Chapter Text
Standing on top of the highest building and looking down at Amity Park at night brings a sense of calm to Phantasm. The faint glow of streetlights gives the town an eerie feel to it, one he has become all too familiar with. Looking towards where Casper High is he sighs, this may be the last year he will stay in this quaint town before moving to Wisconsin with his father. He wanted to stay and finish high school to avoid any hardships in a new school, but Vlad didn’t mind. It would give him time to set up his new room in Wisconsin.
Years ago when he first had gotten his powers he was afraid of being found out. Not by the government which would have been bad as well. No but them , Jack and Madeline Fenton, his former parents who were notorious for knowing about ghosts. Thankfully he had his sister Jazz to keep him and his secret safe.
His sister has always been a blessing to him from a young age and now she was in college studying Adolescent and Child Psychiatry with a smaller business major. She would visit when she could but since she was studying in Maryland and it was a long way from Amity visits were rare. Instead when breaks would align for the two, Vlad would use his private jet for a surprise visit or have her come home.
It was always nice when she was around, luckily they keep in contact daily. She would talk about what she was learning and he would update her on how the town was fairing. Over the years, ghost attacks had started to dwindle ever since the Fenton Work portal was shut down. The occasional blob ghost would phase through but no major threat.
Danielle also started to visit more when she learned he was living with Vlad. At first, she was confused at the sudden change before storming to the elder and demanding to know what he had done to her brother. Vlad was trying desperately and failing to convince her he had done nothing wrong. Danny had come to his aid when he told her about him saving his life.
He then explained what had happened when she was gone, how Vlad and he started to fight less. How his former parents had tried to kill him once they learned that he was phantom and he had flown to Vlad for help. Not knowing whether he would help him or not. Until he did and even fixed his cracked core days later.
Ellie was hesitant to believe her former creator would change, that was until she was brought into a hug by him. Who profusely apologized for ever hurting her and never being the father she needed him to be.
Suffice it to say, she accepted the apology but not without saying she would return to make sure Danny was doing well. After a month of visiting and seeing how happy Danny and Jazz were talking and doing with Vlad. Ellie decided to give him a chance, staying at the mansion and learning just how much he had truly changed.
As for his former parents, they had another court date a few days after the first. They were found guilty of attempted homicide and were jailed for the rest of their lives. He was there with Vlad when it happened, the relief he felt when he knew he would finally be safe from them.
They had tried to use their weapons to prove otherwise, aiming them directly at him. Luckily the security staff were prepared and had cuffed them before they had a chance, Vlad had quickly stood in front of him when he saw the weapons. Yelling at their foolishness to bring the weapons into the courtroom.
“Enjoying the view, Son?”
Phantasm looks up at Plasmius, his cape flowing in the subtle wind. He sits down beside Danny, looking at the illuminated town
“Yeah, wanted to make sure no ghosts were causing trouble” he stated
Plasmius laughed messing with his unkempt hair to which Phantasm knocked his hand away with a smile
“Dad stop”
“My dear boy, your hair is already a mess. There is no harm being done besides there have rarely been any attacks. The ghosts had decided to haunt the town less in favor of you”
Danny looks up at him “Wait really? I didn’t know that, I thought they just stopped”
Plasmius only nods “After they learned of what happened to you, they agreed to give you a break. I also may have threatened some of the more restless ghosts”
There’s a subtle laugh coming from Danny, not at all astonished at his father’s threats to another ghost. It had become a common occurrence when he had fought tougher ghosts. To say he was shocked at how Vlad knew when he was in trouble was an understatement. Though his core was thumping with joy when the elder harshly berated the being for harming him so severely before turning them into nothing but a puddle of ectoplasm.
“By the way, how did you know when I needed help? Please don’t tell me you put a tracker on me or made some tiny spy cam”
Plasmius shakes his head in amusement, placing his hand near Phantasm’s core. Suddenly Danny feels a much warmer sensation attached to his core, where he feels happiness attached to it.
