Chapter Text
They should’ve known that Damian would see them. They should’ve known it would be better to keep Danny in his human form, that his fight or flight response was always fight. It had been such a long day, though. Well, felt like it.
So here they were. Damien was about half a second away from throwing his dagger right at Danny, and Jason had begun to get into the position to do something— anything. But really, what is there to do when you have to stop your unstable brother from aggravating your probably more unstable boyfriend?
“Damian, wait-“ Jason called out. He barely even got out his name before it all happened. Damian released his dagger, aiming toward Danny. It headed in the general direction of where Danny’s throat would be, most likely in hopes of a perfect cut and the dagger in range of Jason, for him to use.
It didn’t even make it halfway before Danny moved. He positioned his body in front of Damian, blocking any easy access to Jason. Damian moved, trying to get back, moving onto the defensive, but tendrils wrapped around his body, lifting him up, up, up… and then down. Right into the same jaw that had swallowed those men earlier.
“Danny! No don’t swallow him- fuck-“
Jason didn’t know what to do in this situation. He moved to try to grab Damian out of Danny’s grasp, succeeding in grabbing his ankles, but more tendrils snaked out and gently pried Jason’s hands off. Well. At least he still recognized him. Jason tried again, but was pulled against Danny in a protective position as Damian’s feet disappeared. Jason reached up to Danny’s throat, maybe to feel something, to make sure that Damian wasn’t going where those other men were. There was no telling what happened.
Danny pulled Jason closer in a comforting manner, and this allowed Jason to feel it. Two rounded parts of his torso, one much lower and one above. “Danny…” Jason said softly.
‘Jay… what… happened?’
“Fuck. Okay. Damian saw us. He-he must’ve known something was weird about you. He-he tried to throw a dagger at you, but you tried to protect me and… swallowed him.”
Danny’s grip loosened in shock, allowing Jason to turn around and look at him. His face was blank. Not like it usually holds an expression in this form, but Jason could tell that there was even less in the moment.
“It’s okay. Just- just let me in.”
‘What?’
“I need to calm him, or help to get him back out. Please.” This wouldn’t be the first time, but it was uncommon for Jason to ask for it. And especially now, this was the last thing Danny expected.
‘Jay- I-I just swallowed your brother, and I remember none of it. We cannot do this right now.’
“Please. Let me get him out.”
It took Danny a moment to respond. It was understandable, but nerve wracking to say the least ‘…fine. But I swear to god I better not have to keep swallowing people today. This is not what I’m best at, and you know it.’ Jason winked, and Danny’s tendrils approached again, gently wrapping around his torso.
He brought him up to eye level, and then Danny’s torso began to split open. It wasn’t the most practical for most uses, but it was an ability Danny had. For non-squirming prey… might as well use it. He began lowering Jason in, quickly but carefully. Jason didn’t make eye contact, but Danny never took his eyes off of him. He could tell he was flustered. This method did usually feel quite… intimate between the two of them. And in this moment where Jason was trying to get his brother, this almost felt wrong.
As Jason entered, he could feel the change in temperature from the outside. The air —at least, if it could be called that, stayed completely still. It wasn’t freezing, but it certainly was several degrees colder than the outside. Definitely not preferable in light or no clothing. He went in fully, and was met with a familiar galaxy which covered Danny both inside and out. He wasn’t cramped, this space within his boyfriend was more like floating within space, yet being able to walk as if a floor was beneath him. He spotted a speck of red from the corner of his eye, and began moving toward it. In a sea of blues, warmth stood out.
“Dami?” Jason called out, attempting to keep his voice calm. Damien quickly turned toward Jason, getting in a defensive position. Once he realized it was Jason, his muscles loosened and he began running toward him. He met Jason with a hug, a reminder to him that he was still a child. “Jay- Todd.” He corrected “What- what is this place?” He looked visibly nervous, his mask constantly making him appear unbothered fading away
“I can’t explain, exactly. But- it’s safe. I know the way out, just follow me.”
He reached his hand out in a gesture trying to get Damien to take it. He did, and Jason began walking toward the way he came. “That star,” he pointed to one quite above them, and visibly brighter than all the others “We need to reach it. It’s the easiest way out.”
