Heroes

Harley Highway

Summary- In which Danny learns to let loose a little and maybe even compartmentalise... probably not in a good way

~2 days later

Danny had managed to stumble his way into Gotham after making a portal to escape after his sudden treatment. Why? Why did his goddamn portals always take him here when he didn't make any calculations? He found himself stumbling back onto the building rooftop where he first found Batman. Ugh.

Danny just breathed shakily as he slumped down onto the wet concrete and let the raindrops fall on his face as he looked up at the stormy grey clouds overhead. What was he doing? Why did he run? The chips inside of his core were burnt to pieces from Superman's laser eyes. Lex wasn't inside his core anymore and yet he still felt miserable. The memories ate at him.

He killed people.

He let that thought seep further into him, drenching every fibre of his being in self-loathing and guilt. Now the whole world knew who he was, who killed 6 innocent people. Danny sighed. He didn't deserve medical treatment. He deserved to die in a Gotham dump like he was now.

He let his eyes close, taking him into the darkness. When he opened them again a few hours later the rain had stopped falling, and on top of him was a pale woman, blue and pink bangs paralleled with her eye-shadow highlighting crazed light blue eyes. A grin cracked at her face, and Danny recognised her.

"Harley Quinn?"

~2 weeks later

"How long are we going to have a kid sleeping on my couch?" Ivy asked, sighing as she felt an oncoming headache.

"Aww come on Ives, he's really strong and he's agreed to help!" Harley whined.

"All he's done is eat all the ice-cream in my fridge and binge on trashy soap dramas all day."

Ivy pointed at the teen on the couch, curled up in her elephant onesie and an even thicker pile of quilts, scooping a whole spoon of ice-cream into his mouth straight from the tub. If there was ever an image of a grieving shut in, Danny was it. Harley let out a hum of agreement before she caught herself. King Shark pulled out his laptop and sat next to the teen. He shook a bag of chips next to the teen who caught the offer with a brief glance its way.

"Chips?" he offered.

"Thanks."

Danny took the whole packet and shoved the entire thing in his mouth, not taking his eyes of the tv as he munched on his chips. Roselle was about to confess to Marco, and she was running to grab his arm. The two lovers collided dramatically, and their hands touched, a moment in time. Danny sniffled, pulling in the snot that threatened to come out.

'Roselle, I knew you would come for me.'

'My love I would never leave you!'

They kissed in the rain and Danny cried, rubbing at his eyes. King Shark handed the boy a handkerchief and Danny promptly blew hard into it before blankly resuming his engrossed watching. Ivy huffed, gesturing to the pathetic display in front of her and Harley let out a nervous chuckle.

"Aw come, on I'm sure he'll be fine in a bit!"

"He's been here for two weeks Harl's."

Ivy sighed, wondering why she was the sole voice of reason in this place. She decided to drop it. If she was going to be stuck with Harley and her rag tag crew, sometimes it was just best to let things go or suffer through an unending migraine.

"Oh I know what'll cheer him up! He can watch the news, see some crime and then he'll want to start kicking some ass, again right? Isn't that what all em' heroes are like?!" Harley exclaimed.

"Wait no- Harley—"

Before Ivy could stop her Harley changed it to channel 7. The newsman straightened out his papers and a picture of Danny appeared to his side.

"In other news it's been two weeks since the Phantom Menace- the now identified Daniel Fenton, previously known as Inviso-bill, went on a murderous rampage and killed 6 concert goers. Superman has yet to release a public statement on his loss of control at the incident-"

Harley chuckled nervously as she switched the channel, which just played more news of Danny Phantom's rampage. Danny had stopped scooping the ice-cream into his mouth and was now staring at the blank tv screen like he had been kicked in his metaphorical nuts.

"Whoops?"

"Harley you broke the boy," King Shark said snapping his fingers.

"Ohhh he's going to start crying again," Clay-face said seemingly coming out of nowhere.

"I'm *hic* not crying *hic*. 'ts the *hic* onion ninjas again," Danny sobbed.

"There, there!"

Harley sat next to the teen scooping him into a half hug and throwing her bat at the tv screen.

"See no more scary news!"

