Chapter Text
It was hard for Danny to live in Gotham. His parents didn't like it. But they didn't like anything he did.
But Danny did like it. Something about the dark and dreary was Welcomeing to him. He wasn't able to see the star's but it felt like home.
The only thing that made it hard was the fact that people stared at him alot.
He got it. Really he did. The meta cuffs made it look like he was a villain. He was able to hide four of them but not really the one on his neck.
He always gave the same answer whenever someone asked him why he had them. And he gave the same answer every time.
"My meta ability is harmful to others. This is so I can live a normal life"
He doesn't remember why they were put on. What his power was. His parents said that when they emerged that he killed Jazz. His sister. And that it was so traumatic his mind blocked it out.
Never let him forget that he killed his entire town. And the only reason his parents survived was the fact that they wore hazmat suits all the time.
His parents never let him forget the fact that he killed her. That he's the reason she was no longer with them. That's why he always agreed to what they asked.
It's why he has so many scars. They wanted to find some way to rid him of his power. Make him normal. Thay say it's the only way for them to love him again.
He always agreed with what they asked. Never wanting to be left alone. To lose the last family he had.
But Gotham was one thing he wanted that he didn't let them say no to. It took him 3 years to convince them to let him go to college here. He was just happy thet his scholarship was still viable the whole time.
It was nice being in such a sought-after carrier that he could wait years before going to college. A space station engineer that could work with magic.
Not many people fallow a carrier that has something as unstable and unpredictable as magic.
He however liked the unpredictability of it. He's always liked magic. Even tried to practice it a few times. It never went well, always reacting with his cuffs.
But so far the thing he likes most of gotham was this little library in park row. Or as the residents call it. Crime alley.
Well he doesn't like the library really. But the owner is another thing.
Jason peter Todd-Wayne.
He stopped by the library the first time cus it was by his apartment, and he kept returning just to see the man.
Jason was a Brickhouse of a man with a heart of gold. He always has a new book every time Danny comes over. Helps Danny find books and gives him recommendations on what to read.
Danny may be in love. There was just something about him that made Danny like him.
----
Jason watched as his favorite customer. Danny Mickelson. Browsed the shelves.
The young man has only been coming over for the past few months. He was a college student who lived nere by.
He was a strong meta that didn't have access to his powers for the safety of other's. He was nice but had an air of hurt around him.
Jason isn't scared to admit that he likes the guy alot. The way he smiles. How he picks at the hem of his shirt when he's nervous. How he hums when searching for a book.
Ok Jason may have a huge crush. And the thing is it's not hard to fall in love with the guy. He just can't ask him out.
It's not only nerves but also the fact he can't tell if Danny likes guys. Or people. The dude barley talks to anyone, not even him.
"Hi" Jason was brought out of his thoughts by Danny himself at his desk.
"Hi Danny. How can I help you" Jason tried to keep the joy out of his voice as he talked.
"I need some help getting a book down" Danny was looking down as he said that, making Jason chuckle alittle bit.
Danny always needed help getting things off the top shelf. The man was pretty short. Standing at only 5'5 compared to Jason's 6'3.
"I'm always here to help" Jason got up to follow Danny to the book he wanted.
"Thanks Jason" Danny stopped and turned around pointing at a book all the way on the top shelf. "I feel like half the time I'm here I'm asking you to help me get a book"
"I don't mind Danny" Jason handed over the small astrology book.
Danny chuckled as he held the book to his chest. "Maybe you should get a ladder or something"
"I-" Jason didn't want to do that though. The only reason that Danny talked to him was to help get things. "I don't think that would work. This place isn't big enough for a ladder. Especially if it needs to be moved"
"I guess" Danny started to move back to the front desk and Jason followed. "I just don't like talking to people that much"
"Why's that" Jason sat at his desk as Danny handed the book back.
"I just don't want to get attached to people then loose them" Danny had this look of pain on his face as he spoke. Like he's speaking from experience.
"I get that. But it's never good to stay locked away from others" he handed the book back, giving Danny a big smile. Danny handed over his library card for jason to swipe it. "Sometimes it's best to let people in"
Danny took the card back and lowered his head, Jason couldn't help but smirk at the faint blush on the shorter man's cheeks.
"Yeah, I guess" Danny turned to walk away.
