#Danny freezes B in ice

[profounddestinyrebel]

Okay so I wrote a bunch in the tags instead of here for some reason

dp x dc prompt: the runaway heir

danny is damian's brother who ran away from the league and got adopted by the fentons.

a year and a half after he became phantom (i'm thinking good parents!maddie and jack found out and everything has settled down), the league finds him. the assassins kill jazz, jack and maddie and sedate him to take him back to their base.

when he wakes up, the fgiref he feels breaks him. he proceeds to kill all the league members he comes across, promising he'll save ra's and talia for last. talia runs to gotham and begs for bruce's help, revealing she has hidden yet another son from him and that said son is going mad from grief and loathing.

bruce is devastated but determined to both help and stop the child he never knew. damian had spent his entire childhood scorning danyal, the heir who ran away, as weak and though he had questioned that after becoming robin, the truth of how strong his brother actually was shakes him.

can they bring danny back to the light before he can become dan?

[vladdyissues]

Danny Phantom, but Vlad decided to live forward without Fentons, so, they weren't invited to the party in tha castle, so, Vlad and Danny didn't meet that year. BUT they met when Danny was in Wisconsin college (19/20 years?). F.e. Danny has developed a strong ghost scenting system by this time, so, he felt the strange Vlad's ectoaura and decided to check who it is. There's no reason for them to fight. How do you imagine their interaction? Would it be a spark and storm of insanity, sex? What's Vlad's reaction to the information whose son Danny is?

Well, Vlad already knew of "the ghost boy" before the college reunion, and I imagine that Plasmius would either eventually a) challenge/destroy/neutralize Phantom or b) try to tempt him with the same offer he made Danny. I mean, this guy is so desperate to have a family that it makes him look stupid.

BUT supposing that he was never able to properly "introduce" himself to Phantom, and/or Phantom was able to avoid Plasmius for a few years, the idea of Vlad meeting a 19- or 20-year-old Danny is intriguing. How would it happen?

Perhaps a scenario like the University of Wisconsin wanting to honor their most famous alumnus with a ceremony—or Vlad makes a generous *cough* tax-deductible *cough* donation for a scholarship program, and maybe Danny is a recipient of that scholarship and therefore obligated to attend the ceremony.

But the minute Vlad takes the stage, he's distracted by a spectral signature emanating from somewhere in the audience. Danny likewise senses a powerful ghost aura, though less accurately, and wends his way through the crowd to find the source.

As Vlad absently stumbles and stutters through his speech, his eyes finally lock onto the young man who just appeared at the front of the crowd. At the same second, the two realize that the other is the source of the signature. Vlad proceeds with his speech more smoothly now while Danny racks his brain to figure out why this rich, smug asshole is positively radioactive with ghost energy.

When the ceremony concludes, Danny charges to the backstage area to find that Vlad has vanished. Danny hunts for him, even going invisible and flying to try to locate him, but no luck. The man is gone.

Discouraged and more than a little perplexed, Danny begins the long walk back to his dorm. Suddenly a stretch limo rolls up beside him. A dark window glides down, revealing none other than Vlad Masters.

"Care for a lift?" he asks archly.

At this range, the ectoplasmic frequencies radiating from him are so strong that Danny's ghost sense goes berserk. He exhales the coldest breath he's ever heaved, wobbles, and drops to the sidewalk in a dead faint.

He wakes up later (how much later? He has no idea) in a luxurious back seat, a cold gel pack on his head, with Vlad Masters, billionaire tech mogul and "philanthropist", sitting across from him, gazing at him with concern. A small smile breaks through when Danny sits up.

Wow, he's really handsome up close, Danny thinks.

"What's going on?" Danny asks, hoping his face doesn't look as red as it feels.

"You passed out," Vlad answers. "I couldn't leave you in the hot sun. Ice specters aren't exactly known for their heat tolerance."

Danny freezes—figuratively this time, and the rosy blush drains from his cheeks.

"Would you care for a drink?" Vlad asks, still smiling.

"Who are you?" Danny says, then winces and adds, "I mean. I know who you are, but—"

"Then you have the advantage." Vlad hands him a frosty bottle of expensive mineral water. "What's your name, young man?"

"Um. Danny. Daniel Fenton." He cracks open the bottle and drinks. Across from him, Vlad's eyes widen.

"Fenton, you said?"

A nod.

"You wouldn't happen to be related to a Jack Fenton, would you?"

"Yeah. He's my dad. Why, do you know him?"

Vlad ignores the question and leans forward. His eyes—blue, Danny sees, really dark blue—gleam with interest. "I presume you know a little something about ghosts, then."

Despite his racing heart, Danny's brain feels like sludge. He shakes his head and blinks a few times, finally pulling on a nervous smile. "Nah, uh, that's more my mom and dad's thing."

"I see." Vlad studies him for a moment. "Are you hungr—sorry. Silly question. Of course you're hungry. You're a college student." His eyes fall to the holes in Danny's jeans, the scuffed sneakers, the pilled hoodie with its faded graphics. Danny squeezes his legs together self-consciously and experiences a pang of embarrassment. Vlad's gaze returns to his face.

"Would you care for lunch, Daniel? My treat, of course. Unless you'd rather join me for dinner at my home? I could send a chauffeur to pick you up around seven. I make a fondue to die for. Well"—a chuckle— "half-die for, anyway."

Danny forgets his financial woes. And lots of other things. His brain struggles to process the past two minutes. A hot rich guy saturated with some of the most powerful ecto-energy he's ever felt is asking him to dinner. Maybe even a dinner dinner. Which, if Danny is honest, wouldn't disappoint him. He stares at Vlad Masters with his mouth slightly ajar.

"Uh... I, uh. Sure. Um, dinner sounds good."

[merlin-wolfgang-trades-hale]

One of my on-going project snippets. Avatar!Steve

“Why is Danny’s place still frozen?” Steve demanded as soon as he saw Duke. 

“Our water-benders are trying, but there is a limit to their ability,” Duke replied. 

Steve’s clarity was being disrupted by his worry over Danny, so he snapped, “Limit? It’s ice! They’re water-benders!” 

Duke often revered to Steve with the respect gained by his rank, in both military and as Avatar, as well as the respect he was born with as a McGarrett. But in that moment, he was an older Hawaiian native who gave a strict gaze as he reminded Steve of where they lived. “You have traveled far and seen many other places. Maybe it has escaped your memory that out of all the benders that live or visit our small islands, water is arguably the one with most restrictions and rules. Only a limited few water-bending masters exist here who are experienced with colder temperatures and ice or snow manipulation.”

Steve closed his eyes for a moment to collect himself before he opened them again and apologized. “Sorry, Duke. It’s...it’s Danny, y’know?” 

“I do. And I know that there’s no one else on this island who knows those ice bending restrictions better than him. Given how much flack he got in the early months of him being here. So I understand your concern...but these ice structures were created by Danny himself. They’re fortified with the strength that will take the Hawaiian August sun hours to melt. We can’t get inside yet.”

“Yeah, well...I’m here now. Let me work.” It was nearly a threat but it most certainly was a warning. Duke called off the benders and let Steve try. 

Steve has begun his water bending training but it was with the basics. Learning to alter the water’s temperature to make it freeze or unfreeze wasn’t anywhere near the curriculum. Didn’t mean he didn’t try. Except he was too angry because he didn’t want to be worried. 

So he stopped trying to water-bend the ice away and instead unleashed his fury with his fire-bending until he saw some of the ice give way before earth-bending a stalagmite to shatter it’s way through. 

I started thinking about world building rules and them being applied to different fandom. Implementing the Avatar bending to H50, and it made me think. Being surrounded by so much water, water benders are pretty dangerous. They always have a weapon, and if they’re mastered it enough the humidity in the air, even if there isn’t an obvious body of water, they still have access to it( never mind potential gangs and criminal organization potentially having Blood Benders). 

Then I was thinking, how much of the average tourist would a)not know a fuck shit about the proper water temperature a place, it’s plant life, and animal life need to remain stable? And b)would be assholes to try and make their own waves or bigger waves or retaliate against anyone or to show off? 

Beaches in an Avatar AU would have STRICT rules in place. Lifeguards might need to be specially trained to like a military level to secure the peace, ensure the safety of native plant and animal life.

Water benders, no matter the profession or life style they lead/live, if they’re in Hawaii they are limited to just water bending. Healing, yes...but when it comes to temperature control...there are like...two official water bending MASTERS who know how to turn water into snow or ice. And it’s become a thing where it’s just been like that for so long that no one really questions it unless they’re not from there. 

I made Danny a Water-Bender and with how winters are on the east coast, and because I personally headcanon Danny to just have a more affinity to colder climates, to him ice and snow are second nature. And because he came from a big city where younger water benders as young as 7-8 year olds make their first bit of chump change by offering to snow-bend the drive ways of little old ladies or get more allowance if they wake up and defrost their parent’s car...when Danny first came to Hawaii as he followed Grace, seen as an outsider with the element that may have the most restrictions, particularly in his specialty. It was hard but Danny learned to ‘control’ himself..aka adjust his mannerism. (He’s always in control. Just...things that were normal for him are a big deal on the island, but he has never been out of control of his element. Danny is also a Blood Bender and that’s why but it’s not knowledge anyone knows and he’s terrified of anyone learning)  

Steve has seen plenty of Danny’s power, potential, and most importantly his control. It’s why Steve chose Danny to be his Water bending master instead of the native Hawaiian born they wanted to assign him. There are also a lot of deeper feelings involved, so Steve hearing that Danny elsa fortressed himself means something is very wrong! 

but on like a lighter note, when they need something from Kamekona, Danny has bribed him with water-bending him x-lbs of shaved ice. 

[randomhuman45]

Dannymay 2022- Day 19 Crossover

Danny Phantom & My Hero Academia

Aizawa: So, what exactly is your quirk?

Danny: I'm half alive and half dead.

Aizawa: What?

Danny: Well it's kinda confusing.

Aizawa: How about you start step by step.

Danny: So first is that I have a human living form here. [Gestures to self] And I have a ghost not alive form. [Transforms into phantom before gesturing to body]

Todoroki: So you just die on command?

Danny: Basically, yeah.

Tokoyami: A beautiful ability I could only desire to welcome as my own one day.

Aizawa: Tokoyami please stay after class.

Tokoyami: You cannot lie to the green monster that resides within you as well Aizawa.

Aizawa: No but we still need to talk.

Tokoyami: Very well then, I shall.

Aizawa: Oh kami. Alright so you alter your form. What else does your quirk include?

Danny: Well I have stereotypical ghostly abilities like flying, invisibility, intangibility, being able to turn things I touch invisible and intangible. I also have like ecto-rays and ecto-blasts and I can-

Aizawa: So your quirk status is just multiple bs convent abilities like the problem child. Plus while the problem childs' favorite past time is self sacrifice, you actually die on a regular bases. Do you also break your bones daily?

Danny: Hmmm, not in particular, but I do have my own healing factor so that's a plus.

Aizawa: At least Recovery Girl will like you. Well, then it's settled, you will be joining class 1-B. I already have to deal with 2 kids with multiple quirks, one who consistently is trying to kill themselves, one who is consistently try to kill their father, and one student who has activity attempted murder. Yes, murder, not homicide since it can be proven in the court of law that it was planned. Not to mention the ball of curses and anger, and the walking embodiment of sexual harassment. Hell would have to freeze over before I have you as another problem child under my care and responsibility in my class.

Danny: Well, I do have an ice core so I am physically capable of freezing over Hell.

Aizawa: No, I forbid it.

Danny: But you just said you're not my teacher. So I don't actually have to listen to you.

Aizawa: That's not how that works and you know it.

Danny: No I don't actually. So don't mind me, I'll be back in a few for class to start after I freeze over Hell. Make sure to leave me an open desk!

Aizawa: Kami, what did I do that was so bad in a previous life to warrant this? What? Did I still candy from baby orphans? What was it?

[darke15]

Rhymie! My love! 🖤 @rhymingtree

I apologize for this chapter in advance! Please forgive me

Y'know I really don't wanna make myself sad today but... 🤷‍♀️ I'm still here though. I've signed my own death certificate and dug my own grave and I do it gladly.

I’m sorrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Oh fuck straight into the torture huh... like we got a nice lil preamble and then WHOOSH drowning time babyyyy

Gotta get straight to business

Your heart hammered in your chest, freezing droplets of water beaded down your hair before splashing to the ground like pearls tinted pink. They mixed with the blood there, painting abstract crimson against gritty concrete.

Again, very pretty descriptions for really dark stuff.

*dark[e] stuff 😏 ehh? ehhhhhh?

I could write a whole thesis on Novak and how fucking scary he is but how exactly would a panel of professors react if I told them he was a made up character from a very long fanfiction that I like to read at 3 in the morning?

Shhhhhh they don’t have to know 

He was so close, he was just right there. He could get you out if he really wanted to. He could save you.

If he wanted to. If he wanted to. WANTED.

😭😭😭

He’d send you to death’s door—nearly shoving you into Danny’s arms—before injecting you with experimental chemicals and forcing you back to life kicking and screaming.

So he's like the opposite of the grim reaper?

You know that painting of the reaper that’s come to collect a child from their mother? But she’s so soft and beautiful and loving? That’s how I picture Danny coming for Ghost

“Brain function?” “That shit’s optimized,” you mumbled incoherently, “Fuckin’ perfection, motherfucker.” Novak’s assistant raised a brow, “Needs work.” “Douchebag.”

Even at death's door she's a sassy pain in the ass. I love her.

She wouldn’t be Ghost if her sass didn’t come through in the most dire of times

They're already planning on putting her in the chair??

World domination waits for no one, Rhyme. The Good Doctor isn’t getting any younger. 

This would be such a wild ride to read in chronological order. Metal Arm Dude becomes your fuckin' boyfriend.

One of the reasons I wanna go back and change some things in the earlier chapters, but I wanna get through the bunker escape first

“No…” You shook your head, limply fighting against the men as Metal Arm Dude stared after you, “You promised! You promised you wouldn’t leave me!”

Too early to cry, darke.

Never too early. Let it out 😭

They put her in a freezer?

Oh, wait... oh.

😀😀😀

from day 332 to day 393!????!?

THEY PUT HER IN THERE FOR TWO FUCKING MONTHS?

Her own cryo chamber. Possibly some inspiration from that Winter Soldier book. Being stuck in the cold and unable to die but being conscious and able to feel and hear and ‘see’ everything 

A killer. A lover. A someone. Putanginaaaaaa

I’m sorryyyyy 

“And, sir, it's the opinion of the team that they're separated. The Asset is being reported as unstable, even after recalibration. I recommend that—”

Does that have anything to fo with Ghost literally being frozen for two months... was Bucky subconsiously aware of her absence even when the Soldier was on the surface?

He knows something’s up

At what point did hope become so corrosive to the soul that it flickered like a smothered flame before going out completely.

Darke are you sure Juno hasn't summoned the ghost of Charlotte Bronte and had her possess you while you were writing because this is some Jane Eyre classical romantic gothic type writing

She’s sleeping right next to me but i think the big stretch she just did means yes 

Hell wasn’t fire and brimstone. It wasn’t water that seeped into your body. It wasn’t darkness and silence and ice crystals that held your body hostage. It was hope.

Like goddamn. This is World Literature class type of shit I fuckin love it.

I honestly don’t know where it came from but I really enjoyed it

From there you’d be reborn in fire and ice.

STOP. WRITING. WELL. DAMN IT.

No [update, fuck i just came up with a good addition to that line. brb, adding it now]

Your heart nearly froze in your chest as your eyes met his. Somehow, his eyes were darker than you thought they were. Darker than charcoal, darker than pitch. There was no life behind them.

I have goosebumps now thanks

You’re welcome 

I just know Christoph Walsh would eat this role up so fucking much he'd bag an Academy nomination for a superhero movie role.

I just watched spectre again and I just….yessssssssssss

NO NO NO NOT BOONE

DON'T FUCKIN BRING MY BOONIE INTO THIS MEREK.

What i love about this is that she was just about to give Novak everything he wanted but when she realized that boone was still out there somewhere she knew that she couldn’t. 

Her friends are her fuel. 

They’re the only thing that keeps her going 

What's wose is that she's still thinking about Oliver through all of this, worried and unwilling to consider leaving him behin when he knows all this is happening and is more than okay with it. He brought her here. He plunged her into hell but she'd go into its depths to make sure he's with her when she leaves it.

Again, if ollie wasn’t there, this all would have been over so much sooner. They’re biggest mistake was to let him be apart of that team and let her get close to him. 

The rest of that part left me speechless and frozen and numb

I’m sorry 

ANd now I'm about to feel worse because I know what's coming

Ahhhhh i know im so sorry 

 “You are not allowed to mar what belongs to me.”

he scares me so much

Same. you know, i came up with that line on the top of a mountain, just outta the blue. Scared the shit outta myself as i wrote it down 

“Promise you’ll stay,” you said, wrapping your arms around him as he lifted you to your feet, “Promise you won’t go.” “You know I can’t do that.” “Yes, you can.” You nodded against his neck, “You have to.” “I can’t.” You sniffled, wincing as he let go of your legs to let you stand on your own. You were shaky, your legs felt as though they were made of jelly and you were lightheaded, but the soldier held you steady and let you lean against him with a shaky sigh. “Promise me, Soldier Boy,” you whispered, letting your eyes flutter shut as you relaxed against him, “Please.” He said nothing but a sigh huffed through his nose and he held you a bit closer. That was a yes. That was his promise. You were sure of it. You were—

Fuck.

Fuck....

That one hurted too 

Hell was hope.

I'm just... not gonna talk. I'll yell at you when I've gathered my bearings.

Ohtay 😀🖤

CHAPTER 95: FLASHBACK — WRITING ON THE WALL

***This chapter is a lil darker than normal, read at your own risk

To all my live reactors,

Please, please, please, hide your reactions under a Read More cut. I don’t want any spoilers floating around. 

