#and just being stunned and so grateful that vlad didnt use his advantage to hurt danny for once

[redrobin-detective]

Danny Phantom AU where Vlad gets outed as half-ghost to the world (easiest scenario is Val narcs on him after she discovers his secret in D-Stabilized). He has everyone knocking on his door: police, ghost hunters, scientists, all trying to get a piece of him. Vlad was going to run, to abandon his life and start over anonymously. But then he catches sight of Danny and realizes the younger half-ghost is downright terrified. With Vlad’s secret out, their mutually assured destruction agreement is null and void. He can out Danny at any point, probably should as it would take a great deal of the heat off of him. The poor boy is literally sick with fear and worry, go bag ready to run at any moment. If Vlad left now, then Danny would drag that weighty fear with him for the rest of his life.

And it makes Vlad pause. Danny has been the object of his obsession for a while, he’s seen the kid annoyed, seen him angry, seen him cocky. But he doesn’t much like the look of helpless, shivering terror. So Vlad makes an unselfish decision for the first time in years, he plants his feet and he stays. Jack and Maddie jump to his defense and keep the worst of the hunters and scientists away. He spends millions on lawyers to keep himself out jails and labs. He lets tests be run and questions asks and submits himself to uncomfortable scrutiny. But it’s worth it to see the fearful edge slip off of Danny’s shoulders as he realizes that Vlad isn’t going to forcibly expose him.

When all is said and done, he’s to serve some time monitored by the Fentons. He moves into the guest bedroom with an anti-ghost ankle bracelet on and wonders why he went to so much trouble. But Danny shyly pokes his head in, arms crossed defensively and eyes down and quietly thanks Vlad for not exposing him. He asks if maybe he can sit in on some of the discussions and tests his parents will run. He wonders if maybe he can ask some questions of his own. It’s the olive branch Vlad has always wanted, the chance to forge a meaningful bond with the boy beyond arch nemesis. Amazing all it took was some bravery and looking beyond his own interests. 

Jack and Maddie can’t explain why Danny, who used to hate Vlad with a passion now frequently seeks their new houseguest out. They don’t comprehend the look of total and complete understanding the two of them will occasionally share. And if Vlad gently and patiently lays out the foundation that will let Danny safely reveal himself and Danny makes sure his overeager parents don’t go too far into their tests, well that’s simply coincidence. And the two half ghosts find themselves happier than they had been before the whole debacle. Plasmius was a ghost once feared and reviled, now he is just good old Uncle Vlad, co-haunting Amity Park alongside town hero, Danny Phantom. Sometimes if you look up in the sky, you can see them smiling at each other, like they have a secret just between the two of them.