Chapter Text
Danny felt quite happy standing in the Batcave looking around at everything for the countless time since he’d been introduced to it.
He still couldn’t believe that he was actually now a part of this. He was a part of something greater than just being a glorified dog catcher for ghosts. He was a liaison for humans and ghosts and being trained by a family of superheroes now.
Sure, there were still some bumps in life. Bullies and teachers, chores and homework, everything with Vlad and most ghosts, but for the most part his life was going great.
It was in part why he wanted to do this for Jason. If it hadn’t been for him and the rest of the Wayne family he’d still be struggling and making due with all his troubles with just his friends and sister as back up. They were great and more than enough most times but he knew that having more people in his corner would only benefit him.
Thus after learning about Jason’s birthday (and the little competition to give each other the best gifts) he had concocted a plan to show his thanks to the older guy. It had taken several favors, permission from several people, and relative months of work but Danny just knew that by the end of the day Jason would be floating in joy and not because of his ghost powers.
As if summoned by merely thinking about him Danny heard the elevator that lead to the manor open up and Jason stepped out along with the rest of the Wayne family.
They all made quite the image as they walked over to him. Dressed in suits and ties and dresses and bonnets (if he wasn’t mistaken that they were called that) they looked the picture of an old timey family and would fit in perfectly with where they were going.
“Great! You guys all managed to get dressed and it looks like everything fits.”
“Yeah, I’m not one to complain about getting dressed up,” Mr. Grayson (Danny could not bring himself to call him ‘Dick’ just yet) said, “But can you tell us now what you’ve got planned? Getting dressed up all fancy isn’t typically Jay’s idea of a good time and I notice you’re not dressed to the nines either.”
Danny just shrugged and looked down at his more casual clothes befitting a teenager who would be working the gardens or tending to horses maybe. He knew he wasn’t dressed up fancy but he was playing his part just like they were going to.
“Patience is a virtue, Mr. Grayson, just wait. You all will see soon what I’ve planned so just wait,” Danny rolled his eyes even as the man frowned at the formal referral, “Now before we get in the Speeder I just want everyone to please put their weapons and electronics on the table here,” he gestured towards an empty table and then turned to the sole red head of the bunch, “And Miss Gordon if you could get into this wheelchair please? I know there’s a lot about autonomy and stuff but if you need help please ask I know it’s a rather old style model but it is important that you use it.”
Danny gestured to the very simple and old timey wheelchair that he had brought for her and she eyed it from her own like it was a bear trap he was asking her to sit in. He knew it was an odd request and a bit impolite to ask but they just couldn’t bring her current one with them.
While she was helped into that he turned towards the others and gestured to the table again. When no one moved he tapped his foot impatiently and looked at each one dead in the eye. Finally Mr. Wayne moved and placed a couple knives, smoke bombs, and lock picks on the table along with his phone. When he looked him over he noticed his watch and nodded when he saw it was the one Mr. Pennyworth had set out for him.
Moving his gaze to Mr. Grayson and Tim they just walked over and put down those electric stick things he had and some of those boomerangs they used respectfully. When he looked at them with an unimpressed frown they just shrugged and Danny just rolled his eyes.
Thankfully Duke just shrugged at having nothing on him which Danny believed and made him his favorite at the moment. The same was true for Cass. Stephanie though just huffed and placed the bag she was carrying on it apparently signifying it was full of stuff he had told them not to bring.
“All my stuff is in my chair,” Miss Gordon explained when he looked at her and he nodded before turning past Jason and onto the tiny terror that was Damian.
He wasn’t sure why exactly the kid hated him just that he did. It might have been because he was brought in without ‘proper vetting’ or something, or maybe because he was in a loose sense of the word a meta. Either way every time he was around Damian always glared at him and looked at him with suspicion and disdain which he only knew because Mr. Lancer had that word on their recent vocabulary test.
