Author's Note:

I wasn't sure if I was going to keep this chapter the way it was. It's been done forever, but I haven't posted it because I wasn't sure if I liked the last third or so of the chapter and wasn't sure I wanted things to move so fast, but it felt right. I also wasn't sure if I wanted to keep it in this chapter or split it into a different one, but in the end I decided to keep it.

Also please don't contact me or comment about commissions. I am not in a financial place to do any commissions and I tend to do my own art for my fan fic. That is not to say that if you are really inspired or something you can't do fanfic fanart. I love seeing the ways people interpret my works.

There is also a mini comic for this that's an AO3 exclusive. I may consider just posting on AO3 from now on as I can do more with that platform.

Danny stared, he couldn't help it. He almost wished he had extra eyes so he could see everything at once… though growing extra eyes would probably startle the Bats… plus it gave him a headache. He was looking around at everything as they walked up to a massive computer with multiple monitors. He glanced from screen to screen then to the desk, pausing as he saw someone's incomplete homework on the desk. He smiled to himself, even the Bats had homework apparently. He felt a warm hand rest on his shoulder and jumped slightly at the unexpected contact.

"You'll be safe here, there is much to discuss." Batman said as he looked down at him. Danny blinked a few times before nodding.

"I guess so… where did you want to start?" Danny asked, his eyes still wandering around the Batcave and trying to take everything in.

"Danny." Batman said, except he'd dropped the gravel to his voice, and Danny could sense every more love, care and anxiety now that the man was touching him. It made him anxious too. He couldn't understand why Batman was radiating such feelings. He looked up to the whites out eyes of the cowl trying to deduce what the man was thinking, when without warning the cowl was pulled back, revealing icy blue eyes and the face of Bruce Wayne.

"Oh shit." Danny cursed, his own eyes going wide as he took in the face of the billionaire. "Holy shit." He mumbled again.

"We were able to read your DNA and match it to both your birth mother and birth father… and your twin." Bruce said, looking over at Robin. Danny followed his gaze where Robin was also removing his mask. Danny saw warm green eyes - and though Robin hid it on his face - Danny could still sense his hope and anxiety. Danny's heart clenched with recognition and he swallowed back a lump in his throat as tears threatened to fall.

"Dami." Danny breathed as he stepped forward, his body moved on its own as he walked forward slowly and took Damian's hands in his own. Damian didn't move much, but Danny looked into his eyes, feeling the familiarity there.

"Dami…" He spoke again. "I… I know you… I know you… I don't remember but I know you… in my soul." He said as he gave Damian's hands a small squeeze. "Flashes… rooftop snacks… deserts… death." He pulled back, putting a hand to his chest near his heart and shuddering.

"Danny!" Damian rushed forward, holding Danny as he sank to the ground. Danny leaned into Damian and cried softly, wrapping his arms around his twin as much as he could.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I didn't want to leave… I didn't want to leave you." He sobbed. Damian held Danny tighter as the teen continued to sob. "I'm… I didn't mean to forget… why can't I remember… why… I'm sorry."

Bruce was soon at their side as well, putting a hand on each of his son's shoulders as a sign of comfort. Danny could feel both of their concern and care and it made him sob harder, leaning into Damian and Bruce both as he cried. Damian held him close.

"It's alright Danny. You're okay now. You're safe, you're with me and Father. It's okay." He comforted his newly found twin the best he could and Danny felt the scar he'd always had over his chest throb, it was harder to identify it amidst the myriad of other scars when you were looking. The necropsy scar in particular covered the one over his heart the most. But his body reminded him of it as it ached and throbbed, a reminder of his death. He struggled to calm his heart rate, it was too fast and uncomfortable, his breathing coming out in short gasps as he sobbed in the arms of his twin.

