Short DPXDC Prompts #809

Danny is extremely weak and injured and he really hates overshadowing people. He does the next best thing: takes over the shadow of a person. Unknowingly, Danny just possessed the shadow of Red Robin.

Sleep deprived Red Robin arguing with is shadow is not an unknown sight. The shadow arguing back is new.

It doesn't vocalize its disagreement, but it does subtly move, gesticulate, and generally give off vibes. Subtle enough to be mistaken for a trick of the light if you aren't watching it closely for a few minutes, yet clear enough to subconsciously pick up on.

Now, Tim is just wondering how the hell his own shadow, an entity bound to his own movements and incapable of facial expressions, is managing to give him an Alfred level deadpan disappointed stare. Damn he needs caffeine. Another glance at his shadow and; again, despite having no face to express, he's 94% sure it just did Alfred's patented arched brow. Maybe he should turn in early and get some sleep.

Alfred: Ah. Master Tim. It is delightful to see you resting for once!

Tim: My shadow started being disappointed in me. I realised I probably needed sleep if my own shadow was hinting I needed rest.

Alfred: ... I see. I am glad you can in fact, see reason.

next time Tim sleeps, Alfred brings cookies to Danny shade

Alfred holding a cup of tea and a plate of cookies.

Alfred: Now. I would like to make a deal with you young shadow.

The shadow flickers and dips in curiosity.

Alfred: Every time you convince him to sleep you get a plate of cookies.

The shadow vibrates with excitement.

Alfred: Excellent. We have an accord. Your payment for tonight

As Danny gets stronger he will reach an arm out of the shadow to take the cookies and plate into the shadow with him. Eventually Alfred brings him some post its and a pencil and they become penpals of sorts. Danny eventually reveals to Alfred Through these notes that he's a ghost that got weakened by some kind of battle and needed a place to hide and rest to regain strength. So possessed Tim's shadow for now. Alfred starts bringing the shadow 3 meals a day.

3 square meals a day is doing wonders for Danny's recovery.

He's not quite ready to climb out of Tim's shadow yet, but he is strong enough to start subtly helping on patrol. Little things, of course. A slick patch here an untied shoe there. Not leaving Tim's shadow means his influence is a bit constrained to places where Tim's shadow crosses. But Danny still helps how he can. It's nothing much.

At least, not until Tim finds himself in some real danger. A mission gone sideways a clown with a gun to Red Robin's head on live stream. And Danny, possibly panicking slightly, definitely not wanting to find out first hand what the insides of human people looks like. He just kind of reacts. The clown is fortunately standing on Tim's shadow, so it's a simple matter to turn the floor there intangible and let the clown fall into the sewers.

The whole of Gotham watches Red Robin's shadow eat the Joker live.

Danny got extra desserts that night. And the rogues of Gotham are now more afraid of Red Robin. As if the crazy bastard wasn't scary enough. Tim of course need a to have words with his shadow. because, what did you do?

The problem is how to get an answer. Tim can yell and talk and argue all he wants but it doesn't change the fact that his shadow is a shadow. It doesn't have a face and it doesn't talk. It takes him almost a week to figure out the post it note trick

Tim would pull up a PC and keyboard.

Tim: You can touch stuff, you can type. Get to it!

Danny : I helped! Why r u mad?

Tim: What are you? Why my shadow?

Danny: Friend! Injured. Healing slowl.

Tim: Ok. So till you are healed you are hiding in my shadow?

Danny: Yes

The IMPLICATIONS

1) Tim has somehow completely missed every moment of communication between Alfred and Danny Despite Danny Being His Shadow

(Poor sleepy lad)

2) Alfred is the first and only person to notice Danny. Batman wouldn’t let Tim go out with a passenger, he’s compromised

(Tim arguing with his shadow is too normal)

3) Tim argues with his shadow, goes to bed when he loses, assuming sleep will fix whatever is wrong with him

He then assumes his shadow will go back to normal because it’s just a shadow

And maybe Danny does lie low for a bit? But Tim still gets the disappointed stare feeling when he’s pulling all-nighters, and he doesn’t wanna get to full argument stage, so he sleeps more

Alfred rewards this with cookies and Danny heals

Tim does not question why Alfred is bringing extra cookies, or the slightly strange placement (or the new lamp beside the bat computer, which casts his shadow across the desk where the cookies sit)