Still looking at him he waited and when he did nothing but stand there with his arms crossed Danny frowned. The kid wasn’t moving to put down what Danny knew he was carrying and Danny wasn’t going to let them go until he did so. Finally after he started to tap his foot he started to pull out some knives, throwing stars, smoke bombs, boomerangs, what might have been a Taser, a long knife that may have been a short sword or maybe a dagger, wire, and a baton.
“Seriously?” He looked at the pile the kid had placed on the table and then looked at him disbelievingly, “Seriously?! I told you to leave weapons, electronics, and anything Mr. Pennyworth didn’t lay out for you behind and you couldn’t even do that?”
“You are asking us to go somewhere without any means of defending ourselves! Of course we are going to try to sneak things with us!”
“Damian,” Danny sighed and wondered if this is what it felt like to have a younger brother or if this was just a ‘Damian thing’, “Not to toot my own horn or anything but I have taken down monsters, ghosts, god-like entities, a tyrant bent on taking over the entire Zone, a government organization that has specific equipment to hurt me, a creepy middle aged man obsessed with my mother and has a classic villain cat, and more; I can phase through matter and pass that ability to those touching me, I can freeze beings in an unmeltable block of ice, I can fire an energy blast that can easily destroy an entire miniature golf course,” a few of the others gave him a curious look at that but he ignored it, “I can emit a sonic wave that can level a city, and overshadow people; you have nothing to worry about, trust me. I’m a walking weapon. Plus you guys are all trained fighters. On the off chance something did happen you could take down any human easily without me having to do anything.”
Instead of taking solace with that (and Danny once again thanked Lancer for the vocabulary test) Damian just scoffed again and crossed his arms in a pout, “Well what about Todd then! I see you didn’t check him for weapons or make him put anything up.”
Taking a deep breath Danny smiled and kneeled down to better look Damian in the eye, “I didn’t check him for anything because Jason is just like me and has powers just like me. He doesn’t need them even if he isn’t as experienced at using them as I am. Plus I trust him to actually have listened to me and not bring any kind of weaponry with him.”
Danny saw Jason fidget a bit out of the corner of his eye but when he didn’t move to do anything he mentally rolled his eyes, “I mean I know he wouldn’t try to bring any of his guns with him; like the ones he keeps strapped to his ankles.”
Jason drew in on himself and lifted his pants to grab the holsters on each leg before placing them on the table.
“Or try to sneak a gun hidden behind his back,” Jason reached behind him and pulled out the gun that Danny knew had been there.
“OR bring any guns that might be strapped to his body under his shirt,” Danny was really laying it on thick but given that it had been the one request he had made and only two of them had followed it he figured he was allowed, especially when he saw Jason reaching around himself and pulling out more guns from his person.
“OR even one stuck down the front of-“
With a very pointed grunt he finally turned around to see Jason stomp off to have his back towards everyone before messing with his pants. A moment later he turned around holding them up with one hand with a small pistol in the other. He waved the thing around before he put it on the table and then gestured to it as if to say ‘Happy now?’ to which Danny nodded remembering learning about ‘that’ particular firearm.
“You keep a pistol in your underwear…?” Danny did not know why this surprised him to learn but it still did, “Why?”
“Oddly enough when thugs strip search you they tend to stop at the boxers,” he remembered Jason shrugging like it was nothing strange at all, “I guess they think it’s ‘to gay’ or something to do? I dunno point is yeah I keep one up front in case of emergencies and I actually have had to use it a few times so don’t go knocking me for it.”
He hadn’t and wouldn’t but Danny still felt that was a bit unsafe even if he did know that Jason was as much an expert on gun safety as he was on gun use. Then again he also had a helmet that had explosives in it so really this was actually a lot safer in his opinion.
“Alright so now that everyone has put away ALL their toys,” Danny looked at all of them pointedly as Jason got his pants straightened out, “I think we can get in the Speeder and leave.”
