Work Text:
Lesser Evils
By Victor Dalton
Beta: Soup
Vlad was getting ready to leave Town Hall for the day. Ready to leave as in the paperwork was put away, computer shutdown, halfway to the door kind of ready to leave. A black and white blur streaked through the wall and slammed into him, knocking him to the floor in a graceless heap.
Snarling, he was ready to strike Phantom and demand why he was being attacked, when he realized the boy wasn't attacking him. Daniel was clinging to his waist and sobbing. Vlad didn't know what to do with that. Clearly something was very wrong, but whether it was ghostly in nature or something mundane, he was at a loss for why the teen would come to him for comfort.
"What's wrong?" Vlad asked, hesitantly petting Phantom's hair. That was how you comforted children, right?
Daniel attempted to say something, but the words were garbled by distress and muffled by the boy's face being pressed into Vlad's sternum.
"I didn't understand that. Calm down."
White rings swept over Phantom's form, the switch letting the teen cry actual tears into his tailored button-down. Vlad just sighed and resigned himself to waiting out whatever it was that had Daniel so distraught. He continued petting the boy's hair, not knowing what else to do.
Eventually, Daniel did settle down, loosening his grip on Vlad's waist, but not letting go. "I need you to hide me. I couldn't go to Tucker's or Sam's because I'd be found," the teen rambled into his chest.
It wasn't the easiest thing to parse what Daniel was saying, but at least Vlad was able to understand him that time. "Hide you from who? The Guys In White?"
There was a headshake and a tight squeeze around his waist again. "She wanted skin samples. I couldn't do it. She doesn't see me anymore."
Vlad paled. As disjointed as the boy's thoughts clearly were, that painted a pretty clear picture of what had happened. "Maddie found out that you're Phantom?"
Another headshake, this one slower. "I told them. Not about you. They were okay with it. Dad was sorry. Mom wanted some scans. Which was okay. And then blood samples. She talked me into it. But she couldn't talk me into skin samples." Daniel started crying again. "She got mad. Dad let me go."
While that gave Vlad a rough chain of events, it didn't give him a timeline. It was quite unlikely that Maddie had gone from scans to scalpels in a matter of hours. More likely, Daniel had come out to them days or weeks ago and it had been a slow progression. He could absolutely imagine his dear, sweet Maddie starting out with pure intentions, wanting scans to make sure her son was okay, and that slowly being taken over by her sharp, scientific curiosity. At least Jack had done something right, for the first time in the man's wretched life, by getting Daniel away from Maddie.
"Yes, Little Badger, you can stay with me. I'll make sure your mother can't get to you."
***
Jack should have known. He should have known from that first time that Maddie slipped up after Danny told them.
She had launched into an explanation that had even went over his head about how much Danny could teach them about ghosts. Jack had noticed how stressed out it was making their son and pointed out that Danny looked like he was heading towards a panic attack. She had instantly corrected him by saying that ghosts couldn't have panic attacks. And Jack had reminded her that their son definitely could. He'd gotten a dismissive agreement as she got lost in whatever potential discoveries were running through her mind.
But he hadn't known then. He hadn't taken the red flags seriously until he had heard her and Danny arguing in the basement. Danny didn't argue like that with either of them. The kid was always too level headed for screaming matches, even with Jazz. So while he had known something was very wrong, he still hadn't expected to see Maddie trying to put anti-ghost restraining cuffs on their son.
He and Maddie were always such a good team. His out-of-the-box thinking and her attention to detail. They just worked together so well. But Jack couldn't let it go. If he had to weigh over twenty years of marriage against their children's safety, he would pick their children every time.
And he did.
Jack packed an overnight bag and called a taxi. Maybe she would come to her senses and things could go back to normal, but until then, he couldn't be around his wife.
As the taxi pulled away from FentonWorks, Jack hoped that Danny had found a safe place to spend the night. He had no doubt that the boy would figure something out, Fentons were a resourceful lot.
The taxi dropped him off in front of the Mayor's manor. Jack had no doubts that his old friend would help him out. And, even if Vlad couldn't help him, there was always a hotel. Anything that wasn't FentonWorks right then.