&

To all my Anonymous Avengers, 

If you want to react in my asks, feel free. However, I won’t be answering any of them until at least Wednesday if they contain spoilers. 

Thank you,

Darke

��━━━━━━━━ ★ ━━━━━━━━┑

“Are you ready to cooperate, my dear?” Novak’s voice was soft, nearly sounding kind and warm.

You didn’t answer, barely able to form thought as your world came back into view let alone words as you stared blankly into the ceiling.

Still, Novak’s disappointed hum filled the room and, in an instant, you were lugged off the table and back toward the center of the room. An IV tower was wheeled behind you, connected by a single needle in your arm that threatened to come loose as you were tossed up onto the hook.

You yelped, awakened by the ache in your ribs and the stretching of sores on your wrists.

Your eyes widened as you took your first deep breath in what felt like ages.

For a moment you felt reborn, like a phoenix bursting through ice shards and flames.

Almost like you had been remade.

┕━━━━━━━━ ★ ━━━━━━━━┙

» CHAPTER 95: FLASHBACK — WRITING ON THE WALL

✪ Bᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ Sᴄᴀʀʀᴇᴅ : Aғᴛᴇʀᴍᴀᴛʜ

♜♠ Tʜᴇ Sᴏʟᴅɪᴇʀ & Tʜᴇ Sᴘʏ

⧗ Tʜᴇ Rᴇᴅ Rᴏᴏᴍ

☞ Bᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ Sᴄᴀʀʀᴇᴅ: Oʀɪɢɪɴs

»Jᴏɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋᴇ sɪᴅᴇ Tᴀɢʟɪsᴛ

TAGLIST BELOW

@thexbookxnerdx // @fadingbakeryfarmoperator // @rhymingtree // @itsmeatballworld // @kippykasey // @turtleedovee // @onewithnomightypowers // @pixviee // @riahmcq // @thequeenofthefallen // @jesuswasnotawhiteman // @fnnshelbys // @knowyourworth-sellyoursoul // @banbananas // @oikawasblueearbud // @itsarussian // @mrsbarnesinmyimagination // @oopsiedoopsie23 // @luhuhzy // @heyimjustlaura12 // @moonlightreader649 // @sighmurderbot // @useless-creature-213 // @xiyouchan // @bookfeen // @afraidofshrimp // @yjck121 // @born-a-sinner-die-a-martyr // @aftermatharchives

***if you have a strike through your handle, it wouldn’t let me tag you 😞

[impyssadobsessions]

I always liked the ice core as a reflection of his love of space tbh. Like I already imagine that when he died it was really a coin flip between Protection and Space obsession wise, and even though he landed on Protection you can still see flashes of Space at times. And the void of space is extremely cold, it'd flash freeze you in seconds if you stepped out into its unforgiving abyss. Hence, ice core.

Ooo That's an interesting take. Probably not one I would go with, because of my own hc. BUT I do like it~ Especially since I did have an idea of what if Danny was the new ghost of space. CW ghost of time and can't have time without space.. etc. =w=b BUT that's a random tangent. Though that hc of how the ice core is would fit into that universe well eoe. nvm I would do it for certain stories~ I love all these ice core hc >w<

[avaritia-apotheosis]

Phantom Children Ch. 6

Hi guys! I'm back <3 (also, I'm currently looking for alpha/beta readers for Phantom Children, so if you're interested, feel free to shoot me a message!)

In Which: Danny Attempts to get Answers, Bruce Learns, and Dick Finally Learns What's Inside the Door that Doesn't Exist

AO3 | Prologue | 5 | [ 6 ] | 7

DANNY IS KNOCKED DOWN three, four, eight times on the ice. Each time made his back ache, his bones bruised and tired, and his mind burning with embarrassment and a drive to lash out. But each time he gets back up. Each time he lasts a little bit longer against Talia.

The ice still shifts, cracks and rumbles with every wrong move. Danny learned to roll with it. Move on light feet but attack with a firm stance, gauge which parts of the ice are stable and which should be avoided. Multi-tasking has never been Danny’s strong suit, but he’s good at learning and learning quickly.

Talia corrected his form as much as she beat him down. Exploited every one of his openings until he learned to defend them and praised him whenever he managed to pull one over her. The League’s martial arts was the holy amalgamation between almost every single fighting style there is, mashed and refined to perfection to become almost unpredictable to the untrained. A vast improvement to Danny’s previous ‘fuck around and see what works’ brawling and had the added benefit of meshing together with his spontaneity.

“You are doing well, Daniel,” Talia said as she sheathed her sword, hand resting just above her hip. “You have improved greatly in such a short time, as I have expected.”

It takes every ounce of Danny’s superhuman energy to not collapse to his knees, his every breath a ragged shudder as he tries to get his breathing under control. “Still can’t beat you, though.”

“Very few can boast that feat.”

“I’m not exactly sure if that’s supposed to make me feel any better or not. Do I get my prize at least?”

Tahlia tossed her braid over one shoulder with a laugh. “Come, then, let us rest in the caves. The sun is to set soon and we must make camp before we freeze to death.”

“Hypothermia is so last season. I’m way too cool for that.”

He didn’t know whether to be disappointed that Tahlia didn’t react to his pun. It was pretty clever, in his opinion.

('Puns are the lowest form of comedy,' said mind-Jazz.

Says the one who named the Box Ghost the ‘Crate Creep.’

'That’s alliteration, not a pun.')

It was kind of pathetic that even his mind-version of Jazz was smarter than him.

“What would you like to know first?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Sarcasm dripped from Danny’s voice. He sheathed his sword and let it hang loose at his side. “Maybe how old this mysterious brother of mine is?” Ancients, his life was weird enough already, it wasn’t supposed to sound like the B-plot to a bad soap opera.

“Damian is younger than you by a little over four years. He will turn eleven this year.”

“Huh. Never been an older brother before.”

“Perhaps you might have been, if circumstances had been different.”

Cryptic. Great. Danny stepped over a particularly large crack in the ice and scampered over to solid ground. “You gotta give me more than that. What’s he like?”

“Prideful,” she said. “But skilled enough to warrant it. He was raised like a prince—as how you should have been.”

“And he lives with…our dad?”

“Yes. In America.” The cave was deep enough to shield them from the worst of the eventual mountain winds. Tahlia had already started building a campfire with equipment from her knapsack, embers eating away and growing into a steady flame. He sat down, legs crossed, beside the fire, hands tucked beneath his armpits.

He bit his lip, a question forming in his mind. “Do…do we have the same dad?”

Tahlia looked up at him. “Of course. Only your father has had the privilege of being called my beloved, and only he is worthy enough to have sired my children.”

Once night fell, it fell quickly. Blanketing as far as Danny could see from the mouth of the cave in a thick darkness. Snow fell from the skies in thick tufts and covered their footsteps.

“Does he—do they know about me?”

“No, they do not.”

“And you probably aren’t going to tell them anything about me, if you could help it.”

“That is very perceptive of you, habeebi.”

“You won’t tell me anything more about them, will you?”

“In due time, I will.”

Danny blew part of his fringe away from his face. Figures.

Despite the ever-present niggling at the back of his mind, Bruce had yet to see what was in the flash drive. The weeks since his strange meeting with Vlad Masters suddenly exploded with criminal activity with the recent breakout in Arkham and the brewings of another gang war in the shadows of Gotham’s paved streets. It was all hands-on deck. And Bruce, whether as Batman or Wayne, had always prioritized Gotham and its citizens over anything else.

The flash drive remained on his person despite the crisis, tucked away in one of the sturdier compartments of his utility belt to prevent the data inside from becoming damaged. Sometimes he found his hands gravitating towards it, fingers brushing against the button that would release the mystery from its confines before he realized what he was doing and steeled himself. Hands fisted to his side and attention forcibly directed elsewhere.

Eventually, the rogues were placed back into Arkham, and Gotham let out a shuddered breath of relief as it remained standing for another day.

Most of the family were out on a light patrol, cleaning up the remains of the breakout and helping where they can. Jason and Dick bickering over the comms whilst Barbara laughed in her clocktower.

(“It’s not that bad.”

"‘It’s not that bad’—shut the fuck up.” Jason spat. Bruce could hear him revving his bike. “You’re a fucking idiot, you know that? Certified Grade A idiot. B’s gonna kill you.”

He could hear Dick roll his eyes. “Sure, pile it all on, Jaybird. Blame the victim.”

"It was your fault.”

“It’s not my fault I didn’t see it there!”

"You tripped and got a concussion. From a stick. A. Stick.”

“Can we please just leave that out of the report?” Dick groaned. Barbara laughed. “Oh god.”

“Richard motherfucking John Grayson. I swear if you vomit on me then—”

“I’m not gonna vomit on you! You just turned the corner a little too fast. It’s nice to see you care though.”

"Fuck no, I just don’t wanna smell like regurgitated cereal.”)

Damian was benched from a patrol. Their last conflict with Poison Ivy ended with Damian sticking a bad landing and twisting his ankle. He dealt with it with as much grace as can be expected. Meaning that he spent the last few days sulking as he caught up on his missed schoolwork and shooting daggers at everyone else who came back from patrol.

Bruce flicked the flash drive open and plugged it into the computer. The flash drive contained only a single folder dated six months ago.

He clicked it, and a news headline popped up.

LOCAL TEEN DIES AFTER DRIVING OFF CLIFF

Beneath it, a picture. Blue eyes. Black hair. A familiar face.

Blood pounded in Bruce’s ears. He could hear nothing except a sharp gasp from Damian behind him.

When Dick and Jason arrived at the batcave, it was to an eerie silence. Not that it was usually loud, only that Bruce spent most of his free time down in the cave and Dick had come to expect hearing some signs of him around. Typing on keys, the clicking of a mouse, the heavy thuds of a fist meeting a punching bag or a training dummy, etcetera, etcetera. Or maybe even Alfred cleaning up around the cave, feeding the bats, or restocking their med bay.

(Dick, it turned out, didn’t have a concussion. Probably. Not a severe one anyway. What mattered most was that he managed to convince Jason to have dinner at the Manor. Alfred was making a tarte tatin for dessert tonight and those were absolutely to die for. )

One of Tim’s cases took him to the other side of Gotham. The only person in the cave was Damian, who was staring agape at the batcomputer.

“Why the hell is the demon spawn looking at old pictures of Bruce? We get it. They look alike.

“Uh, Dami? What’s up?”

Damian snapped his mouth shut. “I believe it might be best if you asked father that, Grayson.” Despite his clipped tone, there seemed to be little anger in his voice. His proud shoulders were hunched over on the chair, eyes trained on his lap.

He looked so small.

Damian clucked his tongue. “He’s upstairs, if you need him. So is Pennyworth.”

Dick shot a glance at Jason who raised his hands in mock surrender. “You’re up golden boy. Whatever the fuck the old man’s problem is this time, I’m not dealing with it.”

Dick sighed. “Fine.”

There was a door in Wayne Manor that didn’t exist.

When Dick was a child and recently adopted by Bruce Wayne, one of the first things he did was explore the manor. It’s the prerogative of every child that somehow found themselves in a large mansion—even more so given the castle-like exteriors of Wayne Manor. All castles have secret passages, and if the Batcave lay in the subterranean depths below, then surely the manor proper must have its own secrets.

Dick would tumble and cartwheel along the hallways, opening any and every single door he came across. A lot of them were just empty bedrooms or unused parlors and sitting rooms; the furniture covered by white sheets to keep the dust away. Alfred was probably magic, but even he can’t keep the entirety of the manor dust free.

The majority of the unused rooms were unlocked.

Except for one.

It was a room in the west wing, on the second floor. A couple doors down from where Bruce’s and Dick’s were. Why it was locked, Dick never found out. But he was curious since it was the only room on that floor that remained shut.

When he asked Alfred about it, the old butler only said that it was an unused storage room they preferred to keep locked just in case. When he asked Bruce about it, he’d be quick to change the subject. Usually something Batman related. Which, well, always worked, because it was Batman related. And Dick, young and spry and itching to fly under Batman’s wings, would quickly forget about that curious little mystery in favor of punching bad guys in the face and flipping over rooftops.

At some point that locked door quietly disappeared, leaving a blank expanse of wallpaper and a decorative vase where it once stood. It was never brought up again. And Dick slowly forgot that it was ever there in the first place.

Until now.

The wooden table and vase were shoved off to the side. Wallpaper sliced away to reveal the lines of a doorway. The door, covered in its faint damask wallpaper, was kicked open, the wood around the bolt splintered and cracked. He could hear voices—Alfred’s and Bruce’s—speaking softly on the other side.

He pressed his back against the wall and kept his breathing quiet.

“Three times, Alfred.” Bruce’s voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. “Three times she’s done this to me.”

“Master Bruce…”

“I don’t—I don’t understand why—” Bruce choked, swallowing a shuddered breath. “Damian, I can understand. Jason, I can too. But…This? I—” Bruce suddenly quieted. Dick knew the jig was up.

He unlatched himself from the wall and slowly slid through the once-hidden-door, a hand kept on the frame. “Um. Hi, Bruce? Alfred?” The words fell flat, stilted. Dick winced as he said them. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but, uh…” He trailed off the second he registered what was in the room.

It was large, as so many rooms in the manor were. The room was covered in peeling green wallpaper with faded pictures of baby deer and owls and other woodland creatures prancing about. There was a dresser on one wall. A shelf filled with little picture books and stuffed animals on the other. A brown teddy bear had fallen on its face on one of the shelves.

In the middle—where Bruce was hunched over—was a crib. The wood streaked and aged with time, the beddings within pristine and untouched, if not dusty. Hanging overhead was a mobile with little animals dangling on a string.

“Worry not Master Dick. It is good that you are here since it will inevitably involve the rest of the family at some point.”

Dick nodded absentmindedly, trying to lock eyes with his guardian. “B? What’s—what’s going on?” Dick took one step deeper into the room. “The pictures in the cave. I thought they were you since they were too old to be Damian—” Bruce’s hands on the crib’s railing flinched.

Dick’s breath hitched.

“They’re…not your photos, are they.”

Bruce took a deep breath in, the lines of his shoulders tense. “No. They’re not.”

In their line of work, the answer could have been anything. Clones, magical doppelgangers, alternate universe counterparts, hell, even just someone’s genetic code being coincidentally similar to another person. But…this room, this nursery, pointed towards only one conclusion.

“Who is he, Bruce?”

Bruce angled his head towards Dick, unshed tears glimmering in his eyes. “He’s my son, Dick.

“He’s my son.”

[snackleggg]

City of splintering hopes: Chapter 2 "Cave of stars"

~~~

Ao3

~~~

Danny woke up Saturday morning feeling well rested and refreshed, so he was immediately suspicious about what the day would bring. The last time he had woken up feeling so well was before The accident so roughly 2 years of either nightmares, insomnia, or a ghost waking him had him jumpy at the prospect of a good night's sleep.

He did all his usual checks to make sure nothing was wrong but as he headed down for breakfast it seemed that everything was perfectly fine. Suspicious.

Danny just shrugged though as he ate his almost certainly ecto-contaminated cereal before leaving the house as quickly as possible to avoid helping his parents test any new inventions. Of course he always kept an eye on whatever they were creating, in case it was anything actually dangerous he would need to destroy but the day had started suspiciously well and he wanted to keep that good times streak going for as long as possible. Not getting hit in the head with the boo-merang was something he was eager to do.

He quickly met up with Tucker and Sam at the Nasty burger but as they talked about school and which ghosts they were betting on appearing today Danny felt weighed down as the events of yesterday found their way back to the forefront of his thoughts.

"Hey, earth to Danny" Sam said, snapping her fingers infront of his face. Oh, he must have spaced out.

"We know you wanna be an astronaut dude but don't you think it's a little early?" Tucker joked between stuffing his face full of fries.

Danny chuckled at his friends attempt at humor but it came out more forced than anything "Sorry, just thinking about some stuff. Can I get your guys opinion on something?" Danny asked and both Sam and Tucker gave him their full attention as he started explaining what had happened yesterday.

At the end of the recounting Tucker exclaimed "Yes! You should totally go!" Loud enough to get a few heads turned but he quieted himself down and soon everyone at the fast food joint was once again minding their own business.

"It does sound like a good opportunity. Plus it's not like anything bad is guaranteed to happen. My prediction is worst case scenario you come back with nothing new" Sam said with a shrug.

"Yeah, I guess your right. I mean it's just some old abandoned buildings and stuff they might've left behind, nothing that can hurt right?" Danny reasoned, finally he was starting to get over his slight paranoia.

"Exactly! But if you do find anything cool be sure to tell us about it" Tucker added and Danny nodded along. Of course he would tell his friends, they knew pretty much everything about eachother and would always come to eachother when they needed to talk to someone.

"Well if you want to go today then you should get going, the Far Frozen is a 2 hour flight and you don't know how long you'll need to travel from there to get to these ruins" Sam said. Danny had also explained to them his feelings on not wanting to wait too long if he did decide to go and she could tell that Danny's curiosity that he inherited from his parents wouldn't let him just walk away from this one.

"Oh, yeah you're right!" Danny shot up but before he could move he looked at his two friends with concern "You guys gonna be okay protecting Amity on your own?" Danny asked.

"It's all good. We have our thermos' and some Fenton anti-ghost weapons that actually work so we should be fine!" Tucker waved off Danny's concerns.

"But, if anything does happen that we can't handle well call you. That ease your worries?" Sam asked with a smirk and Danny rolled his eyes fondly before waving goodbye and heading home.

It was the same as what he did yesterday. Go through the portal invisibly, make the long fly to the Far Frozen and go see Frostbite. Of course now it was for different reasons than a check up or just the usual friendly visit.

Danny's thoughts had nearly spiralled three times on the flight over to the Far Frozen but he had been getting better at grounding himself so he managed to catch any worries or doubts that may have caused him to turn around.

