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Danny was having a nice, slow day for once in his half-life. His boyfriend had been called away for something regarding his nightlife, but Danny hadn’t been needed. Though to be fair, only the Bats knew that Phantom was in Gotham. It wasn’t common knowledge yet. It wasn’t even common knowledge that there was a vigilante named Phantom who was a ghost unless you were from Amity Park or Gotham. And the Gotham thing was a more recent development.
He was in his second year of college after scoring a full-ride scholarship and started dating fucking Tim Drake-Wayne after literally running into him at a coffee shop. The workers also accidentally mixed their drinks up since both of them were getting the same amount of espresso shots in their orders.
Which slightly concerned Danny since Tim wasn’t dead.
Though he did find out that Tim was liminal after they talked a bit. Then they’d exchanged numbers and eventually Tim asked Danny out and Danny somehow found enough of a voice to say yes despite the shock.
They’d been dating for about a year and a few months ago he’d revealed his identity as Phantom to Tim and the other Waynes after accidentally finding out they’re the Bats. He figured it was only fair. Especially since Phantom had been working with the Bats for nearly as long as he’d been in Gotham.
(Trying to get Batman to let him work with them in the first place was a pain in the ass).
He also didn’t have to worry about ghosts attacking since he’d gotten them to limit their attacks once he was crowned High King so that he could actually sleep and get good grades and have a life. Sometimes they would just brawl when he visited the Realms and other times they’d show up to fulfill their Obsessions when Danny had more free time or in Amity where Val, Ellie, and his parents were. Once Ellie was adopted by his parents and he revealed his secret to them and Val, he trusted them to handle the ghosts that came through the portal on their own with the understanding that if it got too bad they’d call or message him and he’d portal over.
But today was a slow day. No ghost fights, homework finished, patrol not for a few hours, and he’d eaten and just taken a shower. He was feeling like a whole ass person today.
Then he felt a tug on his core.
He was being summoned.
Right as he was getting ready to get dressed.
He’d literally just gotten out of the shower and dried himself off somewhat. His hair was still dripping water. And now he was getting summoned Ancients knew where for an unknown reason.
Couldn't they have waited a couple minutes?
Why did the multiverse hate him?
~~~~
Tim was on the Watchtower with the rest of his family (he and Jason had grown a lot closer, especially once Danny got rid of the Pit Madness) and the main members of the Justice League and a couple members of Dark. He wasn’t sure why as they hadn’t really been told what they were doing up here.
All they knew was Constantine was summoning something and they were needed there because apparently whatever Constantine was summoning had been seen or sensed in Gotham? Tim hadn’t fully been paying attention since he was lamenting having to leave his boyfriend and their apartment before patrol started when all he’d really wanted to do was let his boyfriend fuck him and then cuddle until they had to get up and change.
He’d just have to reschedule that to either after patrol or tomorrow.
The summoning circle glowing that familiar ectoplasmic green shocked Tim out of his thoughts. Was Constantine summoning a Realms ghost?! Seriously?!
He looked over to his family and could tell they were just as confused (and concerned) despite the domino masks they wore (or cowl for Bruce and Duke) hiding their eyes.
And then, Danny - his fucking boyfriend - appeared in the circle, looking confused as hell with dripping wet hair and hands covering his crotch as he looked around to see who’d summonded him and where. In the time it took the other members to widen their eyes in surprise, Tim sprung into action, removing his cape and rushing over to cover Danny with it so he wasn’t stark naked in a room full of heroes.
As he covered Danny’s lower body with his cape, Bruce came up beside Tim and took off his cape too, placing it around Danny’s back and over his shoulders while Tim’s cape covered Danny’s crotch. At least now he had some barrier between him and prying eyes. Batman’s cape fell over Danny’s arms to partially cover his front a bit too. And both capes would help keep Danny warm since he had nothing on him to do so.
Though with his ice core he probably wouldn’t be affected by some chilly air.
