"So… Phantom, what exactly are you?" Jason leaned back in his chair and looked the kid up and down, he possessed Tim, so he could be a couple of things. A Demon, a Spirit, a computer virus that somehow got downloaded into Tim's veins…Tim is on that computer so much Jason would believe it.

Phantom speared another bunch of noodles on the end of his fork and narrowed his eyes at Jason for a split second. "I'm a ghost."

"A ghost, huh?" Jason nodded, it was one of the things he was expecting. He knew there was a ghost on the Justice League, some acrobat or something. He didn't really remember. But that meant… "That means you're dead?" Jason looked at him with wide eyes.

"Yeah, no shit sherlock," Phantom smirked like he was holding in a laugh. "You're dead too, aren't you? Or at least partly. You would know."

Jason stilled and stared at him for a moment. "Did Tim tell you that?" He knew his voice sounded a tad on the aggressive side, but it was shocking to hear that someone else knew he was dead.

Phantom surprisingly had no reaction to the aggression. He shrugged. "Nah, It's pretty obvious, honestly. But you don't have nearly enough ectoplasm to be a ghost. And you are clearly still alive. But you reek of death. No offense."

"Glad to know I reek."

Phantom put up his hands, placating. "Maybe reek is the wrong word. I don't mean it in a bad context here. It's more like I can tell it's all over you. Seeping from your being. More so when you are angry or emotional."

Jason rested his hand on his chin while Phantom took another bite of his noodles. Surprisingly he had started eating with more enthusiasm. Maybe this was the first time he had been able to eat real food in a while. Jason glanced up at the green aura that he had been seeing around him slightly. Something barely noticeable until you were looking for it.

The pit green.

What brought Jason back to life?

Was that the aura of death?

"So that green aura around you right now. That is death?" Jason ventured.

Phantom shrugged. "Basically. Glad to know you can see it, though. It's good to be able to tell when other people are overshadowed and stuff like that. I couldn't really see it well when I first died, got taken advantage of by another ghost."

Phantom turned his head as if listening to the air for a moment before he pointed his fork from side to side. "Ah, this one girl overshadowed this other girl that I liked at the time so that she could go out with me so that she could get back at her boyfriend who flirted with other women. I honestly still have no idea how they keep getting back together, they're a reck."

Jason laughed. "Glad to know there is ghost relationship drama and not just human drama."

Phantom laughed as well. "Honestly, I swear I'm stuck in the middle of it every time, too."

Jason slowly stopped laughing and watched the kid in front of him slowly. He said he was, what, almost sixteen? When did he die? Was he this age when he died and just didn't change? Or did he die not too long ago?

Jason put his hands down on the table, "Phantom… If you don't mind me asking." Phantom stopped, Jason could feel the change in his aura slightly. "How old were you when you died?"

Phantom's gaze surprisingly softened slightly. "I technically already told Tim accidentally, and I guess this is something we can bond over so, yeah. I died at fourteen." He put his finger to his chin.

Jason was relieved by his nonchalance. "Actually, same. I was fifteen"

"Awesome, death buddies!"

)-(

"I swear, only you two could bond over dying at the same age." Tim chuckled in his head.

Phantom laughed. For it being such a dark subject, they were talking about it surprisingly easily. Especially from how touchy Jason was about his death at all the other times. His death and his pit rage. But it seemed like Phantom talking with him about it was different? Because they had been through the same thing?

Or was it Phantom's aura and joking demeanor? It was also kind of strange being a third wheel in a conversation, especially one he couldn't really leave. When he was thinking to himself he could focus on separate things than Phantom, which was good.

And it was honestly pretty terrifying having your body being controlled for you. He knew it wasn't necessarily Phantom's fault for getting stuck. And he could also feel how honest and scared the ghost was in this situation.

That didn't mean that Tim had to feel comfortable while having someone else walking around in his skin. Phantom said he had a way to get them both out of this, some girl who would know what to do. Tim guessed it was the red-haired woman who he had seen all the photos of on Danny's missed phone messages. But he couldn't be sure.