Finally he landed in the freezing tundra and almost immediately was engulfed in a hug from the large Yeti. His white fur made him blend into the surroundings so well Danny hadn't spotted him initially.

"Great One!" Frostbite yelled happily as he put Danny back down. It didn't matter how many times or how often Danny visited Frostbite was always ecstatic to see him.

"Hey Frosty" Danny gave his old mentor a smile before awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck, a nervous habit he had for as long as he could remember.

"Have you... thought about what I suggested?" Frostbite asked, immediately understanding why Danny was here. It was always easy to forget that Frostbite was alot smarter than he seemed, he had given Danny wise words of advice on more than one occasion and it was obvious when he was around his tribe how great his leadership skills were.

"Yeah I have and... do you think you could? Take me to the ruins? I want to know more about people like me and this might be the only way..." Danny rambled a little. He didn't know why he felt like he needed to justify himself to Frostbite. Frostbite knew why he was here already, he had suggested it, so why did Danny feel like this was something he needed an excuse for?

"Of course. I can't show you to the ruins themselves unfortunately but I can show you how to get to them" Frostbite said as he turned around and started walking away from Danny, making a 'follow me' gesture.

Danny was as stiff as a board as he followed Frostbite. Hypervigilant and examining all his surroundings closely like he expected something to jump out and attack him.

They walked down a path Danny hadn't seen before, it lead away from where Danny knew the Yeti tribe to be living, leading further and further into the tundra and up the ice mountains.

After maybe around an hour of walking in silence, only the wind and crunch of snow under their feet filling it, they came to a stop on the mountain side. Infront of them stood a large entrance to a very dark cave.

"Through here, on the other side are the ruins" Frostbite gestured and seemed to wait for Danny to go in but Danny hesitated.

"Why can't you lead me the rest of the way?" He asked.

"This cave leads to the hidden lands, as some call them, it is where the Halfas once lived. Only a Halfa or those given special permission to pass can make it through the labyrinth of the cave, I have tried but I always end up coming back out this side despite never remembering turning around" Frostbite explained and Danny just gulped nervously.

"If only a Halfa could get through then how did Pariah Dark attack the Halfas, shouldn't they have been safe in these 'Hidden lands'?" Danny asked nervously.

"I... do not know. Many of the allies of the Halfas thought the same thing. There was a legend- no, a rumour that a ghost that had the ability to track Halfas helped Pariah Dark but that's all that was, a rumour" Frostbite shrugged, a thoughtful look on his face.

Danny nerves weren't calming down but something in his core urged him to go through the cave. He didn't know what it was but ever since The accident Danny's instincts had always been trustworthy so he took a steadying breath before walking forward into the cave.

He heard Frostbite wish him good luck as he entered.

The cave was alot warmer than he was expecting. Of course thanks to his ice core he couldn't get cold necessarily but the change in temperature didn't go unnoticed by him. The light from the snow white tundra quickly disappeared the further in he went until he was engulfed in complete darkness, apart from the soft glow he himself was giving off. The sounds of the howling winds had faded until they could barely be heard anymore and Danny was really considering turning around and leaving because the idea of stumbling around in a dark labyrinth cave wasn't exactly the most appealing.

Then he blinked as he noticed something, a light.

Not really it was more like a dot, a small dot of light in the dark.

He decided to continue walking and the longer he walked the more of these small dots of the light appeared until there were so many it lit up the icy cave in a pale glow, the lights all reflecting off of the ice.

Danny stopped as he stared in wonder at the sight.

The first thing that came to Danny's mind were the stars, the night sky. It was beautiful how the small points of light work together to illuminate the dark cave.

Then Danny noticed something as he continued walking. The dots were disappearing behind him but appearing infront of him as he walked. Then he took a turn and the dots stopped appearing.

"Huh..." Danny backtracked and took the other turn. The dots started appearing again, lighting the way for the young Halfa.

"Cool" Danny whispered into the silence of the cave was he followed the direction of the dots of light. Finally Danny turned a corner and he saw the end of the cave, an end that even from the distance Danny could tell didn't lead out into the cold tundra of the Far Frozen. As he closed the distance he could see the green swirling clouds of ectoplasm only they were lighter? A much lighter green than that of the normal sky of the Ghost Zone.

Finally Danny exited the cave and found his core humming nicely at the sight before him.

A city.

A large and grand one, made of a pale sandy coloured stone that reminded Danny of the housing they had in Egypt. The city was still a distance away so Danny couldn't see the architecture too closely but he could see a path leading down the no longer snowy mountain side to a bridge between the city and the cliff drop of the mountain.

A strange thing Danny noticed was the fact that the city didn't rest on an island that was floating, suspended in mid air. Instead the island stretched downwards into the dark abyss of the Ghost Zone, as if connected to solid ground all the way down in it's depths.

Danny was ecstatic.

He quickly flew down to the bridge, and walked it's length up to the gates of the city.

Standing at the city's ground level made it all the more grand and imposing.

But it also made Danny now notice the ruins part of it. The gate, that Danny had no doubt was once grand and tall standing, was nothing but rubble and fallen stone.

Danny took a fortifying breath.

Up until then Danny hadn't really thought about what he was truly walking into. This wasn't just a museum or some natural history tour. These were ruins, this was the home of a slaughter people. This place wasn't just their home, it was probably their grave as well.

He needed to be careful.

He couldn't go walking into this like a naive child, he came here to understand and to understand he needed to treat this place with the respect it deserved.

So he flew into the city, hopefully he could learn something from what was left behind.

~~~

First | Previous | Next

~~~

I'll be tagging all content do to with this story with the tag City of splintering hopes so if guys want to you can follow the story easier. You can also use that tag for any questions or content you guys make of the story!

[ecto-american]

If Found Please Return to Danny Phantom

Phic Phight Oneshot for @imperfection-at-itsfinest: When Jack manages to get his hands on Danny Phantom's ghost hunting logbook, an investigation reveals some information about ghosts and the infamous specter himself that a scientific study would never cover.

Read on FFN and AO3

123456789

It would be wrong of him to read it. 

Jack kept staring at the book in his hands. It resembled a diary, the front design being colorless but a pressed design. The moon with stars, with no words, and the diary itself felt unusually thin. There was no lock, as if it was almost inviting him to just read it. Jack had, in fact, already opened to the first page, and the first words greeted him. In a standard font read: If Found, Please Return to: and the name scrawled, in surprisingly tidy handwriting, was the name Danny Phantom.

What an absolute find. It was pure dumb luck. He had seen Phantom drop it, but Jack had went looking for it in hopes that the ghost teen had dropped one of the stolen Fenton gadgets. Only to recover...this book that he had taken home and into the privacy of his lab for study.

The idea of Phantom keeping a diary was kinda funny. He never struck Jack as the type to write down his deepest darkest secrets or teenage embarrassments in a book. That would imply that the ghost had some kind of emotions. They didn’t. They were blobs of ectoplasmic energy.

So it should be okay for him to read, right? Why was he so hesitant? Well...it was an invasion of privacy. But it was fine. Phantom dropped it in the park. Phantom was a menace to society. There was likely evidence in this journal that could explain all of the ghost boy’s terrible deeds, that could prove that he truly was evil. This diary could change everything.

...Jack had children though, and he knew both were avidly creative. Scrapbooking, drawing, painting, writing. They were stress outlets for his girls, and he wouldn’t ever dare dream of invading their privacy like that. So he couldn’t. He shouldn’t. Phantom deserved privacy, right?

“Jack? Are you coming to dinner?” Maddie’s voice snapped him from his thought process. She hadn’t made a noise as she came down the stairs. But Maddie was a much better stealth hunter than him.

“Yes, yes! Sorry, I was distracted,” Jack apologized. He set the book down on the table. Maddie rose an eyebrow at him.

“Did you get a new ectobiology book?” she asked. His eyes glanced to the book, and he shook his head no. Maddie came over to him, studying the book cover. Of course, it didn’t resemble any of the scientific texts that they owned. 

“I don’t know how to explain it…” Jack said slowly. He held it out to her. Maddie accepted it.

“This looks like it belongs to the kids,” she stated. She opened the first page, and Jack saw her eyes widen. Her breath hitched, and she looked up to him “Jack...where did you...get this?”

“He dropped it during a fight,” he replied. “I thought it was Fenton tech, but…”

Her eyes sparkled, and she shut the book. A wide grin had appeared, and she threw her arms around her husband.

“Oh Jack! This could teach us so much! If this really is a journal or some kind of diary, then he may have recorded motivations! Thoughts! We can really get into how Phantom thinks and a raw, honest, firsthand account from Phantom himself! This changes everything!”

She was right. She was absolutely right, and he hugged her back. They were scientists first and foremost, and this journal could fill in so many missing blanks about ghosts. It was a starting off point. Jack’s mind raced with all the things they could possibly learn. Just from a simple peek of the book. That was worth more than the invasion of privacy of a ghost that caused so much havoc, destruction and pain. 

“We should look at it right now!” he exclaimed. Maddie pulled away with a small frown.

“After dinner,” she reminded him. “I finally got everybody corralled upstairs for a family dinner. It’s nearly impossible to get either of the girls at the same time.”

“Oh, right!” Jack nearly slapped his forehead. Yes, they were scientists first and foremost, but before even that, they were Mom and Dad. “First thing after dinner.”

“First thing after dinner,” she agreed with a smile. 

Upstairs, he saw that Jazz was already serving herself. Chicken, mashed potatoes and peas. His youngest was pouring iced tea into glasses for everybody. 

“Hey Ghost-kateers!” Jack greeted cheerfully with a grin. Both kids groaned in embarrassment. Perfect. 

“Daaad!” his youngest complained, a whine hitching as she put the pitcher of ice tea back. “I told you, if I’m going to be some kind of ye olde soldier type, I wanna be a knight, like at the renaissance fair.” 

“Ah, but if you’re a ghost-kateer, you can get an anti-ghost musket!” Jack teased. As he walked past her to get his own food, he playfully ruffled her pixie-cut hair. She waved his hand away. 

“But as a ghost knight, I can get a cool sword!” she protested. Jack shook his head in fake disappointment. 

“Never bring to a ghost sword to a ghost musket fight, baby boo,” her dad replied.

“Can’t shoot what you can’t see!” she shot back with a grin. Jack had to hand it to her, and he just chuckled. 

“Can we please have a ghost free dinner?” Jazz scowled. 

“Yes, yes, let’s save ghosts for after dinner,” Maddie agreed. Jazz shot her a grateful look, and Jack focused on getting his serving of dinner from the stove. His youngest pushed her sleeves up, exhaling. Jack stole a look at her and frowned. She had some sweat collected on her forehead.

“Honey if you're hot, you can just take your sweatshirt off,” he told her. She shook her head no.

“No, I'm fine,” she insisted. Jack was skeptical.

“You sure?” he asked. 

“Mhm!” 

Jack shrugged a bit. She was always insisting on wearing a hoodie, no matter the weather. If she got hot enough, she’d take it off. No need to force it. He got his food and took his seat.

“How's school going?” Maddie questioned. Jazz lit up a bit, and her sister flinched. She raised a suspicious eyebrow at her youngest.

“I managed to get a B on my chemistry test,” the youngest spoke up with a forced smile.

“That’s excellent!” Maddie’s demeanor shifted as she smiled warmly. “Keep it up!” 

“Yeah!” The youngest seemed to visibly relax. “Sam’s been helping me study.”

“That’s good, I always studied better when V-man or your mom helped me,” Jack nodded at her as he cut up his chicken. 

“Oh it’s true, I used to help your father study for all of our shared classes,” Maddie confirmed. “Otherwise he’d get so distracted.”

“Yeah, Sam just explains it super well,” their daughter agreed. “Tucker’s been going over math with me a bit, which helps some.”

“Well if you need a tutor, just let us know, and we’ll help you arrange one,” Maddie smiled. “What about you, Jazz?”

“Pretty good,” she replied. “Mr. Lancer asked if I wanted to be his TA this summer, which I really do. It’ll look good on a college application, and I might even get paid!”

“Have you been narrowing down where you might wanna go?” Jack asked. Jazz eagerly nodded.

“Yeah! Oxford is my number one choice, but I also would love to go to Yale or Stanford. I’ve been talking with the college counselor about what else might look good on an application for them that I can do over the summer. I wrote them down in my planner notebook earlier-”

“Hey, that kinda reminds me,” her sister interrupted. “Have you guys seen one of my notebooks? I think I lost it,” she asked them. Jack stared at her. The reminder of the notebook he actually had found. Maddie seemed unbothered by the question. This wasn’t unusual, for the parents to have to play “where’s my stuff?” with the kids. 

“What notebook?” Jazz asked hesitantly. 

“My important one,” came the reply. Jazz frowned lightly. 

“Sorry, princess, haven’t seen any notebooks laying around,” Jack replied. He saw the briefest of a cringe cross his youngest’s features. “Did you leave it at school?” Her shoulders slumped.

“I don’t think so?” she said hesitantly. “I’ll have to check tomorrow. I was so sure I had it earlier…” Her voice trailed off before she forced a smile. “If you see it, let me know!” She picked up a forkful of chicken, only to freeze. The clattering made Jack glance up curiously as she was turning her attention to Maddie. “Can I be excused? I have some homework to get done.” 

Maddie let out a soft sigh. So much for family dinner.

“Of course, just make sure you come back down before you go to bed to get your chores done,” Maddie nodded at her. The young Fenton snapped to her feet with a thanks, fully abandoning her dinner as she went to the stairs. Jazz stared after her sister, craning her neck to track her movements before hurriedly shoveling more mashed potatoes in her mouth.

“Uh, I’m not that hungry, and I totally forgot to do this online assignment,” Jazz spoke, standing up, taking hers and her sister’s plate. She was already walking away before either parent could truly give permission. “I’ll put our plates up and clean up in a bit!”

“A-alright?” Jack hesitated, watching his other child put the plates on the counter before rushing up as well. Another child down. They seemed to grow up so fast. 

“Least they’re doing homework,” Maddie sighed lightly, shaking her head before taking a drink of her tea. “Oh well. Might as well take their lead and eat in the lab?” 

“Please,” Jack agreed. He stood up, taking his plate. “I’m dying to see what Phantom has to say.”

January 10

Skulker: 1; captured

Ectopuss: 1; captured

Box Ghost: 8; captured

Ember: Fought; got away

Fenton Thermos: half-full

Fenton Fisher: untangled

January 11

Vultures: 1; got away

Cujo: 1; played fetch and he went back to the GZ

Fenton Thermos: Full

Ghost Bazooka: overheated and doesn’t shoot anymore, take apart and fix it

January 12

Skulker: 2; got away

Box Ghost: 3; captured

Sidney: 2; got away

Fenton Fisher: tangled, untangle asap

January 13

Skulker: 1; captured

Box Ghost: 4; got away

Fenton Thermos: damaged, won’t suck up ghosts

I met a new ghost today named Desiree. She got away, but it allowed me to discover a new ghost power. Ghost ray.

Maddie furrowed her brow as she studied the words. She stood at the table, her dinner half-forgotten as she thought on the words.

“It sounds like a record,” Jack mused, and he ate another spoonful of peas. Maddie nodded in agreement.

“I think we found Phantom’s logbook,” she agreed. “I’m assuming these are the ghosts he’s fought. And he seems to be recording his powers too. This is huge, we can match up what we know about his powers and what he’s claiming.”

“And he’s recording the status of our equipment.” Jack frowned. “Why would he care?”

“Yeah, he made note that he was going to fix the Fenton Bazooka too,” Maddie pointed out. The scientist flipped through the pages, only to stop at a page, staring curiously. Maddie laid the journal on the table, pressing the spine so that the pages stayed open. She read the page aloud to Jack.

December 19

I hate my life. I hate this existence. I look in the mirror and wonder why it has to be this way. Why am I the one cursed to be this freak? Why is everything about me and my body wrong? For once, I wish something about me was normal, that somebody about me could be right. If Desiree wasn’t such an unreliable asshole with wishes, I’d give everything I have to wish that life could, for once, allow me to be a normal teenage boy. 

Jack listened to her in a stumped silence. This couldn’t have been a pre-death thought process of a moody teenager. It was written too recently, and the words hit a sorrowful chord to him. He didn’t intend to, but he quickly began to feel sorry for Phantom. He was very young. It couldn’t have been easy to lose everything at that age. His daughter was his age. Jack cleared his throat.

“It’s not just a log then?” Jack questioned. Maddie shook her head, flipping the pages back.

“No, I think it’s a mix. There’s still records of ghosts and FentonWorks equipment,” she replied. Using a leg, she pulled a wheeled chair to her to sit in. She leaned back, and she pulled the journal to her. After a moment of flipping through and scanning pages, she settled on a page about a third of the way through. “It seems like this is when he began to record things other than just ghosts.”

“What’s it say?” Jack wondered. Maddie read aloud the next few entries as Jack silently continued to eat. 

April 4

I only fought this shitty panther today, and he still got away. I’m such a fucking idiot. I can’t believe he got away. I was too slow. All I do is fuck up. There’s ghostly activity happening around the school, and I just can’t figure it out. I feel like I can’t stop them anymore. I don’t know what’s going on, why I suddenly suck so much. I honestly probably just always sucked, and now it’s starting to hit me. [scribbles] and [scribbles] were trying to make me feel better, but I fucked up. It was only one ghost today, and I couldn’t catch them. It destroyed an entire store, and it’s my fault.

April 8

No ghosts today, surprisingly. But [scribbles] has been acting weird lately. The other day she poked and prodded me at dinner. No clue what that’s about. She also tried to give me this speech that I can talk to her about anything, and that she’d love me no matter what. That makes me think she found my binder. I’m honestly kinda freaking out. I knew I shouldn’t have left it out like that. She’s such a nosy know it all.

