I'm either Falling or Flying by Nikki Pond
Summary:
"Some things are meant to be…some are not. No matter how much we wish they were."
The first time Danny met Dick was back when they were eight years old. When Haly's Circus had come to Amity Park for their world-tour performance.
…
Day 1: Firsts/Lasts for DPxDCShipWeek2023
Additional Tags: Coming of Age, Childhood Friends, Danny Fenton-centric, Dick Grayson-centric, Demisexual Danny Fenton, Bisexual Dick Grayson, Angst, Fluff, Developing Friendships, Dick Grayson Has Issues, Hurt/Comfort, Trauma, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, Dick Grayson Needs a Hug, Dick Grayson is Robin, Dick Grayson is Nightwing, Break Up Past Dick Grayson/Koriand'r Past Barbara Gordon/Dick Grayson Past Danny Fenton/Sam Manson, Bittersweet Ending, Not Beta Read, Friends to Lovers, Lovers to Friends Honestly they might as well be soulmates whether platonically or romantically, Tired Danny Fenton, Danny Fenton Loves Space, Mental Health Issues, Canon-Typical Violence, and Character Death(?) I guess
Author's Note: Hello! This is my first time participating in the prompt week challenge.
I'm very well aware this fic could have been Day 5 – Friends to Lovers AU, but I was very unprepared for DpxDCShipWeek2023 and I just started this fic like yesterday. I've always wanted to see more Dick-centric fics in the dpxdc fandom, so this was my way of fulfilling my long desire for my childhood and first Robin. Very self-indulgent. And besides, this idea sang to me that screams Day 1 prompt. EEK!
Btw, I never picked up a single DC comic, but I will select certain storylines that will be canon in this fic. It's not 100% compliant to the DC comics and Phantom Planet.
First Meeting
The first time Danny met Dick was back when they were 8 years old. When Haly's Circus had come to Amity Park for their world-tour performance
Dad was enthusiastic, unsurprisingly, to see the show and practically declared that they should all go. Mom and Jazz didn't look interested, rather bored, but Danny agreed happily.
Dad quickly bundled him into his arms which had Danny giggling with promises that it would be the Father and Son bonding they needed.
At some point, before the show started, Dad may or may not have been way enthusiastic with some of the performers, who looked way too overwhelmed by his…passionate rants, so to say.
Danny just chose to ignore it, used to Dad's behavior. He wandered outside the tent, watching all those people preparing for the show. He caught a couple of his classmates asking for autographs with the Flying Graysons, the one everyone was gushing to see.
But Danny had been more curious about the elephants when he saw the posters, which was something you don't see in Amity Park. Hence why he was here in the first place.
His goal of the night succeeded when he managed to take a peek in one of the curtains, he let out a gasp of delight, probably the only similarity trait he had with Dad (besides physical).
Danny slowly approached a baby elephant that decided to stray away from its parents. The cute one looked curious at the newcomer she didn't recognize, but that's okay because Danny would like to be friends with one.
"Hi there," Danny breathed, the desire to touch the trunk was overwhelming as the baby elephant cocked her head to the side, almost curiously. He couldn't help but grin when the baby started to tickle his side, deciding that he wasn't a threat but rather a playmate. "Stop it!"
"She likes you," a voice spoke up behind him.
Danny yelped in surprise, nearly losing his footing on the ground before he turned around to face that person. His eyes widened when he saw someone of his age with olive skin, and black hair, accompanied by midnight blue eyes that made his breath hitched. The eyes reminded Danny of space, so boundless and limitless that it itched him to explore the way they seem to twinkle at him.
"Hi," the boy said, staring at him curiously. It was then that Danny took note of his costume. Oh. The Flying Graysons.
"Hi," Danny shyly said, embarrassed that he was caught red-handed. A small bump to his side reminded him of the elephant in the room (Huh. Pun-intended).
"This is Zitka. She's my best friend," the boy offered, joining by his side. Zitka let out a delightful sound before she wrapped her trunk around the boy's hand, speaking of which—"I'm Dick, by the way." He held out his hand.
Danny hesitantly shook it. He might as well since he was trespassing. "I'm Danny."
Dick smiled brightly. "Want to help me feed her?"
Danny's face lit up, nodding enthusiastically as Dick showed him the ropes. Zitka was quite excited to have another playmate and the two boys were so lost in getting to know each other and having fun that the sound of Dad's booming voice interrupted their time.
