Phantom Brews

by MDC07

Summary:

Based on the tumblr prompt by sonrium

DP × DC The Power of Names Coffee Shop AU

Danny Fenton is just trying to live a quiet, anonymous life after fleeing Amity Park and his parents’ rejection. Now working under the alias “Dan Cole,” he’s found an unlikely sanctuary in Gotham’s gritty Crime Alley, where he works at a small coffee shop called Ecto Espresso. Despite its unassuming exterior, the shop has gained a cult following—not for its coffee, but for Danny’s uncanny ability to spell everyone’s name perfectly, no matter how obscure, complex, or foreign.

Notes:

Hi guys I’m a sucker for Tim/Danny and finally decided to write my own. This is based off a tumblr prompt so hopefully I do it justice. This is only my second work so if y’all have any criticisms or anything you’d like to see let me know. Hope y’all enjoy:)

Chapter 1: Fresh Grounds

Summary:

Tim and Danny meet for the first time and chaos ensues.

Notes:

I'm a sucker for Tim/Danny and decided to write my own. This is based of a Tumblr prompt so hopefully I do it justice. This is only my second work so please feel free to give feedback, positive and negative feedback is welcome. Hope yall like it :)

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Act 1 brewing connections

The bell above the coffee shop door jingled softly, its cheery chime a stark contrast to the gritty Gotham street outside. Danny Fenton, freshly relocated and operating under the very average alias "Dan Cole," adjusted his apron and glanced at the clock on the wall. Barely 7:30 a.m., and already a line was forming.

 

 

The shop, Ecto Espresso—an ironic name Danny had to stifle a laugh over when he got hired was small but warm, with faded wood furniture and the comforting hum of an ancient espresso machine. It was nothing like the bright chaos of Amity Park or the sterile cold of his parents’ lab. Here, in the heart of Gotham’s Crime Alley, Danny found something he hadn’t expected to find anywhere: anonymity.

 

 

"Next!" he called, plastering on a friendly smile.

 

 

The woman at the counter squinted at him. "Name’s Carly," she said, her tone carrying the kind of edge only Gothamites mastered.

 

 

“Carly with a C or K?” Danny asked casually.

 

 

She blinked. "C."

 

 

Danny scribbled the name with a flourish onto the cup in perfect cursive and slid it along the counter. Carly frowned when she noticed, but it wasn’t the usual frown of irritation. Instead, her expression morphed into mild confusion.

 

 

"Huh. You spelled it right," she muttered.

 

 

Danny just smiled. "Have a great day."

 

 

As the next customer stepped up, a burly man with tattoos snaking down his arms, Danny braced himself.

 

 

“Name’s Raúl,” the man said, his voice gravelly. "But in Nahuatl, kid."

 

Danny raised an eyebrow but grabbed a cup. With a flick of his wrist, he jotted down the name in an elegant script from a language he shouldn’t know but did. His penmanship was flawless, the accent marks and tonal hints spot-on.

 

 

Raúl leaned closer, squinting at the cup. His jaw slackened.
"How the hell...?"

 

 

Danny grinned and shrugged. “It’s a gift.”

 

 

By the time the morning rush died down, the whispers had started. Gothamites loved a good mystery, and it seemed Danny’s uncanny ability to spell names in every possible language had already earned him a small legend status. He didn’t mind. As long as they didn’t ask too many questions, he could play along.

 

 

But when Danny looked up to see a young man in a hoodie and jeans, standing at the counter with sharp eyes that practically screamed detective, he felt his stomach tighten.

 

 

 

“Hi,” the man said, his smile easy but his gaze calculating.” Name’s Tim. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

 

 

Danny gave him his best customer-service smile, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that Tim Drake would be the beginning of the end of his quiet little life.
“Alright Tim, what could I get started for you on this lovely Monday morning,” Danny replied, voice dripping with sarcasm.

 

 

Tim, being a master at sarcasm himself, was not about to be outsassed by a non-Gothamite. Giving the man a once over, he decided two can play the game. “Say Dan” Tim quipped back, making sure to over-enunciate the poor barista's name. “ From one half-dead looking person to another, what’s the most amount of espresso shots one drink can have”

 

 

Danny, who did not have the mental capacity to deal with someone who looked like a tired vigilante, at 8 in the morning internally sighed to himself. Mentally cussing out Clockwork for moving him to a city infested with bats. Danny, in an attempt to not have Tim become a regular, deadpanned. “ I can give you 20 shots, in an extra large death wish. Only on the condition that if you die, I won’t be held liable for your death.”

 

 

Now, if Tim wasn’t a coffee lover, he’d think twice about accepting a coffee order that could kill him. Without an ounce of hesitation, “That’s perfect, I’ll get the extra large death wish with the 20 added shots, with a slice of the banana bread please.”

 

 

 

Danny was slightly unnerved by the man's immediate response, but hey, he thought to himself Gotham is home to the mentally ill. Danny had hoped that the order would be enough to scare the detective away. Instead, it seemed to do just the opposite, Tim's eyes immediately lit up with intrigue after the response. This was it, Danny thought to himself quietly, this is how I fully die. Cause of death failing to act naturally in front of a detective, time of death 8:02 AM.

 

 

Since his first traumatic death at the age of 14, Danny had spent the last 4 years thinking about how he’d fully die. He had imagined he had gotten married, grown old and passed peacefully, preferably on a Saturday surrounded by friends and family. But yet here he was, unmarried, still a teenager with hardly any friends and family, since his parents kicked him out for being half ghost.

 

 

Danny was still in contact with Jazz, but it was ruff with Jazz pursuing her master's in psychology halfway across the world. Things between his friends had gone south shortly before he left. Tucker, but mostly Sam couldn't understand why Danny would abandon Amity Park. But that was ok, Danny didn’t really expect them to understand why he had to leave.

 

 

 

With no internal panic left Danny began to mentally cuss out Clockwork for the second time. The man oversaw the time stream and was responsible for being all-knowing. So how Danny resumed his internal rant, could Clockwork betray him again by sending him to his full death. Danny didn’t know what was worse, dying by electrocution or embarrassment. Crossing his fingers, he prayed for a sweet release hoping the man was not a detective. Mental breakdown aside, Danny still had a customer to serve.

 

Plastering on his fakest customer service smile, Danny proceeded to read out Tim's total. “Your total just comes to $15.50, was that with cash or card, today?”

 

Tim, noticing the fake smile, thought to himself it was a declaration of war. Never being one to back down from war, Tim fully changed his plan of attack. Quickly shedding his dead tired persona, Tim shifted into no-filter mode.

 

 

“Just on card sugar” Tim responded, with a smirk making sure to drop the tone of his voice. Tim couldn't help himself, he just had to give Dan a nickname.

 

While Danny had not been expecting a pet name, he’d taken it in stride before coming to the horrible realisation. He was totally and utterly fucked, Tim’s smirk had confirmed his earlier thoughts. Danny had caught the attention of the detective, he’d might as well just kiss any chance at having a peaceful life in Gotham goodbye. It was moments like this where Danny wished he fully died at 14.

 

Tim was rather pleased with himself watching Dan’s reaction as he tapped his card, the man looked like he was going through all five stages of grief. Oh how Tim wished he had his camera to take photos of the frazzled barista. All in all Tims Monday morning was going perfectly, leaving him wondering what he did to get so lucky. Tim had just found himself his new favourite coffee spot, and he’d finally found someone new to stalk.

 

 

“That’s all good, feel free to take a seat it shouldn’t take too long”

 

“Thanks”

 

Tim walked over to the pickup station and took a seat at one of the empty booths. Looking around the room, Tim couldn't help but admire the scenery. The air was warm and thick with the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee beans, a welcome reprieve from the biting chill outside. Mismatched wooden tables and chairs gave the place a quirky charm, their edges softened by years of use. Faint jazz music crackled from an old speaker near the counter, adding to the cozy ambience. Above it all, strings of fairy lights hung lazily across the ceiling, their dim glow casting playful shadows on the faded brick walls. It was the kind of place that shouldn’t have existed in Gotham, and yet here it was, a quiet haven tucked away in the city’s most dangerous neighbourhood.

 

 

Tim’s eyes wander back to the counter, where the barista Dan, according to the rumours, was scribbling on a coffee cup with an easy confidence that belied the usual tension of living in Gotham. Next to him is a jar, reading tip if we spelt your name correctly! There was something strangely magnetic about him, and Tim couldn’t shake the feeling that this coffee shop and the person behind the counter held more secrets than it let on.

 

 

Lost in thought, Tim is unable to hear his name being called, frustrated by being ignored by the rude customer Danny takes matters into his own hands. Crossing out Tim's neatly written name and instead replacing it with Detective Timmy in massive block letters. Danny collects himself for what’s hopefully the last time today and uses his “king” voice to get Tim's attention.

 

 

Tim was immediately pulled from La La Land by the sound of his name being called by the cute barista. Realising his order is ready his body begins to shake from excitement, anticipating the impending caffeine. This excitement however is only short-lived, as he goes to pick up his coffee he can’t help but notice the mischievous look in the barista's eyes. The man’s eyes paired with his shit-eating grin, told Tim something was seriously wrong. Damn, Tim thought to himself, shouldn’t have agreed to not sue if I die.

 

 

Danny was losing his patience with the detective, Tim had fallen back into la la land. This time whisper shouting “Dude, are you going to take your drink or not, it’s getting cold and I still have other people to serve?”

 

 

“Huh, oh right sorry I will take that one, didn’t mean to cause a hold up.” Tim apologised, grabbing his drink and food, turning to walk out the door failing to notice the name change.

 

 

“Yeah, right that’s what they all say.” Danny scoffed, rolling his eyes as he watched the man leave. Only slightly disappointed Tim hadn’t noticed the name change, the man was a detective after all.

 

 

Tim was only a few steps away from exiting the store before the feeling of chaos became overwhelming. Feeling the urge to look down Tim's eyes immediately zeroed in on the name change. Tim couldn’t help it, his face began to turn beet red, if you asked Tim why he was blushing he’d lie and say his family was going to bully him. Tim would rather die of embarrassment than admit he had a crush on the new barista. In reality, Tim couldn't help it, he had a competence kink and found it incredibly hot that Dan had figured out he was a detective of some kind. Again not that Tim would ever tell anyone about his growing infatuation with Dan Cole.

 

 

 

Tim didn’t even have to turn around, to see Dan's reaction. He could practically feel Dan’s smugness radiating through the room. Tim knew looking back would mean accepting defeat, but that’s ok Tim thought. He’d be back for round two tomorrow, and he will be coming prepared. Shrugging off defeat, Tim took a sip of his coffee and the second the bitter bean juice hit his lips. Tim felt like he had enough energy to fight Ra’s for his spleen and destroy the League of Assassins. Just as he thought his Monday was looking up again, Tim heard a sharp yell.

 

 

“Don’t let the door hit you on the way out” Danny shouted.

 

 

Tim, who was pretending not to be obsessed with Dan was daydreaming about tomorrow's revenge, only ended up catching the last of the sentences. Door, what the hell do they mean the door looks fine to me.

 

 

As Tim pushed open the door of Ecto Espresso, balancing his coffee cup and phone in one hand, he barely registered the slight resistance. The door, apparently spring-loaded in its determination to close, swung back with surprising speed and smacked directly into his shoulder.

 

 

"Ow!" Tim yelped, stumbling backward as his coffee splashed perilously close to his hoodie. In the process of trying to save both his drink and his pride, he took one awkward step too far straight into a puddle on the uneven sidewalk.

 

The icy water soaked through his jeans instantly, and Tim let out a groan as he landed unceremoniously on his backside. His phone clattered to the ground, skidding just far enough away to be annoying but thankfully intact.

 

 

From inside the shop, a muffled snort of laughter drew his attention. Dan, leaning on the counter with a towel in hand, had a look of barely restrained amusement on his face.

 

 

“You okay there, Detective Timmy?” Danny called, his voice laced with teasing.

 

 

Tim shot him a half-hearted glare, though he couldn’t suppress the small, embarrassed laugh bubbling in his chest. “Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks for asking.” Letting out a sigh Tim sounding resigned “ That names gonna stick huh, first I get bullied by my family and now baristas”

 

 

Danny grinned, stepping out from behind the counter and opening the door fully this time. “You sure? That puddle looks like it won the fight. And you're right, the name is staying. You called me sugar first, I’m just carrying on what you started ”

 

 

Tim sighed dramatically, holding up his soggy cup. “At least the coffee survived. Priorities, right?”

 

 

Danny chuckled, extending a hand to help him up. “Priorities, indeed. Welcome to Gotham it’s always out to get you, even the doors.”

