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Once again, scammers pm-ing or reviewing about art will be blocked.

This chapter has been stuck for ages. Sorry it's a bit choppy. A pre-surgery gift to you all.

Chapter 9

Tim glanced at his phone as it beeped with a message. It was from Bruce and very simple – 'Dick knows about Danny. The report will be finalised soon, he's being kept out of it.'

Tim sighed in relief, the more people dug, the more chance of his falsified records coming to light. If confronted, would the Fenton's admit to cloning him or take the out offered by his lie? After all, cloning was now very illegal without the permission of the person whose DNA was used and Tim had been far too young to consent. He had contingencies for if they didn't, but they still needed work.

He knew why Jason was staying, because if the GIW tracked Danny down they would be in trouble. Danny was vulnerable to their weapons and while Bernard could fight, he was a civilian. He didn't have the training to take on people who were able to pass as government agents. Which left Tim alone taking the majority of the fight. And Danny had said their weapons stung if they hit someone not contaminated, the higher your contamination the worse it was. Tim had the feeling he'd feel more than a sting if hit given the way Danny had been able to sense his old injury. He'd pulled the trapped energy from it, but something like that would surely leave a permanent mark. And yes, Jason likely would be even more affected than him…except he fought with guns, he would simply shoot the 'agents' before they could do anything. And his body armour was very heavy duty, hard to get through.

,

Bernard liked Danny, he seemed like a good guy, and while very similar to Tim in many ways, there were also obvious differences in personality. He saw Tim check his phone, a message, but he didn't see any sign that he'd gotten bad news, thankfully. He leant into Tim who wrapped an arm around him as they watched a movie, Danny sprawled on the other couch, Jason across the room…and armed. He was playing bodyguard. And then he realised Tim was armed too.

Danny wasn't armed that he could tell, but he had powers so did that count? Should he be armed too?

"Do you think we need weapons?" he whispered, and Tim looked at him, nodding slightly. And then Bernard felt something familiar being pressed into his hand, a collapsed bō. He slipped it into his pocket and settled more comfortably against Tim. Looked like he'd be going around armed for the foreseeable future and watching his surroundings carefully.

After the movie, he went up to the master bedroom with Tim, Danny to the guestroom and Jason sprawled on the couch. Thankfully, it was big enough for him and comfy to sleep on.

"How long till it's safe?" he asked as he stripped for bed.

Tim wrapped his arms around him, holding. "Soon, Dick and the team just made their report on the town to B and the others. With the recon done, it's just making a plan that will hopefully keep the civilians safe.

He nodded, turning in his arms, leaning in for a kiss. Tim grinned and kissed him back, pulling him closer before sending them tumbling onto the bed, making Bernard laugh.

,

Bruce went over everything the team had found in greater detail, feeling sick. The things the GIW had done…the pictures of the Fenton basement lab… they had to find out how they had missed it all. It couldn't be allowed to happen again. Those not involved in the investigation were going through the systems with a fine-tooth comb, trying to find how they had been bypassed.

Tim's brother had grown up in that house, how much danger had he been in? If he had died due to his 'parents' negligence…it would have killed Tim, especially if it happened after Tim found him and stayed away because he thought he was safe and happy. Tim would never have forgiven himself for leaving Danny there.

The thought that he'd had another child out there, in danger, it hurt. Because Tim was his son, emancipated or not, and so Danny was one of them as well. Danny knew that Tim was Red Robin, that he was Batman, had hinted that he had pinned down the rest. From the Fenton's records, Maddie Fenton was well trained in martial arts, had she passed that down? He suspected so given that the twins looked so much alike, that meant that Danny had similar musculature. And if she had…would Danny want to join the family business? And he doubted that Tim would sit idle, no, he'd likely get Danny on the mats to see what he could do, or Jason would get bored and goad them into it.

This had to be hard for Tim to deal with, which was likely part of why he was taking time away from the office. Yes, there was the danger to Danny and the risk of Tim being mistaken for him, but hopefully brotherly bonding was part of the reason. He knew how excited Tim had been to be a big brother at first when he'd learnt of Damian's existence only for that to go horribly wrong. Bruce hoped that hadn't influenced things with Danny. But they were the same age, Danny was a civilian, and Tim had known about him for years. And they seemed fairly comfortable with each other when Bruce had seen them, so hopefully things were going well.