“What the- oh, hey Red Robin, Batman, other Bats,” Danny said, looking at Tim, Bruce, and then the gaggle of Tim’s siblings behind the two of them. Tim glanced over and saw them all give him small waves. Danny then looked around and saw the members of the Justice League still staring with gaping mouths and open shock. “Uh, why exactly am I here? Like, not that I mind being in space - cause I absolutely love space and would love to look out those windows some more - but I was trying to get dressed after my shower and instead I’m here.”
That seemed to break the other members out of their stupor.
“My apologies, but I think we may have summoned you by mistake,” Wonder Woman said, looking over at Constantine who was staring at Danny with a mixture of confusion and concern.
“Well, who were you trying to summon? Maybe I can help figure out why it went wrong,” Danny suggested with a shrug and crossed his arms over his chest.
Tim was trying really hard to not stare at said chest.
Really hard.
“I’m not sure if you can help with that since you’re, y’know, human?” Green Lantern said. Tim, on principle, rolled his eyes at that, but had to hold back a snort (like his siblings and even Bruce did) since Hal obviously assumed Danny was a regular guy.
Danny just smirked at Hal. “Who says me being ‘human’ means I don’t know what I’m talking about? Batman and his Bats and Birds are human and I’m pretty sure they can take on any member of the Justice League.”
“Speaking of,” Flash interjected before Hal could respond to Danny’s comment, “why do you seem to know them?”
“Because I live in Gotham and have been living there for a couple years?” Danny answered, raising an eyebrow at Barry. “Seriously, though, who were you trying to summon?”
“Why in the bloody hell are you dripping with death magic?” Constantine asked, causing everybody to turn and look at him, Danny looking a bit confused.
“Uh, cause I’m half-dead? Oh, were y’all summoning a ghost?”
That made everybody (besides the Bats) in the room freeze in shock. Though Superman looked a little relieved, likely having heard Danny’s slightly slower heartbeat the entire time.
“How can someone be half-dead?” Hall blurted out, causing Jason, Dick, Bruce, and Tim to all turn their heads to glare at him. The others weren’t happy with the question either, but they weren’t glaring with the same intensity. That question was a little too close to asking how Danny died for their comfort.
Danny just chuckled a little.
“You guys can relax, I’ve been asked that before. If I remember, a couple of you asked me that question,” Danny said, pointedly looking at Tim and Damian before looking back at Hal. “For future reference, never ask a ghost how they died. It won’t end well for you. You’re just lucky that I’m not a full ghost and that that question was different enough to not bother me.”
At least Hal looked sheepish at that.
“Anyway,” Danny continued, “you simply die but only partially. I don’t really know the specifics, nobody does, it’s really rare and currently there are only two of my species. There’s technically a third but she’s a clone who was never fully alive so she doesn’t fully count. And no, I will not tell you who those other two are. I will tell you what I am though. I’m what’s called a ‘halfa’ and if any of you regularly deal with the Infinite Realms, you’ve probably heard the term.”
Tim saw both Constantine and Zatanna’s eyes widen at the term. Danny noticed too.
“I take it you two have heard the term,” Danny said, looking at them. They both nodded.
“I’ve heard it mentioned in passing, but never really thought about it much,” Zatanna said. “There are a few other terms that I’ve heard in relation to the Infinite Realms that I don’t understand, so I wasn’t in a hurry to find out what a ‘halfa’ was.”
“I’ve heard the term too. So, does that mean you’re specifically part Realms ghost?” Constantine asked, still looking confused and concerned. Danny nodded.
“Yeah, my ghost half is a Realms ghost. I have the powers and everything,” Danny responded, shrugging a little. The shrug moved Batman’s cape momentarily and Tim had to once more focus on anything but Danny’s very enticing bare chest. Steph noticed and waggled her eyebrows at Tim from where she stood and he glared at her. She may not be able to see his eyes, but he knew that she knew he was glaring. He could tell Cass and Duke were holding in their laughter at the interaction.
He hated this fucking family.
“So, I’m gonna ask this again. Who were you trying to summon?” Danny asked, exasperated and slightly annoyed. He looked over at the Bats who gave him shrugs to indicate they hadn’t been told beforehand and he rolled his eyes.