“Phantom must keep more records than just this,” Maddie lightly mused. “He has an entire binder full of information that somebody discovered.”

“Maybe on other ghosts?” Jack theorized. “He’s recording his fights, he must be also recording information about them.” Maddie’s eyes lit up.

“That makes so much sense,” she agreed. “He probably keeps so many kinds of things written down and logged. I wonder where he’s keeping it? Obviously paper, which is a bit odd. I figured a teenager would move to the digital age…” Maddie paused.

“Maybe he’s older than we think he is?” Jack suggested. “He could have died fifty years ago, and just be more comfortable with writing things down.”

“Oh, that’s true,” Maddie mused. She put down the notebook to take a long sip of her drink. Jack picked it up to observe the page she read.

“Phantom has neat handwriting,” he noted. “He’s not fighting ghosts when he writes these.” Jack’s eyes scanned the words. “...I wonder who he’s scribbled out.”

“Allies?” Maddie shrugged. “He probably went back and blacked out some of the names. Privacy. Especially if this isn’t the first time he’s lost this.”

It made the most logical sense. Jack skipped the purely log entries to one that had more written, and he read it aloud to his wife.

April 10

She was feeding on us. Spectra, the Casper High “psychologist” was feeding on emotions, like some kind of emotional vampire but she’s a ghost. It’s so scary. I saw her do it. She asked [scribbles] and [scribbles] about their lives. What made them unhappy, and why. And when they left, I saw her absorb? I guess how I’d describe it? She absorbed the energy into her skin and it just seemed to instantly revive her, and it made her happy. When she did it to me, I could just look in her eyes and know that she enjoyed every minute of my misery. I managed to stop her, with [scribbles] helping me. It was weird. She didn’t seem afraid of me. I don’t know why. 

Spectra: 2; captured

“Ghosts can feed off of energy!” Maddie exclaimed. “Human energy! We always suspected it, but this is confirming something!” Jack glanced up at her excitedly. It was the first real, true ghostly discovery that Phantom was revealing to them. 

April 13

All I do is fuck up lately. Because of me, this ghost dog just absolutely has been causing havoc on this girl’s life. She blames me. And I don’t blame her. I ruined her entire life. She lost her house because of me. I didn’t mean to. I tried to stop the dog, but he just won’t respond to anything I say. I can’t capture him. I’ve been trying. I’ve been just calling the dog Cujo. After the Stephen King book, because damn is this dog giving me one fucking nightmare of a time.

Cujo: 3, got away

April 16

[scribbles] kissed me. It was to force me to change back, and it worked, but she kissed me. It was great. She smelled like lavender. I don’t think my heart’s ever beaten so fast. Afterwards she clarified to me that it was just a fake-out make-out. It didn’t feel like it. I don’t want it to be. But she’s my best friend, and I can’t lose her. So I agreed, and when I came home I cried. My dad caught me, and I pretended it was just girl problems, even though that excuse made me feel even worse. He got me some ice cream, and we watched Star Trek together. It didn’t really help that much, if I’m being honest. 

Anyway, apparently Cujo’s trained. He knows his commands. [scribbles] thinks it’s because he was a guard dog when he was alive for Axion Labs. For a guard dog, he’s such a playful puppy though, he loves his squeaky toy. And [scribbles] became a hunter specifically to kick my ass. It’s my lucky month. But I deserve it. Will there ever be a day where I actually can do more good than bad?

Skulker: 1; captured

[Scribbles]: 1 Red Huntress

Cujo: 1, got away

“Phantom has a family?” Maddie wondered. She chewed on her food as she thought. Jack shrugged, an odd, unsettled feeling hitting him as he put the book down for a moment. He used his spoon to push around his peas.

“I mean, we all do,” Jack reminded her. “Just...I didn’t think Phantom still talked to his family. After his death. Or did such...non-ghost things with them.” Watching Star Trek with his dad? Jack did that with his own kids all the time. It was his and his youngest daughter’s favorite show to watch together. Jazz typically preferred documentary series, and Maddie was too bothered by scientific inaccuracies to really enjoy science fiction. So it was always “their thing” and knowing that Phantom did it too was...too human. 

“Yeah, I didn’t...really expect him to still be haunting them,” Maddie said. Jack could tell that this was disturbing her a little. 

“But ghosts can retain their memories from life it seems,” Jack spoke up. Maddie stared at him. “The dog remembers commands from his life as a guard dog. What extent, I’m not sure.” Maddie hummed curiously.

Jack picked the book up again, skipping through more boring logs to other words. 

April 29

Ember: 2; captured

Fenton Thermos: full, empty

The past few weeks have been terrible. I have definitely come to the conclusion that I really am developing a crush on [scribbles]. Or maybe I always had one, I dunno. Is this really just an effect from Ember’s supposed spell? Does ghostly mind control really last? I think I always knew that I liked her though. I mean, ever since I told her that [scribbles], she’s been so supportive. She even cut my hair for me, which really pissed my parents off, but they ended up admitting that I looked better with my hair short anyway. Almost like it’s meant to be, huh? Ha. [scribbles] is also one of the only two people who know my deeper secret. She’s been so supportive through that too. She calls me Danny, and every time she refers to me as that, it makes my heart go crazy.

But would she even like me? Would she even wanna be with somebody like me? I don’t think I’d be her type. Some other friends I met at this local support group have complained about the struggles of dating. The stories are depressing, and it makes me worried that while [scribbles] will always love and accept me as a friend, that she’d never be able to love me as a boyfriend. I hate my life.

“Aw, Phantom has a little girlfriend,” Jack half-joked, only for goosebumps to raise and an odd chill run down his spine. He looked to Maddie for her opinion, and her face was scrunched up.

“That’s a bit creepy,” she commented. “He’s pretending to be human.”

“I dunno, Mads,” Jack shrugged. He re-read the ghostly teen’s internal conflicts. “Why would he pretend to be human in a journal that nobody’s meant to read?”

“He has to be sharing it with his allies,” she argued. “Those people he’s been scribbling out. Phantom has to be pretending for them. To keep them around. He even mentioned ghostly mind control.” 

She pushed her mostly-finished plate from herself, motioning for Jack to hand over the journal. He complied, and Maddie flipped through it. She stopped, and she set the journal down on the table once more. Leaning over, she studied the spine. A finger ran along the inner spine, and she frowned.

“Pages are missing,” she noticed. Jack pushed his plate out of the way to lean over as well.

Indeed, the top of the diary revealed that it was meant to be a normal, full diary. Now that Maddie pointed it out, it looked like well over a fourth of the diary had missing pages. Jack squinted, pulling his hood over his eyes. He used his googles to better examine.

“They weren’t ripped out, like in a ghost fight,” Jack told her. He pointed to what remained of a page, a barely noticeable strip. “It was carefully cut out.” Maddie narrowed her eyes to get a better look.

“You’re right,” she mused. “Phantom did this purposefully. Probably to hide stuff from his allies.”

“But why hide some stuff and not others?” Jack wondered aloud. “Clearly this girlfriend figure is an ally, but he can’t be...sharing this with her, right?” Maddie pulled back from the notebook to lean in her chair with a heavy sigh.

“...I don’t know,” she admitted. “I don’t think he would. But he’s also a ghost, they do weird things.” Jack didn’t know how to reply, and so he continued to read.

May 16

The past few days have been so full of drama. Walker ruined my life. He absolutely ruined it. He set out to make me the most hated person in Amity Park out of pure spite, and he succeeded. I’m public enemy number one. I can never win. For a while now, I had debated telling my parents, because I so desperately want their support, but they were part of the news coverage calling me a disgusting, evil ghost. I ended up crying yesterday. I don’t think they’ll ever truly love me if they knew. I also failed Wulf. Another failure on my plate. I’m just waiting for it to all crash down on me.

Walker: 1; sent to the GZ

Wulf: 1; sent to the GZ

Walker’s goons: at least 14, all captured

Fenton Thermos: overflowingly full

“Oh this is just becoming nonsense,” Maddie complained. “He’s lying. We were there, Jack! We saw him attack us.”

“I know, I know, he did, yeah, he did,” Jack tried to gather his thoughts. “But why would he lie in this? I don’t think anybody was meant to read this?” Jack flipped through the pages. The further he flipped through in, the more he could tell that some sections had more carefully cut out papers than others. Why was Phantom cutting out? What was he hiding? Why was he hiding it?

“He meant for somebody to read this,” Maddie lightly argued. 

“Yeah, it seems like it, but…,” Jack trailed off. He shook his head a bit, flipping back to where they had left off. “I dunno.”

“Hold on a second,” Maddie urged him, standing up. “Let me get something to write with, we should take some notes.”

“We can just use the scanner to make a copy of the journal afterwards, and we can further analyze it afterwards,” Jack suggested. Maddie thought on this, and she nodded, but she still reached for some scrap paper and a pen.

“Good idea, we should probably read through it fully first anyway,” she agreed. “But I still want to jot down some thoughts.”

“Of course, of course,” Jack replied. He knew that’s how she thought and processed information best, and it was always from her notes that he could visualize his own theories properly. He took a drink of tea before he continued reading the next true entry.

May 24

My entire relationship with my other crush (not [scribbles]) was a lie. She was being overshadowed by Kitty the entire time. This was my first real girlfriend, and it was all fake. I had assumed I was so lucky. I found a girl who knew and was okay with both of my biggest secrets. When I got home I ended up just going straight to my room. [scribbles] brought me dinner, but I didn’t feel like eating. Is this what life is going to be for me? I don’t want it to be like this. The only good thing is that [scribbles] doesn’t know either secret alongside our brief relationship.

Least Kitty and Johnny seem happy again. For now at least. I swear, they’re always breaking up and getting back together. 

Kitty: 1; sent back to the GZ

Johnny 13: 1; sent back to the GZ

Shadow: 1; sent back to the GZ

Jack could lightly hear Maddie taking notes on her scrap paper, the pen scratching at the surface. He didn’t comment on it, silently flipping to the next page, and he continued to read. 

August 19

I was forced to really face the reality of how much I fucked up [scribbles] life. I hate it. I’d do anything to take it back. It makes me wonder if I should just retire. Am I even really doing anything to help? Am I just a nuisance? Everybody thinks that. 

Rationally I know I can’t. I’m the only one who can properly deal with the ghosts, who has the power and abilities to fight back without getting killed. I have to do what I can, but I just wish I could do it without making so many mistakes. [scribbles] said that it’ll be okay, and that it gets better, but it sure doesn’t fucking feel like it.

Skulker: 3; finished

Red Huntress: 2; temporary truce?

“He’s so full of...emotion for a ghost,” Maddie finally spoke up. 

Jack glanced at the paper she had in front of her. There was some notes of what they had been learning so far, and there were emotions written in all caps with a line under, and a list of various emotions. Emotions Phantom seemed to be displaying. Guilty, despair, loneliness, self-hatred, self-doubt. Despite the few entries, it was already quite a list.

“It’s not just him either,” Maddie continued. Jack rose an eyebrow at her. She didn’t immediately reply, fingers on her lips as she stared down at the journal. “He’s giving emotions to other ghosts too.”

Jack stared down blankly at the journal in his hands. 

“Where?”

Maddie began to write, and as she wrote, it clicked. Spectra’s joy in hurting others. Kitty and Johnny’s relationship. Walker’s spite. Cujo being a playful puppy. According to Phantom, and against what they knew as scientists, ghosts were experiencing a wide variety of emotions and for different reasons. It was weird. 

Jack continued to read.

October 17

I don’t know what happened the past few days. It’s this weird blur. According to [scribbles] and [scribbles] I did a lot of bad things under Freakshow’s control. [scribbles] hugged me and told me that it was nothing that we couldn’t fix, but I doubt that. Why does this keep happening to me? I don’t want to hurt people. I want to be a good person, and I want to help Amity Park, but I don’t know what keeps happening. Everything’s a fog, and I’m exhausted. 

Freakshow: 1; arrested by APPD

Circus ghosts: freed from Freakshow’s control, went back to the GZ

Replace Fenton Anti-Creep Stick, print out another sticker to put on it

“Freakshow...that was the weird circus guy,” Jack interrupted himself. Maddie nodded.

“Yeah, and if Phantom’s right...he could control the ghosts,” she mused. “So there’s a way for humans to take control of ghosts...That’s something to look into. If we can control the ghosts into staying away, it’d be such a massive scientific breakthrough.”

“We should look into Freakshow more, and see if we can talk to him!” Jack agreed. “Maybe he’ll share something with us.” Maddie smiled softly.

“I doubt that,” she replied gently. “But there’s no harm in trying. What else does it say?”

November 8

I have to fight Pariah Dark. I’m terrified. I don’t think I’ll live through it. How can I live through fighting the actual ghost king? I may never see my family again, and I can’t even tell them what happened to me if I die. I’ve been debating telling [scribbles] that I like her, but I don’t think I could bring myself to do it. 

What happens if I die? I have no clue. I’m scared to find out. I can’t die now. I have to make it back. I’ll go missing, and I won’t even be declared dead as my parents’ son. Nobody will know who to really look for. I have to come back. Maybe if I succeed, and people like me again after this, I can tell my family everything.

November 10

I couldn’t tell them. My parents still despise part of me, despite what I’ve done. I know they love me, cause my mom’s already been fussing over me like crazy because of my injuries. [scribbles] said she cried when they couldn’t find me, and that my dad had gone out looking for me all over the city, even in the dangerous parts. They of course love me, but do they really love me unconditionally?

Jack felt his voice trailing off as he hit the end. He coughed lightly, and he took a long drink. Maddie stared off into nothing. The only thing he could think of was his own search for his baby girl. He wasn’t alone, bumping into several other parents desperately looking for their missing children, and several children who got separated from their parents. The entire day was somber and frightening, and Maddie had spent the entire day glued to the phone. In case she called them. 

It was all...too real, and Jack flipped past more logs. He couldn’t help but begin to take note of how every single day had a log of ghost fighting activities, even if Phantom didn’t write down his feelings every day. This was so much more than the ghost hunting duo ever expected, more attacks than they were recording.

His eyes rested only for a moment on December 19, and he decided to just skip it. They had already read it earlier. No need to refresh those memories. More logs, and more missing pages, and he came upon another one. 

March 26

I ripped out a lot of pages, more than I intended. I can’t risk anybody finding out what happened, but also other pages revealed too much, so I kept them tucked away where nobody could ever find them. I’d burn them, but I don’t want to lose the ghost hunting data. It’s okay now. I fixed the problem and assured that everything’s going to be fine. Possibly better. I made the right choice this time, and now I know that one day, I will grow a sick beard. 

I know somebody knows my secrets now. All of them. She had known for months but wanted me to tell her. She asked me if I had a name, and ever since I told her that it was Danny, she’s been calling me that whenever she can. It made me cry the first time. It’s so great to have her know everything now. She loves me no matter what. I couldn’t ask for a better person. Even though she found out because I’m an idiot. This entire thing also made me realize how important it is to keep those secrets, and how poorly I’ve been keeping them. 

I didn’t ever mean for this to turn into a diary. I wanted to keep track of ghost fights. But it honestly helps with both the dysphoria and the stresses of being a ghost. I just went back and scribbled out names. Just in case. In the future I need to be more vague. 

But this is also the end for one secret. If things go wrong then well. I don’t know. I’ll make it up as I go along. But I know that this is who I am, and that I’m hitting a point where I need help to just be me. 

Him: 1; captured for good

Skulker: 2; captured

Desiree: 1; captured

Ectopusses: 1; captured

Cujo: 1, sent back to the GZ

Fenton Thermos: full

Fenton Anti-Creep Stick: destroyed, get new bat and sticker to put on it

Also learned a new ghost power: Ghostly wail. A scream that can just absolutely fuck somebody’s day up. I have to use it sparingly though.

Jack closed the journal, and he set it flat on the table. His mind was blank, and he couldn’t read Maddie. She continued to stare at the closed book, hand in pen but almost unsure as to what to even jot down as a note. He leaned in his seat, finishing his drink. Maddie exhaled deeply, dropping her pen in favor of stretching.

Neither said a word. Jack knew that this journal was not any kind of trick. It was too raw and emotional to be anything more than the thoughts of a teenage ghost. He regretted reading it. It held some interesting information, and he was sure if he dug deeper, that he would find more. But as it stood, his own intense guilt was settling as he knew that he just took too personal a look into the private emotional afterlife of Phantom.

“This is a lot to take in,” Maddie finally spoke. Jack only nodded.

The basement door opened, and they heard dual pairs of footsteps hop downstairs. Jack instantly brightened, and he turned in his chair to smile as his kids soon came into view.

“Hey, is this a bad time?” Jazz asked. She glanced between them, and Jack immediately shook his head no. 

“No, no,” Maddie replied quickly. Jack saw her push the journal and her notes, along with her pen and a few spare lab tools, carelessly into a drawer to help assure the Fenton kids that they weren’t interrupting anything. “What’s up, sweetie?” 

“Well, I have something that I wanna talk about,” their youngest spoke slowly. Jack noticed that she had finally taken off her hoodie, and that while she wore her normal tomboy attire, that something was a bit off about her. He couldn’t place it. Jazz stood close to her, an arm full of books clutched to her chest, though he couldn’t make out any titles. “It’s something important, and I don’t really want to put it off any longer.”

“Is something wrong? Are you in trouble?” Jack asked. His daughter shook her head no. 

“Oh, no!” she said. “It’s just…” 

She took a deep breath, and soon, their son began to explain.

[ashintheairlikesnow]

Casablanca

Just a very short captivity drabble for Danny/Nate! I haven’t done much Danny stuff lately and I’ve had this kicking around in my Google Docs for a while! I wrote out the third part of the Rescue but it needs some more work, so... captivity drabble it is!

