The Phantom Robin

2: Reveal

Danny hummed a little as he began to get some schoolwork done. He wanted to make sure that at least his high-school grades are doing good. Of course, they weren't the best, even he could tell he could do the better. However, they were definitely better than the first year of when he got his powers though.

Looking over his work, he noticed that one of those pesky homeworks was wanting him to talk about his family tree. It was the start of the new year, so he guessed it was something simple. Despite that everyone knew everyone's parents. Amity Park didn't get a lot of new blood unless skmeone moved back into the most boring place ever.

The black-haired boy grinned as he saw this; this was going to be the easiest homework for History, ever!

Just as he was about to start, putting Jack and Maddie as his Dad and Mom, he paused. They weren't his parents, they his aunt and uncle...

His grip on his pencil tightened some as he bit at his lip. He hadn't talked with his real parents in almost ten years. He had tried to call them, but Jack and Maddie usually looked hurt when he asked, so he stopped asking. Instead, he asked for the pair to send letters for him seeing as his parents moved around. He assumed at least a third of his letters actually got sent. He still got nothing, so he assumed they were busy.

Biting his lip, he glanced at his flip phone. It was the only phone he was apparently allowed to have, the odd aunt and uncle saying it was harder for Ghost's to possess it. He knew that was a lie, but seeing as he now had a phone, he didn't complain.

Taking a deep breath, he grabbed it and started dialing the familiar numbers he refused to forget. He lifted the phone to his ear and waited impatiently. He didn't have to wait long, the third beep being cut off as the phone clicked.

"Hello, this is Haley's Circus! This is Haley, may I ask who is speaking?" A gruff, older man's voice sounded through the phone. The voice was a little crackly through the old junk that the young adult had on his ear, yet he knew that voice well.

Tears sprung to his eyes as he heard that voice. He didn't realize how much he missed hearing the old ring master's voice. His mouth opened a couple of times, but the only sound he could make was a soft 'Mhm'. If he was like this with the ringmaster, how would he fair when his parents or brother get on the phone?

"Hello?" There was now a slight tinge of annoyance and concern in the old man's voice.

"H-Hi!" Danny winced at how squeaky his voice came out to his own ears. "I-It's me..." He bit his lip, hoping the other male would get who he was. Jack and Maddie should have talked about him.

"It's you?" The annoyance and concern were gone from his voice and replaced completely by confusion. "I'm sorry, you must've-"

Danny knew where the old man was going. He didn't want to hang up!

"W-Wait! It's me! D-Daniel Fenton- Greyson! Daniel Greyson, Dickie's twin!" He rushed his words, willing his voice to lower in pitch. Though it still held a squeakiness to it.

The other side of the line went dead silent. For a moment, the halfa feared that the older man had hung up on him. Then there was a shaky intake of air.

"D-Danny?" Haley's voice shook, he sounded as if he was close to crying. "You're... You're alive?" There was disbelief in his tone, but his words caused confusion.

"Yes? Why wouldn't I be?" Did the estranged adults stop talking about him or something after the accident? Then again with how often he's fighting ghosts, it is a wonder that he is alive. Well, half-alive.

"Danny, you're... Where are you? I'll tell Bruce where you are." There seemed to be a rush of urgency from the older man's voice, a tone that the younger male doesn't remember hearing before. But-

"Who's Bruce? Why would he need to know where I am?" He hummed a little, feeling more comfortable talking with his Grandfatherly ringmaster. He then remembered his paper. "Oh! I actually called for some help on my homework... I know, a bad ice-breaker, but-"

"Homework? You go to school?" There was another tone of disbelief.

"Yeah? Why wouldn't I?" Danny was beginning to feel a little frustrated at this point. Yet, he willed it down. It had been nearly a decade, and he ad Dick were homeschooled. Instead, he pushed out what he needed. He'll talk more with Haley later. "Can I talk with Momma or Papa? I want some help with the family tree. It's for the homework." His tone softened at the mention of his real parents.

He doesn't really remember when he started calling Jack and Maddie his Mom and Dad, but they never once corrected him. Actually, he thinks they gave rewards whenever he called them that. They also introduced him as their son too, so it didn't really help the situation.

The other line went silent again, but this silence felt off. It felt heavier and darker. It made Danny's slowed heartbeat quicker, a normal pace that hurt a little. Had he said something wrong? Was calling now selfish?

"Danny... You're parents... They've been dead for almost ten years."