Prologue

A/N: yay, another Danny is Dick's brother stories! I've finally gotten around to writing one. Now, I know this is a common trope—actually I'm using quite a few common tropes here—but I can see why they're so popular, so don't judge me. Anyways, mine was partially inspired by curry-lama's Unspoken and a variety of other sources and ideas that I've just kinda combined into this wonderful fic. I also like to think this story of mine is going to have its own little spin on the concept—but hey, every author does. I'd love to know what y'all think.

As for the Romani language I'm using Romanian for those curious.

/comms/

Telepathy/flashbacks

Anyways, I don't own Young Justice or Danny Phantom and I hope y'all enjoy.

Dick Grayson slowly climbed out of bed, wincing as the old metal frame creaked loudly under him. Blue eyes flickered across the room, settling on the small form lying across on a similar, old, springy, rusty bed that seemed even too big for the small five-year-old lying in it.

Creeping over to their shared closet, the eight-year-old slipped on a pair to tennis shoes two sizes too big and an old ratty sweater. So far, from what he'd heard on the news, no one was doing anything to solve their parent's murder. So he was going to do it.

He would find the scary guy who threatened the circus and tell the cops.

"D'ck?"

Turning around, the boy's eyes widened as his little brother sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes tiredly with one hand, and tightly clutching his stuffed dog Cujo in the other.

"Unde te duci [Where are you going]?"

His brother didn't need to know about this. It was his job to look out for him now, and he wasn't going to rest while the man who took their parents away was out there. "Catre baie. Mă întorc curând, mă întorc la culcare Danny. [To the bathroom. I'll be back soon, go back to bed, Danny]"

"Nu vreau să fiu singur [I don't want to be alone]!" the small child protested climbing out of bed, clutching the stuffed animal tightly. "Ce se întâmplă dacă nu te întorci ca Mami și Tati [What if you don't come back like Mommy and Daddy]?!"

"Voi reveni, promit [I'll be right back, promise]," quickly going to his bed, he grabbed his own stuffed animal off. "Aici ia Zitka, ea te va supraveghea în timp ce eu sunt plecat [Here take Zitka, she'll watch you while I'm gone]."

His little brother pouted for a moment, reluctantly taking the stuffed toy and climbing back onto the bed. "Promite-ți că te vei întoarce [Promise you'll be back]?"

"Promisiune."

Albeit reluctantly, Dick sighed in relief as Danny went back to bed. Opening the door to the small room the brothers shared, he closed it behind him and made his way to the window, climbing out onto the fire escape.

He had a bad guy to find.

-.-

"What were you thinking?" The young Grayson shrunk, avoiding the scolding glare of Gotham's infamous Dark Knight. There was a sigh and the imposing hero crouched down, an unreadble frown on his face. "Are you hurt?"

Dick shook his head, covering the scrape on his elbow. The bad guy's goons had spotted him and planned on using him as a hostage. Who was he to think he could catch a bad guy?

"Let me see." Batman gently took his hand, rolling up the sleeve. The boy shivered at Gotham's cold air, he'd been foolish thinking a sweater would keep him warm. The man's expression didn't change as he examined the injury, but before Dick knew it his arm was cleaned and bandaged. "Where's your brother?"

"Back at the orphanage."

The Dark Knight nodded, standing up still holding Dick's hand. "Let's get you back. I'm sure he's worried about you."

Dick nodded, letting the man lead him to the Batmobile with wide eyes. Danny wouldn't believe this. Batman had always been his favorite. At least telling him about the Batmobile would earn him some forgiveness for being gone so long.

His baby brother was shocking vengeful for a five-year-old.

The ride back to the orphanage was silent. The Batman didn't speak a single word on the drive back, he didn't even have on music; and Dick, he was too nervous to break the tense silence. The dark vehicle pulled to a stop and the doors opened, allowing the passengers to step out.

"I assume you got out through the window up there?"

Dick looked up, smiling shyly as he saw the open window from when he left. "Yeah…"

The small boy yelped as Batman picked him up, and he felt cold wind brushing through his hair as they flew up. The Dark Knight landed silently on the metal fire escape, putting a device of some sort back in his belt.

"I trust you won't go sneaking off again after this?"

Dick shook his head. After tonight, there was no way he was doing that again.

Batman nodded after a moment, and Dick crawled back through the window. Turning around, he found the window closed and the Bat gone. Pressing his face up to the window, he tried looking down for the batmobile, but it wasn't there either. Where'd he go?

Pouting in disappointment, Dick went back to his room. Opening the door, his heart stopped.

The small window in their room was open, and Danny was gone. The only sign he'd even been there lying in the forms of two stuffed animals on the floor.