"Recognised Black Canary 17," a computerised voice announced in the Mount Justice cave. Conner alerted the others who were all in the kitchen working on their homework while they waited to hear how Danny's visit home went. They abandoned their work and hurried to the entrance. Danny and Black Canary exited the machine as the teens entered the room.
"Danny!" Danielle called and zoomed past the others in her ghost form. Danny turned to her and caught her before she barrelled into him.
"Woah, Dani! What's the rush?" Danny chuckled and put her on the ground. She folded her arms and scowled at him.
"I was worried that you'd be hurt," Danielle retorted. The others frowned at her and glanced at Danny.
"We can have a civil conversation you know," Danny retorted with a roll of his eyes.
"Really?" Danielle inquired sceptically.
"Yes! Honestly, you'd think we were children the way you're acting," Danny replied annoyed.
"What are you guys talking about?" Wally interjected. Danny turned to them and shook his head.
"It's nothing. Dani just expected me to get into a fight with the other halfa. That's all," Danny answered.
"I thought you were just going to warn him about the Light," Artemis pointed out. Danny nodded.
"Yeah, and I did. He didn't seem too worried about them though. But he did offer to keep an eye out," Danny replied.
"Woah! Woah! Woah! He offered to keep an eye out? That's basically saying he'd help you! You sure he wasn't overshadowed?" Danielle interjected in disbelief. Danny laughed.
"Yeah, I'm sure," Danny answered.
"I didn't realise you guys didn't get along so much," Kaldur remarked. Danny shrugged.
"We've worked together before. But he does tend to throw me under the bus when he can," Danny replied.
"What do you mean?" Robin inquired.
"Well, once the other halfa invited a powerful weather ghost to Amity Park. The reasons aren't important but he lost control of the ghost and it went on a rampage. The other halfa came to me, asked for my help and then ditched me when Vortex saw me. Yeah, that was not a pleasant fight," Danny recalled with a slight grimace.
"Why? What happened?" Raquel asked.
"I got beaten up and hit by lightning. Repeatedly. Accidently absorbed weather controlling powers and had to spend the day with the other halfa. Well, actually that bit was kind of fun. Being around him too long makes me angry so he had to keep me calm or I'd cause a storm. Meanwhile Sam and Tucker chased down Vortex and got him back to Amity Park," Danny explained. The teens grimaced in sympathy when they heard about Danny getting hit by lightning.
"But you worked together after that, right?" Zatanna prompted. Danny shook his head and gave a bitter chuckle.
"Not even close. The other halfa threw me outside to face Vortex before you could count to three. He hid and got away with it. Me and Vortex got blamed for the damages," Danny concluded his story.
"That's so mean," Garfield exclaimed. Danny shrugged.
"That's V- I mean that's the other halfa for you. Uses everyone," Danny remarked, almost letting slip Vlad's name again. Danielle nodded in agreement. She'd never heard the story before but it did sound like classic Vlad.
"I suppose Sam and Tucker helped keep him in line though," Danielle commented, directing the conversation back to where it started. Danny rubbed his neck.
"Yeah, I kind of told them to let me go it alone. It was just me and him in the room," Danny confessed. Danielle stared at Danny.
"Do you have a death wish? What if he attacked you?!" Danielle exclaimed. Danny rolled his eyes again.
"Dani, calm down. I know how to handle him. Alright. I know what buttons to press and which ones to avoid. It was fine," Danny assured her.
"It does sound like you took an unnecessary chance," Kaldur pointed out. Danny shook his head.
"Trust me. I didn't. I kept things as friendly as it gets between us. Besides he was more shocked than angry to see me. There was a second where he could have attacked but I stopped it before it got physical," Danny replied.
"I guess you do know him best. But I don't know if I trust the whole idea of him helping," Danielle relented. Danny shook his head.
"Neither do I. Which is why I never mentioned the Justice League or any of you. He only knows that the Guys in White caught Danielle and the Light saw me use my ghostly wail to save you," Danny replied.
"You told him about me? What did he say?" Danielle inquired, almost hopefully.
"Sorry Dani, he was his usual self about it," Danny answered with an apologetic frown. Danielle looked down sadly. She may not trust or even like Vlad but he was still her creator and so her father. To hear that he hadn't cared that the Guys in White caught her, it was upsetting.
Danny put an arm around her shoulders in an attempt to comfort her. He hated how calloused Vlad was towards Danielle too. He'd seen how much it hurt Danielle to see that her father was using her as a pawn and never truly cared about her beyond as a test run for making a better clone. The others were confused by the response though and gave Danny questioning looks. He merely shook his head. He wasn't going to explain.
"What about your family Danny? And your friends?" M'gann asked, deciding to change the subject. Danny smirked.
"Surprised but happy to see me. They weren't happy at how short the visit was but it was really nice to see them," Danny answered, dispelling any lingering sadness. The team smiled at that news. Black Canary clapped her hands.
"Alright, how about a training session since we're all here?" Black Canary suggested. They all groaned but gathered around for the lesson.
So the team are getting to learn a little more about Vlad and Danielle.
Let me know what you guys think of the story so far.
If you have any theories on what could happen, please share them. I love hearing your thoughts.
Until the next chapter.