He put his hand on Damian’s shoulder before he could walk away and made him intangible for a moment. As soon as he did so a small blowtorch, six more boomerangs, a dozen small knives, what looked like three cubes of C-4, and a collapsible staff fell from him. Danny looked at the weapons, glared at the kid, picked it all up, and then placed it on the table while rolling his eyes. He knew the kid had still had more on him and yet he was still surprised somehow.
“Alright, correction: now I know we can leave.”
Shaking his head and thinking that Mr. Pennyworth was a saint who did not get paid enough for this he got into the Speeder and started to prepare for takeoff. The others were right behind him and after a very telling glare they all held up their hands before sitting down and buckling up. It only took another minute before Danny had them floating and a minute more before they were flying through the Ghost Zone.
“And now, ladies and gentlemen, we are well on our way. A bit latter than I’d personally like but given the setbacks,” he looked back at Damian before looking at everyone else, “We’re not doing so bad.”
“So you gonna tell us where we’re heading yet? And why we needed to fly through here to get there?” Jason asked as he reached into a compartment by the steering wheel.
“No better way to get to where we’re going than using a place where the rules of time and space aren’t as fixed,” he turned to Jason and smiled to see that he was still in his human form despite being in the Zone. It had taken a lot of work and patience but he had finally gotten to the point where he could control rather or not he transformed when he crossed over, “And no better means of doing so with the Specter Speeder.”
He pulled out what he had been reaching for and held it up for everyone to see, “And of course every trip needs a map and there’s none better in all the realms as the Infini-map.”
“Frostbite actually let you have that?” Jason asked looking impressed.
“It’s not the first time I’ve asked to borrow it and he knows it’s safe with me,” Danny explained as he unfurled and spoke to it, “Now take us to where Mr. Alfred Pennyworth was.”
As soon as he gave the command the scroll floated up and shot a beam out into the Zone. Not wasting a moment Danny flew in its direction until a portal opened up and he flew right through it without a second’s hesitation.
Once through the map rolled itself back up and Danny caught it as he flew out over green pastures. Looking around Danny quickly found a cropping of trees and landed there well out of sight of anyone. They were far enough from anything that no one should discover it but he still put the Speeder into a cloaking mode that Mr. Wayne had installed for him hidden behind a panel that his parents would never discover.
“Alright! We’re here, everyone out, Mr. Grayson if you could please help push Miss Gordon, the terrain here is a bit rough, and follow me we’ll go meet up with Mr. Pennyworth and get this show on the road,” Danny opened up the hatch door and peaked outside before turning around and glaring at them all, “And No I am not going to tell you where we are! For crying out loud just wait until we get there!”
They hadn’t even started to say anything but Danny knew they were about to. This had to be the most exhausting thing he’d ever done and they each kept trying to ruin it. He honestly hoped one day he could learn to duplicate himself so that if he ever did something like this he could just overshadow them all to get things done easier.
Walking out he looked around carefully before stepping aside and letting everyone follow him out. The trees provided enough cover for them all to walk out from the cloaked Speeder that had it look like a large boulder and once they were all out he started to lead them towards a dirt road. It was there that he saw Mr. Pennyworth waiting faithfully on a large carriage while holding the reigns of some horses.
“Ahh, just in time, Master Danny, I do hope you did not have any problems in getting here.”
“Just in getting everyone to leave everything behind,” he smiled at the man and then made his way over to the carriage door to open it, “Now everyone get in! We got about fifteen to twenty minutes to get there and this thing only has two horsepower!”
He emphasized his statement by patting the flank of one of the horses while everyone but Mr. Grayson groaned. Danny might not be able to call him by his preferred name but he still liked the man well enough or at least his sense of humor.
After everyone was inside the carriage Mr. Pennyworth cracked the reigns and they set off down the road. It was a little cramped inside but it wasn’t so bad that it was uncomfortable. Still though Danny felt them all looking at him trying to figure out what exactly was going on but none able to form an appropriate question that they could ask of him.
