Danny didn't know what to do. His mind was going a mile a minute and he was stuck in quicksand unable to catch up.

He saw Cujo and Gotham in danger

He escaped prison

He followed Cujo to take care of the ghost behind this

He helped Dick and his friends

He ran

He, as a prison escapee, ran from the Justice League and his brother

Danny couldn't wrap his head around just how much trouble he was in. He can't go back, everybody will know who he is, what he is now. Batman will for sure go there too to look for him and make sure he's locked up forever. God what would Dick think of him? Was he an even bigger stain on his reputation now that he got to add 'prison escapee' to his list of sins? If anything Dick would probably want him buried somewhere in a hole nobody would find him to save face. Being related to a criminal was probably career ending for a hero like him.

Even after trying so hard to keep everybody safe from him, he still managed to hurt those he tried to protect.

Danny crash landed somewhere in a remote forest. All that pain he had been feeling over the years and now his powers in overdrive. He couldn't hold it in anymore. Destruction followed as Danny cried harder than he ever had before. His cries turned into his ghostly wail as trees were obliterated and uprooted from the force. Danny doesn't even know when he was forced to detransform, still crying and screaming into the night. Vaguely his mind registered the pressure on his chest from Cujo trying to calm him down. Tears blurring his vision, Danny shoved his face into Cujo's side as he cried into the pup's side. As the minutes ticked on, Danny's senses started to come back. He could feel the warmth off of Cujo as the pup faked breathing. Danny had no proof, but he just knew Dr. Frostbite taught him how to act more alive to comfort Danny more. But it worked quite well so he really couldn't complain.

When Danny finally calmed down enough to stop shaking, he released Cujo from his death grip. The poor pup was all nasty with snot, tears and bayou mud. Danny held out Cujo so the pup could go intangible and get rid of all the gunk before hugging him close again, softer this time.

"What do we do now, Cujo?" Danny sighed, looking up at the twinkling stars above. He didn't really expect an answer from the pup, or from anybody really. They could start living out here, away from people. He could learn how to hunt and just live off the land. There were trees enough, a bit further away from the clearing he just created but he could make a treehouse if he practiced hard enough.

But Cujo won't survive out here. There wasn't enough ambient ectoplasm for the ghost pup to feed off of and Danny would eventually not have enough to sustain him either. Cujo would still be forced to roam and somehow find ways between the realms like he always does. Could he really subject Cujo to a life like that? Always moving between wherever a portal would be or a good enough source for him to survive and then go look for Danny in the middle of nowhere? Could Danny even survive that? being cut off from the world, no social interaction besides Cujo?

"But how would I know if Dick was safe?"

Danny's idle musing was interrupted by the sound of Cujo hacking. Not wanting to get puked on, Danny floated them up onto a little platform and rubbed Cujo's back as the pup coughed. To his utter surprise, Cujo coughed up a gigantic feather. Danny had no idea where he even found that but he was mildly impressed it had survived inside of Cujo for that long. Cujo also looked very proud of himself and tried to give Danny the goo covered feather. He tried to push the feather closer to Danny before he tried to climb back in Danny's lap. Tried being a key word here as Cujo slipped in his own goopy vomit on the way. Danny sighed as he felt the stickiness of it still on Cujo's paws as the pup settled. Occasionally Cujo glanced between Danny and what used to be his stomach content, as if waiting for Danny's synapses to fire up again.

Danny would rather not look at the vomited up feather but just to entertain Cujo he stole a glance and felt his shoulders sag. On his way over, Cujo had left a paw print and a smear from when he slipped right next to the feather. Coincidentally, if you squinted enough it vaguely looked like the feathery, vomit version of a certain R he was all too familiar with. Cujo, of course, noticing Danny had realized the meaning behind his beautiful artwork, happily yipped up at him.

Danny sighed and leaned back on his arms. He looked back up to see a lone shooting star cross the night sky. "Ha, I wish" he laughed humorously, "It's a nice idea boy, it really is. But we can't. I can't. They wouldn't want me there." Unsatisfied with Danny's answer, Cujo pawed at Danny's leg. Specifically the pocket where he kept the remote Miss Waller had given him.

Ah

Before she left she had made an odd comment about going "where the bird and bat are" when she wasn't available. At the time he didn't think much of it because her not being available seemed like a joke. An impossibility. But now? Maybe it was a secret message all along. A silent promise he agreed to. After everything that happened, he couldn't let her down even more now.