CW: Discussion of forced stitches/violence, blood, referenced/implied noncon, captivity, restrained

Tagging: @bleeding-demon-teeth, @spiffythespook, @finder-of-rings, @whumpywhumper​ @special-spicy-chicken, @pumpkinthefangirl​

“H-hey.”

Too close, the whisper is too close. Still, Danny has learned to let even the softest noise shatter through his sleeping mind - it’s too dangerous not to wake up in time, you can’t make Abraham call you three times or that’s breaking a rule. 

He’s been drifting uneasily in and out of dreams, shifting around to try and take some pressure off his throbbing left shoulder. There are thick black threads sewn in an uneven line from above his collarbone down nearly to his bicep, surrounded by angry red skin. It's a reminder after the last defiance, the last rebellion.

Don’t worry puppy, Bram had murmured, petting into his hair and along his neck as the knife dug deeper and deeper and Danny tried so hard to be good, so Abraham would forgive him for breaking the gift he had brought back from his last supply run. 

It was the worst fucking thing Abraham had brought home to use on him so far. Danny had stared at it and thanked him for it, waited until Abraham was in the bathroom showering, and then taken it outside and smashed the fucking thing to bits with the axe.

 Abraham found him surrounded by chopped-up shreds of wires and plastic and metal and batteries, snarling at the wreckage he had made. 

Abraham hadn’t yelled. His expression had been calm. He moved without any particular speed as he came closer, the air colder with every step, and Danny had only laid the axe down next to the stump, turned, and dropped to his knees to wait for his punishment with his head held high and his eyes burning a bright and defiant blue.

It wasn't like Danny could run - where would he even go?

Abraham had told him that if he didn’t scream, he would only cut for a minute. Just sixty seconds and no longer.

So Danny kept his scream behind his teeth and let the tears blur his vision until he couldn’t see icy eyes so clearly any longer. Eventually the pain turned his world to gray and then to fog and finally to nothing at all. 

He had come back to consciousness to the sight of blood everywhere and the sound of Abraham's pure and purring delight as he got out thick black upholstery thread and a needle, Nate with shaking hands beside him as Abraham held a needle over a flame on the gas stove.

Don’t worry, sweet thing. Nate's going to make sure this scars nice and deep so you never, ever forget. Then Abraham had jammed a thumb into the wound he had made and said, softly, you can scream now, little Red.

The whole thing had been a lesson for Nate, too - he’d protested the punishment (“B-Bram, this is t-t-too much, you didn't w-warn him first, you h-h-had to know he wouldn’t w-w-want that”) and so he’d been forced to do the stitching afterward. He’d been right-handed before Abraham broke the bones so long ago, so he had to sew as best he could with his awkward left hand... after Abraham blindfolded him.

All Danny had been given for the pain was shot after shot after shot of the good whiskey Abraham kept in the cabinet and the cold of the fingers that gently petted through his hair, pressed into his jaw to force his mouth open for more. 

The whiskey wasn’t enough, but it left the world spinning around him, and eventually he’d passed out cold from that or the shock on the kitchen floor, his back stuck to the plastic of the tarp Abraham had laid him on to catch all the blood. Nate must have bargained something, because he’d been given the rest of the day on the mat to recover (and throw up, and be hungover) before he had to get up the next morning and do chores one-handed and with agony radiating out from his shoulder.

Whatever Nate had done… Abraham had given him a whole week where he barely touched him. Seven days, six nights. 

Danny chooses not to think about what Nate had to give away to earn that kind of break for him - it’s not worth it, because it’s probably the same things he gives away to earn a few days of peace for Nate.

There’s always a choice. There’s always a test, or a game. And Abraham always wins.

“Red? Wake up.”

Can’t let him call three times. Danny lets the dream - something soothing and largely formless except for the sense that he was climbing trees with his brother and he was a kid, just a kid, safe and easy - break like glass. 

He gives Ryan away again. 

He is always giving Ryan away, here, and praying that the next time won’t be the last, when Ryan is finally gone from his thoughts forever.

(you shouldn’t even dream about anyone but me)

“Please,” Danny whispers, not quite begging, without opening his eyes. “Please, please let me sleep a little more. I’m good, I’m good, let me sleep, please…” Danny curls up tighter, digging his fingernails into his own head to try and block the blow that he’s sure will follow the words. Puppies don’t get to decide, they wake up when their owners say. His scalp still aches from Abraham pulling on his hair last night when he moved too slowly, and that’s nothing compared to the bruises littering his hips and thighs. The plastic mat crinkles and shifts under him as he moves, trying to bury himself in the thin blankets, so that only a bit of wavy red even shows.

That makes his shoulder hurt again, and he hisses softly, wishing fewer parts of him ached all the time. He can’t remember the last time he moved without pain.

If I don’t open my eyes, it won’t keep happening, it won’t be real

A hand touches his shoulder, hesitantly, and he holds himself very, very still for it. He’s good, he doesn’t flinch or pull away. He’s so, so good. But then he thinks… Abraham never hesitates. His hand starts to relax away from his scalp, pulling back, and he cracks open eyes that feel nearly glued together to stare up between his fingers. 

“Hey, Red,” Nate says softly. The older man is still rumpled from sleep, too - he’s thrown on a sweater but it’s inside out and Danny can see the seams running down along the outside of his shoulders and arms. He’s wearing the thick warm flannel pants he’s allowed to wear, and Danny breathes out, jealous of how warm he must be.

His own fingertips, toes, the end of his nose - it all feels like ice.

“Wh… why’d you wake me up?” Danny asks, pulling his hand the rest of the way away, carefully rolling to push himself up using his right arm, holding his left close to his chest so his shoulder won’t move any more than it has to. “It’s…” His eyes go to the window, the pure and perfect darkness outside. It was cloudy all day, there isn’t even any starlight or moonlight to see by now. They might as well live in a tiny little pinpoint of light in a void. “Looks like the middle of the night.”

“I think it is, ah-... actually. You w-were making sounds in your sl, sleep. I didn’t want you to w-w-wake Bram up.” Nate glances back over his shoulder at the closed bedroom door. Danny’s eyes follow his and he shudders.

It’s freezing cold out here, like always, but he hadn’t tried to barter for the bed tonight. He… he couldn’t. Not tonight, not after earlier.

He’d rather be cold tonight.

“Thanks, thank you for that,” Danny says softly, with real feeling. He’s woken Abraham up before - and his reactions tended to range from irritated to furious depending on how much sleep he’d gotten beforehand. He sits up the rest of the way, getting his bare feet under him, feeling the chain attached to his ankle shift a little. 

It doesn’t quite make enough noise to matter. Danny’s an expert at maneuvering without the chain scraping by now. When Nate stands and offers him a hand, he takes it, pulling himself to his feet. Nate’s hand is warm, and dry - he’s never cold, not even in the middle of the night in winter.

“Your hair l-l-looks ridiculous,” Nate says, voice and flash of smile both soft as feathers in Danny’s mind. Nate reaches out, casual as anything, to ruffle Danny’s hair, smashed down on one side and sticking straight up on the other. He smooths it down, and Danny shivers a little at the way it feels so much different when Nate touches him.

He lets him do it for just a few seconds longer than absolutely necessary, and then Danny swats him away as best he can, rolling his eyes. They both pretend Danny’s face isn’t flushed a little red, burying some of the freckles and scars under the rush of blood. “Like yours looks any better, you jerk.”

Perfectly normal conversation between two perfectly normal men - as though one of them weren’t chained to the wall and the other hadn’t just spent the past several hours sleeping with and then next to the person who locked them up here in the first place. 

“No,” Nate says thinking, his eyes drifting back to the mop of wavy red - long, since it was towards the end of winter, and Abraham liked his hair longer when it was cold, so he could twist it around his fingers and pull on it. It fell past his ears, curling at the ends, and Nate reached back up to twist one wave into a curl. “Y-yours definitely looks beh… better.”

Danny became suddenly deeply and entirely aware of every inch of his own skin, and of the slight pull of his hair when Nate stretched the curl out straight. And very aware of Nate’s deep green eyes, the focus and consideration in them, the way they looked over Danny’s face without even batting an eye at how thoroughly the muzzle had ruined it.

If we weren’t here, if I wasn’t this… I think I would want you, anyway.

Danny never says the words, but he thinks them more and more, and he worries endlessly that Abraham knows he is thinking the words, knows but for some reason lets them rest in Danny, doesn’t beat or cut or burn them out of him.

Abraham knowing something like that and not hurting him over it more terrifying than any pain he could cause because of it… because it means either he’ll wait to use it against him in some new way he can’t predict, or… or it means feeling like this is something Abraham wants. That even Danny’s smallest, most private defiance is just part of Abraham’s plan.

“Did you want to watch a movie?” Danny asks, ignoring the pulsing ache in his shoulder, simply pushing it to the side of his brain where he puts all the pain when Abraham isn’t actively causing it. 

Nate smiles at him, pulling at the little scar on the corner of his mouth, and Danny fights the urge to lean down and kiss it, just there at the corner where it makes his smiles seem a little one-sided. “Y-Yeah. D’you w-w-want to have m, movie night? I want to l-look at your, um, your cut and put something it, so it d-d-doesn’t get infected. C-Casablanca?”

“You always want to watch Casablanca.”

“Of c-c-course I do.” Nate almost laughs, and just catches himself, looking nervously back at the closed bedroom door. “You s-say all the words.”

“So?”

“So...” Nate looks back at him, and for a second Danny doesn’t feel the chain on his ankle at all. “I like when you s-s-say all the w-words.”

[taetaesbaebaepsae]

The Champagne Room Part 6

Warnings: dirty talk, salty!Seokjin, making out, some over the clothes stuff, no hard smut yet because this is a s l o w b u r n

Word Count: 1518

You leave in the morning before he wakes up, and then you don't see him for a couple of weeks.

Actually, he sees you before you see him, but you have no idea.

You're feeling weird about this whole thing and particularly about how nice it felt to be held all night with strong arms around you.

A couple of weeks after, you end up having a few drinks at the club before the end of your shift and it's Jungkook who slides on the barstool next to you.

"You gonna need a ride home, beautiful?" He murmurs into your ear, and you jump a little.

"Who says I wanna go home?" You tease, and his brown eyes widen a little.

Oh. He's cute. You haven't noticed how cute he is until now, maybe distracted, maybe worried about getting close to coworkers.

He'd look almost innocent, really, if it weren't for the sharp line of his jaw and wide shoulders. He's young, but not too young, and you wonder if it's the booze that's making you look at him in a whole different light.

He flushes a little, but gives you a smirk anyway. "Well, I could take you home with me."

His voice is soft and low and you shiver a little before laughing.

"Why don't you buy me a drink first, yeah?"

After two more drinks and a little conversation, you find yourself in the break room since he's on until close, pinned up against the wall by his body.

He's bigger than you thought, more muscular, and you're spreading your hands across the expanse of his chest and he's breathing hard against your ear.

"My shift is over in twenty minutes," he breathes into your ear, shifting a thigh between your legs.

You're still in a slinky lace dress, purple this time, a violet that reflects the reddish lights in the club just the right way.

"What if I can't wait twenty minutes?" You say, only half drunk on vodka cranberries, half drunk on the smell of his skin.

He groans shakily against your ear. "Don't say that. You'll get us both fired."

You laugh a little at that and he pulls back to look in your eyes, his own big and chocolate brown and a little glassy.

"You're so pretty," he says, and kisses just below your collarbone.

That's when you remember a different voice, that word, "pretty," sparking the memory of the last time a man had said that to you.

But that wasn't business, right? Seokjin hadn't bothered to call or text after the morning you'd snuck out of his apartment, and he hadn't come to see you at the club, and he'd paid you after all, and why were you even thinking of him when you had this big, handsome man with a thigh between your legs and his mouth on your throat?

"Y/n," Jungkook says, softly, and you're grateful because then it's him you're thinking of again, his mouth on yours, his hands sliding around your waist.

Then you hear your friend and coworker, Maddie, clearing her throat repeatedly.

You groan and turn around. "Maddie.... it's not a good time," you hiss.

She raises a groomed eyebrow. "I can see that. But you got a private dance. Special request."

"Tell them I'm busy," you say, turning back to a flushed face Jungkook.

"It's one of your regulars, and Danny is on the warpath about us taking off early since it's been so slow."

You turn to Jungkook. "They won't want more than five songs. I'll be back before your shift is over."

Jungkook nods, blowing his hair out of his face, and you take off toward the private room, shutting the door behind you.

You shake your head a bit and then turn your eyes to the glass, but your teasing greeting catches in your throat.

It's him. It's Seokjin, in a rumpled white button up and black slacks, no tie, a tumbler of brown liquor and ice in his hand.

His eyes are piercing, face serious. "Long time no see, pretty," he murmurs, taking a long sip.

"Hello," you say dumbly, and as the music starts you move your hands to your bra straps.

Seokjin shakes his head. "Not yet."

Your hands stutter. "What... what do you want, then?"

His lips curl in a bitter smile. "Aw, pretty, that's the million dollar question, yeah?"

You're concerned, suddenly, taking a step toward the glass. "What's wrong, Jinnie?"

He draws in a breath that hitches in his chest, eyes searching your face to land on your throat.

Your hand goes to where his gaze is instantly, and you aren't sure why.

"Thought you said he was just a friend."

You swallow, hard. "Who?"

Seokjin chuckles and it sounds bitter. He finishes his drink and you can see that his eyes are a little glassy.

"I wasn't spying," he says when you maintain eye contact, looking down at his empty glass. "I was just looking for you, and your friend pointed me toward the break room. I didn't even walk in, just saw him all over you and went to the bar."

You can't help but laugh a little. "So you bought a private dance because you're territorial?"

"No," he insists stubbornly, looking up at you. "I was going to buy one anyway. I...I wanted to see you."

You give him a slow smirk, leaning forward a bit, pressing your breasts together to reveal your cleavage. "Did you miss me, Jinnie?"

His tongue darts out to wet his lips, and he nods hesitantly.

It's nearing the third song, and you're still wearing your lace bra and panties.

You toy with the strap of your panties, calling forth all your flirty skills. "We're running out of time, handsome. Don't you want to see more?"

Seokjin shakes his head. "I bought fifteen songs."

"You did what?" You screech. "Kim Seokjin, I've been on my feet for six hours in these heels and I had plans-"

He sits up straight, leaning forward, squaring his shoulders a bit.

"Plans with that kid? Doesn't he bore you a little, pretty? You'd probably have to teach him how to get you off. You need a man, not a boy."

You roll your eyes. "A man like you?"

Seokjin smirks. "Maybe."

"So you dropped three hundred dollars just to be territorial about Jungkook?"

He flushes a little. "Technically, four hundred. I slipped your friend a bill to interrupt you."

You can't help laughing. "I've never had someone spend that much money just to be salty."

"I'm not...fine. I am salty," he admits, looking up at your face.

"You don't say," you drawl dryly.

"I want to take you home," he says bluntly.

"I'm not a prostitute, Seokjin."

"I know that!" He huffs out a breath, brushing his hair back from his face in frustration. "I didn't mean...I wouldn't pay you."

You snort a little. "And what makes you think I'd go home with you? I don't fuck clients."

"But you want to fuck me," he says, matter-of-fact.

"Do I?''

He nods again. "It makes you so hot, how I talk to you in here, doesn't it? You love it when I call you pretty, when I call your cunt pretty. It makes you wet, yeah? I bet you're dripping right now. Show me."

Your breath gets suddenly shorter, skin feeling hot. You obey without thinking, untying one side of your panties and letting them drop, hanging on one ankle until you kick them off.

Seokjin licks his lips again, learning farther forward.

"Turn around and spread for me, diamond. Let's see that pretty pussy. I want to see how it glistens."

You let out a whimper as pivot and bend over a bit, spreading your legs and your labia, using your fingers in a "V."

You can hear him groan and he's right, you're dripping.

"Let me take you home, pretty. Let me show you what I can do, yeah?"

"I remember," you moan, thinking of those full lips around your clit.

"I want to be inside you, buried to the hilt inside that pretty cunt." He's panting and you turn around to face him, wanting to see, but that's when the lights go down, the manager getting ready to close.

You bolt out of the room but he's coming out the other side, slacks unbuttoned.

You freeze, breathing hard, and he grabs you around the waist and pulls you to him, ducking his head to kiss you, tasting of whiskey, tongue slipping into your mouth.

You're breathless as he breaks apart. "Come home with me, pretty," he says, voice almost hoarse, cupping your chin in his hand. "I promise you won't regret it."

You want to blame your thudding heart on the alcohol, on the way you've been on your feet for hours, but you know it's the hungry look in his eyes, the way his hands rest on your lower back, thumb caressing your skin.

You swallow hard before you nod, and the way his eyes light up makes your heart flip over in your chest.

[seanshumblehome]

The Secret Trio in:The Sons of Liberty (Part 6 - Desperate times equals desperate measures.)

      The trio could feel that time was against them, with each passing second the Sons of Liberties airship grew closer to Washington.After several minutes the boy’s finally reached the air-force base, they landed in the treeline over looking the base watching as combat jets took off and turned towards the direction of the airship flew off towards.

“Jeez I guess they noticed the ship too.” Jake said as they watched several shoebills took off from the base.

“Let’s hope they left one for us.” Randy said as another jet roared over head.

“Guess we’ll only find out when we head down there.” Danny said, getting off the tree he had been leaning on.

       Not wanting a repeat of last time the boys made a stealthy approach to the base, sneaking past many of the bases heavily armed soldiers.After reaching a hanger Danny looked back watching as jets circled over head and the bases automated air defenses ominously scanned the sky’s for incoming attackers. Danny knew that the moment they tried to take off they would either be torn to shreds by the bases defenses or get blown out of the sky military jets.

“Randy, Jake, get the shoebill ready to fly, I’m going to knock out the bases communications and air-defenses. “ Danny ordered as they approached the shoebill.

“Um I get the air defenses but why the comms too?” Randy asked confused.

