november vaguely somewhere the 6th, afternoon....maybe

To nobody's surprise, Danny remained asleep for a good day or two. Slowly healing, they could see the improvements. Though not all too visible from the outside, they were promised his internal injuries were faring much better than it looked. Frostbite warned them that the effects of the flowers Klarion used were slowing his initial healing.

His entire body was still marred with the green scars, even as a human they shone through the layers of skin. There wasn't an inch of his body that didn't have some type of marking on it, his arms and legs being the worst of them.

The team of medical yeti who swarmed the Batcave were less than impressed when Bruce tried to refuse their help. Even if the man was only human, they insisted on helping, just like they did for Dick and Zatanna. Though they were less than trusting towards the girl at first, after Frostbite's reassurance they performed their duties with great care. Leaving a list of daily check ins for Alfred, they felt comfortable enough to return to the Far Frozen after everybody was treated to their best abilities.

They only found out on day two that a certain somebody was messing with the time. Going outside felt like the person never left for those within the Manor grounds. It wasn't until they noticed the grandfather clock down in the cave that Alfred had insisted on wasn't moving that they figured something was messing with them.

The visit of a certain undead gentleman also helped clear things up.

James Craddock came to the Manor on the first day, hovering, lurking. There but not making his presence known. He stayed near Danny the most, only moving when Alfred offered him a cup of tea or when Frostbite convinced the man Danny needed to rest in peace. Dick tried to ask him why, but he refused to talk to anybody. Invisible eyes lingering on Danny's sleeping form.

The only thing they managed out of him was that he vowed to return every few hours. Report on anything important within the city so long as the family rested within their dwellings. Though they weren't certain why he offered to be so helpful, it felt oddly comforting.

James wasn't one to cause trouble, at least not too often in Gotham. When he felt up for it, he preferred traveling to other cities for his escapades, leaving his final resting place undisturbed for the most part.

Zatanna had stayed, offered a room in the home while they figured things out for her. With her father now indisposed, Bruce quickly set up everything needed to keep her childhood home safe as well as any and all assets Giovanni left to her. The option of a hero's funeral was floated around for a little until eventually deciding against it. He wasn't gone, both Phantom and Dr. Fate had confirmed so. It would be bad energy to hold a funeral of any kind for a soul still walking the mortal plane.

Though she was a guest at the manor, she helped where she could. It was somewhat therapeutic, being able to be of use.

Frostbite easily confirmed Dick had, somehow, managed to break his ankle clean in half. With his limited human physiology knowledge he managed to set the bone and kept him in a cast. Zatanna insisted on helping him heal through magic. Though it wasn't a magical fix, it did help speed up the process significantly. With big blue eyes looking up at him, even Bruce had to relent in letting her help him heal even just a little.

When Danny finally awoke, long awaited answers finally came to light. Mostly of what exactly happened when he went into the helmet, compared to what everybody else watched happen on the outside. While comforting to know her father chose to back up her friend in the end, it was a whole lot more murky when thinking about what could have happened if Arthur hadn't stepped in and taken over the scene when Bruce dipped.

Selina had made sure the man knew just how badly he messed up for not telling anybody he was going to get help. But she couldn't fault him too much. There was a lot going on so chances were even if he said something, they wouldn't have noticed. Just like they didn't notice Wolf and Cujo leaving with him. The handful of lost, blindfolded, sparring matches did help knock some sense into him as well. One can only do so much when not having all of the information.

Frostbite made sure to lecture both Bruce and Danny about the dangers of the summoning ritual they attempted. The amount of fluids they wasted, as well as the already less than ideal moments they chose to do it at, could have ended a whole lot worse. He hammered in extra that should they find themselves in a need to do so again, cutting open ones arm the way they had was anything but the best way. A mere drop or two onto the inscription was all that was needed after all.

Nanaki and Shiro had made their displeasure known as well, making sure their respective boy was stuck listening to the lecture till it's very end. At times it felt unfair, being held hostage by a stubbornly determined feline. They envied Bruce, freed from the torture that was claws digging into their skin as complaints were voiced.

And then they saw the way Selina looked at him the moment he twitched wrong, and suddenly the envy faded.

Frostbite went in on a second lecture, really it was more like a very one sided leaning argument all over again, about how dumb it was of Danny to not only cut his collar but to then go on to challenge not one but two god-like beings.

From the way the Yeti had acted before, and having had the time to actually process what happened while Danny was taking a long overdo nap, Dick dared to ask the most important question. How exactly was he so close with Dr. Fate that they seemed to have more than just a little history together.