He does not wonder where the cookies go, assuming he ate them while working

4) Tim doesn’t ask Alfred how to talk with Danny after he decides he’s real, either because he assumes Alfred doesn’t know or because he forgot and must reinvent this wheel himself

Danny does not help him because it’s funny

5) it takes the others an embarassingly long time to work out the whole shadow thing and that Alfred has known all along, especially when he explains how:

Of course Danny chips in to everyones’ arguments that Tim is present for

Tim’s shadow has been independently flipping Damian off with both hands for months

He also gives the others’ shadows bunny ears or moose antlers when he’s bored

Ok, so, these were my tags in my original addition.

They are suddenly relevant with the addition of Danny arguing with, insulting, and messing with the others. Because if Tim is Liminal enough to pick up on the Ghost Speak vibes, the others must be as well. In fact, they may understand clearer since they've all been temporarily dead.

I can't decide which I like better, Damian picking up on the Ghost Speak most clearly since he was raised around a Pit, or Jason since he seems to have been permanently altered by the Pit what with his unfading Pit Rage. Maybe they could both be equal? IDK.

Point! Point is, Danny shadow sending fuck you vibes in Damian's direction and Damian just bristling with anger over it but not being able to say anything without himself sounding like Drake on day 4 without sleep.

If Jason is there he is just watching. Highly amused. Because he can also feel the Fuck you vibes. And see Damian wants to do something. But doesn't want to look insane. THis shit is quality entertainment!

Alfred gives cookies at first but when he finds out that Danny is healing he starts making healthier foods to help with that. He has no idea if it matters to a ghost but Alfred would rather be wrong and do something than be right and do nothing. Danny is loving all this amazing food! And it does help.

I’m sorry, I’m still stuck on the part where every person in Gotham and all of the rogues now think that Red Robin’s shadow eats people.

Tim has been going insane.

Do you know how hard it is to capture goons for questioning when none of them will even stick around long enough to fight you? Look the shadows have been scary ever since Batman “I am the night” began, even before Signal’s umbrakinesis hit the scene, but there were limits.

Now suddenly every warehouse in Gotham is insanely well lit because no one wants to get swallowed.

There are five times the normal amount of cryptid hunters trying to catch Red Robin, specifically, out on patrol now.

Jason would be jealous of the sheer terror Tim now commands if it weren’t so funny to watch it actually mess with him so much.

The worst part is that trying to explain it doesn’t even help. “Oh no, it’s not my shadow, it’s just the ghost haunting my shadow.” Is not, apparently, a reassuring clarification to anyone.

Thing is, no matter how well lit the place is, if Red Robin is between a light source and a backdrop, he has a shadow. Even a very faint shadow is a shadow.

These efforts might not only be in vain, they could be actively counterproductive. If a warehouse is set up with 15 different light sources and Tim "just happens" to stand in the middle of them, he could easily be casting a massive, amalgamate shadow stretching in 15 directions at once.

I was waiting on something like this! Finally someone thinks with light sources (context! I was looking up how to draw shadows on figures and happened to be recommended a video that showed how lights work on clear crystal shapes,)

If you want to get rid of shadows you need diffused lighting! Get some semi transparent filter over those lights.

Think of overcast days where you can't tell where the sun is coming from

Tim walks into a room or something with perfectly diffused lighting and as soon as he realizes it, kinda freaks out. Since he knows Danny takes the shape of his shadow, he's worried about what happens to Danny when he has no shadow.

on anoher occasion, some idiot somewhere goes the other direction: the way to get rid of shadows is to have no light at all

just forgot one crucial detail

this is _Red_ _Robin_ you really want to go up against him in a dark room? I certainly wouldn't.

though now you've got me curious. What *does* happen to Danny when the shadow goes away?

