and talk to Tim when he wants you to regardless of the situation. You will stop following him in person or online, you will leave his friends, family, colleagues and partners alone. You will not approach him unless he grants you permission to do so and only for however long he allows it.”

A look of contemplation crossed the blonds face. He probably didn’t know what to make of all that. It’s a lot, especially since he doesn’t technically know he’s making a deal with a baby eldritch god right now. He clicked his tongue at Danny.

“Is that all?” Danny could taste the sarcasm dripping from his words.

“The terms apply to both of us in life and in death.” That add on seemed to alarm Tim and just make Bernard think he’s crazy by the looks on their faces.

“Ha, fine then you creepy emo freak. It’s a deal.” Danny put his hands forth to shake on it, he hadn’t quite got the hang of making deals with doing something physical to seal the contract yet.

With a huff the angry blonde clasped his hand in Danny’s and with those words said he unknowingly sealed his fate. A bright green flame wrapped its way around their hands as an icy wind whipped up around them. Bernard jumped away in shock looking around flabbergasted before his eyes returned to Danny. Tim was frozen in shock where he stood.

“What the hell was that?” He yelled angrily.

“You made a deal with me, that was it being finalised. Now, shall we fight? It won’t have to be to the death if that makes you feel better. Just till there’s a clear winner. And we didn’t specify no powers, so…” Danny trailed off with a smirk and lifted his hands up as a green glow began to emanate from them.

Bernards eyes widened, and a look of slight horror began to show. He took two steps back and pointed an accusatory finger at Danny. He was beginning to shake. Well, Danny definitely shouldn’t bring out the eldritch horror form then. Plus, he doesn’t want to scare Tim away.

“Y-y-you tricked me. What are you?” He turned to Tim. “What the hell Tim!” He sounded outraged.

Before Tim could respond Danny went invisible. One of the benefits of being older and the king is that he doesn’t have to go ghost to use his powers anymore. He walked around Bernard who was in a martial arts defensive position. Sweat was dripping from his brow, and his eyes scanned the ally in a wild manner.

Danny came up right in front of him, he stopped his breathing so that not even his breath would give him away. He allowed his teeth to elongate and sharpen to a point, he felt his eyes swirl green and allowed his hair to float without gravity. Just then he turned visible with a growled out “BOO!”

Bernard screamed went to run backwards but tripped over his own feet and fell straight down to the floor. Danny smiled unnaturally wide showing all his fangs, it works so well with the dark academia look. Tim was still ram rod straight, watching his fake boyfriend and his ex.

“You want to know what I am? Well little mortal boy, I am the King of Ghosts. I rule the dead and when you cross me, you make an enemy of every resident of the afterlife. Now, do you want to throw fists? Or do you concede?” Danny’s voice went like static, layers upon layers of voices of the deceased talking all at once.

Bernard seemed to consider this for a second. But as Danny tilted his head in a predatory way, the boy under him panicked and started scrambling to his feet. In seconds he threw his clenched fist forward straight at Danny’s nose.

“NO!” Tim yelled snapping out of his stupor and sprinting the couple steps over to them.

Danny with quick and fluid motions grabbed Bernards hand and twisted him around till his arm was up his back. He then kicked his knee’s forward while keeping hold of his arm. He fell to his knees and groaned in pain like he was trying to hold in a yelp. Tim came beside them, Danny’s jacket in hand, looking between them in shock.

“I’ll ask again, do you concede?” Danny hissed out, pulling on the blonde’s arm who groaned again. He gritted his teeth and pulled against Danny with no success. Danny put more pressure down on his arm forcing him harder into the ground.

“Tsk- fine yes I concede.” Danny instantly released him and for the second time in three minutes he fell to the floor. This time face first. He felt the thrum of ice cold heat course through his hand, a winner being deemed for the deal to take action.

Tim brought his hands to face in shock and looked between them. Eyes wide but not in fear, something Danny couldn’t quite place. Danny turned his attention to Bernard who was picking himself up, dirt smeared on his face. He let out a low growl at him and the blonde had the sense to look scared.

