Chapter 11: Trade Secrets
Black-clad feet tapped lightly against the floor. Anxiety found a small fingerhold in his stomach. As he prowled the now-familiar dark corridors, Robin was struck by a strong sense of déjà vu. It was just like the first night.
Except that it wasn't. For one thing Batman wasn't here. In fact, the Dark Knight didn't even know he was making the trip. Which was a very deliberate decision on his part. The Boy Wonder didn't doubt his mentor would have had a few choice words to describe his current course of action.
Theories, plans and arguments swirled through his mind. Positives. Negatives. The truth was they couldn't allow things to continue as they were. With the recon, the interrogation – not even counting long days of research – the investigation was well into its second week. Longer than they could afford to spend on a lead that was shaping up to be as dead as all the others. The League, the Team, Gotham City, the Light, the sixteen hours… Robin hated to admit it but 'Phantom' just wasn't that high of a priority. They couldn't put their other duties on indefinite hold for the sake of two teens. Especially with progress all but ground to a halt. Logic told them to cut their losses and leave; to find a new approach before they lost any more time. But the young detective couldn't bring himself to do it. And, going from the fact that he hadn't brought it up yet, the Dark Knight wasn't too keen on the idea either. They'd become too involved to just abandon the ghost and his partner. Especially when-
Metal rattled at the end of the hall.
Robin whirled around, a warning growl working its way up his throat, drawing a batarang as he spun to confront– a rather cold, disgruntled pigeon pecking at the window bars. The detective tucked the weapon quickly back into his belt, growl giving way to a soft, nervous chuckle. The Dark Knight's protégé jumping at shadows, so not astrous. Wally would be on the floor if he'd seen it. He shook himself firmly, readjusting his cape before continuing past the numbers. He shouldn't have over-reacted like that. Three days ago he wouldn't have.
And therein lay the second problem. People on the run weren't meant to stay in one place. There was only so long 'Damien' could linger before it became dangerous and Robin knew that, at some point in the last few days, the threshold had been crossed. Darkness lurked on the horizon, gaining ground with each night. It was unspoken, well-hidden, but they could all feel it. Clocks were running down on both sides, swinging pendulums undercutting the meetings. Their game of 'Twenty Questions' was taking too long.
Which was exactly why he was here. His new theory could be the break they were looking for.
It didn't make him any less nervous about it though.
Robin crouched beside the door, tugging the handle experimentally. 'Damien' might have kept the bunker unlocked for their meeting but he didn't expected it to stay that way after 'visiting hours'. The detective slipped the picks from his glove, quickly tripping the pins. He paused, thumbing over the logo pressed into the metal. 'These doors aren't designed to lock from the inside.' The Boy Wonder briefly examined the setting. It wasn't exactly high security. And the teen ran with ghosts. Who knew what tricks he'd picked up?
He hooked gloved fingers under the metal ridge, sliding into the enclosed darkness. Light swelled across the concrete as he twisted on the lamp, navigating his way towards the back corner. Robin gauged the distance carefully; stopping at what he hoped was edge of the teen's apparently sensitive hearing.
Again he was struck by the similarity to the first night. 'Damien' was asleep, a bundle of blankets and hoodie curled into the junction of walls and floor. But tonight's scene lacked the tiny semblance of peace that had softened their first encounter. Faded cloth rippled from the small stirrings of the figure beneath it. Restless, even in dreams. Robin paused, half-tempted to turn around. To leave well enough alone. They'd already kept the teen up for more than half the night and, from what he saw, the kid needed every hour he could spare. Though if the Boy Wonder was honest there was another reason for his hesitancy. He was stalling, delaying the moment when he'd have to put his plan into action. The possible consequences... but it was for a good cause. Hopefully. The young hero watched the figure a few seconds longer before gently clearing his throat.
A viper prodded with a burning branch. Cloth was flung aside as 'Damien' sprang upright, rising onto the balls of his feet faster than the detective would have thought possible. Metal gleamed in the teen's hand, hostility radiating from every pore. Robin took an unwitting step back, instincts hissing a warning. 'Dangerous' breathed a small voice in his mind. He slowly raised his hands, acutely aware of how close he was to being attacked. Something in the blue-green eyes promised a painful surprise for anyone foolish enough to test the individual in front of him. The young hero kept his stance as non-threatening as possible, meeting the fierce gaze with an air of forced calm.