"I died… why am I always dying!?" Danny grumbled As he began to calm down. "I died… I left you… there was… ectoplasm… it burned… I couldn't get to the surface… I tried Dami, I tried so hard to get back… but I forgot… I forgot where I was going. I knew someone was waiting but I forgot who… then there was cool silence… then I was in the Fentons' lab… my parents… they said I'd come out of their portal…" Danny rambled, his thoughts barely joined together as he spoke.

"Yes… you died… but you came back. You're okay." Damian reassured him. Danny laughed softly and pulled away, Studying Damian's face once more.

"I want to remember more… it's just… a jumble." He admitted. His mind and emotions were both a mess. The returning memories were flashes, glimpses of a past he'd never been able to remember before, but the story wasn't complete. He wanted to know everything, remember enough.

His emotions were all over the place as well, he was happy to see Dami, he loved him fiercely, hed died for him and would do it again… but without more context to the emotions he was confused, he was angry that he didn't remember more, angry at himself for not being able to get back to Damian sooner. There was a fresh round of panic as he realized that couldn't leave Damian again. What would they do now that they found each other? What would become of the life he had made in Amity Park? Should he stay with Damian, find their father? They'd grown up with their mother… but he couldn't remember her. How had Damian become Robin? He was anxious that Dami would get hurt, despite their rigorous training. He had training? That would certainly explain a lot of his behaviors when he was younger.

He felt like his mind was going to explode with questions while his heart would explode from emotions.

"Who…" Danny started, then paused. "Where… why?" He couldn't get a proper question out, there were too many things he wanted to know.

"I'll tell you everything you've missed… I'll explain everything." Damian said, a small smile on his lips and he pulled Danny into another hug. "I'll tell you all the things you can't remember, even if you never remember. I'll never Let you go again." Damian said sincerely. Danny wrapped his arms around Damian in turn and held him close until Bruce gently cleared his throat.

"Perhaps we should move this to the lounge." He said with a small smile, his eyes misted with emotion.

"Yeah… yeah okay." Danny said with a nod, Damian helped him stand as his legs were still shaky, Damian helped him into a chair while he and Bruce went to change into their civies. Dany idly sat in the chair, spinning around and focusing on his breathing so he wouldn't get overwhelmed. Bruce and Damian returned surprisingly fast, but he figured that they would need to be able to change into their costumes quickly. He was briefly grateful that his whole form changed in an instant. He would probably take too long to change clothes otherwise, not to mention it would be even more difficult to find a place to do so.

"Danny… let's go." Damian said, offering a hand. Danny took it and the teen pulled him from the chair and began to lead him over to an elevator which eventually opened to a secret passage in a room of the mansion above the cave. Danny paused as he looked around with shock at the splendor. It wasn't as garish as Vlad's mansion in Wisconsin, and it was infinitely more homey, but it still radiated wealth.

"Shit… you're Bruce Wayne… after seeing Dami… I guess my brain just kinda skipped that little existential crisis." Danny said with a small chuckle. Damian's hand gave his hand a gentle squeeze of reassurance, Danny squeezed back twice to let him know he was okay. Bruce laughed and smiled at the boys before leading them through to a comfy looking sitting room and taking a seat. Danny and Damian followed suit, both sitting at the same time as if a mirror of each other.

"Welcome to Wayne Manor." Bruce said with a smile.

"Father has lots of space, you can stay in the room next to mine." Damian said with a rare smile.

"Father… oh shit… oh shit… Bruce Wayne is my bio dad? The Batman is my bio dad!?" He said, his eyes widening as he looked at Bruce then back to Damian.

"He has a plethora of children, but we are the blood sons." Damian said with a nod.

"Cool… cool, cool, cool, cool, cool..." Danny muttered as he let that information sink in.

"What can you remember… before you came to live with the Fentons?" Bruce asked, leaning forward in his chair and looking Danny over. Danny recognized his own startling blue eyes staring back at him, they had similar noses and jawlines as well. Danny looked down at his hands, his thumb tracing over the scar from his accident, as he did when nervous.

