[Third Person's PoV]
"Woah…" Tucker muttered as he looked out the window at Wayne Manor. Sam, however, didn't seem too impressed.
Dick gave Danny a questioning look, as if asking, 'Are you sure about this?'
Danny returned an exasperated glance that said, 'What other choice do I have?'
Dick's expression shifted to one of concern, conveying, 'Just make sure they don't find out.'
The limo came to a stop, and they began exiting, heading inside the manor. "We'll be in my room," Danny informed both Dick and Alfred.
"I'll bring some refreshments shortly," Alfred nodded.
"Come on, follow me," Danny said, motioning for them to follow as he led the way up the staircase.
When they reached Danny's room, Tucker and Sam were taken aback. One side of the room housed a large bookshelf and an advanced computer system, while the opposite side resembled a mini gym, complete with dumbbells, a punching bag, and a treadmill. Despite the equipment, the room remained spacious, with a large bed situated in the center.
"This is your room?!" Tucker asked in disbelief. He walked towards the computer, his hands trembling. "Danny, is this what I think it is? Wayne Tech's latest computer system? Quantum-level data encryption…" Tucker continued to ramble, leaving Danny to tune him out slightly.
Sam, meanwhile, eyed Danny suspiciously. "Is this why you didn't want to say anything? Because he's giving you hush money?"
"Sam…" Danny sighed, offering an exasperated smile.
Tucker, still hugging the computer, glanced back at Danny in confusion. "What's up with the gym equipment?"
"That's what I've been trying to tell you! I knew you wouldn't believe me if I just told you, so I thought it would be better to show you," Danny explained, a bit too loudly, relief evident in his voice.
"Bruce isn't abusing me," he said pointedly, directing his gaze at Sam. "I've been taking martial arts classes."
"YOU'VE BEEN WHAT?!" Sam and Tucker exclaimed in unison.
Danny's shoulders slumped as he rubbed the back of his head. "It's to keep me distracted and prevent my mind from wandering. Bruce has helped me a lot, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk about him like he's an abuser. He got me an instructor, and the bruises you saw were from my training."
"Oh, Danny…" Sam said, pulling him into a hug, catching him by surprise. "Why didn't you just say that in the first place?"
Danny stepped back, giving her a deadpan look. He leaned in and narrowed his eyes. "Look me in the eye and tell me honestly that you would've believed me if I told you this earlier today."
Sam's eyes shifted to the side, remaining silent.
Danny scoffed. "Thought so…"
Sam let out a sigh. "Still, you should have told us. What was the point of keeping it a secret?"
"You guys already worry about me enough. I didn't want to give you more reasons to be concerned. Plus, this isn't anything major, just something to distract me, so I didn't see the point in telling anyone," Danny said, looking a bit embarrassed.
Tucker stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on Danny's shoulder. "Danny, we're your best friends. We're always going to worry about you."
Sam placed her hand on his other shoulder. "I'm sorry if I seem a bit too obsessive sometimes… It's just that we care about you a lot and want what's best for you. You've already been through more than anyone should have to, and I don't want you to go through any more than necessary."
Danny began to blush. "Can… can we please change the subject? You guys are embarrassing me."
Seeing Danny blushing made Sam and Tucker chuckle. They both began to feel a bit awkward as well, their own faces turning red.
Sam shook her head to dispel the awkward tension. "So, Bruce Wayne really isn't bad, huh?"
Danny shook his head. "He's not. Far from it… He actually bought my old home."
"Seriously?" Tucker asked in astonishment.
Danny nodded. "Even though it's in his name, he says it's mine. He said it would be fully mine once I come of age and that I could use it however I wish."
"Aww, that's sweet of him," Sam said. "I knew he couldn't be all bad."
Danny and Tucker both gave her deadpan looks.
"I'm joking," she said with an eye roll. "But that is still very nice of him."
"If he's got you the house, why are you living here?" Tucker asked, puzzled.
"He gave me the option to go back, said he'd give me an allowance to live on my own until I come of age or can provide for myself… But I just couldn't stay there alone. There are too many memories in that house, and I don't want to be by myself," Danny admitted shamefully.