"Aw," Danny pouted. Dick shot him a curious look. "That's my dad."
"I figured," he said with a wry smile. "Have a habit that even your dad lost track of you?"
Why did Dick have to say it like Danny was a rebel? He crossed his arms, and said defensively, "Elephants are cute."
"Yes, they are."
Zitka probably understood what he said because she started wrapping her trunk around Danny's arm, pulling him to her side.
"Wow, she really likes you," Dick mused. "You going to watch the show?"
Danny looked offended. "Of course!" He wouldn't miss it for the world.
"Well, I hope you stick around for the Flying Graysons." Dick's eyes brightened with excitement, "This is my first performance. My parents are finally letting me join the gig after all the training."
"Don't break a leg," Danny offered.
"Hahaha, that's not a problem." Dick demonstrated that by doing a backflip that had Danny's eyes widened in amazement that someone of his age can do that.
"That's so cool," Danny breathed.
Dick looked rather pleased at the compliment. "There will definitely be more that I can show you." He let out a wink that had Danny giggling.
"DANNY BOY! WHERE ARE YOU?"
Oh right.
Danny could feel his own cheeks flushing red as Dick once again shot him a curious look. Oh no, with the way Dad's booming voice was getting closer, it meant it would be the last time he'd see him. He knew how Dad can be overwhelming with new people, especially around Danny's potential friends. His new friend would probably find him weird, just like his classmates once they'd find out how weird his parents were.
God sometimes Danny wished his parents weren't so embarrassing.
"My dad is a huge fan of clowns," It was all Danny can offer when Dad suddenly barged into the room.
"DANNY BOY!"
Danny quickly found himself crushed into his Dad's chest. One glance behind him, he couldn't help but wish the ground would swallow him.
This was so embarrassing.
"Daddddddd!" he whined. "I'm fine. Put me down."
Dad pulled back to look at him with such concerned eyes that made Danny feel guilty for wandering off. But Danny had been so impatient that he wanted to see the elephants right away while Dad was babbling to those poor performers who had the unfortunate experience to see how his family was really weird.
Following behind Dad were the Flying Graysons, who had looked concerned before their features turned into relieved looks at the father and son. Dick's mom took a step forward to place a hand on Dick's shoulder, who melted at her touch. She said to Danny, "Your dad was very worried about you."
The way she looked at him made Danny shrink. Her stern voice reminded him of Mom whenever she looked disappointed at him. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, feeling very small now.
One tug at his pants made him look down to see Zitka staring at him imploringly. "What's up?"
Dad let out a gasp of delight, "Look at that Danny Boy, it's a baby elephant." He sounded way more excited than Danny was.
"I know."
"Sorry, mister, we lost track in time," Dick offered. Danny shyly took a glance at him, but Dick didn't seem shocked like everyone usually was whenever they met his parents.
"The names Jack Fenton," Dad said as he turned around to face Dick's parents. "This is my son Danny Boy!"
"It's just Danny," Danny corrected him as Dad finally let him down. He gave the Graysons a sheepish look, "I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused, Mr. and Mrs. Grayson."
"Oh no, it's no trouble at all," Dick's dad waved him off. "And please call me John. Mister makes me feel old.
"And call me Mary," Dick's mom said, offering him a soft smile that made Danny wished he can hide behind his Dad's legs. "Your dad was telling us how excited he was for the show."
"I hope you stay for the aftermath, young man," John said, ruffling his hair. Danny let out a squawk of protest.
"Um…" Danny took a hesitant glance at Dick, who was showing Dad on where it was safe to touch Zitka. It was a sight to see his new friend matching Dad's enthusiasm, making wild gestures as Dad tentatively listened to Dick's advice with no hesitation.
"Come on, we insist," John's voice brought Danny's attention back to the Graysons, who both had a proud expressions on their faces watching their son so patiently accommodating to Dad.
Dick didn't seem to find Dad weird or anything. It made Danny feel hopeful because that meant he had an excuse to see Zitka.
"Besides, it seems like Zitka wants to spend more time with you," Mary said with a knowing look.
Danny just nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah!"
"Looks like you made a new friend, my little robin," Danny heard Mary whisper that to Dick's ear, who blushed furiously and let out a "Mom!".
Though Danny had only come with Dad just for the elephants, he still couldn't help but let out a gasp as he watched the Flying Graysons leaped through the air.