"Bye Danny"
"Bye Jason. I'll see you later" Danny said over his shoulder giving Jason his lop sided grin.
Jason watched as Danny left the library. His mind was going back to what Danny said. 'He doesn't want to loose people again' he thought as he went back to his book. 'Who did he loose to begin with'.
----
Danny was running through the rain. Internet was out in his building and he needed to finish his easy for class.
He stopped infront of his favorite coffee place. Not only do they serve the best food, but they also have free internet. And at the moment that's what he needed.
He interred the shop and made his way to the front to put in his order.
"Hi" the lady- Mary, her name is Mary- at the front said as it was finally his turn. "What can I get you"
"Can I get a hot chocolate with marshmallows and a Ruben with fries please" danny didn't even need to think of what he wanted. This was his go to on a rainy day.
"That'll be 17.23. You're food will be brought to your table" she typed in his order before looking back at him.
He handed over a 20 "keep the change" he started to walk over to the furthest table from the front. Taking his backpack off he sat down and pulled out his computer.
By the time he finished his easy his food was being brought over to him. He sat in silence as he ate, finishing his sandwich and half his fries before he started on his drink.
By the time he started his hot coco it was the perfect temperature, he pulled out his phone to play a game when someone sat across from him.
"Hi" Danny knows that voice. Why does he know it.
Danny looked up to see none other then Jason sitting across from him soaking weat.
"Is it ok if I sit with you. All the other tables are taken" Jason asked as he took of his jacket.
Danny look around to see that indeed the place was packed.
"I don't mind" Danny went back to looking at his phone. Because if he looks at Jason for even a little he might blush. He's never seen the man without his jacket on and the way that his shirt is hugging his arm's might make Danny pass out.
"I think this is one of the worst storms we've had in year's. I'd bet money that it's not natural" Jason took one of Danny's fries as he talked.
"You'd win" Danny dead panned as he put the fries in between them.
"Really. How so" Jason Leaned fowered on his arms looking at Danny with curiosity.
"For my course in college I have to study magic. And the way that the weather changes direction every minute or so, the fact that the lightning and thunder are all over the place. You can hear the thunder 3 times before lightning can be seen. The fact that the wind and the rain are going in different directions. And despite the fact that it's been raining for 3 almost 4 hours we still haven't had a flood anywhere. And considering the fact that crime alley doesn't have the best roofing I find that hard to believe" Danny looked up to stare at Jason when he finished talking, the other man had a bewildered look on his face. "Sorry. I info dump when it's something I like"
"No I get that. My family has to sit through me talking about Jane Austin" Danny couldn't help but chuckle at that.
"Yeah. Mine have to listen to me talk about space all the time. Or the dead. But they actually like that more" Danny stared at his drink as he stirred it, he was just waiting for Jason to call him weird for liking to learn about death.
"Oh I think I've made a grave mistake" and here it- wait what. "I could have been doing death jokes this whole time"
"Death joke's" Danny chuckled again as he looked at Jason "if you do that it's going to be the death of me"
"Hey you started this. That means you can't ghost me" Jason started laughing at that. "God it's nice to make jokes like this with someone. My family always looks sad when I do it"
"Why's that" Danny abandoned his drink to talk more with Jason.
"I legally died for a little. It kind of caused me to have amnesia and i was missing for a few years. So every time I joke about it my family is reminded of the fact I was gone for so long" Jason had a sad smile on his face as he talked. And honestly Danny got it.
"I kinda feel that. The lab accident that awakened my meter Gen kind of killed me. I guess that's what happens when you have 10,000 wats of electricity go through you"
"A man after my cold dead heart" Jason placed his right hand over his heart making both of them laugh.
"I wouldn't go for you heart honestly" Danny gave Jason a big smile. "I'd go for your brain"
"Are you sure your not a zombie. Cuz I think my brain would be a rather tasty meal" Danny could tell that Jason was faking offense.
"Honestly your the zombie. The amnesia after death is typically common with zombies" Jason had a smile on his Face as Danny talked. "But no. The reason I would take your brain over your heart is simple. Hearts are an organ that can be transferred to another body and will no longer be your's. The brain however is unique. I'd take it and find a way to bring you back in some way, maybe in a jar"
"I'm going to be honest with you" Ok her it is now, it's one thing to make jokes about death. But being serious and talk about bringing someone back to life was another. "I was trying to flirt with you"
"What?" Danny stared dumbfounded at Jason. 'He was flirting with me'.