It was actually incredibly satisfying to know something that a bunch of actual geniuses didn’t. It was no wonder Sam was sometimes smug with her knowledge about things.
“You guys are all good actors, right?” When everyone just slowly nodded or made ‘so-so’ motions he nodded, “Good just follow along with what Mr. Pennyworth and I say and you’ll be fine then.”
“Does that mean-“
“Nope!” Danny grinned at Tim who just deflated and looked out the window to pass the time.
Apparently not one for small talk, and curiosity clouding their thoughts, the trip went silently for them. Danny just continued to look out the window at the countryside and enjoyed the fresh air that was so rare back in Gotham. The scenery was nothing that he would consider ‘breathtaking’ but still it was a nice country side and the clear air helped keep him calm at what was approaching.
‘He is going to absolutely flip,’ Danny thought, casting a glance at Jason who was absentmindedly fiddling with his top hat while he looked out the window, likely trying to figure out where they were.
“I see our destination, sirs and madams,” Mr. Pennyworth called out and Danny peaked out the window to see the house that was their destination, “Another five minutes.”
“Thank you, Mr. Pennyworth,” Danny called out and yanked Jason back before he could look out the window. With a slight glare he just resigned to sitting back and Danny made no more attempts at anything until they finally stopped.
“Alright, while I know it’s typically ‘Ladies first’ I’m going to get out first to get Ms. Gordon’s chair set up, Mr. Grayson if you could help settle her in and then the rest of you can follow.”
With the orders given the carriage slowed to a stop and Danny got out. Once the chair was set up Ms. Gordon was carried out and placed in it and Mr. Grayson got behind her to push her. He knew there was a lot about her and that she was perfectly able to take care of herself and all that stuff but things were a bit different here and that needed to be taken into account.
As soon as everyone was out Mr. Pennyworth led them up to a small simple brick home and politely knocked on the door. Danny took his place right beside Jason who was looking around the place like he was trying to place where he knew it from and before long the door was opened.
“Oh, Mr. Pennyworth! We were starting to get a bit concerned with how long it was taking you to get here.” An older woman with a clear English accent addressed him kindly. She was dressed in a simple light blue dress and plain apron with her hair tied up in a bun, “Normally you’re so punctual, almost eerily so, so when you didn’t show up at the time you said we started to get concerned.”
“Oh dear are we that late?” He pulled out a watch and checked it only to click his tongue in annoyance, “Darn, a half hour almost. I do beg your forgiveness Ms. Grace but my grandson had a problem with our guests which delayed us a bit.”
“Oh it’s no harm, we just grew concerned,” She stepped aside and allowed the family to enter. “I’ll go and tell Miss Austen that you’re here though and she’ll meet you in the sun room.”
“Thank you, ma’am, Danny will show them the way, and I shall meet you in the kitchen to help with refreshments once I get the horses settled in.”
With a nod of her head she held the door open for them and gestured them inside. Danny took the lead and nodded his head towards her before leading them into the home with ease.
“Danny…” Jason spoke up first when they were out of earshot, “Did she say Miss Austen?”
“Miss Grace did say that, Jason,” Danny knew he was being a huge tease but he had now officially pulled one over on at least some of The Bats, he felt it was deserved.
“And it’s clear from her accent that we’re in England, right?” Tim finally spoke up looking at the walls as they walked down a hallway.
“That would be safe to assume.”
“And we’re wearing clothes that are a bit old fashioned and used a carriage to get here,” Mr. Grayson put out to which Danny merely nodded.
“And you have mentioned a friend of yours that is able to tear portals into any place in the world and he would have been a much safer means of travel than using a powerful artifact like that map,” Mr. Wayne added to which Danny just shrugged at.
“So it’s clear that we’re in England, but then given everything you’ve done and what we’re seeing it’s not so much of a where we are but a when,” Stephanie added on to the end and Danny just chuckled as they walked into the sun room.