At first he tried to redirect the question, going on and on about how dangerous it is to challenge an Atlantean warrior of old. But that only dug the hole deeper as his, quite literally, captive audience wasn't even aware the soul of Dr. Fate was once an Atlantean warrior in the first place.

With a sigh, he retold his past. Reassuring he was fine to talk about it after Danny sensed the reluctance in his core, he told the story of when he was still alive in the more living realm sense of the word.

Long ago, when Atlantis was still topside, Frostbite went by a different name, one long since lost to the seas. Though not a native, the people had taken him in and aided his studies to become one of the best medicine men that roamed the planet. It was often that he traveled, reaching different nations to see if his help could be of service, but Atlantis was where his heart belonged.

He had met a man of higher ranking when his younger sister had fallen ill. The young warrior was impressed by Frostbites capabilities as both a healer and warrior. Though he would rather heal than cause harm, Frostbite was not one to shy away from protecting those he cared for.

It wasn't long until the two had grown close. Often spending days in each other's company and sparring together. The young warrior insisted on Frostbite coming along on expeditions, wishing to see more of Frostbite in battle rather than simply tending to the ill or spending his days cooped up with the elders.

It was more often than not that they would be together, enjoying each other's company or simply resting in the safest space they could imagine. It was so common that others assumed they knew where the other was at any given time. Sure, they actually did, but it was quite a funny sight.

Due to the young warrior's high status, Frostbite easily found his way into the higher ranks of court. Head physician no less as the young warrior advocated for his skill and right to be acknowledged.

The praise and status weren't anything Frostbite really wished for. While it gave him access to the royal records, scrolls and science not often seen by others, it created a divide between the people he wished to help and himself. No longer would they calmly walk up to him and ask for assistance or simply how his day was. Rather, they'd bow and move out of his way, waiting for him to usher along where he was once so welcomed. It wasn't a life he wanted, but he didn't want to be ungrateful for the opportunities his friend had gotten him.

It wasn't until Atlantis came under attack that he decided he had to go his own path. To give up the life he forced upon himself to keep his friend happy.

The gods had watched over them, guided them both as the city was overrun. It wasn't enough, neither their strength nor determination could stop the city from falling. Having sacrificed themselves in the battle, they were presented with the option to be come lords of order. Join the ranks in the never ending war between order and chaos within the universe.

But Frostbite was given another option. The Realms had called out to him. The ancient queen who ruled long before Pariah Dark had even formed his core. She wanted him by her side, to help her people and find ways to aid those who had nobody looking after them.

Forced to decide between a warriors life, bound by the rules of the gods, or to aide those in need for as long as his spirit persisted. It was a choice easily made. While he did try to explain to his friend that the warriors destiny he wished for them both simply wasn't what Frostbite's heart desired, it fell on deaf ears.

Blinded by the rejection of spending eternity together among the strongest beings in the universe, Nabu turned resentful. Writing his woes into the magic he weaved together across centuries, he made sure no sorcerer would ever fall to the trickery and deceit he blamed the Chieftain for.

"Okay wait, back up there." Danny shifted Shiro in his arms as he adjusted his pillow fort around him. "You mean to tell me I almost saw my second afterlife, because of your failed situationship from thousands of years ago?!"

"What is this thing, a situationship?" Clicking his mouth shut, Danny looked between the others, hoping somebody else would do it for him. Being the traitors that they are, not a single one of them would meet his eye, choosing to remain silent as he fidgeted under Frostbite's surprisingly innocently questioning gaze.

Figuring he'd better just move the topic to something else he'd been wondering, Dick's fingers twirled around Nanaki's tail. "When Nabu threatened Danny, what did he mean with speeding up his ascension? And what does it have to do with me?"

Like dropped in liquid nitrogen, both ghosts froze in place. Glancing at each other, it was like a silent war raged between the two. Cujo restlessly paced the space between them, unsure on what side to ease the tension as the two rehashed another of their old arguments.

Seeing the slight twitch in Frostbite's claw, Danny jumped, in spirit alone, to shut it down. "No. No, absolutely not! You promised!" He pointed right at Frostbite's face, trying to appeal to the yeti's conscious.

Nodding, Frostbite folded an arm under his chest fur, puffing out as he did. "I did, but that was before I met your other half who you got involved with an ancient god." Frostbite's tone did nothing to hide his displeasure at Danny's insistence to not speak on it.

