Author's Note: So, uh, it's been a while... Sorry for that. I do want to say this story isn't looking to be abandoned any time soon. Not without me at least explicitly stating it. Life has been a little chaotic since the last update. Struggling finances, job issues, estranged family members popping back into my life. There was also a good couple months were I thought my old faithful laptop refused to turn not. Old reliable had been with me since I wanna say... 2019? Hoping I can squeeze out a few more years from it.

Alright enough chatter. I hope you guys enjoy the new chapter! I'm going to try to update more regularly. I think my writer's block had raised a bit. It feels more like writer's constipation.

Bruce had been trying to keep the teen out of his head all day. It wasn't working. Every time Bruce did a mundane task, his brain supplied a question. Questions that were all revolving around the same concept. Danny's well-being.

It's not like Danny really gave him a reason to worry. The teen seemed overall well-cared for. Yes, he was on the scrawny side. However, it wasn't too worrying for the teen based on age and height. He wasn't walking around in dirty rags, or covered in overabundance of bruises. The teen's home-life didn't seem bad, aside from the expected teen and parent issues.

Even with the conversation from last night, there wasn't anything really worrying. There was reason for concern, but not enough to approve Bruce's concern.

Regardless, Bruce found himself wondering if the kid has eaten. If he made it to school on time. If he had ditched out in a class, or if he was safe from the bullies he's mentioned.

Things Bruce had absolutely no business worrying about.

So, he's settled for trying to keep the teen out of his mind. Focus on the tasks for the day. Exploring Amity Park, finally trying out the fast food joint everyone seemed to swear by. He had no plans for the day until the evening. Vlad had invited him back to Dalv co. Less for a tour, more to make his sales pitch if you asked Bruce. Vlad had one intention in getting closer to Bruce Wayne, he'd have to be blind not to notice it.

He had successfully been able to rid his thoughts of Danny, and focused more on the surrounding town as he made his way to lunch. Bruce had been a little hesitant in finally trying the popular good joint. Not because of things people have said, but simply for the name.

Nasty Burger.

It didn't give the appeal most places would want, however the town's people of Amity flocked to it for every quick meal. The exterior and interior of the building was a lot more welcoming then the name. He had a simple plan, order the first combo he saw and hope it tasted as good as everyone made it seem.

Nowhere in his plan did it call to almost knock over a familiar black-haired boy.

"I'm so sorry." Bruce apologized, steadying the teen with a hand on his shoulder. The confusion on the teen's quickly shifted to dislike once he processed who he was in the presence of. "I hope you're alright?" Bruce offered him a warm smile, releasing his hold. He tried to ignore the was his heart clenching seeing usually warm eyes regard him so coldly.

After all, Danny didn't know it was him.

"I'm fine." Danny shrugged it off, turning to enter the small building.

"Do you mind helping a lost out-of-towner?" Bruce felt compelled so prove to Danny he's very much the same man without the mask. He absolutely positive Danny only reacted this way because he saw a rich, out-of-towner. Having met Vlad, he can't blame him.

"Can't read a menu?" Danny's words didn't hold much bite, just sounded tired.

"More like I haven't had any fast food in a long time." Bruce laughed, adjusting his shirt. "I figured I'll use my freedom away from Alfred's diet to sneak in a few grease carbs." Danny paused for a moment, eyes seemingly staring into Bruce's soul. It wasn't long, maybe just a couple of seconds before the look slipped to a small smile.

"Ya know, for a rich guy, you don't seem half bad." Danny laughed slightly, shaking his head.

"You can thank Alfred and my kids for that." Bruce smiled, following the teen towards the counter. "I'm Bruce, Bruce Wayne." He introduced offering him a hand. Bruce had to stop himself from reacting when a freezing cold hand met his.

"I'm Danny."

After the brief introduction, the teen immediately gave Bruce a quick rundown of what to avoid from the menu. Which wasn't much, except for Combo #7. A meal that's likely to leave you curled around a toilet for a couple of days. No one knew why, a lot of the ingredients are used in other combos and nothings really different about it. But without fail, it left everyone regretting every life decision.