“Well here’s a hint for you: ‘She was handsome, clever and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her’.”
It may have been a bit malicious to see all the color drain from Jason’s face and smile about it, but he couldn’t help it. He had spent hours memorizing that line for the sole purpose of using it here and now and seeing Jason react so strongly towards it made it all the worthwhile.
“I’m impressed, Danny,” a woman’s voice reached them right before entering the room, “I know you’d said my stories aren’t something that you particularly enjoy after all.”
“Just because I’d prefer something different doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy them, Miss Austen,” Danny gave the middle aged woman a warm smile and walked up to her, “I’d just prefer a story of adventure and exploration, like the Swiss Family Robinson novel or Gulliver’s Travels.”
“I know, dear, I’m merely teasing,” she pat his cheek and then turned to the family Danny had gathered in her home, “But I believe introductions are in order?”
“Of course,” he nodded his head and stood by her and gestured at Mr. Wayne and Damian first, “This is Mr. Bruce Wayne, my uncle and Mr. Pennyworth’s nephew from his sister, Martha, and his only blood son, Damian.”
“From there we have his adopted sons and daughters, Duke, Cassandra, Timothy, Stephanie, Richard and his fiancé Miss Barbara Gordon,” The two of them gave Danny a startled look but he just rolled his eyes at them. He knew what was up with those two and while he wasn’t going to play matchmaker with them he would shove them together whenever he could just because it would be fun to mess with them both, “And last but certainly not least is Jason whose birthday we are celebrating today.”
Jason had his mouth forced shut and it looked like he was trying very hard not to lose it. Danny moved over to stand next to him in case he needed to stop something from happening but simply grinned when he lightly elbowed him. With a jerk of his head Jason nodded and remembering his manners took a step forward and took her hand as gracefully as he could.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Miss Austen; I have to say that I am a huge fan of your work!”
Ms. Austen looked at him in shock when he stood back up and frowned at him, “I’m sorry but how do you know about my work? It should have all been published anonymously.”
“Oh that would be my doing, ma’am, I’m sorry I didn’t realize it might have been any trouble for you,” Danny quickly stepped up and elbowed Jason in a way he hoped to convey that he follow his lead, “I knew Jason was an avid reader and collector of books and his most recent favorite is Pride and Prejudice and when you mentioned that it was you who actually wrote it I told him and he said that he really wanted to meet with you. I hope that isn’t a bother.”
“Oh, no it’s no bother at all I was just surprised. Not many women get published after all and it’s rather frowned upon and while my novels have gained some moderate success I fear they would not be as well received if people found out a woman had been writing them.”
“Yeah well those people who think your work is anything less that spectacular can-“
Mr. Wayne quickly put a hand over his mouth and gave Ms. Austen an apologetic smile, “Forgive my son, please, he sometimes forgets his manners when he gets worked up and I’d rather not have your impression of him sullied by hearing him curse like a sailor.”
“Oh it’s fine, I’m flattered really that someone enjoys and thinks so highly of my work, especially so a young man, but please, let us all sit and have some tea while I get to finally learn more about young Danny’s family whom he’s told me so much about.”
What followed next was a nice bit of conversation from everyone. Miss Austen asked polite questions about how each of Mr. Wayne’s kids came to be with him and each one gave a simple believable story that Danny felt was mixed with some truth.
There was a moment when she asked about Duke, referring to him as an old fashioned term for black people that made him cringe but Danny couldn’t fault her for it. 1815 was still far from the Civil War after all and it’d be years later before things were even half was as decent as they were in their time. Still when she said she was glad that he hadn’t been born a slave like so many and had been taught to read he could tell that everyone knew she didn’t mean it how someone from their time would have and they rolled with it well.
‘Awkward moment aside, but it’s going well,’ Danny thought as he watched Jason listen to her talk about her latest book and how it was written mostly for her own enjoyment. He was bouncing his leg with excited energy and Danny really did have to admire his control over his powers. There had been times when he had experienced intense emotions early on after his accident that had let them running out of his control after all.