When the regular shadow goes,

a pocket or pouch,

is still in darkness when it's closed.

~~~

Reverse Haiku...

Tim: *reaches into a pouch on his belt* Tim: *pulls out an entire eldritch horror* Danny: *blorps immediately into Tim's shadow and is gone* Tim: You saw nothing

Random goon: 0.0

The cookies and meals from Alfred help Danny heal for two reasons.

One. Danny is still a halfa with a living half, even if he's in ghost form constantly to possess Tim's shadow. So food helps sustain his dormant/injured human half.

Two. Alfred is baking cookies in thanks, gratitude, and affection for the shadow helping keep Tim healthy. The shadow must care on some level for Tim's well-being so is arguing him into sleeping. And after exchanging messages with Danny he learns the ghost is injured and healing, but still makes the effort and risks exposure to take care of Tim. Alfred is grateful and cares that this ghost is such a good soul to want to help and protect Tim. He wants to help Danny too.

All that emotion and metaphysical goodwill is infused into Alfred's cooking. That gives a big boost of emotional energy to Danny, which charges his ectoplasm. More energy means he can heal faster.

Despite Joker being found alive and returned to Arkham, the clown had been rattled by being swallowed by the Shadow. Danny let him stick in the ground, surrounded by concrete and dirt, for a bit before dropping him all the way into the sewer. So Joker got to experience being buried alive for a few minutes, unable to touch anything around him, no air but not suffocating, no one to hear his screams or jokes. Then dunked in sewage runoff.

Inmates in Arkham don't know what exactly happened to him after Red Robin's shadow ate the Joker. But it messed him up more than he usually is after being brought back to Arkham by the Bats.

No one wants to tempt fate and get eaten by Red Robin's Eldritch Shadow too.

On the plus side, criminals moving goods or doing deals and hand-offs are easier to find. Brightly illuminated warehouses or rundown buildings tend to stand out.

Oh what this?? Another dp x dc idea?? U bet!!!!

So anyway, Danny gets forced to go to a gala with Vlad and is not happy about it. The whole night he is just dragged around by Vlad talking to person after person and he’s sick of it.

It isn’t until late in the night when the gala is almost over that he sees an opportunity to slip away and takes it. He doesn’t get very far out the door however when a hand lands on his shoulder and turns him towards a group of people in front of a car. At first he freaks until he sees who’s guiding him to the others. BRUCE WAYNE!! GOTHAMS FAVOURITE HIMBO WITH TO MANY CHILDREN TO KEEP TRACK!!!

Seeing this as the opportunity that this was he shut his mouth and let Bruce herd him into his gaggle of orphans, who took one look at him and went- let’s see how long it takes Bruce to notice.

A long time it seems. It’s now the next day and Bruce still hasn’t noticed the extra person at the dinner table. 

Vlad doesn't think anything of it when he can't find Danny at the end of the night; it's not out of character for him to take off and leave Vlad at the gala and he's plenty capable of taking care of himself. But then Danny shows up in paparazzi pictures of the Waynes and everyone is speculating on the newest adoption and Vlad goes oh shit and begins attempting damage control.

Meanwhile it's day five and the Wayne family is split.

Bruce, of course, still hasn't realized there's an extra black haired, blue eyed teenager in the house. Dick assumed Danny just got picked up while he's been in Bludhaven, Jason is distracted by Red Hood business and doesn't go to galas anymore so he hasn't met Danny, neither has Tim who has been out of town with the Teen Titans. Damian would declare war except Cassandra won't let him because she noticed Danny didn't belong before they made it home from the gala and recognized that Danny's only goal was mischief. Alfred prepared a room for Danny because he's pretty sure that Danny will end up adopted if Bruce notices before Danny's parents take him back. Stephanie thinks it's hilarious because this is pretty much the same way she joined the family.

Week two. Jason has noticed and stopped by the manor for the specific purpose of meeting Danny and that alone has Alfred ready to keep him. Danny has just moved into some random rich guy's home and is eating his food, which Jason respects as a former street kid from Crime Alley.

Dick still hasn't realized Bruce doesn't know about Danny. Through a comedy of errors any time it seems like Bruce might catch on he mistakes Danny for Tim. Dick doesn't know that they are talking about different people.

