Work Text:
Edward Lancer was well aware that his place of work – Casper Blair High School – was a special place where special chaos happened. When ghost first emerged, Casper High was hit worst with the most frequent ghost attacks.
But this was just bad luck, outside forces taking shots at the school. The situation right now, however, was of their own making and Ishiyama’s questionable choices.
Lancer was guiding his class of seniors through the city of Gotham. Yes, that Gotham. The Gotham in New Jersey with the villains, the asylum that is more so a prison that can’t hold its inmates and with the vigilantes. Ishiyama decided that Gotham would be a good destination for a senior field trip.
“Other classes go to France or New York, but no, we have to go to Gotham!” one of his students complained. Lancer just sighed, silently agreeing with the sentiment. He then saw another student typing away on their phone.
“Mr. Reyes! Please put your phone down and pay attention to your surroundings!” Lancer chided.
But his student just answered, “I’m just recording our field trip, so that people know what happened to me!”
Right now they were walking through the city to a cinema, to watch a movie. But…
“Mr. Lancer, are we lost?” one of the cheer leaders asked. “I know we are somewhere in Otisburg, but I don’t see the cinema anywhere.” Then they heard thunder and drops hit them. “Of course it rains when we get lost!”
With another sign, he admitted, yes they were. He decided, “Change of plans! We’re looking for someone to ask for directions.”
“Who?” Reyes asked, “Gothamites are nuts.”
“And the people we talked to so far weren’t exactly friendly.”
“To be fair, these were from the Diamond District. Rich people are so… rude by default.” Reyes added. “Just think about Mayor Masters! That man wasn’t happy since he was elected in 2006!”
“I can’t believe he managed to get re-elected…” Lancer muttered in annoyance. Since 2006, the staff of Casper High learned to loathe the man. “And to think he might get re-elected next year again…” When November 2014 rolls around, he’ll vote for whoever runs against Masters.
Reyes then said, “We could ask a cop? I see a cop from here.”
Lancer looked around and Reyes was right, there was a police officer on foot patrol. Two actually. Lancer told them to wait there while he talks to the officers.
After taking a deep breath, Lancer approached the younger of the two officers. “Excuse me, officer? Could you tell me where the Majestic Plaza is?”
The older of the two eyed Lancer. “You’re not from here, am I right? Well, rookie, you handle them!” he said, slightly slapping the younger cop onto the shoulder.
“Of course, Sir.” the rookie replied, before turning to Lancer. But Lancer was more taken aback by his voice. By his familiar voice. Then Lancer fully registered how the rookie looked. Pale skin, blue eyes, black hair and most strikingly, a fresh looking Lichtenberg figure. Dark lines line a lightning strike.
Normally, Lichtenberg Figures pale after mere days. He only ever met one person with Lichtenberg figures than never faded over the 4 years he sat in his home room. Daniel Alexander Fenton.
And the name tag just confirmed it. Ofr. Fenton.
“Othello! Mr. Fenton, is that truly you?” Lancer said, eyes wide. “And you are a cop?”
The rookie just nod. “Yes, Mr. Lancer.”
His Field Training Officer looked between them, “You know him, boot?”
“Yeah, this is my old English Teacher from High School.” Danny explained. “Oh well. Looks like things haven’t changed at Casper if Ishiyama decided Gotham would be a good field trip destination. Anyway, the Majestic Plaza is just down the street from here.”
His FTO laughed, “Says the guy who moved here.”
“Gotham U was the only college that didn’t reject me!”
“Let me rephrase that: Says the guy who stayed here after graduating.” Danny sighed and rolled his eyes, but his FTO wasn’t done tormenting his rookie, “Then again your boyfriend makes leaving difficult, eh?”
“He isn’t my boyfriend!”, Danny snapped back, but his FTO was just laughing at his misery. “Sometimes I wonder how you’re an FTO, Marc.” Danny added, muttering annoyed.
Lancer noted his class was chuckling about the two officers’ interaction, but before he could scold them for being rude, his academic brain took control. “Oh, you managed to attend college? What did you study?” When Danny graduated from Casper High, he still only received rejections. So Lancer never knew if Danny ended up studying or not.
Danny told him, “I studied Criminology, minoring in Criminal Psychology.”
“Criminal Psychology?”