Bruce wasn't sure how it ended up with him sharing a table with Danny. Maybe it was a feeling of being indebt on Bruce having paid before the teen could protest. Regardless, Bruce sat watching the teen talk, and joke along with him. Although Danny seemed more relaxed there was still a guarded looking in his eyes as they spoke. A distrust that laced through his body language.

An off handed comment about his dislike of Vlad Masters helped reduce Danny's tension. The teen seemed more than happy to talk trash about the other billionaire. Hearing just how close Danny might be to the skeevy man left Bruce feeling just a little more worried about the teen.

Vlad seems the type to crush everyone around him if it helped him move forward. The man can only hope Danny didn't get caught up among any of it.

Dalv. Co was impressive to say the least. The building along with all it's employee was more than one would most likely expect in such a small town. The outside wasn't nearly as flashy was LexCorp or Wayne Enterprise, but the inside was more than enough to rival them. Imagining the company fitting into Gotham's aesthetic was more than fitting.

Bruce hated it.

The receptionist was more than helpful, offered him every perk under the sun, before sending him on his way towards Vlad's office. Every employee passed made a point of greeting him with a smile, even with the need for good impressions it left him with a strange feeling. Vlad greeted him with open arms as he had every time they've interacted, walking him through the general premise of his building.

The sales pitch was hidden under well-placed brags. Most of the time was spent settled in Vlad's office, each man with their preferred beverage and a seat across from each other. Bruce kept his smile plastered, ignoring the growing ache of his jaw and just behind his eyes. With every second that passed Bruce found himself more and more prepared to turn around and leave.

Never to return again.

He more than welcomed a call from Vlad's secretary, something along the lines of an issue that required his immediate response. Leaving Bruce wondering around a section of one of their labs. It was one of the more deserted ones, a small amount of employees shifted in and out of the room, but none of them lingered more than they had to. Leaving Bruce to stare down at strewn components and half written notes that made no sense.

This was a section that had been omitted in the tour, and Bruce couldn't piece what was the end goal for the project. In any other moment this would concern him, Vlad could very easily just be covering his tracks, throwing anyone off from a more sinister plan.

But something about the notes gave off an almost carefree feel. This didn't scream the work of a well-paid, renowned, Dalv. Co. employee. It just didn't quite fit.

"Don't touch that."

The voice was harsh, ripping a piece of paper out of his hand. That wasn't what startled Bruce. No, it was the fact that someone had entered without his knowledge. He hadn't felt the presence or heard the footsteps. He had managed to sneak up on Bruce, and get closer than anyone has in essentially forever.

"Danny?"

That was the second shocking thing, because there he stood. Looking just as surprised as Bruce felt. A soft blush covered his cheeks, the original anger dissipating immediately.

"Sorry, just... I don't normally like people touching my work."

That's how he found out just how much Danny did with Vlad. He was an intern, but most of the things he worked on while there had nothing to do with Vlad. Just some random ideas that would burrow their way into his brain and that's what he worked on.

Danny was a genius.

It was easy to tell in the way his words flowed easily as he spoked. The way he'd backtrack and change some words into ways he was sure Bruce would understand. It felt largely similar to the night Bruce asked him about the ghosts in town. A calm and confident sense of full understanding. It was nice to see the kid so sure of himself. It brought a small smile on his face as he listened.

However, all good things must come to an end.

That being in the shape of one Vladimir Masters. Bruce's feeling on Vlad sunk further by the way Danny seemed to shut up the moment he met eyes with Vlad. Busying himself with the paper before him as Vlad interacted with the two.

"Ah, I see you met one of my most treasured interns, Daniel."

Daniel. Just the use of his full name sent uneasy through Bruce. It was made clear by the way Danny's introduced himself on both occasions he preferred Danny. Yet, here was Vlad choosing to ignore the teen's clear discomfort. Even in the face of company. Important company. That gave Bruce enough insight to confirm that Vlad believes he was getting what he wants in the end.

"Actually, he prefers Danny."

