It was painless, more than Dick thought it would be. In fact- He was surprised he felt the bullet go through him without a single sting. Straight through his head and ricocheting off the metal column behind him. Like it didn't even hit him at all...
"What the fuck-" feet shuffled.
Nightwing snapped his eyes open, lowering his head as he noticed the thugs' grips were no longer on him. There was still a cold sensation on his skin, and taking a quick glance down, he noticed he appeared slightly transparent. Oh.
"I thought you said he wasn't a meta freak-""He's not supposed to be!"
Nightwing smirked as he stood up, all the netting falling straight through him onto the floor. He dusted his hands as he walked closer, not taking too quick of a step as he felt something tugging at his arm. He watched the goons stumble back pointing their guns at him. There were apparently only three of them.
"Stay back Nightwing!""Or what? You'll shoot?" He could feel a cold grip tighten on his arm. "Didn't work well the first time, didn't it?"
The guys exchanged looks before scrambling to run for the exit. Nightwing hooked his foot on the chair he was tied to and kicked it at the mobsters. The chair shattered on impact, bringing down the mini-leader and scar-face straight to the ground. He then ducked and rolled, behind the crates as the one with the sub-machine gun started firing off. He felt a weird wave of warmth as the cold grip on his arm left.
Nightwing grabbed the broken legs off the chair, while twisting to kick the two thugs that were down out cold. He flipped back onto his feet as the rain of bullets ceased, flinging a chair leg at the man, hitting him clean in the face. Quickly, he vaulted over the crates, to kick the weapon out of the guy's hands. He spun with the momentum of the kick, slamming the other chair leg he had in his hand down on the guy's neck, knocking the guy unconscious.
"Talk about getting a leg up." Nightwing smirked as he juggled the broken chair leg in his hand. His eyes scan the room."Or more like a leg down?"
A stifled chuckle was heard across the room. Bingo.
"They certainly didn't see that coming-though I suppose I didn't see it either." Nightwing walked closer to where he heard the chuckle."I don't know. Things seemed pretty transparent to me-ah, shoot." He heard a slap. He assumed Danny slapped his mouth shut."Glad to hear from you, champ." Nightwing smiled, as he relaxed his shoulders."We're settling on that name, huh?" The voice asked, still refusing to show himself. Then he heard a deep sigh, the voice had moved from his left to his right."Still deciding," Nightwing cleared his throat, suppressing a cough. "Mind me asking why are you here?""Saving you, obviously."
Touche. He guessed he walked into that one. He coughed into his hand, keeping himself from going into a fit.
"Suppose my hands were a little tied." Nightwing listened for a moment. He was trying to keep track of where Danny was."That's one way of saying it, I guess." The voice was to his left again. It appears the kid was circling him. "Here. I grabbed these from that crate over there. I'm not sure if I got them all."
Nightwing stepped back a bit as his weapons and gear appeared out of thin air beside him, dropping to the ground. He raised a brow, keeping a record of the kid's powers in his head. Intangibility and Invisibility to both himself and objects he touches. No wonder the kid was so hard to find.
"Not sure how you fit all that on you," the voice was back to his right, he could feel the cold air beside him. "But I'd rather not know.""What can I say? I have several tricks up my sleeve." Nightwing lightly chuckled, before going into a painful coughing fit. He knelt to the ground holding his side. Damn.
Nightwing felt a cold touch on his skin, as the cool breeze gave him goosebumps. Dick waved to his right, where he assumed Danny was, to show he was ok. Or he would be if the sound of yelling and feet weren't rushing to their location.
Dick hurried to equip his gear, trying his best to suppress another coughing fit. He grunted to get back on his feet, stumbling a bit. Maybe he caught more than a cold.. or maybe it was his poor diet lately, but whatever the reason, it was really starting to take its toll. The concussion probably didn't help.
He felt cold hands on his abdomen, making him tense up. He took in a sharp breath and held it.
"Hold on tight. I hadn't dropped anyone... recently... yet, and I'd like to keep that record going." The hands on his torso revealed themselves to be attached to a boy with white hair and green eyes, looking up at him with a sheepish grin."Recently?" Nightwing let out his breath he was holding, as he quickly noted the difference in appearance. It was unsettling to look at, something wasn't right with this form. It reminded him of something-"Look, I get distracted easily.. and-" Danny tried to explain when a loud thud banged on the door. "Oh-No time, hold on tight!"
The teen easily picked Nightwing up into his arms and kicked off into the air, phasing through the ceiling and straight into the sky. Dick could see the guys bust in through the door just as they flew away. Shouting in confusion.
Abnormal strength and flight added to the list. Alien? Or part of one? Dick wondered as they flew up high into the sky.