Sputtering, Danny looked between the medicine man and his beloved pup. "You can't, as your king I forbid it." He tried to match Frostbite's fluff, puffing out his chest at a failed peacocking attempt. Not even the green halo present during his battle with Klarion spawned to back up his statement, leaving him to make a fool of himself.

Frostbite smiled his typical victory grin, the one that Danny already knew well enough from all the times he lost an argument to the man. "Ah, but a king uncoronated you are."

"Oh so now you care about proper titles?!" Danny puffed out his cheeks, falling back into his seat and hugging Shiro tightly with crossed arms.

Frostbite smugly looked on as Danny nestled himself away from the peering eyes. "I needn't obey beyond what I wish as is granted upon me by my stature as an Ancient."

"Okay, can you just explain those parts then? Because we're getting nowhere here and I can just smell the juicy secrets you're keeping." Dick interrupted the pair, nearly flipping over his beanbag at how close to the edge he was sitting. He was mere metaphorical inches away from finding out bits of what his brother had been hiding and he was going to get answers today.

Danny slumped back in his beanbag, well, more like snowdrift as an actual bag would hurt too much at the moment. With a grumbling pout he waved off Frostbite's look.

Taking it as permission to explain, the yeti tried to pull attention to himself, knowing how much Danny hated the topic. "Well, to start off," he glanced between the group, already elated that Bruce has somehow procured a tablet to note down whatever wisdom was about to be shared. "As you may be aware, not all ghosts are equal." Even the young magi was listening intently as she soaked in whatever she could.

Ignoring how Danny wriggled deeper into the squeaking snow, Frostbite made a little pyramid of ice. "For the current topic, the levels below the top ranks aren't of too much importance." Pausing as he got to building up the pyramid, he looked over to Danny before starting his impromptu lecture.

"To start off, I must empathize that the Realms isn't just a location. It is an ancient entity that has mirrored many worlds over the course of its existence. Though communicating with it isn't as straight forward as one might think, it will make sure it is heard when it wants to." A small smile crossed his lips, remembering the explanation the ancient queen once gave him.

Frostbite created three separate balls, each a different color of blue to keep easier track. "To keep the people within its domain safe, the Realms appoint beings to embody what is needed. These beings hold vast amounts of power, but have equal amounts of responsibilities." He held the lightest blue ball in the center, splitting it up into multiple figures nobody recognized.

"These beings are called Ancients. Gifted with eternal life, they do not age as regular ghosts would. They are able to gain more power by exercising their responsibilities." Well, except for the self-portrait of the Chieftain himself. "Taking me as example, I am the Ancient of Medicine, or health if you will. It is my responsibility to ensure the physical wellbeing of our people and lend my aid beyond the Realm's borders when called upon. While my people are not of similar stature as I, they chose to aid in my dominion and assist where possible." Dick blinked at the amount of little figures floated in the circle. So many Ancients he had never known about.

Frostbite smiled at Dick's interest, trying to hide his nerve as he, too, dreaded getting to the ending of the tale. "While Neverborns are those who never walked the mortal realm, not all Ancients are of such nature. Though rare, as was for my case," he cleared his throat, trying to cover up what shouldn't be discussed until later, "It does happen that the Realms chose to lay claim on a soul before they have crossed over and ascended to their rightful position among the Ancients."

His eyes glided over the people in the room, noting that a certain gentleman had snuck in once more. "Some of us, like myself, have the ability to sense what souls were chosen. While we do not know what the cause of it might be, rarely have our instincts been wrong about the next to join our ranks." Sheepishly, a clawed hand found it's way to the back of his head. "Though, that may also be because one of us with this gift is also the Ancient of Time. The very same who has granted protection to this location so you two may heal safely within its bounds."

Letting the information sink for a moment, he couldn't help but look over to Danny once more. He knew the boy was still listening, but his mind was quickly wandering to places he'd rather have him avoid.

With a sigh, he summoned forth the regular blue ball, leaving the figures of the Ancients to hover on the pyramid. "Every now and again, there comes a time where a new set of Ancients are chosen to govern over the Realms. Though ghosts have existed long before humanity's arrival, it is from their customs we adopted the terms of royalty for these chosen. The High King or Queen and their right hand have correlating dominions, allowing them to work together for the betterment of the people."

Two figures rose from the pile. One was a bulky man with flaming hair. A crown of fire hovered above his head. The other was an armored man, akin to a knight's dress from old times. "The previous pair were the Ancient of War, Lord Pariah Dark, and the Ancient of Fear, Lord Frightknight." Though unintended, Frostbite's tone soured as he spoke of his former allies.