Vlad answered the door and sort of froze.
"Hey, V-man," Jack greeted without his usual enthusiasm.
Danny leaned around Vlad in the doorway for a fraction of a second before hiding behind his old buddy again. It broke Jack's heart.
"I'm not going back," Danny stated.
"I'm not asking you to. I didn't even know you were here, Dann-o."
"Why are you here then?" demanded Vlad, impatiently.
Normally, Jack would assume that he imagined the tone, that Vlad was just a little off because of… well, anything. But Jack wasn't wearing rose-colored glasses, he had left those at home with his ring. Vlad was being hostile and it wasn't just because of Danny.
"I walked out on Mads. Danny probably told you what she tried to do and I couldn't stomach it." Jack smiled weakly at his friend. Actually, he figured that Danny told Vlad a very edited version of what happened and he wasn't about to go against whatever had been said. "I was hoping that I could crash with you for a couple days, while she figures out her priorities."
***
Vlad curled his lip, considering throwing Jack to the curb just because, but the boy lightly clutching the back of his suit reminded him that the situation had changed.
"I know you hate him, but please, Vlad?" Daniel pleaded.
It was obvious that Jack had heard and not brushed off 'hate' as a joke. Yes, the situation had changed and Jack wasn't playing the role of happy buffoon presently.
"Him being here is going to make it harder to hide you," warned Vlad, even as he moved out of the doorway.
Jack muttered a thank you as Vlad led the way to a parlor for them to sit and talk. He and Daniel had already been sitting in there as Vlad had tried to pry details out of the teen after getting some real food into the boy. Daniel kept Vlad between himself and Jack as they walked.
"Yeah, she might come here looking for Dad, but she knows I don't like you. She's known since Colorado. When I'm not at Sam's or Tucker's, she'll be out of obvious options, but she knows I'd never go to you."
"Only if she is aware that your dislike of me is more than your defense of her virtues."
"Obviously she doesn't know the details, but I doubt she has missed how we talk to each other."
There was only one chair in the parlor that Jack could fit into without it breaking, so Vlad was forced to change seats.
"I feel like I'm missing something here," said Jack, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. "I don't know why Danny-boy wouldn't like you, but if he doesn't, why is he here?"
Vlad and Daniel shared a look and then the teen shrugged. So the boy would roll with whatever lies Vlad spun.
"Let's just say that he and I are opposite personalities. As for why he came here anyway, I've known he was Phantom since the Reunion. He blackmailed me into keeping his secret." The villain sipped at his brandy, letting Jack wonder how a fourteen year old could blackmail a billionaire. "So I'm probably the only adult, outside of his sister, who he could flee to that he could tell the whole story to. And without the part about wanting to keep his ghostliness secret, someone well meaning, like the Foleys, would call DCFS."
That there were potential legal repercussions had obviously not occurred to Daniel. The boy was pale and was hugging his own knees in the chair. Daniel had made the safest choice in coming to Vlad, but clearly was only just now figuring out that it wasn't only Maddie that he'd dodged by not going to his friends' houses.
"We would deserve it," Jack said, sadly.
"Maddie certainly would. You might have. But Danny wouldn't have."
The idiot frowned, uncomprehending. Vlad rolled his eyes, it wasn't that large of a leap in logic.
"What do you think the chances are of the GIW staying out of an investigation at a ghost hunter's home?" Vlad hinted.
Horror dawned on Jack's face, his eyes darting to the miserable ball that was his son. "They would have too many chances to figure out who he is."
"And then he would have either been killed during his attempt to escape or be captured and be just as bad off as if you hadn't interrupted Maddie. We all know that the GIW wouldn't care that he's half-human."
"You're right. And I will do anything I have to to prevent that from happening!" Jack announced with conviction.
"What will you do about Maddie?"
The large man heaved a huge sigh and massaged his left hand. Vlad noticed the missing bulge of the wedding band that should have been on Jack's hand. Jack had said he'd walked out, but Vlad hadn't thought he had meant it in anything more than a literal left-the-house-during-an-argument sort of way.
