Ok Now Do The Batkids Sneaking Back IN After Sneaking Out

Family Comes in All Shapes and Sizes

July 15: Meeting a new member of the family | wire

Billy shifts on his feet, uneasy and nervous. 

“Are you sure they’re gonna like me?” Billy asks Danny as he fixes his shirt for the nth time. 

Danny just rolls his eyes with a smile, elbowing Billy lightly. 

“Don’t worry so much! They’ve been bugging me to meet you since I told them about you,” Danny replies soothingly. 

Billy can’t help but let out an uneasy breath, shaking his hands out to try and rid himself of some of the nerves. It helps, but only slightly. He really does want to make a good first impression on Danny’s family. 

“Okay, okay let’s meet them before I get so nervous I change my mind,” Billy states, reaching out to grip Danny’s hand tightly in his own. 

Danny offers a soothing smile as he squeezes Billy’s hand gently, offering some comfort. Then, he reaches his other hand out, curling his fingers as nails extend from the tips. In one motion, he swings his hand in the air, a portal opening in front of them.

Billy gets tugged through before he can think too much about the fear and anxiety of entering a portal that leads to someplace he’s never been before. 

The first sensation he feels is cold, freezing cold. Followed by warmth as a heavy coat is placed over his shoulders. 

“I told you it was going to be cold,” Danny huffs good-naturedly, apparently not feeling the chill in his ghost form. 

“How was I supposed to know you meant freezing and not just chilly,” Billy pouts. 

Danny raises an eyebrow as he smirks slightly. 

“Maybe because I told you multiple times that’s what I meant?” 

Billy huffs and shoves Danny good-naturedly. 

“Great One!” a voice booms before a white furred being envelopes Danny into a hug. 

Billy’s eyes widens as he looks up at the being. They have two icicles for horns atop their head, blue and gold clothing and accessories adorning their body, and an ice left arm with the bones visible. Not to mention the fact that they are giant. So much taller than anyone Billy’s ever encountered … well, maybe not bigger than Darkseid, but it’s close. 

“Hi Frostbite,” Danny squeaks out, voice strained from the force of the hug. 

“It’s good to see you again!” Frostbite booms, finally releasing Danny. 

“Good to see you too,” Danny says honestly, stretching slightly. 

“And who is this?” Frostbite asks, purple eyes turning towards Billy. 

Billy gulps nervously under the gaze of the yeti, resisting the urge to transform into Captain Marvel. He’s fine. This is Danny’s family. He’s fine. 

“This is who I was telling you about!” Danny answers excitedly, flying over to hover next to Billy. “Frostbite, meet Billy. Billy, meet Frostbite.” 

Frostbite grins and extends a hand. Billy cautiously takes it, watching how the other’s hand envelopes his own completely.

“Wonderful to meet another member of Danny’s family!” Frostbite booms, shaking Billy’s hand gently yet excitedly. 

“Nice to meet you too,” Billy agrees, feeling a little light at being referred to as family. 

Frostbite smiles wide and releases Billy’s hand. 

“Shall we?” Frostbite asks before turning around and beginning to walk. 

“Where are we going?” Billy whispers to Danny. 

“To meet everyone else!” Danny answers, grinning. 

“Everyone else?” Billy asks nervously, eyes wide. 

Danny laughs and nods. 

“You didn’t think Frostbite was it, did you?”

₊˚｡⋆❆⋆｡˚₊

Billy feels like his head is spinning from how many yeti’s he’s been introduced to. First there was Frostbite’s husband, Hailwind, then Frostbite’s siblings, Glacierwalk and Snowfall. And that was just Frostbite’s immediate family!

There are the other yeti’s in the village, most of whom Billy forgets the names of. All with different names and different occupations. There’s also an elderly couple that helps look after all the Frostlings. 

His head feels like it’s spinning as he shakes hands and smiles, says hello and gets handed food. His head gets pat a lot, every Yeti smiling at him widely. 

Consistently, they’re all so nice to him. Tell him they’re so happy to meet him. Grateful Danny has found family in such a kind young man. 

