Day 5: Family Grudge And Prize

Day 5: Family Grudge and Prize

Bruce has noticed something about Damian. Whenever a specific shadow appears in the city, Damian immediately attacks them. And anytime someone else approached, the shadow would flee.

Last night was one such incident.

~~~~The Previous Night~~~~

“So we meet again traitor.” Damian said launching himself at another young boy.

“Ha! Do you really think that you can win?” The young man laughed.

“Tt. I do not think I can. I know I can. It is you who are blinded by their arrogance.” Damian growled as he threw several batarangs at his opponent.

“Then why did you bring your dear old dad?” The mystery boy said before backflipping off the building and disappearing as Bruce landed on the roof.

“Robin report.”

“Tt. It is my own business father. Please stay out of it.” Damian said before quickly grappling away and heading back to the cave.

~~~~Present Time~~~~

“You have been staring at that picture for quite some time Master Bruce. Might I inquire as to why?” Alfred asked as he walked up to Bruce with a mug.

“I just can’t figure out why Damian keeps going after this one person. Even when he was trying to kill Tim he wasn’t this in sight with him. But with this boy?” Bruse sighed as he took a sip of his tea. “Camamil Alfred?”

“I find it quite relaxing and the perfect beverage before bed. Somewhere I believe you should be heading sir?” Alfred commented with a raised eyebrow and a slight smile.

“Hmm, and I don’t suppose this one is free of any sedatives is it Alfred?”

“I promise you that I have no clue what you are talking about.”

