Chapter 7: Who's The Kid? Part l
Danny felt himself quickly losing altitude as the wind whipped around his face. Suddenly, he felt the tingling sensation of the rings as they appeared around his waist, traveling up and down his body as they transformed him back into the ratty teenager he had become.
He let out a shout of shock as he abruptly fell out of the air. Thankfully, he had been smart enough to dive closer to the ground before the inevitable transformation, but he still tumbled across the dirty alley floor before coming to a slow stop as he landed on his stomach, his cheek pressing against the cold surface of the dark-gray concrete.
He let out a loud groan as he pushed himself up with shaky arms, trying to blink away the black dots that swam at the edge of his vision.
His skull pounded so violently, he was almost certain it would explode and the garbage men would end up with an unpleasant surprise laying next to the trash. He grit his teeth and shut his teeth as colorful spots flashed against his eyes, wishing for nothing more than total darkness, stillness and absolute quiet.
But, of course, this was Gotham. Not the most peaceful city.
Danny shook his head to try and clear the ringing in his ears and rose to his knees slowly. After a few more moments of trying to steady his breathing, with little success, the teen reached his feet. Unfortunately, this led to a swaying feeling in the pit of his stomach, causing him to ignore the shakiness in his legs as he rushed to the nearest trashcan, heaving up what little food he had been able to scrounge up, the valuable substance violently expelled from his body.
He gasped for breath as he pulled away, pressing his back against the back wall as he tried to stay conscious. His muscles screamed at him, and his chest splintered and cracked painfully with every breath he took. He moaned in pain as he felt a bead of sweat roll down his forehead, the burning sensation of a fever creeping down the back of his neck.
Finally deciding himself fit enough to move, the teen slowly pushed off against the wall and began to slowly trudge deeper into the alley. Thankfully, the hands of fate had decided to be forgiving, allowing him to fall into the same alley where his "home" lay. Nevertheless, after a few moments of ducking under metal mesh fences and tripping over loose garbage, the teen collapsed to the floor once more, breathing heavily.
Danny moaned in pain as he lifted his head up once more, the world beginning to spin before him. He reached a shaky hand forward and slowly pushed himself up onto his hands and knees. Crawling over to the edge of the building, he felt his hands along the bricks until the cold surface of glass was felt underneath his fingertips.
Pushing the window open, he let out a small yelp of shock as his hand slipped, lurching forward as he tumbled into the opening, crashing onto the table underneath before rolling off. He let out a small growl of annoyance, but was happy enough to finally be "safe." He wrapped his shaky arms around himself as he flipped over onto his side, curling up into as tight of a ball as he could manage.
In the back of his mind, he felt the growing fear as he began to process what he had done. Another stupid mistake. Another snap judgement. Another life-threatening decision. Nevertheless, the concerns were drowned out by the exhaustion as he closed his eyes, allowing the comforting darkness to wrap around him.
"I'm so dead, I'm so dead, I'M SO DEAD!"
"Danny-"
"How could I be so stupid?! I didn't know it was physically possible to be this stupid!"
"Danny-"
"I mean, I've done plenty of dumb shit before, but this takes the frikkin cake!"
"DANNY!"
"WHAT?!" The teen screamed, whipping around to face the open computer screen, glaring down at his two friends through the screen.
"Dude, you need to chill." Tucker stated, a small headache beginning to bloom by just watching his friend panic. Danny turned his angered gaze on the techno-geek. "Chill? CHILL?! How the HELL do you expect me to chill at a time like this?!" He shouted angrily as he glared at the computer. Rushing forward, he wrapped his hands around the sides of the monitor. "I am doomed, guys!" He screamed.
Backing up, he began to pace back and forth once more, earning another round of sighs from Sam and Tucker.
"Six years. Six years and I've actually been somewhat smart about this. I knew that only someone with a death wish would be dumb enough to use these powers, so I didn't. You know, like a smart person! But NOOO...nope! Just couldn't happen this time. Now, all because of some stupid Bat I'm..."
Sam and Tucker glanced up when they noticed the teen stop his rant, only to furrow their brows in worry as they watched him clutch his head in pain, his face taking on a pale look as he began to sweat.
"Danny, are you okay?" Sam asked, a look of concern obvious on her face.
The teen took a moment to compose himself before nodding. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes once more. It had been three days since he had saved Batman and effectively ruined everything, and the headaches were still coming in strong. Not that it surprised him. He hadn't used his powers in years, so using such a large amount in a short burst wasn't going to be particularly healthy for him.
He sighed and took a seat near the table. "Yeah, I'm fine. Still just feeling the effects of before." He groaned, rubbing his temples.