Billy feels … shy. Undeserving. Danny’s family is so kind and nice. Billy’s just … Billy. He hasn’t earned any of the great things he’s been gifted, he just does his best to do what he can with what he’s been given. 

“You okay?” Danny whispers to Billy when he gets a moment to breathe. 

“I’m okay,” Billy assures, slightly breathless. “Just a tad … overwhelmed? You have so many people who love you.” 

Danny smiles softly as he looks out at the crowd of Yeti’s mingling. 

“Yeah, I’m really lucky to have all of you,” Danny says softly. 

Billy doesn’t say anything. But he’s thinking about how lucky Billy is to have Danny, not the other way around. 

Danny pulls Billy into a side hug. 

“If you need to leave, we can,” Danny offers. 

Billy smiles kindly, warmth filling him. He’s glad to have someone like Danny who’s looking out for him. 

“It’s fine, go enjoy the party. I’ll be back out mingling in a minute,” Billy assures. 

Danny grins and gives a mock salute before flying back out to join everyone. 

“We’re really lucky to have someone like you watching out for Danny,” a voice says. 

Billy jumps slightly, turning to see it’s the leaner Yeti he met earlier. What was his name? Hailwind, wasn’t it? 

“It’s the other way around, really,” Billy responds softly. “Danny has so many people who care about him. I’m so grateful I’m considered one of those people.” 

“Don’t sell yourself short,” Hailwind replies, smiling. “Danny might have a lot of family, but he’s not as open as he projects that he is. Everyone in his life means a lot to him.” 

Billy feels himself flush slightly. 

“Well, I’m glad that Danny considers me part of his family,” Billy admits shyly. “I think we’re just as lucky to have him in our lives as he thinks he is to have us.” 

Hailwind chuckles and nods in response, a smile growing on his face. 

“Yes, I think you’re right.”

Together, they watch the party in front of them, joy in the air.

Apparently, Shazam was friends with a dragon.

No one, not even the core members, knew of this. But that fact was prominently displayed when they were fighting off an invasion.

One lead by the apparent Ghost King, who was known for his strength and tyranny, who declared war on humanity after having been summoned by cultists. His ghostly army being fought off for days on end, being lead by a general known as the Fright Knight, before he himself, decided to grace the battlefield with his presence.

Superman, Wonder Woman, Shazam, Zatanna. Every heavy hitter they could spare was fighting against the Ghost King, the Fright Knight being fought against by Batman, Green Lantern, Constantine with the Flash keeping mostly to fending off the giant army along with various other heroes.

It was a tough fight, fighting tooth and nail to not give an inch of ground.

Until, from a portal came a large eastern dragon with glowing green eyes, glowing white scales and mane that looked Majestic as it did deadly. The heroes weren't optimistic enough to think it was help, not for them, but rather for the invading force.

Of course, such they were surprised when instead of fighting any of them, the being instead rammed its body straight into the Ghost King, knocking him back and releasing Shazam from his grip, and all the way from across the battlefield did he stare at the Fright Knight, and glared.

The Fright Knight stood down.

The Ghost King got up and shrugged off the attack, running a hand through his hair as he stared as the dragon was hovering around Shazam rather protectively and, with a simple raise of his hand, the entire army ceased their attack.

The dragon seemed to shift, long body shortening as he transformed into a more humanish form, tail and horns still present, with a crown floating above his head, he crossed his arms and stared down the Ghost King who, for his credit, simply stared back.

The stare went on for a while, the air seemingly more awkward rather than tense. Then, the draconic humanoid grabbed onto the nearby Shazam, various heroes tensing, before placing the man in front of him, putting his chin down on his head, and then starts yelling at the King for waging war on humanity just because he made a human friend.

The Ghost King, who just a few minutes ago was waging war on humanity, seemed more of a tired father, rather than the mad tyrant raging on the battlefield. He just stayed silent, taking all of the yelling as if this was the usual before, as the (apparent) prince was catching his breath, he stated his reasoning rather calmly.

He just wanted to test and accurately gauge the strength of the Champion of Magic, stating that only the strongest would have the right to stand alongside his son.

The Prince immediately called bullshit.