Vlad had barely paused for a moment, laughing it off with some half-assed excuse of it being an inside joke between him and his godson. In that quick pause, it had been clear Vlad wasn't happy to have a stranger correct him on his own godson's name. But that wasn't Bruce's focus. It was the way Danny's head shot up like someone just burned him, eyes staring at Bruce in full surprise at it. Completely unmasked for a brief moment.

Barely a few seconds passed after the comment left him, before Bruce found himself being led out by Vlad. Not before leaving the room, the man spared a glance back at the teen. The small appreciative smile shot his way as he turned the corner was more than worth it. In that short interaction, Bruce was able to learn enough about the relationship between Danny and Vlad.

Danny had all but clammed up the moment Vlad had entered the room, pulling himself way from the conversation. Danny seemed almost scared of Vlad, but in a way that felt strange. There was fear, Bruce had barely caught a glimpse of it. Except, there was so much more as well. It was easy to see there was a complex history between the two. And from the looks of it, Danny seemed to hate Vlad's guts.

The teen was good at hiding his true emotions and thoughts. It was something that had enticed Bruce at first. But there was little that could be hidden from the world's greatest detective. Bruce made a mental note to do deep research into the relationship between Vlad and the Fentons. To look deeper into Danny's Godfather. See if there was anything there he needed to worry about.

Bruce ignored the small voice in his head telling him that it wasn't important. Telling him that Danny had nothing to do with Vlad's possible extension into Gotham. He shoved away the voice of reason that told him he was getting too attached. Too attached to a kid that didn't need him. That didn't need Bruce Wayne swooping in with adoption papers and a way out of his life.

Instead he focused on Vlad's boosting and bragging. Focused on Vlad's attempts to butter him, to impress him enough to get into bed with him. In a business sense, of course. Bruce didn't need another scandal for bedding a villain. But that wasn't here nor there.

The best part of this whole show was when Bruce rejected Vlad's offer. It was subtle, Vlad's poker face could almost rival Bruce's own. But the man's eyes were the dead give away. That fake charm immediately dimmed at Bruce's rejection. A tension laced Vlad's muscles, and his jaw had clenched. All small things, but things that Bruce had picked up in an instant.

Vlad tried to turn it around. Tell Bruce he wasn't asking as in right now. Vlad was extending an offer for once he finally moved Dalv. Co into Gotham. Vlad was hoping to work closely with Bruce once they were in the same city. Bruce didn't back down, however. He was willing to play nice, sure. Tell Vlad that he'll think about it, but at the moment a partnership between Dalv. Co and Wayne Enterprises was unlikely.

By the end of it all, Bruce was just glad to be making his way back towards the lobby. Happy to finally be done with it. To be free of Vlad, of being in Amity Park. Even if he tried not to think about the one person he was leaving behind. Someone Bruce really didn't want to leave behind. But that was a problem for later. That was a problem for when Bruce was tucked safely back in the cave. Doing his own deep dive research into things he probably shouldn't.

Bruce had been mindless on his voice, trying to appear busy as he waited for Vlad to come back after being called away once again. As much as Bruce wanted to just leave, Vlad was insistent on seeing him off. That's the only reason Bruce stuck around. It wasn't to see if he could catch a glimpse of Danny in the halls. Part of Bruce hoped that Danny was already free of Vlad.

That was until he felt a shift in the air.

It was small, barely noticeable. But was enough to have Bruce raising his gaze from his phone. His eyes instantly settling on Vlad and Danny. It was clear they were in a private conversation, partly obscured by some plants. Despite the distance, Bruce could tell it was a tense conversation. It had a protective feelings flare in Bruce was he watched the scene unfold.

It was nothing drastic. Vlad was glaring down at Danny, despite a smile that still plastered itself on the man's lips. There were two things that caught Bruce's attention, and both things involved Danny.