“Alright, alright. I’m heading upstairs.” Bruce chuckled as he headed upstairs with Alfred.

~~~~

The next day Bruce woke up for Sunday brunch with his family. It was one of the few days that everyone was at the manor. As Bruce began to wake up he also began to notice how quiet it was at the table. Unnaturally quiet. Looking around he noticed all his kids glaring at him, except for Damian who was glaring at a boy around fifteen years of age sitting across from him.

“So,” Bruce cleared his throat only for everyone to start shouting over each other.

“Why the FUCK did you adopt another kid old man!” Jason's shout rang out above everyone else's causing the room to go quiet again.

“Father did not adopt this traitor. He is only here to cause pain and discord.” Damian growled. Only holding himself back from attacking the stranger because of Alfred's rule about violence in the manor.

“Oh shove off Dams. He’s my father too. I have every right to meet him.” The stranger said.

“No! You lost the right to be considered family after what you did. It’s the reason why grandfather had you killed and it was only because of mother’s soft heart that you were resurrected and sent to be adopted by some stupid civilians.” Damian shouted while stabbing his spoon into his parfait.

“Wait! Hold on and tell me, calmly, what is going on.” Bruce said while pinching the bridge of his nose.

“This traitor”

“Not a traitor”

“This Traitor. Is Danyal Al Ghul. We unfortunately shared mother's womb.” Damian said as he continued to glower at the boy, Danyal.

“I go by Danny now.” Danny said with a wave.

“Hello, Danny. If I ask you why it is that Damian called you a traitor, would you answer?” Bruce asked with a strained smile.

“It’s so stupid.” Danny groaned.

“It is far from ‘stupid’ Danyal.”

“I didn’t mean to break your favorite wakizashi!”

“Liar. You were jealous that I was grandfather's favorite so you sought to punish me for my superiority.”

“Grandfather is a fruitloop! A certified wackjob! Even when we were kids I could tell that! You’ve lived with father for years now. Surely you can see grandfather’s flaws with this new perspective. If not then congratulations. You are the grand champion of delusion. Here’s your prize.” Danny said with a glair of his own directed at Damian.

“Wait. Hold on. Are you the twerp that the demon brat attacked the other night?” Jason asked with a grin.

“He does match the build.” Tim muttered.

“Secret brother.” Cass whispered while giving Danny a thumbs up.

“Ha! Not a secret anymore. But I didn’t come here just to meet ya’ll.” Danny laughed before turning serious. “I know about Alfred's rule about batwork at the table but I have things to do and can’t stay long. When you return to the batcave you will find a folder with a printed copy of a rather concerning law and a flash drive with a list of facilities and experiments conducted with full government sanctions due to this law being in place.” Danny described before placing the last bite in his mouth and standing up. “Thank you for allowing me the pleasure of eating your delicious cooking Alfred. But unfortunately, I have to go. If you need to contact me, my number’s in the folder.” He said before simply vanishing with a final wave.

“Where did he go!” Dick shouted as he jumped up.

“Holy crap. And I thought it was creepy how Damian could do that in the shadows.” Steph said with a shiver.

“Uh, Damian? Can you do that too? If so, then thank you so much for not using that ability for evil.” Duke chuckled nervously.

“Tt” Getting up Damian stormed out of the room. He didn’t care what Danyal did or said as long as he didn’t come back. Now he just had to get to the cave before anyone else to get rid of Danyal’s contact information.

Something I drew a while back. I'm debating on whether or not to put it in Krita and redo it.

Okay. Sometimes when I'm bored or have a brain block I'll get on Shaker (AI art generator) and just type in random prompts. I typed in Eldrich Abomination Horse. It didn't disappoint.

day 1: camping and candle

“Ugh. Why are we doing this again?” Danny complained as he watched his dad pull supplies out of the GAV.

“Well, your dad and I agreed that everyone has been a little too stressed. What with the ghosts destroying part of the school and your father and I's recent slump.” Maddie absently replied as she began clearing a spot for the fire pit.

“Besides Danno. This gives us the perfect opportunity to try out the new and improved Fenton Anti-ghost Tent.” Jack shouted as he put a glowing box on the ground and pressed a button on the side that caused it to fold out into what could only be described as a family-size carnival tent.

“Hay Jazz?”

“Ya Danny?”

“Please tell me you packed the actual tent.”

“Yes. I even managed to buy a box of MREs in case Mom and Dad brought contaminated food again.”

“A week of MREs. Yay. Well, we might as well get our side of camp set up 'cause I am not sleeping in that.”

👻🦇👻🦇

“Come hi everyone this is going to be fun. Think about it! Tents, roasted marshmallows, campfire stories. This will be awesome.” Dick said as he jumped out of the van and started unloading camping supplies.

“This is a survival training exercise, Richard. Not a family bonding trip.” Damian said as he looked at the single-family size tent that Dick had packed.

“For once I agree with Damien. This is not what I would consider “fun” or “awesome”.” Tim said as he set up his laptop to finish his report for the next WE project that is due next week.

“I just want to know how the hell I got roped into this.” Jason grumbled as he started picking up stones for a campfire ring.

“Come on guys. This is as close to family vacation as we have been able to get in, like, ever. Let's make the most of it and have some fun.” Dick pleaded with them. “You agree with me, right Duke?”

“I mean. Except for you and Damien, we're all city kids. But I guess it could be fun.” Duke hurriedly added on as he saw Dick start to pout. “Yeah, yeah. Well, I ain't setting this up myself. Duke help me with these rocks. Tim helped Dick set up the stupid tent. And Damien you got the most experience in survival training. I need you to go through and scout the area and pick up wood for this fire.” Jason said while ignoring Dick's happy dance at his family getting along and helping each other.

🦇👻🦇👻

“Come on Danno! How can you protect yourself from ghosts if you don't put on the Anti-ecto Spray?” Jack asked as he followed Danny as he gathered wood for the fire.

“We're in the middle of the forest, Dad. All we have to worry about out here is bugs and bears. And we have a spray for both already.” Danny argued.

“He's right Dad. Besides you have that Ecto Shield that will be covering the camp once everything is set up for the night.” Jazz said, watching as her dad pouted and walked over to their mom.

