Listen to The Gilded Hand by Radical Face. It brings an overall sense of tiredness to the chapter.
Ch.16: Just For Old Times
He couldn't believe it. But at the same time… Yes he could. Danny was an unpredictable little demon like that.
The midnight-haired teen sat on the edge of the building, looking into the distance at Arkham Asylum. His blues were locked onto the large structure, looking like a gothic castle sitting atop a deserted island. He was dressed for a job even though he didn't seem to be on one and lacked his mask.
The asylum looked like something straight from a horror book. The structure had huge towers, bars across all the windows, and was shrouded in darkness with no exterior lighting. All lights were inside and shined outward, like witches in their huts while they made glowing potions. The landscape around Arkham had a thin line of trees, trying to look pleasant but almost seeming frail in front of the massive building. A fence ran around the perimeter with a huge gate to keep the inmates in and everyone else out.
Batman briefly looked up when lightning cracked across the clouds, thunder rumbling in protest to the light. A harsh torrent of rain fell from the sky, beating everything it landed upon. A loud sh-h-h-h whispered from the beating of the rain, as if telling everything and everyone to fall asleep, to escape the pounding of the storm raging across the city.
Danny, drenched to the bone, continued to stare at the gothic building with little interest even though it was the center of his attention. He didn't even seemed to be mildly interested in the building itself but something that lay in its walls or maybe something beyond it that the Dark Knight couldn't see for himself.
Batman walked up beside the teen and stood behind him. Danny's eyes flickered up his body before falling back to Arkham. He remained slumped forward with his head resting on his fists.
Over the screaming sh-h-h-h of the rain, Batman asked "You thinking about checking yourself in?"
Danny barked a small laugh and his amused eyes journeyed up the Dark Knight's figure to land on his face, looking into his eyes. "I'm not insane. Just messed up."
"Isn't that the same thing?"
"I'm a different kind of messed up. They're psychos. I'm just… Violent."
"They're violent." Batman commented, pointing to the structure.
Danny rolled his eyes. "They're, clinically speaking, 'special'."
"I'm honestly not seeing the differences between you and them."
The teen rolled his eyes with a grin and punched Batman's leg lightly. "Ah, shut up. It makes sense to me."
Batman cracked the smallest of grins and began looking at the towering building in the distance with Danny. The two were silent, listening to the rushing sound of the rain as it fell to the earth. As they stared at the castle for the insane, the Dark Knight commented "I should be taking you to Blackgate right now."
Danny shrugged. "I should be trying to stab you right now but I'm not. Can we call a temporary truce? Just for old times?"
Batman looked down at the teen before nodding even while knowing the teen wasn't watching for his reaction, he was listening. He whispered "Just for old times."
A small genuine smile graced Danny's face as he turned his head up to stare at Batman again. The Dark Knight sat down beside the teen and crossed his legs into a lotus position, putting his hands on his knees. The teen took a deep breath before leaning towards Batman and resting his head on the Dark Knight's arm. Batman looked at the teen, a little surprised he was taking a simple truce so seriously but not saying a word about it.
"How often do you come to Gotham?" Batman asked.
Danny shrugged, looking out across the land again to study Arkham Asylum again. "Eh. Depends on the job count. But I always come at least once a month."
"How many jobs do you take?" Batman asked, exaggerated.
Danny cracked another amused grin and said "About three or four every month." The teen looked up at his temporary ally-of-sorts. "But I come to Gotham out of free will. I don't have as many jobs here as you think I do."
"How come I never notice you?" Batman questioned.
"Cause I'm out and about during the day and I spray-paint my hair." Danny answered, his grin widening.
Batman looked down at the teen dryly and said "You spray-paint your hair?"
Danny, biting his lip while he grinned, nodded. "Yeah! It's hilarious. I always do this bright, neon red that looks so un-frikkin-natural. And then I wear a lot of white and blue so it looks like Uncle Sam vomited on me." Danny laughed, looking across the dark lands again. "It's hilarious."
Batman shook his head and rolled his eyes. He let out a long sigh while Danny cackled beside him.
The Dark Knight noted that truces made Danny very trusting and open, against the teen's better judgment. Batman also noticed he himself was very willing to let his guard down around Danny, whom had tried to kill him on numerous occasions but had yet to cast the fatal blow.
He surmised they were both idiots when it came to trusting the other. And, oddly, he was ok with that.
"How often do you travel?" Batman asked.
Danny shrugged. "I'm gone from home most of the time. I ride everywhere on my bike. I could fly everywhere if I wanted to, it'd probably be shorter that way, but I'd probably either crash out of exhaustion or get lost and end up in Mexico or something."
Batman snorted. "No one fails that bad."