 

 

Tim took the offered hand, and as Danny pulled him upright, their eyes met for just a moment longer than necessary. Tim cleared his throat, brushing himself off.
"Guess I’ll have to start tipping better if the shop’s gonna cover battle injuries," Tim quipped, turning to grab his phone.

 

 

Danny smirked. "Or invest in a better sense of balance. Either way, come back soon preferably upright next time."

 

 

With a sheepish smile, Tim nodded and trudged away, puddle-soaked and flustered but strangely more intrigued by Danny than ever.

Notes:

Thanks so much for reading!
Please feel free to comment any criticisms or anything y'all enjoyed, feedback helps me to improve my writing

Chapter 2: Names and Games

Summary:

Tim gets bullied by his family, Dick tries to give a shovel talk and fails miserably. The batfamily finally hear about Dan and plan to meet him for family bonding.

Notes:

Thanks for all the love on chapter 1 yall the feedback has been great ❤️
Anyways welcome to chapter 2 it mainly focuses on Tim being bullied by his family. So Danny doesn't make an appearance till towards the end. I've listened to the feedback which has been immensely helpful someone pointed out the story had continuity issues so I have made some major edits to this chapter, so hopefully this chapter reads smoother. If yall still find any issues please feel free to point them out as I am happy to fix them.

Tim had two options, either go back to the manor to change and be left at the mercy of his siblings. Or go into work and be humiliated in front of his employees. Tim already wasn’t well  respected by most of the board members, who thought he was too young to be a CEO. For the second time today Tim decided to accept defeat, deciding to return to the manor. 

 

Tim walked around to the corner of the shop where he left his bike hoping it was still in one piece. As if he experienced another minor inconvenience he might kill himself, Mondays just seemed to have that effect on him. Now in hindsight Tim knew leaving an expensive bike in crime alley was the perfect way to get robbed. Just look at Jason who stole the tires of the batmobile.

 

Thankfully for Tim he was in luck, his bike remained untouched without even a scratch to the naked eye. But Tims growing paranoia he developed from being around Bruce told him he would have to take a closer look when he got back to the cave. 

 

That’s it Tim thought to himself, his plan was perfect. He would sneak in through the cave as the only person he could run into would be Duke getting ready for patrol. To Tim running into Duke  seemed like the safest option, as to most of the family Duke seemed like a chill person, who wouldn’t find pleasure in their siblings misfortunes. 

 

Hopping on his bike Tim sped off to the manor, unfortunately for Tim his intuition would let him down for the second time today. As the cave entrance became visible Tim zoomed in quickly parking his bike before hastily jumping off. Tim being too preoccupied with making it back to his room as fast as possible, failed to take into account his surroundings. 

 

He tugged off his helmet, raking a hand through his hair, and set the bike into position near the repair station.

 

At least, he thought he did.

 

The stand didn’t catch properly, and as Tim turned to grab his gear, he felt the bike shift unnaturally.

 

“Wait, no”

 

Before he could react, the motorcycle tipped over. Tim instinctively grabbed for it, his foot slipping on the slick cave floor in the process. He let out an ungraceful yelp as he tumbled backward, landing flat on his back with the wind knocked out of him. The bike landed a foot away with a metallic clang , thankfully avoiding a full-on crash.

 

“Smooth, Drake,” Jason’s voice drawled from somewhere above. Tim tilted his head to see his older brother leaning casually against the Batcomputer, arms crossed and a grin of pure amusement plastered on his face.

 

"Shut up, why are you even here? Don’t you have evil crime lord things to be doing." Tim groaned, sitting up and wincing as he rubbed his lower back.

 

Jason sauntered over, still grinning. “You’re supposed to be the smart one, right? I mean, the rest of us? Sure, we’ll wipe out. But you? Bike accident in the Batcave? That’s embarrassing even for you.”

 

Tim glared at him but lacked the energy for a snarky comeback. “I’m running on two hours of sleep and only one cup of coffee I”ve barely drinken. Cut me some slack.”

 

Dick appeared next, dropping down from the rafters like a gymnast who’d just stuck the perfect landing. He looked between the fallen bike and Tim, his expression a mix of concern and amusement. “You okay, Timmy? That looked... painful.”

 

“I’m fine,” Tim grumbled, waving them both off as he struggled to his feet.

 

Jason leaned over, inspecting the bike. “No scratches. But the cave floor? Might need a buff.”

 

“Both of you can leave now,” Tim said flatly, grabbing the bike and standing it upright.

 

Now up right again Tim began to search for his much needed coffee, failing to find it Tim looked up his stomach filling with dread. 

 

“Say Timmy boy what’s this?” Was all Jason could muster before dissolving into a fit of laughter.

 

To Tims absolute horror, he realised during his graceful landing his poor coffee and took a tumble and ended up right at the feet of Jason.

 

“Hey give that back, it’s mine and I paid for it.” Tim shouted as he struggled to get the cup out of Jason's hand. Tim looked like he was fighting for his life, but I mean can you blame him Jason was a tank. 

 

“Ohh wait let me see, I’m getting fomo over here” Dick pleaded.

 

Just as Tim thought his morning couldn’t get any worse, the brat appeared.

 

“Don’t beg Grayson, it’s unbecoming of someone your age” Damian scoffed, sautering over the struggle.

 

 Tim, noticing Damian getting closer, took his eyes off Jason and began to plead with Dick  “No wait, don't let the demon get closer to me, he is going to stab me.”

 

 Dick still in the thick of fomo, wasn’t too concerned about Tim and Damian. He just really needed to see what got Jason crying with laughter before he died of anticipation.

 

“ Dick your the older brother, please reign in the demon.” Tim tried to plead again, Tims plea would fall on deaf ears.

 

Jason, snapping out of his laughter, tossed the cup to Dick. “Get a load of this golden boy, some barista made Tims name Detective Timmy.”  Jason said, tone laced with pure amusement. 

 

“Oh that's golden, does some barista have a crush on little Timmy? Dick said through fits of giggles, “ I might just have to pay a visit to ecto espresso to meet the person who has a crush on my little brother.”

 

“Dan doesn’t have a crush on me, he’s just a pain in the ass who can spell names correctly” Tims voice was airy as he prepared for an attack from the demon brat.

 

“Why thank you for your cooperation little bird, I now know the name of your mystery beau. I can’t wait to tell steph, she’ll definitely want to help with the shovel talk.” Dick responded gleefully.

 

“Oh fuck off Dick, for the last time I don’t have a crush! There is no mystery man for you to scare away.” Tim bit back fighting a blush that was threatening to escape.

 

“What’s that little bird? I couldn't hear your pathetic excuse over all that blushing. God you're such a bad liar, next time you lie, at least try to be convincing.” Jason chimed, inserting himself back into the action. 

 

Tim sighed, pushing the bike into place and muttered, “I hate you both.”

 

Jason smirked. “Love you too, little bird anyway” Jason sighed before resuming “anyway I gotta bounce before I run into B, I killed someone last night and the old man's mad I broke my no kill streak”

 

The Batcave was quieter now, with Jason retreating to his apartment in Crime Alley and Dick wandering off to debrief with Bruce. Tim, left alone, was meticulously inspecting his bike for damage. His back still ached from the fall, but he chalked it up as another addition to the ever-growing list of minor injuries.

 

He heard soft footsteps behind him light, deliberate. The kind that could only belong to Damian Wayne.

 

“Drake,” Damian’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and full of disdain.

 

Tim sighed, not turning around. “What is it, Damian? Here to gloat about my lack of grace? Because Jason’s already covered that.”

 

“I have no interest in such trivialities,” Damian said coldly. Tim caught the faintest shuffle of fabric behind him.

That was the only warning he got.

Tim barely registered the feeling of a sharp blade gently piercing his skin. Living with the brat had taught him a thing or two.

 

He looked down, catching a glimpse of a blade before Damian withdrew it with a practiced motion.

 

“What the hell brat?” Tim asked stepping back looking at his arm, inspecting the small cut. 

 

“You attacked my akhi and nobody hurts my brother”

 

“ Is that what this was about? Look kid I wasn’t attacking Jason I was trying to protect my dignity. Also I’m trying to not be offended but when did you and Jason become close?”

 

”Tt that is none of your business Drake.”

 

Tim slumped against the bench, glaring at the younger boy. “You’re insane, you know that?”

 

“I am thorough,” Damian corrected, sheathing the blade and crossing his arms. “Now, get up and stop whining. I only grazed you”

 

Tim let out a bitter laugh. “Great. I’ll just tell Alfred his favorite grandson decided to turn me into a pincushion.”

 

Damian’s scowl deepened. “If you tell him, I’ll deny it.” With a loud scoff Damian turned to the elevator to head up to the manors main level. Not hearing Drake behind him, Damian turned around to find Tim still staring at him funny. “Hurry up Drake, or I will stab you again.” Damian said in a tone full of annoyance.

 

“Alright I’m coming brat, no need to get so violent” Tim said rolling his eyes as he walked to meet Damian.

 

Turning to meet Tim in the elevator Damian whispered. “You’ll clean yourself up before you walk into the kitchen if you know what's good for you Drake”

 

Tim didn’t need to turn and face Damian to know the boy was scowling, his bitter tone told Tim all he needed to know. If he told Alfred the demon was going to come back for round 2 and finish the job.

 

Used to the demon's antics, all Tim had to reply was “I get it brat, I’ll watch my back.”

 

The rest of the elevator ride was spent in much needed silence, which Tim greatly appreciated. So much for a peaceful Monday morning Tim thought. 

 

Stepping into the living room Tims nose was immediately assaulted by the smell of Alfred’s delicious cooking.

 

Tim complemented Alfred’s cooking. “It smells great in here Alfred, what have you got for me.”

 

Alfred smiled “Why thank you master Tim we have got pancakes or waffles, might I suggest the pancakes. Mistress Steph has not come down yet and I figure she would be quite displeased if she missed out on waffles.”

 

“Sure thing Alfred” Tim thanked the man as he took the plate taking a seat at the table.

 

Curse Tim and his situational awareness, he forgot to account for others at the table and had his shit scared out of him when Duke said morning. 

 

“Holy shit Duke, you just scared the crap out of me.” Tim squawked before pausing. “ Wait a damn minute shouldn’t you be in the cave getting ready for patrol, it's nearly 9.” 

 

Before Duke could attempt to explain himself, Tim butt in “you were supposed to be the one cave, not the buffoons.”

 

Duke mildly confused by Tim’s antics “Wait did something happen in the cave?”

 

Tim cried back “Yes Duke something did happen you left me at the mercy of those wolves. You’re always the only one in the cave after 8:30.”

 

Duke not expecting an outburst from Tim of all people so early in the morning was a bit caught off guard. Not knowing what to say with an uncertain voice he asked “ Well sorry for deciding to sleep in for once, and you never did tell me what happened so I’m very lost.”

 

Tim stared at him with the most blank expression, looking truly fed up with life. Silently asking any God who may listen, why must he be tested so. Already over this morning muttered “Dick thinks I have some crush on a barista from ecto espresso.”

 

Duke getting a feeling of the situation. “Don’t tell me his name Dan, I mean don’t get me wrong he is a beautiful looking man but something about his aura is different.”

 

Tim speechless, “you know Dan?”

 

Duke confused tilts his head “yeah I know Dan, he’s like an urban legend. He’s crazy good at getting names right” 

 

 Tim was still shocked that Duke knew Dan repeated himself “You know Dan?”

 

It was Duke's turn to be confused. “Are you ok man you’re not giving me much to work with here? If you don’t say anything I’m gonna think you do have a crush on Dan. That little blush you got going on isn’t helping your case.”

 

Tim no longer dazed responds “I don’t have a crush on Dan, it’s just that Dick plans on giving the poor man the shovel talk.”

 

Duke being the angel he is offered. “If it made you more comfortable about the situation, I could tag along with Dick when he goes to protect your dignity.”

 

Tim thinks over Duke's suggestion before coming to the conclusion. “ This is why you are my favourite Duke. At least someone in this family isn’t always out to take pleasure in my misfortune.”  

 

Duke, being quite pleased with his peace keeping abilities bid Tim a farewell, heading to the cave albeit a bit behind schedule to prepare for patrol.

 

Tim finished up his delicious pancakes making sure to put his dishes in the sink and thank Alfred as he headed upstairs to get ready for work.

 

Tim adjusted his tie with a frown, already regretting his decision to attend this Wayne Enterprises meeting in person. He had a mountain of research waiting back at the Batcave, and every second spent in a boardroom felt like a waste of time. But Bruce had insisted. Something about "learning to balance both lives" and "responsibility."

 

"Just make it through the next hour," Tim muttered to himself as he entered the sleek, glass-walled conference room.