Danny sighed deeply into his hands, rubbing his face in aspiration. At least she wasn't specific? Sure, Gotham was the last place he wanted to be right now, but it was where the bird and bat are. Technically he wouldn't be disappointing her by disobeying a command, a promise, but he could also lay low and stay under the radar. He owed her that much after how badly he fucked up already. Plus, what were the chances they'd actually look for him in Gotham of all places. Hiding right under their noses might be the best option he has for now.

"Well, Cujo, I guess you'll get your way. Lead me to Gotham."

Cujo did so with much pleasure. Growing into his hound form, he let Danny climb onto his back as he started to walk back. Somewhere along the way, Danny had fallen asleep so flying wasn't an option. Cujo trekked on intangibly to make it a lot smoother for his sleeping passenger until they reached a few miles out. Danny woke up, feeling refreshed after the emotional hell day he had. Offering to switch places, Cujo shrunk down to pup size again and got comfortable in Danny's arms. Danny did feel guilty, letting Cujo carry him that far. Clearly the pup was exhausted and probably running on fumes by now. He clutched his friend a bit closer as he walked the final few miles invisibly. It would do them no good if somebody spotted him now in what was still clearly a prison uniform.

Once they entered city bounds he could feel the hum of the city calling to him. There was so much ambient ectoplasm it was giving the sky a green hue. Definitely enough for the both of them to survive on without issues. Cujo shifted in Danny's arms. Clearly the pup could feel it too, feel the energy he needed. Somewhat reluctantly, Danny set Cujo down. "It's okay, buddy. You can go feed. Just try to not cause any trouble okay?" He felt Cujo nuzzle into him before the pup floated off faster than Danny's legs were capable of for the moment.

Now alone, it took him just a bit longer to make it into the city as well. Everything was so loud and bright and just an insult to his enhanced senses. But complaining would get him absolutely no where so he set out to find a second hand shop to borrow some clothes from. He did feel horrible for stealing but he had to find clothes to actually be seen in and blend in. He'd pay them back once he could for sure.

Invisible, Danny got changed into his new clothes. Nothing fancy, just some worn out shoes, dark jeans, a yellow stained turtleneck and a green hoodie. Enough to stay warm and covering his collars and not be too suspicious. He bundled up his old prison uniform, checking to make sure he emptied the pockets and had the remote still on his person. Once he was sure it was all good, he walked up to some homeless people crowded around a dumpster fire. With little more than a look and no need for words, Danny dumped his old uniform in the fire. It caused a small explosion as there was probably still more than enough of Cujo's mess on there to cause a boom. Danny quickly nodded to the people eying him and left them alone.

If he knew one thing of big city life, it's that homeless people can be quite territorial. That was one mess Danny did not feel like getting himself into.

With nothing else on his survival plan for the moment, Danny just wandered around a bit. He kept his hood up and tucked around his head, hiding his hair as much as possible. He was having some issues keeping either of his forms stable so it would probably be better to hide any possible white hair. And even if, it would be even worse if rumors got out of Dick Grayson wandering the streets all alone. No, Danny had to do his best to stick to odd alleys and as far away from popular areas as he could. From earlier research he had done years ago, the Dynamic Duo avoided Crime Alley as much as they could. That part of the city was left abandoned to crime. Too corrupt to help. Too filled with memories to dare set foot.

Something that came to Danny's benefit for now.

Nighttime had arrived and rain had started to fall some time ago. Danny didn't care much for the rain. It felt oddly relaxing to have that sensation on his skin again after so long, but it made his clothes all sticky and cling to his body in ways that made his skin crawl. If he wanted he could just go intangible but he wanted to enjoy the soft drops for just a little while longer.

As he walked past one of the many shady alleys, he heard a soft meowing and light metal banging. It wasn't a happy sound and, ever the hero, Danny felt the urge to at least check it out. Slowly but surely, Danny walked further into the alley. His eyes softly illuminated the area around him as he walked closer to the sound. A few feet ahead of him he could see two cats. A black one with blue eyes that he heard earlier, pacing around and meowing periodically. It was meowing at a white cat that has its head and one of its front paws stuck in a tin. Every time the black cat meowed, the white one tried to take a step towards its friend, tin clanking on the ground.

Danny felt horrible for the poor animal. He crouched down to make himself as small as possible and carefully approached. Slowly inching forward and letting his invisibility drop so the black cat would notice him. The second it did, it looked spooked and hissed aggressively at him. Danny immediately stopped moving and sat down on the wet alley floor. The black cat looked anything but happy with Danny being there but seemed to tolerate him doing nothing more.