Tim loved that Danny was just as exasperated with the League as the rest of them were right now. Danny returned his gaze to the other members present, waiting for an actual answer and crossing his arms.
He made an imposing figure and Tim was lamenting even more that they were currently in the Watchtower and not in their apartment.
“We were attempting to summon the High King of the Infinite Realms, but seem to have summoned you by mistake,” Diana said, ever the diplomat. “If needed, one of us can always escort you back to your dwelling.”
Danny laughed a bit at that. “No need. And you didn’t get me by mistake, since I am the High King.”
Tim could visibly see each of the members practically bluescreen. He didn’t bother hiding his snicker, and could hear his siblings not hiding theirs either.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but you don’t exactly…” Superman started, trailing off as he gestured to Danny.
“I don’t really look like a king?” Danny supplied and Clark nodded in response. Danny chuckled again. “Well, considering I’d just taken a shower and was about to get dressed, that’s probably why. Hold on a moment.”
Danny let that ring of light form around his waist and pass over his body, the capes covering his nude form gone and transforming himself into Phantom. Specifically his regal form with the Crown of Fire, Ring of Rage, slightly more armored suit, and fur cape with space lining the inside. The Crown and Ring had both visibly changed a bit once Danny wore them to fit his powers and personality.
“High King Phantom, the Balance and Tyrant Destroyer, at your service,” Danny said with a flourish and small bow. The rest of the League stared in shock (and horror in Constantine and Zatanna’s case) before they all bowed back, Diana and Clark leading the others. The only ones who didn’t bow were the Bats.
Danny waved a hand dismissively. “You don’t need to bow or be so formal. I’m not like Pariah Dark and didn’t even want the crown in the first place. I was just unlucky enough to end up with it.”
“Our apologies, High King Phantom. We were unaware of your… current state when we summoned you,” Diana said as she straightened from her bow.
“Bats, why the bloody fuck didn’t you say you knew the High King?!” Constantine asked, voice tight with panic. Tim could tell that Bruce was trying very hard to not audibly sigh or noticeably roll his eyes.
“You never mentioned who you were summoning,” he said simply, arms crossed as he stared the other man down. Jason snickered while Steph let out a full cackle.
“Ok, so what exactly did you summon me for?” Danny asked.
~~~~
Later, after the issue with the Justice League and a fairly quiet patrol, Danny and Tim were laying in bed after Danny got done fucking his boyfriend while they showered together (to Tim’s great pleasure). They were currently cuddling in bed for a bit before they inevitably fell asleep curled in each other’s arms.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Justice League so confused,” Tim said with a chuckle as he thought back to the entire thing. Danny chuckled too.
“I don’t know what confused them more: my showing up, my showing up naked, me being the High King, my transformation, or the fact that when I transformed back, I still had your and Bruce’s capes wrapped around me.”
Tim laughed at that. “Honestly? A combination but they really were confused with that last one. Though logically it makes sense that you wouldn’t suddenly gain clothes on your human form when you didn’t have any on beforehand.”
Danny did his best to shrug without disturbing their position. “I mean, from how you guys complain about them, I don’t think they use logical thinking all the time. Especially during meetings.”
Tim sighed a little. “Yeah, that’s true. Especially some members.”
He was talking about Hal Jordan and John Constantine and Danny knew that’s who he was referring to.
There was a comfortable silence for a few moments.
“So, how long do you think it’ll take them to bombard Bruce with questions about me?”
Danny looked over at Tim and saw him thinking, though his content and dazed smile was still on his face from their romp in the shower.
“Hm, they’ll probably wait until tomorrow since it’ll take them that long to fully process everything from today. And they’ll probably want to meet with you more officially and possibly offer you a spot with the League.”
“That’d be kinda fun. Make it easy if there’s a ghost attack or something somewhere other than Gotham or Amity. But I’d probably have to wait till I graduate because I experienced poor grades due to too much fighting in high school and I’m not keen to repeat it.”
Danny felt his boyfriend laugh and press more into his side. It wasn’t too long after that he felt Tim fall asleep and he just curled tighter around him, falling asleep shortly afterwards himself.