Going Ghost! (Young Justice)

Chapter 191: Catch!

[Third Person Pov]

When Robin and Danny returned to Gotham, the city was in widespread chaos, it was being overtaken completely by the Joker.

They were able to see it being announced within the digital billboards attached to buildings, it was a city state warning to all its residents to stay indoors as it wasn't safe to be out.

Danny stopped within the middle of the street and stared at the announcement, his cold blue eyes showing indifference as it was reported that Joker had broken out of Arkham, releasing several known and wildly dangerous occupants.

"Attention all Gotham residents. This is an emergency citywide broadcast. All citizens are advised to remain indoors and avoid all public areas until further notice."

"We repeat, remain inside your homes. Do not engage with any individuals exhibiting violent or erratic behavior."

"Arkham Asylum has suffered a catastrophic breach. Multiple high-risk inmates have escaped custody and are currently at large throughout the city."

"Reports indicate widespread हिं—" the signal crackled briefly before correcting itself, "—widespread violence across multiple districts."

"If you encounter any of the escaped inmates, do not attempt to intervene. Evacuate immediately if it is safe to do so and contact emergency services."

A brief pause followed before the tone shifted slightly, more urgent, more strained.

"Gotham is now under full emergency lockdown. We repeat. Gotham is under full emergency lockdown. Stay inside. Stay quiet. Stay alive."

The broadcast continued to cycle through images and warnings, flashing between emergency alerts, grainy footage of riots, and glimpses of escaped inmates causing destruction across the city. Danny listened for a moment longer, unmoving, his expression unchanged. The noise of distant sirens and chaos barely seemed to register to him.

Then, without a word, he turned.

His hand tightened on the handle of his motorcycle and in one smooth motion he spun it around, the tires screeching sharply against the pavement before he accelerated back the way he came from. The engine roared as he shot down the street, leaving the broadcast behind as if it held no importance beyond confirming what he already knew.

Robin, who had been trailing behind him, barely had time to react. "Danny?"

Danny shot past him, his eyes leaving a cold neon trail, already disappearing into the distance behind Robin.

"Oh for christ sakes" He cursed under his breath and slammed the brakes, skidding to a stop before turning his bike around. A second later he pushed it to full speed, chasing after him.

Danny moved through Gotham like a force of nature.

The city blurred around him as he cut through streets, alleyways, and intersections without hesitation. It wasn't long before the first obstacle appeared.

A thick cloud of fear toxin rolled through an intersection, civilians stumbling blindly as panic overtook them. At the center of it stood Scarecrow, looming and methodical as he spread more of the gas.

Danny didn't slow.

He rode straight into the cloud, his form phasing as the toxin passed harmlessly through him. His hand lifted slightly and a pulse of ghostly energy burst outward. The green glow of his ghost rays tore through the fog, dispersing it instantly and striking Scarecrow before the man could react. He was sent crashing into the pavement, unconscious before he even understood what had happened.

Danny was already gone, leaving Robin to pick up after him.

Further into the city, screams echoed through a narrow street. Victor Zsasz moved erratically, a blade in hand as he stalked another victim, muttering to himself.

A chain snapped through the air.

Zsasz was yanked off his feet, slammed hard against the ground before he could even process it. Ecto-constructs wrapped around him, solid and unyielding, binding his arms and legs completely. He struggled, but it was useless. Danny didn't even look at him as he passed, leaving him restrained in the middle of the street.

The pattern continued.

Two-Face fired wildly down a corridor, his coin clenched tightly in his hand as chaos unfolded around him. A blur of white and black cut through the smoke, and the next second he was down, weapon shattered and body frozen against the wall by a layer of ice creeping over him.

The Riddler attempted to flee, already setting up some elaborate escape, but he never got the chance to finish it. A construct formed beneath him, locking his legs in place before a second struck his chest, knocking the air and blood out of him and leaving him pinned.

Danny didn't stop moving.

Each encounter lasted only seconds. He was efficient, precise, and completely detached. There was no hesitation, no emotion, no trace of anything human in the way he moved, he left a long trail of bodies and blood with every encounter.

By the time Arkham came into view, the trail behind him was filled with subdued criminals and broken chaos, as if the city itself had been momentarily forced into silence wherever he passed.

He didn't slow as he approached the gates.