His blue eyes stayed at Dick, illuminated by the light was the embodiment of carefree as he stood above the platform. Dick had the aura of grace as he grabbed hold of the bar, swinging his whole body into a perfect arc before soaring into the air, unafraid while Danny's heart stopped. The whole thing seemed to go in slow motion that Danny could have sworn he heard an echo Dick's laughter a hundred feet from where he was sitting, which wasn't possible before the acrobat's hands reached out to his parents that had the whole audience cheering from their strands, apparently also on the edge of their seats at the thought of a kid performing many feet above the ground.
Danny let out a sigh of relief, not realizing that he'd been holding his breath at that moment as Dad let out a cheer for the family.
Danny continued to watch, tension melting away from his shoulder. He saw red, green, and yellow figures blurring through the air, dauntless and fearless like a bird born to fly. The allure of the moment in time when they spun, rolled and twirled through the air that made everything looked like a beautiful dance, so magical lull in time.
His blood thrummed in excitement as he watched Dick, so confident and courageous mid-air, doing a complicated acrobatic move that Danny was sure that no Olympic gymnastics can ever do as the onlookers let out a collective gasp, fearful for his fall.
But Dick seemed to defy gravity that Danny was sure physics can't explain, because his friend was flying, not really falling over the rush of air that coaxed an open smile on his face. It was hard to explain for an eight-year-old, but Danny thought as the spotlights shine down on the flying figure, almost like a shooting star that moved so fast that they glow—before Dick folded into a slow but natural flip, then did a twist as the bar suddenly came out of nowhere, which the acrobat caught with his knees.
The audience burst into applause as Danny stared, rooted into his seat.
"That's so cool," Almost to himself, his eyes never leaving his friend. He wondered what it was like to fly in the air.
"Hey Danny," Dick said as Danny followed Dad behind him to the backstage where the performers were prepping out. "How did you like it?"
"It's so amazing."
Dick looked pleased as he puffed his chest out, not realizing that Danny suddenly felt small compared to his friend who had done such amazing feats while Danny was just a plain-old kid with weird parents. "That's the Flying Grayson for you." Danny just let out a hesitant smile, nodding. "Just let me change and then we can hang out with Zitka. I bet she misses us."
Danny took a glance at Dad, who just gave him a nod of encouragement. "Okay.
And that was the beginning of their friendship. Haly's Circus was staying at Amity Park for a month.
The Graysons were so nice that Danny couldn't help that as soon as his class finished, he immediately went straight to visit them. He was greeted by an excited Zitka who marched towards him, followed by an amused Dick, who seemed content to watch them.
Sometimes, Mom would accompany Danny, followed by Jazz who would stare at the lions hesitantly before she went back to reading with a book she brought. Sometimes Dad would come, bursting with stories (and about Ghost. Yikes), fortunately for Danny, the Graysons didn't seem overthrown by the boundless energy that Dad exhibit but rather they nodded attentively whenever Dad made a point.
His new friend Dick would show him a couple of moves, starting with a handstand, which Danny was still embarrassed at the few mishaps. But at least Dick didn't laugh at him, rather he encouraged him if Danny kept practicing for his upper body strength and core strength, he would be holding onto the Fly Bar in no time.
"I barely work out," Danny grumbled on the ground. Actually, he'd barely passed gym class.
"You need to get used to hanging upside-down, especially when you do knee hang," Dick explained patiently. Apparently, that's what a trapeze move was called when you hang onto the bar with your knees.
"Listo?" Dick said in Spanish, which translated to "ready?".
Danny nodded determinedly before he did a handstand. Just as he thought his arms were going to kill him, warm hands held tight onto his ankles. Blue eyes met blue, who stared at him with an encouraging look.
"You're a good teacher," Danny offered. That made Dick's grin wider.
"Thanks."
"Welcome, Tweety."
"Tweety?"
Danny shrugged. It was the only cartoon bird character he had known since the Graysons seemed to be a bird theme. It was fitting after their performance. Plus, he wasn't going to Dick that he looked like a shooting star shining amongst the never-ending space. Well, he'd think of something.
The days followed were filled with two boys chasing each other, their families watching them with fond looks on the sideline. Danny taught Dick a few English and some slang since he'd learned his new friend was Romani and only started to learn English a couple of months ago. Dick would share his own tales of the many cities and countries he had been to that made Danny stare at him in awe. He knew what it was like—to want to see the world. It made his fingers clutch his shirt tightly, the desire to go to space fresh on his mind.