“Well then, we had a deal. You should leave now.” Danny leaned forward and blew cold air on his face.

Making his first smart decision Bernard ran off but not before throwing a string of curses over his shoulder. Well, that was that delt with. Danny stretched out his joints and turned to face Tim, who was staring with at him.

“You have some explaining to do.” Tim said oddly calmly.

And in that moment, Danny panicked, and ran away from the handsome man like the coward he unfortunately is when faced with an angry pretty face.

Chapter Text

Danny was sitting in the library at an ungodly hour, surrounded by books, an empty disposable cup, a laptop he wanted to smash and a sense of despair. He couldn’t focus, hasn’t been able to since his run in a week ago with the gorgeous man named Tim. Plus, he may have done something a little bit bad.

Instead of studying and working on his assignments, he may have dragged Technus from the realms to help him investigate Tim, for his own safety obviously. Now he knew the stunning man who had randomly approached him was Tim Drake-Wayne CEO of Wayne Enterprises. So having Technus do a deep dive for him wasn’t hard.

What sucked was when Technus decided to be a brat and sent a message off to Tucker in Amity who immediately called and yelled at Danny for not telling him that he had met one of his idols. Danny had just sat there on the phone as Tucker ranted while glaring at Technus who smirked and cackled from the screen.

Anyway, Danny now believes he knows more about Tim Drake-Wayne then Tucker and isn’t that a weird thought. At this point Sam might tell him he has a new ghost obsession… which he doesn’t ok.

With a deep sigh Danny allowed his head to hit the table, his flower crown remaining firmly in place. Todays is a series of white daisy’s, white daffodils and accented with baby’s breath, yellow amethyst and pearls. He groaned, his head was full of Tim and not class work. Great, he is supposed to be doing responsible adult things not obsessing over a cute guy.

That’s when he felt it, the pull on his core. Like someone had wrapped a hand around all his organs and was dragging him to wherever they wanted. With a deep sigh Danny closed his laptop and allowed himself to be pulled from the mortal plane, through the infinite realms where he shifted to his more kingly ghost form and reappeared in the mortal plane.

He felt the temperature around him drop with his presence, his white hair floating around him and his cloak made of the very cosmos themselves billowing around him. He floated midair, completely weightless in this form despite his even larger than normal stature. He could feel the light weight of the flower crown shift to the heavier weight of ice and green flames.

Looking down he saw a summoning circle drawn with several runes along the inner lining all to contain him, bind him and a few translation ones. Plus, a whole heap he really couldn’t be bothered to read. There were white, black and blue candles. Hmm, whoever did this circle clearly did their homework, unlike Danny.

When he looked up, he really didn’t know what to make of the scene in front of him. Members of the Justice League, seemingly all the bat vigilantes of Gotham and the damn warlock who causes Danny more paperwork than he cares to deal with. Half of them are looking at him in surprise and trepidation and the others in fear.

“You, what in the ancients’ names are you of all beings summoning me for?” Danny said in his static layered voice while pointing a black clawed finger in one John Constantine direction.

The man in question paled considerably and was both visibly shaking and sweating. He took a few steps forward and fell into deep bow. With a quick hiss at the other assembled hero’s they too fell into bows of varying levels. Danny honestly didn’t care for the formality.

“Rise Hellbalzer and answer my question.” Danny’s voice boomed across the room. Which he noted one of the walls was lined with windows that peered out into space. Like actual outer space, wow was it hard not to run over and stare out into the void of his beloved cosmos.

“I have summoned you forth as, well, apparently. Fuckin hell this is hard. Your majesty apparently your presence in the mortal realm was seen about a week ago.” Ah, when he let some of his ghostliness through to put that brat ex of Tims in his place.

“I was, what of it?” Danny crossed his arms over his chest and started unblinking into the mans eyes.

“Well, you see, you don’t just come to mortal realm. If the records are correct last time you made your appearance half of all life on the bloody planet was wiped out on earth alone before some other antient gods locked you away…” He trailed off as Danny let out a laugh that made a few of the hero’s gathered grab at their ears and reach for their weapons.