"Not much… I am feeling things more than remembering. What I do remember comes in flashes and little glimpses. I remember sitting on rooftops in the cool desert air and sharing treats… various snacks with Dami… I remember the clashing of swords… games of tag… pain… glowing waters…" his brow furrowed and he put a hand over his heart which throbbed. "It's all a jumble." He sighed.

"It's okay. You don't need to remember all at once. If you'd like, we can talk to someone about helping you unlock your memories. Regardless, I'd like you to talk to Dinah, she's a therapist I trust." Bruce said gently. Danny frowned, folding his arms defensively.

"I don't trust shrinks." He said firmly.

"Yes, we heard what you said about your sister, but I can promise you Dinah isn't like that." Bruce reassured.

"Has Dami seen a shrink?" Danny raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. I was against it." Damian said, "I however have not died thrice."

"Rude." Danny said, sticking out his tongue before looking back at Bruce. "I'll think about it. I'm making absolutely no promises. You may have done the horizontal tango and created me, but I still have my own parents." He said stubbornly.

"All I ask is that you consider it." Bruce said with a nod. Pushing the issue would get him nowhere, as he saw when Dick had confronted Danny about his parents' less than stellar parenting. He figured it wouldn't do to let his new son know that he was hoping to gain custody, he didn't seem safe in the household he was in. That would require more investigation; however, it was likely that the Fentons would receive some sort of legal repercussions from opening a portal to another dimension in their basement. He was sure there were laws against that sort of thing. Unlawful experimentation and reckless endangerment of minors for starters. If the whole town has been irradiated by the energy of this other dimension there would likely be personal Lawsuits if nothing else.

Danny stared at Bruce, wondering what the man was thinking as he leaned back into the couch, his knee gently knocked against Damian's, feeling as if it belonged there. He began to realize how much he was missing, how often he glanced to his side expecting someone he couldn't remember. He reached out and took Damian's hands again, Dami gave his hand a small squeeze of reassurance.

"I have so many questions." Danny said quietly as he looked at his hand intertwined with Dami's. His own skin was pale in contrast, the side effects of his ecto-contamination. He saw scars littered across Damian's hands and knuckles and was sure he'd find more on the rest of his body. It was almost ironic how they'd both wound up becoming heroes, Albeit in very different ways.

"Where should I start?" Dami said, looking up at Danny.

"I… I guess… start with what happened to you after I died." Danny whispered, squeezing Damis's hand again. Damian began to speak, talking about their mother and grandfather, speaking about the League and the way they'd erased Danny from memory. He mentioned coming to live with Bruce at ten years old and how he'd begun to work as Robin shortly after. Danny sensed a bit of shame and plenty of regret and he briefly touched on the things he'd done, both to criminals and to the family. He told Danny about how birthdays were always bittersweet. They'd never celebrated their birthdays in the league and it was strange to have his first birthday party without Danny at his side. Danny listened, engrossed in the story and occasionally nodding as memories flickered into clarity. The face of their mother… the caverns where the League operated… the pastries they'd snuck on missions.

Danny looked back at Bruce occasionally, the man hadn't known either of the twins existed until Damian was brought to him by their mother. That had to be quite the shock, more so to discover he had another son who had been presumed dead. Not all of his memories returned as Damian spoke, talking about everything he'd done, the clone their mother had made, the various missions he had been on with the Bats, coming to accept his new family even while mourning his lost twin. Danny wanted to remember more, he'd even chance wishing to remember everything, but wishes were easily twisted so he refrained. Needless to say the last thing he expected, when coming to find Batman and get help for Amity Park, was to find out head a twin and learn about his birth family.

They talked for what seemed like hours, Danny asking questions about the missions and different villains. Some of them seemed to have powers similar to his own "rogue gallery" and he hoped that Poison Ivy and Undergrowth would never meet. Granted Undergrowth was basically under "house arrest" and unable to leave his realm, but that wasn't a guarantee that he'd stay there. Danny found himself beginning to relax and he leaned against Damian's shoulder and closed his eyes, listening to the stories as Damian talked about the various animals he'd adopted, the different care they received and how he found them.