"I implore you to keep an open mind." Frostbite stressed, "We never truly wanted a war to break out between ghostkind and humans. Our issue lay with sorcerers of old desecrating the remains of our people, inflicting injuries not even I could heal at the time. Lord Dark fell victim to his blinded hatred and the whisperings of one of the cursed children of chaos." His words cut deep, memories resurfacing as he relived the harrowing sights of times passed. "We couldn't disregard the chosen of the Realms, but we could try to, how does one say, ah, hit the pause button."

Frostbite smiled proudly of himself, earning an amused huff from the two human children listening attentively. "Forced to come together, we Ancients imprisoned Lord Dark to an eternal slumber. Unable to rule on his own, and under pressure from the others, Lord Knight also saw himself sealed away for the sake of the people."

A little sarcophagus and pumpkin formed around the respective statues of the two Ancients. Remaining on the top layer of the pyramid, Frostbite brought over the final, near white, ball. "While the title of High King could not be stripped from Lord Dark, we waited in patience until the Realms chose his successor. And that is how we came to know about the existence of Lord Grumpy." Frostbite tried to joke through the tension, receiving nothing but a literal cold shoulder from Danny.

Splitting it in half, one side hovered closer towards the top while the other remained in the distance. "While a friend has the tendency to watch from afar, it wasn't until he was forced to step in that we truly were made aware of his potential. Unfortunately, his actions against the witch boy went unapproved by his underlings." Frostbite's tone dipped low again, his disdain for the situation showing even as he tried to hide it.

"They serve to keep him from abusing his powers, and as such they refused to permit him to interfere when the city fell. But even with the lack of interference from us, the young one refused to fall to the darkness that tried to lay claim to him even at his age. Truly a formidable feat for somebody who had only formed a few months prior." Frostbite beamed proudly, actively choosing to focus on the positives. "From that moment on, we Ancients knew the Realms had already chosen not only a new Ancient, but the new ruler. It is why he already has access to the royal artifacts without being officially coronated as king."

"If he's a great savior like you said, and the previous dudes in forced nap time, why isn't he coronated yet? Wouldn't that fix the issue that forced them to be locked up in the first place?" Dick asked, concern crinkling his brow as he tried to lean over Bruce's lap to get a look at Danny.

Frostbite gloomily looked between the pair, not sure how to break the news without sounding too harsh. "In order for one to ascend as an Ancient, and as King, one must be one with the Realms. Though destined to become one, it is a requisite one must have passed on completely before they may be recognized in full. As is your other half's case, we have no precedent for beings only half within our domain." Frostbite hesitated, failing to find the words to soften the blow. "The High King cannot be coronated without his anointed right hand by his side, as neither have yet reached the required, ah, engrainment with the Realms at this moment."

It took a moment for Frostbite's words to sink in, for the dots to connect. The final ball split in half, only part still remaining outside the pyramid. The pained look on Frostbite's face and the utter refusal from Danny to look at any of them.

"Me?"

Surely not, but Frostbite's unchanging look said it all. "It is why I had to request you aid in removing the royal artifact from the Great One's hand. Only you have the ability to lay temporary claim to what rightfully belongs to our Lord King."

Dick felt his throat close up as his chest screamed out in protest. The soft hum around his finger making itself known again as Dick remembered that weird ring willing itself onto his hand. Is that why Nabu threatened him as well? Does he, and Klarion for that matter, know what his life after death is destined to become? Did they even know what his gimmick was, or was Danny the only one since he was halfway there already?

"Please, young one. Rest assured I will answer whatever questions you may have once you have a moment to settle." Frostbite tried to calm him down, clearly having heard his rambling thoughts.

"If you truly wish to know, your future titles are known, yes. But they equally stand to not be, should you chose to reject the offer once your time has come." Dick took a moment to calm down, distracting himself with scratching Nanaki's cheek. With a nod of approval, Frostbite continued. "Your other half does not enjoy when one refers to him as such, but his will be Protection. As his destined right hand, we shall have to wait until the time we may officially welcome you as the Ancient of Perseverance."

Protection and Perseverance. Huh, it had a nice ring to it, he had to admit. A joke about his now officially near godly levels of stubbornness drifting in his mind as it slowly settled. Slumping into his bag, he let it sit. There was an odd comfort, knowing what would happen after he bites the dust. But, that did leave him to wonder. If neither of them could be coronated until they were fully dead, who was ruling the Realms now?