The asylum was already in disarray. Guards were down, alarms blaring, and remnants of destruction lined the entrance. Danny jumped from his bike and took flight, phasing straight through the front without breaking stride.

Inside, vines tore through the walls and floors, thick and alive as they spread under Poison Ivy's control. She stood at the center of it, her presence dominating the space.

Danny stopped.

For the first time since entering Gotham, he paused.

Ivy turned toward him, ready to speak, to warn, to threaten— The temperature dropped instantly.

Frost spread across the ground, racing up the vines before they could react. Ice consumed them rapidly, locking them in place and spreading further until the entire area was frozen solid. Ivy barely had time to move before the cold overtook her as well, encasing her completely.

Danny lowered his hand.

Then he kept flying.

It didn't take long to find them.

Batman stood at the far end of the corridor, tense and unmoving. Across from him was the Joker, still grinning despite everything, as if the chaos outside was nothing more than a joke only he understood. "Hahaha! Where are little friends batsy?! Can't you see I brought some of my own to play—"

Danny disappeared.

Before either of them could react, he reappeared directly in front of the Joker.

His fist connected instantly.

The impact was violent, sending Joker flying across the room. There was a sickening crack as he hit the wall, his body slumping down as blood spilled from his face. The force of it caved part of his features inward, leaving him completely still as he collapsed against the floor.

Silence followed.

Danny stood over him, his fist stained with blood. His back was turned to Batman, his posture rigid as he stared down at the unconscious Joker without any visible reaction.

Batman watched him carefully. Something about the atmosphere around Danny was wrong. It wasn't just the cold, it was the absence of anything else. No anger, no urgency, nothing that made this feel like a person acting out of emotion.

"Danny," Batman called out, his voice measured, cautious.

There was no response.

Footsteps echoed suddenly as Robin burst into the room, breathing hard, sweat visible as he skidded to a stop beside Batman.

"Batman—stop him!" he shouted immediately. "He's going to kill him!"

That was the first moment Danny moved again.

His arm lifted rapidly.

Ice began to form, condensing rapidly into the shape of a sharp icicle spear in his hand. The air grew colder with each second as he raised it, positioning it directly above Joker's chest.

There was no hesitation in the motion.

He brought it down.

A sharp crack rang out.

Batman's grappling hook fired instantly, the modified line raiding around Danny's wrist with precision. The anti-ghost tech activated on contact, halting the motion mid-strike. The spear stopped inches from Joker's heart.

Danny looked over his shoulder, Batman's white eyes narrowing as a supernatural shiver traveled down his spine the moment he met the cold blue of Danny's gaze.

"It might not seem like it, but I'm doing you a favor," Danny said, his eyes drifting briefly to the line wrapped tight around his wrist.

"Then do us both another favor and don't," Batman replied, his frown deepening as his stance shifted, every muscle ready to move.

Robin jogged over quickly. As he passed by Batman's side, his quick and nimble fingers slipped into the utility belt, taking something without breaking stride.

"Danny, I know you're behaving uncharacteristically right now, but I've got something here that might change your mind. Here, look," Robin said, tossing the object toward him.

Despite everything, deep down Danny had always trusted Robin. The casual way it was thrown, loose and unthreatening, didn't trigger any immediate reaction.

He caught it with one hand and looked down at it, confusion flickering faintly across his otherwise empty expression.

The canister burst instantly.

A cloud of green smoke exploded outward, engulfing his face before he could react.

Danny's gaze lifted slowly toward Robin, his expression flattening even further. "I honestly can't believe I fell for that. Well played, Robin… well played."

His eyes rolled back.

The icicle spear shattered midair, fragments clattering harmlessly across the floor as his body went limp. He collapsed without resistance, hitting the ground with a dull thud.

A faint halo of white light formed around his waist, pulsing once before fading as his ghost form destabilized and reverted, leaving him in his human state.

Robin exhaled, tension leaving his shoulders as he looked down at Danny's unconscious form. "That should keep him out for a bit…"

Batman didn't respond immediately. His gaze lingered on Danny for a moment longer before shifting sharply to Robin, his eyes narrowing.

"Explain everything," Batman said, his voice low and firm. "Start from the beginning."

Robin stiffened slightly, a strained smile forming as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah… figured you'd say that."

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