Well, back home and I have no internet. Or phone. And won't have them for at least two weeks. *sigh* Not to mention I've been a bit distracted by my other YJDP plunnies… I've been working on the clone one, so that's fun. Working title (aka what it's referred to in my files) is DP_YJ Clones, but it's in danger of being titled No Heroes Live Here.
Horribly dramatic, I know.
If Robin's reasoning is still unclear at the end of the chapter, tell me and I will spell it out.
Anyhow. On with the chapter!
x.x
The name – Batman – combined with the bat ears should have been reminiscent of some little kid's Halloween costume, they should have been.
Danny smiled nervously. He couldn't find the humour.
Not in the thick black lines of Batman's suit. Not in the behaviour of the team.
Robin's hands froze mid gesture. His chest heaved. Wally's eyes flickered nervously to Kaldur, but even with her flightly gaze he set his feet wider apart and crossed his arms in defiance. Kaldur's face flashed with something before going carefully and politely blank.
Danny felt like his arms were encased in concrete. Moving was impossible. Even M'gann had stopped tugging at him. Well, at least if he couldn't move, he wouldn't do anything stupid. That had to be a plus, right?
Batman allowed the silence to stretch – and stretch it did while Wally's eyes flicked quicker and quicker, Kaldur's face became blanker and blanker, and Robin broke out of his trance, hanging his head.
Danny's skin prickled and butterflies in his stomach warned him to run, but Batman hadn't seen him. There was no danger. He told himself to relax.
A wet cough escaped Robin.
"I didn't mean, I that's- Sorry," he mumbled, the voice high, wheedling. "Er, It wasn't. I—Wa—" A glance at Wally cut the word off, but more piled up after it. Excuse after excuse after excuse, none of which actually saying anything.
He was babbling like Danny's Dad when he was trying to deny that no, even though his fingers were in the cookie jar, he wasn't trying to eat another before tea!
With each word, Robin edged closer to Batman until he was at his side.
Batman turned on Robin, silencing him. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all? He was able to put Robin in his place… but Danny wasn't about to show himself to the Dark Knight.
Wally shook his head in denial. "Robin, what is wrong with you? You agreed that you were treating Danny like shit!"
Robin's shoulders rose. He gave Wally a defiant glare, but looked back to his boots just as quickly. Wally gaped at him.
Danny's mouth dropped open in understanding – Batman was a leaguer – the guy who had imprisoned him here – and Robin was siding with him! A cold flush hit his core. His fingers flexed he wanted to bind Robin in green and string him up like a punching bag.
That unloyal-!
M'gann's fingers beat impatiently on Danny's shoulder and pulled him towards the wall. With an unimpressed squint, Danny pulled away. She needed to quit it! He pushed at her, and she held on tighter.
He wouldn't run in there and punch Robin, that wouldn't help him know what was going on here. He wouldn't go with M'gann, that wouldn't help him know what was going on here!
He shoved her harder, yelled at her in his thoughts, and felt her grip leaving him. His heart leapt in panic. He looked around for her. He hadn't meant to give away his position by making her appear.
M'gann was no-where to be seen. She must be camouflaged. Calm down, Danny, cool it. It's fine.
"Hey, everyone?" M'gann's voice spoke into his mind. "I've linked us up."
"Good!" growled Wally. "Robin, tell us what's up with you."
There was no response. At Batman's side, Robin didn't so much as twitch in acknowledgement that he'd heard. Wally's brows creased and he searched the room for M'gann. He didn't see her.
"You didn't connect him?" his voice was strained.
Danny didn't give M'gann a chance to respond. "Okay, what's going on here?"
If there was one thing he was sure of, it was that Batman needed to be taken down a whole clothesline's worth of pegs, and the others (minus Robin) weren't exactly defending him.
"Danny, it is unwise to antagonise him," Kaldur said, a pleading note in his tone.
"Maybe I won't," Danny allowed. "Maybe, if you tell me what's going on here!"
Kaldur was silent for a bit. Of course he was! Finally, he said "Robin is our friend -" Danny snorted "-and teammate. We must approach this situation rationally."
"Quiet."
Ice gripped Danny again. Batman's voice - the fist words spoken aloud in almost a minute – silenced their conversation. "The team has never failed so abysmally. Your conduct is revolting. You inspire no confidence. Is there anything you wish to say?"
Danny was confused. He'd been in the cave these last few days, and he hadn't heard about a mission…
The team squirmed, but said nothing. Robin stood proudly.
"You assured me that you could manager the destruction of the Dreamworld's anchor."
Danny's ears rang. The team had… been tasked with his destruction.
More words buzzed in his ears. Batman spoke. Members of the team spoke. The next words he heard came slowly, like a spoon pulled from treacle. They were Batman's.
"I will take the thought-form into League custody, where it can be properly destroyed."
Danny was visible before he knew it. His fists lit up green as he ploughed towards Batman. He roared. Already moving, he tried to aim. That bat on Batman's chest would look nice glowing green.