“Because if the guy’s on the ground can’t communicate with jets, that’ll give us just enough time to escape without getting shot out of the sky.” Danny finished before flying off towards the bases air control tower.

      Danny fly up to the air traffic control tower and phased through the window startling the control officers and guards, before they could even speak Danny blasted several large pieces of equipment sending the control officers to the floor and the guards scrambling for cover as Danny wrecked the control towers equipment before jumping out the window and flying towards what looked like a power substation.Landing in front of the substations generators Danny quickly approached one of the generators and blasted a hole clean through it before turning to a second generator and blowing a stream of freezing cold air that covered the generator in ice, causing it to stall out.As soldiers frantically scrambled to figure out what was going on, Danny flew back towards the shoebill hanger just as Randy got the engines started.Danny phased through the cockpit and landed in the co-pilots seat behind Randy.

“Punch Cunningham!” Danny shouted as he tightly gripped the armrests of his chair.

      Randy slammed the accelerator forward causing the shoebills powerful twin engines to roar as they raced down the airstrip.Randy pulled the flight-stick back as hard as he could sending the shoebill into a steep climb before rolling out of the climb and turning towards the direction that the Sons of Liberties airship flew off towards.Randy flew as low as he possibly could in-order to avoid detection from military fighter jets.After an hour of tense flying they soon began to slowly ascend until they pierced through the clouds, where the boy’s feeling of optimism and confidence faded.Over hundred miles out the trio watched as jet after jet either exploded into a fiery ball of twisted metal that plummeted towards the ground or merely exploded into a black puffy cloud that disappeared as soon as it was created.Randy reached down to turn on the local comms radio but was prevented from doing so when Danny grabbed his hand and simply shook his head before releasing him. 

“Jeez, they are just thrashing the hell out them man.” Jake as he felt all semblance of hope leave him.

“How are we ever gonna hope to get past that things defenses when a dozen air-force fighters just got whacked?” Randy asked fearfully.

“B-Because I have a plan.” Danny nervously said.

“Oh yeah and what’s that, we gonna knock on the front door and ask them to let us in.” Jake sarcastically said.

“Well...close.“ Danny said with a confident smirk.

      Jake and Randy looked at each other, confused as to what Danny meant by “Close.” Suddenly Jake’s eye’s widened in shock as he realized what Danny meant.

“Danny there is absolutely no that’ll work.“ Jake said stunned.

“We have to try, we have a lot riding on this.“ Danny said sternly.

“Hey guy’s we got a missile locked on to us.” Randy said casually shocking Danny and Jake.

      Jake rushed back to the troop bay and braced himself for whatever evasive maneuvers Randy would do.

“Randy I got an idea, get the missile to follow us.” Danny shouted as Randy evaded the missile.

“What are you insane?!” Randy shouted in shock.

“Just do it then point us right at the ships hanger!” Danny shouted back causing Randy to groan.

      Randy evaded the missile again and allowed it to follow the shoebill before turning it towards the hanger and setting the accelerator to full.Suddenly Randy felt Danny grab his shoulder then began to count down as they grew closer to the airship.After a wait that felt like eternity Danny and Randy phased through the cockpit into the troop bay where Danny grabbed Jake and phased out of the troop bay and out into the sky.Jake instinctively transformed and grabbed Randy and threw him onto his back as the missile screamed past them.The trio watched as the shoebill flew into the hanger closely followed by the missile. The shoebill crashed into several fuel fuel tanks and seconds later the missile struck the shoebill causing a massive chain reaction that engulfed the ships hanger in flame.The boy’s mustard every ounce of courage they had then fly straight into hanger.Flying past the fiery wreckage Danny wasted no time blasting at the soldiers that had gathered in the hanger, Randy leaped off Jake’s back and began cutting through Sons of Liberty soldiers, while Jake swiped several away with a powerful swing of his tail before smacking another group away with his claws.WIth the hanger secure the boy’s regrouped in the middle of the hanger.

“Alright we’re here, now what?” Jake asked as he leaned against a destroyed fighter jet.

“Unfortunately I think we’re gonna have to split up, to cover more ground and make sure we completely wreck this thing.” Danny said as he folded his arms.

 “I was hoping you wouldn’t say that but oh well, then tell us what we are doing.” Randy said as he sat on aircraft tire wiping the blood of his sword.

“I’ll head to the to bridge, that’s most likely where the boss of this whole thing is, Randy find your way to the engine and kill it faster we can get this thing out of the air the better, Jake disable the anti-air guns so the air-force can start attacking, we clear?” Danny ordered.

“Yep.” Randy and Jake responded.

“Then let’s go” Danny said confidently.

      As the boy’s went their separate ways they could feel that this was it, the final stretch.If they succeed they will have saved their friends and families and their country.If they failed they would lose it all.Tensions where high for all of them, but determination kept them going and courage gave them strength, but universally they all shared the same thought.Would it be enough.

To Be Continued in Part 7.

[kinglazrus]

cover by @ghosttrolls-au​

The Danny Phantom Crack Phicc

brought to you by the L*xx Cl*b, you want to deny it, but you know we exist!

For the past couple months, we’ve been working on this crackfic as our little gift to the Phandom. This story was written one section at a time, one author at a time, with only one rule: you had to write your section while only having access to the section that comes just before yours, not the cumulative story. No editing has been made to alter the flow of the story, or give it more sense. Contributing authors are listed at the end, along with two ‘bonus’ sections. Have fun reading!

Warning: extreme crackishness, read at your own risk!

—

"Tucker, I'm going to kill you when I get out of this," Danny said. He threw his arms out as he wobbled, swinging them wildly, struggling to maintain his balance.

Tucker bit his lip, trying—and failing—to hold in his laughter. "But you'll have to get out of it first!"

"The Box Ghost is getting very uncomfortable with this position!" The Box Ghost's voice shook from strain. “Release me or face my boxes of doom!

The boys looked down to where Danny's legs should have been. Instead, it was Boxy's torso, struggling to hold them upright with his arms acting as Danny's legs, his hands as Danny's feet.

It was the most disturbing thing Tucker had ever seen.

And this was the grossest. Turned out their limbs could reform, regrow? And Danny, with his feet sticking out of Boxy's mouth, took the liberty of kicking Boxy's spit at Tucker.

“Dude!” Tucker yelped, wiping his face off with his shirt.

Danny just glared, wobbling on his own feet since Boxy here was a weak little shit.

Danny’s glare was interrupted by a fit of giggles as the two fell over. Which resulted in Tucker completely losing his shit and falling over laughing as well.

“Dude.” Wheezing.

“Stop.” Righting himself/themselves.

“Kicking.” Slowly standing.

“My.” Staggering slightly.

“Core.” Danny hopped towards the workbench.

“Ticklish, Core?” Tucker got out between laughs as Boxy started biting on Danny’s ankles.

Danny startled back, landing a solid kick on the Box Ghost's rotting teeth with his left foot. He clutched at Tucker's shirt after he freed himself from the ghost's slimy hole, leaning on his friend as he attempted to regain his balance.

It took him a few tumbles and Tucker fainting before he realized that something was wrong with the foot the Box Ghost had been teething on. He glanced downwards when Boxy gulped loudly, suddenly suspicious of his show's comic relief character, and noticed the distinct lack of a right foot and the horribly bright red blood slowly pouring out of him.

He paused for a moment, frowning and looking between the liquid and Boxy's nervously smug face, and shrugged. He used Tucker's unconscious body as a platform to rest his stump on before speaking.

 "Probably won't grow back, but ok."

"You taste like chicken." The Box Ghost licked his lips and his rotting mouth frothed, slipping to the madness even more.

Danny kept his right stump thing on Tucker as the blood spread. “So you got ghost rabies or something?” Danny quipped as he shot the fat rabid ghost.

The Box Ghost soon came, ready to take his left hand and got an ice blast to the face.

“Freeze!” Danny shouted triumphantly almost forgetting about his lack of a right foot. When he jostled said stump he yelped: “FUDGE!” Effective in summoning a goth that was known as Sam with a med kit. She then looked at the stump that rested on Tucker's chest.

Danny's leg started vibrating, and the blood that covered literally everything began to fly back to his stump. After a few seconds a new foot popped out, perfectly replacing the one that had gotten removed. Except it was backwards.

"Well, that's new," Danny said.

The Box Ghost lunged at him once more, shouting triumphantly: "VORE TIME!"

Sam and Tucker jumped out of the way but Danny, distracted with his backwards foot, was too late.

There his foot went yet again. Into the Box Ghost's mouth, then throat. Danny's squeak of surprise was rather cute, but the regenerating of his foot was rather pointless if it was just going to be gobbled up again. Maybe he should just keep his legs as a tail for now. Or maybe it's too late for that.

But Danny wasn't giving up, pressing his hands against the Box Ghost's face to keep his upper half from entering the belly of the beast. Where was Tucker and Sam when he needed them?

"GET IN MAH BELLY," the Box Ghost continued, trying to shove Danny in. He was having none of the resisting.

"Dude, stop. I am not going to let you continue voring me," Danny said and blasted the Box Ghost's face, but the ghost refused to let his foot go.

"Let me vore you," Box Ghost said. "Or else I'll-"

"You'll what?" Danny asked.

Box ghost teared up. "Or I'll cry," he said with a sob.

Danny looked at him alarmed. “Uh, I mean, don’t cry, but I’m still not giving you my leg...or any other part of me.” He shook his leg from the Box Ghost’s grip and watched him sob.

Then, Danny had an idea.

He grinned. “You know, if you could get Skulker out of that suit, I bet he would be a really nice... snack…”

Danny tried not to grimace at the thought of anyone voring Skulker, or any ghost for that matter, but hey, as long as it wasn’t him.

The Box Ghost’s head jerked up at this, the eerie, red glow of his eyes even stronger now. “Skulker tasty?” he asked.

Danny cringed and hovered back a couple inches. Was Boxy’s voice always this… concerningly deep?

“Uhh, yeah, um, very tasty. I heard the small ones are the most tender,” Danny tried.

Without warning, the Box Ghost began to growl, growing in size until he towered over Danny.

“SKULKER MINE!” Boxy roared. Then, as quickly as he’d appeared, he vanished, leaving Danny alone and very, very confused.

“Well... this certainly does not look too good,” he muttered.

The Box Ghost went back to his lair (a cardboard box with a door cut into it) and sulked in the corner, returning to his normal size as he wept glowing tears.

“Oh I’ll show him,” he growled, wiping his eyes and gliding into a swirling hexagonal portal that opened in front of him, appearing in front of a department store.

Excellent, plenty of boxes at his command. No one could stop him now. The mighty Box Ghost amassed his army, storming the town. The screams of the innocents rung out as paper cuts slashed through the crowds.

“SKULKER MINE!” he shrieked again. “I AM THE BOX GHOST!”

The boxes flew everywhere, contents thrown in all directions. People ran for cover, only to find a massive, cardboard wall start to build in the street.

“He will know my name!” the ghost continued above the din of the trapped. “I AM THE BOX GHOST! COME FACE ME IF YOU DARE!”

The wall began to tremble and the people either stood and cowered, or ran to hide behind anything that might offer protection. Suddenly, a blast passed through the barrier and a face known all too well appeared from the other side. Green was his aesthetic.

The wind howled, a cascading shower of glass rained down from above. A shadow appeared, casting darkness over the landscape. The Box Ghost paused, his face growing pale, his eyes growing wide. There was an explosion of light, and suddenly he was gone, and for a minute the world was silent.

“Hewwo?” The silence was broken just as it came, children screamed, mothers cried, people ran for cover as the wind began to pick up. The shadow grinned, it’s eyes glowing in the darkness surrounding it.

“Take cover,” somebody screamed, the sound of a blaster whirling into power followed it.

“Now!” was shouted, and everyone stopped. For a panicking crowd, they weren't panicking. The Box Ghost reappeared.

“You won't believe how many boxes there wer- GAH!”

A shot. A horrifying second. A scream.

“AHHHHHH- wait. Nothing's wrong, carry on,” the Box Ghost said. The shadow laughed.

“Ha, ha, ha…. No. Weak, puny hoomans.” It grinned. “You should have gone for the head.”

It came through the broken glass. More screams were heard as it showed its true shape. The expertly shaped chin, the smug expression on its luscious purple face. The lack of clothes on the chest, a single apron covering the pp. The greasy pizza on its head.

“Its,,, it's,,,”

It was Pizza Man, the ghostly legend.

“Now who wants to play?”

Pizza Man retrieved two dozen pizzas from thin air, all pineapple. He started flinging them to people in the crowd, hitting them in the faces with the accursed food.

Upon contact with the pizza everyone started hallucinating. They stumbled around, hitting one another in their confusion. Pizza Man looked around the scene, satisfied with his work. But then the song "So What" started blaring from seemingly nowhere.

“What is the meaning of this?!” Pizza Man shouted angrily.

“I’m here to end your reign of... What’s the line again? Terror? Yeah, that one! I will stop you with my teenage angst songs or my name isn’t Madam Lady Music Hair!” the new person declared.

The Box Ghost, who surprisingly hadn't been hit by a stray pizza, cheered and yelled, “FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!”

"Hahaha!" Pizza Man laughed. "Little did you know, I am immune to teenage angst songs! Your tune has no effect!"

Madam Lady Music Hair only smiled as the intro finished and the bass dropped. Suddenly, all the people who had been hallucinating started dancing. They hit Pizza Man with their arms and legs as they danced along to the Panic! at the Disco song.

But Pizza Man was not about to be brought down by this teen angst song. He summoned more pineapple pizzas, a whole stack, and stood on top of them.

"Try that again, Madam Lady Music Hair!" he challenged loudly.

"You're, like, totally strong," Madam Lady Music Hair said, looking thoughtful. "Maybe even a worthy... Uh... Rival! That's the word. But!" Her expression changed to smug, and she flipped her hair again. "I happen to have one more trick up my sleeve."

For a moment, everything was silent. And then, it happened.

The G note.

Pizza Man looked down to the bottom of his tower of pineapple pizzas. The entire crowd was sobbing uncontrollably, and the flood of tears was quickly rising. Pizza Man knew that he had to get out. This song was too powerful. He raised his hands to summon more pizzas when suddenly—

A single tear ran down his cheek. "No," he whispered.

To Pizza Man’s horror, Memeactimus suddenly appeared and began to devoure all things meme.

“You monster! Stop it!” Pizza Man exclaimed as a box of incorrectly labeled raisins was gobbled up by the terrible towering titan, tearfully tormented by being unable to stop his ~cursed~ torrade.

“Hmm, that seems like a ‘you’ problem, so I’m out of here. YEE—!” But Music Hair Girl’s tactful turnaround was taken to a standstill as Memeactimus devoured the word before she could finish uttering it.

“Oh, you will pay for that!” she exclaimed angrily and prepared to pummel the meme purloiner with the putrid notes of country Western music... except she could make no sound because it had become a meme, too, and Memeactimus had already devoured it.

“My most maddening music! The monster made off with it! Is there nobody who can stop him?!” Music Hair Girl yodeled in despair.

Pizza Man pulled out his pizza-phone. “We’re not strong enough! I’m afraid... it’s time to call the others!” He pronounced as he used perfect punctionally to press the phone buttons to summon... them.

Pizza Man finished entering the number and listened as the phone rang. Music Hair Girl went back to fighting Memeacticus but he was still devouring her attacks.

Just as Pizza Man thought he would get no answer, the ringing stopped and someone greeted him from the other end.

“Flippy Dip, what’s the buzz? This is Bologna from the Meat outfitters. How can our crew hidey hey your problems into a happy day?”

Pizza man clutched the phone in his hands, voice a deep gravelly base. “Send in the Sausage Links.”

The Sausage Links were a terrifying brute force, and they might just be enough to beat Memeacticus once for all.

As Pizza Man waited for their arrival, he rejoined Music Hair Girl in the fight against their ultimate enemy, reverting his magic pizza roller back from phone form into its spell-casting form and blasting Memeacticus with Oven’s Heat.

Music Hair Girl smiled at this, knowing that help was coming, and headbanged even harder than before, using her long, sharp hair whip on Memeacticus. The music that resulted from the wind moving through her hair was horribly beautiful, and very loud.

A dark shadow suddenly eclipsed them in total darkness. Music Hair Girl and Pizza Man both turned to see the origin of this madness. Horror dawned upon them both as they recognized the figure.

It was the Disasteroid, back with a vengeance! It was sick and tired of being ignored and people claiming it wasn't canon! It barreled towards them with reckless abandon. Its intentions were clear—destroy the world for real this time! Neither Music Hair Girl nor Pizza Man could figure out how it escaped notice until it was too late.

Using the momentary distraction to their advantage, the ultimate enemy struck!

“Tch,” said Pizza Man, looking into the eyes of Elmer himself. “Of course this was all you. The convenient plot devices… random events without foreshadowing… our characterization all out of place… it was all planned by you! And now…” He stared into the eyes of the man himself.

Elmer just smirked, growing larger in size. Red light poured in around them as the Disasteroid came ever closer.

“And now you’ve doomed us all!” screamed Music Hair Girl, musical notes floating into the air as she stepped forward. “But we can’t possibly defeat you alone…” Her brow furrowed as she folded her arms. The smell of onions filled the air as Pizza Man began to sweat.

“Hair Girl…” he said quietly under his breath. “You know we could always…”

Shock filled Music Hair Girl’s eyes as she realized what Pizza Man was saying. “Are you serious? That would put us all in jeopardy!!” She huffed as she looked sideways towards the looming animator and asteroid, energy falling flat.

“We’re ALREADY in jeopardy!” said Pizza Man, pointing at the impending danger. They were running out of time. He fiddled with a mushroom, as he often did when he was nervous. “If we do nothing, we’re screwed anyway! Just do it.”