He had woken up from his beautiful makeshift bed, consisting of a cold concrete floor, a few hours ago. And ever since, he had been freaking out. Most of the freak out had been in front Sam and Tucker, for they were the first people he had called as soon as he had woken.
Danny groaned and rested his forehead on his arms, which lay flat against the wooden table. "What am I going to do guys?" He asked, turning up to face them again. "I-I've...revealed myself. It's only a matter of time until they figure out I was here, if those heroes haven't already told them." He moaned.
Sam cocked her head and folded her arms. "I doubt they called anyone, Danny. For one thing, they might not even know who you are. It's been six years, and you've been very careful in keeping yourself hidden. I doubt anyone even knows who you are, unless they're great at hacking government files, which last time I checked, isn't in the standard education curriculum." The girl pointed out.
Danny gave a small smirk. "Like it really matters to them. Escaping was enough to send them on a frenzy, a frenzy they still haven't calmed down from. I mean, seriously! It's been six years! Why can't they give up like normal government officials?!" He shouted in exasperation.
Tucker hummed in thought as he leaned in closer. "You're still banking that they're government?" He asked.
Danny rolled his eyes. "I don't know what else they could be. Equipment, labs and scientists like that only come from something with big money. And big money like that only comes from the government." Danny growled out, eyes flickering green in anger as his mind drifted through the thick sludge that consisted of those creating a ripple in the pool of memories, the images wavered before disappearing back into the black water.
Danny sighed and placed a hand over his eyes. "I'm tired, guys. I'm so tired. Tired of running, of fighting this, of living like this!" He growled, gesturing to his damp and dirty surroundings. "I could run, like usual, but what's to stop this all from happening again and again and again?!" He shouted angrily, even though he knew his friends didn't have the answers, for he had been asking the same questions since he was nine.
Sam and Tucker glanced at each other through their own monitors before turning back to the frantic teen. Tucker shrugged his shoulders. "Well, you could always try and get some help." He suggested, the same suggestion he had been throwing out ever since he had met the raven-haired teen.
Danny scoffed. "Yeah, that's what I'll do. Let's go to the police with this. Oh, even better! Let's go to the Justice League! Umm...excuse me, but could you all lend a helping hand? My problem? Oh, it's not much, just have some crazed government agency out for my blood. Why they want me? Well they kind of think I'm a dangerous criminal who's only looking to destroy and kill things by causing as much wreckage and havoc as I possibly can. But you can totally trust me. So what do you say? Want to help me?"
Danny rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't even be able to get two words out before they take me down. Besides, that Cape Club only trusts people like them. Heroes, guardians, you know, all that righteous shit." He explained. "And they would never risk getting on the bad side with the government just for some scrawny kid, especially since the government already has some trouble trusting them. No, they'd only be willing to help themselves in a situation like this." Danny growled.
Suddenly, his eyes flashed in realization as he quickly bolted upright, catching the attention of both his friends. "Unless...unless one of their own was threatened." He breathed.
Sam and Tucker shared a confused look with each other before turning back to the teen, hoping for more clarification.
Danny abruptly stood up from his seat, staring off into the distance as he began to formulate a plan, thoughts flying at a million miles per hour as he tried to begin to piece the puzzle together. "If...if one of their own was being threatened, they would all stand to help them. They...they would protect them." Danny grinned.
The two faces on the screen blanched before rounding on the teen. "Are you crazy?! You're actually thinking of-"
"-joining the Cape Club? Yep." He turned back to the computer. "Just think about it. If I can get the Justice League on my side, if I can get them to trust me...then...then I might actually have a chance." He grinned. "I'd literally have a team of superhumans on my side!" He shouted.
Sam and Tucker stared at each other slack-jawed before blinking back into reality. "Danny, don't be ridiculous!" Sam shouted. "This would never work!"
"You can't use your powers without days of rest!" Tucker added.
"You'd actually have to act...righteous...the exact opposite of what you actually are!" Sam snapped.
"You'd have to play the part good enough to fool all the Leaguers, including Batman." Tucker commented.
"And...!" Sam growled. "...let's not forget what might happen if they do figure out who you are, especially after you start lying to them!"
Danny waved them off before turning, beginning to pace once more. "But don't you get it? I can control my powers. I've had plenty of practice, thanks to them. I just need to ease into it. A few days of practice should help get my core flowing properly through my systems again. And I've also had plenty of practice acting like the exact opposite of what I really am my entire life."
He paused at the next one. "Batman might be tricky..." He trailed off as he began to click together the final pieces. He cracked a grin and rushed the computer, causing Tucker to fall off his chair in surprise as Danny grabbed the monitor and lifted it into the air, bringing it closer to his face. "I got it! Who's the one person everyone in the League listens to, including Superman?"