“Um, excuse me, Miss Austen,” when her attention turned to him he pointed at the grandfather clock, “I do believe it’s time for some tea and cake, and maybe you could grant us a reading of Pride and Prejudice?”
“Oh what a fine idea, seeing as young Jason enjoys it so much. I shall go get a copy of it and be right back. With any luck your grandfather will be able to join us shortly with tea as well.” She stood and bowed to them politely before leaving and the moment she was gone Jason was on him and squeezing him in a hug tight enough to pop his spine.
“Danny!” He hissed his name as he hugged him and started to shake him.
“I know, Jason.”
“Danny!”
“I said ‘I know’, Jay,” Danny chuckled as Jason started to make a noise similar to a tea pot.
“It’s Jane Austen, Danny!” He shook him harder and Danny really had to admire his control right then as he was apparently about to lose all his composure over meeting his favorite author.
“Is it? Gee I didn’t realize,” sarcasm aside he was grinning wide and feeling quite proud of himself.
“Oh kid, you win, you bloody fucking win, I swear to GOD this is the best gift ever, holy shit, you fucking beautiful boy!” He placed a loud kiss on his head while still not letting him go and just made more happy noises, “And she’s going to read Pride and Prejudice! Fuck! Why did you not let us bring something to record it? Someone could have put it somewhere and it not been seen so I could-“
Danny made his arm go intangible and pulled a small case out of his pocket with a grin, “I said you guys couldn’t because I already had everything planned and didn’t need any more variables to have to worry about later.”
He flipped the lid open and pushed a button letting a small drone like Vlad’s fly out and perch itself on the grandfather clock. It would sit there and record everything until it got below a certain percentage in battery power. Then it would fly back to the pocket that had the case in it and stay there until he could pull it out later. The thing really was a piece of work and Danny knew he’d have to really do something nice for Tucker later to show how much he appreciated it.
Looking around at the others, Danny was pleased to see that everyone was watching Jason fondly. They might not have won the unofficial ‘Best Gift’ contest, but they could clearly see how much this meant to Jason and Danny was just glad he was able to give him something like this.
“What I want to know,” Stephanie spoke up suddenly, “Is how all of this was even possible.”
She waved her hand around to signify what ‘this’ she meant and Danny just chuckled.
“Well you see it took a lot of work, several months’ worth of planning and organizing, and a lot of forged documents.”
Danny explained how Mr. Pennyworth and him had come to the Austen estate to answer an ad for some help. From there they made themselves valuable and helpful to the household fixing things with ease, caring for the few animals they had around, running errands, and just maintaining the grounds. It was a lot of hard work but it wasn’t bad for Danny and he got good pay for the time and eventually was able to talk to and befriend Ms. Jane Austen. From there it was a simple matter of talking to her when he could and becoming a friend of hers so that they could talk about things.
Eventually he got around to the point where he mentioned his ‘Uncle Bruce’ and his children would be coming to visit soon and if they could stop by for a visit. By this point Mr. Pennyworth and Danny had been working for the family for a few months and so they said they would gladly host them for the day if they wanted.
“But I thought you weren’t allowed to meddle in the time stream or whatever. Isn’t being here and doing all this for so long kind of messing with it?” Mr. Grayson pointed out and Danny just gave him a sad smile
“I know we don’t like to think much about things like death and ‘what lies beyond’ but from what I’ve come to understand in working and being taught by Clockwork is that even though sometimes the smallest of actions can have great consequences most actions are easily forgotten and names and deeds overlooked. We haven’t actually done anything that would mess with the time line. We haven’t saved any lives or given anyone any real ideas or hints to the future and once we leave we will be remembered and may even be mentioned a few times in journals and letters but for the most part what we’ve done won’t have any long reaching consequences on anything just like most of your average day-to-day actions don’t amount to much in the grand scheme of things.”