Since the day Bruce met Danny, the teen had a spitfire in him. It was there, but Bruce hadn't done anything to trigger it. Not even when Danny had caught him looking at the paperwork in the lab. But in this moment. even from all the way here, Bruce could almost feel the anger in the air. Danny was much less controlled looking than Vlad. The teen's lips pulled into a scowl, eyes glaring at Vlad. There was a deep seeded anger and hatred in Danny. Despite not being able to hear the words being said, Bruce could see the way Danny was practically spitting the words at Vlad.

The second thing Bruce noticed had him pulling all his self-control not the rush over there and intervene. One of Vlad's hands were gripping onto Danny's upper arm. Except he wasn't just a simple grip. Even from here, Bruce could see the tension in Vlad's hand. Pale skin only turning whiter with the sheer force that Vlad was gripping Danny's arm. Multiple times through this conversation did Danny try to tear his arm free. Each time Vlad's grip was persistent.

The interaction only ended when Vlad's eyes suddenly met Bruce's. It was like a flip suddenly switch, all the anger in Vlad's suddenly vanished replaced by a fake showing of relaxation and control. He quickly shoed Danny away before heading towards Bruce. Vlad acted as if that whole interaction with Danny hadn't happened, and Bruce was sure Vlad didn't realize how much of it he had seen.

As Vlad steered him towards the exit, Bruce couldn't help tossing a glance over his shoulder. Danny had lingered in that hallway for a brief moment, one hand resting over the spot Vlad had just been gripping like a lifeline. Danny wasn't looking at Bruce, wasn't paying the man any attention. No. Danny's angry gaze was glued to the back of Vlad's head. If looks could kill, Vlad would be a pile of ash in that moment.

It took everything in Bruce's power not to slug Vlad in that moment.

The urge still lingered in the back of Bruce's mind as he went back to his motel room. As he showered, packed his things, and got ready for his departure tomorrow. Today had given Bruce more insight into Danny's life than the teen had been willing to tell him. And Bruce found himself wishing this business trip was a little longer. As much as Bruce knew he shouldn't, he wanted to check on Danny. Felt the need to. He needed to know just how far Vlad has gone in the past.

Bruce wasn't going to force the teen to tell him, wasn't going to tell Danny that Batman was Bruce. He couldn't, it would be a fully moronic move on his end if he did. Instead, Bruce thought about how to give Danny the opening. He thought of the best question to ask Danny to offer the teen a chance to vent without outright asking him to. It was all Bruce could think about as he made his way to the park once the time felt right.

But Bruce didn't get to do it.

The sinking feeling that settled in his gut when he arrived to their spot and found only Cujo. Cujo that was laying sad and whimpering on the grass. Cujo who perked up with a sad whine as he speed into Bruce's arms. He tried not to overthink. There was a million reasons why Danny wasn't here yet, even if the teen was always the first person there. It wasn't like their meetings were concrete, they never planned to meet up. Still, Bruce settled himself against tree. Cujo in his lap as he kept the pup calm with petting and soothing words.

And Bruce stayed like that. All the way until the sky started to soften in color and the sun was starting to make it's appearance. Bruce tried to ignore this sinking feeling that something was wrong. Not because Danny hadn't come to meet him. It was because Danny had left Cujo alone. The little ghost puppy and Danny had a strong bond, that had been clear since day one. Danny wouldn't just leave Cujo wondering, would he? If Danny was in danger, wouldn't Cujo know?

Bruce struggled with what to do as Cujo sadly left, barely nuzzling Bruce's cheek before vanishing from sight. Bruce watched the sky begin to grow lighter for a few moments before he came to a decision.

When left that park that night, he had two contradicting thoughts running through his mind. He had placed his extra communicator into a small hole in the base of the tree he had been leaning on. Bruce wasn't sure if Danny would find it or not, but he could hope he would. The communicator came with a simple note. Telling Danny that if anything happens, Batman is just one call away. As much as Bruce would like to know that Danny was okay, to get an update.

Part of Bruce hoped he never hears Danny's voice coming through. He had a feeling the teen wouldn't reach out to him, not unless Danny exhausted all his other options. Something Bruce hopes never has to happen. Despite all the things Bruce felt and thought, he was content never hearing from Danny again. If that means the teen was okay and safe.