Chapter Text
Danny hadn’t really expected to run into his variety of cryptid within Batman’s lair. The hero had clearly been of the living kind, probably, and Danny had kind of expected the same to be true of his various side-kicks. He was vaguely aware of there having been several Robins, the younger man standing further away being one of them. So, it kind of seemed likely that if Batman was a cryptid, his sidekicks might be more of the same.
What’s that phrase? Birds of a feather stick together?
He was going to have to reconsider his list of possible cryptid beings. Because the man standing before him wasn’t exactly dead enough to be a Halfa, but man. . . He was something.
And his Ecto was all messed up.
Like. Really messed up.
The spectral substance was barely visible, even to Danny’s gaze. Yet the sensation. . . Like something oily and rotting. It was making his eyes water from the burning wrongness of it all.
Something was very clearly wrong with the man, and if Batman couldn’t fix his own sidekick’s Ecto, what business did he have helping Danny?
“That doesn’t bother you?” He asked, rubbing at his nose.
Oh Ancients, his Ecto didn’t even smell right!
“Hmmm . . .” Robin said, leaning in close to the other man (Hood?). Examining him in theatrical interest.
Hood stared down at the shorter man with an expression of pure distaste.
“Well, he wears that helmet most of the time. So his face really doesn’t bother me all that much.” Robin said, shrugging and grinning at Danny.
“Thanks.” Hood said flatly.”
“That’s . . . Not what I meant.” Danny said slowly.
Really, Hood wasn’t an unattractive guy. He wasn’t sure why Robin was jabbing at the man so much.
Maybe his gross Ecto made everyone a bit uneasy.
”I meant his ectoplasm?”
“My what?”
“His what?”
They spoke over each other, staring at Danny with odd expressions on their faces. The blank white of their eyes made him feel uneasy.
“His. . . Ectoplasm?” Danny said, nervously scratching at his hairline behind his right ear.
No reaction.
“The stuff that, like, ghosts are made of?”
Robin looked between Danny and Hood, mouth twisted to the side in thought.
”Kinda goopy stuff?” He offered.
Still, Hood and Robin stared down at Danny as if he was speaking some alien language.
“Bright green liquid?”
That got a reaction. Hood reeled back as if Danny had struck him, with Robin going very, very still.
“What?” Hood growled out.
Danny sighed. “You know, the green stuff. That the dead or partly-dead are made up of.”
Really, undead cryptids should know this.
Robin looked sharply at Hood, “You don’t think-“
“Are you talking about Lazarus Water?” Hood said, stepping closer to Danny.
This close up, the man towered over him. Danny had to tilt his head slightly to look into the man’s scowling face. There was a jagged scar on his cheek, twisting with the force of his frown.
It kind of looked like a ‘J’.
“Sure, if you want to call it that.” Danny shrugged. “Kind of a weird nickname for ectoplasm, though.”
They both went quiet, staring down at Danny. Robin looked between Danny and Hood, as if anticipating some kind of disaster. He suddenly stepped forward, blocking Hood from Danny’s point of view, and clasped his hands on Danny’s shoulders.
“Okay! Let’s get you back to bed.” He said, physically turning Danny around and pushing him slightly forward.
He stumbled a bit, grabbing at the IV pole. Robin’s hands firm against his shoulders.
“Wait-“
“I’m pretty sure the big guys expect you to be resting.” He said, pushing more.
Danny looked over his shoulder at Hood, who stood in the same position. Someone should really do something about his Ecto.
“Wait-“
He wasn’t Frostbite, or one of the Yetis from the far frozen, but maybe Danny could. . .
“Come on. Back to medbay.” Robin insisted, pushing Danny further away from Hood.
“Hey, wait- Stop pushing me- Wait! Hey! Do you want me to fix that for you?”