[Third Person's PoV]
Location: Fenton Works
Date: January 14th
Time: 11: 36 PM
Danny stood in front of the swirling Ghost Portal, its eerie green light casting long shadows across the darkened lab. The air hummed with energy, and the faint sound of distant wailing seemed to echo from within its depths. He gripped the Fenton Thermos tightly in his hand, the metal cool against his skin, and aimed it at the portal. Pressing the expel button, he braced himself as the device hummed to life.
The Lunch Lady ghost shrieked as she was launched from the thermos and hurled into the portal's swirling vortex. Her cries faded as she vanished into the green abyss. Danny quickly stepped forward, closing the portal with a sharp press of the controls. Silence fell, save for the soft hum of the deactivated machinery.
For a moment, he stood there, staring at the thermos in his hands. His thumb traced the smooth curve of its surface absentmindedly, his mind elsewhere.
A firm hand on his shoulder jolted him from his thoughts. Startled, he turned to see Batman standing behind him, his imposing figure framed by the dim light of the lab.
"Go rest for tonight," Batman said in his deep, authoritative voice. "Tomorrow, you'll join Robin and me on patrol."
Danny blinked in surprise. "Seriously?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Isn't it a little early? I've only been training and studying for a week. I thought it'd be at least a month before I went on an actual patrol with you guys."
"You won't be jumping into the thick of it," Batman replied, his tone calm but firm. "You'll be shadowing us, observing how we operate. This is an opportunity to gain experience. Normally, yes, it would take longer. But your unique powers give you an edge. Don't expect anything too intense. It's a standard patrol."
Danny nodded, his expression serious. But inside, he was buzzing with excitement. Patrolling with Batman and Robin? It was a dream come true. He fought to keep a grin from spreading across his face.
…
Location: Batcave
Date: January 15th
Time: 6: 01 PM
Danny sat cross-legged on the ground in his ghost form, the faint glow of ectoplasmic energy surrounding him like a flickering aura. He focused intently on the green energy coalescing around his fists, the power shifting and twisting as he practiced shaping it.
Robin leaned against a nearby railing, arms crossed, watching with mild curiosity. "Alright," he began, breaking the silence, "I think enough time has passed for me to ask—have you thought of a hero name yet?"
Danny smirked, his glowing green eyes meeting Robin's. He tightened his fist, causing the energy to flare briefly. "Yeah," he said, a hint of pride in his voice. "I've got one."
Robin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Well? Don't keep us in suspense."
Even Batman, busy at the Batcomputer, turned his head slightly, curious to hear what Danny had come up with.
"It's Danny… Danny Phantom."
Robin felt the corner of his lip twitch, "Are… Are you being for real right now?"
Danny rolled his eyes. "No, I'm going to be serious tomorrow," he said sarcastically.
"Yes, I'm serious. Danny Fenton technically died the day I became half-ghost. Fenton became Phantom. It fits. Plus, Danny is a super common name—no one's going to connect it to me. And let's not forget," he gestured to his glowing green eyes and white hair, "I look completely different."
Robin looked towards Batman, "Please do something about him, he seems to be serious about this"
Before Batman could respond, Danny jumped back in. "Look, you've got a ton of superhero friends, right? I bet some of them have identities so obvious that no one even bothers to question them. Am I wrong?"
Batman's mind immediately went to one name. Clark.
Narrowing his eyes, he addressed Danny directly. "Why are you so set on this name?"
Danny pointed to his chest, where his ghostly emblem glowed faintly. "What am I supposed to say this D stands for? 'Definitely-not-a-ghost?'" he joked before his expression turned serious.
"Anyway, there are a lot of reasons," Danny began. "I don't want people to be scared of me… well, at least the people who matter. I want them to know who I really am—not just some superhero name. It's also a connection to who I am: half-human, half-ghost. Danny for being alive, Phantom for being… well, dead.
"Besides, I'm a ghost. Who's going to question whether I have a secret identity? What kind of secret identity does a dead person with a visible face even have? It's not like anyone would be out there trying to figure it out." Danny explained, laying out his reasoning.
Robin blinked, processing the explanation. "I don't… What do I even say to that? Those are some fair points," he muttered, glancing toward Batman for help.
Batman's eyes narrowed slightly in thought as he weighed the pros and cons. "And if someone figures it out?"
"They won't," Danny said confidently, grinning. "Because I can do this!"
Suddenly, his green ectoplasmic energy flared to life around him. He closed his eyes, concentrating with a determined expression that quickly contorted into something resembling constipation.
Then, with a faint pop, a second nose materialized on his forehead.
"..."
"Phttt–" Robin quickly covered his mouth, "You- You can g-grow a second nose… H-How frightening" Robin said fighting for his life trying not laugh, "Phtt–Hahaha, now no one would be able to tell who you truly are, w-what a wonderful d-disguise– I'm sorry, I just can't look at you right now" He turned away, still shaking with laughter.
Danny's face burned with embarrassment. He wanted to disappear—and then he remembered he could. Without a word, he vanished from sight.
Batman tilted his head slightly and addressed the empty air. "What exactly were you trying to do?"
"I was trying to duplicate myself…" Danny's voice echoed, laced with mortification. "I know I can do it, I just don't have enough mastery of my abilities yet."
Batman nodded in understanding, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Very well," he said finally. "You can be Danny Phantom."
"Yes!" Danny reappeared, pumping his fist in excitement.
Robin, having regained his composure, looked at Batman with skepticism. "You're sure about this?"
Batman nodded. "I'll develop contingency plans in case his identity is ever compromised."
Robin frowned. "You don't usually take risks like this. Why allow it now?"
Batman's tone softened as he answered. "The name we choose—or that's given to us—for our mission defines who we are. It's more than just a mask or title. Take me, for example. I chose the name Batman because I embody the traits of a creature of the night. It represents who I am. Danny chose his name to represent what he embodies: part life, part ghost. I'm simply respecting his choice."
"I see…" Robin muttered looking downwards at his own hands and clenching them into a fist, 'I chose Robin because that's the name my mother used to call me when she was alive… and because I wanted to be a hero like Robin Hood, fighting against crime and corruption, never swerving from the path of righteousness' He reminded himself.
"I think I get it" Robin nodded, he let out a sigh and scratched his head before he turned towards Danny, "I guess welcome aboard Danny Phantom~"
Danny smiled slightly, "Thank you for having me"
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