Several heartbeats passed.
"Robin?" Confusion was clear despite the hardness of the teen's voice. The Boy Wonder gave a slow nod, wary of provoking aggression. It was with no small relief that he watched 'Damien' relax out of the fighter's crouch, blade vanishing up his sleeve. Blue eyes squinted against the light from the lamp, blinking tiredly through the gloom. "What...?" The boy grimaced, shaking off the last traces of sleep as he tried again. "Why are you here?" His gaze wandered the locker, searching for an absent second figure, "Where's...?"
"He's not here. It's just me."
"Okay?" The word was drawn out with slow incredulity. "Why?"
Rather than answer, Robin chose to cast an analytical eye over the teen. The shadows under 'Damien's' eyes were starting to looked inked on. He gestured to the floor. "Can I...?"
The teen's brow furrowed before he realised what was being asked. "Sure?" The detective sank fluidly to the ground, crossing his legs beneath him. 'Damien' watched for a moment before moving to sit cautiously on the other side of the light. Cold seeped through the Boy Wonder's protective layers, sending frosted fingers up his spine. He concealed a shiver, savouring a newfound appreciation for the frigid temperature of the locker. 'Damien' seemed unaffected by the icy conditions, though Robin doubted the thin jeans and jacket offered much insulation. He would have to be completely numb by now. That or very used to it.
"Are you alright?"
'Damien' started slightly at the question. "Yes...?"
"It's cold." He clarified.
The teen shrugged it off. "I don't really feel it." He rubbed the back of his neck – a nervous tic the detective had picked up on throughout the meetings. "So," he regarded the Boy Wonder curiously, "why are you here?"
Robin leaned forward, folding his hands over his ankles. "You don't trust us." His voice was gentle, a statement not an accusation. 'Damien' looked down. Even in the dim light of the lamp the Boy Wonder could see his ears reddening. "And I was kind of wondering why that was?" The teen bit his lip. He opened his mouth, paused, fumbled, then closed it awkwardly. Raven hair fell to hide the blue eyes as he silently shook his head. Robin wondered if the boy even knew the reason. Perhaps it was just instinct at this point.
Denim chafed the concrete as the teen shifted in place, continuing to examine his knees. Robin sighed. "Look, we're not being fair." 'Damien's' attention snapped back to him, eyes narrowing faintly. The detective watched him bristle at the perceived challenge, sensing the arguments to come. He held up a hand, "Just listen first, alright?" A sharp nod. "You're 'Phantom's' partner. That means that we're going to need to work with you – both of you – in the future."
"And?"
"And Batman and have been asking a lot of questions. Personal questions." The Boy Wonder took a breath, nudging into dangerous waters. "But we haven't been giving much..." a pause, "in return."
"So?" The reply was guarded, confusion written in the lines of 'Damien's' face. Clearly this wasn't the way he'd expected the conversation to go.
"So," Robin shaped the words with care, bringing his idea to the table, "let's make a deal."
"What kind of deal?"
"A trade," the detective tightened his grip on his ankles. "We know practically nothing about you." 'Either of you,' he amended silently. "So let's swap," Robin tried to ignore the apprehension crawling across his skin. "You tell me yours and," he hesitated, "I'll tell you mine." He watched the older boy's face, gauging his reaction. "Deal?"
"I suppose..." Robin could see him examining the words, searching for any hidden deceptions. "Depends on what you want to know."
He cast around for an easy question. "Favourite colour?"
'Damien' shot him a dubious look, "Blue."
The Boy Wonder nodded encouragingly, "Red." The teen's eyes flickered down to his uniform. Robin shrugged – it was sort of obvious now that he thought about it – searching for other innocent topics. Better to start harmless, let the kid get a feel for the arrangement. He had to convince the teen that he could keep his side of the deal, let him trust that he would play by the rules. Push too hard, too soon and the door could snap shut. "Sports?" 'Damien' shook his head. "How about Hobbies?"
The other boy's eyes turned distant for a moment. "Astronomy..." He glanced upwards.