And the Ghost King agreed, he really did just want to wage war, though he wished it would have lasted longer, the mortal warriors (and Demi-goddess) proved themselves to be quite the challenging foes.

A few minutes later, the Ghost King was leaving, calling off the war and sending his soldiers back to the zone. Before the king himself left, however, he directed a thumbs up at all those who fought him in direct combat, then left, the Fright Knight and Batman were in a stare off, both silent and instead seemed to be having a conversation with their eyes than words.

Then they grunted at each other, nodded, and the fright Knight left.

In the League room, the Ghost Prince was apologizing for the behavior of his father, more prominently to Shazam the most.

Its fun to see jazz be written more OP great take 👍

Jazz rested her chin on her folded hands that hung on Danny's shoulder. Dani sat in front of them going over the contract their summoners had provided.

Summonings were rare for Jazz. Rarer still, were that her siblings had been summoned with her. Most only bother with calling for one of them.

Jazz mostly ignored the call. Summoning was a two way street. If one side didn't consent then the ritual would fail.

More often than not the callers were kids or drunk college students playing with things they really shouldn't. Or it was someone that wanted her to conquer or destroy everything between a kingdom to their realm.

Jazz's liminalness allowed her to sense the emotions of her caller. From that she could more than guess why they were summoning her. Gleeful emotions were to be fully ignored.

This summoning wasn't like that. Desolation hung in the air. Almost palpable.

That and mild curiosity of her siblings being called too was what brought her over. There weren't many left that could give one of them a run for their money. Let alone the three of them.

Jazz hadn't spoken much after she arrived. Content to let her brother ask the important questions as she switched between looking for red flags with the emotions of the strangers that lingered outside the summoning circle and skimming the twenty page contract over her sister's shoulder.

Jazz snorted as she watched Dani write ‘NO’ in big letters next to a crossed out paragraph. Dani flipped the page over to its blank side and continued writing.

A door swished open. A figure with a red hood pulled over his head stood there. His head bowed over a tablet.

Jazz watched the newcomer as he made his way to another guy in red with a quiver and bow strapped to his back.

He must have felt her stare by how he turned his head.

Jazz stiffened when he made eye contact.

A ringing filled Jazz's ears. She slipped away from Danny's side.

She knew those eyes. Younger and paler. They haunted her memories.

She didn't register the sparks shooting off her shoes as she crossed the summoning circle's outer ring. Its runes glowed brighter as the barrier woven within put up a futile fight. With a flash the spell broke.

Jazz didn't even notice the pulse of fear that ran in the room. Too focused on someone she thought she'd never see again. He had to recognize her. She hadn’t changed that much since the last time she saw him a decade ago.

Weapons were drawn. Red Arrow notched an arrow. Drawing it back as he aimed warningly at Jazz. Nightwing and Batman rushed to intercept her.

Danny snarled for everyone to stand down.

Jazz continued treading forward. She stopped only when he took a step back from her. To many emotions flashed through him, wrapping tight around a ball of confusion.

“Jason?”

Bernard: i lied. i don’t like sex. put your clothes back on babe and watch my power point presentation about What The Fuck Is Going On Between Batman And Twoface

Tim: …

Danny is rotting

Not that he notices. His body absorbs ectoplasm from the portal, with the ectoplasm preserving it. Each time he leaves his body, it absorbs more. No one, not even Danny has realized.

His parents find out after they see him leave his body behind to fight a ghost and promptly dips, flying off in panic with his body. He heads to one place with... definitely smaller amounts of ectoplasm, but enough to possibly survive.

Gotham.

Danny, in a rush, didn't have time to pick up the backpack meant for this scenario. He (thankfully) had some ectoplasm in his thermos, but it's not nearly enough long-term.

After running out of ectoplasm for a few days, Danny starts to feel off.

Danny's skin feels tight. His body is a lot stiffer than he recalls, and he can't seem to get rid of this awful smell on him. His face and hands are slowly discoloring, fuck, what the hell is going on?

His emotions and core are going haywire from the disapproval of his parents, perceiving anyone as a threat.