Glancing down, he had to admit, he wasn't used to seeing the city without its bright lights and canopies of shadow. It was a nice change of scenery, plus he had always loved an aerial view. He put a fist over his mouth, coughing into it.
It didn't take them long to reach his apartment. They phased through the ceiling and straight into his living room. Danny set Dick down on the couch and hovered in the air, fretting over him.
"I'll be fine, Danny." Dick took off his domino mask, rubbing his face."Yeah, well it looked like bird season just a moment ago. Where's your first aid kit? You have to have something, right?" The white hair boy asked as he crossed his arms, hovering in front of Dick's face. His expression was twisted with concern.
Dick felt guilty about the turning of tables, but his relief in knowing Danny was here, seemed to drown it out. "It's in the Laundry room, on the rack in a backpack. But I don't think-"
"Don't move." Danny zipped by him, straight by him, returning less than a second later. The teen unzipped the bag and dumped it out onto the coffee table. He mumbled to himself as he picked up and put down items.
Dick would have been amused if it wasn't for what he could have sworn sounded like, Danny mentioning how he wasn't used to bandaging up anyone else's wounds. He shifted his position on the couch, suppressing a cough. He cleared his throat, rubbing his ribs. He wondered if he fractured one.
He whistled a bird call to gain Danny's attention. "First step in aiding someone is keeping calm, you know?"
He watched Danny making an 'Oh, right' with his mouth, then he floated down to land on the ground. Danny took a deep breath in an attempt to calm his nerves.
"Second, I think the worst of it is a possible cracked rib and a mild concussion.""Mild?" Danny asked with a raised brow. Dick shrugged in reply.
Danny then sighed, taking some cleaning pads from the mess on the table and opened one up. "Still you're bleeding dude. Argh. I'm sorry. I should have intervene quicker-Then maybe- I just-"
"So you saw all of that?" Dick asked as he took the wipe from Danny, patting down the cut on his forehead."Not that I was stalking you- or like anything- I just noticed you've been tacking me and you looked.. kind of, uh... unwell? Seriously, who stays up for twenty-four hours and fights-" The teen cut himself off, and cleared his throat.
Dick raised a brow, giving a weak smile. "Yeah. That was dumb."
Danny just nodded. The glowing teen moved to sit-cross legged in the air. His chin propped up by his hand, as he stared down at the mess he made on the table. Dick tossed the blood stain wipe on the table, trying to think through the fog in his head. The eerie green from Danny's eyes still clawed at a memory in his brain.
So familiar. Just like-
Jason.
Wait, Lazarus water? But that wouldn't explain... He shook his head. He'll figure out about Danny's past later. For now, he needed to find a way to actually keep the kid around. He wondered if he was older when Bruce found him, he would have run off too...
Probably.
"Danny..." Dick started to speak, but quickly found his words escaped him. Green eyes stared at him, big and round, yet Dick could pick up more sadness in the glowing green orbs than the anger he was used to seeing. "I was-..How have you been?"
The teen raised a brow at Dick, then rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, fine? Better off than most homeless teenagers, as I'm sure you can tell by now."
"You didn't have to be homeless." Dick pointed out."I know." Danny hung his head, some weight still heavily sitting on the teen's shoulders."Aaaannd I did theorize you weren't exactly a normal teenager. Though, far more powers than I originally thought.""I can't even keep track of them, don't think a guy with a concussion and lack of sleep could have guessed them either.""Oof. Harsh." Dick snickered, "I have you know I have solved a lot of mysteries with even worse head injuries.""Not comforting." Danny crossed his arms pouting.
A moment of awkward silence passed between them. Dick rolled his tongue in his mouth as he pressed his brain on what to say. Kind of sad when he can't even make a joke to break the tension. "The offer still stands."
"What?""Look, I don't know what you have to do, or why, but I'm guessing it's far deeper than you're ready for. And I know I haven't exactly shown myself at my peak. But trust me, I normally put on a good show," Dick winked, waiting for Danny's reaction. The teen's brows were furrowed in confusion. "I want to help you. At the very least, give you somewhere safe to rest while we figure it out."
Danny sat silent, floating in the air, staring at him. Then, he muttered out, "What if there isn't a safe place for me to be?"
"Then we'll make one as safe as we can. Prepare what's to come.""What if I'M the danger." The white-hair boy's eyes shone brighter for a second."I trust you." Dick knew it wasn't how he was raised, to blindly put faith into someone. He also knew Bruce never distrusted a child either. It was a gamble, but he meant what he said. Especially after today, he doubted the kid would ever mean to do harm.
At least not in this universe.