But it seems like Danny and Jason were bonding more and more over being dead, which Tim figured was a good thing, and made it easier to get some help. Even if Tim was at least a little scared of Jason, still.

Tim was literally almost beaten to death by him in an angry pit rage in a place where Tim thought he would always be safe. Sure, that was at least a year ago now. But still. Could you imagine your hero coming into your house and almost killing you while calling you a 'replacement?' That stuff gives you nightmares.

Tim knew it wasn't all Jason's fault. He was doing a lot of good in Crime Alley, whether Bruce wanted to admit it or not. And he still saved Phantom and Tim from those kidnappers while under the impression that it was only Tim that was kidnapped. That had to earn him some points, right? Tim would have to think about it later.

His mind tuned back into Jason and Phantom's conversation for a moment. "So, I guess you are a type of ghost then." Phantom glanced over him.

Jason shrugged. "Honestly, I think I'd prefer the term Zombie."

Phantom chuckled. "Zombies are cool."

Tim rolled his metaphorical eyes. "I can't with you two."

Phantom laughed.

)-(

Dick paced back and forth throughout the Cave behind the bat computer. Damian was sharpening one of his swords while sitting on a ledge looking down on Dick. Bruce was sitting at the bat computer searching through surveillance footage, traffic cameras, ghost articles, anything they could find really. If only Oracle were here, she would be able to help. But she was still out of commission.

Dick had watched the ransom video of Tim and the ghost's kidnapping multiple times looking for a clue. "I don't understand how he could trick us." Dick ran a hand down his face again. "Is he feeding off of Tim's fear to plead like that to the kidnappers?"

Damian sighed and jumped down from his ledge. "As much as I dislike Drake, I do not think that he is in a great deal of fear in this situation."

"What do you mean? He's been possessed! He can't control his body. Probably not even his mind? What if his spirit has even been pushed out of his body and he is dead already?"

"Master Dick, please calm yourself." Alfred's shoes clicked as he walked down the stone steps holding some snacks for them. "Worrying won't do anything for the boy in this situation. We need to keep a level head to find Master Tim."

Damian sighed and walked closer to the two of them. "What I meant to say, Richard, was that in most of the books I have read on spirits and possession from my grandfather's library, have all stated that the owner of the body's mind will be lulled to sleep and will come back to consciousness once the spirit has evacuated the body. Drake will be fine as long as we can get the ghosts out of there."

Alfred held up the tray. "Now please Master Dick, you all need to eat something to keep your strength up. You have been avoiding it since Master Tim first went missing."

Dick grabbed small sandwiches off of the tray. "He's not missing. We know he is somewhere in Crime Alley, we just need to look harder. And we haven't been allowed to patrol there for over a year."

Dick sighed. "I think we need help."

Damian glanced up. "What kind of help?"

"I want to find Jason."

Bruce spoke up for the first time in about an hour. "No."

Dick stepped forward. "Bruce, you can't be serious here! Jason knows Crime alley inside and out, if Tim is there he will be able to find him!"

Bruce turned his chair slightly. "The Red Hood is unstable."

Dick grit his teeth. "'The Red Hood', You're speaking like he wasn't your son! My brother. I know he has had a hard time, and attacked Tim, but he is the only chance we got right now. He will talk to me, I'll find him alone. And I'll go in civilian clothes. A couple of months ago he gave me a list of his safe houses in case of emergency I can find him."

Bruce's jaw clenched. "Fine. But take your escrima sticks."


Authors notes

Beta read by 'gamma_radio'

Oooh, Dick is coming to find Jason! how is this going to turn out? Also, we have the death buddies now! I'm so excited about what is coming next! Please tell me what you thought of the chapter and what you think will happen.

Sorry if this chapter took a little longer to get out than normal, I have a lot of ongoing fics rn, and it was finals week. And guess what! Your girl got a job! So excited! I'll try my best to keep these stories all updated, I promise! Stay safe, Love you all! XD