"You've had a crazy few years." Danny chuckled and tilted his head slightly as he looked up at Damian. "I'm surprised you haven't had to battle ghosts given the many crazy situations you've found yourself in." he laughed and stretched, wincing slightly as his incision pulled.

"Ghosts are generally handled by the Justice League Dark." Damian said with a shrug. "We don't really see ghosts here in Gotham."

"You have shades for days though." Danny answered, readjusting his position so he leaned back against the arm of the couch and looked at his brother. It was simultaneously strange to have a brother as it was familiar. He knew Damian in his soul, even if his memories were scattered and fractured.

"Shades?" Damian tilted his head inquisitively, and Danny noticed Bruce sit up a little straighter in his own arm chair.

"I guess they're more ghosts in the traditional sense, people don't really see them. They have plenty of different names, but I've taken to calling them shades. But there are also these grim reaper-like things called shades, and sometimes people refer to shadow ghosts as shades… it's complicated." Danny sighed and glanced at the ceiling with a frown. "With the amount of death in this city, or maybe something to do with the curse on it, there are a ton of shades… the ghosts, lots of murder victims and stuff. Ghosts with unfinished business who haven't passed onto the next life sort of things."

"I see." Damian said with a frown. "What do they do?"

"Not much? They aren't as material as they could be, they don't draw power from ectoplasm the same way ghosts from the realms do so they can't really interact with the living world much. Cold breezes, feelings of unease, anger, anxiety… flickering lights… the usual haunting bullshit." Danny said with a shrug. "They either fade with enough time, or they crossover… rarely do they make their way to the realms. It all depends."

"How did you learn all of this?" Bruce asked, curiosity filling the air. Danny shrugged.

"You just pick it up over time. I'm ecto-contaminated so I have… relationships with ghosts that most don't. It's a bit like being a medium, but also different. It's complicated really, but I've talked to some ghosts and learned all kinds of things. I don't even know a fraction of what there is to know." Danny said. He didn't want to reveal to Bruce that he was half ghost himself, at least not yet. Damian was a different story, he felt compelled to tell him, but also worried that doing so would break Damian's heart all over again.

"Can you record everything you know so we have a better grasp on what we are dealing with when it comes to these ghosts and the infinite realms?" Bruce asked. Danny shook his head.

"I doubt it, mostly because we put anything we thought was useful on the flash drive, and some things are… they're just for realms only residents… thought apparently I'm close enough." He sighed and ran a hand over the back of his neck nervously. "Some things just aren't meant to be shared with the living."

"But you are alive." Damian pointed out.

"Mostly. The ecto-contamination is… complicated." Danny sighed. He wanted to explain more than just "it's complicated" but he didn't feel like now was the time to get into everything concerning his weird biology and metaphysical state. It was kind of hard to find the words to explain it to your family, especially a family you just discovered you had. What was he supposed to say "I'm actually half dead and half alive, don't worry, I'm only dead half the time?" that didn't seem like it would go over well. He'd have to figure it out soon.

"We are more than willing to listen." Bruce said supportively and Danny shrugged and curled into himself.

"I don't know… I just… I need time to find the words and process everything. I'll try and explain I just… I don't think I can do that now." He admitted.

"When you're ready then, I'll be there." Damian reassured him as he took Danny's hand once more, giving it a series of squeezes in morse code, telling Danny that it was going to be alright. Danny squeezed back a thanks before looking through the window at the sky. It seemed like the sun had gone down a while ago and the city lights illuminated the smoggy air.

"You… you guys have things to do don't you?" Danny said, looking back to Bruce and Damian.

"That is true." Bruce nodded. "They can wait, the others are working on the case and can cover patrol. I'd like to know more about you Danny, if you're willing to share."