The teen's shoulders dropped as his expression blanked. His eyes were wide as he stared back at the vigilante. Suddenly, the teen groaned, running his hands over his face as his body floated up and slowly flipped backwards. Danny then floated to the floor like a leaf, sprawling out face down.
"UGH! Fine." Danny sighed, before phasing into the ground. Dick raised a brow and glanced around for him, only to find the teen plopping down on the other side of the couch. His face in his hands as he took a deep breath. "I don't even know where to start-I doubt you'd even believe it if I told you.""Try me. I've been around a lot." Dick smirked, as he rested his head on his hand. Danny looked at him with a scrunched up face. "N-not like that! Geez, kid."
Dick tossed a pillow at the teen, who phased through it, making the pillow land on the floor instead. Danny stuck his tongue out at Dick, "I'm a teenager."
"Again. Kid." Dick dodged a pillow thrown at him. Danny snorted as he sunk down into his spot. He looked off to the side letting out a heavy breath."I- hmm.." Danny scratched his head as he hummed in thought. He was trying to avoid saying too much, Dick recognized. "Okay. I- it's SUPER important and- First you have to promise me something."
Danny's eyes matched Dick's. Dick smiled, "I'm good at keeping promises."
"You have to let me protect you."
Dick's brain short circuited for a moment, as he blinked back at the teen. He coughed out, "What?"
"I don't need someone to save me. I need to learn how to protect better. THEY need me to. Plus... I uh- I kinda wanna learn how you fight like that." Danny hugged his knees, twirling his finger in the air.
Dick furrowed his brows, his mind reeling as he went through the math of the situation. He wanted to save this kid but now said kid wants to save him? Dick let out a sigh as he ran his fingers through his hair. This was reminding him of Tim all over again with Bruce.
"It's dang-""Dangerous? Considering I just saved you from a bullet, I think I'm well aware of that."
The older vigilante stared down at Danny with squinted eyes. The teen just gave a shrug with a smart-ass smirk. Dick massaged his head. He hadn't to bring another kid into this line of work-but then again.. he did say they. His costume even had an insignia on it. Maybe he already was.
"Are you certain you want that, Danny? You could have a normal life, I have contacts. We can help you and them without you needing to be in the fray." Dick wanted to at least offer an alternative.
The teen went quiet, staring at his white boots. It hurt to look at. To watch as the teen really wasn't certain what he wanted. Before Dick could speak again, to reassure Danny things could be different- Danny glanced back at him with a fire in his eyes.
"No. I don't know what I want- but... I know what I don't want. I know what I have to do. I can't let others clean up my mess. At least not without me." Danny sighed, then he grinned at him. "Besides, I don't think I am physically unable to stick my nose in places where I don't belong. I tend to have a knack for that."
Dick let his shoulders drop. This kid was determined to do whatever it is he needed to. The least Dick could do was not let him do it alone. Though having his own Robin again was not what he had in mind. He leaned back on the arm rest, letting out his own heavy sigh of defeat.
"Alright-I promise, but we work together. I don't want you getting hurt either." He massaged his temple as he groaned, "I really can't believe I'm pulling a B again.""B?""You'll understand when we get to that." Dick waved Danny's question off.
Danny raised a brow and then shook his head. He clung to his legs as he took another breath. His fingers nervously tapping on his legs.
"Okay," Danny swallowed a lump in his throat. He licked his lips as he prepared what he was going to say. "Um.. what's your thoughts on interdimensional beings that float between the fabric of time and space?"
Danny asked that so fast, it took a minute for Dick to register what he had even said. He furrowed his brows as he replayed the words in his head. "Are you-"
"Just answer the question, please.""You need to elaborate first, champ." Dick coughed into his hand, "Like spiritual? Or aliens? I mean either way I guess it really depends on the being or beings in question.""Like," Danny hesitated and curled up in his spot. "Ghosts?"
Dick blinked for a moment as a cold chill went down his spine. His eyes locked on Danny's scrunched form, who was avoiding looking in his direction. Danny couldn't be-
"I know of them. I've met a friendly one before. Not really my forte, but the only un-dead I've really run into are more... reanimated? They still have their bodies is what I'm saying."
Danny looked back at him, surprised, before relaxing his shoulders. He smiled weakly, "Well, I guess I could count for that too."
Dick felt his stomach drop. He jerked forward, feeling panic as he turned to face Danny with his whole body, before immediately bending over in pain. He let out a sharp gasp as pain from his ribs struck him.
"Dick-" Danny had hurried over in front of him, concern written on his face."I'm-" Dick coughed a bit, trying his best to hide the pain. "Fine. Moved too quick. I just-Are you really... Did you..."