Taking the risk, Danny held out his hand, letting his smell get closer for the cat to judge him. No doubt he smelled horribly but the last thing he wanted to do was jump the white cat to get the tin off. That would just risk more danger and injury considering there was already enough blood staining the white fur. Luckily for him, the black cat got closer to him, still wearily sniffing the air but it was progress. As the cat got closer, Danny could feel his powers reside again as the green glow around him faded. "I can help." He said in the softest tone he could manage. He didn't know why he was talking to a street cat, maybe out of habit from talking to Cujo, but the cat seemed to understand enough.

The black cat walked back towards its stumbling friend. With a small rub against its body and little chirps, it guided the white cat within arms reach of Danny. This was his chance. Softly he let the white cat bump into him. From that contact, he tenderly moved his hand to pet the frightened cat. It's friend was right by its side, probably preventing the cat from getting spooked too badly. Once Danny felt like the white cat was settled enough, he brought up his other hand. "This is gonna feel weird." He warned, not sure if either of the cats even knew what he was trying to say. He reached for the tin again as his other hand kept petting the white cat. He focused on keeping as much of his power contained as he could before turning the can intangible and crushing it in his hand so no other animals could get stuck in it.

The white cat immediately tries to scurry away at the sudden loss of sensation but it didn't get far. The poor thing was probably exhausted from being stuck for who knows how long. It's friend immediately rushed to its side, licking at the wounds. Danny wasn't sure what to do. He managed to free it, but what now? Do shelters even take cats in the middle of the night?

Danny heard some soft meowing and looked up to see the black cat staring at him. Blue eyes kept contact as it paced around its friend. Still not really sure what to do, Danny held out his hand again. The black cat walked over and pushed it's head into Danny's hand, forcefully asking for some pets while meowing back towards its friend.

Now, Danny had read somewhere that cats only meow to their kittens and humans. Maybe, in his somewhat delusional yet heroic centered brain, this cat was asking for help for its friend. Just like how it called out for help earlier. Did it want him to help the white cat?

Carefully, Danny scooted over to where the white cat had stumbled. He hadn't dared to stand up so he wouldn't scare them so butt scooting across a dirty alley in the rain it was. Danny made just enough noise so the white cat knew he was getting closer without needing to lift its head up. The small chirps from the black one probably helped too. When Danny got close enough to pet the white cat, it only jumped softly. Fearful green eyes looked up at him and Danny felt himself freeze slightly. He could almost feel the fear rolling off the injured cat, but maybe that was just his own. Slowly, he leaned forward a bit so he could reach his hand out enough for the cat to smell. Whatever it smelled, it was enough to relax a bit.

The black cat damn near screamed impatiently at Danny, wanting him to do something. The cat was standing a few steps away from them, meowing and then turning around again to pace back towards them.

Did it want him to follow?

Honestly, Danny had been through weirder situations. Being commanded around by a street cat was oddly enough not the strangest thing so he figured he should just roll with it. Danny looked down to the white cat again, its green eyes starting straight into his soul. Danny did his best to scratch only the top of its head while talking in a soft tone. "I'm gonna pick you up okay?" When the white cat purred softly, Danny took it as a sign to go ahead. Carefully he scooped up the soaked, injured cat off the dirty floor. Wanting to keep it somewhat warmer and less exposed, he put the cat against his chest underneath his hoodie. It's head was resting just high enough so it was popping out of his hoodie. Once he was satisfied with his grip and the support of the injured cat, Danny started to follow the black one.

The black cat lead Danny down some of the oddest little alleys and shortcuts. Oddly enough, any person that was outside made way for the cat and his human follower. Maybe this cat was a secret mob boss or something. Local street cat gangs wouldn't be the weirdest thing for Gotham of all places.

Eventually the cat led him to an apartment complex and meowed at the door. Pushing it open, the cat started trotting up the many many stairs until they reached one of the top floors. There, it chose to calmly sit in front of a door. No longer screaming, sorry, meowing at Danny, he figured that must be their home. With his heart racing, he lifted his hand and knocked on the door.

bonus:

Danny, looking at the feather: Cujo what the fuckCujo: well you see there was this big flying chicken trying to attack Not-You...

Danny: *hears random meowing* is that a scream for help i hear?

Danny, following the black cat: thats right, move bitch i have precious cargo for the cat gang