"Batman." Sam answered, Tucker's off-screen voice filtering through as well.
Danny nodded. "Exactly. So...if I can get Batman on my side first, he can get me closer to the League. And if they see Batman is cool with me, getting them rest of them to trust me will be a breeze." He exclaimed, a large grin on his face.
Sam narrowed her eyes as she leaned closer to the monitor. "And when they figure out who you are?"
Danny paused at that. He stayed silent for a moment as he lowered his gaze, eyes flickering back and forth in thought before he lifted his head once more. "I'll just have to hope that they figure out after I've gained their trust."
Tucker furrowed his brow. "And if they figure it out before?"
Danny turned away for a moment before a small grin appeared onto his face once more, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, you didn't expect me to last forever, did ya?"
Tucker turned to Sam through his own monitor. "Are we actually going to let him go through with this!?" He screamed.
The girl stared back at Danny, watching as he leaned closer to the screen, a pleading look on his face, a rare sight indeed. "Please, guys. I have to do this. This might be my only chance."
Sam stayed silent as she gazed into Danny's face before a long and tired sigh escaped her lips as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I still think you're a total moron. But...alright. I won't stop you. And Tucker's too big of a coward to try stopping you, either." She added, the techno-geek bowing his head in shame. "Although, how are you going to get Batman on your side. I mean, he's Batman." Sam pointed out.
Danny shrugged his shoulders. "I got him to love me in a matter of weeks, getting him to love Phantom will be a breeze!" He said with a smirk.
Tucker rolled his eyes. "I'm sure love is a bit of an exaggeration."
Sam sighed. "Fine, but what about your powers?"
Danny turned back to the computer as he waved his hand dismissively. "All i need is a couple days of training for me to get them back to the surface. Cause ummm..." He paused as he lifted his hand. A faint green light sparked from his fingertips, suddenly shooting upwards towards the ceiling, creating a large black scorch mark on the cement above. He sucked in a sharp breath as he flinched, a small smile appearing on his face. "...I'm a little rusty."
He cleared his throat and turned his head away, shrugging his shoulders. "Ya' know, I really need to train, so I'll need some people to help me, meaning they'll have to be comfortable with pummeling me into the ground." He threw a knowing smile towards the computer. "Know anyone who might be down for that."
Sam and Tucker shared a look before turning back to the teen.
"We'll be right over."
Batman landed lightly on the rooftop, feet barely making a sound as they crushed the grave underneath. He retracted the grappling hook and tucked it back underneath his cape. He silently moved over to the edge of the building, glaring down at the building below, light filtering through one of the windows. Farther into the building, shadows could be seen milling around before disappearing from sight.
He watched as people were replaced with others as a few took seats around tables while others lined up behind them, each leaning close as they began to discuss business. As Batman scanned the rest of the building, searching for alternative exits to watch out for, he found himself keeping his ears open to the sound of cheeky laughter and scuffling footsteps.
He hadn't seen Danny in around a week and a half, which was odd, not disappointing, mind you. Merely odd.
Batman also noticed himself scanning rooftops for the figure of a scrawny teenager throughout the week. After seeing no such shape, he would growl angrily at himself before going back to work, telling himself not to trouble himself with the whereabouts of a flighty teen when he should be working.
Nevertheless, he found himself thinking about the kid from time to time. It wasn't a stretch to wonder whether the boy had merely moved onto another city. When asked a few weeks ago, the teen had revealed that he never stayed in a city long before moving onto another one. Can't deprive people elsewhere of my godly presence. The teen had responded, prompting an eye-roll from the Dark Knight.
Of course, the more worrisome thought would roll into the man's head that the teen had fallen into some trouble, leading to his absence. Batman tried not to think about it too much, but always kept it in the back of his mind, just in case he saw a small trace of the teen.
But now, he shook the kid from his thoughts as he glanced back down at the building below. As he readied himself to leap down, he felt a shiver run down his spine as he noticed the foggy swirl that was his own breath escape past his mouth. He narrowed his eyes as he noticed a growing light beginning to shine behind him.
Slowly reaching down, his gloved fingers grazed the sleek metal of a bat-a-rang as he whirled around, rearing the weapon back, only to freeze as he stared back at the figure in front of him, eyes wide in shock.
The same teenage from more than a week ago hovered in front of him, hands help up in surrender as he gazed at the projectile in the Dark Knight's hand. His bright white hair stuck up in different directions, wide peridot eyes holding no fear. They merely blinked up at him curiously.
The man's fingers tightened around the bat-a-rang before his mind processed this was the same teen that saved him back in the museum. He blinked back into reality and lowered the weapon, keeping it in his hand nevertheless.