He temporarily haunts an alleyway, refusing and growling at anyone who enters his haunt. His eyes flash with that sickening green color. He can't afford to get hurt with the limited ectoplasm he has.

.

Unfortunately for Danny, it was the alleyway where the Waynes were murdered.

And the Bats are protective of it too.

Tim woke up after a very overdue nap to a see a toddler playing minesweeper on his supercomputer in one of his emergency bunkers in gotahm.

"You're awake! I got that coffee you wanted." Said the literal adopted bait in a hospital gown. He push aside the rolling chair and pick up a plastic cup tray with four Death Coffee from the Cafe that he literally banned off from Bruce bribing them all.

Tim look like he could cry as he snatch the coffee mug and inhale the sweet sweet scent of caffeine addiction. Sipping it every now and then as he speak to the kid.

"Um.. so how did we met again,..?" Tim asked cause his deprived coffee brain doesn't remember yesterday trauma of going to every Cafe in Gotham that told him he was banned from then until Bruce said it was OK.

"It's danny, and you look like you were going through obsession deprivation near the abandoned warehouse next to that fancy car, blabbering about dam- dang interventions, they can't stop me from having coffee and I asked if I can get you some coffee?

Then you shoved 3000 dollars in my face with the second crazed yet scariest look I ever seen, but i did got your coffee and you cried, but told me not to tell anyone then pick me up as a anti-intervention accompline, you drove us into this cool bunker then passed out after drinking 3 of the 6 coffee, and I started playing minesweeper on your computer, though weak password by the way." Danny said going back to playing minesweeper, nibbling on a chocolate muffin from that Cafe.

"So far 10 outta 10 kidnapping experience though, at least you didn't try to adopt me like the previous Fruitloop before, plus I got money out of it to last 8 months out there." Danny continued saying as he had literally beat Tim's minesweeper record.

I Ponder The Humble Blob Ghost!

You think they are what happens when you ALMOST but not quite A Ghost(tm)? Like, you have the ectoplasm and the will to continue... but you didn't really have A Thing in life? No Final Crystalizing Thought that brings focus? Just "ow! Ah! I'm scared. Don't wanna die!" And theeeeen.... *poof!*

Why am I Orb? Am squish? No bones.

Like? Remove any one piece of the Critical Formula and you get Blob instead of Ghost? Different KINDS, mind you, but blobs none the less.

Like Skulker! Not enough Ectoplasm. Ended up Blob. He CLEARLY had the Will, the Obsession, the gory end and unfinished business... buuuut? No green goo to power the creation of a full body. He clearly knows what he's supposed to LOOK like? But it's not something FIXABLE? Even with his now unlimited access to Ectoplasm.

Like in utero damage that permanently stunted his growth. HE is fine. All his facilities are on-line and checking in as they should, for the level of sentience expected of a ghost of his people. He just... smol. Same strength, intelligence, and power as he would have always HAD...

He just got handed a really, REALLY crap "customize your eternal meatsuit" option screen. Like for real guys. Basicly NO options. His salt is eternal and entirely justified. He could have had his tattoos. He paid a LOT of credits for those! Sat for DAYS! Had to track down this One(1) artist on this SHITTY little trading hub, that BARELY QUALIFIED as one, to sit in on uncomfortable overturned crate... IN A GAS MASK because the AIR SUPPORT KEPT KICKING IT... for hoooours!

It was a WORK OF ART. You would have CRIED.

This is BULLSHIT.

But wait, I hear you say, staring at the Blob ghost chewing on a lamp post. The one that has wii music playing behind the eyes. No thoughts, head jello, one might say. What about THEM?

Good point! Remember that formula?

LOT of Ecto! But THAT... might be either an animal or a fungus. We'd have to check. ANYTHING can and DOES die. If it's alive? It can die and potentially leave a ghost. But! Consider the noble Ghost Rabbit! *holds up squirming rabbit that is ABSOLUTELY trying to both bite me and kick me in the face* A noble and friendly creature!

THIS is what happens when an animal: has sufficient Ectoplasm at the death site, a reason to continue living (fairly common. It's usually their offspring, escape, the instinctual drive to survive itself or other understandable base drives. Like love, loyalty, or hunger.), and that all important High Emotions End.

