Chapter Eight:

"Who are you searching for?" Batman asked, but the almost statement held a cutting edge and just a hint of an underlying threat. His white-slitted eyes were cold and empty, and he held a permanent scowl on his face.

Sam and Tucker exchanged looks, and Sam met Batman's gaze head on, a small frown pulling at her lips.

"Alright, Batman, we know you guys are the heroes here, and we can respect that, you know? Our friend's just like you guys, and we sort of are to, but that doesn't mean I'm going to just go around and spill all our life secrets just because you asked. So you'd better give me a dang good reason as to why we should trust you."

Batman regarded her serious expression silently, almost full out glaring at the outspoken goth. Tucker coughed almost awkwardly, almost shrinking under his stare. He turned to Sam, swallowing.

"Uh- Sam, we kind of are in their place, and I guess they did help us leave, and they're heroes," he rambled off nervously.

"We are investigating the Guys in White," Batman said finally, his lip twitching unnoticeably. Off to the side, Robin laughed into his gloved hand, recognizing that as a gesture of exasperated amusement over the stupidity of their name. "We have reason to suspect foul play, and our findings here might just confirm it."

"Might," Sam repeated in disbelief. "I don't know just what it is that you guys found in that death hole, but it had to be at least a glimpse of something, and anything you will ever find there is less than legal, so discovering signs of 'foul play' would be a lot easier than you might think."

Batman's frown deepened.

"I don't even know why we agreed to come here in the first place," Sam sighed, closing her eyes in frustration.

"Because you two needed some medical treatment, and most importantly, food!" Captain Marvel came into the large room with a bright smile, his blue eyes twinkling. In his hands were plates stacked with waffles, butter, and syrup. "I wasn't sure what you would like, so I just made everyone's favorite." He held the plates out to the disheveled teenagers, who tried not to drool over the warm layers of cooked dough.

Kid Flash stared hopelessly at the plate of waffles with a look of longing, his stomach growling at the sight of food.

"Chill out, Kid KF," Robin said, elbowing his friend. "You just ate."

"I know," Wally groaned. "But it looks sooo good."

"Sure does," Robin agreed, his blue eyes gleaming under his mask. Kid Flash's shoulders slumped, still staring at the food like a starved child, and was unable to see the evil, growing smirk on the bird's face.

"Look how fluffy it looks," Robin observed, taking on a mask of amazement. "How warm and soft, especially considering how buttery sweet the golden brown deliciousness-" he cut himself off when the speedster disappeared, cackling evilly to himself.

Artemis, who was standing next to the ebony-haired troll, smirked in amusement, giving Robin a fist-bump. Robin let out another cackle.

Sam and Tucker quickly devoured the stack, not having eaten a proper meal in forever. They were already given a medical once-over by Martian Manhunter, and they weren't in great shape, but they would get by fine. The duo were mostly ignored back at the dump of a government agency's headquarters, and that included meals. Captain Marvel came back a few minutes later, offering them cups of water for their dehydration. The teens were grateful, and Batman paused in his questioning for the moment.

It wasn't an interrogation.

Of course not.

King Phantom silently sat at the large, ornate desk in his lab, his hands flying across the probably-not-wooden surface. His luminous gaze was serious, focused on the object in hand. His mind took in the pieces in barely half a second, quickly assembling it in less than ten. The completed weapon started up at him, shining in satisfaction. Phantom smirked, flipping the silver gun once before pocketing it into his holster.

Just then, he sensed movement from beyond his chambers. A stupid name that his subjects insisted was the proper term, but he really didn't want to accept the title and actually use it with people who also insisted they were referred to as subjects. What was this? The freakin' 1800s?

It would take whoever they were as few minutes to actually reach his study, but they weren't even allowed there anyway. Danny stood up, disappearing in a smoky blend of green so dark it was almost black. His figure materialized right outside of his door, just in time to greet the oncoming ghost.

He shifted under the King's empowering gaze, nervously squaring his shoulders.

"There is an issue with an antagonist," he reported, his gleaming red eyes meeting anywhere but his.

"Of course there is," Danny said dryly. "Care to specify? If not, then get out of here and find someone else to help you. I'm busy."

"It's- ah," the ghost hesitated, almost shrinking in on himself.

"I don't have all day," the snowy-haired teen snapped impatiently.

"It's Vladimir Plasmius!" he squeaked.

Phantom froze for all but one second before rage filled his heart, green energy flaring around his fists as the King roared out his next sentence.

"That lying, ungrateful, cheating bastard!" he hissed, his hair blaring into fire in his enrage state. His eyes flashed red, and Phantom started the subject down, spitting out a single word in a deathly calm voice.

"Where?"

"D-dora's Lair," he whispered, his eyes wide and terrified. The King was gone before the poor being could even blink.

Flashback:

Finally.

A weak and battered Danny sunk to his knees, his eyes closing as relief hit him full on. The icy wind battered against his face unpleasantly, and the raven-hared teen found himself relishing in the feeling. The cold air felt nice against his cheeks, and he could actually breathe for once.

He was free!

He felt himself laughing, running his frail hands against the cold, rough ground beneath him. It was solid. Sturdy and everlasting.

