Chapter Text
Many things have changed since Danny was a kid.
He told his parents about being Phantom, and… they didn’t take it well. But it was okay! At least the only thing they did was tell him that he couldn’t stay with them, so he just moved in with Sam and Tucker.
Then there was the whole “Young Daniel, you are now the Ghost King!” speech that Clockwork had gone on and on about. Training for that job –one he never really wanted– was tiring, but he had gotten the hang of it over the last six or so years.
He also learned that, since accepting and becoming king, he’s gained a broader power set. He can now mold and stretch the ectoplasm around him and within himself, essentially allowing him to shapeshift. ( Which is so cool! )
His core has also shifted a bit, as well as his obsession, which now includes space– in both the literal and physical sense. Frostbite explained it as his presence taking up all the space around him, either absorbing everything within it or influencing it. But he’s still having a hard time really understanding what that all means.
He thinks he understood more of what Frost was talking about when his universe ended. The GIW had gone overboard, and in a desperate attempt to save the Infinite Realms, Danny –being king– ended his universe. The feel of the space in… well, space, was an odd sensation; almost hollow. It wasn’t as bad when he found out that all of Amity Park had been turned into ghosts, though, seeing as nearly all of them were liminal or more from the ecto exposure.
Having Sam, Tucker, and Jazz with him was a huge weight off his shoulders –one he didn’t even know he had. They were his everything– his family and support system. And sure, he had Ellie and Dante (the whole Danny, Dani, and future Danny thing was a lot), but Jazz and his friends had always been there with him. Fitting, really, that they were with him from the beginning to the end.
Though now… he was just annoyed with them.
“Danny, you need a break! You’ve turned into a workaholic!” Sam stressed.
“You’re just lucky you can’t work yourself to death, dude, seeing as you’re, well… dead.” Tucker grinned at his own pun, which Danny would always appreciate, but he still held a serious tone.
“So,” Sam took a deep breath. “Me, Tuck, and Jazz talked with Frost and CW, and we decided it’s time to intervene.” She looked pointedly at Danny’s turned face. ( No, he wasn’t pouting, thank you. )
“You need a break, Danny. This isn’t good for your physical health or your mental health,” Jazz soothed, like always. “We’ve decided to give you a vacation.”
Danny snapped his head toward her, mouth open, protest rising in his throat. But Jazz just held up her hand.
“Before you say anything– yes, we can take care of things here. Danny, the realms ran for years before you came along. They can run just fine for a couple of months while you’re away.” She sat silently, waiting for him to get his bearings before answering.
With a sigh, Danny begrudgingly admitted that, okay, maybe he had been working a bit too much. And now that he was focusing on that fun little fact, he could almost feel the way his core ached, his ectoplasm screaming– like a wound that kept getting reopened.
Danny flinched a bit.
“Okay, yeah.” He leaned back into his chair, running a hand down his face. “Maybe I do need a break.”
He felt better seeing their faces lighten, a bit of the stress they had for him lessening. That much, he could see. And it made him feel a little bad, realizing he’d gotten so consumed with work that he hadn’t noticed he’d – accidentally, mind you – hurt his family.
But it’s okay. He can do this.
Just take a break. Not worry at all about his friends, family… the whole of the realms… or the new planets that were close to aligning.
He took a deep breath in and pulled at his hair a bit. Not the best move. If the look Jazz was sending him was anything to go by, she knew it too. But it helped ground him.
Kept him in this space.
“So, where were you guys thinking?” He glanced between all three of them, each of their smiles slowly growing.
“Clockwork is sending you to the living realm again– through the reincarnation cycle,” Sam said softly. She had probably also picked up on his little slip. Nothing ever seemed to get past her. She was almost as scary as Jazz when anyone she loved was distressed.
He frowned, now registering what she’d said. Jazz, having seemingly never taken her eyes off him, corrected that immediately.
“Danny,” she paused, biting her lip a bit. Slowly, she came closer and laid a hand on his shoulder. “You can’t not go back to the living realm. You know this. It’s what helps keep you healthy. What with you being half-alive still.” She took a breath, facing him fully now. “Frost explained it. Your human half is in hibernation right now –stagnant– while simultaneously slowing your ghost half down.”
She had now put both hands on his shoulders, bending down to look him in the eye.
“You are both alive and dead. You need to take care of both, or both will start to die, Danny. And you can’t die on me now, okay?”
She was growing a little misty-eyed. Danny did his best not to tear up as well.
“Okay.” He sucked in a sharp breath. “Okay, I’ll think it over and get back to you guys, alright?” He looked at Jazz, then glanced over at Sam and Tuck.
They all smiled.
“That’s all we can ask of you, dude.” Tucker punched his shoulder.
They stayed and talked a little more about life– after life . Danny found out that, in his work-obsessed state, Sam had been working with Undergrowth, exploring all the abandoned islands and turning them into lush forests and parks. Tucker had moved to Technus’s lair, supposedly working on a secret project . And Jazz, to the shock of no one, had moved to the Far Frozen, helping ghosts either move on or, if not, settle with the knowledge that they could be happy and content in this life.
That night, after saying goodnight to his friends and family, Danny lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking about what it would be like to go back.
Would he have a mom and dad again? Siblings?
What if they found out about him being half-dead and hated him?
Or, worse– what if they accepted him? Loved him regardless ?
That’s what scared him the most, he thought. He knew how to deal with unloving or neglectful parents, but… loving ones? Jazz loved him, he knew that. But their situation was different. She was practically his parent, spending most of her life protecting and caring for him. He felt like being accepted was forced or maybe just instinctual for her at that point. ( She tells him all the time that’s not true, but he can’t help it. )
But real, unconditional love and acceptance?
He honestly didn’t think he could handle that.
Something nudged his head.
He uncurled to see what it was. ( When did he curl into a ball? )
Cujo wagged his tail happily at having Danny’s attention and licked his face.
It was a shock. Danny couldn’t help the wet laugh that escaped him. He hadn’t even realized he’d been crying. Having emotions was a real bitch sometimes. Not that Cujo minded—he just squirmed his way under the comforter to snuggle with him.
This… Danny thought. This is what I want to do. It's not far from protection; comfort practically falls under the same category. He can be someone's best friend like Cujo is to him. He can help someone through a panic attack or protect them from a bad guy. It’d be weird at first –what with being, well, a dog– but he has time to get used to it.
Sleeping that night was peaceful, his mind free of thoughts and worries. With Cujo cuddled beside him and the thought that he could help both his other half and one of his obsessions, he finally felt at ease.
Tomorrow, he’d talk to Clockwork.