Damian is keeping his distance because he sees Danny as an interloper and a threat to the family secret, but the others have been too welcoming for him to act without evidence. The only reason he tolerates this state of affairs is because Cassandra spends so much time around Danny.

Vlad can't even get close to the manor. Over the years Bruce has gotten the various magicians of his acquaintance to add magical protections to the house and now spirits that aren't invited in (as Danny sort of was since the family brought him) can't gain access. He's starting to think the Waynes might be a crime family, he suspects Bruce might be Penguin.

This is unknowably hilarious, a cryptid of comedy.

I’m! fucking! losing! it!

Very sitcom of Bruce, the only thing that would add more chaos is if the Justice League get in on it.

Jon starts just showing up just for dinner at first, then sneaking around at any time of night, then in random and increasingly unlikely spaces, IN FRONT OF Bruce.

In the kitchen at 3am, eating his food.

He hides behind a door Bruce closes, and B just assumes it’s one of his menagerie of orphans trying to get the drop on him, because he’s reading a case file and he hasn’t slept in the last 84 hours.

Bruce has noticed that they’re up to something but their secret mayhem seems innocuous and he’s learned that it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie.

A cold chill runs up his spine when he recalls how it feels to be assaulted by glitter in the Batmobile’s vents, but the shiver he gets is remembering the talking down everyone got from Alfred for crossing the line.

He still finds bits of glitter in his hair after a long night. He swears its force is so strong that it’s the one constant through all Batman timelines in the multiverse.

On one memorable occasion, Jon walks directly up onto the ceiling as Bruce enters the library. Dick’s finally in on the bit and it takes all of his Robin training not to peal out laughing.

The closest Jon ever got to getting busted was when he was in one of the coat closets and Bruce put his coat away, possibly without detection, but definitely without comment.

Billy Batson stays a week at one point. And try as he might to get away without anyone hiding money and food in his belongings, he finds a magically (possibly an exaggeration, but with the serious skill involved in fitting it in there at all, much less without his notice, it’s difficult to tell) folded care package that included enough food, water, and toiletries for a week, also a sewing kit and waterproofing kit for his backpack that he refused replacement for. He knows only Alfred could’ve done it because those rich bitches can’t fold things worth shit and there’s the curious lack of tracking devices in it as well.

Conner Kent even makes a few guest appearances at half a handful of dinners and game nights.

Bruce has almost decided he’s had enough when he catches a couple League members peeking in the windows out of the corner.

When it comes to an absolute head, Bruce is about to have an honest to god intervention with his merry band of gremlins;

it’s bizarre, asinine chance that ends the fun.

Danny was exhausted. He’d just souped box ghost after having to loop around all of Gotham at least 3 times chasing Johnny around to catch him.

And oh, I don’t know. Kicking Skulkers ass a total of not 1, not 2, not 3, but 7 times in the last 48 hours, none of which he’d caught a wink of sleep in.

He’d known his rogues would get bored at some point but he’d honestly thought Vlad would be the one to ruin the game. He’s lost track of how long it’s been. He think he’s been unofficially adopted. By this weird, probably crime family.

He wasn’t quite sure Bruce hadn’t noticed and kept playing along, there’s no way even with this big house that he’s gone undetected for this long. It’s been maybe…2 months? Yeah, that’s sounds about right. He’s too tired to do any more math than that anyway.

He really hopes Batman hasn’t taken notice of his debut in the Gotham nightlife.

Who is he kidding, of course he has. He’s Batman!

He decides not to think about that and just phases invisibly into bed, the mattress giving an emphatic thump as he drops his transformation midair and is asleep before he even gets under the blankets, shoes and jeans and all.

Batman has been working on a big drug smuggling bust and been busy with Harley all week. He’s moved beyond exhaustion into a new plane of existence. He’s forgotten what not having to muscle your eyelids open at all times, feels like.

And there’s the troubling new meta that just pops in and out, out of nowhere. He knew there was a new player, most likely neutral, as they had only been spotted blurily, flying from a distance.

B has a hunch that they’re one and the same. The property damage had been minimal, but the power to go incorporeal seemingly at will is very…troubling.