"I've been trying to get the courage to ask you out for awhile. And the thing is this is the longest I've heard you talk. Sorry if I made it weird"
"No its ok" Danny could feel the blush on his face. "I can be blind to people flirting with me sometimes. I don't mind it. I've been having the same dilemma to. I kind of like it. Especially since you did it with a dead joke. But I ment it when I said that about your brain"
"Really, Why's that" Jason was leaning on his right hand as he looked at Danny.
"Your body is physically attractive yes. But you brain is what really makes me like you" Danny started to play with his fingers, not having enough courage to look at Jason as he talked.
"And what do you like about it lightning rod" Danny couldn't help but laugh at the nickname Jason came up with.
"Well zombie boy" Danny finally looked at Jason. The other man had a big smile on his face. "You are always ready something new everyday. You can recite Shakespeare from off the top of your head. You care for kid's and make sure you teach the street kids to read. The way you will help no matter what whenever someone ask. And you may not think people can tell but you tap your fingers in Morse code when in deap thought"
"You may be quite but you pay attention. I really like that about you" Jason put both of his arms down on the table. "So, would you like to go out. On like an actual date"
"I- I would love to"
Jason was walking back to his apartment after his lunch with Danny. It was an unexpected but welcome outcome to the day.
To think all he had to do was start talking about death with Danny and he would have a date with the guy.
It was nice to think about but there was something that was not sitting right with him. The storm that only just let up had a chance of not being normal. He would have to tell the bats.
He wasn't looking forward to them finding out how he got the information about the storm. He wanted to keep Danny a secret till he was confident enough that Danny won't freek out when meeting his family.
They can be a lot and Danny was only just coming out of his shell with Jason.
----
"Hey B!" Jason yelled out as he got off his bike, making his way over to the rest of the bats.
"Oh Jason" Dick came up next to him "you don't normally came over here unless you want something, or need to tell us something. So which one is it"
"I have news about the storm" he stopped by the side of the bat computer with his arms crossed. "Someone, and I'm not telling you who, told me that the storm wasn't normal and was caused by magic"
"Huh" Tim came up beside him. "I thought it would have been like a meta or something. Magic changes things"
"Actually Constantine said" Bruce finally stopped typing on the bat computer and pulled up an old case file. "That it was a realms being trying to get our attention"
"You mean the old cold case finally has a new lead. How long has it been. 7 years" Dick chimed in as he looked over the case file.
"'The ghost king' who's that" Damian asked as he finally came over to the rest of them.
"Yes. Who?" Cass asked from beside him. Jason would have jumped if not for the fact that she Leaned on him.
"It's a case me Tim and Bruce worked on. 7 years ago Constantine told the Justice league of a missing royal from this place called the infinite realms. None of the subjects were able to find him fearing the worst. No new lead has showed up till now" Dick explained as Bruce pulled up a photo of the king.
He was an early teen with white hair and to familiar eyes. The green brought a sence of dread in him. The king was in a black hazmat suit with white accents. He had pointed ears and sharp teath, as well as glowing green lighting scars on the left if his face in a glowing green.
"He looks more like a prince then a king" Damien deadpan as he looked at the king.
"Actually he was never a prince" Tim said as he got over to the computer scrolling down to another photo of a big scary looking man. "He defeated the last king in single combat and won the title. In terms of age for realms being he was pretty young so it was a surprise to everyone when it happened"
"And that's the main reason that the realms want him back" Dick chimed in "they need a king so the middle men don't gain to much power. For instance Trigon"
"Wait this guy is higher up then Trigon" Steph chimed in.
"Actually he's pretty much God" Dick said. "He rules over the afterlife and all the people in the realms. And the thing is that the realms is like the glue holding the multiverse together. He is the deciding factor in everything. He rules both life and death"
"Wait so how does this pertain to the storm" Damian asked as he looked over the given information.
"Constantine said that one of the kings subjects created the storm to tell us something" Bruce finally turned of the computer.
"Tell us what" Jason really didn't want to get out of here as fast as he can. He has a date to plan.
"The king is in gotham"