Disclaimer: not mine
Anyone know if ffnet are actually trying to fix the email issue? Lots of people asking on twitter and it's radio silence there from them.
Looking up character ages and age gaps is weird. I think Jon Kent is meant to be 3yrs younger than Damian? That's what a handful of sites say so that's what I'm going with.
Chapter 15
Danny rose into the air as Nocturn followed him outside, his army spreading out around them. He spotted Batman and Hood on a nearby roof, staying back for now, and at least it meant he knew which direction to avoid. "Superboy, Kon, Tim's been taken, he's probably underground. In a fight, but call if you can track him," he spoke in a normal tone, knowing Kon would be able to hear him even from Metropolis and he'd promised to keep an ear out for him.
And then he launched several ectoblasts, using the light as cover to split off several duplicates, moving to surround Nocturn. He needed to end the fight as fast as possible, before any more people could fall asleep. There'd already been deaths and if he spotted the vigilantes, they'd become sleeping hostages. And the longer Vlad had Tim…he had to fight back the terror at the idea of what he could do to Tim, all the things he'd done to Danny to try and make him do what he wanted…
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Dick rolled to his feet as he hit the roof, joining B and Jason near the edge, confused why they were just standing there…and then he saw them. Was that Danny?! A blast went right through him, literally as his body seemed to form a hole to let it. What the hell?
He looked at the building they'd obviously come from and saw the antenna like structure. "We taking that out or not?" he asked.
Bruce looked over and nodded. "Let's go, keep out of sight of the ghosts."
The leapt for the next roof, making their way silently to where Nocturn had made his base. Hopefully if they took the antenna out then maybe it'd wake people up or at least cut off some of his extra power.
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Kon turned down the tv as he heard Danny call for him, putting his hand up when Jon went to complain. He paled as he listened. Tim?! "Sorry Jon, gotta go," he shot to his feet.
"What's wrong?" his little brother asked in alarm.
"Tim's been kidnapped," he answered as he darted to his room to change.
Jon ran after him, watching him grab his comm and a medical kit that he'd gotten Tim to put together years ago for when his teammates might be injured. "You'll find him," the younger boy said, and Kon wished he had his optimism.
"I'll see you later squirt," he told him, reaching out to ruffle his hair. It was hard to believe he'd be ten soon. He was growing up too quickly.
Tim had promised he'd come to Jon's birthday, even with Damian set to be there, there was no way he was going to let him miss out. He would find Tim and Tim would be fine.
He leapt into the air, heading upwards before closing his eyes to listen, searching for Tim.
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Tim smiled and leant back on the picnic blanket, laughing when Dick picked Jazz up, spinning the toddler and making her laugh. "Don't make her throw up!" he called in warning, even as Danny dropped down beside him, breathing heavily from playing volleyball with the others.
"Is your brother tormenting out daughter?" he asked, pressing a brief kiss to Tim's lips.
"It's his fault if he ends up wearing her lunch. Good game?"
"Hmm, but this is better." Danny grinned and pressed him back on the blanket, kissing him again.
Tim didn't notice as the people faded away, the beach changing to a bedroom, their clothing fading away.
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Vlad checked the readings, nodding to himself as he took in the numbers, before looking up to see him. Tim floated limp still, breathing steadily, twitching every now and then, black hair floating around his head. Hmm, perhaps he should have tied that back for him, oh well. His saturation levels were rising nicely, slower than he would have preferred but they were still rising. He was glad he had Nocturn grab his vigilante suit, it would make a very nice base for his ghost form. And Vlad was glad he had put the domino on the ten rather than the cowl, the cowl made him look older and was more intimidating but the domino was a better look for someone who would be Daniel's partner.
He looked over at the Sleepwalker, it was completely focused on Timothy, ensuring he remained asleep. If it failed, he would have to sedate the boy. While it was very unlikely that he could do anything while submerged in a solution of ectoplasm, it was better to be safe then sorry.
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Jason ducked under some debris and whistled softly as he took in the mess of…something, that was linked to the antenna. Everything was glowing a sickly shade of green that was way too familiar for comfort. So, the Pits and ectoplasm had to be linked, right? After all, Danny said those GIW idiots would have come after him. He'd need to talk about that more with Danny at some point.