But Batman is done for the night and Bruce is trudging up to bed. He hears some of his kids snickering in their rooms and doesn’t possess the energy to be a responsible caretaker and tell them it’s 4:00am and time to sleep.

Plus, they’d never let go of the hypocrisy.

No more thoughts he tells himself, no more thoughts until coffee tomorrow, he can dream can’t he?

He’s opening his door before he’s registered getting there. Bruce thinks (drats more thoughts?) that he’s quite possibly hit a new record of sleeplessness, or that he could ever hope to beat Tim. Damn he worries about that kid. But can’t think about that now.

Doesn’t bother to turn on the lights.

And doesn’t quite flop, Alfred’s taught him better than that, but sits heavily at the foot of the bed.

Two things happen.

There’s a loud yelp. And Bruce is across the room, batarang in hand because apparently he’s still halfway in his suit, sans cowl. phenomenal. ideal really.

Two green lights flash above the mattress. His vision hasn’t quite adjusted. And it takes a second for his adrenaline sleep addled brain to come up with…eyes. Lazarus green eyes. Ice water fills his chest. Not great.

A confused garbled, “Jason?”, is out of his mouth before he registered the thought.

Danny’s high squeak of “Batman???,” comes shortly after. He blinks out of visibility for just a second, nerves, and yep. He’s definitely screwed. Why did he ever believe that anything could go right? Danny should’ve known his Fenton luck would come into play soon.

The question finally filters through after what seems like a frozen eternity, “um No,” comes out much shakier than he would’ve preferred at the same time two voice exclaim, “wait what?!”

Now that Danny’s been awake for more than 30 seconds, he realizes that, although he’s in deep shadow, Batman is bare faced, just dead guy perks.

Thanks ghost vision for the pleasure of viewing my death: the sequel in 4D.

No way Batman is going to let him live if he’s comfy enough to let his hair down.

Noise

Lights glinting off metal

Commotion

Pandemonium

No one quite knows how to describe what happens next, and despite that everyone has their own batencdotes- baanecdotes- bantnodtoces- batfam campfire stories of this night.

Stephanie swears up and down that someone *cough cough Dick* brought a super soaker. But Barbara knows the truth, the whole truth. Did anyone really believe they were safe from the future groupchat shenanigans with mask cams in this family?

She’ll let them know one day. But just for fun, she already has enough blackmail for 3 lifetimes. Even on Damian.

The lights have long been turned on.

They’re all staring at each other, in various states of street and sleepwear, pointing like the Spider-Man meme.

This is my first time writing anything for fandom. Actually it’s probably the most significant amount of writing I’ve ever posted to the internet. If criticism, will cry.

Not proofread, couldn’t be bothered to reread it (wouldn’t have posted because I’d’ve been too busy with the anxiety monster consuming me like a snake, already up to my knees).

I’ve been but a simple lurker for years now. Might do a part 2 if anyone is interested or if it catches my fancy.

But for now, I have to do homework…that I’ve procrastinated…all semester. Because I’m an adult and I make fantastic decisions thank you very much.

Soulmate AU where, upon the youngest Soulmate turning 18, all have a dream the next time they sleep about the most important moment of their Soulmate’s life(or lives, if there’s more than one.)

For most people, this isn’t a huge issue. For the Batfam, it’s a huge problem.

But when Jason dreams of a boy who walked into a dark hole in the wall, only to hit a hidden switch, die of electrocution, and wake up as a ghost moments later?

Yeah, fuck Bruce. He’s finding his death buddy.

Yay! Plot bunnies hello! It’s my favourite soulmate pairing! Warning for graphic description of death/half death/ they get all the trauma :D

In the early fall of an insignificant year, Jason Peter Todd went to sleep. At the age of 19 and having been alive again for 3 years, this was an insignificant day followed by an insignificant night.

Jason Peter Todd slept 6 hours before he woke up screaming from a nightmare of a horrible memory and this too, shouldn’t be anything new or significant.

But it was.

It was a significant day followed by a significant night with a significant nightmare of a horrible memory.

Because his soulmate turned 18 yesterday and Jason Peter Todd reenacted his soulmates most significant memory.

The memory of dying violently.

It started with a boy in a white, with black highlights, biohazard suit walking into a metal hole in the wall.

Jason, in place of the boy, didn’t stay upright for long.

He trips.

He falls.

He catches himself by pressing a hand to the wall.

A click and then pain.

