Going Ghost! (Young Justice)

Chapter 210: The Underrated Hero

[Third Person Pov]

"🎶🎵 Unda the sea! Unda the sea! Darling it's better! Down where it's wetter! TAKE IT FROM MEEEEE! 🎶🎵" Danny sang loudly and passionately from the back seat of the flying bat-plane, putting his entire voice and energy into every word like he was performing on a stage instead of being in the middle of a mission.

Batman and Robin sat in the front seats, both wearing completely flat, unimpressed expressions as they stared ahead, doing their absolute best to ignore the ghost boy behind them who was clearly having the time of his life. Neither of them reacted, even as Danny dragged out the last note dramatically.

Robin finally turned his head slightly toward Batman, his expression unchanged as he spoke, "Just so we're clear, I'm blaming you for this."

"What? Why me?" Batman asked, glancing at him briefly, clearly confused by the accusation.

"You're the one that took him in," Robin replied without missing a beat, gesturing vaguely toward the back, "and now because of your decision, we're being haunted by his ghost." He let out a small scoff. "You should have known it was a bad idea to bring anything possessed with you."

Batman let out a quiet scoff of his own, almost like he found that amusing, but he didn't bother to argue or deny it.

"You think it's too late to perform an exorcism on him?" Robin asked, looking over his shoulder at Danny, who was still in the middle of his sudden karaoke session.

Batman exhaled slowly through his nose, already sounding tired, "I'm afraid so. We're now both unfortunately stuck with him."

"You guys do know I can hear you, right? I'm right here," Danny said, cutting himself off mid-performance to look at them with a completely straight face.

"We know," they both replied at the exact same time, their tones even and their expressions not changing in the slightest.

Without another word, Batman pushed the controls downward, and the bat-plane immediately began its descent, plunging straight into the ocean below. The transition was smooth but fast, the surface of the water parting around them as they submerged.

Robin quickly flipped a series of switches and pressed a button, and within seconds the jet began to transform. Panels shifted, wings adjusted, and the entire structure reconfigured itself into a submarine designed for deep-sea travel.

"Woah…" Danny muttered, this time completely genuine as he leaned forward slightly, his attention fully captured by the sight outside.

A school of fish scattered in all directions as the submarine cut through the water, disturbed by its sudden arrival. As they moved forward, a trail of bubbles followed behind them, drifting upward toward the surface.

Danny phased his head, turning intangible and pushed it through the side of the jet, sticking it out into the water to get a closer, more personal look. His eyes moved around, taking in everything from the distant coral formations to the different species of fish swimming by.

Batman reached back without hesitation, grabbing the back of Danny's suit and pulling him straight back inside. Danny turned to him and was immediately met with the full force of a bat-glare.

"What? I really wasn't doing anything bad," Danny said, genuinely confused as he sat back properly.

"Just… behave," Batman said with a tired sigh, already sounding exasperated. "We're about to meet with Atlantean royalty. You have to be on your best behavior."

"Fine, I understand. I'll behave," Danny said, sitting down properly and folding his hands like he was completely willing to cooperate.

Batman and Robin both turned their heads slightly to look at him, their expressions shifting just enough to show clear suspicion.

"What?" Danny asked, looking between them, confused by the reaction.

Robin narrowed his eyes, clearly not buying it. "What are you planning, Danny? You? Behave?"

Danny stared back at them with a deadpan expression. "Seriously? I know when to behave when the situation calls for it. I'm not a brat."

Both Batman and Robin let out matching, disbelieving scoffs.

"Funniest joke you probably ever made," Robin said as he leaned back into his seat, getting comfortable again.

"You guys are both straight up assholes, I hope you know that," Danny muttered, clearly annoyed, using air quotes as he added, "This is why I 'misbehave,' as you put it."

They continued gliding through the ocean, the submarine moving smoothly as it used the natural underwater currents to its advantage. For once, Danny was actually keeping his word. He stayed mostly quiet, just sitting there and looking out at everything around them, taking in the scenery with genuine interest instead of making noise or commentary every five seconds.

"Danny, up ahead," Robin said, motioning toward the front.

Danny leaned forward between them, placing his hands on the backs of their seats as his eyes widened. "Woah… now that is an underwater kingdom."

Atlantis looked just as beautiful as all the stories ever said it was. Towering spires stretched upward, elegant and massive, while a giant dome surrounded the entire city, protecting it. The whole place seemed to glow, shining with a bright, almost blinding brilliance that made it hard to look away from.

As they got closer, it was clear they were expected. Atlantean forces were already stationed outside, waiting for their arrival. The submarine was guided toward a designated area where they could safely dock, a space specifically built to accommodate visitors, complete with an oxygen-filled environment so they could breathe normally once they stepped out.

When they exited the vehicle, they were immediately met by a small welcoming group. Arthur stood at the front, with Tula, Garth, and Jackson beside him.

Arthur let out a quiet breath of relief when he saw them. "Batman, I'm glad you could make it."

Both Robin and Danny acknowledged him respectfully, though Danny's attention was already locked onto him with clear excitement.

"So he's the spirit of the boy you keep in your company nowadays," Arthur said, turning his attention to Danny as he stepped forward to greet him, his tone carrying the easy confidence and charm of a ruler.

As they shook hands, Danny immediately grabbed Arthur's hand with both of his, completely ignoring any sense of formality. "I just want to say, I think you're an amazing and very underrated hero, and you don't deserve any of that negative perception the public has of you, they're all idiots who don't understand your greatness" he said quickly, not holding back at all. "And I hope that when all of this is over and all is well and done, you can give me your autograph, since I'm a huge fan."

Arthur raised an amused brow at that, clearly caught off guard, before glancing over at Batman with a small smirk. "I have to say, he's quite charming. I like him."

"That's what they all say," Batman replied flatly, not sounding convinced in the slightest.

After greeting Arthur, Danny turned his attention to the others with him. He lifted a hand in greeting, smiling brightly, his usual charm immediately kicking in. "Hello everyone, it's a pleasure to meet you guys. I'm really looking forward to working with all of you."

"Um, hey, I'm Tula," she said, a little shy as she greeted him, her eyes lingering on his smile for a second longer than necessary. "Are you really a spirit? I don't think I've ever met one before."

"Well, as they say, there's a first time for everything," Danny replied easily, snapping his fingers and giving her a friendly wink, which made her let out a small giggle.

'Seriously, what the heck,' Robin thought to himself, his lips twitching slightly as he watched the interaction.

"Garth," he introduced himself next, sounding a bit more reserved.

"Danny," he said back with a grin, casually extending his fist instead of going for a fist-bump.

Garth blinked at the gesture for a second before catching on, a faint smile forming as he bumped his fist against Danny's.

"Greetings, you can call me Jackson," he said when it was his turn, giving a respectful nod.

"Greetings to you too, and like I said, you can call me Danny," Danny replied, clearly pleased to meet all of them. He was perhaps one of the few people that really enjoyed reading the Aquaman comics and had an appreciation for the character, so he was clearly very eager to meet them all. "Sorry if this is rude, but I have to say, I'm loving the tattoos. Very cool."

"It's not rude at all, and they're more than just tattoos," Jackson said, offering a brief explanation as they started walking, following behind Batman and Arthur deeper into the city.

Robin stayed quiet, observing the entire exchange as he walked with them. His eyes shifted between Danny and Jackson, then briefly toward Tula. One brow slowly raised.

'There's no way…Right?' he thought, still trying to process what he was seeing. 'What is seriously wrong with everyone?'

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