Robin followed the teen's gaze to the dim, heavy ceiling. The weight of it pressed down on the acrobat. "Gymnastics," he returned, drawing 'Damien's' attention back to him. "Do you play board games?" A nod. "Have a favourite?"
'Damien' rubbed at the back of his neck. "Anything that isn't chess."
The young hero gave a quiet chuckle. "Monopoly." Perhaps it was just wishful thinking, but the teen's answers seemed to be coming with more ease. He tried again, "Videogames?"
"Have you heard of 'Doomed'?" The detective nodded. The name rang vague bell... a small online multiplayer; some kind of fantasy shooter if he remembered right.
"Mario Kart." Robin's lip twitched, suddenly struck by the ridiculousness of their game. The most experienced member of the team, sitting in a locker at some ungodly hour of the night playing trivia with a ghost's partner. He held down an unexpected laugh – it was beyond ludicrous. A small smirk broke through, "Cats or Dogs?"
The older boy made a tiny noise at the back of his throat, eyebrows lifting incredulously. The detective shrugged – 'Why not?' 'Damien' leaned forward, resting his arms on the tops of his knees. "Dogs." The Boy Wonder's grin widened.
"Tell me about it. Cats are a drag." A spark played in the back of the teen's eyes, mouth lifting into what could almost be a smile. Shoulders relaxed as the boy ran a hand through his hair. Robin studied the change in posture, taking in the mood of the room. Time to chance a move into more sensitive territory. He kept his voice conversational, selecting the next question with a flutter of trepidation. "Birthday?"
The smile faded, unease flitting across 'Damien's' face. Tiny creases appeared between his brows. Conflicted. But maybe, with the right push... "How about I start this time?" Wary blue eyes glanced at the detective. He swallowed a twinge of anxiety, "December first."
The teen gave a small nod, biting his lip as he regarded his own hands. "March twenty-fifth." Robin gave the boy a grateful smile, absorbing the new information. Sixteen this year so... 1995. 'File and Save.'
"You travel a lot, right?" The detective pulled a titbit from the first night, moving them back toward the trivial. 'Damien' was clearly uncomfortable with the previous line of questioning. "Have you been overseas?"
A shrug. "Not really."
"That's a shame. Where would want to go, if you could?"
"Never really thought about it. 'Sides..." Robin caught the well-disguised sadness behind the word. The teen knew he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
"I'd like to go back to Europe." The statement received a curious glance. "I was born there," the Boy Wonder explained, easing into the next question. "What about you?"
"Lived here my whole life."
"Do I get to know where?" He pried gently. The other boy gave him a flat look, wary once more. "Come on," he kept his tone light, "are you really going to make me guess?" It wouldn't take much. A state or even just a region could narrow down a list. And combined with a date of birth... but from the look in 'Damien's' eyes the teen knew exactly how easy it would be to retrieve a name. The blue gaze was becoming analytical, shoulders hunching slightly. Closing off. The boy rubbed the back of his neck again, expression pained. Could he answer? Would he? The detective didn't know. And even if he did, what could he say in return? Everyone knew that the Batman's territory – his territory – was Gotham City. It wouldn't be a fair trade.
Robin bit the inside of his cheek, running through his other options. Maybe the direct approach would be best. He was here for information, not to dance around the issue like they always did. There was another card to play, even if the thought of doing so made him nauseous. Better to just pay the price and get it done.
Still, there were only a few small steps between compromising and being compromised.
He sighed audibly, "This isn't working." 'Damien' glanced up at the change in tone. "Look, I get it. You're used to doing things on your own, and if there was a dissection table with my friend's name on it I probably wouldn't trust people either. But is this really where you want to be?" He ignored the teen's wince, gesturing to the barren emptiness around them. "Stuck in a box? It's dark, it's cold, you can't see the sky... I don't think you want to be here. And I know it's not safe for you to keep being here." He met the teen's gaze, holding the focus of the bright blue eyes. "You're worried. Fair enough. But we're not going to rat you out." The memory of Superboy's Cadmus pod flashed though his mind, leaving a sour flame behind. "I have a friend who was raised as a lab experiment. Batman and I would never send anyone back to that. Do you really think we care that 'Phantom's' a ghost? I mean, half of the League technically aren't 'humans'." A myriad of emotions contorted 'Damien's' features. Robin took a breath, reaching the crux of the matter. "So-" a thought sent a swooping sensation through his stomach. "Confirm something for me?" The teen cocked his head, raising an eyebrow. "You do know where 'Phantom' is right now don't you? You could contact him if you wanted to?"
