Spectral Analysis [The Cure, Part 2]

[a1enzo]

Once more, Enzo emerges from the Matrices' closet. "Mouse?" he calls. "You got everything? Did Oracle show up okay?"

Comments

[goinghost.livejournal.com]

"No clue, but they're doing their job a little too well," Danny said, floating over to her bedside and setting down in the chair there.

"So...how do you feel?" he asked tentatively.

[ami_imperfect]

Dani takes a deep breath before answering.

"A little weak, but otherwise not any different. Guess we won't really know until I try transforming."

And that won't be happening for a little while, at least.

[goinghost.livejournal.com]

"Which is not happening until you've rested for a bit."

Danny slid out his hand and reached for hers.

"Speaking of which, I have some stuff to talk to you about."

[ami_imperfect]

She eyes him warily. "What kind of stuff?"

[goinghost.livejournal.com]

"First of all, this...you know, living in the bar thing. It's okay, but lots of bad stuff has happened here, and--I don't think I can do it, at least not yet, but I feel bad, you know? I mean...you came from me. Weird, slightly creepy--okay, very creepy--but that makes you my sister or...or like my kid or something. I dunno. It's confusing. I still haven't worked it all out in my head yet, and that's part of why I've been so...distant lately. I feel like...Vlad took something from me he had no right to take, and it violated some...right I should've have had. But I'm glad he did it at the same time? You know? Because of the result. I'm really glad of the result."

Which was her.

He took a deep breath. "What I'm trying to say is that I feel responsible for you, and I feel bad that you live in a bar It may be the coolest bar ever in the history of the universe, but...well. Families are pretty cool, too."

He took in a deep breath. "I don't think I'm ready yet, and I guess--okay, that is pretty selfish of me. I can admit to being selfish. I'm not ready, and it's selfish, because it's to make my life easier--but my life is really hard to start with, and that's why I need to keep up the secret identity thing just a little bit longer. I sort of have this feeling...like something big is supposed to happen. Maybe with Vlad or--or somebody, I'm not sure, so for now, I need things to be the same until it does happen."

He tilted his head. "But at some point--soon--I'm going to tell my parents what I am. And about you. I'm going to tell them everything."

A pause.

"And when I do, I want you to live with me. I want you to have a house. And a yard. And parents--even if they're a little obsessed. And--well, you could do without school, school sucks, but I guess it'd be good for you anyway."

"You didn't ask to be created--and I'm glad you did--and you've made friends in Milliways, but you deserve Milliways and something more than that. You deserve all the same things I have, too--like a family." He snorted. "Even if they're nuts. I mean, if you want it. Not now, but...soon. I promise you. I'll do it soon. Within the year. I won't let it go any longer than that."

[ami_imperfect]

Dani can only stare at him, stunned.

"A-are you sure?" she asks. "I mean, what if your parents..." What if they don't accept me?

A totally irrational thought, to be sure. But then Dani's never really belonged to a family before.

[goinghost.livejournal.com]

He knew what she was worried about.

They were similar enough. It'd been his main worry, and deepest fear for a long, long, long time. At least until he had more to fear--like becoming evil. Oh, and evil villain labs. He hated those.

"They accepted me. One time. Then I changed all of reality, and making them forget was part of it."

A pause. "Long story, a magical reality-altering gauntlet was involved, anyywaay, my point is, they found out and accepted me. I just thought it would be better if they went on without knowing. Which is...okay, I keep acting like it's better for me, but it isn't. It's actually inconvenient for me, but maybe it'd save them the heartbreak of knowing that whenever Danny Phantom raced off to fight the King of all Ghosts or any number of nasty things that might tan his skin an make a throw rug out of it, that it wasn't their son. That gives me some piece of mind, knowing they have it. Plus if they know, my dad will try to 'help' me and sometimes he's great at fighting ghots, but it tends to only be when the family's in mortal peril. All the rest of the time...yeah, let's just say I'm not really ready to have him 'helping' yet."

He squeezed her hand. "But like I said. Within the year. That's the deadline I'm holding to. Hopefully that'll be time for...this weird feeling to go away, or something to happen like it feels like it will. When the time comes, they so totally will accept you, and love you. They'll have to, because, you know, you're sort of me. But not. You're my kid. You know, whatever it is you are."

And he loved her, in his own weird, distant-yet-overprotective way.

[ami_imperfect]

She nods, not really blaming him. Hell, she was there when Jack and Maddie first entered Milliways, ghost-hunting weapons blazing.

