Chapter Text
The first thought Danny had as he got off the bus was that Sam would LOVE this place. Gotham was a whole ass vibe. The gothic architecture loomed under an overcast sky reminding him of some punchy 80’s Dracula remake for all that he was in Fucking New Jersey.
Maybe his next stop was going to be Central City or Minneapolis. Something Midwest. Not because he felt a particular strong pull for the culture, but because it would be a hella lot cheaper than New Jersey. Yeah he could go south, but. Well.
Gotham might be the most dangerous city in the world, but that just meant the people trying to kill him wouldn't be doing it because he was trans but because of other shit. He could deal with that, honestly. He didn't think his core could take it right now if it was because he was trans.
“Give us back our girl, you ghost-scum! You monster, you corrupted her!”
He shook his head as he hiked his backpack higher on his shoulder. That was in the past. His parents might not really accept him, but his sister and friends did. Hell, VLAD did, for all that he was a complete fruitloop. Anyway, even if they didn't accept him, Danny knew on some level they had to still love him. They'd let him go, after all.
“Alright. New City, new me. First thing, food. Then find a cheap motel for a night or so,” he reminded himself of the routine he'd used in the last few months. Money wasn't quite tight yet, but if he couldn't find a job in three days he'd be back on a bus to the next place. If he could; he'd take a month or so to recover before deciding if he'd stay or move on.
The bus stop was apparently located in one of the nicer areas of Gotham. That was pretty typical in Danny's experience. Since buses, trains, and planes were how most visitors entered a city the locations tended to have more money pumped into them. Public Optics and all that. But it also meant any motels and eateries in the area would be more expensive; sometimes as expensive as ‘uptown’ locations.
While Danny did have a good amount of cash and an emergency card from Vlad, he wasn't looking to go broke over a burger and a coke, so after exiting the bus terminal he followed the tug in his gut and went East. Ghosts were creatures of emotions, and while he didn't particularly like the taste of desperation it would feed his core pretty well and lead him to an area with cheaper prices.
It wasn't long at all before the streets started to look less pristine. Sidewalks were cracked and littered while the streets themselves had rough edges and long potholes. This was the area Danny started looking for somewhere to eat. He'd learned over the last few months that neighborhoods like this tended to be wary of outsiders but the food was always delicious. Sometimes food in even rougher areas was even better, but it also increased the chances of him getting mugged or jumped just for being an outsider. Not on his list for the day.
Instead he stopped at a little diner with a busted out sign but an open door. “Scratch that… no door,” Danny muttered as he entered.
“Just sit wherever, hun, I'll be right with you,” an older woman at the counter called as she poured a coffee for an obviously exhausted guy leaning on the counter.
He smiled and gave a half nod before picking a booth towards the back wall. The whole place was old looking and narrow, only one row of booths and counter seating all covered in what kinda looked like laminate. Still, it smelled good and it was clean so on the list of places he's eaten in the last few months it was top five already.
The woman, Irida according to her name tag, came over with a menu and a smile. “Here ya go, Sug. Take your time and give me a shout when you're ready.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Danny replied, opening the menu. Before he could stop himself he added, “um. You're kinda missing your door…?”
Irida laughed, “not from around here, are ya hun? Salvatoli’s is a Greek diner, three generations and proud. And that means we ain't never closed. So what do we need a door for?”
“Gas attacks for one,” the tired man at the counter grumped.
“Oh hush you, Eddie. You know very well we got that drop down thing. You installed it,” she tutted, pointing to a pretty impressive metal roller above the door.
Eddie huffed, “if you'd just take the--”
“None of that now, we're doin’ just fine without no WAYNE handout. Let those poor souls setting up shop in the Alley use that money. Why, my Daddy would roll over in his grave, me taking a handout. Want pie, Eddie?”
Danny just shook his head as he turned his attention back to the menu. Every place had its regulars and Eddie seemed to be one of this place’s. After a moment he raised his hand, catching Irida’s attention.
“Ready, hun?”
“Yes, ma’am. Can I get the hungry man with scrambled eggs and toast? And uh, a chocolate milkshake?”
“You got it. I'll get that right in for you, be out in a tick.”
While waiting Danny took the opportunity to turn on his cell and opened up the group chat. He took a few moments to scroll through the chat catching up on the news as he debated if it was safe enough to comment. He wanted to; he missed everyone. But the GIW was still a threat. They shouldn't be looking for Danny, not really. With Phantom supposed to be gone though they might be paying more attention to those who were ecto-contaminated. They hadn't stopped him leaving Amity Park but that could have been because of the absolute riot Sam and Tucker started over Phantom’s “destruction” really.
“Here ya go. Enjoy,” Irida said, placing a large plate down next to a tall glass topped in whipped cream.
“Thanks!” He replied, turning off his phone and shoving it back into its hiding spot. He wasn't going to put everything at risk just because he was maybe a little homesick. Instead he focused on the meal. Which was even better than he'd expected. Before long he'd finished, already promising himself that he'd be coming back here before he left the city.
The place started filling up as Danny paid. Not too unsurprising as it was close to five and people were most likely getting off work. Which meant Danny would probably have to hustle to find a place to stay. “Don't suppose there's a hotel or something nearby?” He asked Irida.
“Well, if you're looking for a place to hook up, there's The Inn down on Maple. If you're looking for a place to sleep, there's a motel on 8th Street, The Lodge. For something nicer you'll have to head uptown. Might be safer, if more expensive, hun.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
The sky rumbled as Danny made his way towards 8th. Luckily for him it wasn't too far and he managed to duck under the ratty awning right as the rain started. This place had a door at least. It was heavy and metal next to a cracked reinforced window that proclaimed ‘vacancy’. The man behind the counter barely glanced up from the small TV in front of him. “Twenty a night. Thirty if you want a TV. Break anything and I break your kneecaps. Checkout at noon.”
“Three nights then,” Danny said, pulling out five twenties from his well hidden stash and placing them on the counter. As a battered key slid across the counter he wasn't surprised by the lack of change even if he was a bit annoyed. Still, the place was cheap all things considered, so he asked, “if I want to stay longer?”
“Room 306. Decide by last night and I'll see if I still got room,” the man said, turning up the TV in an obvious dismissal.
Thanking the man he turned towards the stairs. The elevator looked like it was working but Danny really didn't like the looks of it. The stairs weren't much better, being made of painted metal and worn treads. It looked cheap as hell, but it also looked like it was taken care of at least. The hall was covered in those cheap carpet tile squares. Some were stained and others were suspiciously new. He tried not to think about why that would be in the most crime ridden city in the world as he got to his door. Taking a deep breath he reminded himself that you get what you pay for and it was better than being outside in a storm he unlocked the door.
Which was decently heavy, he was pleased to see. Not that being robbed worried Danny, but it was always nice to not be woken up by someone breaking in. Locking the door behind him he tossed his bag on the single bed in the room and turned on the light. The place was small; a bed, a table with the TV on it, and a bathroom that was about the size of his childhood closet. There really wasn't anywhere to put his bag, even.
"Two out of ten,” he muttered, glad his biology meant things like bed bugs weren't an issue. The water from the tap at least ran clear, though there was a warning plastered on the mirror above stating not to drink the water. He smirked at his reflection, “like that'll stop me,” before frowning and leaning in.
Danny wasn't sure if it was the light or not, but he was really pale. Like, worse than normal. He didn't feel particularly bad. His core still ached but that wasn't new. Finally he decided it could be because he'd spent the last two days on a bus. He'd barely slept and the ecto had been minimal.
He just needed to rest and he'd be back to feeling better-ish soon enough.