Miss any of these? You get Blobbertson over there! He's clearly a hungry boy! But! Not very DRIVEN is he? Just floating along, chewing on whatever seems interesting, looking for a snack. He's food motivated. But not MOTIVATED motivated.

Blobbertson over there? A peaceful death. Too much Ectoplasm too leave, too food motivated in life NOT to carry over, but? No DRIVE. To DEFINE and DEMAND the Ectoplasm in his little body become sharp and active. No highly emotional state to stir it into action.

Is Blobbertson INCAPABLE of higher emotions? No. He is every bit as capable as the Ghost Rabbit that has savaged my hands and escaped while you were reading. It was, in fact, NOT as friendly as originally assumed. I may be bleeding. Unimportant. Blobbertson is PERFECTLY capable of getting attached. Being trained.

Whatever level of intelligence Blobbertson had in life, still remains. And WITH that? Comes the ability to improve and grow in death! IF (and this is the big one) he ever finds MOTIVATION to do so.

Because you see, Blobbertson is quite happy. No thoughts, brain jello. Drifting along in a happy green ocean like a jellyfish. Only concerned about his next snack. It's comforting. His food obsession filled, his tiny motivation barely enough to move him place to place.

He would GLADLY sit in one place and eat for the rest of eternity. Head blissfully silent.

And that's OKAY! It truly, honestly, is. Not everyone has to be conquers and kings, crafters and cosmonauts. Sometimes you just want to spend the rest of time playing in the sand. Resting on a sunshine-y hill. Not EVERY soul is a loud one.

This is the INFINITE Realms.

And there are places like Amity Park out there. THICK as cold honey with Ectoplasm in the air, gently infusing all the life that grows there with greater and greater chance of Ghost-hood. Even the peaceful blinking awake after that final rest to look down and... little nubby green paws.

Congratulations on becoming a Blob, grandma! Yes, I imagine you ARE furious it is inordinately difficult to knit like this. No, I don't think complaining to the king will help, MeMa.

That said? I can not tell you if Blob Ghost all belong to the same Family or the same Order, but they are NOT the same species! The WAY in which you fuck up that ever vital Fomula results in WILDLY different Blobs! Was it an animal? A sentient species? A sentient PLANET? A complexe interlocking colony of fungi? What was the EXACT Ectoplasm concentration at the death site? Was that the historical levels or the At Death levels? Was the individual under sedation?

Yes! All of this IS in fact, VERY relevant!

And you think it ends THERE? HA! The SKIES are FILLED with Fighty Mother Fuckers! Ghosts LOVE to fight! It's built into their social dynamics and hierarchy! Good ol brawls to get the Ecto pumping!

......Local Blob Farmer would like to take this moment to say "GET OF HIS GHOST PEONIES, YOU HEATHENS."

No they would NOT like to join your 24/7 thunder dome in the sky, THANKS! Martha here is trying to compose some Atlantian Shell Poetry. Blobby Jr of Blobbington and Blobbington Incorporated is TRYING to study! You've DESTROYED THE COMMUNAL ZEN GARDEN!!

Get! GET!!! *swings broom*

And THEN you look not even a mile east? And it's the floating island of Blobs. They LIKE that rock. It's just an ever shifting, accidentally rolling off the edge, falling slightly, making an offended squeek, and floating back to the top of the pile to repeate the process, MOOSH of thousands of blobs. No one's certain if they used to be seals or some sort of cat.

Apparently THAT island is Warm(tm).

So there they sit. Making contented noises, chirping and shoving for the best spots. They never leave. You can literally just... float up and sit on them. It's amazing. You gotta be careful not to get buried, but it's So Soft and bouncy? And they are ALL making that soft happy Blob vibrate noise. It's like a giant, island sized, warm and almost fuzzy but not, water bed that massages you.

Just DON'T start anything there! Holy SHIT are they territorial. You Will Die. They SWARM.

And THATS not even getting into the Blobs that are? Literally brainless. Some people eat those. Which? I guess? They ARE basicly Ectoplasm jello. But SOME of them are NOT? Like... it's a debate. Hot button issue, ya know?