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Tucker frowned at his screen, frustrated. He could find records of shipments of very suspicious equipment but it just seemed to vanish. He couldn't figure out where Vlad was hiding. And now the creep had Danny's boyfriend, that really wasn't good. The reports coming in from Gotham were highly alarming, but Danny could deal with Nocturn, even powered by the city…right?
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Bruce stood between his sons and the ghosts that had appeared, wielding a Boo-staff and the wrist laser. He'd heard Jason's mutter about a double-sided lightsabre and that Tim'd go nuts and Bruce wondered if Danny had shown it to Tim at any point. He did love Star Wars after all. Tim was the staff user of the family, but Bruce had enough training to use it to hold off the army.
He glanced back to see Jason lifting Dick on his shoulders so he could reach something, a bundle of wires? He turned his full attention back to the fight, driving the ghosts back. He stumbled slightly as there was a crashing sound and then he could see moonlight, a figure pushing themselves to their feet, Danny. He shook his head, the eerie crown not moving as he did so, and then he launched himself back into the fight.
"Hurry," he called to his sons.
"No, really? I thought we should take all night," Jason grumbled.
"Got it!" Dick called and then yelped.
Bruce turned to see Jason setting him on his feet.
"Run!" Dick called and they ran, their belts keeping the ghosts from touching them as they ploughed through the crowd. "Ten seconds!"
He reached a clear spot and fired his grapple gun, hearing the other two fire a second later. They were pulled up to the roof and ran across it, making the jump to the next one just as the building housing Nocturn's equipment went up.
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"NO!" Nocturn yelled, and Danny grinned.
He'd known they could do it! Wherever he was, Tim would soon wake and hopefully be able to yell for Kon or rescue himself.
"I will defeat you," Nocturn growled, his attacks increasing in his anger.
He could just wait it out, the attacks would drain the extra energy even quicker, but there was always the risk of collateral damage or hostages as the city began to wake. The lesser ghosts were fading at least, the number of Sleepwalkers dropping.
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Damian stirred and bit back a cry of pain. What? He'd been…training with Father? Richard had been watching, cheering…hadn't he? It took a lot of effort to peel his eyes open, finding the familiar ceiling of the Cave above him, medical bay? Had he been hurt?
"Master Damian?" Pennyworth appeared, looking worried but also relieved? "It is very good to see you awake. Don't try to move, you were badly injured in the fall."
"F…fall?" he managed to croak out, and then a glass of water was pressed to his lips.
"Nocturn managed to put you asleep while you were grappling, you fell from ten stories up, however a fire escape broke your fall."
Damian frowned, Nocturn? And then he remembered, the footage of Drake being taken…the city beginning to fall asleep…searching…then nothing. Had it all been a dream?
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"Batman, this is Agent A, I am pleased to report that Robin is awake."
Bruce closed his eyes in relief. "Thank you, Agent A."
He saw Dick sag in relief and even Jason's body language shifted a little. He didn't interact much with Damian at all but they were still family and Damian was a child, barely thirteen. Jason did not like those who attacked children, even if said child was a vigilante.
He refocused on the fight at a scream of rage, had Nocturn shrunk? And then ice crept over his form, slowly freezing him solid. Was it over?
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Danny was relieved to close the cap on the thermos, sealing Nocturn inside. For what he'd done, he was getting more than just sent back, he would be spending some quality time in the thermos just to start. Danny was worried about the potential death toll caused be people falling asleep anywhere and everywhere.
He flew up to the roof to join Batman, Hood, and Nightwing, seeing Nightwing's shock. Ah, he'd assumed a half ghost wouldn't be able to match a full one. A small tug had the crown, cape, and armour fading away to leave just his hazmat suit.
And then Kon hit the roof, barely slowing enough to not go through it. "I can't find T…Red," he said before anyone could say anything.
"He took the suit so he knows Red knows Supers, he took that into account," Danny told them, it'd been a long shot to call Kon.
"Gotham's in a mess, thanks to people dropping to sleep, we could use some help with clean up," Jason offered.