"Oh, you'd be surprised." Danny stated, eyes glinting in amusement even though little light was cast through the mostly-gothic city. Batman hummed to make sure the teen knew he heard him before he asked "How do you keep the Dark-Net going if you're always on travel?"
"I take one lap-top with me if I plan on staying in the town for a day or two. Most of the time I just ride over, do the job, and get back within a couple of days. But some days it's just nice to rest and kick up your feet though, you know?" Danny asked.
Batman nodded in agreement before saying "yes" in agreement because he knew the teen wasn't looking up at him and was still listening for vocal answers and not looking for gestures.
"Any reason you're staring at Arkham?"
"You know, you ask a lot of questions." Danny stated.
"You know, you answer a lot of questions." Batman responded dryly, bumping the teen gently with the arm he was resting on. Danny was not deterred though and slowly fell back onto the Kevlar-covered arm, seemingly taking comfort from the massive figure beside him. Silently, the two watched the silhouette of the asylum again, listening to the rain shush the world while thunder rumbled above them. Lightning spider-webbed across the sky for a split second before fading quickly. The absence of the bright light made the world dark again.
"Did you know she worked there?" Danny asked, eyes locked on Arkham still.
"Who works at Arkham?" Batman responded, glancing between the asylum and the curious teen.
"My sister." Danny responded, blue eyes shining curiously. He looked from the building and up to the Dark Knight.
Batman looked at the building surprised before his gaze fell back to the teen's face and blue stare. He shook his head and said "No. I didn't."
Danny looked back to the building and with a small, gentle smile he said "I didn't think you would. I've heard your visits are usually brief and you talk to very few people. She's new there, just transferred from out of state with her family nine months ago. They live in a safer part of the city. She's working the nightshift right now. She's somewhere inside the building, working to make insane people sane again. If they were ever sane at all, that is."
Batman vaguely remembered something he had heard a long while back about a new doctor at Arkham. The new doctor apparently had a wonderful name for themselves and was very spunky and outgoing, smart and witty. But he didn't remember ever meeting the new doctor or hearing anything about them after that.
"I've heard she's very good at her job, you know. She managed to rehabilitate Ventriloquist for the, what? Fifth time, it seems? He's stayed clean for his longest running streak yet. He's been out five months, I think, and he's very happy with his new life." Danny stated, his gentle smile still gracing his face.
Batman stayed quiet for a bit, pondering all this new information. "How do you know all this?"
"A couple months after the 'Amity Park Incident', I hacked into my orphanage files and read through it. I did some extensive research on my sister and continually keep tabs." Danny explained. "She's the only reason I keep coming to Gotham every month."
"…have you met her..?" Batman asked.
Danny shook his head and replied "No. I haven't."
"So… Right now… You're just a stalker?"
"Pretty much. Yeah."
Batman rolled his eyes. Classic Danny to watch someone for nine months but not do anything else unless he was getting paid to do it…
"Did you ever see your parents again?" Batman asked, wondering what the teen would've done with the knowledge that hid parents were financially incapable of taking care of him. He never found out what happened that night but he didn't feel right trying to find out. So he would remain oblivious with no desire to search for answers.
Danny shook his head. "No."
And Batman left it at that. He didn't push any further, lest the teen decide the temporary truce should end and take off, hiding from the Dark Knight again. In the pounding rain and pitch black of night, he'd have more shadows to hide in and the Dark Knight had no doubt the teen could play with his vision again and make him see something other than Danny. Probably a superb version of one of his villains maybe?
The two temporary companions stared off into the distance of the gothic castle again. If you squinted, you occasionally could see the silhouette of a guard or doctor walk by the barred windows. They were more like specks in the dreary night as they flashed across the windows.
Batman slid his hand up and grabbed Danny's wrist. He quickly got off the ground, tugging the teen up with him. Danny released a startled yelp as he pulled to his feet abruptly and flashed an annoyed look at the adult in front of him. "What the heck?!"
The Dark Knight gestured to Arkham. Might as well try to get Danny to like one of his immediate family members. "Come on. Let's go meet your sister."
"Are you nuts?!" Danny asked wildly before gaining a deadpanned expression and looking the Dark Knight up and down, checking out his 'work attire'. "Never mind. Don't answer that… Just… Don't answer that for me…"
Batman rolled his eyes behind his mask. "I'm serious. I want you to meet your sister."
"I bet she's going to love~ me." Danny stated sarcastically, gesturing to his own work attire.
"You'll probably end up with a towel around you the entire time." Batman stated, pointing at the rain falling around them.
"Is there a store you can apparently buy steel-toed boots? Cause I don't know of any. And I'm not talking bout the crappy kind you can buy from Kroger. I'm talking about legit steel-toed boots." Danny said, gesturing to his boot-clad feet. "I had to steal these."