It wasn’t something that was fun to think about but it was something Danny had come to understand while doing some errands and favors for Clockwork. It made him feel small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things but Clockwork had pointed out that even if most of the actions and people aren’t remembered they still have an effect on the overall time stream.
“I suppose that makes sense,” Mr. Wayne broke the awkward silence at that and sat down in one of the available chairs, “But let’s not worry about the implications of time travel and any complicated matters today. We’re here because it’s Jason’s birthday so let’s just focus on that.”
Everyone agreed to that and not a minute later Miss Austen walked back in with a book in her hands. She smiled politely and took a seat in a very comfortable looking chair to which Jason quickly brought his own seat over towards and sat down in front of her.
He looked so much like a child would when it was ‘story time’ that Danny had to fight back a few tears. His life had not been easy; Danny knew that from numerous stories he’d been told by the Wayne’s and a few anecdotes from Clockwork and Jason himself. It was tragic and horrific and it made something in Danny cement itself to always trying to help Jason however he could. There had been enough cruelty and sadness in his life and Danny wanted to give him some joy, to show that being even just ‘half-alive’ in this world was worth it.
As she began to read Danny took a spot near the door. He had listened to Miss Austen read aloud several times over the course of his work there but each time there seemed to be something new about it. This time however she seemed to read with even more energy and joy in her voice, most likely because of how big a fan Jason had said he was of hers.
Eventually Mr. Pennyworth came in with tea and cake and a short break was had from the reading. They ate the simple cake he had made and Danny helped him serve tea. Small talk was had but eventually the reading started back again and Jason focused all his attention back on Miss Austen. It was adorable and Danny didn’t bother to keep from smiling fondly at Jason.
As all things had to, though, the story came to an end and Jason actually pouted that it was over. If it hadn’t been so sweet Danny was sure he would have laughed at him over how he was acting, but he held back as did the others who caught how he looked.
Still it was early enough and no one really felt like leaving just yet. Thus the Austen family entertained them for a few more hours.
Mr. Wayne apparently knew how to play the piano and offered to play a few songs while Miss Austen danced with Jason. The others had their turns and Cass even got to show off some of the ballet moves that she knew. All in all it was a great time and by the time they had to start heading home there wasn’t a single person who hadn’t enjoyed the unique experience of the day.
“Well it was absolutely wonderful to meet you all,” Miss Austen said as she walked them out the door. Danny saw the carriage had already been pulled up and waiting, Mr. Pennyworth already to drive them back to the Speeder, “We don’t entertain much anymore but I’m very glad that Daniel convinced us to host you for the day. You all have been a joy.”
“Thank you, Miss Austen, it was certainly a pleasure for us as well and I know Jason was especially happy to have met you,” at Mr. Wayne’s side Jason nodded eagerly and Danny had to fight down a laugh.
“It really was a great pleasure to meet you, ma’am!” Jason eagerly said and took her hand in a gentle shake, “And good luck on your next stories! I just know one day people the world over will love them!”
“Well aren’t you just the sweetest thing,” she smiled fondly at him and pat his cheek, “Which is why I have a special gift for you as well seeing as you’re such a fan.”
Danny stepped closer to Jason with a coy smile on his face as Miss Austen walked away for a moment. He had a sneaking suspicion as to what she was getting and he thought it would be best to be nearby in case of any ‘slip ups’.
Looking over at Mr. Wayne he saw that the man likely knew what was about to happen as well and was smiling fondly at Jason whom meanwhile seemed utterly lost as to what was about to happen. It appeared that being truly happy and at peace with his surroundings may have caused him to shut down the part of his mind that was always analyzing and trying to figure things out.
“Here we are,” Miss Austen came back and handed Jason a relatively newly printed version of Pride and Prejudice, “I doubt women will ever be able to write as freely without reproach as men in my lifetime, but seeing as you’re so enamored with my story I thought I’d give you this one signed by myself.”