Out of habit, Vlad started considering how he could catch Maddie on the rebound if Jack divorced her. But a glance at Daniel reminded him that he preferred his skin intact. She was far too dangerous to pursue now that she was both aware of the existence of half-ghosts and had decided that the ghost part mattered more than even family. A fool he might be, but he also valued self-preservation above all else.
"If she comes to her senses, maybe gets therapy, things might work out, but I honestly don't know if I can trust her again. I know I don't want Danny around her," admitted Jack, wringing his hands.
"I'm sorry I've ruined everything," Daniel said softly.
Both men stared at him. Jack got up and carefully scooped the boy into his arms, then sat down in the too small chair. Vlad winced as the chair squeaked its protest.
"You didn't ruin anything, son. Your mother made that choice all on her own," Jack said.
"But if I hadn't told you guys…"
"Then they would have caught or killed you one day and never known until it was too late," interjected Vlad.
"You did the right thing by telling us. I said it then and I still mean it now, I'm proud of you. I'm proud of you for trying your best and for being brave enough to tell us." Jack held Danny close and it made Vlad's heart twinge in a very uncomfortable way. Maybe his core was acting up.
"Whatever you work out with Maddie, I intend to resign from my position as Mayor and go back to Wisconsin in the near future. I don't have a reason to stay here anymore." Daniel was finally his and Maddie was a hazard. No, he would take his winnings and run. "I would like to point out that, in a cursory look at Illinois custody laws, since Daniel is over fifteen, if you get a divorce, he can choose to let only one parent have full custody. It doesn't have to be a battle of visitations. But I can also just make him disappear, if you would prefer."
"I- I don't know. I think that depends on if Mads has really gone off the deep end or not." Jack sighed again and even Vlad could hear the hurt and confusion in that simple breath.
"Dad, is she out hun- looking for me?" asked Daniel thinly.
The large man laughed, a bitter sound. "If she is, she'll have a hard time of it. I smashed all of the tracking devices before I left."
Vlad's eyes widened at that. Jack didn't destroy inventions. Stored away, repurposed, adjusted, but never destroyed.
"The RV?"
"Out of commission."
It was moments like that where Vlad was glad that Jack was a gentle person. It was easy to forget that that heavyset frame hid an impressive amount of strength, enough to harm a ghost or, apparently, break an armored vehicle. His heart… core… whatever twinged again.
"If you divorce Maddie, you're welcome to stay at my castle until you decide what to do with your life. If you stay with her, I'd rather you avoid visiting for Daniel's safety," stated Vlad.
That got him a relieved look from Jack and a calculating frown from Daniel. As always, the boy was suspicious of his intentions, even at this juncture. His offer was definitely to press Jack to leave Maddie, but he couldn't say why. Maybe it was left over from wanting Maddie for himself, maybe it was for Daniel's sake, but it definitely wasn't for Jack or for himself.
"Isn't that risky?" Daniel asked, his phrasing careful. It was probably meant to mislead Jack into thinking that Daniel was asking about Maddie following.
"If he makes his choice, I'll make mine." The teen nodded in understanding. If Jack came to live with them, Vlad was not going to let the man continue chasing Plasmius around. He would not hide half of himself in his own house.
"Naw, Vladdy's too much of a silver fox for me to tarnish his reputation!" declared Jack. Of course, that was where the buffoon would take the conversation. "Besides, who doesn't try things in college?"
"Jack! Shut up!" Vlad demanded. It took more effort than he would like to admit to keep his eyes from being as red as his face.
Daniel looked surprised for a moment and then a knowing grin slid on the brat's face, the threat in that smile not at all diminished by the fact that the teen was still curled in his father's massive arms.
Vlad pointed at Daniel angrily. "Not one word from either of you or I'll throw you both out into the street."
"It was him, wasn't it?" asked Daniel, who then immediately rolled out of Jack's arms and fled upstairs in a blur of black and white before Vlad could do anything.
"Daniel, I will end you!"