Danny shrunk in his spot, sheepishly avoiding Dick's gaze. "Well, not exactly. I'm more like… in-between. I did, but I didn't."
"Danny." Dick called out, as he sat up with a slight cough. A bright ring of light appeared from Danny's chest and danced around him. Dick's eyes widened as he watched the ring split in two, going up and down Danny's form revealing the disheveled teen Dick had met that rainy night."I'm something called a half-ghost." Danny explained. The white ring went over his face, turning his green Lazarus colored eyes into a bright blue. His hair turned back into solid black. "There is only one other like me and I don't really like him much, heh.""Only one other." Dick let his shoulders slope as he took in ragged breaths. He felt tears stinging his eyes while he stared at the teens timid face. The kid had not only died and been revived, but now he lived in between the states. With only one other person like him, being someone the kid couldn't stand."I'm so sorry, Danny.""It's fine. I'm over it. I was stupid and messed with things I shouldn't have." The teen tried to shrug it off, acting like being half-dead didn't bother him. Dick knew better though, he had seen that avoidant expression many times and had done it plenty himself."It's not fine, Danny. I'm sorry you had to go through something like that. No one, especially so young, should." Dick placed his hand on Danny's shoulder.
Danny flinched at the touch, before easing into it. His eyes looking at Dick cautiously, scanning over his face. He was trying to read him. Like he was searching for the lies behind his words. Dick's heart ached.
"At least now you won't be alone, champ." Dick patted Danny's shoulder, hoping he could ease Danny's suspicion."That's really sticking.. isn't it?" Danny shrugged off Dick's hand from his shoulder."Hey, my dad called me chum growing up. I could do way worse. At least I'm not calling you stinky fish bait." Dick grinned."I'd bet it's because you'd forget to shower." Danny snorted."Hey!" Dick cried. He reached to ruffle Danny's hair playfully in retaliation. The kid purposely phased his head out of Dick's reach as they both chuckled."No, stinky." Danny teased."Cheater." Dick grinned, as his hand went through Danny's face. Danny sticking his tongue out at him.
Dick pulled his hand back to his mouth quickly, as his light laughter became a painful coughing fit. He was coughing so hard, he was starting to feel light headed.
He tensed up feeling hands on his biceps, pushing him back against the couch. He only eased up after seeing a glimpse of Danny's concerned face through his blurred sight.
"Hey, take it easy. That cough doesn't sound good.. um. Wait a second." Danny turned away from Dick, who leaned back into the couch trying to suppress his coughing. Dick could hear the teen shuffling through the items on the coffee table."Here, stick this under your tongue. I'm going to raid your medicine cabinet." Danny shoved a thermometer into Dick's hand that Dick had pressed against his side.
Dick cleared his throat through some of the coughing, giving him time to breath properly or as properly as his bruised side would let him. He took the thermometer and did as he was told, cursing himself. Dammit. He really didn't want to get sick now, Danny was just opening up. What if he decided to leave again? Just because Dick couldn't take care of himself right. What use was a bed sick vigilante?
The thermometer beeped, breaking Dick's train of thought. He coughed harshly, while taking the thermometer into his hand. He swallowed hard, hoping to stop the fit from progressing. He heard someone whistle.
"Whew. That's pretty high. 101. 1. Lots of ones there. Though don't expect any medals." Danny teased as he took the thermometer from Dick's fingers. "Here, I got some cough syrup and Tylenol from your cabinet. Oh, guess I should get you a glass-""I can-" Dick coughed between his words, "Swallow it dry.""Are you-"
Dick started another fit, cutting the teen off. Danny just handed him the pills and started measuring the cough syrup into the lid, deciding not to try to find the measuring cup for it. He handed Dick the lid once the vigilante finished swallowing the pills.
"I'm sorry about that, Danny." Dick cleared his throat apologizing as his fit subsided again. His chest hurt, feeling heavy and weighted. He downed the syrup."It's fine, D." Danny reassured, "Though, I would say you can't help it that you're sick, but... this was totally all on you.""Fair," Dick chuckled weakly, succumbing to a couple more coughs."Look, we can talk more later. You REALLY need to rest-can you rest? Like because of the head thing-""I'll be fine." Dick cleared his throat again, waving his hand. He didn't feel fine, but this was just a cold. His spinning head was arguing with him otherwise."How can you tell- Dick!" Danny called rushing to catch Dick's from falling forward.
Dick fell into a coughing fit, sucking what air he could through his teeth. His vision blackened as he felt a sharp pain struck from his ribs. His last thing he saw was Danny's blue eyes looking at him and him begging for Dick to stay with him.