"Hmmm…" Danny considered it a moment. "I'd like to know more about you too… I never thought I'd meet my biological parents… and I never imagined my bio dad would be… you." Danny gestured to Bruce. Bruce chuckled good naturedly as he adjusted his position in the chair before speaking.

"What do you want to know?"

Danny thought for a moment, what did he want to know exactly? He learned from Damian that their mother hadn't told Bruce about them until Dami was ten, so he knew why Bruce had never looked for him. Nevermind that even if Dami had told Bruce about him, they all thought he was dead.

"I don't know." Danny admitted. "I guess the biggest question is why did you decide to dress up like a Bat and fight crime at night? You do a ton of community projects to help already, soup kitchens, shelters, charity events, and so on… You are already making a difference in the community. Why… Why go out and fight crime yourself instead of funding more police or something?"

"It's a long story." Bruce said with a small sigh. "It began with the death of my parents."

"My condolences." Danny said with a nod, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Thank you." Bruce smiled at him before continuing the story, explaining how he wanted to fight for justice and how he'd trained both mind and body to be thatforce of justice he needed as a young boy. Danny listenedcaptivated, in the back of his mind he kept repeating "this man is my father!" It was surreal and yet heartwarming as well.

There were a few stories he told about his early days and the trials he'd overcome when first becoming Batman. he talked about how he'd created new gear and machinery - with the help of WE's engineers - when facing each new foe. Upon seeing Danny's eyes light up with excitement about the gadgets he spoke more at length about them, the different uses he'd found for things, such as the different pellets, smoke, ice, explosives, and so on. Danny leaned forward thinking of all the ways he could put something like that to use and wondering if he could create something similar, or even if he could manipulate his own powers to achieve similar effects.

As the morning began to dawn Danny began to feel guilty. They had welcomed him into their home, let him in on their secrets and Danny was still hiding the truth from them. The truth about his death and his status as half ghost… he looked down at his hands nervously as they sat in silence after finishing Bruce's latest tale. Danny shifted slightly in his seat, and he was sure both Damian and Bruce noticed his discomfort, though neither said anything about it. Danny tugged his hand gently away from Damian's and traced the circular scar on his palm.

"I… I need to tell you guys something." He said softly. "About me… about my ecto-contamination. Its… it's extensive and more… More involved than I've led you to believe." He admitted.

"Danny?" Dami asked, putting a hand on Danny's shoulder. "Whatever it is, you know that won't change anything between us ahki."

Danny looked up at Damian and then to Bruce and nodded slowly. He ran his thumb over the scar in circles as he took a breath and tried to find the right words.

"I… well… I died…" He said. "You know that… apparently I've died quite a bit… but… the accident…" He swallowed and shivered, his eyes flashing green as the room temperature cooled.

"Did it activate a meta gene?" Bruce asked softly. He had suspected that Danny was some sort of meta-human since their first encounter on the roof. Given his slow respirations, low heart rate, and too cool temperature, not to mention the way his emotions seemed to affect the room temperature.

"No… not it gave me powers but… it didn't activate a meta gene as far as I know." He sighed as he shook his head. He forced a deeper breath than he needed and spoke again, fighting to keep his voice steady. "When the portal killed me… There was so much ectoplasm that it also revived me over and over and over, killing me and bringing me back for what felt like an eternity. It was as if all of my molecules were being ripped apart and put back together… but I came back… different… and… I didn't come back all the way." He said as he shuddered with the memory of his death.

"What do you mean ahki?" Damian asked with a frown, his hand squeezing Danny's shoulder as if his twin would vanish again if he let go.

"I'm half dead… Half alive.. I'm in a weird in between of being half human and half ghost." Danny said. "I'm human now… But… I can sort of shift my whole body and become a ghost."

"I don't understand." Bruce said, his brow furrowing. "How is that possible?"

"I don't really know… I'm a medical and scientific anomaly… I'm Schrodinger's boy… my existence makes no sense." He said as he winced.