"Sure," Kon agreed, looking at Danny.
"I'm going after Red."
"How, you don't know where he is?"
"Vlad's a halfa of habit, there's some places I can check while Tucker keeps searching," he told Kon and then Danny took off.
He couldn't just wait in Gotham, he had to look for Tim.
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He felt like he was floating, weightless, so tired…but he slowly forced his eyes open. The tint of green around him caused an adrenaline spike, waking him further. There was an oxygen mask over his face but the air it was giving him smelt funny, not like sedatives but something almost acidic.
His first thought was Ra's and Lazarus water, except he'd be dunked in a Pit for that…unless he was trying something new to avoid Pit Madness? He blinked, trying to focus beyond the tank…a lab, high tech…and a man. He didn't know him, but he recognised him. Vlad Masters. Which meant ectoplasm, not Lazarus water. Was that better or worse? He knew he'd been exposed just by living in Gotham and then exposed to higher levels dating and now sleeping with Danny. Was he trying to increase his contamination? Why?
It burned a bit, even under clothes…except that wasn't clothing, he was in his Red Robin suit. How? He tried to work out when he'd been captured, what had he been doing? Where was Danny?
"Ah, you're awake."
Tim focused on the man now standing in front of the take. He tried to talk but his mouth was dry, tongue thick and heavy.
"It seems Daniel has defeated Nocturn."
Nocturn…sleep ghost. He'd been put to sleep, for how long?
"I apologise for the discomfort; you were not meant to wake until we were done. Just give me a moment and I'll have the sedative ready."
No! If he was knocked out again, who knew when he'd wake or what Vlad would do to him. He slammed a hand into the tube but the liquid was too thick to let him get much strength or momentum behind it and…he felt weak. He saw Vlad at a console and tried to find a crack, anything, to jam his fingers into, to force it open. The smell of air in the mask changed, becoming sweeter and he tried not to inhale but he could only hold his breath for so long. His struggles slowed as his limbs grew even heavier, the time between blinks growing. Everything was fuzzy, vision going blurry.
"Sleep now Timothy, it's almost time."
Time…for…w…
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Vlad watched as the boy succumbed to the sedative, once again floating limply, eyes closed. He made sure the system was set to ensure he remained safely sedated and then headed off to get some food and sleep. It would not do to make a mistake due to hunger or fatigue.
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Tucker looked up, eyes widening in shock as a familiar figure landed on the balcony and then walked through the closed door. "Danny…" he scrambled up from his desk and ran across the room, throwing himself at his best friend who caught him easily, holding on just as tightly.
"Hey Tucker," Danny whispered.
"I'm so sorry Danny, if I'd found him sooner…"
"Not your fault," Danny assured him, reluctantly letting go. "I checked a few places I knew of from before but they haven't been used in a few years."
"I've narrowed the state he's in to Wyoming."
"That's…an odd choice," Danny frowned, "but he did have that place in Colorado so maybe not."
"We'll find him Danny, you won't lose him," he promised.
Danny nodded, distant, and Tucker couldn't blame him. He'd lost so much since becoming a halfa but he'd been so much happier since meeting Tim, even he could tell that from Danny's monthly updates.
Tucker grabbed the upgraded earpieces he'd been working on, tossing one to Danny who slipped it in his ear. And then Danny was gone and Tucker turned back to his computer screens, he had to find Vlad.
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Kon kept an ear out for Danny or Tim even as he carefully lifted cars out of a pile up, grimacing as he found bodies still in the bottom car. People were sitting around, most still looking dazed from the abrupt sleep and then waking.
He wasn't just worried about Tim though, if this could be linked to a ghost, right after the Acts were repealed…it would just add fuel to a dying fire and risk bringing it all back to a head.
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Dick landed in front of the hospital, setting the girl down on a waiting gurney, having to disentangle her from where she had her arms locked tight around him. Not that he blamed her, he knew swinging was very startling for first timers. The nurse nodded to him and he fired his grapple, taking off to the rooftops again.
He hated not being able to help look for Tim but Bruce agreed with Danny, Masters would not have kept him in the city. Gotham was in chaos but as more emergency services personal came back on duty it was getting easier to deal with.