 

The meeting was predictably dull a tedious presentation on quarterly projections and investment opportunities. Tim sat near the end of the long table, nodding at all the right moments, but his mind wandered back to Ecto Espresso and the barista who had managed to embed himself into Tim’s thoughts in a matter of minutes.

 

Danny’s sharp blue eyes and easy smile replayed in Tim’s mind, and he felt a small, involuntary smile tug at his lips. There was something effortlessly magnetic about the guy—something that felt... refreshing. Cute, even. Tim shook his head slightly, trying to focus, but the memory of Danny’s playful smirk as he teased him about the door incident wouldn’t leave.

 

"Tim."

 

Bruce’s voice cut through his thoughts like a blade.

 

Tim snapped his head up, realizing too late that the entire room was now staring at him. Bruce, seated at the head of the table, was giving him that look —a mix of mild disapproval and concern that could make even the Joker reconsider his life choices.

 

"Could you repeat what Ms. Laughton just said about the quarterly expense forecast?" Bruce asked, his tone calm but pointed.

 

Tim blinked. "Uh... something about... um... market trends?"

 

A stifled snicker came from Lucius Fox, seated nearby, though he quickly masked it with a cough.

 

Bruce sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Tim, you need to focus. This is important."

 

Tim’s face burned. "Right. Sorry." He glanced down at his notes, which were conspicuously blank.

 

Bruce cleared his throat, signaling the meeting to continue, but as the presentation droned on, Tim could feel Bruce’s eyes on him, assessing. Judging. It was like being under a spotlight, and Tim desperately wished he could vanish into the floor.

 

When the meeting finally ended, Bruce cornered him in the hallway.

 

"Are you feeling alright?" Bruce asked, his tone more awkward than concerned.

 

Tim shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, I’m fine. Just... tired, I guess."

 

Bruce’s brow furrowed. "You’ve been distracted all day. If there’s something on your mind, you can talk to me."

 

Tim stared at him, taken aback. Bruce trying to be supportive was always an awkward affair, and Tim wasn’t sure if he appreciated it or dreaded it.

 

"It’s nothing, Bruce," Tim said quickly, hoping to escape the conversation.

 

Bruce’s eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice dropped to a low murmur. "Is it... a girl?"

 

Tim choked. " What? "

 

"You’ve been distracted since this morning," Bruce continued, his attempt at subtlety failing spectacularly. "If you’ve met someone, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Relationships can be... complicated, but they’re important."

 

Tim buried his face in his hands. "Oh my god, Bruce. Stop. It’s not a girl. And even if it was, this is not how you talk about it."

 

Bruce’s attempt at a reassuring smile was more unsettling than comforting. "I’m just saying, if you need advice"

 

"I don’t," Tim interrupted, his voice muffled. "Please. Stop."

 

Bruce hesitated, clearly unsure how to proceed, before finally nodding. "All right. But if you ever do need to talk"

 

"I’m good. Really." Tim fled down the hallway, desperate to escape before Bruce could say anything else.

 

As he stepped into the elevator, his phone buzzed with an alert from the Batcomputer. Another fragment of data had been processed. Tim sighed in relief, grateful for the distraction, though Danny’s face still lingered at the edges of his mind.

Time Jump to later in the day 

 

Dick quickly looked up the shop and found that ecto espresso didn’t close till late and was in luck. Duke would finish patrol by 5 so the pair could reach the shop by 6 just in time for 8pm close.

 

Without a second to waste Dick was dragging Duke out the door the instant he got home, but could you blame him, Dick was just too excited to be doing his older brother duties and looking out for Tim.

 

The door to Ecto Espresso jingled softly as Dick Grayson and Duke Thomas stepped inside, the warmth of the coffee shop a stark contrast to Gotham’s chilly evening air. Dick scanned the room, his usual easy charm masking his real reason for coming.

 

He wasn’t just here for coffee, this was reconnaissance. Tim had mentioned that Dan was the one to give him a nickname, and while Tim hadn’t explicitly said anything about liking the barista, Dick knew the signs. As Tim’s elder brother, it was his solemn duty to ensure that Dan was good enough for his younger sibling. If he wasn’t? Well, that’s where the shovel talk came in.

 

Duke, on the other hand, was just here for the coffee and to make sure Dick didn’t do anything too embarrassing he’d made a promise after all.

 

Danny was behind the counter, as usual, scribbling something on a cup with his characteristic focus. When he glanced up and saw them, his face lit with recognition.

 

“You’re Duke,” Danny said confidently, pointing at him with his marker. “Regular latte with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.”

 

Duke blinked, taken aback. “Uh, yeah. That’s me. How’d you?”

 

Danny shrugged, already preparing the drink. “I’ve got a good memory.”

 

Duke shot Dick a look. This guy really is something.

 

“And you must be...?” Danny turned to Dick, arching a brow as if sizing him up.

 

Dick opened his mouth, prepared to deliver the classic overprotective older brother routine, but the words died on his tongue. There was something about Danny, his confident, easy going demeanor, the way he seemed utterly unfazed by Gotham’s usual chaos that immediately disarmed Dick.

 

Okay, Tim has a type, Dick thought. And this guy? He’s... perfect for him.

 

Recovering quickly, Dick plastered on a grin. “I’m Dick. Just stopping by to grab some coffee and check out the legendary barista I’ve been hearing so much about.”

 

Danny chuckled, shaking his head. “Legendary, huh? That’s a new one.”

 

Duke stepped in, sensing the awkwardness Dick had inadvertently created. “You’ve got a reputation, man. Everyone talks about how you never get a name wrong. It’s kinda impressive.”

 

Danny smirked, glancing at the small sign taped to today's tip jar. “Stump the Barista – Write your Name on a Napkin. $5 if I get it Wrong.”

 

“Impressive or just a great side hustle?” Danny joked, nodding toward the jar.

 

Dick’s competitive streak flared at the challenge. “Oh, I’ve got a name for you.” He grabbed a napkin and scrawled something long, complicated, and vaguely Slavic with exaggerated flourishes.

 

Danny glanced at it for barely a second before his marker flew across the cup. He slid it across the counter with a grin. “ Vladislav Mikhailovich Kurylenko. Nailed it.”

 

Dick gaped at the flawless Cyrillic handwriting, while Duke burst out laughing.

 

“Man, you are good, ” Duke said, shaking his head in amazement.

 

Danny shrugged modestly. “What can I say? I aim to impress.”

 

As Dick stared at the cup, his initial shovel-talk intentions crumbled. This guy wasn’t just perfect for Tim; he was also ridiculously cool under pressure. Dick sighed, shaking his head.

 

“Well, Dan,” Dick said, dropping a twenty into the tip jar. “You’ve officially passed the test.”

 

Danny tilted his head. “Test?”

 

Duke smacked Dick lightly on the back of the head. “Ignore him. He’s just weird.”

 

Danny laughed, handing them their drinks. “You two are an interesting pair. Tell Tim I said hi, yeah?”

 

Dick froze for half a second; he never mentioned being Tim's brother and highly doubted Tim had ever mentioned him. “Uh... sure. Will do.”

 

As they left the shop, Duke elbowed him. “So, how’d the shovel talk go?”

 

Dick sighed dramatically. “I didn’t even get to threaten him. He’s too perfect. Tim’s going to marry that guy.”

 

Duke snorted. “Glad you’ve accepted your future brother-in-law. Now, let’s just hope Tim doesn’t find out you blew twenty bucks trying to stump him.”

 

Dick groaned, already bracing himself for the teasing.

 

The Batcave was unusually lively as the Dick and Duke filtered in from their outing.

 

“Alright,” Jason said, flopping into a chair with dramatic flair, “who’s gonna spill the tea about Ecto Espresso’s resident name wizard? I keep hearing about this guy and how he can apparently spell names like he’s a walking Google Translate.”

 

Tim froze mid-sip of his water, his eyes darting to Dick, who, much to his growing horror, was grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

 

“Oh, Dan?” Dick said, his tone deliberately casual, but there was a mischievous glint in his eye. “Yeah, I met him tonight. Dark hair, blue eyes, real charmer. He even got my ridiculous alias right on the first try. No hesitation.”

 

Bruce, seated at the Batcomputer, straightened slightly, his interest piqued. “Dark hair and blue eyes, you say?”

 

Tim facepalmed. Oh no, here we go.

 

“Yup,” Dick confirmed, leaning back against the console with a smug look. “Polite, funny, really good at making people feel seen. You know, the kind of guy someone might want to bring home to meet the family... hypothetically speaking.”

 

Jason let out a low whistle. “Damn, Tim. And here I thought you couldn’t pull someone outside your weird, tech-obsessed circle.”

 

“We’re not dating!” Tim blurted, his voice rising a little higher than intended.

 

“Oh?” Stephanie chimed in, her grin as wide as Dick’s. “ Not dating? Then why are you blushing, Timmy?”

 

“I’m not blushing!”

 

“You totally are,” Damian cut in, his arms crossed but his lips twitching upward. “You’re as red as Todd’s helmet.”

 

Tim groaned, burying his face in his hands. “Why do I even come home? Why?”

 

Dick patted his shoulder with mock sympathy. “Don’t worry, little brother. If you were dating Dan, you’d have my full blessing. Hell, I’d even officiate the wedding.”

 

The room erupted into laughter, with Jason wheezing and Cass giving Tim a supportive pat on the back that did absolutely nothing to stop his mortification.

 

Bruce, meanwhile, had gone into full adoptive dad mode, pulling up his mental checklist for potential family additions. “Did you say he works near Crime Alley? What do we know about him? Background, employment history, connections”

 

“ Dad, ” Tim interrupted, glaring. “He’s just a barista. A really good barista who happens to spell names correctly. That’s it. Can we please drop this?”

 

“No chance,” Jason said, grinning. “I gotta meet this guy now. Tomorrow, we’re all going for coffee. Family bonding and all that.”

 

“Jason’s right,” Barbara added, her smirk barely hidden. “You’ve hyped him up too much, Tim. Now we’re all curious.”

 

“I didn’t hype him up!” Tim protested.

 

“No, but Dick did,” Steph teased.

 

Tim turned to glare at Dick, who simply shrugged innocently. “What can I say? The guy makes a killer latte. You’ll see for yourselves tomorrow.”

 

As the chaos around him reached a fever pitch, Tim slumped in his chair, burying his face in his arms. Meanwhile, Dick watched the scene unfold with a quiet smirk, satisfied with the delightful pandemonium he’d unleashed.

Notes:

Thanks for reading :) please feel free to leave any positive or negative comments you may have.
Dicks fomo in this chapter is highly inspired by one of my best friends who recently turned 18 and booked a couple of hotel rooms but refused to spend time with her boyfriend in their room and spent all her time in the girls room to avoid getting fomo. I'd say she made the right cause decision her boyfriend fell asleep early and us girls ordered room service at 1 am.

Chapter 3: A Name in the Dark

Summary:

It's Jason and Bruces turn to be bullied but thats ok Dick saves the day by introducing more people to Dan.

Notes:

Welcome to chapter 3! There is a fair bit of swearing and Jason angst this chapter. In my notes I hadn't planned how I wanted chapter 3 to start I just knew how it ended. And by sheer luck I was inspired to bully Jason and Bruce this chapter. I had originally intended to get this chapter out last night but I had to have the dreaded university talk with my parents. It was especially bad because they didn't get their degrees in Australia and subsequently have no idea how Australian unis work. To make matters worse my mum is an unreliable narrator and told my dad the wrong thing which lead to a very long and boring lecture.

Tim was too embarrassed to face Dan so soon after a lovely breakfast prepared by Alfred he headed upstairs to escape the chaos. During breakfast Bruce had announced he’d taken the day off to meet Tim’s new “boyfriend”, and everyone was welcome to attend for some family bonding. 

 

Tim hoped Dick knew he was planning out his revenge, that man was the reason for his latest set of problems. Having spent the morning gliding around the manor telling everyone how perfect a man Dan was for Tim.

 

Just as he was about to make it to the peace and security of his room Bruce without warning dumped lots of case files into his hands. Bruce wasn’t the best at communicating but based on the grunt Tim could infer that this was about some kind of cult.  

 

Tim would admit he was slightly disappointed about having to put his staking of Dan on the back burner, but he was never one to turn down a challenge and cults were always a challenge.  

 

Upon taking in just how many case files there were Tim realised he didn’t want to dirty his room. Instead opting to head back to the cave hoping that the room was truly empty this time. Although Tim wouldn’t mind running into Duke again, the boy was his favourite after all.

 

Dick was giddy waiting by the door, he could barely contain his excitement, unable to wait any longer he was desperate for the family to meet Dan.

 

“Let’s get this show on the road folks, that means you to Jason.”

 

“Don’t rush me Dickward, the less time I have to spend with this trainwreck of a family is for the best.”

 

“Love you too Jaybird.” Dick called as he headed to the car. 

