Phantom on the Shore - A Batman X Danny Phantom Crossover fanfic

Prelude to Chaos

Warning for the Following Content: Unethical Scientific Experiments, Semi-Major Depiction of Injury, Dehumanization

"Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back. That's part of what it means to be alive. But inside our heads - at least that's where I imagine it - there's a little room where we store those memories. A room like the stacks in this library. And to understand the workings of our own heart we have to keep on making new reference cards. We have to dust things off every once in awhile, let in fresh air, change the water in the flower vases. In other words, you'll live forever in your own private library." ― Haruki Murakami, quote from Kafka on the Shore

‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵

Drip Drip Drop...

A strong feeling of serenity and calmness hung in the air as a man with an air of composure and a messenger bag by his side, strolled down the pristine halls. The atmosphere embraced him like a warm blanket on a cold winter night, offering a sense of security.

As he continued forward, he couldn't help but notice the pallor of the walls and the strangely matching floors. To his right, a faint dripping noise persisted, disrupting the perfect harmony of the serene scene.

Drip Drip Drop...

"There may be a hole in the ceiling.." he mused, his thoughts seemingly unaffected by the disturbance. A facade of nonchalance concealed the potential unease that the persistent sound might evoke. The man listened intently, contemplating whether the source of the disturbance was a mere leak or something more sinister, maybe a hole in the wall.

Drip Drip Drop...

"It may just be a leak," he reassured himself, dismissing the disturbance as a minor inconvenience. Nonetheless, he still carried on his path.

The droplet, like a tiny dancer, descended with an enticing demeanor, its crystalline allure radiating a subtle glow beneath the white. Similar to a ballerina, whose feet delicately moved across the stage floor before commencing a mesmerizing dance, the droplet descended with an elegance that captivated onlookers, rendering them unable to avert their gaze.

As the droplet continued its descent, it embarked on a ballet of sorts, gracefully spiraling downward until it found its destined partner—the petal of a flower. The red, alluring petals of the blossom seemed to glisten with a vibrancy that rivaled the brightness of even the most radiant red dwarf in the solar system. Each petal held the droplet as if it were a precious gem adorning a celestial dancer's costume, reflecting the dance of light and water in a harmonious symphony.

Yet, in the wake of this elegant union, the flower's dark-green, nearly black stem swayed with a soft resistance, much like a child growing upset over the intrusion of having to share a room. The water was an unexpected guest, it brought both life and discord to the otherwise undisturbed sanctuary of the flower's haven.

"Agent H, how have you been?" a voice interrupted the man's contemplation. Another, Agent R, entered the scene, startlingly him a bit. Yet he made great care to not show the reaction outwardly. But it seemed like his efforts were in vain with the keen look in the other man's eyes.

"Agent R.. I have been well. Dianne and the kids are out on a small trip right now, so I've had more personal time.. How about you? I take the Mrs. is still giving you a hard time," Agent H mused softly to the other man. The two of them had turned the corner into one of the building's many breakrooms. Agent R matched Agent H's reaction and hummed in both delight and tiredness.