Music Hair Girl gulped, swallowing her doubts, and nodded. “Fine,” she said, hand on her right hip. “I’ll make the call.”

She pulled out her flip phone and dialed a number, painfully aware of Elmer’s powerful gaze on her back. “I just hope they pick up…”

As Music Hair Girl stepped aside to make the call, Pizza Man provided a distraction for the approaching Disasteroid. He zoomed across the sky on his pizza hoverboard, flinging pizzas as he went.

“You fool. You cannot possibly hope to defeat me using your pathetic pizzas,” Elmer boomed. “It won’t be long now.”

“You’re right, it’ll be round,” Pizza Man cried, grinning cheekily at his stupid pun, but his expression became fearful when one of Elmer’s lasers almost hit his head. “I hope you’re almost done, Hair Girl! I could use some help!”

“They’re on their way!” Hair Girl called up to Pizza Man as she snapped her phone shut. “I hope they’re not long...”

At that moment, a portal appeared. It started to swirl ominously, casting strange shadows across the landscape. Three small figures started to materialize in the vortex much to Pizza Man’s amazement.

“Music Hair Girl are you serious!?” Pizza Man said in an exasperated tone. “I thought we were on the same page!”

“Are we not!?” Hair Girl questioned with a shocked look in her eyes.

“NO! I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO CALL THE MEN IN BLACK! NOT WHATEVER THOSE TINY PEOPLE ARE!”

“Who are you calling tiny?” a boy in a pink t-shirt remarked as he appeared out of the portal. He was followed by two... floating creatures.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Pizza Man groaned placing his arms around his head. “IT’S NOT EVEN PLAUSIBLE FOR THEM TO COME THROUGH A GHOST PORTAL! THEY’RE NOT GHOSTS!” He was gesticulating madly at this point.

“Ummmm actually...” Hair Girl started, “Mister Birch Fartman made that short called the Fairly Odd Phantom and they came through the portal then. Remember that? Awful color choices? Terrible plot? Danny Phantom didn’t even have a ghostly aura? Ring a bell?!”

“WHAT EVEN ARE TH—"

“Fairies...” Elmer narrowed his eyes in disgust. “This was your last resort? My, my, you really have stooped low,” he finished wickedly, a cackle on the tip of his tongue.

The Disasteroid was approaching fast and Pizza Man had run out of pizzas to chuck at it. Elmer was getting bigger; his looming form casted engulfed the area in shadows.

“Timmy, make a wish!” Hair Girl cried. “We’re almost out of time!”

“If he makes a wish, it will screw up the timeline!” Wanda exclaimed.

“Do it anyways! Whatever happens, it’ll open up more opportunities for a sequel!” she replied.

"You’re right! TIMMY WISH FOR SOMETHING WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME!” Wanda shrieked.

“UH UH... I WISH ELMER AND THE DISASTEROID WOULD GET THANOS SNAPPED OUT OF HERE!” Timmy cried.

And with that, his wish was granted. The Disasteroid and Elmer started to fade into dust and the world stood still. The only thing that could be heard was a faint call from Elmer...

“I’ll be back.”

The end

.

.

.

or is it?

Contributing authors: @kinglazrus​, @thetribalmoth​, @atheeeeen​, @spacegravedoodles​, @wolfsongroar​, @sonicgrl01​, @voidetrap​, @ghostgothgeek​, @thesernotthedroidsurlooking4​, @purpleillusn​, @currentlydrowninginthephandom​, @qlinq-qhost​, @phantombreadproject​, @deredereart​, @all-hail-trash-prince​, @phantasma-9​, @q-gorgeous​, @asandygraves​, @relatable-ninja​, @ghosttrolls-au​, @babypop-phantom​

Bonus sections! Two of our contributing authors were wonderful enough to make their sections extra cursed when the submitted them! May I present the Wingdings Section (submitted by Phantasma):

❄︎□︎ ◻︎♓︎⌘︎⌘︎♋︎ ❍︎♋︎■︎🕯︎⬧︎ ♎︎♏︎⬧︎◻︎♋︎♓︎❒︎📪︎ ❍︎♏︎❍︎♏︎♋︎♍︎⧫︎♓︎❍︎◆︎⬧︎🖴︎ ♎︎♏︎❖︎□︎◆︎❒︎♏︎❒︎ □︎♐︎ ❍︎♏︎❍︎♏︎⬧︎ ♋︎◻︎◻︎♏︎♋︎❒︎♏︎♎︎📪︎ ♋︎■︎♎︎ ⬧︎●︎□︎⬥︎●︎⍓︎ ♌︎♏︎♑︎♋︎■︎ ⧫︎□︎ ♎︎♏︎❖︎□︎◆︎❒︎♏︎ ♋︎●︎●︎ □︎♐︎ ⧫︎♒︎♏︎ ❍︎♏︎❍︎♏︎⬧︎📬︎ ■︎□︎✏︎ ⍓︎□︎◆︎ ❍︎□︎■︎⬧︎⧫︎♏︎❒︎✏︎ ⬧︎⧫︎□︎◻︎✏︎ ◻︎♓︎⌘︎⌘︎♋︎ ❍︎♋︎■︎ ⬧︎♋︎♓︎♎︎📬︎ ❍︎♏︎❍︎♏︎♋︎♍︎⧫︎♓︎❍︎◆︎⬧︎ 🙰◆︎⬧︎⧫︎ ♓︎♑︎■︎□︎❒︎♏︎♎︎ ♒︎♓︎❍︎ ■ □■⧫■◆ ⧫□ ❖□◆❒ ❍❍⬧ ⬥●● ⧫⧫ ⬧❍⬧ ●🙵 ⍓□◆ ❒□●❍ ❍ □◆⧫ □ ❒ ◆⧫ □❒ ⬧ □◆● ■⬧ ❍❍⧫❍◆⬧ ❖□◆❒ ❍◆⬧ ❒ ❒●⬧ ⍓⧫ ⬥⧫ ❒⬧■⬧ □ ⍓□◆●● ⍓ □❒ ⧫⧫ ❍◆⬧ ❒ ❒● ⍓●● ■ ●⍓ ⬧□■ ⧫⧫ ❍ ❍❍⧫❍◆⬧ ❒ ⧫ ❒⬧■⬧ 🙵 □◆⧫ ◆⧫ ⬧ ■⧫ ⧫ ❒ ⍓⧫ 🙵 ⧫⬧ ⧫□□ □⬥❒◆● □❒ ◆⬧ ⬥ ■⧫ ⬧⧫□ ⧫ ●□■ ⌘⌘ ❍■ ⌧●❍ ◆⧫ ⬥⧫ ■ ⬥ □ ❍◆⬧ ❒ ❒● ⬧🙵 ⧫■🙵 ⧫⬧ ⧫❍ ⧫⧫ ●●

And the emoji section (submitted by Relatable Ninja):

A 🔦 shadow suddenly eclipsed them in total darkness. 🎶💈👩 and 🍕👱‍♂️ both turned to 👁 the origin of this madness. Horror dawned upon them both as 👫 recognized the 🎗. It was the dreaded Disasteriod, ⬅️ with a vengeance! It was 😣 and 😫 of 🅱️ ignored and 👫 claiming it wasn’t canon! It barreled towards them with reckless 🏚. Its intentions were clear—destroy the 🌎 for real this 🕐! Neither 🎶💈👩 nor 🍕👱‍♂️ could figure out how it escaped notice until it was too 🕐. Using the momentary distraction to their advantage, the ultimate enemy struck!

[bigfan-fanfic]

Darkside Bakes 5 (Gender Neutral! Reader Batman Headcanons)

It was a very good idea to have hired assistants.

Because your... special clientele have certain dislikes.

Currently, the Mad Hatter and Maximillian Zeus are in a turf war. So obviously you can’t take sides.

But thankfully, you have two assistants who can handle special requests from villains in these kinds of conflicts - and who’s to know that you help out or take creative control?

So, you have Marcia handle an assortment of Alice in Wonderland-themed mille-feuille cakes and petit fours that the three of you spent about two days designing

And while she does that, you help Ike with a Mount Olympus dessert - a croquembouche (a tower of little balls of choux pastry) with a piped ring of creme patissiere at the top to make a cloud ring and twelve white macarons at the base to represent the 12 Olympians.

Ike has gotten so much better that you’ve promoted him from apprentice to assistant baker. He’s also moved into the other apartment above the bakery - you had enough money to buy the building next door and connect the two.

But anyway, renovations are complete, with a nice tiled storefront with a coffee bar. Most of the decorations are predominantly black, with white decoration. This brings all the attention to the colorful display rack.

And you start getting more and more customers, on top of your villainous clients. Enough that you might start having to consider hiring more people. 

This might be a problem. Marcia and Ike might be okay with serving villains, but who knows if other people will? You’re still not sure if the police know about this place yet.

Or Batman. Thinking about Batman makes you paranoid.

He probably knows, but then why hasn’t he done anything yet? Or what if he has? What if Marcia is really Batman? She’s come up against enough villains in her time. But then you remember that you’ve seen Batman and Marcia at the same time.

Dick Grayson has come in several times since your first meeting, always willing to wait while you make a fresh cake. He never seems to come when the villains are active, though. 

One time he came in with a redheaded boy about his age that practically bought out the display rack. You don’t know how anyone could possibly eat that many donuts.

You pride yourself for staying just under the radar enough to avoid undue attention. You’re just a little bakery that occasionally caters to villains. That’s all.

Until THE INCIDENT.

In the midst of making a cake for Black Mask - three layers of Genoise sponge, the top layer made using a custom mold resembling the man’s mask (which was a chore to make and not burn any of it), covered in a tempered chocolate shell and then decorated with white piping and chocolate-covered cherries in the eyes. - a man slammed the door open, nearly breaking the glass.

“Hands up, everybody! This is a robbery!” he calls, his face covered by a navy blue ski mask.

Ike raises his hands and steps in front of you and Marcia. Personally, you would’ve stepped behind Marcia. She has experience in these matters.

But at the moment the robber moves forward, brandishing his gun and about to conduct the robbery, someone else walks in.

“Now, what could be going on here?” the Joker asks sarcastically, his arm around Harley Quinn, her hammer drawn and scraping against the doorframe as they enter.

“I think it’s a robbery, Puddin’.” Harley simpers.

The robber has completely forgotten you in fear of the clown posse. Several clown-masked men stand on the other side of the glass windows, peering in. Ike has curled up in the fetal position behind the counter.

The Joker moves forward and tweaks the robber’s nose through his mask. “Now, I just wanted to take my Harley here to this place I heard so much about... and you’ve RUINED IT!”

There’s not much point in describing what happens next. It involves Harley’s hammer and a forced dose of Joker gas.

And while the Joker Gang strings up the body on the street, with its macabre grin and a note etched on the ground below it (an arrow pointing to your store and a smiley face accompanying the message “DO NOT ROB - OR ELSE!” Joker buys for Harley and himself a key-lime pie and two packs of snack size caramel-filled churros.

Joker hops up, stomach on the display case, to make a face at Ike. “Good work, kid! You can stay here.”

Marcia squares up with a heavy pan, and Joker laughs before turning and leaving.

When you call the police, long after they have gone, you have no choice but to lie. No, you didn’t see who did the crime. You were all baking in the back room, music turned up loud. You haven’t installed security cameras so that there’s nothing but your word for the cops to go on. No, sir, no idea why your store’s been marked Do Not Rob.

They have nothing to go on and they know it.

And overnight, your store has a boom. Everyone has heard the story, and now everyone has at least a little idea why your store is called what it is.

And apparently, the robber was part of one of Gotham’s old crime families, which are still kicking around beneath all the supervillainy, because you get a group of besuited older gentlemen entering your store and apologizing for your ordeal and offering you a partnership with a delivery service owned by one of them.

But, you know the old Latin saying: Quid pro quo.

One of the crime lords, a perpetually dirty fellow who seems to be called Matches Malone, comes in one day.

“May I help you, sir?” you ask. It’s policy to treat all customers with respect.

“Yeah, yeah. I was looking to talk to youse. Y’see, I was looking for a J-O-B for my littlest boy, and I was wonderin’ if you’d be in the market for - an errand boy or somethin’.”

And in walks the most angry-looking child you’ve ever seen. He looks like a little copy of his black-haired, blue-eyed father, except for striking green eyes, and a horrible scowl that makes you feel like you’ve personally offended him.

“Well, go on, son.”

“’sup. ‘m Danny.”

Not knowing if this is one of those “offers you can’t refuse” or not, you accept. On Danny’s first day as errand boy, Mr. Freeze comes in for his weekly iced donuts. And Poison Ivy shows up for meat pies, which her plants have grown uncomfortably hungry for. And Bane shows up for the Bolivian salteñas and Cuban-style croquetas you’ve started making on his request. 

When the day is done, you almost ask Marcia to walk the kid home, but he refuses help.

And little do you know that when the boy leaves, he heads for Wayne Manor. And Damian Wayne sheds his disguise to report to his father.

“You were right, Drake. The Baker does consort with villains.”

Tim glares at Dick. “Told ya.”

“It’s not exactly illegal to sell to villains, though, is it?” Dick points out. “Practically everyone in Gotham sells to them.”

“I don’t know. It still seems like a front to me.” Jason says. “Calling your place ‘Darkside’ anything seems suspicious.”

“You didn’t have that cake.” Dick says wistfully.

“Yeah, because you and the Replacement ate them all!”

Before things can go down that road again, Bruce clears his throat. “Good work, Damian. You’ll keep working there for a bit longer. See if you can find anything more than an innocent villain-patronized bakery.”

“Of course, Father...”

[flowerfan2]

Gray Skies - Ch. 6

This chapter’s a little longer - and satisfied my urge to write a New England in winter story for Steve and Danny.  Enjoy, and happy new year!

Living with depression doesn’t have to mean living without love.  An AU that branches off in Season 10.

McDanno, A03, 9k so far

Chapter 6

The ivy-clad grounds of Grace’s small New England college are as different from the tropical shores of Hawaii as anything could be.  Steve stands back and crosses his arms, content, as Danny and Grace walk ahead of him on the path through the quad, Danny waving his arms and beaming as he talks with his beloved daughter.

It’s exactly how Steve imagined.

Of course, in his vision they weren’t quite as bundled up, and he couldn’t see Danny’s breath, but Steve doesn’t mind the cold.  He even bought Danny a new coat, a short, black, slim-fitting down jacket, to replace that strange olive green thing Danny wore when he came to him in D.C.

Danny refused to wear the matching hat, though, and Steve wonders if he’s regretting it, the tips of Danny’s ears going pink in the chilly air.  Grace didn’t have any such qualms, and is sporting the pom-pom hat Steve brought her. “My friends are gonna love this,” she had exclaimed, pulling on the turquoise beanie adorned with yellow pineapples and the word “Aloha” along the bottom.  She twirled around to model it, and for a minute, she was eight years old again, showing off a new party dress.

Steve had made sure to capture the moment, quickly getting pictures of Danny and his grown-up daughter, arms around each other and broad smiles on their faces.

Now they’re on their way to lunch in Grace’s dining hall, after a morning spent at a welcome presentation and a talk about “making the most” out of the college experience.  After lunch, there are a handful of classes they can visit, and seminars about a variety of topics, including a panel on public service that has caught Steve’s interest.

The dining hall is packed with people, and Grace leads them through the tables until she gets to the one she is looking for.  A tall girl with long blond hair pops up and squeals at Grace, while two people that must be her parents look on indulgently.  Another girl yells from a few tables away and soon joins in the hug, several more family members tagging along behind her.

 After they all find seats, Grace introduces her roommates.  The tall blond girl is Hannah, from L.A.  Maritza, who has her mother, grandmother, and two younger brothers in attendance, is from Texas.  “Sam and Alaina are at the Athletics lunch,” Grace explains to Steve, as she passes around a pile of napkins, “but they’re going to try to catch up with us later. Alaina’s mom grew up on Kauai, she really wants to meet you.”

 With that the topic of conversation turns to Hawaii, and what Steve and Danny do for a living.  Steve tries to let Danny carry the conversation, but Danny keeps getting distracted by his daughter, who is proudly pointing out other people in the room that she wants them to meet.

 Before they’ve even finished their lunch (fairly mediocre soup and sandwiches, but that’s not really the point), Grace is up and dragging Danny over to meet one of her professors.  Steve picks at his turkey and cheese and watches them, Danny’s blond head and Grace’s dark one, leaning together as Grace whispers to her dad.

 “Grace is a lovely girl,” Maritza’s grandmother says.  “We met her when we visited in the fall.”

 Steve turns to the woman sitting on his left.   Her dark hair swings around her face in a tidy bob, and she looks way too young to be someone’s grandmother.   “Thanks.  I’m Steve, by the way.  Isabella, right?”

 She smiles.  “Yes, that’s me.”

 “You’re lucky that you got to visit already.  This is my first time.”

 She nods.  “Must have been hard for you both to come all the way from Hawaii for all those college tours.  Maritza managed to see about half of the ones she applied to.  For the rest, we figured we’d worry about it if she got in.”

 Steve takes a moment to wonder what Grace has told people about him and Danny.  He’s not even sure what she knows about their change in status, so to speak. Steve didn’t come along on any college tours, although he and Danny texted so often when Danny was doing them he almost feels like he was there.  Steve decides to change the subject before he puts his foot in his mouth.

 “Where in Texas do you live, Isabella? I have a former teammate who did his training at the Naval base in Fort Worth.”

 They stretch out the day as long as they can, wanting to spend as much time as they have with Grace, but by evening Danny and Steve are both lagging.

 Grace shakes her head at them as the waiter brings their check.  They’ve spent the past two hours in a cozy restaurant that is apparently the place all the kids go when parents are the ones footing the bill, and it lived up to its reputation.  Danny is still trying to figure out how to make the potato ravioli that came with his short ribs, and Steve was very satisfied with the scallop dish he ordered. He even split a dessert with Danny, a dark chocolate whiskey cake that was served warm with espresso ice cream, and snuck bites of Grace’s creamy cheesecake with a gingersnap crust.