Finally having the chance to look into the teen's face, Batman found it hard not to notice the immediate similarities between the mysterious boy and the kid that had been sticking around him for a few weeks. Their faces matched almost to a tee, if not for the noticeable coloration difference between skin, Danny's being much paler than the kid in front of him.
But what really threw the Dark Knight off were the shimmering green eyes that stared up at him. They weren't full of scorn and distrust. Instead, they seemed more...alive, hopeful.
No, the difference was too great. It couldn't be him.
The teen gave a small smirk as he floated up into the air, hovering on his back in the air as he folded one leg over the other and gazed at the man. "Gee, if that's the thanks I get for saving your life, then I'd hate to see what your welcome would be if you didn't owe me anything." He sniped.
Then again...
Batman cocked a brow at the teen's comment, noticing he was nothing like the scared teenage from a few nights ago. He slowly lifted his hand towards his belt, pocketing the bat-a-rang, much to the teen's relief, not that he showed it. Batman glanced back up at the kid, watching as he slowly flew back and forth in front of him, bobbing his foot all the while. "Thank you for that." He started, earning a nod from the teen, only to move closer, causing the kid to stop moving. "Now who are you?"
The kid cracked a grin that Batman found eerily similar to a certain raven-haired teen as the boy moved closer, extending his hand forward. "Phantom. Pleasure to meet you, Batso."
The Dark Knight stared dryly at the extended hand, causing Phantom to slowly draw it back. "Are you a meta?" Batman questioned, noticing the teen's glowing aura and hovering form.
Phantom shook his head. "Nope, ghost." He said abruptly.
Batman furrowed his brow. "You expect me to believe that?" He questioned.
Phantom shrugged his shoulders. "I mean, you can believe whatever you want." He said before turning intangible, floating beneath the roof underneath their feet before reappearing behind the Dark Knight. "But I think the evidence speaks for itself." He said, watching as the man turned to stare at him once more.
Batman stayed silent as he watched the teen fly around the roof once more. Ghost, huh? Well it wasn't that hard to believe, considering all the things he had seen in his career. After all, he already knew one ghost, as well as a few aliens and monsters. Heck, he even had a son that was technically a zombie.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he moved closer to the kid. "Why are you here?"
Phantom snorted as he flew around, wrapping his thin arms around the man's shoulders. "Man, are you blunt. No wonder you're such a good conversationalist." He chuckled, earning no such elation from the Caped Crusader. "Anyway, I'm here because this city seems like a real fun spot. At least, fun enough to catch my interest."
Batman rolled his eyes. "No. I mean why are you here, on this rooftop?"
The ghost boy shrugged as he flew back into the air. "Thought you could use my help."
"I don't"
"You did last week."
"That was then, this is now. And right now, I don't need your help."
Batman turned back towards the roof ledge, only to take a step back as he watched the teen materialize in front of him, arms crossed over his chest. "Well, you might not need my help right now, but you never know what might happen ten, twenty seconds from now. So, might as well stick around just in case." He grinned as he flew down towards the building below.
The Dark Knight glared at the spot where the teen had been before letting out a tired sigh, mumbling a string of curses under his breath as he swung down as well, realizing he would have to take some headache medication when he got back to the cave. Funny...that usually only happened with Danny.
Oh, Batman aren't you wonderful? If any of you wonder how he can't tell Danny and Phantom are the same, it will be explained in the next chapter. Do not worry, my fellow readers!
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Reviews:
wiseguy2415: Well I couldn't jump right into the juicy stuff or else you would all leave. I needed to entice you somehow XD Oh and sorry if your head exploded from info overload. Please don't sue - kind of broke here
PeterPan0429: LOOK UPDATE! yayy...
gwencarson126: THANKS SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO BALANCE ACTION, DARK, FLUFF and OTHER THINGS. WELL HERE YOU GO.
IS-this-a-good-name: Thank you. I really strive to make this as enjoyable for my readers. Sorry for my claws, I just sharpened them. Expect sharper in the future.
Kimera20: Yeah, transforming after so many years of lying dormant can't be good for anyone.
Legitamate Pipsqueak: Thank you...and your...melons? I don't know if it's the ...best, but thank you for the compliment anyway. My writing has really changed since I first started a year ago. I'm pretty happy about it.
YouCanOnlyPretend: Sorry, you're on your own there. I'm a writer, not a techie. I can barely get my computer to do what I want. You guys are actually pretty lucky I'm able to post at all.
Legitamate Pipsqueak: I know I already sent you a message, but I just have to thank you again for this wonderful comment. It really made my day. Thank you once again.
curry-llama: That would be really hilarious for him to come out of an actual closet, but I think you'l find that particular moment much more different, in scene and tone. wink, wink XD