Danny confessed to Dick his hopes and dreams to be an astronaut.
Dick shared his secret that he'd felt lonely with no kids around his age to play with, and wondered what it was like to settle down, go to school, and have a normal life. Even though Dick loved the life of a traveling circus and his family.
But that was okay because Danny would drag his new friend around Amity Park, clutching his one hand as Danny explained a few places he'd enjoyed (for a small town). He felt bad that it wasn't really much for tourists, but Dick didn't seem bothered at how plain and ordinary it seemed compared to the stories Dick had told.
Dick even agree the Nasty Burger was probably the best burger he ever had. At some point, Danny even introduced him to his friends Sam and Tucker, though the former would glare daggers at Dick for some weird reason while his new friend manage to charm Tucker to explain his passion for gadgets. It came to the point that Danny would teach Dick how to play video games.
"Okay, comet."
Danny's face scrunched up in distaste at the nickname. "Why comet?" He didn't like to be called a large chunk of dirt and ice in an extreme elliptical orbit of the sun. Dick only cackled while he huffed. Jerk!
Sometimes the two boys would sing their favorite song "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears in Danny's bedroom, jumping up and down his bed, with no care in the world.
I can't stand this indecision
Married with a lack of vision
Everybody wants to rule the—
Say that you'll never, never, never, never need it
One headline, why believe it?
Everybody wants to rule the world
All for freedom and for pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world
They were each other's first (and he meant platonically of course except for that one accidental kiss that had them scrunch their face in disgust "ew" while Sam clenched her canned soda to the point it burst into a frenzy with Tucker cackling in the background).
It was a beautiful friendship between two boys, almost as thick as thieves.
And when the time came that Haly's Circus had to go, it was no surprise to the Fentons and Graysons as they watched their sons clutching to each other, tears streaming down their faces, refusing to let go of one another.
"Y-you promise to come back, right?" Danny hiccupped through his tears.
"Next year we'll come." Dick nodded vehemently. According to the ringmaster, since it was a hit, they were most likely coming back next year.
After sharing hesitant goodbyes, each left with the promise of keeping contact through letters (Dick has his permanent address anyway and he could always let Danny know where to send the mail whenever the Graysons stayed in longer durations).
Unbeknownst to them it would be the last moments of their carefree childhood memories and the last they'd see each other face to face before a shadow would befall them. The tragedy of the Flying Graysons.
Danny only knew because his Mom let out a gasp, dropping the plates she was carrying. He followed her gaze which landed on the news anchor on the television talking about the tragedy of the Flying Graysons in Gotham in New Jersey. His eyes immediately teared up, thinking of the kind looks Mary and John would give him as if Danny was their second son. And he also couldn't help but be worried for his friend, now an orphan.
He had tried to scour through the internet for the fate of his friend, with Mom and Dad helping him from behind. He had waited for a letter to come so he could comfort his friend, but no letter came as the months passed by. Not even the news of a funeral set up for the Graysons. He even begged his parents to take a trip in Gotham, the last place Dick had been. But his parents only looked at him sadly.
Danny could only pray that Dick and Zitka were okay. Haly's circus would take care of them, right?
…
A few years had passed since Danny learned of the tragedy of John and Mary Grayson that left their son Dick as an orphan.
Times had changed for the halfa. By now ghost attacks rarely happened these past few months it made Danny finally comfortable to leave his hometown behind to the point of retirement from hero business (he's sure Jazz would have lectured to him about missed opportunities. Life experiences that he needed for college prospects, quote and unquote) with a possible future awaiting in front of him.
It's only been a month since Danny moved to Gotham. He had unpacked all of his stuff already in his small little apartment he bought, cheaper and nearer for a freshman like him in Gotham University – which had promising Aerospace Engineer programs that Danny had taken an interest in, and added with the fact that he'd managed to score a scholarship, of course, he was going enroll there. Even though he had heard of the infamous reputation Gotham City has hold, but that didn't deter Danny who had seen weirder shit back in Amity Park, with his own rogues with ghost powers? Compared to this place, it should be a walk in a park for Danny. Pretty much tame.
Next month Danny would be starting his first day in class, so he had plenty of time to study this city, learn a few shortcuts and restaurants where he can order takeout whenever he wasn't in the mood to cook a meal. All-in-all for a crime-ridden city like Gotham, things were going well.