"Harley that's the 5th tv- urgh- never mind..."

Ivy walked away before Harley decided to continue her consoling. She knew just how to get the kid back on his feet. A caper! Some innocent robbery and some fun bonding with his new crew!

"Come on Dan-o! It's not your fault ya' got mind controlled into killin' some folks! Now sittin' here an wallowing ain't going to help ya get back at the baldy right? You gotta go out there, show the world how in control ya are! And ya gotta help me get into the Legion of Doom by stealing that weather machine!"

"I don't know... I really don't want to see anyone you know. Can't I just sit... here," Danny mumbled lamely, sniffling and rubbing his runny nose.

He yelped when Harley practically picked him up.

"That's it! It's intervention time! Gang, let's go!"

"Ugh do we have to bring the mope around?" Dr. Psycho asked wiping his hands dry as he came out of the toilet.

"That's the whole point! Now get your asses out!"

Harley manhandled Danny before kicking Dr. Psycho out of the apartment. The small man grumbled, patting his sore but as Harley made her way out. No one tried to stop her when she got on one of these moods. Danny just groaned, pulling the elephant onesies hood over his head and letting himself be carried like a bag.

He was haphazardly thrown into the back of the van. Harley and her crew got in soon after. Danny was squished in-between Clay-face and King Shark, giving him about zero room to move. Then Harley put the pedal to the medal and Danny wanted to puke. How was it possible for someone to be even more of a chaotic driver than his dad?!

"T-this really isn't necessary. We could... uh- play some games back at Ivy's-"

"Come on kid. You know you're not getting out of this, and plus it'll do you some good," the sassy shark man reasoned.

"Ohh, it is a time for self-discovery, a new beginning. The world boxes you into a role and you reclaim it with your own hands, as your own man!" Clay-face began dramatically.

"I don't know. I just want to sleep," Danny groaned.

"Quit your whinging. Your even worse than a girl," Dr Psycho snipped.

Harley whacked him over the head with her bat earning her a disgruntled protest from her misogynistic friend. She sent the big-headed tiny man a glare before sending Danny a playful smile, popping the bubble gum in her mouth.

"We're goin' to have some fun! Cheer you right up," she laughed, in that chaotically playful way only she could.

Danny couldn't help but smile back, despite the growing worry that clouded his thoughts. He didn't know what he would do if Harley hadn't taken him in right after he escaped from home, barley keeping himself together. Maybe she was right... maybe he just needed to do something. Things would be hard, but they'd only get better... right? Right?

"Um- what exactly are we going to do?" Danny asked.

"Oh you'll see~"

"HOLY MOTHER OF JE-"

BEEEP

Danny let out a shriek as he barely dodged the oncoming traffic, police chasing after him. He was going at top speed, Harley sitting next to him chortling in laughter as the three other villains squished up together in the backseat also screamed.

"I've never driven before!" Danny shouted in panic.

"Oh my baby's gettin' his first drivin' lesson!"

"That's not the point!" Danny shouted in panic.

"Ohhh, turn left here!"

Danny abruptly turned the wheel, working on instinct. When he thought about doing a mission with a bunch of villains, he assumed there would be a lot of punching and kicking and stealing. He wasn't ready for his FIRST car chase! He let out another pathetic shriek as he barely stopped himself from crashing into another car.

"Merge!"

"What no- there's no space!"

"Mergeeeeee!" Harley shouted, laughing in maniacal glee.

God stealing a Rolls Royce Phantom from the Bruce Wayne was one thing, driving it away into a busy street was another! Danny closed his eyes and steered the wheel left. A hundred people honked at him, going into panic as the cops behind him chased him down expertly.

"The Harley Highway! It's just about the bend!"

"You have a highway?"

"No not that! Never that! I'm going to puke!" Clay-face announced, puking more clay out which just as quickly absorbed back into himself.

"How do you live with yourself?" Dr Psycho asked, face pinched.

"HOLY SHIT!" Danny exclaimed.

Was this even real?! The sight in front of him looked like something from Alice in Wonderland. The highway was Harley Quinn themed for sure! A massive sign of Harley holding up a race car flag waved up and down, blinking lights. It looked like a road from Mario Kart, with the insane wind and curves, all accumulating in something more like a roller coaster than a highway.