"Yes."
The detective allowed the assurance to wash over him. "I'm going to make you an offer." He was here, he'd already committed to the plan. Might as well go through with it. "One time deal only." He paused, "Tell me your name. Your real one. Get in touch with 'Phantom', try to get him to talk to us. Set up a meeting if you can."
The teen leaned towards the suggestion. "Okay, and in return?"
"Like I said," Robin swallowed hard against the chills that crawled up his spine. He shaped the offer precisely, laying it on the table in a voice that was almost treacherously casual, "You tell me yours, I'll tell you mine."
The walls echoed from the absence of sound. 'Damien' gaped at him, expression almost comically stunned. He stumbled, mouth opening several times before finding his tongue. "You're," The teen's voice cracked in disbelief, "You're not serious."
Robin wished he could agree. Part of him wanted to grab the words and bury them far away. To take them back. What he was proposing wasn't just dangerous, it was insane. Hugely, enormously reckless. And Batman... granted Bruce wasn't all that upset when Wally found out – not that he been pleased either – but that was Wally. Kid Flash. A respected and trusted hero. 'Damien' was a total stranger. An unknown factor. But that was the whole point. A show of trust. A leap of faith. If there was one thing he felt sure of, it was that the teen was loyal. And if he was going to gamble he'd at least do it on someone who'd saved his life.
"I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't." The Boy Wonder tried to believe his own conviction.
Silence fell in the locker, chasing the shadows around the walls. Robin swore he could hear the snow falling on the roof outside. The other boy was frozen in place, face hidden by a hand that tangled through his fringe. A small voice stirred in the Boy Wonder's chest, gaining strength with each passing second. It was going to be okay. The kid wasn't going to answer. He didn't have to go through with it.
Time slowed.
"...Danny."
The teen seemed surprised to hear his own voice. He shivered; whether from fear, exhaustion or cold the Boy Wonder couldn't tell. A shaky breath was released, hesitation clear. "My name's Danny. Daniel James Fenton." Robin didn't need to be a psychoanalyst to understand the struggle it would have taken to say the words. The boy – Danny, Danny; he finally had a real name – scrubbed his face with the heel of a hand, looking everywhere except at the young hero. He gave an encouraging nod, mentally filing the precious information. Blue eyes flickered his way. The teen had paid the price.
So.
It was his turn.
Cold sweat dampened Robin's hair, plastering raven strands to the back of his neck. For a second the Boy Wonder was tempted to lie, to throw out a false name and protect his alias. He had what he came for – did the truth really matter now? The thought was sickeningly low. Incredibly compelling. He swallowed.
"Richard..." The weight of secrets pressed against his tongue, "Richard John Grayson." He dragged teeth over his lower lip before adding, "Friends call me Dick." Robin dropped his gaze to his interlocked fingers, unable to look the other boy in the eye. Hands were squeezed together tightly, counting each breath to keep them steady. He felt small. Vulnerable. Knowing that another person held that kind of power, actually giving it to them... He could sense Danny watching him, fitting the name to something beyond the mask; something more than a costume and a symbol. The detective ignored it, focussing on his protesting fingers, relaxing each from its grip as his heart slowed.
Eventually he steadied enough to glance upwards, earning an awkward cough from a teen not expecting to be caught in the act of staring. Danny looked quickly away, hand lifting to his neck. A spider-web crack divided the wall near the corner. Robin fixed his attention on the small flaw, allowing his thoughts to settle. Moving out of the over and into the whelmed. He had a few new pieces for the puzzle. But their deal had also included another.
"And 'Phantom'?" The Boy Wonder broached the topic carefully, "You'll talk to him?"
"Yeah," Danny gave a slow nod. "Tomorrow... can you get here early tomorrow?" Robin nodded quickly, running through the schedule in his mind. An opportunity to meet the ghost – he'd find a way to make time. "I'll explain everything then." The detective's eyes narrowed slightly at the change in conditions.