Some fungus turns into Ecto Jello with negative IQ and delicious insides. Is this food? But OTHER fungus was SENTIENT in life and become a whole RANGE of Fungus ghosts, from Blob right on up to complexe dryad like ghosts! Clearly NOT food unless you are a MONSTER. But THEY argue the FIRST group are ALSO not food?

Plant Ghosts have strong opinions and are willing to Gruesome Violence about it.

Which brings us back to the Humble Blob Ghost! Check before you pet! That might be grandma! Or planning to eat your hand! Just as Mammal tells you little to nothing about what animal you are looking at, so too does Blob and Ghost! Stay safe out there! And if anyone sees a glowing green rabbit? I want my blood back! That's supposed to be in MY body! Rude!

This has been, the daily ghost!

@hdgnj @stealingyourbones

The US economy genuinely might collapse within a week. lol

You know what would be funny?

If the downfall of the GIW and other anti-Ecto acts and organizations? Came about because of some long dead scholars pathological need to Be Right.

How? Would this work, you may ask? Oh, easily!

WIKIPEDIA.

Somebody is WRONG about FACTS. And that can not stand! You see, they were told... well, more OVERHEARD then anything else (during their annual and ongoing debate about EVERYTHING) from that...? Techmus? Fellow? Whomever he was.

They HEARD, there has been a MARVELOUS advancement in the realm of the Living! A collective knowledge repository! Imagine the possibilities! They must see it at ONCE!

So they harrass Danny about it. Obviously.

He finally caves. And, to prevent them going Wrath Of The Old Academic or something, shows them JUST technical papers sites and Wikipedia etc. That should fix things, right? They should be HAPPY, now, RIGHT?

WRONG.

These so called "Facts" are INCORRECT! I was THERE! We did not do THAT! Slander! Outrage! I shall BURN THEIR HOUSE DOW-!

Ooooookay, hold up! OR? We could EDIT the page? See that button? Push that.

They blink. Push up their spectacles. Squint at the screens more closely. Ah. So there IS! Their mistake! How silly, quite embassies. Now then... *furiously begins typing*

And? You obviously can just? Make random edits. Even if you seem to be correct. ESPECIALLY with out any sources. And no one will accept "I was There" as a source. We are discussing Pompeii. And a spcertain historically significant volcanic incident. NO YOU WERE NOT.

Yet? No matter HOW had the moderators try? They for some reason can not BLOCK this deluge of edits. It's unending. And not even a united front. As they edit each other's edits.

AND on top of THAT? Random papers are showing up in official journals. Ones that were NOT put there by the journal's staff. About alchemy or frogs or rebuttals to people no one has even HEARD off.

Obviously, it's? Kind of a Big Thing in the scientific and academic community. Everyone is talking about it and confused. Every Hero with a scientific job. Oracle, with her job at a LIBRARY. Anyone connected to them they ask to look into this. It keeps spreading.

Especially when the hackers FAIL to stop it.

Imagine Danny's horror. Just... IMAGINE it. He goes to bed. The old fogies content to quietly argue and merrily type away, certain he's distracted them. Harmless he thinks. Contained, he believes.

They blow up the internet. Bring the JUSTICE LEAGUE to his city.

He has to explain himself to BATMAN.

He's gonna cry. Stop laughing Tucker, this is absolutely a threat. He is GOING to cry on you. (T^T )

@ailithnight @the-witchhunter @hdgnj @nerdpoe

Gotham was home to many strange things.

Dangerous things more often than not, yes, but still in the line of strange to those outside of Gotham.

Of course, their strange has become their normal.

But sometimes, things that happen in Gotham just makes them stare. Sometimes.

Watching a man walk through the streets, chatting amicably and smiling like everything is right in the word while holding none other than Killer Croc in his arms, who is clinging onto his neck and carefully trying not to fall off while nodding to show he's listening while also pitching in here and there with a question or statement or whatever.

It's just.

Odd.

Even by their standards.

(Meanwhile, Jack is very, very happy to finally reconnect with his older brother who he was, until just a few days prior, under the impression was dead.)