The way things were going, the Fenton's would likely not be charged until after the twins birthday at least but if it did, he would step in. He knew Tim would want to, but not even a Gotham court would agree to that, even with Tim's money and both family names behind him.

,

Danny stood on the balcony, staring out at the Gotham night. It was so tempting to transform and go for a fly but as long as the GIW still existed then it was too dangerous. It was odd to go so long without a fight and it had only been a few days. He felt…angsty, stuck, but he had to ignore it, to ignore the tug on his core every night, knowing he was keeping Tim from saving people, wasn't out there doing it himself. He was a protection spirit after all.

,

The articles were really picking up traction, government agencies beginning to dig into the GIW and Amity Park. The fake agents hadn't been dumb enough to cut off the IRS from the city, messing with taxes would have gotten them caught very quickly. But basically nothing else seemed to be getting in or out of the place. The US government began working with the Justice League to come up with a plan to take the rogue 'agency' down with as few civilian casualties as possible.

,

Dick checked over his gear, they were moving on Amity Park soon and everything needed to be ready. For Tim and his brother's sake, the family would be the ones handling the Fenton's. The daughter was a civilian with links to the local vigilante who was still MIA and had apparently helped Tim's twin…Danny, get out of the city and to Gotham. Phantom's disappearance was concerning, did the GIW have him? Another reason they had to move quickly, they couldn't let the young hero be killed…or whatever was the equivalent for a ghost. He knew they were all pained by the idea of a teenaged ghost vigilante.

And it brough up uncomfortable thoughts about Jason, could he have ended up like Phantom if he hadn't come back? Had he been a ghost? Had Jason been in the Infinite Realms? Was that why he could be resurrected? The green of ectoplasm was very familiar, though not quite as toxic looking as the Lazarus Water. If the two were connected…could the Pit Rage be cured? There were so many questions.

,

Bruce went over the plans one last time, they were as prepared as they could be with the intel they had. The National Guard was ready to follow them in. The JL would hit first, heavy hitters and speedsters in the lead to take out the so-called agents as quickly as possible. They didn't want it to turn into a full battle, there were far too many civilians at risk.

He hesitated but then made the call.

"B?" Tim's voice came through clearly.

"May I speak with Danny?" he asked.

"Hang on," Tim answered, there was muffled noise in the background for a few moments.

"Hello?" Tim's voice but also so different, Danny.

"Danny. Should your sister be warned so that she can get to safety in case the Fenton's fight?"

He heard the teen suck in a breath. "She spends as much time as possible with friends, but I can try and get a message to her. And she could contact team Phantom, they can get word around to the civilians to stay in their homes."

Bruce frowned, that was risky. "What if it leaks to the GIW?"

"No one will tell, they're more likely to form a mob to back you guys up."

"Very well, I will warn the team we might have civilians acting to 'help'."

"Be careful, they don't care who they hurt. And the Fenton's…Jack can't hit the broadside of a barn but Maddie's very dangerous."

"Understood. Do you want to be informed when we take them into custody?"

"No," Danny whispered. "I'm sure it'll be all over the news when you guys free the city."

,

"You okay?" Tim asked after the call ended.

"I don't know," Danny whispered.

Tim took the phone and nudged Danny down onto the couch. "How can you contact your sister?"

"Fenton phones," Danny answered, and then shocked Tim by sticking his hand in his chest, pulling out what looked like the weirdest earphones ever. He put them in and Tim left to give him privacy if the call got through.

"Hey, Kon," Tim called out and a few moments later, Kon landed beside him on the terrace.

"Tim? Something wrong?"

He shook his head. "Are you in the attack?"

Kon nodded. "Yeah. I know you and Jason are staying here just in case."

Tim nodded. "You'll be careful, you died…"

"We've all been warned to watch out for their weapons. Going for a blitz attack, hit them hard and fast before they can react."

"Danny's calling his sister so there's a possibility of the civilians taking action too."

"Want me to keep an eye out for her?"

Tim nodded and showed him a picture of Jazz Fenton. "Danny doesn't think she'll be at the house. If you see her, get her to safety."

"Duh," Kon smirked. "We'll be okay Tim. I've seen the footage Dick and co came back with. They rely on numbers to take their enemies down; their skill levels are in the basement."