"Okay. I-I do, want it, I mean. Everyone at Milliways is great, but I do get kind of homesick for Amity Park. And you."

Dani reaches out and grabs his hand. "And if it's easier, you can just think of me as your little sister."

Because it's easier for her to see him as her big brother than her father.

[goinghost.livejournal.com]

"Heh. I guess that means you get to annoy me like I annoy Jazz," he said, holding her hand with both of his own.

"Are you up for hugging? I promise I won't squeeze too hard."

[ami_imperfect]

"Always."

[goinghost.livejournal.com]

BIG BROTHER HUG MOON POWER ACTIVATE!

Wait...

GOING HUGGY!

Nope. Maybe...

WITH THESE HUGS COMBINED WE CALL HIM CAPTAIN--

Nope. He just couldn't think of a good superhero catchphrase for hugging. Even though his code was pretty much demanding he make some sort of bad pun.

"I am so relieved right now. You have no idea," he said. "Although as soon as we're sure you're stable and feel up to it, we have a lot of work to do."

[ami_imperfect]

I dunno; "GOING HUGGY" has a certain ring to it...

"I think I might," Dani counters.

She pulls away and looks at him curiously. "What kind of work?"

[goinghost.livejournal.com]

"Well, you'll be able to use your powers now. Hopefully." If it worked right. "So it'd be best if you learned how to use them really good. Especially if Vlad ever comes after you again. I've learned a lot of little tricks that are good to know, and the space Ranger guy who's trained me a bit has helped, too. I promise I'll be nicer than him and not hit you with sticks, though."

[ami_imperfect]

It worked right. That's what Dani keeps telling herself, anyway.

And if Vlad ever comes near her, she'll kick his butt back to Wisconson.

"And I promise I won't be too big of a pain in the butt as a student." She grins cheekily.

[goinghost.livejournal.com]

"You have to, at least a little bit. Like literally. Because the only way I'll know you're learning is if you get good enough to start kicking my butt." He went on airily, "Which, if you can do that, means you'll be able to take on Vlad easily. Since I can beat him."

He ruffled her hair. And only then did he notice the Guardian bear.

Hrrmmm...

Sigh.

Enzo wanted to see her, she probably wanted to see him and even though he didn't approve of how the two kids were getting so close (he totally wanted to go for the Fenton Anti-Creep stick), he knew Enzo was a good kid. And they were just kids.

It's just he knew in a few years he was going to have to watch them both like a hawk, so best to discourage them a little now. Somehow he figured Dani's female genes endowed her with just a little more social grace than he ever had, so therefore he was going to have to beat boys off his little sister with a stick later on. (It was good they had one for such purpose).

But she felt cruddy, so, he wasn't going to worry too much about it today.

It was with some eye-rolling reticence that he said, "I'm going to go get Enzo in to see you before he explodes or something."

[ami_imperfect]

Hair-ruffling makes Dani grin.

Eye-rolling when talking about her friend, though, merits a Look.

"Be nice, please?" she asks. "Enzo's my friend."

[goinghost.livejournal.com]

"He's mine too," Danny protested, floating towards the door. "I just think you're both a little young for, you know, hand-holding. Hugging. Any physical contact whatsoever..."

[ami_imperfect]

This earns him an exasperated, "DANNY!"

[goinghost.livejournal.com]

"Hey hey, calm down. Think of your condition. Besides, I'm letting him in. Come on, I think I'm a very lenient, good big-brother-slash-chaperone. I'll only beat him up when he gets older, I promise."

It was with a (slightly wicked) grin that he slipped out the door to let Enzo in.

[a1enzo]

Again the voices through the door:

"Is she okay? Can I see her now?" There may also be carpet-muffled noises of excited bouncing.

[goinghost.livejournal.com]

Danny floated through the door, and transformed back to normal-sprite, as was audible by the fwash. "She's fine, she wants to see you, and she seems to be feeling well enough to yell at me, so hopefully, it took."

[a1enzo]

"Alphanumeric!"

Bonnnnnng.

Exasperatedly, "Guys! C'mon!"

[command_dot_com]

"Guys, let him through...people can be let through one at a time." And from behind the door there's a familiar voice using the 'I'm the mom' tone as pieces of metal click and roll out of the way.

[hack-slash-bots.livejournal.com]

"Yes sir ma'am! mum."

[a1enzo]

And finally the door opens and in runs Enzo. "Dani!"

Halfway across the room, he stops. No crowding, no crowding, right.