Disclaimer: not mine

People wanted to see Danny with Kon in the dream.

So my great KH3 save with Sora to level 99 and almost having the Ultima Keyblade? Safely saved in the Cloud and will the PS5 download it? Nope.

Chapter 4

Kon didn't react as Tim vanished from on top of him, still following the dream. So, when a different body settled in his lap, his hands settled on cold hips as cold hands gripped his shoulders. The body was wearing pants though so what should have happened next didn't. He whimpered and then cold lips were pressed to his, hands caressing his body. The cold was strange…

"Kon, wake up. You have to wake up now. Don't give in. You need to wake up, Tim's waiting for you, your family."

Tim…cold…

"That's it, try and focus on my voice. I'm here to help."

Slowly, a figure became visible. Soft white hair and bright blue eyes, pale skin. Kon's hands moved up the cold, firm body. He moaned, rocking up against them, unable to help himself. He clutched tightly, pulling them closer, needing more. Who…Tim…

"Come on Kon, try and think. I'm here to help you." Cold hands ran over his chest and then he gasped as they became colder than anything he'd ever felt. He shivered, blinking.

"W't?" he slurred, head lolling on the pillow. He felt so strange…

"This is a dream; you need to wake up Kon. Tim's awake by now, so you have to wake up as well."

Dream? "T….'m?"

"Yes Kon, Tim. Try and remember."

Tim… date…dream…

"In eternal dreams you'll have everything you've ever wanted."

"Who...'r…"

"I'm here to help you." A cold hand stroked his cheek and then moved to his hair.

Kon whimpered, the fog of need trying to pull him back under.

"I'm here," he whispered, kissing Kon.

Kon sighed in relief, a hand lazily caressing a cold back. "Want T'm," he mumbled.

"Then wake up and he'll be right beside you."

Wake up? "How?" he asked, and then moaned as he moved against the cold body on top of him.

Cold hands took his and he was pulled upward, everything fading away.

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Everything was foggy, vague, distant…hands touching. Voices…

"Tim? Can you understand me?" a face, familiar…voice… "Sweetheart?"

He knew…that was…B…it was B. There was something…his throat…nose. He tried to talk, managing a weak gurgle.

"Shh, don't try to talk." A hand stroked over his head, through his hair, and he shuddered, nerves screaming. "Tim?"

The hand moved and he whimpered in pain, tears slipping from his eyes.

"B stop," another voice. "I think you're hurting him."

The hand stopped and he closed his eyes as the pain faded.

"I'm sorry Tim," B whispered.

He forced his eyes open, gaze wandering from B to see…see…

"Hey Timbers," the man whispered. "We're here, you're safe."

"Why would sleeping cause pain once awake?" another, younger voice spoke, and he felt a flash of fear.

Not safe! Had to move…get away.

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Bruce was shocked when Tim started moving, very weakly, but he was moving. He could barely keep his eyes open, every limb trembling but he was trying…to get away from Damian. So, he was aware at some level of what was going on, could hear them.

"Shh Tim, don't try to move. It's alright, you're safe. You're in the Batcave," Bruce spoke quietly and calmly, trying to calm him without touching him.

Tim didn't react, still trying to get away, making little noises, unable to speak.

Jason moved and then Tim's eyes rolled back in his head briefly, body going limp. He made a gurgling sound again, eyes unfocused as his gaze drifted around.

"Jason?"

"Mild dose muscle relaxant," Jason answered. "Not enough to put him back to sleep."

Bruce carefully lifted Tim, hating the pained noise he made but he quickly had him re-settled comfortably even as Jason checked to make sure his IV, feeding tube, and catheter hadn't been dislodged.

"He…he's scared of me," Damian whispered, and Bruce looked back at his youngest to see the shock in his expression.

"He's not fully aware Damian," Bruce assured him. "He didn't seem to really recognise us."

"No, he recognised you B. It was us he didn't recognise," Jason clarified.

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Clark had taken his hands off Kon once it was clear that touch was causing Tim pain, not wanting to hurt Kon. Kon seemed to be reacting to the noises Tim was making.

"Kon?" he called even more softly than the others were speaking.

Glassy blue eyes met his, Kon's brow furrowing in what seemed to be confusion.

"Do you know me?" he asked gently.