“How do we reach it?”
“I don’t know if you were able to notice yet, but this place kind of defies physics. Just, keep following my lead.”
They continued forward, reaching a point where they were directly below the star. Jason stepped up, almost as if steep ramp or wall was in front of him, although he could have continued forward. He stood still, continuing to hold onto Damian, but now rotated 90 degrees. Damian attempted to copy what Jason did, and although he stumbled, he was successful.
They finally reached the star, and Jason reached his arm inside. The light engulfed him, further and further. Damian followed the pull of his hand, moving into the light as well. Danny felt the movement. It wasn’t the strongest currently, he purposefully dampened it. But he could tell they were approaching. He hadn’t moved. He was too scared to, too shocked. How badly had he messed up? Jason seemed okay but-
Suddenly, an arm stuck out of his torso, the same way Jason got in. He grabbed it and attempted to stabilize whoever came out. Jason came first, he was quickly able to catch himself and continue on, readying to help Damian.
He snuck a quick glance at Danny, he seemed gloomy, any expression gone. He glanced back at Jason, sensing a gaze on him, and they both understood how each felt in an instant, no words needed. Damian made it out, easily recovering his balance. He surveyed the room, confirming he was out, before looking at Jason, and then at Danny.
“Dæmi-“ He turned around, settling back into a defensive position. God, this kid was traumatized. ‘Maybe, uh, don’t speak right now…. just, slowly sit on the bed? Seem… unthreatening?’
Jason communicated to Danny, though he would’ve known it anyway, if it weren’t for the fight or flight instincts going off in his head “Dami, it’s okay. Just listen to me for a sec, alright?” Jason said, placing his hands on Damian’s shoulders. “… That’s Danny. He’s a uh-“
“Æ měta.” Danny finished, sensing that Jason didn’t really know what to say.
“What— but- you know Father’s rules!“ He said, then whispered “He doesn’t allow metas.”
“Yes- we are aware. Danny doesn’t reside in Gotham, luckily. He’s just visiting for a few days.” Damian stood still a moment, staring at Danny and Jason, who had just moved to be to the side of him. He was absorbing this information— he could tell, and so far he seemed to be taking it well.
“Okay.”
“What?”
“I said okay. I don’t approve of many of Father’s rules, as you know. Some metahumans may cause harm, but banning them fully denies them access to the many rehabilitation and shelter opportunities constantly being developed within this city.”
“Wěll spœken.”
“I agree. I just wanted to ask, Danny, you mind changing back?” Jason stared at Danny to confirm what “back” meant, “It just, might be easier…”
“Œh-“ A flash of light appeared, before shrinking into the form of a skinny young man. “Sorry. I kinda forgot about that. I get too used to it sometimes.”
“It’s alright. You’re not the first nor the last meta human I’ve met, and if Todd trusts you, then I do as well. You’re simply the most… shocking, in terms of appearance. I did not expect to find a figure with a galaxy appearance wrapped around my brother.”
“Hah. Yeah. It uh- slips out, I suppose. Especially if I’m unconscious or asleep.”
“Okay, yappers. We need to actually get some sleep.” Damian returned to his room, with Danny and Jason staying beside each other in their own.
‘That was insane. I knew it would work out but- this all happened much sooner than I expected.’ Jason said.
‘I understand… I just- I still cannot believe I did that. I’ve just- I haven’t felt so hungry before, Jay. Even today with the criminals, I’ve never had…. so many. Isn’t usually the first method I think of. I’m… worried.’ Jason faced him, grabbing his hands and looking into his eyes.
‘It’s okay. We will figure it out, and you don’t need to go back home any time soon. You can keep sleeping here at night, to maybe have some normalcy?’ He kissed him on the cheek.
‘I think I will. Do any more of your brothers appear unprompted?’
‘Sometimes. But, as long as we don’t have anything like this happen again, it’ll be fine. Damian luckily has gotten used to all of this, though I believe it was too soon.’
Danny nodded, before moving toward the bed with Jason.
Damian stayed up a bit longer. Something felt off to him. Something felt like a lie.