Works & Ideas For Adoption

Danny Phantom & Batman

A boy watched the dance party he'd been invited to out of courtesy. Even his two best friends had split from him now. It was a gradual thing, and it just... happened. Specifically after the two of them got together. They were suddenly popular when they split from him. Danny had watched them leave him in the dust when he was thirteen. He watched everyone pass him by. They didn't even tease him now. They didn't bother with him at all. At first it was considered a good thing, but soon Danny decided that being alone was worse than being bullied.

When he was fourteen, his older sister had become the priority. She had graduated early. A child prodigy, Jazz was more important and better than him in every way. His parents knew this. They hit him a couple times while Jazz turned away, and pretended not to notice. Then, slowly, they stopped talking to him. They stopped noticing him. They didn't notice that he stopped talking altogether for a year, or that he learned sign language in two days. They didn't notice when he started speaking again either. They didn't see his report card - all A+'s. They didn't notice that he started taking AP classes. They didn't notice that he left the house often to go to the library or to look at the stars.

Even when he got his ghost powers, he hid in the shadows. He worked discreetly... undercover. He was powerful, but quickly hid it. His family never even knew that the ghosts they hunted were right under their noses, and the kids and teachers at school never even noticed he went to the bathroom for hours. It was easy... too easy.

He was excited when he found the invitation to the party, until he saw that the party was being held by Dash Baxter - Jazz's boyfriend. He was only being invited out of politeness, and as an attempt to suck up to his sister. His first human interaction besides attendance in two years, and he wasn't even really meant to come. He considered not going. No one would notice either way... but he felt compelled to go. He might be able to make a friend or something.

When Danny entered, he handed a boy (Kwan he recalled) his invitation. The boy's eyes widened in surprise, "I didn't know Jazz had a brother... are you homeschooled? I've never seen you at Casper High?"

Danny sighed, and shook his head. He pointed at a class picture on the wall, and Kwan's eyes widened at the figure standing almost in the background. Before Kwan turned around, Danny left. His eyes sought after a place to sit, but he didn't find one. He opted to lean against the wall. He stayed there for awhile, before he met eyes with another boy his age. The boy was heading his direction. Danny didn't recognize him. He must be from out of town - many people here were. The other approached him.

"You look a little lost." The boy smiled, "First party?"

Danny huffed a laugh, "First time even being associated with in two years - beside attendance at school."

"That's gotta suck." The other cringed.

Danny snorted, "Tell me about it. Even my parents forgot I existed. The only good thing? If I screw up nobody notices."

"True that." The other laughed, though there was a worried look in his eyes, "I'm Dick Grayson... you are?"

"Danny Fenton." Danny responded, "You from out of town?"

"Yeah... Gotham." Dick replied.

Danny nodded, "That Dick Grayson? Ok." Dick looked surprised at his reaction, and Danny gave him a pointed look, "What? Did you expect me to suddenly be a suck up?"

Dick smiled, "That's how most people react. I'm glad you didn't - it gets annoying."

"Good to know you're not a stuck up rich kid. Most kids with dough around here are jerks." Danny grinned.

"That doesn't change in Gotham - I was raised in the Circus, but my parents were murdered. Bruce took me in, helped me, and gave me a new life."

"I'm glad you found someone to help you." Danny said genuinely, "Having a parental figure.... someone to guide you... to trust and love you... is very important." The last part sounded wistful.

Dick frowned, "Your parents don't do that... do they?"

"Maddie and Jack stopped being my parents when they hit me, and then forgot I existed. I haven't talked to them for two years."

".... I could try to get you some help." Dick spoke up, "I... I have a friend who was abused and neglected. I could talk to some people, pull some strings... get you out of that home."

The ghost boy shook his head, "You don't have to do that. I'll be fine I... I've been fine for awhile now."

"I want to." Dick told him.

Danny nodded, "You don't have to... but it'd be nice."

"Then, I will." Dick said sternly, "Come on."

Dick grabbed Danny's sleeve. Danny gave a soft 'eep' as he was dragged across the room. They ran right over to two men.

"Hey... Bruce, Mr. Gordon... can we talk to you?"

They nodded, "Sure thing Dick... and who is this?"

Danny fidgeted nervously, "Danny Fenton."

Gordon paused. Noticing that Danny seemed to be afraid of adults, he pulled Dick aside briefly. Dick seemed to explain the situation. Gordon's eyes widened, before he went to talk to Danny.

"Hi, I'm Commissioner Gordon from Gotham city." Gordon told Danny, "I might not be in my jurisdiction, but it's my duty to guide you to someone who can help. I happen to know someone who will give you a hand."

Bruce was informed of the circumstances by Dick, "I'll pay for whatever you need, too. Lawyer, or anything."

Danny seemed shocked. Gordon and Bruce called some people. It was a long night, but eventually they realized that Danny needed to be at his house.. Hesitantly, they let Danny go home, and the next day CPS was there. The social workers quickly deemed the house unsafe, and parents neglectful. Danny was removed from their care.