Kon stared at him, blinking sluggishly, but them something seemed to spark behind his eyes. His fingers twitched where they were laying on the blankets but then they shifted towards him. Clark very cautiously touched them, waiting for any sign that it hurt and while Kon did manage to make a noise, it wasn't one of pain more…relief?

"I'm here Kon-El," he promised. "You're awake now. Tim's just in the next bed, he's awake too. We had to have you under red sun lamps which is why you feel so weak. I've turned them off now, we'll get the UV's on," before he could finish, the lamps turned on. "There we go." He looked up and nodded at Damian.

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Everything was blurry but that…that was Clark. The feel of his fingers on his hurt but he didn't let Clark know, needing the touch. His body felt s heavy, weak…he was tired. Cave…he was in the Batcave…no sunlight. He didn't want to sleep, not now…not again…warmth, light…lamps.

His fingers twitched and then his hand moved, enough to weakly grab onto Clark's. He licked his lips, trying to speak.

"Easy, here, suck on these." Clark lifted his head and Kon found ice chips in his mouth.

Kon struggled and then managed to suck on them, the cool liquid soothing his throat. He swallowed and grimaced as something moved.

"You've got a feeding tube in, it'll have to stay until you've eaten and kept it down," Clark explained gently. "You can understand me?" Clark asked, and Kon blinked at him.

His hand moved shakily and Clark laughed.

"That's it kiddo," he praised.

Kon let his hand relax from the very shaky thumb up he'd managed. But he wanted… "Ggrggg…" he coughed as he tried to speak.

"Don't push Kon, there's no rush."

He weakly tugged at Clark's hand, he wanted to see…

"Kon?"

He tugged again. "T….T…"

"I believe he is trying to ask for Timothy," Damian stated, making sure to stay away from where Tim could see him, speaking too softly for a human to hear him.

"You want to see Tim?" Clark asked, and Kon blinked again. "Hang on." He moved and then the bedhead lifted so he could see he was in a small room in the Batcave. "Bruce, Kon's aware enough to be asking for Tim."

Bruce moved and Kon saw Tim. He was on a bed, hooked up to machines, his head rolling limply on the pillow.

"Tim look, there's Kon," Bruce told him.

"T…TTiimmm," he slurred.

Glassy blue eyes looked his way briefly before un-focusing.

"Tim panicked, had to give him something to relax before he hurt himself," Bruce explained.

Kon wanted to go to Tim, hold him. He tried to push himself up.

"Kon, no. It's too soon," Clark held him down.

"Tttimm," his voice was more of a pained whine.

"Give me a hand Damian," Clark said and then the bed was moving.

Then Tim was right there, next to him. Kon reached for him and Tim whined.

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Clark watched as the two became entangled, holding Kon's lines up to keep them from getting tangled with Tim's or their limbs, Bruce doing the same to Tim's. Tim weakly tucked his head under Kon's chin, eyes shutting as he relaxed completely. He was making soft little noises but not of pain this time which was interesting. Kon's touch wasn't hurting him.

He saw the pain in Bruce's eyes at that.

"Could it be something lingering from the magic that lets Kon touch him without pain?" he suggested.

"Your touch didn't cause Kon pain."

"True, but the staff was likely not meant for Kryptonian physiology. And he'd recover quicker."

"Timbit recognised you Bruce, he was trying to communicate with you. You're his Dad," Jason told him.

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Danny flew through the air, following traces of the Realms' power, occasionally coming across sleeping people, but only very rarely. He had to have more people asleep then that which meant…he'd collected them all in one place. In theory, that should make them easier to find but it seemed something was keeping the big signature hidden. Great.

It was neat to see heroes dashing about. What must it be like to have others like you to work with? Sure, there was Val but…it wasn't the same. She'd hated Phantom for so long even if they did work together now. Now that she could see how bad the GIW and his parents were and where things might be going if they weren't stopped.

He tried not to think of the two back in that Cave, of what it'd been like in their dreams. He'd never have that, he had to keep too many secrets, was too different. Sure, Sam liked him, he'd known for ages, but it would never work because he didn't feel the same. And she'd never been able to accept that he didn't just have 'ghost powers', but he had died, even if not permanently. He was stuck halfway between life and dead, both and neither at the same time. Schrödinger's Danny. How could he be with any normal human or even a full ghost? It wouldn't be fair to any of them.