 

“Lets go brat, if I have to see this train wreck you do too.” Jason said, dragging Damian to the car.

 

“Tt Todd remove your hand from me this instant or you will lose it.”

 

“ Jezz take a chill pill, don’t you want to meet the newest family member. I promise if you come we can go to the pet store and I’ll buy you something”

 

“ I guess that that is adequate, while I am displeased at the prospect of a new brother. A trip to pet city is a worthy compromise”

 

Jason turned away from Damian quietly celebrating his success before he was so rudely interrupted.

 

“ Master Jason, do be aware I know of your ulterior motives, buying Master Damian another pet will not fix whatever problems you harbour against Master Bruce. Might I suggest a thoughtful conversation over some afternoon tea instead?”

 

“Don’t worry Alfred, I’m the King of ulterior motives, if B wanted me to forgive him he would’ve killed the Joker to avenge me. Instead he chose to keep the sick bastard alive. So don’t stand there and tell me I’m wrong for getting petty revenge on the man who was supposed to protect me.” 

 

“Master Jason don’t raise your voice at me, you know as well as I why Master Bruce chose not to kill the Joker. Killing one killer does not subtract from all the killers in the world.”

 

“No fuck B and his moral code, damning so many innocent people leaving them to die at the hands of that sick fuck. And for the record, killing two killers would subtract from the amount of killers in the world.”

 

“Master Jason please, I believe your anger is misplaced. Bruce was only young when he lost his parents. I’m not going to stand here and defend him but that loss fundamentally changed your father.”

 

“NO you don’t get to stand there and call that man my father after all he did and didn’t do. I was a child too, didn't I deserve better?. I mean you said B lost his parents young so he should damn well know how to empathise but he can't because he's an emotionally constipated bastard.”

 

“Master Jason don’t you dare call my Son a bastard, remember who took you in and gave you a second chance at life. Sending you to school and teaching you to defend yourself.”

 

“You're such a hypocrite Alfred, you just said you weren’t going to defend B but here we go. I guess it’s nice to know that your “son” would always come before us kids.”

 

“Please Master Jason you must understand that's not what I meant, I have raised Bruce since he was a mere babe. Of course it’s natural that I see him as my son but that doesn't mean I love you any less.”

 

“Yeah right if you actually loved me we wouldn’t be having this conversation, I wanted a father figure to love me and protect me. Not someone who would offer me up as a sacrifice to protect his so-called “life” mission. Alfie you have to wake up and realise Bruce’s crusade has cost the people of Gotham a lot. I mean look no further than Barbra and Duke, Babs could still be out living life walking. But B signed her death sentence and confined her to a chair for the rest of her life. And poor Duke could be at home with his two loving parents, instead of being a part of this dysfunctional family. If Bruce really understood what it was like to experience a traumatic loss at such a young age, why does he still choose to be so damn selfish? ”

 

“Master Jason, you stealing the tires off the batmobile showed Bruce that you had potential to train so that one day you’d be able to take over as Batman. And as unfortunate are the circumstances of Master Duke and Mistress Barbra. Bruce’s mission is a noble path that many may not understand. Even you, my dear child, Bruce must make some small sacrifices to save the many. A hero’s journey is never a straightforward path Jason”

 

“Don’t come spewing some more bullshit at me defending that man, small sacrifices my ass he sacrificed his own kid. That can’t possibly be a noble path, face it B is a pathetic man who hides behind his hero persona to avoid taking accountability for his actions. And you know the kicker of this situation is that in the three years since I’ve been home B hasn’t made a single attempt to apologise. All he does is harp on me for killing people, the difference between me and B’s moral code is while he sits behind his shiny suit playing hero and sacrificing innocent lives. I’m out there being the villain for killing people who hurt kids. I'm out there busting my ass every night doing what Batman should do and protect the innocent. You know that saying a hero would sacrifice you to protect the world and the villain would sacrifice the world to protect you. That’s pretty ironic if you think about it.”

 

“Jason please calm down, your becoming erratic and I fear you may hurt yourself”

 

Jason between rugged breath “You don’t think I’m gonna hurt myself, I don’t think so. You’re such a terrible liar Alfred, I can see right through you. You think I’m gonna hurt someone in this house.”

 

Alfred flounders not expecting to be caught out in his lie stutters incapable of forming a sentence. 

 

“I knew it, every damn person in this house walks on eggshells around me, thinking I’m some monster who is going to lash out and hurt them.”

 

Feeling a wave of nostalgia rolling over him, Alfred responded breathly. “What happened to that sweet little boy with crooked teeth and a big smile who couldn't wait to become Batman.”

 

“Newsflash Alfred, he’s dead and he died a long time ago. My current self is a direct reflection of my environment. Live around and deal with monsters all the time. It's inevitable you turn into one.”

 

“Jason please, you're not a monster, you're just a young adult who is feeling lost in life and that is normal for people your age.”

 

“Alfred you're the one here clearly not understanding, I know who I am. I am a monster made from B’s failures. I’m a monster because I refuse to let innocent people be slaughtered. I mean just ask your son. I happen to recall him calling me a monster on several occasions.”

 

Bruce, having hidden behind the door before the argument broke out, decided it was best to reveal himself and defend his action. 

 

“Jaylad, I didn’t mean to call you a monster. I just got caught up in the heat of the moment, emotions were running high, I wasn’t thinking straight when I spoke.”

 

Jason, not in the mood to entertain Bruce, turned his back to face Alfred, quickly accusing him. “Did you set this up? Don’t you dare lie to me again.”

 

“Absolutely not, I was unaware Master Bruce was behind the door, you must believe me. But since we are all here now why don’t we have that conversation. I’m sure Master Dick wouldn’t mind going ahead without us.”

 

Before Jason could even protest the impromptu meeting Bruce had butted in and started up his usual bullshit.

 

“Did you kill someone yesterday? Gordon said he found a few hacked up bodies near Penguins club. How could you do this to me Jason, I thought you were getting better, but you just couldn’t  help yourself could you. I hoped living back in the manor would help fix you, all I want is for you to get better and carry on my legacy, I wanted a soldier.” 

 

Look B, Jason's voice dripping with venom. “See this is the shit I’m talking about, still no apology for letting me die and having my killer walk free. But you sure are happy to blame me for removing scum from the streets aren’t ya B.  First things first here is no fixing the monster you made me, and secondly I wanted a Father. So I guess we’re both disappointed.” Jason turned on his heel making a Beeline for the exit. 

 

After Jasons dramatic exit Bruce sunk further into the chair sighing “ I can never seem to get it right when it comes to that child. I guess I can expect another call from the Commissioner tomorrow morning. What am I going to Alfred?”

 

“Just try your best is all that I ask Master Bruce every child comes with a unique set of differences.” With that Alfred got up and left the room, leaving Bruce alone with his thoughts.

 

Dick appeared shortly after wondering what the hold up was. Without reading the room Dick loudly announced. “Yo B what’s the hold up, everyone is waiting in the car. We’re just waiting on you and Jason. Speaking of Jason, where is he? Damian said he was in this room last.

 

Dick taking a breather finally paused and scanned Bruce's face taking in the tension on his face and body. Then a lightbulb went off in his head “Seriously B did you have to pick a fight on family bonding day. If you keep picking fights with him one day he will leave for good and I know for a fact that you don’t want that. So act your age for once and man up and use your big boy words to communicate properly and apologise. You have like what? 8 kids now surely you’d know how to talk to young adults by now.”

 

Bruce is sheepish by being called out by his eldest. “ I guess I could apologise to Jason, but I still don’t like him killing. How can I get him to stop?”

 

“You can’t stop free will B Jasons an adult which means he can make adult decisions, he knows what the consequences of taking a life are and have seemed to come to terms with them. Secondly how can you guess that you should apologise to Jason, if you still think you owe Jason an apology I guess you weren't the man I thought you were. As  clearly you still have a lot of growing up to do since you’re still such a coward.” Dick scoffed before continuing. “Don’t even bother coming anymore, you’ve already ruined family bonding day. I’ll just take the kids myself since it seems like I’m the only responsible adult in this house.”

 

Not knowing Damian had followed him back into the house Dick was shocked to see Damian hiding behind the door cowering. Dick rushed to comfort him as he could hear the muffled sounds of Bruce leaving the room. Dick hoped that Damian hadn’t heard what he’d just said. The poor boy had already seen so many traumatic things and didn’t deserve to see the man he looked up to be a bad father.”

 

“It’s okay baby bat Dick’s here, did you still want to go out to the coffee shop?”

 

“Baba, what did Father do to my ahki? He promised me we could go to the pet shop after.”

 

Dick could feel his heart melting into a million pieces, as Damians wide green doe eyes looked up at him in fear. Damian had never called him Baba before so this was a bittersweet moment for Dick. Not wanting to overwhelm the poor boy anymore Dick contained any outward expressions of Joy, opting to celebrate this milestone internally.

 

“Bruce and Jason sometimes argue about what Jason does as Red Hood and whenever the pair argue they both get sad and hide away for a bit. But if Jason promised you a trip to the pet shop we can still go.” Dick replied in a soothing tone to calm his broth— no, his son.

 

At the mention of the pet shop Damian perked up. “Tt I shall continue to accompany you to meet Drake's beloved, but I only care about visiting the shelter.”

 

Dick could feel the vibes lifting in the room, ruffling Damian’s hair affectionately. “Perfect baby bat. Let’s head back to the car and finally get this show on the road. I have a feeling if we take any longer Steph may leave without us.” 

 

Dick was pleasantly surprised as they walked to the car, when Damian had first come to the manor he was staunchly against any physical touch. So it was moments like these where Dick was able to hold Damians hand did he thank every god out there for making him a big brother. To some, having siblings seemed like a nightmare, but to Dick his siblings were his biggest blessings. He couldn't imagine a life where he didn’t have a younger sibling to take care, protect and love. Dick liked to believe being a big brother was his calling in life, while not a noble calling like a doctor. Dick was at peace with the little life he had created, maybe one day he’d have a wife and grow his family. But Damian would always have a special place in his heart, after all the boy was his first kid. 

 

The drive to the coffee shop was relatively quiet, at least until Dick decided to spice things up with his usual energy. He was always the one who liked to keep things light, no matter how intense the day had been. The weather was dreary, the sky heavy with gray clouds as the car hummed along the city streets, but Dick, ever the optimist, was in the middle of reviving his favorite playlist.

 

As the car rolled through Gotham's streets, the familiar strumming of an acoustic guitar echoed through the vehicle.

 

“Wait for it,” Dick grinned, turning up the volume.

 

The next thing the group heard was the unmistakable voice of a woman singing, “a single mom who works two jobs, who loves her kids and never stops...”

 

Steph, who had been quietly scrolling on her phone, looked up, eyes widening as the upbeat tune filled the car.

 

“Oh my god, are you serious right now?” she burst out laughing. “Dick, you did not just play this.”

 

Dick, undeterred, was already singing along enthusiastically. “Heck yes, I did! It’s a classic. Gets me pumped every time,” he said, gesturing dramatically as he belted out the next verse.

 

Cass, sitting next to him, raised an eyebrow. She didn’t laugh, but her lips twitched slightly, as if she was trying not to smile. Her reaction was mild, but it was enough to let everyone know she was enjoying herself.

 

Damian, on the other hand, didn’t even seem to register the absurdity of the situation. His expression was as stoic as ever, but he was clearly listening, probably trying to figure out why anyone would willingly listen to such a... cheerful song in the middle of Gotham’s perpetual gloom. His piercing gaze flickered to Dick, and then to the others, but he stayed silent.

 

“Is this your idea of a joke?” Damian finally asked, his voice flat as he shot Dick a look of complete bewilderment.

 

Dick only laughed harder, his fingers tapping to the beat on the steering wheel. “You gotta lighten up, man. I’m telling you, this song is a masterpiece. It’s got that ‘feel good, work hard’ vibe—perfect for a busy day in Gotham. It’ll help you get your energy up!”

 

Steph burst into uncontrollable laughter beside him. “Honestly, I didn’t think I’d be hearing this song outside of some cheesy family drama, but you’re making it happen, Dick. This is gold.”

 

Danny, who had been walking toward the door of the coffee shop when the car pulled up, was already halfway to the counter when the sound of the song blasting out of Dick’s car reached his ears. He couldn’t help but chuckle to himself as he glanced toward the street.

 

The car parked, and the group climbed out, continuing to laugh at Dick’s unapologetic love for the song.

 

The door jingled as a group walked into the coffee shop, immediately drawing Danny’s attention from behind the counter. Four people, each radiating an unmistakable mix of chaos and curiosity, stepped inside. He recognized one of them instantly Dick, the smiling guy he’d met just yesterday, who had immediately dubbed him “Coffee Sorcerer.” With him was a younger teenager, a sharp-eyed boy who looked like he was plotting something, a blonde woman practically vibrating with excitement, and a girl who moved with eerie quietness.