With nice, real, green goo.
Invisible hands caught his torso. He flailed.
"M'gann!" he howled. Batman's body moved ever-so-slightly as he readied himself to receive Danny's attack. The element of surprise was gone!
"... sorry," M'gann mumbled, her voice breaking over the word, and let him go.
Danny lunged at Batman.
His vision went red and something collided with his torso. He hit the ground and gasped, then struggled to get to his feet. Something hit him again and he sprawled onto the cold floor.
Batman was still standing away, aloof. Danny glared up at his attacker: Robin stared down at him for a moment, then turned to Batman, smiling proudly.
Danny was disgusted. Taking advantage of Robin's distraction, twisted himself free and again shot towards Batman.
Batman met his eyes, but made no move to defend himself. Danny really should be concerned about that, but he decided he'd worry about it later.
A cold hand touched his neck, and something metal dug into the front of his throat. Danny choked on a gasp and ducked, changing course and sprawling over the ground not a meter from Batman. He twisted around, his gaze passing Robin, with his arms crossed smugly, and landing on Black Canary.
Black Canary, with cool fingers and a metal collar in her hands, coming close fast. This was no training exercise.
Danny zoomed for the ceiling.
Black Canary grabbed at his ghost tail. Her nails bit into it, clawing him, but his slippery tail let her fall. At the zenith of the domed top, he stopped and looked down.
His teammates were down. Black Canary, Batman and Robin were still standing. M'gann was no-where to be seen.
When had Black Canary arrived, and why was she attacking him! She'd supported him, hadn't she? Danny ran the counselling session through his head. Nothing – no underlying sinister actions – came to him. He'd missed something, and he and his – friends – were paying for it.
He kept his eyes on the collar. There was something wrong with that thing. The moment it had touched his skin, he felt heavy.
Robin glared up at him. "I can get him," he said. Batman put a staying hand on his shoulder, and shook his head. Robin scowled petulantly.
Danny backed away from them all. The solid, sloping roof of the mountain hit his back. He needed to phase out. He went intangible and rushed at the roof.
The roof remained solid. Danny winced in pain and tumbled back through the air. He rubbed his arm – he felt intangible – why wasn't he intangible? He thought he'd sorted this issue out.
"Danny, look out!" That was Kid Flash's voice.
With a start, Danny realised he'd been sinking down through the air, but before he could figure out what Kid Flash was talking about, a screech filled his brain. His eyes flared in pain and he trembled, cupping his ears. His hands were like paper: there was no stopping the noise. He couldn't think, couldn't even breathe.
If he was intangible, he wouldn't need to breathe.
He was sinking more rapidly. He blinked blearily, trying desperately to make sense of his surroundings. There was a beam running around the wall, wide enough to land on, and still beneath him. He made for it.
It was like swimming through mud, with the screech clanging in his ears. His fingers started. His arms obeyed his commands slowly, but it would be alright. He stretched out for the beam – it would reach his fingers any moment now.
His hands circled around the beam. He couldn't get a grip. His hands slipped away and he kept falling towards Black Canary.
No! He struggled, peddling the air with his feet. He wouldn't give up this easy. With a final push, he rose in the air and collapsed onto the beam. His head sunk down and touched the cool metal, and he sighed.
He was out of reach, but only momentarily. He was stuck, and they could come and get him any moment. And he knew it, they knew it.
"Why?" he mumbled to Black Canary. "You – counsellors are supposed to help…"
Batman answered. "We attempted to help you to see the truth of your lack of reality, now we will be returning you to your natural form."
Natural form, what was that – they didn't think he was real – so… nothingness?
Tears prickled behind Danny's eyes. He reached for his intangibility. It had be there somewhere! He pressed at the beam. It remained solid – he remained solid.
"I'm sorry," Black Canary didn't sound sorry.
A holographic screen flickered to life, showing the face of Martian Manhunter. He looked around the room, at the team that was groaning and struggling to their knees. "What's going on here?" he asked.
Black Canary told him, but the words were lost to the fuzz in Danny's head.
"M'gann," said Martian Manhunter, and Danny struggled to pay attention. "Get him down."
M'gann removed her cloaking, finally becoming visible. Her face was a pale shade of green, almost mint, and she trembled. "Uncle J'onn?" she asked. Her gaze flickered to Danny. She looked frightened.
"Well?" Asked Robin. He looked at her expectantly. He expected her too, like him, place her loyalty to her mentor – father-figure – first.
M'gann opened and shut her mouth, and then closed her eyes. She raised her hands. Danny felt a tug, and he rolled towards her.
He struggled, but even though Black Canary's canary cry had faded, it still rung in his ears. He couldn't resist.
He tumbled towards M'gann and the leaguers. The Martian Manhunter hologram grimaced. Danny jerked, and his body roiled. With a sudden rush of speed, he zoomed into a corridor, away from the hall.
M'gann's arms wrapped around him, and they fled towards the entrance of the Mountain. Behind them, he heard fighting.