Unfortunately, he just had to jinx himself as he ended up in a crossfire between Gotham's rogues and vigilantes. Danny ended up being snatched by one of the henchmen and was dragged towards a group of scared civilians, forced to act as hostages with their hands tied behind their backs. Sure Danny could have used his powers, but he was very aware of Batman's "no-meta" policy, and Danny had no intention of catching attention almost JL-level kind. He was just here to study and live a normal life as possible, not to invade the hero's territory.
Powers are a last resort, Danny's eyes narrowed, calculating the odds of escaping with the civilians if the vigilantes didn't come.
Luckily, Batman and his traffic light sidekick Robin came to the rescue. The Dark Knight focused his attention on fighting his Rogue (whose name Danny never bothered learning), keeping all of them distracted while Robin strode toward.
"Shhh, don't worry, I'll get you out of here," Robin said in a reassuring tone, cutting off the ropes. A woman grasped his wrist, letting out a babble of apologies. Danny just focused on gently comforting the children, constantly telling them that everything would be fine and that the heroes were here.
The sounds of explosion encouraged the rest of them to scramble, following Robin's lead, away from the gunfire. Danny and Robin stayed behind the group, making sure no one would get left behind.
Unfortunately, a blast went past Danny's ear that nearly nicked his head hit the wall (thankfully it didn't land on the civilians), but the explosion still knocked him off his feet, away from the group and towards the battle. He clenched his teeth at the feeling of his elbows burning, his ears ringing at the loud volume, as Robin dashed towards him. But before he can reach him, another blast landed near Danny's feet. That created a shockwave to the point that Danny was suddenly into the air before he started falling.
Danny internally cursed his luck as the cold whistled into his ears, his arms and legs flailing as he continued to drop from a thirty-store building. Geez, this was just his fucking luck and he had only been in Gotham for a month. Just as he was about to go invisible (hoping there were no cameras or anyone watching)—
The sound of a metallic cling interrupted his thoughts. Danny looked up and watched as Robin launched into the sky and towards him, one hand holding onto some kind of grapple gun, descending faster than Danny's own fall with a determined frown on his face.
Danny can only watch, everything going in slow motion as Robin came closer and closer—
A green glove snatched his hand before Danny found himself tucked into Robin's side, who quickly shot a line with his grapple gun. Though Danny was used to flying, having someone to rely on air wasn't that he couldn't help but wrap his arm around the sidekick's neck and another clutching his costume, fist clenched as they landed floors below in the building where they had taken hostage.
Danny quickly took a step back, his heart racing from the adrenaline.
"Are you okay?" Robin asked, taking a step forward for what he thought was a scared civilian, looking concerned.
Danny just waved him off, dusting away the dust on his clothes. "I'm fine."
And when he looked up, Robin's face was cocked to the side in a curious manner with a frown on his face.
"Um, dude?" He couldn't help but wave his hand around Robin's face. Even with the black domino mask, Danny could tell that the vigilante was blinking in surprise.
"Yes?"
Danny gave him a flat stare. "Don't you need to help Batman or something? You know, catch bad guys, save the day as usual?"
Robin's brows scrunched up, staring at Danny intently for some weird reason. "Right…" he said slowly. "There's an ambulance waiting downstairs. Need me to escort you?"
Danny snorted. "I think I can manage it from here. Don't ya worry Tweety bird." He said without a thought before heading towards the staircase.
Unbeknownst to him, Robin just continued to stare at him.
Author's Note: Dick will not be alone if I have a say about certain comic storylines. Yiee more Dick-centric fics in dpxdc fandom with Danny as his emotional support/best friend/and maybe lover? who knows😘 Kind of a cute story about the two, but with trauma and hurt/comfort.
What the fic is ultimately about are two childhood boys who are each other's emotional support with their own trauma and issues. Sure Danny (who is kind of retired hero) is there for Dick throughout his vigilante career as Robin and Nightwing.. Whether it is romance or friendship shouldn't be the question. Just two boys with a very strong bond. Expect
I fully intend to return to this fic once the ship week is done and when I'm not occupied with my other fic. You can definitely tell I rushed this without much editing 😫 So yeah, I'm looking forward to writing and expanding more scenes about Dick Danny or Death Defying (that's their ship name). Also not gonna lie, I was listening to "Rewrite the Stars" from The Greatest Showman when it came to trapeze acts, especially when Dick was teaching Danny the beginnings of acrobatics 😉😉 Throughout their childhood, I listened to "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears which is great and iconic
But anyway, I hope you enjoy the first chapter 😊