 

Danny, who was in the middle of pouring a latte, raised an eyebrow as he prepared himself for whatever circus had just strolled in.

 

“Dan!” Dick greeted loudly, waving as though they were lifelong friends. “We’re back! And I brought my family to witness your magic!”

 

Danny sighed, setting the finished latte on the pickup counter. “Please tell me you all aren’t here to test the name thing. I have a job to do, you know.”

 

“Oh, come on!” Dick leaned against the counter, flashing his most charming grin. “It’s all in good fun. I promise we’ll tip well.”

 

The blonde woman Steph, if Danny caught her name correctly when Dick had introduced her bounced over. “Okay, here’s the deal. We each give you the most ridiculous names we can think of. If you get them right, we’ll all admit you’re the reigning Name Master.”

 

“And if I don’t?” Danny asked dryly, leaning on the counter.

 

Steph tilted her head as though she hadn’t considered the possibility. “I dunno. Maybe we’ll just cry about it.”

 

Danny chuckled, glancing at the silent girl standing slightly behind Steph. She gave him a small smile but said nothing, her sharp gaze seemingly peeling back layers of his soul.

 

“Fine,” Danny relented with a mock sigh. “But if I’m doing this, you’re all buying something. No freeloaders.”

 

Dick went first, and predictably, he went all in. “I’m going with ‘Cornelius Fudgepacker the Third.’

 

Danny didn’t even blink. “One medium chai latte for Cornelius Fudgepacker the Third,” he announced, scribbling the name on the cup in perfectly looping handwriting.

 

Steph cackled. “Okay, my turn! I’m ordering for ‘Princess Sparklepants the Majestic.’

 

Danny raised an eyebrow but wrote it flawlessly on a cup. “Princess Sparklepants, your iced caramel macchiato will be ready shortly.”

 

The quiet girl, Cass, gave him a long look before finally speaking. “Zephyr.”

 

Danny smiled. “Easy.” He wrote it in a delicate script that matched her reserved demeanor, which earned him a nod of approval.

 

Finally, the boy Damian, if Danny had heard correctly—stepped up. His stare was intense, and Danny could almost feel the weight of some kind of challenge in his eyes. “Ra’s Al Gauntlet,” Damian declared with a tone that suggested he thought this one might stump him.

 

Danny tilted his head, recognizing the name as something ancient and oddly specific. He still spelled it perfectly, adding a little flourish to the lettering.

 

Damian narrowed his eyes. “You are suspiciously good at this.”

 

Danny grinned. “And you are suspiciously invested in trying to throw me off. Want a free cup of water while you’re at it?”

 

While they waited for their drinks, the group scattered across the small coffee shop. Dick seemed to make it his mission to poke around every corner, much to Danny’s exasperation. Steph wandered over to admire the baked goods, loudly proclaiming her need for a croissant, while Damian stood off to the side, arms crossed as though evaluating the structural integrity of the place.

 

Cass, however, lingered near the counter. “You’re hiding something,” she said softly.

 

Danny blinked, caught off guard by her directness. “Uh, I mean, I’ve got an extra muffin stash in the back, but that’s not really a secret.”

 

Her lips quirked upward in a tiny smile, but she didn’t press further.

 

“Hey, Dan!” Dick called, holding up a napkin with a crude drawing of a stick figure holding a coffee cup. “You should frame this. It’s a masterpiece!”

 

Danny snorted. “You’re going to scare off my customers.”

 

Steph chimed in, pointing at Damian. “Speaking of scary, this kid’s been trying to intimidate you for the past ten minutes. How’s that going, Damian?”

 

Damian scowled. “I do not intimidate. I assess.”

 

Danny leaned on the counter, smirking. “Good luck with that, kid.”

 

As Danny wiped his hands on the dishrag, he noticed the curious looks the group was giving him. His fingers had started moving on autopilot as he prepared the next set of drinks for the group, but the silence that had settled around the table was making him uneasy. It wasn’t exactly uncomfortable, just...expectant. He glanced over his shoulder at the crew.

 

The tall man "Dick" was talking animatedly to the woman with the patch-covered jacket, who was nodding along with every word. The serious-looking young man, Damian, was sitting with his arms crossed, looking very much like a person who didn’t want to be here. And the other woman, who seemed to be far more open, was watching Danny with a slightly amused look.

 

"So," the woman said, breaking the silence, "what do you think of...Red Robin?"

 

Danny froze mid-pour, the liquid splashing slightly outside the mug. He turned slowly, his brow raised in amusement. “Red Robin?” he asked, voice slightly higher as if he were processing the ridiculousness of the question. "The guy who’s like...always brooding about something? Yeah, I’ve heard of him."

 

Steph’s grin widened as she leaned forward. "Well, what do you think of him? Come on, you must have some thoughts. We’re all dying to hear it."

 

The way Steph was looking at him made Danny pause, as though she wasn’t asking out of sheer curiosity, but because she already knew what kind of response she’d get. Danny could feel the weight of the question; it was one of those things people didn’t ask unless they were sure you were going to give them the answer they were hoping for.

 

He thought about it for a second before shrugging. "Honestly? He seems like someone who’s always trying to prove a point. You know, Mr. Brooding McBroodface with the...what do you call it? That ‘dark, tortured hero’ thing going on. Classic case of ‘too much angst, not enough fun.’" He mimicked an exaggerated brooding posture, clasping his hands and staring off dramatically into the distance. "'The city is full of crime...I must solve it...my parents...my...feelings!'” He grinned at the group as if waiting for them to laugh.

 

Damian’s eyes narrowed immediately at Danny’s mockery, and he leaned forward slightly, as though preparing for a confrontation. But it was Steph who chimed in first, her laughter bright and unapologetic.

 

"See, I knew it! I knew you’d say something like that!" she laughed, throwing her hands up in the air. "We all get the ‘Red Robin is a walking emo playlist’ vibe, but I guess it’s just funnier when someone else says it out loud!"

 

Cass, who had been quiet up until this point, nodded slightly in agreement, her expression unreadable. She wasn’t laughing, but Danny got the sense she found his impersonation amusing in her own way.

 

“Yeah, I mean, when he’s not busy moping around, he’s practically impossible to talk to," Steph added, rolling her eyes. "And don’t even get me started on how serious he is all the time. It’s like he thinks the world’s gonna fall apart if he cracks a smile."

 

"Seriously, though," Danny continued, fully playing into the role now, “I mean, if you’re gonna dress up like a bird and patrol the city with that much energy, at least have some fun with it. Or, you know, take a vacation or something. Spend some time in the sun. Maybe lighten up a little? Honestly, I think Gotham’s a bit too much for him. I bet the guy’s not even had a good cup of coffee in months. Can you imagine?” He leaned back against the counter, shaking his head in mock sympathy. "I bet he’s just drinking black coffee with zero sugar every single day like it’s some sort of ‘mood’ or something."

 

There was a brief pause, and then everyone except for Damian burst into laughter. Even Dick, the ever-energetic leader of the group, was leaning back in his seat, shoulders shaking with amusement. Danny didn’t miss the look on Steph’s face, though. She was thoroughly entertained, clearly having an absolute blast with this exchange.

 

“Okay, okay, but have you ever met him?” Steph asked, suddenly curious. “I mean, we all know he’s got a bit of a ‘don’t touch my coffee, don’t touch my space’ vibe going on, but come on, he’s not that bad, right?”

 

Danny raised an eyebrow and gave a knowing look. “No, never met him. But if he’s anything like the idea of him that everyone keeps throwing around, then, yeah, I’m not sure he’s the type who’d appreciate a joke like this. I mean, c’mon, the guy can’t even get a decent cup of coffee, and I’m supposed to take him seriously?" He shook his head again, still smiling as he stirred a cup of cappuccino.

 

Steph just grinned wider, clearly loving every second of Danny's exaggerated critiques. “I think Red Robin would lose his mind if he heard you talking like that. Honestly, it’d probably make his whole night worse. But it’s good to know that you’re not intimidated by him. I bet you’d actually survive an encounter with him.”

 

“That,” Danny replied with a smirk, “is where you’re wrong. If I ever meet him, I’d just ask if he wanted a double shot espresso and see how long he could stare at me before he cracks.” He waggled his eyebrows playfully. "I’m that good."

 

Cass’s mouth twitched into the faintest of smiles, her body language softening slightly. She seemed to like Danny’s honesty, even if she wasn’t completely sure how much of it was just bravado.

 

Damian, however, did not find it amusing. He hadn’t spoken since Danny started joking, and now, his gaze was hard and unwavering as he glared at Danny. The younger boy's posture was tense, and Danny could practically feel the disapproval radiating off of him.

 

"I do not understand why you mock Red Robin," Damian said flatly, his voice cold. "His methods may be... different, but his commitment to Gotham is unwavering."

 

Danny met his gaze with a challenge of his own, not backing down. "I didn’t say anything about his commitment. I’m sure he’s got a ton of that. But Gotham’s not gonna be saved with a scowl and an espresso shot too bitter for anyone to drink. If you ask me, a little bit of humor might go a long way.”

 

There was a brief silence before Damian’s gaze flickered away from Danny. It was obvious that Danny wasn’t going to get intimidated, and Damian’s usual response asserting dominance through force wasn’t going to work here.

 

“So, what do you think of him?” Danny asked, turning the tables with a sly grin. “You know him better than anyone here, right?”

 

Damian just scowled, unwilling to admit anything further.

 

Before things could get any more awkward, Dick clapped his hands and stood up, effectively cutting off any more tension. "Alright, alright, let’s drop the ‘Red Robin’ talk before Damian tries to show us how to properly throw a punch. We’ll save that for later, huh?”

 

Damian shot him a glare, but he didn’t argue.

 

Steph, still grinning, tossed a playful wink at Danny. "If you ever need backup against Mr. ‘Broody,’ just call me. I’ll have your back."

 

Danny smirked. "I’ll keep that in mind. If Red Robin ever gets too moody for me, I’ll be sure to send him your way."'

 

As the group settled down and the conversation drifted away from Red Robin, Danny couldn’t help but feel the strange intrigue swirling around him. He had gotten used to the weirdness of Gotham, but these people Tim’s siblings, apparently were something else. There was a quiet intensity to them, each with their own secrets, but they seemed... relaxed around him, even if they were trying to size him up.

 

Then, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

 

“Hey, I’ve got to go, but if you’re still working here when I get back, I’ll see you around,” a voice said from behind him.

 

It was Duke, who had been quietly watching from the back of the group. Danny looked up, a little surprised but not entirely. Duke had been a regular for a while, always ordering the same thing with a quiet nod. They had a sort of unspoken understanding, both of them silently acknowledging each other’s need for space in this chaotic city.

 

“Yeah, see you around,” Danny replied with a smile.

 

And just like that, as the group began to leave, Danny was left alone with the feeling that Gotham was just a little bit weirder than he had initially thought.

 

Outside, Dick led the way to the car, chatting animatedly about their next stop. “So, Damian, ready to find a new pet?”

 

“I suppose,” Damian muttered, still glancing back at the shop. “Though I remain suspicious of that barista.”

 

Steph grinned. “Suspiciously cool, you mean.”

 

Cass stayed quiet, her thoughts lingering on Danny’s strange aura.

 

As they drove off, Danny watched them from the window, feeling a strange mix of amusement and curiosity. There was something about that group—something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

 

But for now, he had work to do.

Notes:

Thanks for reading positive and negative feedback is welcome :)

As for Damian's slight personality this chapter I'd like to thing his whole I'm better than everyone personality is just a trauma response from growing up in a hostile environment but in reality the minute anyone in his family gets he turns into a scared little kid.

As for Alfred I am the firm believer that he isn't a saint and is actually just as bad as bruce for enabling the man's poor behaviour and everyone just lets him get away with it because he is old and isn't emotionally constipated.

Chapter 4: The Word on the Cup

Summary:

Danny unknowingly writes a symbol connected to the cult on Tim's cup which leads Tim to realise not only is Dan somehow connected to the cult, he's also a meta of some kind. Danny's just confused on how Tim knows a dead language.

Notes:

Hi ya'll apologies on the delay of chapter 4, I work weekends and didn't have much time to write so this chapter is only just over 2k words. Before I forget THANK YOU guys sooo much over 500 kudos!!!! Never in a million years did I think so many people would like my writing considering all the feedback I used to get from my english teacher. In regards to comments I do read them all and deeply appreciate them. Hopefully at some point I find the time to get back to everyone's lovely comments. Anyway please enjoy this chapter or if you don't feel free to tell me :)

Tim’s laptop hummed quietly in the dim light of his corner in the Batcave. The massive monitors of the Bat computer loomed overhead, displaying a dizzying array of symbols and translated fragments from the cultist scrolls. Tim’s fingers flew across the keyboard, piecing together what he could from scraps of information Bruce had gathered during their last raid.