“Madds? You'll put on the Anti-ecto Spray won't you?”

“I'm sorry dear. But you know that stuff causes my skin to rash. I think I might be allergic to something we used in it.” Maddie said as she pulled out a dutch oven and some baking supplies. “Here honey, why don't you go and make some fudge? I know how much you like your campfire fudge.”

“Campfire fudge is pretty good. But we're going to need more firewood if we're going to bake.”

“I got it Dad.” Danny said, taking off into the woods in a desperate attempt to get away from all the anti-ghost stuff.

“That's my Danny Boy! Always eager to help out. Make sure you get some good size logs too!”

“I’ll go with him. For the buddy system.” Jazz said as she began to walk in the direction Danny had run off in.

👻🦇👻🦇

“Tt.”

“Don't Tt me. A dutch oven is an essential if you are going camping.” Jason said as he checked to see if the water was boiling before moving the pot back over the fire so that the water in it could stay hot.

“It is cumbersome and will weigh us down if we must move quickly through the woods.” Damian huffed.

“Well, it's a good thing we aren't going to need to move quickly through the woods. Now here's a knife and some potatoes. They've already been washed so now they just need cut up.”

“And what makes you think I will help you cook?”

“For the same reason that Tim is cutting up veggies and Duke is cutting the vegan turkey sausage. If you want to eat. You need to help.”

“Richard is not helping.”

“Richard would burn the forest down if we let him do anything more than roast marshmallows.”

“Hay! I'm not that bad.” Dick whined from where he was still struggling with the tent.

“August 26th, 2010.” Tim deadpanned as he put the veggies into the oven.

“Okay. That's not fair Tim.”

“Um. What happened in 2010?” Duke asked before they were interrupted my a loud explosion to the east of them.

“Put a pin in that Glowstick. I think we should check that out.” Jason said as he put the lid on the pot and moved it away from the fire before Tim quickly grabbed the bucket of dirt they had and smothered the fire with it before taking off towards the sound.

🦇👻🦇👻

“What the hell was that!” Danny yelled as he dropped the sticks he was carrying and ran back towards camp.

“I don’t know! Just run!” Jazz shouted back as she pulled out her collapsible creep stick and tossed Danny the laser lipstick.

By the time they broke through the brush, they saw the camp in chaos. The new tent was trying/failing to eat Jack and Maddie was fighting the ecto lights.

“I kinda want to let them suffer.” Danny said as he deactivated the lipstick. Only to sigh as a group of four men ran into the clearing and began to try and help.

“I don’t think that’s an option anymore.” Jazz commented as she watched the human tank shoulder-check their dad to get him out of the way while a tall slender man expertly climbed the poles of the tent to get to the power switch that was at the top of the tent for some reason.

“I don’t know Jazz. They seem like they're doing a good job.” Danny replied as the shortest and skinnyest of the group tried to help Maddy with the lights.

“I’ll get the lights. You get the tent.” Jazz sighed before taking off and using the creep stick to tangle the lights and yank them out of the portable ecto-battery that their parents brought with them. Danny in the meantime ran to the GAV and climbed on top to give him a clear shot at the off button seeing as the tent was moving too much to climb. One clean shot and the tent folded in on itself, back into the box it was that morning.

“Danno! Jazzypants! Good job!” Jack shouted as he scooped both kids into a hug.

“And thank you to you four as well. It’s clear you have had training but you should really leave the ecto fighting to the professionals.” Maddy addressed the young men who had come over to make sure everyone was okay.

“Ecto fighting? Lady I don’t know” The tank asked as he crossed his arms.

“What my brother means to say!” The one who tried to climb the tent interrupted. “Is that we’re from Gotham so are kinda used to having to fight. I’m Dick by the way. This is my brother Jason. Tim is the one who is currently investigating the tent box? And Duke is standing next to him. And last but not least this is Damian!”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you all! I’m Jack! That’s my lovely wife Maddie, and these are our kids! Jazz and Danny!”

“You were quite adept with your baseball bat. Have you ever thought about training with a bo staff?” Damian asked Jazz.

“It’s actually what I was originally trained in when Mom was training me how to fight.” Jazz said while straightening her hair once Jack put her and Danny down.

“If you want honeybun I can make you a new bo staff when we get home. It would offer more maneuverability during a ghost fight.”

“Ghost fight?” Tim asked as he and Duke walked over to the little family.

“Ya! Me and Madds here are ectobiologists!” Jack excitedly said before Jazz took the wind out of his sail.

“It doesn’t really matter what we are right now. The FAT completely wrecked the camp. The GAV and the MREs are okay but we’ll probably have to move camp or go home.”

“I saw an old cabin to the west of us with some candles and stuff not far from here when I got the first batch of firewood. We could stay there and leave some of our supplies in exchange for anything we use.” Danny chipped in.

“Hay! I think we passed that on the way here! Maybe we can all camp together! Safety in numbers you know?” Dick suggested as he bounced on his toes.

“That’s a great idea! How about you boys gather your camp and meet us there!” Jack cheered before he ran off to pack the GAV back up.

“Danny dear. Can you go with them and mark a trail to the cabin for us? Here’s some orange ribbon to tie to the trees.” Maddy said before ushering Jazz off so that Danny could “hang out with boys his age.”

“So,” Danny said as he started down the trail. “Gotham huh?”

“Yup. Where are you from?” Dick asked.

“Amity Park.”

“The most haunted place in the world?” Tim asked as he pulled out his phone and began typing.

“Sounds interesting.” Duke said only for Danny to through his head back and groan loudly causing the siblings to look at each other.

“Yes, it's haunted. No, I would not recommend going. The government already has it’s nose in it. And even though my parents didn’t recognize a group of Wayens doesn’t mean I didn’t. We do not need that kind of publicity.”

“Fair enough.” Jason shrugged while leaning over to look at Tim’s phone.

“Let’s just get this done.” Danny grumbled trying to walk ahead of the group.

“We’re totally going to investigate this aren’t we.” Duke whispered when Danny was far enough ahead.

“Tt. Obviously Thomas.”