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Danny appeared over Wyoming, the shaky portal closing behind him. Definitely not his best skill, but it had gotten him there faster. "Tuck?"
"Head towards Yellowstone," his best friend since diapers answered.
"Understood," he agreed, glancing around to orientate himself. Below was…Casper, someone had a sense of humour. He dropped down, invisible and intangible, finding a sign on the highway so now he knew which direction to head. He got more altitude and headed off.
Vlad wouldn't be crazy enough to build under Yellowstone, would he? ere was a super volcano under there! Sure, it was dormant but dormant wasn't extinct, he could have set it off with underground building. How could even a halfa hide that kind of thing? There was a limit to how much they could turn intangible and invisible at one time.
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Vlad looked up as the ghost detector went off. The news was showing the clean-up in Gotham as well. Daniel was on his way. He checked the display and nodded; Timothy's levels were high enough. He drained the tank, Timothy's unconscious form sinking to the bottom as it did. Once it was empty, he opened it and removed him, leaving the still working mask on for as long as the tube would reach, it would not do for him to regain consciousness too soon after all.
Everything was set up, though he'd had to make some changes. He had originally set a chair up to restrain the boy to, but then he realised that adding something so large could change things too much. Instead, he cuffed Timothy's hands and then slipped a hook through the chain, using it to hang him from the ceiling within the frame. He had built it exactly how Maddie and Jack had built theirs; it had been different to his own since he'd had ghost powers to explore and learn from as he was doing so. Without that, the portal needed something more, something it hadn't had until Daniel had stepped inside.
He triple checked everything, nothing could go wrong. Hearing a noise, he glanced up to find Timothy beginning to stir which meant it had to act now, before he was fully conscious to try and spare him as much of the coming agony as possible.
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Danny looked around, searching for anything that would give away where they were. It was almost mid-morning, tourists all over the place, exploring the national park. Which meant if it came down to a fight, there was a lot of potential for collateral, and if things went really wrong…they could set off the dormant volcano and then the whole planet was in trouble.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, okay, he needed a way to track a ghost and a very low level liminal. They weren't close enough to set off his ghost sense but there had to be another way. He looked down at his hand at a flash of warmth and the Ring of Rage appeared, okay then. The Crown had changed, the flames freezing due to his ice core, but the Ring remained warm, maybe because it was called Rage and anger was usually seen as warm? Focus Danny.
There! He could feel…Tim! But that was way stronger. He swallowed hard. What had Vlad done? He went intangible and dropped down through the ground, soon finding himself in a hallway…with ecto weapons already aiming at him.
And then he froze as he heard a sound he would never forget; one he had only heard from his own mouth. TIM!
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His shoulders were pulling and that growing pain brought Tim awake, slowly. His head felt so fuzzy, his mouth tasted weird…drugged…he struggled to open his eyes. His feet barely brushed the ground, not enough to take his weight. He didn't have the strength to lift his head or to try and get out of his restraints. His eyelids drooped, consciousness fading again, so tired…No! He had to stay awake, had to escape.
He forced tingling fingers to move, to feel out the restraints…cuffs, there was a hook through the chain, suspending him in…a tunnel? His vision doubled and he blinked, trying to focus again.
"You should have been out for longer," Masters commented, stepping in front of him. A hand lifted his hanging his head. "Ah, not fully there yet, good. The more awake you are, the more this will hurt."
That…was not good…
"Sorry, but I can't give any more sedative now." He patted Tim's cheek and he realised he was in his uniform…but not his cowl, a domino instead. Was that good or bad?
He was losing feeling in his hands, cuffs too tight or the sedative? He tried to speak, to ask what was happening, but he couldn't, just mumbling unintelligibly. He tried to lift his head but he couldn't. Danny…he wanted Danny. Masters was talking again but Tim's hearing faded out, vision swimming.
Noise…there was a noise, like…energy build up? Tunnel…no! He tried to struggle, if he could get off the hook, he could roll free…
It took his brain a few seconds to consciously register the pain and that that noise…that was him screaming. The pain! He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, all he could do was scream and want for it to end.
TBC…