"Frostbite and my council are." Danny grumbled, answering Dick's accidentally spoken question. Straining his muscles, he turned to actually face them. Eyes as puffy as they physically could be when pressed into snow, he winced before adding on. "I already know what's waiting for me when I die, again, if I manage to prevent becoming that thing." He sneered, eyes flashing green before settling on their regular blue once more.

"That-that pressure, weighing down every time I try to look on the bright side of things." He sighed, willing the tears to stay away. "I just wanted to protect the city, not accidentally be given the rights to an entire dimension. Protect the people I cared for, not become a demon child's play thing and guineapig all at the same time." He snuggled deeper into his snowdrift, knees pulling as close as he could without jabs of pain shooting through every muscle in his body.

"It's not like I can just get rid of this damn thing and give it to the next bastard." Danny ran an exhausted hand through his hair, trying to get rid of the phantom pressure of the crown hiding from view. Like it was taunting him with its looming list of responsibilities. "I don't even know the faintest thing about running a kingdom, an entire territory like the Realms that is somehow also alive on its own. I still don't even know why it chose me, but it did and now I'm stuck with a future I never wanted."

Looking up from the ball he had curled himself into, he felt so small as all eyes looked at him with pity. "I didn't want that kind of pressure looming over you too. To feel forced to accept a destiny you wouldn't want." His voice broke, unable to meet his brother's eyes. "To have to live your life knowing that no matter what horrible or mundane shit happens, eons more is waiting on the other side."

Danny didn't look at the others, but feeling their stares on him said enough. "Being near me will paint a target on your back. Be it a dark stain on your reputation," His shoulders fell as that aspect of him avoiding his only family kept being thrown in his face. The months of slowly eroding were all for naught as Mr. Stubborn Incarnate didn't care for the hate he was getting for simply associating with him. "Or worse. Any time something bad happens, it always loops back to being my fault and I just wanted to keep you from that."

"Ni." Dick softly called out, willing Danny to look up through his hair. He didn't see the pitying look the others gave him. No, he saw the kind hearted look from his memories. Like their mom was manifesting in him in that very moment. "As ironic as it sounds, you don't have to protect me from a future where I'll get to help you and others. I wouldn't have stuck with the hero life all these years if that wasn't something I chose to face every waking day of my life."

Trading cats, he hobbled his way over. He could feel Frostbite's tiny glare at him still using his ice-booted foot for balance but so long as he didn't get any comments he could live with it. Not so gracefully slamming his beanbag against Danny's, he flopped back down and used the snowy stool Frostbite summoned to rest his leg. "You can't have good times without the bad. Nor can you have bad times without good to even it out." He held their two furry handwarmers together, black and white fur blending seamlessly together as he softly shoved his brother's shoulder. "We'll be okay, together. The universe chose for us to be a two for one deal, you can't get rid of me. The rest can suck it up because there is no escaping it."

Danny snorted, head wiggling closer to rest on Dick's shoulder. "You say that now, until you get to watch Pandora try to arm wrestle 4 different tribes people and still manage to trash talk her way into riling up more to give it a try." He pointed to the statue a quadra-armed woman who wore ancient Greek armor.

Moving his arm just a little, he winced slightly as he pointed out the statue of a young woman in what appeared to be early Renascence attire. "Or when Dory goes into one of her little lectures about 'history that must not be forgotten' for the third time that afternoon." He smiled fondly as he thought of the other Ancients, a bud blooming in his mind as he remembered a few...less enjoyable ones. "Pretty sure that plant fuck from like a month ago is one too."

"Lord Undergrowth?" Frostbite asked, raising one of the statues.

Danny nodded, eyes slowly drooping closed. "Yeah, made Cujo eat him and shit him out somewhere in the Far Frozen since he didn't seem to like the cold." Frostbite nodded along, amused that that is why his people managed to find the Ancient on the outskirts of his territory.

Dick smiled, nuzzling his cheek in Danny's hair as he traced the scars on Danny's hand. "And we'll get a lot more chances to have Cujo shit him out in funny places. So long as you promise to quit getting yourself into a mess I can't help you out of."

Danny chuckled, the movement jostling Dick's comfy spot. "Then quit going on missions that will get you in a spot I need to step in for." Giving the two some time alone for their nap, Frostbite ushered the group out, happy to explain any other questions they might have and to hear out what their lurking companion wanted to inform them of.

art by me, first posted on tumblr jan 21st