~~~~~

An hour late but I think I did it. Hope everyone enjoyed it!

Naga (Part 2)

Previous

Further down the tunnel.

Shit. Shit! I thought people didn't come down here! Danny thought before he was encouraged to move faster when he heard gunshots behind him.

“Scales to Sphynx. Scales to Sphynx. Do you read me?” Tucker's voice calls from the com in Danny's ear.

“Sphynx? Really?”

“Well, we need code names. I thought it was clever.” Danny didn't need to see his friend to know he was pouting.

“So, whatcha calling me for? I'll be heading home soon.”

“Don't even try to play dumb Danny. You know damn well that I've been covering the cams while you slither around down there. There's honestly a concerning amount down there.”

“There can't be that many.” Danny laughed as he slowed down as he got closer to the manhole closest to the apartment.

“A lot. Enough to say with full confidence that the two guys that you just smashed into the wall were running from the Red Fucking Hood!” Tucker screamed into the com, almost causing Danny to lose his footing as he went to climb out of the hole.

“Well, at least it was Red Hood and not one of the bats. As long as we don’t mess with Hood's shit then we should be good.”

“You're right. Should we tell Sam?”

“She would never forgive us if we didn't.”

“Even if she does the eyebrow thing? Or calls Jazz?”

“On second thought. We'll just forget about this entire thing”

“What are we forgetting about?” Sam asked from behind Tucker.

“NOTHING! Um, I mean not much. Danny forgot why he left earlier?” Tucker chuckled and began to sink into his seat as Sam raised an eyebrow at him.

“......”

“Tucker. Don’t give in. She won't hurt you.” Danny encouraged as he began running up the stairs.

“.........”

“Don’t you dare Tucker!” Danny said as he began to debate using his ghost powers to get to their apartment. Why the fuck did they choose an apartment on the top floor?!

“...”

“DANNY WENT ALL SKAILY IN THE SEWERS THEN TWO GOONS RAN INTO HIM AND HE SLAMMED THEM INTO THE WALL AND THEN THE RED HOOD STARTED SHOOTING AT HIM AND ITHINKTHATTHEGOONSAREDEAD!!!”

“TUCKER!” Danny gasped in outrage at the betrayal.

“Don’t At Me Danny! Sam’s Scary!”

“And don’t you forget it. So what are we going to do about this.” Sam asked as she walked over to the door and opened it right as Danny reached for the handle, causing him to fall and just lay on the floor as Sam kicked his feet out of the way to close the door again.

“Well. Thanks to Danny’s ecto signature all of the cameras fizzed out when he passed them. Hood would need to get his hand on my programs to be able to clear away the ecto interference.” Tucker said as he looked back at his computer.

“And as long as I don’t transform in front of anyone we should be golden.” Danny grumbled from the floor.

“Knowing your luck?” Sam asked rolling her eyes and getting sighs in reply from her two friends.