“Y-y-you…” Jason took the book from her with shaking hands like he was taking a bomb encased in spun sugar and hesitantly opened it. He let out a high pitched noise in joy and Danny quickly had to grab at his pants as he saw a brief flash of intangibility pass over them. Nothing happened thankfully and no one but Mr. Wayne seemed to notice but that was likely because Miss Austen was more focused on Jason who was more focused on what was written on the title page of the book.
“I can’t…I mean a first addition signed by you! This is… I’m absolutely stunned by this, ma’am!”
Looking over his arm at the page Danny smiled at what he saw written there, ‘To Jason, thank you for being such a fan, Jane Austen’. It was a sweet gift, especially for the time they were in right now and Jason just held it in his hands like it was the greatest treasure ever to exist.
“I’ll treasure this for the rest of my life,” he said so seriously and with such awe that Miss Austen just chuckled and pat him on the cheek.
“You’re a sweet young man and I hope that one day you find as nice a lady to settle down with. One who hopefully enjoys reading as much as you do.”
With that she bid them goodbye and Danny had to push Jason into walking back to the carriage. Once inside though his composure finally broke and his powers went on the fritz much to Danny’s amusement.
He transformed immediately, donning his ‘Blue Hood’ gear and didn’t even seem to notice. His focus was purely on the book in his hands and he didn’t even notice when he started to float up and through the roof. Danny sat next to him and gently pulled him back down smiling at him and feeling quite proud of himself even when he then had to pull Jason up to keep him from falling through the floor.
“This…! This is quite possibly the best day of my life! Easily top five at least!”
“I’m glad you had fun,” was Danny being smug and cocky? Yes. Did he care? No. He had pulled off a plan that was better than all the Bats and he was going to relish this moment (thanks again, Mr. Lancer) for a long time if he had any say in the matter.
Suddenly being pulled into a hug Danny felt Jason shake in excitement still not looking away from his book.
“You are the absolute best, Danny! I can’t tell you how much this means to me and how great it was and I’m just ab-so-fucking-lutely amazed that you pulled something like this off just for me!”
“You deserve it, especially after you’ve been helping me with everything,” and Danny meant that. Jason and the rest of them had been extremely helpful with everything and it was like he could finally breathe again knowing that he had them to call in case things got bad for him.
“Well still thank you, from the bottom of my heart and center of my core, thank you!” He held the book out in front of him and despite the mask covering his face Danny knew he was grinning under it, “When we get back I am putting this in the thickest most bullet and blast proof display case I can get and putting it in the cave! This thing is going to be better protected than most world leaders!”
He went on and on about how he was going to display his book in the cave and turned to talk to Mr. Wayne to figure out the best place for it. In the meantime Danny started mentally planning on how he was going to have to pull their employment from the Austen’s soon. It wouldn’t take much and there wasn’t like they’d leave any kind of trail that could easily be followed or questioned but he still thought it best to make Mr. Pennyworth and his departure as quiet and uneventful as possible.
“I gotta say, Danny,” Mr. Grayson spoke up and he immediately turned to the man who was grinning at him, “This is by far the best gift ever this go around and none of us had a chance to beat it. That being said though, it’s going to be hard to top it next year.”
“Oh I dunno, I bet I could come up with something that’s even better than this,” he shrugged easily only to be met with a sly smirk from the man.
“Oh is that so? Care to make it official then?”
He stuck out his hand and Danny took it immediately, “You got it. I bet I’ll come up with an even better gift next year.”
Mr. Grayson just shook his head with a fond smile not believing him for a second.
---
Next year Jason would meet the ghost of Miss Jane Austen and be given a one of a kind novel written by her that featured a character name Jason Todd in it.
The night after that, Nightwing would be doing his patrols in the raven mascot costume from Danny’s school that would be heavily reinforced for a month.
That same night Danny would be floating with Jason watching Nightwing beat up bad guys in that costume while also reading his new book happy and content as could be.