Batman sighed in annoyance. "Why is she going to be looking at your feet?"
"Cause she's a shrink! Shouldn't she, like, look a person up and down and study their body language upon meeting someone or something?"
"…you're thinking way too deeply into this…"
"Says World's Greatest Detective."
"Just meet your sister!" Batman complained over the loud rush of water from the sky.
Danny whined and groaned a long "Fine~."
Batman nodded in satisfaction before he and the teen walked to the edge of the building. The Dark Knight stopped before he leaped off and Danny glanced at him curiously. He asked "What?"
"I want to ask one more question before we head over." Batman stated.
Danny groaned loudly again and yelled a low "What now, you mother hen? You've asked, like, fifty questions in fifteen minutes!"
SMACK!
"Ow!"
"Stop exaggerating." Batman said while Danny rubbed his head indignantly. "I want to know how you can conjure up illusions."
Danny looked mildly surprised at the question before he shook it off. "I don't create illusions. I create nightmares. Every ghost, and half-ghost, has a specific core based on an element. When asked, most people would say there are only four elements. In actuality, there are six: water, fire, air, earth, light, and darkness. All are easily gained but the last two aren't as widely received. I unlocked a dark core but, more specifically, a nightmare core. With it, I can create horrifying illusions and alter memories."
"So… Do your powers have limits?" Batman asked cautiously.
Danny nodded. "Yes. Black Vision, the power's specific name, has limits. I can only create nightmare-ish things and I can only alter memory's going a few minutes back. I also can't do too many people at a time, since Black Vision does occur on a mental level, not physical."
"Glad to hear they have limits." Batman commented.
Danny just grinned and shrugged. "I knew you would."
The Dark Knight rolled his eyes before grabbing his grapple and shooting it. He said "Keep up." before flying from the building and off into the streets.
Danny mumbled "Jerk…" before allowing himself to transform into his ghost-half for the first time in months before he glided after the black-clad adult.
Danny grunted, in human-form again, as he fell onto the floor. He shot a dirty look over his shoulder at the Dark Knight, who was crouched in the window.
"I can't believe you just kicked me through a window." Danny hissed quietly. "You and your stupid windows…"
Batman stepped inside and closed the window behind him quietly and lowly said "I can't believe I had to kick you through a window."
"I wanted to waltz through the entrance!" The teen whisper-yelled.
Batman shook his head and mouthed 'no'. Danny made a face at the hero before hopping up and standing by his side. "You know, the door would've been easier. We could've even asked someone where the heck she was! But no~! That's too easy."
Batman rolled his eyes and whispered "You know they call me Stealth, right?"
"No, they call you Betty!"
The Dark Knight smacked the teen upside the head and whisper-yelled "That doesn't even make sense!"
"Shut up." Danny hissed at him, rubbing his head yet again.
The two began bickering quietly and didn't notice the door open quietly as a woman with long, orange hair enter. Her teal eyes, hidden behind square glasses, were looking over a clipboard full of notes and files. As she entered, she looked up and her eyes widened at the sight of the two figures fighting.
"What the-!?" She mumbled, looking between the resident hero and the young, black-clad teen. The two turned to her, startled. Danny, after a moment of silence, slapped Batman's arm and yelled "Look what you did!"
"She was going to show up anyways! This is her office!" Batman stated back and smacked the teen upside the head again.
Danny yelped and hissed "Would you stop doing that?!"
"Start acting like your age and we'll see."
"You're so impossible~!"
"Has your head been on your shoulders at all times because I think you've missed a few essential memories where you were being 'impossible'?"
"Would you idiots shut up and tell me why the heck you're here?" Jazz yelled at them, eye twitching. She slammed the door behind her and crossed her arms.
Batman shoved Danny forward and said "Great first impression, you little idiot."
"You did not help the situation at all, Batsy." Danny snapped back.
Jazz rolled her eyes before saying "Batman, glad to meet you and all, but if you're trying to get this kid anger management-"
"WHAT?! Excuse me?!"
"-you should've walked through the front door." Jazz finished, rubbing her head where a migraine was starting to appear.
Danny clapped and spun around, pointing at the Dark Knight. "HA! Front door!"
Batman stared at the teen, irritated, and commented "She's definitely your sister."
Danny blanched while Jazz straightened, eyes widening slightly at the hero. The ebony-haired teen stayed frozen in his spot while Jazz mumbled "sister?" and began to closely inspect the frozen eighteen-year-old. Her eyes widened a little at the boy and she dropped her clipboard. "Oh my gosh… Danny…"
The teen in question slowly turned to face his sister and cracked a nervous grin. "Hi Jazz…"
The woman took a hesitant step before lunging forward and enveloping the teen in a hug. Danny yelped and tried to jump back but Jazz was a lot stronger than she let on. The teen laughed nervously while Jazz held Danny at arm's length, looking him over again. "Look at you! Oh my gosh, I can't believe it's you! Your hair is longer now and you're so big!"