"And he'll be there?" An oddly uncomfortable look flitted across the boy's face.
"We'll see. Hopefully yes." The teen frowned, appearing to debate something, "Could you do me a favour?"
Robin's eyebrow quirked upwards. "Depends on what it is."
"It's just... Danny Fenton's been gone for a while now. If someone suddenly starts looking into his case..."
"...it might tip the wrong people off," the detective realised. "I'll be careful. Can I ask one in return?"
"I guess."
"I probably don't need to say this but," the Boy Wonder put as much authority as he could into the words, "my identity, Batman's identity – they need to stay secret. People could get hurt if they knew." He thought for a moment, "If you have to tell 'Phantom' to get him to show then I guess...but only him and only if you have to. You can't tell anyone else." He scrutinized the other boy's reaction, relieved at the seriousness on Danny's face.
"It won't leave this room. I swear." Robin allowed himself to relax slightly.
A newer, more comfortable silence made its way into the vault, both boys watching each other across the pool of light. Danny raised a hand to his mouth, eyes crinkling in a failed attempt to stifle a yawn. The young detective held back a reply of his own, suddenly feeling the sleepless hours. His eyes were sandpapered behind the mask. Robin flicked on the holo-screen, wincing at the readout on the clock. Even by his standards it was exceptionally late – or rather, early. And with the time difference to Gotham...
"I should go." He pushed himself stiffly from the ground. The older boy mirrored his action, rising to his feet with the Boy Wonder. On impulse the detective stuck out his hand, rewarded with a cold but surprisingly firm grip. Robin could feel his knuckles through the glove.
"Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow."
He turned to leave.
"Dick?" The Boy Wonder pulled up short at the sound of his real name.
He glanced back to the teen, "Yeah?"
Danny gave him a tired grin, the closest thing to a genuine smile he had seen in the long nights.
"Thanks."
Robin sent a mock-salute over his shoulder, making his way out the door.
Creeping silently through the fire exit the Boy Wonder took to the rooftops, heading for the Seattle Zeta port. He swung across the skyline, blood thrumming with a strange mix of pride, excitement and trepidation. Against all odds and idiocy his idea had paid off. The coming day could bring their search to a close. And in the meantime he had some research to do.
Assuming he survived whatever training regime Batman would assign when he found out, of course.
Phew... Is it possible for words to actively fight you? Because I swear they did in this chapter. I hope I didn't make anyone to OOC, but let me know if/where I went awry.
This scene felt so much bigger than it is - objectively it's just 2 boys in a locker. But at the same time... making it dramatic and realistic without melodrama? Oy vey. I think I'm now suffering from what my friend eloquently calls a profound intellectual hangover.
Sadly Butch never gave us a lot of "official" data on Danny, and Young Justice didn't extensively follow the civilian lives of its characters, so I had to come up with or use a lot of accepted headcanons for this chapter. If you want to know what's canon and what's fiction PM me - I'd love to hear some of your own fun/interesting theories on the shows if you feel like sharing.
Fun fact time:
Fact #1: Canonically Robin is born on December 1 1996, making him a Sagittarius... which is very fitting if you read the typical "Sagittarian" personality.
Fact #2: How many people think Danny's middle name is officially James? It's actually not – it's just an exceptionally widely accepted fan theory. No-one in the series has middle names (except for Freakshow – his is Isak).
Also, for those who had a stab at guessing the reference from the last chapter:
Robin and Zatanna were throwing back to the line "I know it's hard, but try to stay whelmed. We'll find your Dad, Batman all of them. It's what we do." Which he said to her during the episode Misplaced (Ep. 19). An episode which, ironically, was aired with the wrong episode's credits attached when it premiered on CN. Something to laugh about in hindsight I guess.
Finally, I want to take a moment to shout out to you amazing readers who have followed and faved. 200 followers! Oh my gosh. I thought I might get... 10? maybe 20? Many thanks. Also, much gratitude to all the people who've taken time to write reviews, tell me what you think, or even just say that you enjoyed it. Trust me, this story wouldn't be anywhere near the quality or length if it wasn't for you.
As always, read, review and hopefully enjoy!
Until next time.
-3WD