Tim and Kon were heroes and they had each other…or both wanted it? That hadn't been clear. And Kon…Kon was different, that much he'd picked up on. They made it work or would make it work. And maybe…this Earth had aliens and metas…maybe here he could live a life free of the GIW and his parents obsession. But if he did then ghosts would follow, could this dimension handle them?

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Diana was relieved to receive news that Tim and Kon had woken, though Tim was apparently not entirely coherent. They weren't sure how much he could understand yet, but Kon was responding and had even spoken. Hopefully, Tim would as well and it was only taking longer because he was fully a mortal human.

Finding information on the Staff was proving very difficult, hopefully the boys would be able to tell them something more than the footage from Tim's cowl. They were both very observant after all, even falling under its spell they had hopefully seen or heard something that could help. And how had they woken? Did the spell eventually wear off, had they broken it somehow? Would the other victims also wake or was something different with the boys?

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Kon was feeling stronger already with the UV lamps on and Tim curled up in his arms. There was something…like he was forgetting…but what? Clark said they'd been sleeping for months, which was why Tim was so skinny and pale. Though…Kon thought he looked a little better already, that shouldn't be possible for a human?

Tim stirred slightly, making a soft noise, and Kon ran his fingers through lanky black hair, happy when he settled again. Why was sleeping for so long so tiring? Even with the lamps restoring his strength he was still fighting the urge to sleep.

"You should sleep Master Kent."

Kon turned his head to see Alfred approaching with a tray.

"This will be uncomfortable but you both need sustenance."

What…oh. He grimaced but let the sludge be injected into the tube that was up his nose. Alfred was right, it was not comfortable, but his stomach soon felt warm and full, his eyelids drooping as he watched Alfred feed Tim who whined in his sleep but otherwise didn't stir. Kon yawned, head rolling to the side, arm slowly sliding down from where it was wrapped around Tim, too heavy to move it back. The bedhead lowered slowly but he was asleep before it was flat.

Alfred finished tending to them both as they slept before slipping away to leave them in peace.

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Bruce kept one eye on the cameras that were focused on Tim and Kon, watching them as they slept peacefully in each other's arms. It was strange to see, he knew that Tim was physically affectionate with his old team but…this seemed different. Then again, from the audio they had, it seemed they'd been placed in the same dream, who knew how long they'd been trapped in there from their viewpoint. Perhaps it was only natural they would cling to each other. But why didn't Kon's touch hurt Tim? Was Jason right about it being lingering magic? Why had his touch hurt? It wasn't like they'd been physically deprived while asleep, Tim had been touched all the time as they exercised his muscles for him and moved him to prevent bedsores. So, it wasn't like he was touch starved or anything.

Nothing about this whole thing made any sense. He hated magic. He just wanted his son to be safe and healthy. How long would his recovery take?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Tim slowly opened his eyes, he felt warm and safe, could hear the steady beating of a heart under his ear, his pillow rising and falling…Kon…it was Kon. He tried to lift his head, to move, but his body wouldn't respond. He had no strength. Why? What…what was happening.

"Wake up Tim…"

That voice, it was familiar…he shivered at the phantom sensation of cold hands caressing his body.

His eyes fluttered shut, sleep pulling at him. He was so weak…everything would be easier if he just slept…strands of green playfully tugging at him, lulling him. Sleep…dream… no one could hurt him in dreams…he'd be safe forever, they'd keep him safe, they promised. All he had to do was sleep…

He wasn't aware of the faint swirls of shimmering green in his eyes, mixing with the blue as he lay on Kon's chest, slowly drifting to sleep, soothed by their calls.

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Dick entered the room; he was sure he'd seen Tim stirring on the monitor. He'd missed them waking up before and he was desperate to see for himself that the spell had been broken. "Timmy, you awake?" he called softly, wanting to touch his baby brother but they'd warned him how sensitive to touch he seemed, except with Kon. "Come on kiddo, open your eyes for me, please." His hand hovered over Tim's back, not touching, but enough that normally Tim would be aware of him.

Dick felt relieved when he heard a soft noise from Tim, he'd been utterly silent for so long. His fingers twitched slightly and then slowly, heavy eyelids parted, revealing dazed blue.