 

The cult they were investigating, known only as the Oblivion Coven, was one of the more enigmatic threats Gotham had seen in recent months. Their members were ghostly in their movements—always a step ahead—and their symbols were an indecipherable puzzle. Tim had spent the last week trying to crack the language, but the scrolls defied every translation program he’d thrown at them.

 

“Ciphers, dead languages, esoteric symbols...” he muttered to himself, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his temples. “Why does everything have to involve ancient nonsense?”

 

He pulled up one of the clearer images of a scroll and studied it for the hundredth time. Strange loops and jagged lines danced across the page, forming what looked like a ritual chant. It was frustratingly similar to some obscure dead languages he’d researched, yet just different enough to remain unsolvable.  

 

After painstakingly going over the chants of the cult the only lead Tim had was that the cult made frequent references to corn fields through the only symbol he could decode. Slowly but surely the lead began to haunt Tim as all he could think about was corn fields. Maybe he shouldn’t have been a coward and faced Dan yesterday, and not have accepted a new case. 

 

Tim, too engrossed in his work, had failed to realise it had been over 24 hours since he’d locked himself in the corner of the cave to research. Starting to feel tired from his lack of sleep Tim did what any normal person would do and headed out in search of coffee. 

 

With a sense of familiarity Tim found himself back at Ecto Espresso, stepping into the door Tim felt his senses perk out and search for Dan.

 

Danny from behind the counter spotted Tim first, calling out giggling. “Hey Tim, glad to see you back again and up right.”

 

With a small smile Tim couldn’t help but react to the warm welcome. “Yeah, yeah laugh it up I fell over no big deal. Could I just get my order from last time again?”

 

Danny was happy to keep the light conversation going. “Yeah, that’s alright one extra-large death swirl for Tim coming up. Just tap your card whenever you're ready.”

 

As Danny was getting ready to write Tim’s name on the cup, he heard the man mutter Corn Field. 

 

Danny thought he had misheard Tim, but half a beat later Tim repeated himself louder this time and Danny was sure he heard Tim correctly.  Although slightly confused at why Tim wanted to be called corn field today Danny went along, maybe it was his middle name or something he wondered. 

 

Despite Jack and Maddie having deeply flawed morals, Danny was glad they had at least resolved to give him a normal name. Daniel Jonathon Fenton was a much more sensible name than Tim Corn Field. 

 

Subconsciously Danny hoped Tim wasn’t expecting him to take his last name. The other ghosts barely respected him with Fenton attached to his name, Danny knew if he became a Corn Field then he’d never know peace again. Danny was caught off guard by the thought of marrying Tim, a man who he was hardly friends with.

 

Shutting down that line of thought Danny realised that corn fields were synonyms of the language of the dead, ectoplasmic entities if you were getting technical.  Faltering for a fraction of a second before putting an award-winning smile back on his face and continued. 

 

Tim, to sleep deprived to comprehend what he just said or notice Danny's uncomfortableness, mindlessly tapped his card before taking a seat at the same booth as the day prior.

 

Danny would only admit to himself that he was slightly disappointed that he and Tim hadn’t shared any witty remarks during their latest interaction. Filled with disappointment as he made Tim’s order, Danny despite not being a romantic hoped he would always live out the enemies to lover’s lifestyle. But alas it seemed Danny was never destined for such greatness and would have to settle for friends to lovers instead.

 

After finishing Tim’s drink Danny hesitates for a second deciding if he should call out Tim’s name or the name he put on the cup. Deciding on the latter, he steadied his voice before calling out Corn Field. 

 

To Danny's surprise Tim actually responds, mindlessly walking up to accept his coffee muttering a simple thanks before he takes a sip of his lifeline. Finally, more awake, Tim finds himself studying Dan’s face.

 

He picks up on the unnatural hunch of Dan’s eyebrows and the tension behind his smile. Tim can feel the awkward tension in the air. Silently replaying their interaction to recall if he did anything to warrant Dan’s uneasiness. 

 

Tim was stumped, Dan was staring at him intensely, but rather than looking at him it seemed as if Dan was looking through him. Tim became irritated with himself, had he unknowingly messed up his chance to be with the cute barista? 

 

Danny, while trying to act natural and failing, found himself looking deep into Tim’s eyes to figure out if he had a core, because why else would the man know a dead language. Tim’s eyes seemed to hold a million secrets but not the answer to his question. 

 

Tim, desperate to get back to his dark hideaway broke the stalemate first offering a small sheepish smile, muttering thanks as he turned around.  While today’s interaction might not have gone Tim hoped next time, he came back Dan would still be there. 

 

Not wanting to repeat yesterday's accident Tim kept his head down until he was out the door. Only then looking down letting out a quiet what the fuck? Where Tim thought the new nickname would be was instead again in bold letters Corn Field next to a symbol. Tim dropped his coffee out of pure shock.

 

I guess the third time isn’t the charm he mutters to himself bitterly bending down to pick up the cup. On closer inspection Tim notices that the symbol written on his cup is one shown in the cultists scrolls he couldn't decipher.

 

Tim’s bitterness was quickly dispersed in favour of awe, he needed to get back to the cave and fast he’d had a major breakthrough and Dan Cole was right at the centre of it.

 

Rushing back to the cave Tim broke every road rule possible, which would for sure earn him a safety lecture from Alfred. But Tim was too excited about the new information to care.  Since Dan was somehow connected to the cult it meant Tim that he could simultaneously stalk Dan and the cult. And to Tim who was upset about having to pause his stalking of Dan, this was perfect news. 

 

Now Tim didn’t particularly care that Dan could be a villain, he certainly wasn’t the first and wouldn’t be the last in his family to date a villain. Cough, cough Bruce and Selina.

 

The coffee cup from Ecto Espresso sat beside his keyboard, the strange symbol Danny had written earlier now circled and highlighted in his notes. Tim turned it over in his hands again, his mind replaying the moment in the coffee shop. Danny’s reaction to the word he’d used—something about the way his eyes narrowed for a split second felt significant.

 

“Coincidence?” Tim murmured. “Or... maybe not.”

 

He hesitated, then opened a new document and titled it Potential Leads – Dan Cole (Ecto Espresso). 

 

Underneath, he typed:

•   Fluent in multiple languages?
•   Symbol matches scroll pattern.

 

Tim stared at the notes, biting his lip. It was a long shot, but Gotham was built on coincidences that turned into chaos. Besides, there was something about Dan. Tim couldn’t place it yet, but his instincts told him that the barista wasn’t as ordinary as he seemed.

 

The hum of the elevator broke Tim’s focus. He turned to see Bruce step out, his cowl still in place but his cape trailing behind him like a shadow.

 

“Any progress?” Bruce asked, his deep voice filling the cavern.

 

Tim hesitated before answering, his hand brushing against the coffee cup. “Not much... but I might have found someone who can help.”

 

Bruce raised an eyebrow. “Who?”

 

Tim glanced back at the symbol on the screen, then at his notes. “There’s this guy at a coffee shop near Crime Alley. Remember Dan? He wrote one of the cult symbols on my cup without even thinking about it. Either he’s involved, or he knows more than he’s letting on.”

 

Bruce folded his arms, his expression unreadable. “Keep digging. If he’s connected, we need to know why. It seems like it might be time for Batman to meet this Dan”.

 

Tim nodded, already turning back to his laptop. “Just please when you meet with Dan do try not to scare him too badly. He’s my only lead right now.” Whatever Dan’s deal was, Tim was determined to find out.

 “Of course, son, I’m sure Dick would find a way to tag along and stop me intimidating Dan.” Bruce paused, taking a second to look closer at his son.

 

Hearing the awkward silence Tim turned back around to see Bruce’s face, he had that look that made it seem as if he had something delicate to say. As Tim calls it B’s emotionally constipated face.

Bruce replaying his earlier interaction with Jason and Dick decided to bite his tongue, he didn’t need another one of his kids hating him after all. Turning on his heel to walk out Bruce hoped one day in the future he’d be able to properly communicate his feelings to his hoard of children. 

 

Tim would spend the next few hours hard at work trying to find a connection between Dan and the cult. Only giving up when he heard the tell-tale signs of his siblings returning home. 

 

Dick wasn’t being very subtle when entering the cave and Tim was getting frustrated. Seriously why did Tim have to gain so many siblings that enjoyed seeing him in a state of absolute misery.

Loudly announcing his entrance Dick spoke. “Hey baby bird, working hard or hardly working?” 

 

“If you are coming in here to disturb my peace, make bad dad jokes you better hope i’m not on comms tonight because I will make you patrol with B.” Tim threatened.

 

“Chill no need to go all emo angsty teen on me” Dick put his hands up in mock surrender laughing to himself. “I guess I’m in luck then, I actually came to talk about Dan. He’s a meta of some kind, isn’t he?”

 

Tim, unsure if he was ready to have this conversation, tried to steady his shaky voice. “Yeah I think he is. I’m not too sure what his mutation is but if I had to guess it would be something to do with his crazy good accuracy for names.  Tim hesitated deciding if he wanted to tell Dick about Dan’s connection to the cult, he didn’t want Dick’s positive outlook towards Dan to change. But ultimately Tim needed someone to be there in case something goes wrong when B plans to confront Dan. “There is something else you need to know…… Dan is somehow connected to the cult I’m investigating.”

 

The room filled with an uncomfortable silence as Dick digested the bombshell that was just dropped. Trying his best to remain tactful Dick thought of the best way to handle the situation. It was clear Tim was uncomfortable telling him this, as he hesitated. It was clear that something had happened to make Tim hesitate. God, Dick hoped B hadn’t fucked up again. “Oh, that’s not what I was expecting. Are you okay? Did you need any help?”

 

“Uhh you're taking this surprisingly well considering you were singing Dan’s praise just a couple hours ago. And yeah, I do need help B is planning on confronting Dan on his potential involvement in the cult. I know you guys aren’t really on the best of terms right now, but you’re the only one I can trust to make sure B doesn't take things too far.”

 

“Don’t worry baby bird, your big brother will always be here to look out for you. No matter what my issues with B are, your well-being will always come first to me. I’ll happily be there to keep B in line, heaven knows the man needs daily correction.”

 

Tim managed a weak smile as Dick pulled him in for a hug. “I knew I could trust you to have my back.” Tim said, voice muffled by Dick’s body.

 

Breaking the hug. “That’s what big brothers are for, now get back to work I’ll be back later to discuss how we prove Dan’s innocence. And if Dan does turn out to be part of the cult, I’ll still ship it, at least Dan’s a cute villain. If B gives you a hard time, he’s a hypocrite since he did date Selina for a bit.”

 

 

 

The cave’s low hum filled the silence left in Dick’s wake, his words lingering in Tim’s mind. With a faint smile, Tim returned to his workstation, his fingers hesitating over the keyboard. The image of Dan flashed through his thoughts, not as a suspect, but as something... more.

 

 

Tim shook his head. Focus. He pulled up the symbol again, the familiar lines now almost mocking him with their simplicity. If Dan was connected to the cult, Tim needed to figure out how and why. And if he wasn’t... well, maybe there was still a chance this wasn’t as complicated as it seemed.

 

A chance to see Dan again without the weight of Gotham’s darkness looming over them.

 

 

Tim allowed himself one final glance at the coffee cup on his desk, the bold “Corn Field” scribbled beneath the symbol sparking a faint chuckle.

 

 

“Cute villain, huh?” he murmured to himself, shaking his head as he dove back into his work.

 

 

Because in Gotham, even "cute villains" came with complications—and Tim Drake was ready for every single one of them.

 

 

 

 

 

Notes:

Thanks for reading chapter 4!!! Comments and kudos are very much appreciated. I've already got an outline for chapter 5 it's sitting around 5k words so fingers crossed I'm not lazy and stay on track while I write. If thats the case next chapter should be out tomorrow, however in the event I decide to take my time the chapter should be out in 2 days instead.

Chapter 5: Phantom on a Break

Summary:

Danny has a rough time at work due to it being christmas as a result of his poor childhood. Despite swearing off hero work when moving to Gotham Danny unknowingly becomes a hero in crime alley, much to the interest of Jason Todd.