“You refer to Pariah Dark, the former high king of the infinite realms. I bested him in single combat six years ago and therefore won the right to the crown. The tyrant king is locked in the sarcophagus of forever sleep and guarded by knights of my own choosing. I am high king Phantom.” If it was at all possible the warlock appeared more scared with the new information.

Right then batman stepped forward, coming to John Constantine’s side. He held himself with a deadly grace and what was visible of his face was a determined scowl.

“What are your intentions? Why visit the mortal plane now after six years?” He sounded gravely.

“Who said I only just visited?” Danny smirked at the frown donning batman’s face and the fear on the others.

“But if you must know, I like the mortal plane. I am known as the balance, a protecter spirit, bringer of peace and a whole bunch of other titles that make me quite different to the last king. I roam the living realm, because I am one of both the living and the dead. If you do not mess with me, I will not interfere with your ‘justice’ business.” He could see the cogs moving behind every person in this room’s eyes.

Which is when he noticed something. Towards the back of the room was one of the bat vigilantes, red robin he believed. What was interesting was the lack of spleen, huh. In fact, his entire essence was familiar… Tim. Wow he looked hot in the skin tight hero get up.

“Would you make an alliance with us, as a sign of good faith.” That didn’t sound like the question it probably was meant to.

“I will, but first. I noticed that you haven’t provided an offering for this summoning.” Danny grinned.

“Right, of course your majesty. The records we had to go off were based on your former and well, we weren’t prepared to offer a human sacrifice. What would please you?” chimed in John Constantine.

Danny pretended to think it over for a half a minute. This wasn’t how he had been daydreaming it over the last week but well, time to try and be less of an idiot. He could use this to his advantage, right? Tim was hot and smart CEO and apparently a known feisty vigilante, he ticked more boxes than Danny knew he had.

“A black velvet jacket.” He saw red robin go still where he stood with the other bat vigilantes while the justice league members look confused. “A specific black velvet jacket that I lost during the very visit that brought me to your attention.”

“…We can try and find it, of course your majesty.” The warlock seemed thrown for a loop.

“No, the one who told you of my being here can bring it to me himself. I will meet him tomorrow night. He simply needs to run the rooftops as normal, and I will find him.” Danny smiled at red robin who brought a hand to his face but nodded his understanding.

“Once I have my jacket returned then I will consider an alliance.” With that Danny let out a wave of power that knocked the candles over and broke the lines of the summoning circle.

Just as he was collapsing in on himself like a dying star to return to infinite realms he heard John Constantine yell “What the bloody hell did you not tell me bats?”

Chapter Text

Danny is really regretting his life choices now. All that fake bravado that he uses as the ghost king, the whole fake it till you make it attitude, is great until he has to deal with the consequences of his own decisions. Like right now for example.

He is waiting till late in the evening, specifically when the bats and birds will roam the city. Why, ancients why did he have to try and act cryptic and basically con Tim into giving up his hero identity. That wasn’t fair of him, he knows how important a sense of anonymity is to hero’s and vigilantes.

He will apologise profusely when he see’s his precious star. Oh, but what if Tim is already angry when he sees him. Just imagining that pretty pretty face warped with anger makes Dannys stomach do flips. Whether it was flipping from distress at the idea of Tims ire or that he’s totally weak to a pretty face with an angry edge. Just look at his exes; Sam, Valerie and that thing he had with Dash.

First things first, he has to meet up with Tim, preferably as Danny and not Phantom the Ghost King. So here Danny was standing in from of a mirror trying to make himself look presentable. As phantom he didn’t have to worry about appearances since he was a king and, in the realms, what mattered was the power the leaked from his very being.

But as just Danny, he was a plain guy. Sure, his height was close to his dad’s, and he had the muscle mass to look fit. But he will always see the gangly preteen he was when he looked in the mirror. He doesn’t know what Tim thinks of him. He was dressed up and decked out when they first met curtesy of the art students, then he looked like his ghost king self the second time.