Danny couldn't help but grin, watching the fluffs of white cloud drift in the clear, crystalline sky. And as cliché as it was, the boy knew exactly what he looked like.

A blind man seeing the sun for the first time.

His face was full of wonder, and he took in deep breathes, trying to use as much of the fresh air as possible. He felt as if he needed to get in every last smidge of oxygen he could, though knew it was silly. It was everlasting.

Danny stayed like that for a few moments more, wanting nothing more than to just bask in the moment, but they were after him still, and he needed to move. Danny's breath hitched in his throat as a noise cut sharply through the once quiet atmosphere. The tortured teen's head shot up, now listening attentively to every single piece of noise out there. A creak came from the distance, along with a small… groan?

His eyebrows furrowing, Danny let a small frown grace his face. Still an improvement from the usual scowl or unpleasant emptiness that became typical of him. There was another soft groan, and Danny approached cautiously. It came from right around the corner. Uncomfortably close.

As soon as he spotted what it was, his tired blue eyes widened, and he almost turned on the spot and ran. An injured Vlad Plasmius was before him, leaning against the wall heavily. He had a hand clutched to his bloody side, and his expression was twisted into a grimace.

"D- Daniel," he rasped, red liquid seeping from between his chapped lips. He almost choked on his own blood, starting to cough and hack erratically. His blue-gray eyes were void, staring straight through him.

Danny heard movement in the distance, and he knew they were close. His heart sped up, beating fiercely against his sunken chest.The blue-eyed boy felt himself full of hate for the person in front of him. So he didn't know why, but he stayed a few seconds more, letting Vlad attempt pathetically to reach him.

"Please," he gasped. "They'll- they'll kill me! Please. Help me, Daniel!"

Danny glared harshly at the weak figure, his fists clenched at his sides.

"This… This is your fault! You did this! You ruined my life!" The raven-haired teen screamed, refusing to let his tears fall. "I should leave you here," he hissed.

"Please, little Badger," Vlad whispered, begging. "I can't- I can't move. They'll torture me again. Kill me. Please. Help me!" Danny's glare was murderous, but he quickly grabbed the older man with as much strength that he could muster. The footsteps were getting louder and louder with every moment, and Danny ran. He ran for not only his life, but the life of the one he should have hated most.

And he saved him. And no matter what he kept telling himself, Danny knew that it was because no one deserved to go through that again. No one deserved to be taken at the hands of those monsters. Not even the devil himself.

And he sure as hell wouldn't be able to live with the guilt, even if it was a monster being taken into the grubby claws of other monsters. So maybe not the devil, but he was certainly the closest thing to it.

Plasmius fought against the ferocious blue dragon with mild annoyance, dodging several attacks from the people of her kingdom. He growled as a stream of fire flared right in his face, and Vlad backed up slowly.

"Leave!" Dora roared.

"Dora," Vlad said slowly, emphasizing her name like he was testing it out. "I did not make the long trip over here to cause trouble, so I would appreciate it if you would stop attacking and tell me what I want to know!" he yelled irritably.

The ghost dragon didn't seem to appreciate his tone, roaring as she spat another stream of fire at him. His gleaming red eyes narrowed as the girl gave him a venomous glare.

"I would just like to speak with your- er- king," Plasmius said calmly, taking in a deep breath.

"Then I would suggest you get talking, or you'll be in for a world of pain," a strong, cutting voice hissed at him, and King Phantom appeared next to his friend. His green eyes narrowed with hate.

"What do you what, Plasmius?"

Yo! Is anyone else playing Batman: Arkham Knight? Don't be silly, of course you are xD I've been obsessed with that game.. It's so beautiful. *.* :3

I want Danny to meet them as much as you guys xd We'll see xD I had a major writers block, and then after days of watching TV and playing Batman, I went on a Jason Todd spree that lasted me through a sleepless night, and this was a result. Lesson: BATMAN CURES EVERYTHING.

RR:

nightmaster000: Thanks :)

MariMart: Yea, we can never leave those guys out xD

KodiakWolfe13: *Shoots the sky insanely* LOVE YOU TOO. (I don't feel bad at all :)) *Shrugs* I CAN SEE THAT *Laughs hysterically* SAM AND TUCKER DON'T WANT YOU! The burden of the leader :x RIOTS! xD Aw, you make this girl happy with your words cx Hope you'll have fun in New England xD

DarkKeybladePhantomofTime: ... *walks away*

Bibbledoo: Yea! Go Sam and Tuck!

Poohbearmorris: *Smirks evilly* Sure, sure. Whatever'll help you sleep at night xD

KuriMaster13: :D

HermioneX: *Says in bad British accent* Ask and thou shall receive!

mcosta4581: Yea, always

dragon god 758: That's coming up next xD

Good Witch of Babble: I wouldn't kill him! ... Or would I? No, I wouldn't xD Or- *Gets smacked by unseen force* Ya, you guessed correctly, would your beautifully brilliant mind xD We shall see :D

NightSchool33: *laughs* Aw xD *Says in movie voice* Coming soon cx Aw, thanks :) Glad to hear! And never xD