Notes:

Hey y'all apologies for the nearly 3 week delay life has been kicking me in the ass so bad that if I don't laugh I will cry

1. My beautiful aunt unexpectedly passed right after my last update and my parents had to fly out for her funeral, leaving me the youngest in charge of keeping my ADULT siblings alive as they are all incompetent
2. Lowkey got rejected from my top uni which was a tough pill to swallow but my parents didn't raise a quitter so vic uni I will be back for round 2 Jan 10th
3. I worked everyday for the last 2 weeks in retail, it was hell it was horror and actually inspired the start of the chapter
4. My 18th birthday is slowly creeping up and its been sending me into existential crisis

Life aside THANK YOU guys sooo much over 1k kudos is crazy!!!! All the comments and kudos served as a motivation to keep me writing through this rough patch. The love and support i've received is overwhelming and really special to me❤️

Hopefully everyone had a lovely christmas and got to spend time surrounded with love and joy consider this update a late christmas miracle 🎄

Fingers crossed you guys like this chapter I had soo much fun writing it :)

December 22nd, three days before Christmas and Danny was in hell. If he had to hear one more middle aged white man tell him how unfair it was for Danny to be working so close to Christmas, he would scream. Danny had to bite back the smart remark on the tip of his tongue. Wishing to tell the man it was his fault Danny was still working instead of being at home. 

 

 

Danny didn’t need any pity, he didn’t care to be working so close to christmas, it’s not like he believed in the stupid holiday anyway. Halloween was more his style as cliche as it sounds. The holidays were all about spending time with family, which he no longer had. Jack and Maddie had made it pretty clear the last time they saw him, that he was going to pay for taking their precious Danny boy. As to them Phantom had corrupted, and killed their son destroying their perfect family. Danny mentally scoffs at the thought of the Fenton’s being a picture perfect family. He really hoped his parents weren't as delusional to believe that the whole of Amity Park saw them as nutcases. 

 

 

While Danny hadn’t seen his parents since that fateful day, he was luckily able to see Jazz a handful of times. But for Danny his visits with Jazz were always hard, he would never be able to escape the horrible feeling of guilt that pooled at the pit of his stomach. If only he hadn’t been a stupid teenager trying to impress his friends and get attention from his parents, maybe he wouldn't have gotten himself killed and turned into a ghost. Blowing up not only his life, but the lives of his friends and family. 

 

 

During her visits Jazz never failed to bring up what was going on back in Amity park. It was always tough when the subject of Jack and Maddie was brought up.  Jazz was still in contact with their parents and Danny couldn’t fault her. Jack and Maddie had been amazing parents for the first 14 years, up until they started building that damn portal. By that time Jazz was already an angsty teen that didn’t need parental approval. But for Danny he was still young and would do anything to get approval from the adults in his life. If that meant being blindly loyal to his parents and risking his own safety he’d do it in a heartbeat. 

This blind loyalty was exactly how Danny found himself in this awkward position time and time again. Jazz blindly adored their parents, which is what led Danny to not tell Jazz what their parents had done while she was gone. Jazz knew Danny was part ghost but he also knew she respected their parents research, it was their life's work after all. Telling Jazz the truth about their parents would destroy the world Jazz had so carefully created. Danny couldn't do that because his sister Jazz had worked her ass off to achieve her dreams, and it paid off when Jazz got accepted into an ivy league. If Jazz knew the truth she’d abandon her studies to care for Danny. Danny’s accident had hurt a lot of people and he’d be damned before he let Jazz become collateral damage.  

 

 

Deep down Danny knew time was running out, when he’d first moved to Gotham Clockwork had appeared and informed him he only had one last task to prove himself as the rightful  Ghost King. Danny could feel it in his bones, Gotham was his last task and that cute cornfield guy could just be the missing piece. As such Danny felt it was time to start putting more distance between himself and Jazz, starting with not inviting Jazz over for the holidays, citing he had work. That was however a lie, every store in Gotham was closed on Christmas, but it was the only way Jazz would leave him alone. 

 

 

While Danny never believed in the magic of  Christmas due to his parents believing that Santa was an evil ghost. He’d spent the last 19 years wondering what it was about Christmas that made people go so crazy. Christmas was on the same day every year but without fail there would be massive groups of people who came into the shop panic buying gifts mere days before Christmas. On more than one occasion Danny had been verbally assaulted by a customer upset that the travel mug they wanted to buy was sold out. Everytime Danny was harassed he had to physically hold himself back from sarcastically asking why gift shopping was left till the last minute. 

 

 

Thankfully for Danny as he checked the clock after serving the customer he saw the time in big white numbers 18:56. Thank fuck Danny thought to himself, just over an hour until he could get out of this shithole. Danny hoped nothing would go wrong in the next hour, all Danny wanted to do was close on time and run straight home. But with Danny’s luck he knew something would inevitably blow up in his face. As Danny was doing his closing duties he started complaining to Chloe. 

 

 

“Ugh, every morning I don’t get hit by a car on the way to work I’m disappointed.” Danny complained exacerbated.

 

 

Turning to look Danny in the eyes, “Dan is everything okay at home? Do you and I need to have a little chat with HR?” Chloe asked, voice laced with concern.

 

 

Danny really liked having Chole as his boss, despite not being close in age the pair had formed a rather strong bond in the last 2 years. While Danny would never tell Chloe to her face, he saw her as a Mother figure. It was only natural that one with such strong mummy issues would latch onto the first woman who showed him any kind of motherly affection.

 

Danny, caught off guard by Chloe’s serious question, immediately tried to downplay the situation. “ NO! Everything's fine, it's just a joke. I am physically and mentally ok. It's just the craziness of the holiday season getting to me. I’m fine, I swear.”

 

Chloe, still not convinced, eyed Danny warily, crossing her arms. “Dan, I’ve known you for nearly two years. If you're going to lie, try to at least make it believable. You don’t look the faintest bit well, please tell me you aren’t alone this holiday season. I have an extra seat at my table you know.”

 

Danny at least had half a mind to look guilty about being caught out in a lie. What Chloe said was true, Danny was a terrible liar and looked like an absolute mess. His hair sticking out at  awkward angles despite layers of hair gel, and eye bags as dark as the midnight sky. Danny looked like a walking zombie. 

 

“Chloe I promise you everything is fine, i'll be spending time with my sister but thank you for your very generous offer.” 

 

For a moment Danny wondered what would have happened if he accepted the offer, would he have had fun? Danny couldn’t allow himself to daydream anymore, it would be wrong of him to accept the offer. After all, everyone he loves ends up getting hurt and Danny couldn’t risk destroying another family. 

 

A small smile crept up on Chloe’s face, it was clear Dan was still lying to her, she just couldn't figure out his deal. But Dan had slipped up and Chloe now had a reason to give him a day off.  

 

“Sister huh, well I guess you could benefit from spending time with family. Take some time off kid, spend time with your sister you deserve it.” Chloe said, patting Danny on the back, quickly turning around to stop Dan protesting.

 

Danny felt bad for lying but hey a day off is a day off, who is he to complain. After the conversation Danny had felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Looking at his watch for a second time Danny saw the time flash 19:30. Only 30 minutes to closing Danny thought to himself, what could possibly go wrong in 30 minutes?

 

 

 

Jason Todd adjusted the straps of his worn leather jacket, blending seamlessly into the busy crowd of Crime Alley. He carried a certain swagger as he approached the small coffee shop, the one everyone in the neighborhood was raving about. "This guy gets every name right," they’d said, “no matter how complicated.” Jason smirked to himself. Tonight, he’d test that claim.

 

But as he turned the corner, the serene atmosphere shattered. A desperate shout echoed through the alley a man’s voice, pleading for mercy.

 

Jason’s instincts kicked in. His hand twitched toward the concealed weapon he wasn’t supposed to be carrying while “undercover.” Sure enough, just ahead, a mugging was in progress. Two thugs loomed over an older man, their voices harsh and threatening as they demanded his wallet. The man trembled, clutching a briefcase like it was his lifeline.

 

 

Jason’s lips curled into a sneer. Classic Gotham. He stepped forward, already plotting the fastest way to incapacitate both assailants without too much bloodshed. But before he could act, a familiar figure emerged from the coffee shop.

 

 

It was Dan, the barista. His hands were shoved casually in the pockets of his apron, and his stride was calm too calm. Jason froze, his curiosity piqued.

 

 

“Hey, guys,” Danny called out, his voice light yet firm. He stopped a few feet away from the scene, tilting his head as if he were examining a particularly tricky crossword puzzle. “You really think this is the best place for that?”

 

 

The thugs turned to face him, their confusion quickly shifting to irritation. One of them brandished a knife. “Mind your business, kid,” he growled.

 

 

Danny’s expression didn’t change. If anything, he looked bored. “Sure, I’ll mind my business. Right after you let the guy go.”

 

 

Jason watched, ready to jump in if things went south. But then Dan did something... odd. As one of the thugs lunged, Danny shifted slightly, his body moving with a fluidity that didn’t belong to someone untrained. The knife missed by a hair, and before the thug could react, Danny twisted his wrist in a quick, almost lazy motion. The knife clattered to the ground.

 

 

The second thug moved to grab him, but Danny stepped back not hurriedly, but with precision. It was like he knew exactly where the thug’s hands would be before they even got there. A subtle nudge with his foot sent the briefcase sliding safely out of harm’s way, and Jason caught the flicker of a smirk on Danny’s face as the older man scrambled to retrieve it.

 

 

“Okay, okay!” one of the thugs finally shouted, backing away. “We’re leaving! Geez!”

 

 

Danny didn’t move, didn’t even flinch, until they disappeared into the shadows of the alley. Then, with a soft sigh, he bent down and picked up the knife, twirling it absentmindedly before tossing it into a nearby dumpster.

 

 

 

Jason blinked. What the hell was that?

 

 

The older man stammered his thanks, and Danny waved it off with a casual, “Just be careful next time, okay?” He returned to the coffee shop like nothing had happened.

 

 

Jason lingered, watching Danny through the shop’s front window as he resumed his position behind the counter. His movements were unhurried, but there was a sharpness to him now, a barely restrained energy that hadn’t been there before. Jason’s mind raced. He’d seen a lot of fighters in his time, but Danny’s grace and precision were something else. No normal barista could pull that off.

 

 

Sliding into the shop, Jason joined the short line of customers. When it was his turn, he leaned casually on the counter. “Ozymandias” he said, deliberately challenging. 

 

 

Danny gave him an unimpressed look, then wrote his name on the cup without hesitation. When Jason looked, the letters were perfect. “You’re not gonna let me stump you, are you? Jason’s the real name kid”

 

 

“Not today,” Danny replied with a grin, handing him the coffee. “Have a good one Jason.”

 

 

Jason nodded, taking his cup. As he left, his mind was already turning over the possibilities. Danny was more than he seemed. And Jason intended to find out exactly what he was hiding.

 

 

December 23rd

The morning after the mugging near the coffee shop, the streets of Crime Alley hummed with a strange buzz. It wasn’t the usual chaos of car horns or shouting matches over territory disputes. Instead, people were talking, whispering, speculating. The center of their attention? Danny Fenton, the quiet barista with a knack for getting names right.

 

 

Inside the shop, the warm smell of coffee mingled with the faint scent of pastries as Danny moved behind the counter with his usual ease. His movements were fluid, practiced a kind of choreography built from years of blending into the background. Yet today, he couldn’t avoid being the center of attention.

 

 

Mrs. Rodriguez, the elderly woman who ran the florist stand on the corner, was the first to bring it up.

 

 

“Dan, honey,” she said, leaning on the counter with a conspiratorial smile, “I heard about what you did last night. You’re a hero!”

 

 

Danny blinked, caught mid-pour. “What I did?” he echoed, carefully setting the steaming mug in front of her.

 

 

She wagged a finger at him. “Don’t play coy! Jason Todd saw the whole thing. Said you stopped those hooligans without so much as a scratch.”

 

 

Danny’s stomach tightened. He forced a laugh, scratching the back of his neck. “It wasn’t a big deal. They ran off before anything happened.”

 

 

“Ran off because of you,” Mrs. Rodriguez insisted, her voice rising just enough to draw the attention of a few other patrons. “Don’t think we don’t notice, Dan. You’re always looking out for us.”

 

 

The bell above the door jingled as more customers filed in, some nodding in agreement as they overheard the conversation. Danny’s cheeks flushed, but he didn’t know whether it was from embarrassment or unease.

 

 

By mid-morning, the coffee shop was unusually crowded. Word had spread quickly, and people who had never bothered to stop by before were suddenly in need of a caffeine fix. Regulars like Marcus, the gruff mechanic from down the block, and Lisa, a struggling art student, had taken up seats by the window, keeping an eye on the flow of newcomers.

 

 

“This place feels different today,” Marcus muttered, his arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair. “Like it’s buzzing or something.”

 

 

Lisa nodded, her sketchbook open in front of her. “It’s because of Dan,” she said, her pencil scratching against the page. “People feel safe here. He makes them feel safe.”