"How the fuck did you get someone to make this?!" Danny shrieked as he sped into his nightmare.

"Oh I held the mayor's daughter hostage for a bit. Sweet girl!"

"How am I gonna lose the fuzz?!" Danny asked, his heart thudding excitedly in his chest.

"Take the bend! Psycho get to it!"

Danny obeyed, quickly turning the wheel the whole way as he stepped on the brakes. Skid marks etched into the gravel as the car made the tight bend. He was nearly at 240 km an hour! Danny felt like feinting.

Dr Psycho got out of the car window, King Shark holding his waist in as he touched either ends of his temple and activated his mind powers. The cop cars turned a bright red and were thrown into the river below. Danny was going to relax his speeding now when he realised just how insane Harley Highway was.

"Is that a loop de loop?!" Danny shrieked, going into full blown panic.

"Do it now Dan-o! Full speed ahead, or we're gonna not make the length!"

"OH MY GOD I'M DOING THIS!"

"OH MY GOD HE'S DOING THIS!" King Shark shouted, holding onto the car roof in absolute terror.

"WE'RE GOING TO DIE!" Dr. Psycho cried.

Harley just laughed. Then they went around the loop.

Danny was so sure his heart had really stopped when they were totally upside down on a road, the car working solely on speed. They were flying and not in a good way, and he was... was he laughing.

He was laughing!

Danny wondered if Harley's insanity was contagious because he'd never felt so alive before! The loop ended with a ramp that threw them and the 25-million-dollar car straight back onto the road. Danny and Harley laughed; adrenaline high as the teen drifted into an inconspicuous road before they all jumped out of the smoking car in time it watch the hood explode into a burst of flames and the tires deflate like popped balloons.

Danny who was sitting on his but laughed a little more, wiping the tears off his eyes and wheezing a little until he calmed down.

"YOU'RE BOTH MAD!" Dr Psycho shouted, throwing his hands up and storming off.

"That was quite the performance. May we never do it again!" Clay-face agreed rushing off.

King Shark just shakily stood up, making a sound of distress, his legs wobbling as he rushed away with the rest of the crew. Danny chuckled as Harley took him into a side hug.

"I thought you wanted to steal a weather machine?" Danny asked.

"Oh I did, but you looked like you needed a bit of fun!"

"This was fun," Danny agreed nodding his head.

Just absolute chaos. He'd never have done this before. All he'd ever wanted was to get on the good side of the public eye, to be someone that they could trust. He'd lost all of that in a day, for something he couldn't even control, and the guilt still ate at him, but this seemingly chaotic, slightly villainous car chase had been freeing. No need to worry about public image or being a hero! Just pure danger and a lot of fun.

He let Harley help him up and found himself hugging the woman. She was a little shocked by the display if her body tensing and her arms going up in a 'I don't know where to put them kind of way' was anything to go by.

"Aye there Dan-o, don't be gettin' all soft on me now."

Danny pulled away blushing a little. "That was a one-off kind of thing. Don't get used to it."

"Wow you and the Bats would make a couple," she laughed.

Danny snorted in amusement. Harley took him into a side hug before pointing to the crew with her bat.

"Better get movin' before we're left behind!"

Danny followed after the rag tag group of villains. He didn't want to admit it, but they were kind of growing on him. The sound of sirens behind him made him briefly pause and turn. Someone might need help, but... but was he that person anymore? He had killed people. He was a murderer. He turned back to Harley and her crew and smiled forlornly. At least he had people there for him at his worst.

A/N Thanks for all the reviews and follows/favs guys. I really appreciate it! I hope you guys liked this chapter. I tried to make it a little bit less of a bummer. Also I have a bad habit of writing a lot of chapters and realising I never update the story online, so sorry if this took a while!

You'll get to see more of how this affects Danny in the future! I swear this has continuity! Also seriously thanks everyone for the reviews! If I had the time to respond to them all, I would, but unfortunately I'm quite busy these days, so I'm just going to say one big thanks here for anyone who's given me feedback and commented 333 u guys!