This was a memory of being ripped apart at a molecular level for what should have been less then a minute and yet felt like HOURS.

The pain giving away briefly to the sight of a world beyond the veil of the mortal realm, of a green vastness that words fail to give an accurate description of.

But just as the pain left, it was back and he was back to being surrounded by white metal, only this time the pain was three times worse because there was now electricity F O R C I N G his being back into the shape of a boy and into a body beyond saving and no longer accepting of life.

Agony was the only word that could describe the pain he was in and yet the word did not give it any justice. It did not describe a level of pain that shouldn’t have been possible to feel.

He wanted to die. He wanted to live. He wanted to be an astronaut. He wanted to explore SPACE. Why was the pain not leaving? How long was dying supposed to take?

The screaming had started as something recognizably human near the beginning but as the memory carried on, it became less human and more haunting.

Yet still, there was human screaming present that wasn’t his own. He knew deep down, past all the pain and knowledge that he wouldn’t be making it out of this alive, that there was someone else there and that they were hurting too. He needed to get to them, to get to them and help them before he can no longer move, before they, too, reach a point where they are no longer able to be saved.

He wants to be saved.

He knows in his very being that he is past saving.

But he can save the others if he just gets to them. He can save them like he wants to be saved. He can PROTECT THEM before he dies so they don’t die too.

Jason could F E E L as every movement brought agony to every inch of his body.

As every movement felt like too much for him to handle.

But they were still screaming and he needed to get to them.

Seconds or minutes or hours or days and he knew he wouldn’t be able to tell you how long it took to crawl out of the tunnel. Only that he did.

The screaming had stopped but he couldn’t have told you when.

Movement to his left caught his eye.

His eyes met GREEN.

The creature wasn’t human. Eyes too wide, hair floating as if it was underwater, the colour matching the purest white he’s ever seen, and the body was just WRONG.

Sharp ears, claws, arms too lengthy and bending at the wrong places.

No legs, just a whispy black tail.

Black with white highlights.

It was wrong.

It was terrifying.

He was looking at a mirror…

The pain was no longer a thought in his head as everything was replaced with HORROR.

The reflection wasn’t human. The reflection was a monster.

He knew he DIED. He was DEAD.

He was a MONSTER.

Jason Peter Todd woke up screaming.

He needed to find him.

————————————————

Danny had been dreading his 18th birthday ever since his accident.

He had a gut feeling that he would be the youngest and knowing his luck made him certain that that would be the case.

He was right.

Leading up to this point he had hoped beyond hope that he would be paired with either Tucker and/or Sam. He desperately wished to have someone that he knows wouldn’t see him as a monster. As some sort of freak.

Someone who would accept him as Phantom AND Fenton.

He has learned by now that he rarely gets what he wants.

But like usual, it worked out in the most unexpected way.

His dream turned into memory as he took the place of his soulmate.

His soulmate who was half beaten to death and still getting hit.

Over and over and over again Danny felt as each hit broke bones and left deep bruises.

The laughing haunting every strike.

Danny, for a brief moment, knew that he would have more clowns in his nightmares after he woke up.

The pain was quick and sharp, followed by an aching that he knew would last for months if not years.

He was crying.

He was screaming with each hit near the end.

He wanted Bruce.

He wanted his dad.

The sight of the lady across from him just brought him pain and hurt in a way that he couldn’t put to words.

Does Bruce even want him?

He wants be saved.

Bruce will save him.

He needs to get out.

Bruce will come.

The door is locked.

Bruce will be here soon.

There is only ten seconds left on the bomb.

B’s really pushing it close.

Where is he?

He wants his dad

Bruce should have been kicking down the door right now.

He doesn’t want to die.

1

He wants his dad.

For a brief moment Danny could almost hear his name being called.

He’s so sorry. He should have listened.

Bruce came for him.

But it was too late.

He’s so sorry.

True void filled his head and for a brief moment there was absolutely nothing. No pain, no emotion, no breathing or movement, no sight, no hearing, no touch or taste or scent.

Then, with a sudden great breath, he woke up to black. The kind of black you get only with the complete absence of light.

It was cramped.

It was cold.