 

 

Danny, oblivious to their conversation, was busy at the counter, taking orders with his usual calm demeanor. A man approached and gave a name that was clearly fake, smirking as if he expected to stump Danny. Without missing a beat, Danny scrawled the name in perfect Cyrillic script, handing the cup over with a polite smile.

 

 

The man’s smirk faltered. “How did you—”

 

 

“Just a lucky guess,” Danny replied, turning to the next customer.

 

 

By the time his lunch break rolled around, Danny was ready to escape the growing attention. He slipped out the back door, finding solace in the alley behind the shop. Leaning against the brick wall, he took a deep breath, letting the cool air wash over him.

 

 

“You okay, kid?”

 

 

Danny jumped slightly, looking up to see Mr. Alvarez, Chloe’s Husband, the coffee shop owner, leaning against the doorway. The older man’s sharp eyes softened as he took in Danny’s tense posture.

 

 

“Yeah,” Danny said, straightening. “It’s just... a lot today.”

 

 

Mr. Alvarez nodded, stepping closer. “People here don’t trust easy, Dan. Crime Alley isn’t exactly known for its sense of community. But you’ve managed to do something most people can’t. You’ve made them feel like they matter.”

 

 

Danny shrugged, unsure how to respond. “I just make coffee and write their names.”

 

 

“It’s more than that,” Mr. Alvarez said. “You see people. Really see them. That’s rare around here.”

 

 

The words struck a chord, but Danny quickly brushed it off. “I’m just trying to keep my head down, you know? Don’t want any trouble.”

 

 

“Sometimes trouble finds you anyway,” Mr. Alvarez said, his tone knowing. He clapped a hand on Danny’s shoulder. “But for what it’s worth, this place wouldn’t be the same without you. Keep doing what you’re doing, kid.”

 

 

Danny managed a small smile as Mr. Alvarez headed back inside. Left alone again, he let his thoughts drift. He couldn’t help but wonder if staying in Gotham had been a mistake. Blending in was supposed to be easy, but the people here... they weren’t like anyone he’d met before. And now, they were starting to notice him.

 

 

By evening, the atmosphere in the shop had shifted again. Regulars stayed longer, chatting with Danny between orders and sharing stories about their day. It wasn’t just about the coffee anymore it was about being part of something.

 

 

“Dan, you’ve got to try this,” Marcus said, sliding a plate of homemade cookies across the counter. “My wife baked them. Said to thank you for helping her carry groceries last week.”

 

 

Danny hesitated but took one, smiling as he bit into it. “Tell her they’re amazing. Thanks, Marcus.”

 

 

Lisa chimed in from her spot by the window. “Dan, do you mind if I sketch you? You’ve got this... vibe that’s perfect for my next piece.”

 

 

Danny laughed nervously, shaking his head. “I’m not much of a model, Lisa.”

 

 

She grinned. “You’re perfect, trust me.”

 

 

As the evening wore on, Danny found himself smiling more easily. Despite his initial discomfort, there was something comforting about the way people here accepted him. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he belonged.

 

 

When the last customer left and the shop’s lights dimmed, Danny locked up with a sense of quiet contentment. Stepping out into the cool night air, he glanced up at the sky. Gotham’s stars were barely visible, drowned out by the city’s lights, but Danny didn’t mind. He’d found his own little constellation in the people around him.

 

 

What he didn’t notice was the pair of eyes watching from the shadows. Jason leaned against a lamppost, a smirk playing on his lips as he observed the barista’s quiet moment of peace.

 

 

“You’re a mystery, Dan Cole,” he muttered to himself. “And Gotham loves a good mystery.”

 

 

 

December 24th

Danny leaned against the counter of the coffee shop, his eyes flicking to the clock above the espresso machine. Five minutes until his break. He rubbed his temple, trying to shake off the growing headache that had been nagging him all morning. The ache wasn’t physical, not really. It was a low, gnawing hum at the edge of his senses—something was wrong in Gotham.

 

 

As the clock ticked over, Danny untied his apron and stepped outside, the cool Gotham air doing little to soothe the unease crawling up his spine. The streets of Crime Alley were relatively quiet for the moment, but Danny’s instincts screamed otherwise. He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, pretending to stroll casually as he honed in on the disturbance. The ectoplasmic energy wasn’t just ambient. It was deliberate, pooling unnaturally, like someone was tearing small holes between dimensions and letting the Ghost Zone seep through.

 

 

Danny’s feet carried him down a side alley, the dull buzz of neon signs fading as he neared an abandoned lot. The feeling grew stronger with each step, a sickly green glow faintly emanating from beneath a crumbling brick wall. Kneeling, Danny brushed aside debris to reveal crude symbols scrawled in ectoplasm. They pulsed faintly, radiating the same energy that had been gnawing at him all day. His breath hitched.

 

 

This wasn’t just a random leak. This was intentional. Someone was using ghostly energy to power something or summon something.

 

 

“Great,” Danny muttered under his breath, pulling out his phone to snap a picture of the symbols. He didn’t have any intention of calling in reinforcements. If anything, he wanted to avoid them. The last thing he needed was someone like Batman sniffing around and connecting the dots between Danny Fenton and the Phantom.

 

 

Still, as he studied the marks, a chill ran down his spine. These symbols weren’t just written in ectoplasm; they were inscribed in a language he hadn’t seen in years, a dead dialect from the Ghost Zone used in ancient rituals. Whoever was behind this had knowledge they shouldn’t have.

 

 

Danny’s fingers twitched at his side. He could feel the pull to phase through the wall and investigate further, but he stopped himself. No. If he crossed that line, he risked exposing everything. He’d made a promise to himself when he arrived in Gotham: no powers, no Phantom. This was supposed to be his fresh start, his chance to be normal. The ghosts could handle themselves.

 

 

Except… they couldn’t. And he knew it.

 

 

Danny clenched his jaw, standing abruptly. The symbols pulsed one last time before fading, the energy dissipating into the stale Gotham air. Whoever had left them here was gone, but the residue was enough to make his headache flare again.

 

 

“This isn’t my fight,” Danny murmured to himself, as if the words alone could convince him. Yet the thought of walking away left a sour taste in his mouth. His entire life had been defined by stepping up when no one else could, but every time he did, it cost him. Friends. Family. Home. Did Gotham really deserve the same from him?

 

 

Shoving his hands deeper into his pockets, Danny turned and headed back toward the coffee shop, each step heavier than the last. He’d have to think about this later. For now, he had a shift to finish and a growing sense of dread that this was only the beginning.

 

 

 

The bell above the coffee shop door jingled softly, signaling a late customer. Danny looked up from the counter, where he was cleaning the espresso machine for what felt like the hundredth time that day. The sight of Jason stepping in with his characteristic swagger made Danny’s tired smile tug at the corner of his lips.

 

 

“Hey, Jason. You’re cutting it close. We close in fifteen minutes,” Danny said, his tone light.

 

 

Jason gave a mock gasp, holding his hand to his chest as though deeply offended. “What, no special treatment for your favorite customer?”

 

 

 

Danny snorted, rolling his eyes. “Special treatment involves an extra shot of espresso, not extra time.”

 

 

Jason slid onto a barstool at the counter, tossing a casual grin Danny’s way. “Well, if anyone deserves a freebie, it’s the guy who saved your neck earlier.”

 

 

Danny paused, his hands momentarily stilling on the machine. “Right,” he said, voice quiet. “About that. Thanks for waiting on the sidelines”

 

 

Jason shrugged. “Didn’t do much. You handled those muggers like a pro. Barely even broke a sweat.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the counter. “Seriously, though, where’d you learn to move like that?”

 

 

 

Danny’s eyes darted away. “Just… survival instinct, I guess. When you grow up in a place like Amity Park, you learn how to take care of yourself.”

 

 

Jason arched his brow. “Amity Park? Never heard of it.”

 

 

 

“It’s a small town,” Danny said quickly. “Nothing special. Just… lots of weird stuff happens there.”

 

 

 

Jason’s curiosity was piqued, but he decided not to push. Instead, he watched as Danny busied himself with cleaning, his movements quick and precise. There was something about the way Danny carried himself that screamed “not normal.” But it wasn’t the threatening kind of not-normal; it was more like the “I’ve seen too much” kind.

 

 

“So, Amity Park was rough, huh?” Jason asked, his tone softer now.

 

 

Danny nodded, not meeting his gaze. “You could say that. It’s… not a place I want to go back to anytime soon.”

 

 

“Yeah, I get that,” Jason said, surprising himself with how honest he sounded. He leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms. “Gotham’s got that effect on people too. Some of us never really leave it, even when we try.”

 

 

Danny glanced up, his blue eyes meeting Jason’s for a moment. There was something shared in that look, a mutual understanding of what it meant to want to run but never quite being able to escape.

 

 

“Have you ever tried?” Danny asked.

 

 

Jason gave a humorless chuckle. “Oh, yeah. Ran halfway across the world. Thought I could start over, y’know? Get away from everything that happened here.”

 

 

Danny tilted his head. “But?”

 

 

“But Gotham has a way of dragging you back,” Jason admitted. “And the stuff I was running from? Turns out it wasn’t just Gotham. It was me.”

 

 

Danny frowned, his cleaning forgotten as he leaned against the counter. “I know that feeling,” he said quietly. “I thought if I left Amity Park, I could… I don’t know, leave all the weirdness behind. Be normal for once. But I guess I’m not built for normal.”

 

 

Jason’s lips quirked into a smirk. “Yeah, normal’s overrated anyway.”

 

 

They sat in companionable silence for a moment, the hum of the espresso machine filling the space. Jason watched Danny out of the corner of his eye, noting the way his shoulders seemed a little less tense now.

 

 

“So, what’s a kid from a weird little town doing in Gotham?” Jason asked finally.

 

 

Danny hesitated, his fingers drumming lightly against the counter. “Just… trying to start over,” he said, echoing Jason’s earlier words. “Gotham seemed big enough that no one would ask too many questions.”

 

 

Jason’s grin turned wry. “You picked the wrong city for that. Everyone here’s got questions. Especially about people who can take down muggers without breaking a sweat.”

 

 

Danny’s face flushed slightly. “I told you, it was just adrenaline.”

 

 

“Sure, sure,” Jason said, clearly not buying it. But he didn’t press. Instead, he leaned forward again, resting his chin on his hand. “So, what do you miss about Amity Park? Other than the weirdness.”

 

 

Danny’s expression softened. “I miss my friends. Tucker and Sam. They… they were always there for me, no matter what. Even when things got crazy.”

 

 

“Crazy how?” Jason asked, genuinely curious.

 

 

Danny hesitated, then shrugged. “Just… family stuff. School stuff. You know how it is.”

 

 

Jason’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t push. Instead, he nodded. “Yeah, I get that. Family stuff can be… complicated.”

 

 

Danny looked up at him, a flicker of something like understanding in his gaze. “Yeah. Complicated.”

 

 

They lapsed into silence again, but this time it was less awkward and more… comfortable. Jason found himself relaxing in Danny’s presence, which was unusual for him. There was something about the kid that felt familiar, like they were cut from the same cloth.

 

 

“You ever wish you could just… forget it all?” Danny asked suddenly, his voice barely above a whisper.

 

 

Jason blinked, caught off guard by the question. “All the time,” he admitted. “But then I remember that even the bad stuff made me who I am. And as much as I hate some of it… I wouldn’t trade it. Not all of it, anyway.”

 

 

Danny nodded slowly, his eyes distant. “Yeah. I guess you’re right.”

 

 

Jason tilted his head, studying Danny for a moment. “You’ve been through some serious stuff, haven’t you?”

 

 

Danny gave a half-smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You could say that.”

 

 

Jason leaned back, his grin turning playful again. “Well, if you ever want to swap war stories, you know where to find me.”

 

 

Danny chuckled, the sound lightening the mood. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

 

As Jason finished his coffee and stood to leave, he paused by the door, turning back to Danny. “You’re a good kid, Dan. Don’t let Gotham chew you up.”

 

 

Danny smiled, his eyes meeting Jason’s. “You too, Jason.”

 

 

Jason nodded, then stepped out into the Gotham night. As the door closed behind him, Danny let out a long breath, his shoulders slumping. He’d managed to keep his secrets for now, but something told him Jason Todd wasn’t the kind of guy to let things go.

 

 

And, if Danny was being honest with himself, he wasn’t sure he wanted him to.

Notes:

Thanks for reading chapter 5 guys, hopefully you guys liked it! If you did please feel free to leave comments and Kudos which are always most appreciated. Or if you didn't like the chapter feedback on what you didn't like is welcome. The focus of chapter 6 will be batman confronting Danny and some flashbacks to Danny's days in amity. This will probably be my last update for the year so wishing everyone a happy and safe new years :)