"Doesn't mean they can't get in a lucky shot."

"You're going to be watching from the Nest the whole time, aren't you?"

"It's the best place to keep Danny safe," he shot back.

"Riiiight," Kon smirked at him. "So, you're getting along?"

"Yeah, it's weird…it feels natural. Like something's been missing, but why? If we were really twins separated at birth then sure, I could see that. But we're not."

,

Jazz lunged for the earpieces, slipping them in. "Hello?"

"Jazz," her brother's voice came through, a bit staticky. "Takedown in nineteen."

She blinked before understanding what he meant. "Got it."

"Don't go home." And then he was gone.

Not even the Fenton phones were entirely secure anymore, he couldn't say more, couldn't risk the call being detected and traced. But at least she knew for sure that he'd made it out safely and was behind the heroes showing up. Now the team had work to do.

,

Word began to spread amongst the teenagers of Amity Park, help was coming. They began their own preparations. The GIW had terrorised them for too long. Their parents might be too cowed to act, but they weren't. Everyone suspected those monsters had Phantom and Phantom was their hero. He was the only one who fought to protect everyone, he was their friend. They would fight to save him, to save themselves.

,

Tucker sat at his computers, digging into the GIW's network. The small breach made by the Bats (Oracle!) was larger now with his help. Not that Oracle knew that; he was being very careful. He had the advantage because his tech was infused with ectoplasm and used Ghost speech. So he was guiding Oracle where he wanted them to go. And with their skill he was getting deeper into the system then he could alone.

Danny had done it; he'd somehow convinced the Justice League to help them. Maybe even if they supported the Acts, they didn't agree with holding the whole city?

,

Damian ensured his sword was sharp, all of his weapons ready. They would make those fiends pay for daring to take an entire city captive. He knew they still tried to protect him, despite his upbringing, but he had seen enough to know those so-called agents were monsters. Their plans were disgusting and dangerous. Trying to destroy an entire realm that they knew little about? That was connected to their own? He could see the main danger immediately, depending on how they were connected, destroying one could destroy both.

He was frustrated that they weren't taking part in the main attack, but at least he was being included this time. He should have been with the recon team but his previous death had ruled him out, even Father hadn't been able to go. Thankfully, the no longer cared about setting off any alarms. The GIW would fall to the Justice League.

,

Jason slipped the comm in his ear, leaning back in the chair as Tim brought up the monitors. Danny was pacing behind their chairs, not looking. The footage was bad for their tech but apparently that was the ectoplasm. Constantine and Zatanna had done something to let the tech work at all.

"They're landing," he called to Danny in case he wanted to watch.

Tim brought up B's camera. "It looks like a warzone," he murmured.

"GIW and the Fenton's don't give a damn about property damage or casualties," Danny answered. He moved closer. "They're heading right for Fenton Works?"

"Yeah," Tim answered. "They don't want the risk of them joining up with the GIW."

"They might already be there," Danny pointed out.

"Nightwing left a hidden mic behind, they're there," Jason assured him, motioning to the microphone feed. "Is Jack always so…enthusiastic?" he asked as diplomatically as possible, and Danny snorted.

"No, he's worse."

"You poor kid," Jason sighed, happy to see Danny untense a bit.

The air lost the chill it'd been gaining, so it had been due to his emotions. Did all ghosts cause temperature fluctuations when upset? Well, it was one way to monitor his mood.

"What the hell is that?" he demanded as he saw where the bats were headed, Danny chuckling.

"Fenton Works. That is the Emergency Ops Centre on top, it can detach and become a blimp or jet if needed."

They both turned to stare at him in shock.

"Seriously?" Tim asked, and Danny nodded. "That wasn't in the info…" he went to work warning the family.

"So…cloning, illegal interdimensional portals, weapons manufacturing…when did they become supervillains?"

,

Danny stared at Jason. Supervillains…his parents were supervillains. He had never thought about it like that, they'd just been an embarrassment before the portal and after…they'd been a threat sure but he'd never seen them at that level. But he wasn't Danny Fenton now, he was Danny Drake. They couldn't hurt him again.

His eyes went back to the screens, watching the Bats surround his childhood home, ready to take his pare…his creators into custody.

TBC…