 “You guys are done for tonight, you know,” Grace says as they stand up and start pulling on their coats.  “All that’s left is the freshman musical showcase, and no one expects their parents to come to that – at least not unless they’re performing in it.”

 “You could perform in it,” Danny says, unwilling to admit that there is anything his Grace can’t do.

 “I could, but I’m not – I’m going back to my room to finish my chem homework, and then I’m going to sleep.”

 “All right, all right,” Steve says, putting an arm around Grace’s shoulders and hugging her close.  “We get it.  We’ll let you get back to your life.”

 “See you tomorrow for breakfast?” Danny says.  “At that diner, right?”

 “Right.”  They exchange more hugs, and then Grace is skipping off down the street, turning to wave just before she turns the corner and disappears out of sight.

 Back at their B&B, they chat for a few minutes with a few people who are socializing in the living room on the first floor, Steve poking at the logs in the fireplace and generally scoping out the place while Danny questions another parent about his student’s experience with a seminar Grace is interested in, and then they climb the stairs to their third floor room.

 They had arrived late the night before, and hadn’t had much of a chance to appreciate the charmingly decorated room. More than the antique furnishings, however, Steve is excited to get back into the king-sized bed, with its ample down duvet and piles and piles of fluffy pillows.

 Soon enough, he tells himself.

 “You wanna have the first shower?” Steve approaches Danny, who hung his coat in the wardrobe and then stood staring into it for long enough that Steve wonders if he fell asleep on his feet.

 “What?  Oh, yeah, thanks.”  Danny smiles at him, tired but obviously still happy, and grabs his kit bag out of his duffel.  “I won’t be long.”

 Steve takes his turn in the bathroom after Danny, and when he gets out, clad only in his boxers, he dives under the covers as quickly as he can.

 “Oh my god, you’re insane,” Danny says, opening his arms and pulling him close.  “Come here, come here.  Your feet are like ice.  You’re ridiculous.”

 Steve grins and burrows into Danny, who is giving off heat like a stove, as always.  “I can’t help it.”

 “You just took a hot shower, didn’t you?  How can your toes still be this cold?  What’s wrong with you?”  But Danny’s actions show he doesn’t really mind, as he gathers Steve close to him and wraps the heavy comforter around them both.

 “I can put some socks on, if you want-”

 “Socks, maybe some pajamas?  You are completely lacking in sense.” Danny’s got their legs twined together, Steve’s wet head tucked up against his t-shirt clad chest.  He doesn’t actually seem that interested in Steve getting out of bed to put more clothes on.  

 Steve kisses his collarbone. “You’ll keep me warm.”

 “I’ll try.”  Danny shuffles them some more, getting comfortable, and Steve can feel himself relax into his hold.

 “Grace seems really happy,” Steve comments.  It’s true, it couldn’t be more obvious that Grace is thriving here, despite being so far away from home.

 “Yeah, she’s doing great.”  Steve can hear the pride and relief in Danny’s words. “Thanks for bringing me here, Steve. I mean it.”

 Steve presses another kiss to Danny’s chest, then lays his head back down.  “It’s my pleasure, Danno.  I had a good day today too.”

 “Yeah, we did, didn’t we?”  Danny opens his mouth to say something else, but his words are lost in a jaw cracking yawn.

 “Get some sleep,” Steve says. “We’ll see Grace again in the morning.”

 “Hmm, okay.”  

 Steve tugs the blanket a little higher around Danny’s shoulders, making sure he’s covered up, and lets himself drift off to the sound of Danny’s gentle snores.

 Unfortunately, despite the absolutely perfect feeling of being warmly wrapped in Danny’s arms, Steve can’t stay asleep.  He chalks it up to the time difference, and after an hour of trying not to move and wake Danny up, he reluctantly climbs out of bed.

 The floor is freezing, where it’s not covered with a rug, and Steve hastily pulls on his jeans and sweater, and takes his coat with him just in case.  He’s got it in his head that he’s going to go for a walk, but when he gets downstairs and pokes his head outside, he changes his mind.

 The porch is lit with twinkling white fairy lights, and the outdoor heaters are still on.  There are three small tables with chairs tucked in around them, and a porch swing adorned with festive cushions.  Jackpot, Steve thinks, and claims the swing, moving it gently back and forth.

 The clearing in front of the B&B is framed with pine trees.  Steve imagines they would look lovely dusted with snow, although he’s just as glad it’s not quite that cold yet.  He lets his thoughts wander, thinking over how well the trip has gone so far.

 It’s only been a week since Danny kissed him, but Steve considers it one of the best weeks he’s ever had. Danny had bounced back quickly from his slump a few days ago.  Although work got in the way of their lunch with Kono, they met her at dive bar on the north shore that night, and took up a corner booth all evening long, trading stories and enjoying each other’s company.  

 Steve had thought about inviting the rest of the team, but after a little while he was glad he hadn’t. There was something about being together, just the three of them, that seemed right.  They had experienced so much together that the more recent members of the team had only heard about.  Steve feels a little selfish, keeping Kono for themselves, but he figures it won’t do too much harm.  And when he sees Danny leaning into Kono’s shoulder, talking in low tones about how he’s been feeling, he figures Danny is probably glad they kept the group small as well.

 Steve is startled out of his reverie by a hand on his shoulder.

 “Hey, what are you doing out here?”

 It’s really a rhetorical question, and Danny doesn’t wait for an answer, shoving at Steve’s leg until he slides over on the swing and makes room for Danny to sit down.  Danny gives the swing an experimental few rocks, and then sighs, leaning his head back.  Steve wraps his arm around Danny and they swing together, Steve pushing at the floor with one foot to keep them moving.

 “You doing okay, babe?”

 Steve squints at Danny.  “Yeah, I’m fine.”  He is, he just can’t sleep.  Nothing new.

 “You really hit it off with Maritza’s grandmother.”

 Steve can’t tell if Danny is trying to make a joke or not.  “Yeah, she seems like a real nice lady.  Close to Maritza, too, and her younger brothers.  She watches them afterschool.  Apparently likes to play baseball with them.”

 Steve had been impressed by Isabella, and Maritza’s mom, too.  Single parenting didn’t seem to be too much for either of them to handle.  Maritza’s mom worked full time, but was still very involved in the lives of all three of her children, driving carpools, helping with the school play, and coaching little league on weekends.

 Isabella wasn’t the only grandparent at family weekend, either.  Danny’s mom and dad had even planned on going, until Steve had gotten tickets for him and Danny and they decided to let them have all of Grace’s attention.  The only reason Rachel isn’t present is because she caught the flu from Charlie.  Grace is surrounded on all sides by people who love her – moms and dads and grandparents who want to be there for all the important events in her life.

 Quite a contrast with Doris.

 Steve feels that ache in his chest again, and he looks up to find Danny studying him closely.  

 “You have a terrible poker face, you know,” Danny says.

 “No, buddy, that’s you.”

 Danny huffs.  “It was a lot of family stuff today.  Thanks for putting up with it.”

 Steve frowns.  “I love family stuff – especially your family stuff.  I didn’t have to put up with anything.  I mean, it’s not like I’m going to have any kids of my own.  Might as well live vicariously.”

 The words come out as lightly as he can manage, but Danny squeezes closer to him and lays his head on his shoulder.  “My kids love you, you know that.”

 Steve shrugs, ignoring the hot feeling behind his eyes.  

 “You’ve known Charlie for as long as I have,” Danny goes on.  “You’re as much his dad as I am.”

 This clearly isn’t true, and Steve says so.  “Besides, Charlie already has two dads, and a mom as well.”

 “There’s no limit on how many people can love a kid.  Charlie’s luckier than most, that’s all.”

 Steve scrubs at his face and takes a deep breath.  “Today was a little hard,” he finally admits, voice quiet.  “I think about it, sometimes.”

 “Having kids?”

 Steve nods.  “Yeah.  Not now, not really.  I’m too old. But… what might have been, if I had found someone sooner.”  He thinks of little kids who might have looked like Catherine, dark haired and bright eyed.

 “Not that I would have been a very good dad.”

 Danny shoves him and stands up, knocking the swing back.  “What the hell are you talking about?  You’d be a great dad.”

 Steve stands up too, one hand on the swing to stop it from knocking into the side of the building.  “Keep your voice down, it’s the middle of the night.”

 “I’ll be as loud as I need to,” Danny exclaims, although he does quiet down somewhat.  “Fuck, Steve, how you can think that about yourself?  You look out for Grace and Charlie as if they were your own, they know they can trust you, rely on you.  They love you.”

 “I didn’t exactly have the best role models, growing up.”

 “Well it didn’t matter, not for this.” Danny paces across the porch, silently fuming.

 It warms Steve, even though his sadness.  “I appreciate your show of support, Danny, but it’s water under the bridge.”

 Danny stomps a little more, and then sits down on the swing.  Steve joins him, bumping him with his shoulder.  Danny bumps him back, then goes still.

 “It doesn’t have to be,” Danny says quietly.

 “What do you mean?”

 “You said it’s water under the bridge – it doesn’t have to be.  If you really wanted kids – more kids than Grace and Charlie,” Danny gives Steve a meaningful look, daring him to argue about his status with the Williams children, “you could still have kids.”

 “That’s not how biology works, Danny,” Steve says, waggling his eyebrows at him.

 “I didn’t mean-”  Danny huffs.  “You’re such a child.  But be that as it may, you could still have kids, like with a surrogate.  Or adopt, like Mary did.  Even foster.  Think of the difference you made in Nahele’s life.”

 “No, honestly, Danny, that’s not what I want.”  At his age, with his health problems, Steve really can’t see himself having a baby, or even an older child.  It wouldn’t be fair.  “I just think about what it might have been like, that’s all.”  

 Danny considers this.  “Promise to tell me if you change your mind?”

 Steve quirks his eyebrow at him. “Why?”

 “I like kids,” Danny says. “Babies.  Toddlers. Hormonal teenagers, take your pick.”  Danny shrugs.  “I come from a family of four siblings, you’ll recall.”

 Steve feels his heart swell. “Are you saying you want to make a baby with me?”  He’s being silly, but it’s more to cover up his ridiculous feelings than anything else. Is Danny seriously proposing that they have kids, or foster, or something – anything – together?

 Danny fixes him with a determined stare, the fairy lights reflecting in his blue eyes.  “I’m saying that you should let me know if you change your mind.”

 Steve wraps his arm around Danny and pulls him close.  “I won’t, Danno.  But – thank you.”

 They cuddle on the swing for a few more minutes, then go back upstairs, strip down, and get into bed.  Steve really doesn’t want to have kids of his own, not any more.  But he realizes he misspoke before, when he said he didn’t have a good role model for being a dad.  Because one of the best dads he’s ever met is next to him right now, curled up heavy and warm against his chest.

 “Stop worrying, Steven,” Danny says, reaching up to run his hand over Steve’s head, and cup his cheek to bring his face to his for a kiss.  “We’ve got plans with our girl tomorrow.”

 <i>Our girl.</i> Steve can’t remember if Danny has called Grace that before.  Maybe he has, and Steve is just now noticing?

 On that note… “I think Grace’s roommates think that we’re a couple,” Steve whispers.  Isabella certainly did.  

 “We are a couple,” Danny says, squirming closer and kissing him again.

 “But that just happened.  Does Grace even know?”

 Danny pulls back and looks at Steve. “Babe, she knew it long before we did. Now, do you want to keep talking about Grace, or do you wanna-” Danny throws a leg over Steve’s thigh, and it’s clear which option Danny wants Steve to choose.

 Steve still has more questions. He’s not done thinking about Danny’s children, and what the change in his relationship with Danny might mean to his relationship with Danny’s kids (does it mean he’s more of a dad?  A step-dad?  Is being “Uncle Steve” enough, or better?).  But Steve is only human.  Danny is hard and hot against him, and Steve isn’t about to look this gift horse in the mouth (at least not until he’s done checking out some more demanding parts of Danny’s anatomy).

 “Fool around now, talk more tomorrow,” he decides, tugging Danny’s boxers down over his ass.  From the indecent noise Danny makes when Steve takes him in hand, Steve’s certain he made the right choice.

[ladylynse]

So I have a Secret Quartet question. How'd the things with Rena Rouge, Carapace, and Queen B go?

Ooh, this is fun to think about. @queenofhearts7378 would have a better answer to that than me (she started the crossover, after all), but if we’re assuming Adrien was part of the Secret Quartet when this happened and Jake, Danny, and Randy weren’t around to help when the other Miraculous holders started turning up, Adrien would probably be asking them for advice.

I mean, he’s supposed to be Ladybug’s partner, but it’s hard not to see it like she’s replacing him, regardless of what she says. And he can’t blame her, because how much help has he been? She’s had to fight him a lot, he’s been caught under the spell of the latest villain many times, sometimes he’s caught in a trap and can’t free himself, and she had to fight without him entirely when Style Queen got him. It would be a major hit to his confidence, especially when that’s on shaky ground considering how little recognition he gets from his father. 

Couple that with the fact that Ladybug clearly knows more than he does about everything, that she hasn’t told him the whole story behind where she’s getting the Miraculous or who she’s entrusting them with or why she can suddenly give him things to feed Plagg to change the transformation…. How can he call himself her partner, when the balance of power is so one-sided? Is she trying to distance herself from him because he confessed how he felt? What did he do wrong? Why doesn’t she trust him?

He could talk to Danny, Jake, and Randy after what happened in Style Queen. He doesn’t need to remember it to know. To realize how close he came. It would make him feel so useless. What kind of hero is he if he’s taken out of the fight before he can even begin to help? And the others would share stories of their mistakes and missteps and how they turned those around or handled them, and he’d feel less alone, and less like someone made a mistake giving him the Miraculous.

And working with them? Fight bad guys and winning? It would help. Reassure him that he does have skills, he can fight well, and he wouldn’t need to second guess himself when he fights with Ladybug.

Had the other boys in the Secret Quartet been around to help for those incidents, the Rena Rouge, Carapace, and Queen Bee probably wouldn’t have been needed. 

Jake probably has some of Fu’s magic potions kicking around to supplement the magic he doesn’t inherently have, and he’s the only one of the bunch used to a younger sibling. He knows how they think. Even if his dragon eyes can’t spot the real children, he’d be able to come up with something to pick them out. Danny’s ice powers might be enlisted to make some enticing creations, and Randy would learn just how far he can take the Art of Disguise–because no one said that was limited to him.

Even if they didn’t want to torch or freeze the spiderweb for safety reasons, Danny’s intangibility would’ve made that rescue easy.

In the fight with Style Queen, they’d know immediately that Chat Noir was out of the equation because they know who he is, unlike Ladybug. And they’re not exactly ill-equipped to fight someone made of glitter. A Ninja Hydro-Hand would take out clumps at a time even with her trying to shift around their attacks, assuming they don’t want to risk setting fire to everything with either a fireball or Jake’s flames, and Danny could probably ice her in place while she’s trying to dodge someone else’s attack.

When Queen Bee went rogue, even if Jake didn’t have some sort of antidote to her venom, they could have helped slow the train. Danny is strong in ghost mode if he can lift a bus full of children, and Jake can carry a heck of a lot as a dragon. (Even if Danny’s not strong enough to turn the entire train intangible or take it off the tracks, he’ll still make a big difference.) While they’re trying to slow the train down with Ladybug, Randy could decide if he thinks he can actually safely control an element to help here (earth to slow the train without derailing it or wind to increase the wind resistance) or if he’d rather start flinging Ninja Rings at Queen Bee. Because if he can get her Miraculous off and cause her to transform back, that might negate her venom. (He’s willing to try anything at this point, and she seems to be a worse hero than he ever was, so…. Probably best that she doesn’t have it, right? (Randy wouldn’t be thinking about redemption arcs despite the many mistakes he’s made and paid for.)) There’s also the possibility that the Ninja Art of Healing would be able to counteract the paralysis, or at least counteract it enough to allow the conductor to do his job or help them through it.

When Queen Bee got akumatized? Danny, definitely. Intangibility. He could grab her Miraculous and get it to Adrien to destroy. If hit, he might–and this is a bit of a stretch but it’s still a possibility–be able to phase through the venom in his body–and everyone else’s, if they got hit. There’s also the possibility that Jake’s dragon hide is thicker and that the venom would have a lesser effect on him in dragon form or in general just because of his dragon powers/him not being completely human. Randy…Randy would just have to dodge.

Invisibility and intangibility would be really helpful where Maledikator is concerned, too. Jake probably has a handful of spells to try with varying degrees of effectiveness, and Randy is totally willing to try to burn the power sparks out of the sky until it’s made clear that that is a Bad Idea, but the possibility of being turned into a puppet makes Danny’s invisibility–and his ability to transfer it to whoever he’s touching–an ideal tool. He can’t be made a target if they don’t know he’s there. And Randy and Jake would make excellent distractions.

And if all the heroes got together? Expect lots of horrible puns and accompanying groans/cringes, plenty of teasing, maybe a dash of flirting from both sides, and a whole lot of friendly competition. Alya would call for it to be girls against boys. Chloé would be the first one to play dirty–especially because she doesn’t know her precious Adrikins is under Chat Noir’s mask. Marinette’s attempts to calm things down before they explode out of control would be drowned out by enthusiasm. Nino would catch her eye and shrug, then swallow when he spots Rena’s hungry look. Randy, Danny, and Jake would already be trying to come up with plans to get the girls, but if this is Paris, they’re at a disadvantage because they don’t know the territory, and they have to rely on Adrien and Nino for guidance–particularly Adrien, as Nino wouldn’t be used to seeing it from the rooftops (and he’s definitely not used to running them so dragon riding it is), which is probably where the competition would start because they’d be meeting up somewhere away from crowds.