"That's it Timmy, great job kiddo," he praised, keeping his voice as soft as he could. "I was so scared you'd never wake up," he told him and now he was scared again because there was no recognition in Tim's eyes. "Tim…do you know me?" he asked, and Tim made a sleepy noise, eyelids drooping. "Still sleepy huh?"

Dick yawned and then chuckled. "Guess we all are," he murmured. They'd all been so stressed; it was normal to be tired. He yawned again, collapsing into the chair beside the beds, staring into Tim's eyes. Maybe…just a nap…he shook his head. What…what was…and then he saw them, the swirls in Tim's eyes. He got his hand up, covering Tim's eyes, and then he blinked as he was suddenly less tired. Well…that was not good.

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Tucker sighed as he left school for the second last time, just the ceremony to go, and still no sign of Danny. He knew what Danny had told them, that he didn't know how long he'd be gone but he was on a job for Clockwork. Apparently, some kind of Ghostly artifact had made its way to another dimension so Danny had been sent to retrieve it. And there was no return date given because time could pass differently. He hated it, that Danny had just up and left.

Danny had been slowly pulling back from them for ages and he knew why. They'd all applied for university but Danny hadn't. His parents were getting more and more obsessed, he'd caught Danny looking for food, had made sure his Mom made extra for him to take to school to share with him. Calling CPS was pointless with the GIW so much in control now, they wouldn't let anyone badmouth their pet scientists. And it would put Danny's secret at risk too.

If that other dimension didn't have anti-ghost things, would Danny…would he be tempted to stay?

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Kon held Tim to his chest, glaring at anyone who got too close. He wasn't back to full power yet, his muscles still weaker than normal, but against a normal person it'd be enough. Though, did any Bat count as normal?

"Kon-El, something is wrong with Tim," Batman, and it was Batman, not Bruce at the moment was glaring at him in return.

Kon shook his head, Tim was fine. He was just tired and weak, that was normal. Of course he was going to want to sleep all the time, so did Kon. What he really wanted was the feeding tube and other things gone but they refused, said he was too weak still. If they tried to take Tim then they'd find out just how strong he was.

Tim whimpered and Kon tightened his grip, stroking his hair gently. "Nhhhggg…" Tim's head shifted weakly. "K…n…" it was barely audible but Tim had tried to talk!

"Here," he rasped, throat still dry.

"Tttt'rd," he slurred.

Kon pressed a kiss to greasy hair, it felt completely natural, like he'd done it a thousand times. He had…hadn't he? "S'kay, sleep." If Tim wanted to sleep then he would get to sleep.

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Val sighed and hung up. She'd been getting really worried about Ellie so it was good the younger girl had finally called. She was in Thailand at the moment, hadn't known Danny was gone. She did now and she wasn't entirely happy with him for leaving without saying goodbye but how could he when Ellie never had her phone on or charged?

Thankfully, things had been quiet since Danny had left, but how long would that last? How long till someone realised Danny Fenton and Phantom were missing at the same time? If Ellie was back, maybe she could cover for Phantom…except the older Danny got the more obvious the differences between them thanks to gender and age.

For once, Vlad was on their side for keeping things quiet. Everyone knew the GIW was just looking for an excuse to cut the town off from the rest of the country. She knew Danny was pushing everyone he could to apply to schools out of state, even out of the country if they could, and she'd been helping with that. But he didn't seem to have an exit plan himself. He wasn't seriously going to stay, was he? He was the most at risk out of everyone in town, besides Vlad.

She'd talked to the Mayor and he was planning to leave through his portal if the GIW moved, then shut it down remotely. If he did, Tucker knew how to take out the Fenton portal. It might mean Danny was stranded in the Ghost Zone for a while, but better that then coming home to a dissection table. And he had ghost friends who could open a portal for him somewhere else.

They'd tried to find a way to bring down the GIW and get those Acts repealed but they just couldn't see how. Even Vlad had looked into it but without legitimate scientist to back up evidence that contradicted the Fenton's, no one in power wanted to listen.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Danny watched from the cave ceiling as people in black moved about the area. He'd thought he had a lead on the Staff but it'd been a false reading. Instead, he'd found a big steaming pit of Ectoplasm that had him wanting to hurl where he was. No way did he want to get closer. What the heck was that stuff? And someone was willingly bathing in it? So gross and just wrong. Ectoplasm was not meant to pool like that and how was it steaming? It had to be mixing with something, but what?

TBC…