A look of understanding passed between them.
Time passed as they continued talking and hanging out.
Alfred knocked on the door, and once Danny gave the confirmation to come in, he entered to find them all sitting on the bed, doing homework together.
Alfred carried in a plate of sandwiches and drinks. "You all must be hungry. Here's your lunch."
"Thanks, Alfred! You're the best!" Danny said happily.
"Yeah, thanks for the food man" Tucker said rubbing his hands in anticipation.
"Always a pleasure to serve," Alfred replied with a polite bow before leaving.
As they ate, Tucker looked at them and asked, "So, have you heard what everyone's been talking about online?"
Danny, mid-bite, looked towards Tucker in confusion.
Seeing their clueless expressions, Tucker sighed. "Apparently, Batman has a new superhero sidekick…"
Danny nearly choked on his food at Tucker's mention of it.
"Does he now?" Danny asked, panting as he quickly gulped down his drink.
"It came from the criminals themselves. Some were taken down by, get this, a ghost kid," Tucker said mysteriously.
"A ghost kid?" both Sam and Danny repeated, confused.
"That's not even the crazy part. Remember that ghost that attacked the school? Well, similar reports are popping up all over Gotham. And whenever there's a ghost attack, the Ghost Kid appears and takes them down," Tucker explained.
"It's probably the same one we saw defending the school cafeteria. Did they mention how he looks? Did he have snow-white hair and glowing green eyes?" Sam questioned.
"Could he walk through walls? Disappear and fly?" Danny added with a smirk he tried to suppress.
"There isn't much about him, but apparently, he terrifies the criminals he encounters. They're too scared to say anything else about him, but it's been said he's working with Batman. Otherwise, Batman wouldn't have allowed the Ghost Kid to operate in his territory," Tucker said, finishing his sandwich and grabbing another.
"Great, just what Gotham needs now—for it to become a Ghost Town," Sam sighed, shaking her head.
"Do you know the name of the Ghost Kid? Or is everyone just calling him Ghost Kid?" Danny asked, a bit curious.
"Well, in the forum where I've been reading about it, he's mostly known as 'Gotham's Ghost' or 'The Spirit of Gotham,' but that's about it. As for what his superhero name is, no one really knows since they've been too scared to ask. Although, since he has a D on his chest, they assume it must stand for something," Tucker shrugged.
"I don't have much to say on the topic, but I'll say this—he was kinda cute. It makes you wonder how someone so young could have died and turned into a ghost," Sam said, biting her pen slightly.
"He was what?" Danny asked, a bit embarrassed, though he tried to suppress it.
"Hm?" Sam hummed, looking up at him. "What? It's true. Objectively speaking, he's good looking."
Tucker rolled his eyes. "You're only saying that because he's dead. It's your aesthetic talking. Anything related to death is beautiful to you."
"Just because I'm a Goth doesn't mean I'd find any ghost attractive, Tucker. Even I have standards," Sam said with an eye roll.
"Oh yeah, you have standards alright. If they aren't dead, they aren't your type. Hey, if I showed you a picture of a zombie, would you consider him Prince Charming?" he teased.
Sam grabbed the pillow from her lap and slapped Tucker across the face with it. "Says you, you tech-loving geek. If 'she' isn't some type of computer system, she obviously wouldn't fit your standards."
"Both of your standards are weird," Danny scoffed, continuing to work on his homework to hide his embarrassment from being called cute.
"What was that?" they both asked, narrowing their eyes at him.
"It's true," Danny shrugged.
"Oh yeah? Then what are your standards? What would you consider true beauty?" Sam asked with a scoff. "Surely not Paauulinaaaa~" she said, mimicking infatuation.
"Wonder Woman…" Danny said dreamily. "Now that's… that's a woman…"
Sam looked at Danny in disgust, while Tucker dapped him up. "You, my brother in arms, understand it!" Tucker nodded in agreement.
"Ugh! Men," Sam scoffed disdainfully.
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