It was dark.

It was getting harder to breath.

Where’s Bruce?

He wants out.

Pulling off his belt, Danny felt the memory guide him as he used it to punch through the wood.

There was dirt.

He’s buried alive.

Danny didn’t have much air and felt the panic grow.

He needed to get OUT.

He dug and dug and dug. His nails bled. His mouth tasted like ash and dirt.

He couldn’t breath.

He was going to die.

He was going to die again.

He wants his dad.

Then there was air.

He crawled his way out dropped to the ground with great heaping breaths.

Danny’s eyes felt unfocused as they dragged across the surface of the stone beside him.

In Loving Memory of Jason P. Todd-Wayne.

Danny woke up panting and crying.

His soulmate was a zombie.

He knows his soulmate’s name.

He will find him.

Danny Had Enough of Clockwork’s Pining

The reason why Alfred is somewhat immortal is because Clockwork is in love with him, and had “blessed” him, but Alfred is unaware about all this, and Clockwork would love to keep that to himself, thank you. 

But Danny, being the little shit that he was, went up to Alfred.

“Hello, good sir!” said Danny in the middle of the grocery store, not at all looking like a naughty little boy up to no good. 

Alfred, being the absolute angel that he was, smiled kindly towards Danny, straightening his back after grabbing some canned sardines and putting them in the cart. “Yes, young sir? How may I help you?”

Clockwork, who was still in his lair, cursed as Danny said, “My Dad has been pining over you for… years? I think? And I just wanted to ask if you were free anytime this week so you could meet him.”

THAT BLASTED CHILD! Clockwork stopped time in his lair, making sure that even the observants were frozen, before disappearing and appearing behind Danny with his perfectly crafted Human form.

“Daniel William Fenton,” and good, the child flinched, “that’s enough.”

But when Danny turned towards him, he didn’t look the least bit remorseful.

Clockwork lifted his eyes to see Alfred, and his breath hitched when Alfred smiled. Amusedly. At HIM. 

Let it be known that Clockwork did not blush. He didn’t.

“I…” Clockwork coughed into his hand to clear his throat. Because he surely didn’t squeak either. “I am Horatio Clockwork. This child is just someone I am babysitting.”

A loud, ‘Hey!’ came from Danny, which was promptly ignored.

Alfred chuckled. And it was beautiful.

“Alfred Pennyworth,” he said. And his was smooth and beautiful and… 

“ClockDad, stop staring at him. It’s rude,” Danny said, a shit-eating grin on his face.

Clockwork huffed. “I wasn’t staring at him, Danny.” Then looking at Alfred, and Ancients, he could look at those eyes forever. “I’m sorry if it seemed that way.”

Danny huffed beside him. “Yeah, Mr. Pennyworth. I’m sorry if Clockwork was enjoying too much of a beautiful view.”

Okay, that’s it. He needs to get his child and himself out of here. 

But a small laugh from Alfred got Clockwork out of his thoughts.

“I am free this Friday evening,” he said, bringing out a pen and a piece of paper, writing on it with smooth motions, and handing it over to Clockwork with a wink. “Do message me the time and place, Mr. Clockwork.”

Clockwork took the paper.

And then, Alfred Strode away. Clockwork could swear the man’s hips were swaying.

He got Alfred’s number in his hands, written on a piece of paper.

“You’re welcome, by the way,” said Danny.

That doesn’t stop Clockwork from dragging Danny kicking and screaming out of the grocery store and back to his lair.

******

WHAT IS THIS?!??!?!?!? I DON’T KNOW EITHER XD

BUT NOW I’M MAKING THIS EVERYONE ELSE’S PROBLEM TOO

- Clockwork discovered Alfred when he was bored watching people in his lair. It was love at first sight the moment he saw Alfred defeat the odds in some secret mission. He was like some movie protagonist, shirt off and muscles prominent. An explosion happened in the background while Alfred surveyed his surrounding area with keen eyes. He looked glorious.

- Clockwork would follow Alfred’s adventures in being in the military. He cheered when Alfred became one of the best plan pilots in the army. He wept when he saw how distressed Alfred was in treating his comrades with field medic skills that was forced upon him. He cried in joy when Alfred finally left the military life to become a butler, an insanely handsome butler, for the Wayne family in America.

- But then, Alfred would have to go back to the distressing life of having to watch his loved ones pass away before him, again. He watches as Alfred desperately teaches Bruce how to defend himself (even if he looked very composed, he wasn’t. Alfred wasn’t composed). He watched as Alfred kept the Wayne Manor clean in worry, repetitive actions being the only thing that calms the man, while Bruce went off on his soul-searching journey to train himself while giving Alfred messages once in a while to confirm that he’s still alive. 