But if he wants this to go in the right direction from now, not just a farse to scare off a guy or some manipulation tactic to escape dealing with the justice league. Mainly just that annoyance John Constantine. Then he would have to be as true to himself when meeting with Tim as possible.

So, with a heavy heart and sense of dread building in the pit of his stomach. He put on his cleanest pair of blue jeans; he didn’t want to look like a slob. He put on one of his many white shirts with the NASA logo and Favorite pairs of converses. Lastly, he looked to his crown. With a breath he watched as it changed before his eyes. A ring of small pink lily’s, white anemone and scattered with smoky quartz, rose quartz and pearls.

Danny felt a small smile pull at his lips; this was about as himself as he could get.

Looking at the clock he saw he still had several hours until his pretty little draco would be jumping along the Gotham skyline. Since he didn’t want to pull and tug his at his hair with anxiety until it was a unmanageable matted mess, he went and grabbed his laptop and tried to distract himself with assignment work.

His thoughts jumped between a million scenarios of how tonight could go down and his assignments. Unfortunately, the former was the main thing on his mind, but at least the keyboard helped stop him from attacking his hair. He was honestly so tempted to ask Clockwork to tell him how to make tonight go his way, but he knows he must do this himself.

When it was finally late enough Danny set off to go find his pretty star.

Chapter Text

Danny could see the silhouette of the lithe vigilante dressed in red and black before he approached him. He had been flying around invisibly around the Gotham skyline looking for said little bird until he finally found him here. If the black velvet jacket in his hands wasn’t enough, the slight stench of death and lack of spleen was a give-away.

Right now, his north star was perched on a root top of one of the abandoned Wearhouse near the docks. He was pacing back and forth the jacket clenched tightly in his hands. Danny landed a little way across from Tim watching him as he muttered to himself. Danny couldn’t help but feel relieved that he wasn’t the only one stressing about this meeting.

“Ahh this is so stupid, he’s not gonna show… why would he, he’s a gorgeous king of the dead who’s willing to to help a stranger.” He stopped and put his head in his hands. “This is so stupid, maybe I should just try the summoning spell Constantine gave me...”

He was so contemplative and chewing at his lip as he worried.

“I would rather you not, being summoned is kinda annoying. It feels like someone is grabbing you by your insides and dragging you. Oh, here this is for you, figured you’d need it.” Danny tried to smile as calmly as he could and extended his hand out that was holding a takeaway coffee cup.

“…That’s for me.” Tims half covered face showed mild shock and his voice was breathy. “Where did you come from, when did you get here?”

“Yes, for you, six shots of expresso, right? I hope that’s your normal order and not just a one-time stress induced order from that whole avoiding your ex thing a week ago. Also, I’ve been here like a couple minutes, you pace a lot. Please take it, I promise it’s safe.” He extended the cup again and Tim took it.

Danny smiled and walked over and sat himself on the edge of the Wearhouse. Tim trailed after him cautiously, as one would expect of one of batman’s birds. He joined Danny, sitting half on the ledge so they faced each other slightly. It was dark being as it was two in the morning and as much as the moonlight made Tim look like an angel haloed in white light, it wasn’t enough. He needed to see Tim.

With a swish of his hand small lights seemed to phase across the veil and float around them, small balls of sunlight. Tim went to sip his coffee his face turning to look at all the lights.

“What…”

“Sunlight. I’m not just the Ghost King, I’m the ancient of space so things like summoning a little sunlight so I can see you clearly is easy as pie.” He was so happy to show a little bit of himself to the other.

“Wow, that’s really cool.” Tim looked in awe as he took a sip of his coffee. “Thanks for the coffee, I really needed it. Promising no coffee and a hell of a lot of black mail was the only way to keep the other’s away.”

“I though it was odd that there wasn’t a welcome committee waiting for me. But I am thankful that it’s just us… So are you gonna give me my jacket or…” Danny said with a slight grin, reaching out for the jacket.

