“The Ghost in the Gears”
(DP x DC — Original Crossover Story)
It started with a pop — like a toaster blowing a fuse.
But in the Batcave, that meant something way worse than breakfast.
Cass froze mid-kick.
Damian’s eyes glowed red as he spun his sword.
Jason groaned. “If this is another Riddler trap, I swear—”
Then the lights went out.
The Batcomputer sparkled… and a figure shimmered in the darkness.
White hair. Green eyes. Ectoplasmic glow.
A hoodie flapping in some kind of zero-gravity breeze.
“Finally!” the ghost exclaimed, arms wide. “I’ve been stuck in the… gears… for centuries!”
Bruce squinted. “Excuse me?”
Tim, already recording on his phone: “Ohhh, this is going online.”
Damian: “If this is a cult, I am not dying over it.”
The ghost leapt onto Bruce — not violently, just… happily. Like a long-lost father meeting a son who didn’t know he existed.
“I missed you, Archibald!”
Jason’s jaw dropped. “Did he just call Bruce Archibald?”
Cass whispered, “He… seems harmless.”
“Harmless?” Bruce snapped. “Who are you?!”
“I’m… well, I’m supposed to be your father, but not really? And I accidentally got stuck in your gadgets. Now I’m here to warn you about—”
He paused, eyes flicking to the Batcomputer.
“—the machines that eat ghosts.”
The cave went silent. Even the bats seemed to listen.
“Machines that eat ghosts?” Jason repeated, pointing to a small metallic orb now humming in the corner. It had just opened tiny mechanical jaws.
“Yes!” the ghost said, eyes wide. “They’re coming for all of us. Especially you, Bruce… because of your weird echo soul thingy. Long story.”
“We don’t have time for your weird story,” Bruce said, already scanning schematics.
“No! Listen!” the ghost shouted. “They multiply! Each device… a harvester. And I… I can’t fight them alone!”
Cass moved forward. “Then we fight together.”
“Yes! Finally! Teamwork!” the ghost cheered.
Suddenly, the machines whirred.
All of them. Dozens of little metallic teeth snapping, circling like predators.
Danny (the ghost) grinned. “Okay, Batfamily, this is where things get messy.”
⚡ THE CHAOS
The Batfam split up.
-
Damian spun through the cave, slicing at mechanical limbs.
-
Jason fired electrified batarangs that the machines chewed and spat out.
-
Tim hacked into their programming.
-
Cass used her agility to knock them into the containment pit.
-
Bruce coordinated.
Danny, meanwhile, glowed brighter. Ghost energy flared — he became a living magnet for the machines, pulling them toward him, then blasting them apart with spectral force.
“Not all heroes wear capes!” he shouted.
But the largest orb — a glowing black sphere, buzzing like a hive — advanced toward Bruce.
Danny dove between them, spectral arms extending like chains:
“Not today, Dad! Or… stepdad… or whatever!”
The orb shattered. Silence. Frost drifting through the air.
🌫️ THE AFTERMATH
The cave was a mess — scorch marks, frost, and tiny mechanical teeth everywhere.
Danny floated in the center, exhausted but smiling.
“You guys… are… awesome.”
Bruce, still standing, adjusted his cowl.
“You’re lucky I didn’t throw you into a Pit for that introduction.”
“Lucky?” Danny laughed. “You already love me. Admit it.”
Tim blinked. “This is going to break Tumblr.”
Jason muttered, “I’m deleting everything.”
Damian sighed, sword still glowing faintly.
“I am still not convinced this is safe.”
Danny floated toward Bruce, slightly more serious now.
“I might be stuck in gadgets again. Or worse. But… thanks. For letting me fight alongside the Batfamily. You guys are… family.”
Bruce said nothing, but in his eyes was a faint shimmer — a flicker of something he hadn’t felt in centuries: pride.
“Go home, ghost,” he said quietly. “Before the next batch of machines shows up.”
Danny grinned.
“Oh, they will show up. But at least we’ll be ready.”
He winked — then phased into the Batcomputer, disappearing with a pop and leaving a faint echo:
“See you in the gears, Dad!”
The Batfam stood in the quiet cave.
Cass finally sighed:
“Well. That… happened.”
Jason just muttered:
“We need a bigger Batcave.”
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