"Danny…" Damian reached over and took both of his hands. "You're still my brother, my twin, no matter what has happened to you. Even if you never get your memories back, you're still my ahki." Damian reassured him as he gave his hands a squeeze.

"You can't tell my parents." He said, squeezing Dami's hands in return. "They'd freak… You absolutely can't tell my parents what I've become. They've just barely begun accepting that ghosts are more than posthuman-human consciousness imprinted on ectoplasm, they've just barely begun research into ghosts having a soul and a core… if they find out I'm half ghost… that I've been lying to them for a year… who knows what will happen. It could set them back to their old ways of thinking and they just recently stopped shooting at me."

"The Fentons were shooting at you?!" Bruce said, alarm and rage rung through the room as he stood. Danny shied away from the strong wave of emotion and shook his head.

"No… yes… they didn't know it was me! All they saw was a ghost!" Danny defended them as he held his hands up in a placating motion.

"Maybe Grayson had a point." Damian scowled, his fingers twitched to his side where he normally held his katana. "How could those people not recognize the child they've called their son for eight years." He growled.

"I look different… I am different as a ghost it…" Danny sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "I'll just show you." He said before light flashed across his body, changing his appearance and clothing. "Um… tada!?" Danny said, His voice echo-Y and staticy through the mask over his face. He did a pathetic version of jazz hands as he finished transforming, white hair floating and blowing through an imaginary breeze as he floated a bit above the ground. Damian and Bruce stared at him for a bit as they took in his appearance and changed state of being.

"You're Phantom." Bruce said, horror dawning on his face and filling the room. Danny wrapped his arms around himself, pulling away and slightly more into the air.

"I… is that a problem?" He asked nervously. Bruce glanced toward Damian who was staring at Danny in shock. Danny felt the overwhelming urge to flee, he'd never shared his secret like this before. Even when Jazz found out, it hadn't been because he'd told her.

"Danny." Dami whispered as he reached out to his twin.

"Dami?" Danny asked, allowing himself to float back down and closer, when he was within reach he received an armful of twin as Damian pounced on him, wrapping him in a hug.

"Father wouldn't let me see the videos… but they told me…the GIW… they'd experimented and tortured ghosts… they… they had you." Dami said, holding Danny close. Horror, rage, bloodthirsty vengeance, all these emotions screamed at him as Damian felt them. Bruce soon joined in, hugging both boys close to his chest in a protective manner. Anger and justice, love and acceptance, horror and sorrow all hit Danny like a ton of bricks.

"Oh." Danny said, realizing the horror they felt wasn't because of what he was but rather what had been done to him. They were angry for him, not at him. It was a bit shocking to be honest. He didn't think his parents would have the same reaction… Not immediate acceptance and rage on his behalf… There would be anger at him, disappointment and distrust. He didn't think the Fentons would immediately rush to hug him or be able to accept him as he was right away. When Freakshow had exposed his identity, Jazz said it had taken them a few days to get over the anger and betrayal that his existence caused. He hadn't realized how much he had craved immediate acceptance until Damian and Bruce had wrapped their arms around him. Hugging him tightly and comforting him, even though he was a ghost.

Danny leaned into the embrace, holding them as tightly as he dared. They stayed like that a long moment before the chill of his ghostly body began to make Damian shiver. Danny blinked away tears from behind his mask.

"Right… Sorry." He said as he slipped from their arms and landed, transforming back into a human with another flash of light. "I tend to forget how cold my ghost half is… How cold it makes people." He said apologetically.

"Then I'll wear something warmer next time." Damian said, fighting off a shiver. Bruce went to a drawer and retrieved a blanket, draping it around Damian before looking at Danny.

"You can stay here as long as you'd like. Even once Amity has been restored, you can stay if you choose." Bruce told him, the love, acceptance, and righteous anger rolled off him and Danny swallowed back more tears.

"Yeah… maybe… maybe I will stay for a bit."