"I wonder why?"
"And you're so much older now and why the heck are you Goth?"
"He doesn't always look like that. Sometimes it looks like Uncle Sam puked on him." Batman commented, grinning darkly.
Danny pointed at him and yelled "Shut up, you oversized winged-rat!"
Batman's dark grin widened.
"Where have you been?" Jazz asked, completely ignoring the almost casual argument the two were having. "I finally got my first job and was all ready to adopt you when- BAM! –you're gone! Where'd you go?"
"Places." Danny answered with a cheeky smile.
"You were ten years old!" Jazz yelled at him.
Danny shrugged. "So? I started my career young."
"What career now?"
"Nothing~."
"Danny."
"Jazz~."
The woman mumbled some curses before turning to the Dark Knight. "Is he always this impossible?"
Batman simply stated "Yes."
"Wait a minute, how do you even know Danny?"
"Long story." Batman replied, a certain hint to his voice that said 'just drop it'.
Jazz scowled and rolled her eyes. She looked at her younger brother and shook her head. "I always knew you would be annoying…"
Danny smiled cheekily while Batman just shook his head and mumbled "You don't know the half of it…"
Jazz laughed while Danny shot the Dark Knight another dirty look. After, the two siblings easily began chatting like they had known each other their entire lives. Batman stood off to the side and watched, satisfied with the reunion as Danny had never smiled so genuinely so long in the time Batman had known him.
After a long discussion that lasted a little over an hour, Danny promised his sister he'd come back soon and visit. The teen tried to retreat through the door but Batman nabbed him and dragged him through the window. Long shouts were made by Danny but Batman put up with it while Jazz laughed behind them.
The two journeyed back to the rest of Gotham and stood on the rooftop they had been on previously, noticing that the rain had since faded and left the night a little humid. Danny smiled at the dark castle of the insane while Batman looked down at the teen, hiding his own smile that threatened to overtake his face. Danny shrugged up at the Dark Knight and said "Well… Thanks for that… If you don't mind though, I wanna go back to my apartment now."
"Does that mean our truce ends now?"
"Yes but…" Danny trailed as he turned and made his way towards the edge of the roof. "I'm willing to renew it sometime soon if you're up to it."
Batman nodded in acceptance while Danny saluted and hopped off the rooftop, leaving the Dark Knight standing alone on the rooftop. As he was enveloped in silence, he noticed how much he missed the 'old times' between him and the teen.
...So, I'm stupid for posting this when I don't have ch.18 done and I'm angry at myself but I'm posting this anyways and I'm stupid...
Thanks to these people for favoriting and/or following: RobinRocks11, Kurasabe, McGwee, Moonsong17, Elinasti0, Poison59, Catie. Rasmussen, Megan p123, Stupification, HermioneX.
Reviews:
HappyBear135: Oh, it's nothing of concern. Your review made me smile though. :)
Anime Hotty Lover. 18: Of course he's not heartless! Just stoic! XD
Chicaalterego: :) I didn't have to do anything because your review made me smile. Thanks for still being here!
Bibbledoo: Aw, thanks! I was hoping you'd guys enjoy the continuity! :D
KuriMaster13: Yep! It's not totally decayed! Very close to being there but not quite yet! XD
YumiStar: Glad to hear. :) I know right? It's so fun to say!
Guest of Honor: Keep asking cause I don't know either. So the lion was cute? Nice.
Expergimiscimini: I thought you're boyfriend was creepy..?
Poohbearmorris: :) I'm so happy you think this is original! I was hoping to aim for that!
Roselin: Mm-hmm~! And don't worry! It's all better now cause I've got one frikkin loyal fan-base that I adore. :)
IWasNeverReal: Yep! Gotta love the childhood! :D I'm so happy you appreciate the windshield smashing.
Ninuhuju: I love irony~!
SweetyKinz: Ok, the chapter you just wrote was longer than the last chapter. HOW? I DON'T UNDERSTAND. XD *laughs hysterically*
KainVixenheim: I'm getting to a point where I need to come up with some new situations and complications. :)
H. H. Xia: Yeah~! It is sweet, ain't it?
The Keeper of Worlds: I prefer them too. But if wolves or foxes attacked, Danny would be dead. XD I love the weird partnership!
Reviewer47: Danke!
Allietheepic7: I wish a lot of things too. ...hilarious you mentioned Jazz right before she showed up... XD
Sarra Torrens: :D Aw, thanks a ton~!
16ckelman: A little but, you know, he's Danny... The unpredictable little rat... XD
HermioneX: Tis updated! :D