DP x DC AU — The Boy Who Danced Like a Tragedy (Part 2: The Reveal)
Bruce Wayne does not ignore patterns.
And Danny Fenton is a pattern.
It starts with a file.
Minimal records.
Inconsistent data.
Digital traces that seem to… fade.
Tim frowns.
“This isn’t normal.”
Jason shrugs.
“Kid’s hiding something. So what?”
Cass, quiet in the corner, shakes her head.
“Hurts,” she says.
They all look at her.
“End wasn’t acting.”
So they dig deeper.
Footage.
Records.
Energy scans from the gala.
That’s when they call in Constantine.
Constantine watches the dance once.
Then again.
Then he leans forward.
“…Yeah. That’s not a normal kid.”
Bruce’s voice is calm.
“Explain.”
Constantine points at the screen.
“That right there? That’s death. Not metaphorical. Not symbolic.”
A pause.
“That kid is tied to the afterlife.”
Silence.
Meanwhile—
Danny knows.
Of course he knows.
You don’t become King of the Infinite Realms without feeling when someone starts poking too close.
Sam crosses her arms.
“You’re being investigated.”
“Yeah.”
“Are you going to do anything about it?”
Danny sighs.
“…I was hoping they’d stop.”
Tucker snorts.
“Yeah, because Batman is known for backing off.”
Danny groans.
“Okay, yeah, that’s fair.”
It happens three nights later.
Rooftop.
Cold air.
Gotham quiet in that way that means it isn’t.
Batman is already there when Danny arrives.
“Danny Fenton.”
Danny winces.
“Man, you don’t even try to ease into conversations, do you?”
“You’re not human.”
Straight to the point.
Danny exhales slowly.
“…Not entirely.”
“Then what are you?”
There’s a long pause.
Danny looks out over the city.
Lights flickering.
People moving.
Alive.
“I’m busy,” he says first.
Batman doesn’t react.
Danny huffs a small laugh.
“Okay, yeah, that’s not gonna work on you.”
For a moment—
He looks seventeen.
Just a kid.
Then the air changes.
Cold.
Still.
Heavy.
Danny’s eyes glow.
Not bright.
Not aggressive.
Just… ancient.
“I’m the Ghost King.”
Silence.
Not shock.
Not disbelief.
Just—
Understanding.
Constantine, stepping out from the shadows, exhales.
“…Bloody hell.”
Batman studies him.
Really studies him.
The posture.
The control.
The weight.
“You rule the afterlife.”
Danny shrugs.
“More like manage it. It’s a mess.”
Batman’s next question is immediate.
“Why are you here?”
Danny’s answer is just as quick.
“Because I wanted a break.”
A beat.
“And Sam had a gala.”
Constantine lets out a quiet laugh.
“Course you did.”
Batman watches him carefully.
“You’re powerful enough to be a global threat.”
Danny nods.
“Yeah.”
“But you’re not acting like one.”
Danny tilts his head.
“I have paperwork.”
Silence.
Then—
Jason, from somewhere above—
“…I like him.”
Danny snorts.
“Thanks, mystery voice.”
Batman steps closer.
“Your performance.”
Danny stiffens slightly.
“Yeah?”
“That ending wasn’t acting.”
This time—
Danny doesn’t deflect.
Doesn’t joke.
“…No,” he admits quietly.
For a second, the King slips.
And there’s just a boy who remembers—
Pain.
Change.
Loss of control.
Cass steps forward.
Soft.
“You fell before.”
Danny glances at her.
Surprised.
“…Yeah.”
No pity.
No fear.
Just—
Acknowledgment.
The tension breaks.
Not completely.
But enough.
Batman straightens.
“You’re not our enemy.”
Danny smiles faintly.
“Told you.”
A pause.
Then—
“If something threatens this city,” Batman adds, “you’ll act.”
Danny nods.
“If something threatens reality, I already am.”
That’s enough.
For now.
Danny steps back.
The glow fades.
The weight lifts.
“Hey,” he says casually, “next time there’s a gala?”
Batman raises an eyebrow.
“…Yes?”
Danny grins.
“Try not to stare so hard. It’s distracting.”
And then he’s gone.
Later—
Back in the cave—
The file is updated.
DANNY FENTON / PHANTOM
Status: Ghost King
Threat Level: Unquantifiable
Intent: Non-hostile
Note:
Prefers dancing over ruling when given the choice.
Dick leans back.
“So… are we just accepting that?”
Jason shrugs.
“He’s got trauma, responsibilities, and attitude. He’ll fit right in.”
Tim nods.
“Honestly? Yeah.”
Bruce looks at the screen one last time.
Then closes the file.
Somewhere in Gotham—
A boy who is also a king finally gets a night off.
And for now—
That’s enough.
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