“Jazz talked me into it.” Danny admitted, “Originally I wanted to minor in Criminal Law, but back then I still thought I would return to Illinois, so I figured a New Jersey law degree would be useless.”
Marc then put an arm around him, “But in the end you stayed in Gotham! You’re a proper Gothamite now!” Danny just sighed, annoyed with Marc’s antics.
Then one of Lancer’s more daring students approached Danny, “So you were an Amity Parker, yes?”
“Yeah?”
“Then you know Amity Park PD is understaffed.” he pointed out, “Why didn’t you apply at home?”
Danny just leaned down to his height. “I did. But the APPD rejected my application.”
The student backed away. “Oh.”
Lancer admitted, “Well, it is a shame the APPD rejected you. Like he said, the APPD is understaffed and the city suffers for it. Well, about the cinema.
“Just down the street-”
“Daniel!” a voice yelled.
“Oh seriously now?” Danny complained, but Marc just laughed.
“Your boyfriend is here!” Marc cheered as none other than Damian Wayne walked to Danny.
“Oh my gosh! Damian Wayne!” someone from his class whispered. “Gotham Royalty!”
“Wait, did he say boyfriend?” Reyes muttered.
“Mr. Wayne, I’m on duty. If this is about-” Danny started, trying to be as polite and professional as he can muster, but Damian interrupted him.
“Daniel, I am impatient with your rejections. Even your half witted fellow PPO’s hear from your excuses that even you don’t believe your words.” Damian told him, not paying attention to Lancer and his class, who watched the drama unfolding. “Just give me one chance, Daniel. One date is all I am asking for.”
Marc looked between them, anticipating what Danny answers.
“No!” Danny replied. “Just no.”
“But-”
“Damian, if you really like me like you claim, you won’t call me Daniel. You should know I hate being called Daniel.” Danny answered, rejecting Damian yet again.
“Wait, you do?” Marc wondered, having heard of his name preference just now.
Lancer told him, “Yes. Back when I was his teacher, he demanded that everyone calls him Danny. Even from his bullies, teachers he didn’t like, even his godfather he can’t stand. No one in Amity Park was allowed to call him Daniel. He was very vocal about this.”
Damian asked, “That’s it? You reject me because of a nickname?”
“Of course not! I reject you, because dating you would kill my career!” Danny pointed out. “If I were to date a Wayne, Internal Affairs would breathe down my neck all the time. Any arrest I make would be under scrutiny and be investigated for outside influence! Honestly, I’m surprised Dick isn’t constantly contended it court for being a Wayne!”
“Now that he mentions it, good question.” Marc muttered.
“Damian, leave me alone. Especially, don’t talk to me while I am working!” Danny demanded. “I’m in my probationary period! I’m being watched closely.” he said, gesturing to Marc.
Damian sighed. “I… okay. I will ask you again once your probationary period ends.”
As Damian left, Danny sighed. “That’s not what I meant.”
Marc petted his shoulder. “At least you got a 9 month break from his aggressive flirting. Who knows, maybe it clicks for him once you reject him as a full cop.”
Danny shook his head. “He is too stubborn.” He then turned his attention back to his old teacher, “I’m sorry you had to witness this. The Wayne’s think they own the city.”
“Well, they kinda do…” Marc said.
“You wanted to go to the Majestic Plaza, right?” Danny reminded them of their original plan. “It is on our patrol route, so we can lead you there directly.”
“That would be nice.” Lancer replied.
With that, the two GCPD officers walked the class to the old cinema. On the way there, Lancer asked, “Your talk with Damian Wayne, a common issue I presume?” Danny nod. “How do you handle this?”
“Frankly? I don’t. I seriously consider to apply for a lateral transfer to somewhere else to get away from him.” Danny admitted. Marc’s head snapped to him, offended he plans to leave. “Who knows, maybe the APPD takes me now, with two to three years of Gotham experience.”
“Oh no, you stay here, boot!” Marc rebelled.
Danny just glared at him. “If Damian doesn’t drop it, I’ll go.”
“Now, now, now, isn’t that an over reaction?” Marc said, trying to talk him out of it.
Lancer just rolled his eyes. “Well, if you do, Principal Ishiyama may call you for a PSA. She likes to show off old alumni to show actual students what their predecessors did with their life.”
Danny nodded, “If the APPD accepts then. Who knows, maybe I go to Chicago.”