Tims face looked blank with forced control as with one hand he pulled the jacket closer to his chest as he took another sip of coffee.

“Will you take it and just run away again.” He looked like he was keeping a carful expression to guard the worry that Danny could see at the edge of his eyes.

“No, I promise I won’t.” he scratched the back of his head. “That was an impulse decision due to my own panic at being faced with hot people after something embarrassing occurs. It’s like a signature move of mine actually… wow that sad.”

“Very sad, you’re a king, right? Shouldn’t nothing you do be embarrassing? Also isn’t arrogance a big thing for kings. You really should never run from someone just because they’re hot.” Tim smiled now, his expression less guarded.

“Eh, I’m not like other kings. I died at fourteen, beat a tyrant king at fithteen and a whole lot of other things that you wouldn’t believe for a minute and was crowned king at sixteen. I live between my birth realm here amongst mortals and my other in the epitome of all afterlife’s the infinite realms. I’m never gonna be some stereotypical arrogant king, so don’t worry about that.”

“Wow, that… was a lot more information than I thought you’d share. If you showed up at all. Batman didn’t think you actually would.” Tim looked a little bit shell shocked at the freely given information.

“Oh yeah, how did that all go down because I was not expecting a summoning. I may have gone a little obsessed, which is ghostly nature so please don’t me too much, but I did a very very deep dive on you, and I figured as a rich beyond rich kid that you’d investigate me. But bringing in the tax evader hellblazer was not on bingo card.”

“Haha, well, bat connections ya know… how much of a deep dive did you do? I know you know who I am-”

“The missing spleen and your essence gave you away, so don’t stress on that.” Danny quickly interrupted.

“Oh, ok. Did you find out who the others are?” He looked worried asking.

“No, didn’t care about them so I didn’t bother.” Then a wave of relief covered tims face again.

“Oh, good. Um I’m not upset about any deep dives you did because so did I.” He looked shy.

“I’m not surprised. Like I said you have the money and the skills to investigate me.” Danny smirked.

“Yeah, well I had to find you again, for a few reasons.”

“Go on, tell me how everything went down.” Danny did a little hand motion to tell Tim to start his story.

Chapter Text

They sat there in almost comfortable silence for a minute as a war waged in Tim’s head. Danny could tell by the flickers of emotion he could see at the corners of Tims eyes and lips and the tension in his shoulders. But then he relaxed, obviously deciding on what he wanted to say. He looked at Danny, his expression open.

“I started looking you up that very same day. It didn’t take me long to find your name and go from there. But then I hit a dead end, it was the time you started at Gotham U, there was nothing before that. No fake history like you were in a witness protection program, no amateur identity change, just absolute nothingness. So, I went to use the bat computer-”

Tim was cut off by Dannys Laughter, his hands quickly grabbing at his face to muffle it.

“I’m sorry, just, bat computer? Really, that’s so unoriginal… not that I’m judging. Sorry, please continue with your explanation as to my summons.”

“I didn’t name it.” Tim huffed.

“Yep, ok, sure thing little star” Danny grinned. Tim stilled for a moment on the nickname.

“…Anyway I went to use the bat computer. Even with the all the extra software and hacking abilities I was still at a dead end trying everything I could. Which was when Batman showed up-”

Again, Danny muffled a laugh.

“Sorry it’s just, of Course Batman showed up to the bat computer in what I’m guessing is the bat clubhouse.”

“…It’s called the bat cave actually.” Tim had the audacity to look ashamed of all the unoriginal bat themed naming.

“I really didn’t name anything, stop judging me.” He took a haughty sip of his coffee and looked away from Danny, clutching the jacket in his hand tightly.

“Anyway, Batman was intrigued about your absent history and was intrigued, so he tried to find your history as well and came up with nothing. So, he probed and questioned me till I just gave in and told him why I was looking into you. He did not believe my original story that you were a budding rouge.”

“That’s not a bad lie. I’m big and kind of weird with my flower crowns plus I’m a STEM student so that’s probably a starter kit for your little enemies list.” Danny nodded.

