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

A Shield Beneath Starlight

Warnings for the content that follows: Allusions to Violence, mild cursing

"Closing your eyes isn't going to change anything. Nothing's going to disappear just because you can't see what's going on. In fact, things will even be worse the next time you open your eyes. That's the kind of world we live in. Keep your eyes wide open. Only a coward closes his eyes. Closing your eyes and plugging up your ears won't make time stand still." ― Haruki Murakami, quote from Kafka on the Shore

‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵

Gotham had always been classified as weird compared to the rest of the United States—strange and perilous, to be more precise. The statistical revelation that Gotham citizens were less likely to survive from adolescence to young adulthood had caused quite an uproar in the scientific community.

The city itself was commonly defined as a kill-or-be-killed world. If you couldn't defend yourself, you were in trouble. If you didn't know how to mind your business, you were in trouble. It was an odd way of living, but no one would trade it for the world—especially if it meant living in Metropolis.

Gotham had its vigilantes to protect it, to shield life from the rogue's causing misery and mayhem almost daily. However, there were times when its citizens felt off—usually after recovering from the Joker's laughing gas or the relief following a rogue's defeat and imprisonment.

To claim that Red Hood had not felt off would be a lie.

Initially, the patrol went smoothly—or as smoothly as one could manage as a member of a dysfunctional family of vigilantes. A̶l̶t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶k̶n̶e̶w̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶l̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶m̶a̶i̶n̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶s̶o̶n̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶i̶t̶.̶

(His death and revival had caused quite an uproar in the snobbish communities.)

(He ruined Batman's reputation by killing people.)

But at some point, somewhere along the way, there had been a shift. Something within him wanted him to leave and go somewhere else. It practically begged him to find something—to depart from his duty of protecting Crime Alley and safeguard something greater. Someone greater.

(But what? That was the question that plagued Red Hood's mind.)

"Hey Hood, you good?"

Red Hood nearly fell off a building as a voice perked up next to him, snapping him out of his thoughts violently enough to cause a stumble. Annoyed, he quickly turned around to face Nightwing, who had a worried look on his face. "Woah! What's got your panties in a twist?"

Red Hood rolled his eyes and raised his eyebrows slightly, "Shouldn't you be in Bludhaven?" It wasn't a question, and Red Hood was sure that Nightwing could tell, with the faint change in expression in the older man's eyes—or however much change could be shown behind a domino mask—and the slight frown on his face.

Nightwing tilted his head slightly, "Weren't you paying attention to the group chat? I announced I would be stopping by Gotham today for a couple of days."

"I have that chat on silent." Jason didn't bother hiding the coldness in his tone, nor did he lessen the venom in it. The pounding in his head was irritating him more than usual.

(Was it the pit rage?)

Silence followed the two as Red Hood stared at the notorious Crime Alley below. Although from an onlooker, it might appear that the two brothers settled into an awkward silence, in reality, the two of them were oddly comfortable. Nightwing knew when or when not to keep pushing Red Hood's nerves, and Red Hood knew when Nightwing just needed to silently communicate with body language.