- He watched as Alfred gained a grandson, lost a grandson, and gained more grandchildren as the years went on.

- And then Danny came into Clockwork’s life, and Clockwork could feel how Alfred felt when he took in Bruce as his son.

- Well, that pride and happiness towards his pseudo-son was short-lived once Danny found out his secret.

- “ClockDad, look. Both of you are single. Both of you are old. Both of you are available. So, like, why not?”

- Because Clockwork is immortal, and Alfred is not—

- Danny stared at Clockwork in deadpan. “There is literally an afterlife for restless souls, which is the Ghost Zone! If Kitty and Johnny could be together, so can you two!!”

- “He does not know I exist.”

- I can fix that, thought Danny.

- So, Danny reads all of Clockwork’s (creepy as heck and bordering on stalker-ish— Oh GOD, he even has a picture of Alfred SHIRTLESS– Nope. Not touching that. God. Ancients. Just. NO.) notes and went to the grocery store that Alfred frequented.

- Thanks to Danny, Clockwork gets a date. And Clockwork knew exactly where to take Alfred.

- “By the way, what are you going to do about your fake civilian identity?” Danny asked.

- Clockwork didn’t answer him.

- And Danny figured it out. “You already had a civilian identity prepared for yourself… didn’t you? When did you make it?! When you fell in love with Alfred?!”

- Clockwork still didn’t answer him.

- “HOLY SHIT, CLOCKWORK!”

- All I can say is, the date was a success. Clockwork even managed to get a kiss… or two… or ten…

- It was a full blown make-out session that Danny (who was invisible) and the Bats (who were stalking in some of the higher buildings) cringed to. They were two sweet and gross old men that were in love. And that’s nice. But they don’t want to see them kissing!!

- Bruce had many reservations about it. That’s his Dad. And it didn’t matter if they already had their first date! If they plan to get serious and… get… married. OH GOD. WHAT IF THEY WANT TO GET MARRIED?! THEY NEED TO CONSULT BRUCE FIRST! BRUCE NEEDS TO MEET THIS HORATIO CLOCKWORK. And, to Bruce’s delight, everyone in the batfamily wanted in on giving this Clockwork the shovel talk.

- Hitting two weeks into the relationship, Clockwork came clean to Alfred, because he knew this man. He also now knows this man better than before. He did this not because it was fair, but because he wanted to be loved for all of him. Not just as Horatio Clockwork, but as fully Clockwork.

- Danny, who was on board the whole time, became worried for him.

- But Clockwork wasn’t as worried.

- And Clockwork was right. And because the two of them were very good at communication (which shocked Danny because Clockwork always talked to him in riddles. On purpose. Let it be known that although Clockwork is wise, he’s also a conniving little shit, the master of all things gremlin and mischief), they decided that it was best to keep Clockwork’s ghost status hidden, and not bring it up when it is not needed.

- But, because Danny is a good son, he goes with Clockwork to Wayne Manor as moral support. Invisible Moral Support. Danny was also going there to watch the Batdad and Batkids shovel talk Clockwork. (And he stayed invisible the entire time. Sucks to be you, Clockwork).

- When Clockwork saw Jason’s status, while he and Alfred were alone (and after soundproofing the room he and Alfred were sharing in the manor… of course Clockwork noticed the hidden cameras), lying together on the bed with Alfred in his arms, he talked about what Clockwork could make for Jason so that the young man could live the rest of his life without the Lazarus’ influence. Alfred cried tears of happiness, and kissed Clockwork (they were just put out that they couldn’t do hot gay sex without the family knowing.)

- Bruce begrudgingly accepted Clockwork after seeing how happy he made Alfred. Clockwork even managed to gain the approval of the batkids. 

******

- “I should bring my emotionally adopted son the next time I visit,” said Clockwork.

- They all agreed and were excited to meet Danny.

- When Danny - 15 years old - appeared, he hugged Bruce by the waist. “Nice to meet you, future brother-in-law!!!”

- The batkids love him.

Who’s Old Now? by @lirabuswavi​ (um i hope i tagged the right person, cause like im 80% sure you are same ao3 lirabuswavi, if not im sorry <;D)

ok this one-shot literally opened my eyes to sheer chaos possibility of Adult!Fenton adopting kid Billy B. while Teenager!Phantom being mistaken as Shazam’s ward and just ladskjsdk??? superhero/magic/ghost community would not be prepared. amazing fic. such fun.

and some doodles inspired by the fic

let lil Billy have retired ghost superhero possibly eldritch overpowered being Phantom as protective Dad.