“Right, but honestly you can only keep the truth from him for so long. Once I spilled, he suggested we get Constantine to help since even though the guy is annoying, he is very proficient at what he does.” Danny is glad to see the exasperated look when Tim mentions the hellblazer. Glad to know that he isn’t the only one who’s annoyed by him.

“John Constantine is an annoyance. The stupid tax evader causes more paperwork than his soul is worth. Don’t look at me like that, this is your story time not mine. Now continue please.” Danny grins as Tim stares at him.

“We went to Constantine and long story short when I said I met someone who said they were the ghost king along with an adjusted retelling of events he freaked the hell out. He kept exclaiming about what have we done, what have we gotten involved in and that if you were here that means the end of this entire dimension. Thanks for that by the way, the whole Justice League was in a panic thinking we were facing an apocalypse event.” Tim gave him a pointed look.

“Yeah, I explained this back when I was summoned. That was the previous king not me. I stopped that apocalyptic event just so you know. It’s not my fault that there’s essentially no information about the infinite realms, which is how it should be. It’s really not a place for mortals to be messing with.” Danny nodded to himself.

“I don’t like not knowing things. While the justice league dark did all the research and devised a way to summon and bind you, I tried straight up looking for you a Gotham u but everyone just refused to help me. I know I was in disguise, but I was so charming and still nothing. You are very well-liked mister soft flower crown boy from the engineering department. That’s actually what people who don’t know your name call you by.” Another pointed look.

“Trust me I’m aware. I’ll tell you about the flower crowns one day.” Danny smiled and winked at Tim.

“Does that mean I’ll see you after this then.” Tim narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Well, you know where I go to school so I’m sure you’ll eventually catch me there.” Danny smirked. “Anyway you were saying…”

“Since I couldn’t find you in person, Constantine devised a way to summon you, so we did. I had different reasons to Batman and the others but honestly, I didn’t think it would work. Then it worked. When you came through that portal you weren’t the flower crown wearing dark academia guy from the café, you were…”

“Scary?” Danny swallowed the lump in his throat; he really doesn’t want his little Draco to be scared of him.

“Yes, you were, but I don’t plan on running away from that. I like scary.” Tim smiled softly at him.

“Would you run away from a dead man? Because I really am half dead, it’s why I’m split between two realms.” Danny offers, after all he wanted to be his real self with Tim.

“No, as long as you’re here I don’t care if your half dead. If I have to travel to the ends of the universe to find a way to stop you from rotting in front of me I would.” Tim looked so determined.

“Well I won’t be rotting anytime soon, but that’s sweet of you. Honestly sounds like you got a thing for me there.” Danny felt a slight blush rise to his cheeks.

“Well, what if I did?”

“We’ve only officially met once.” Danny offers.

“Yes, but it made an impact. Also, I’ve researched you a lot and it definitely helped your case. You’re an amazing and sweet person, I can’t even begin to list the ways that your just a straight up good person. Plus, I have a weird attraction to people who could squash me.” Tims blush peaked out from under his mask at that overly honest admission.

“I’m weak to pretty faces with an angry streak. From what I know of your civilian self and this vigilante version of you in front of me now, you fit the bill.” Danny held Tims eyes.

“Do you… want to go out with me sometime.” Tim mumbles turning the prettiest shade of red yet.

“We should get coffee and hot chocolate. I know a great little place, I happened to meet the prettiest star there once, a very, very, long week ago.” Danny agreed instantly.

“Yes. It’s a date then.” Tim rushed out.

“If you still need to finish justice league business then I’ll be taking my jacket back so we can discuss a truce alliance.” Danny reached out his hand. Tim smiled and handed the black velvet jacket over.

“Before we get to that, I need to know the story behind tax evader John Constantine?” Tim giggled out take another sip of his now lukewarm coffee.

Danny smiled took Tim’s now free hand in his own, to which Tim intertwined their fingers, and they looked out to the Gotham skyline with red cheeks.

“Well, you see…”