“Both of our cores have come to adapt to one another. It is how I sensed when you needed assistance. Honestly, Daniel has my training taught you nothing, I did explain this when we did elemental training”
The halfa only rubs his neck in embarrassment
“I may have not been paying attention there”
Vlad sighs "Of course you weren't"
Danny gives him a soft chuckle, looking up at the sky
"I have an idea of what I want to do"
“Oh? Do tell me what may that be?” Questions the elder with enthusiasm, remembering how much of a struggle Daniel had in figuring out his future. He still wanted a career in Astronomy, he just didn’t know what as most of the areas would entail a government job.
“Well either Astronomy in general or Astrometry, I’m not sure yet both seem cool to learn”
Vlad thinks about his answer, both are good for him. If he recalls, Astrometry deals with mapping celestial bodies that have yet to be discovered. Astronomy on the other hand involves learning almost everything related to outer space.
“Both are good to study Daniel, how about you start with Astronomy? From there you may be able to find other areas of interest. You won’t have to worry about tuition either way”
Danny looks towards him, thinking. He would learn more than he already knows about outer space. Maybe he could also learn something new, the universe is vast after all, and yet many areas are still undiscovered due to limited technology.
“It’s a start, I’ll give it a shot. Either way, I won’t be bored since it’s something I really like learning about”
Vlad pats his head with a smile
“Excellent, now let us head home. You do have school tomorrow and it is quite past your bedtime”
Groaning, Danny only turns around deciding not to pay attention to him anymore as he ruined the mood
“Daniel stop this nonsense before I drag you home”
“Ha! That’s only if you can catch me fruitloop!” he retorts, phasing through the building and disappearing
Plasmius stutters with his words at the childish behavior, deciding to use another clone to go after his son
“DANIEL MASTERS! Get back here this instance!”
Danny only laughs as he flies through the town intangibly. It had become a game between the two; on nights that he would patrol and Vlad was around, he would disappear just to see how good he was at finding and catching him. If he was able to get home before Plasmius caught him, he was allowed to stay out late the next day as long as it was not a school night. Now if he was caught by him, he had more training or Skulker would join them just to toy with him.
Lost in his train of thought, Phantasm doesn’t see the pink ectoplasmic rope nearing him until he’s trapped in it. A triumphant aha accompanied by it, Danny only groans at the loss.
“No fair Dad! I wasn’t ready for that!”
A chuckle escapes from the elder’s mouth, reeling Danny closer then picking him up and placing him on his shoulder. Flying off towards the mansion to put the halfa to bed
“You should know by now that you must always be aware of your surroundings, Little Badger. Skulker will be joining us the next training session”
Sighing, Danny accepts the loss this time. He always forgets about the clones until it's too late and he’s captured. Once in the mansion, Vlad flies towards Danny’s room before setting him down then removes the rope from him and transforms back. Phantasm turns back into Danny once free, he stretches yawning at the sudden tiredness.
“Off to bed now Daniel, do not forget you drive to school. I do not want you to fall asleep at the wheel and cause an accident” scolds Vlad
“Yeah yeah, alright. I’ll go to bed” refutes Danny, going to his drawer to change into pajamas. He’s stopped by being pulled into a hug, at first he’s surprised at the sudden gesture. That is until his father speaks
“I am only worried about your safety just as that fateful day when you arrived at my doorstep on the verge of death”
Suddenly tears brim his eyes at the memory, one he thought he had finally let go of. Only to realize that he had not, it served as a reminder of just how awful his life was before. Returning the hug with greater force, he lets his tears flow. God, the love Vlad had shown him and his sister over the years had been something he longed from them .
Now, he didn’t want to ever lose it. Vlad was their parent now and he was a darn good one in Danny’s opinion. No one could tell him otherwise even if they had started off on bad terms. Now after 3 years of living with him, he saw just how much of an effect Jazz and him had on the elder.
Prior to them being in his life, the only thing on his mind was revenge for what he had become. Using his ghost powers for his own gain rather than to help others. He would do anything in his power to gain what he wanted, that is until he couldn’t get the one thing he truly desired.
A family
Getting one was not easy, for the woman he loved had married another. Who then had children of their own, children that were not taken care of properly. At the time he had not known that simple fact and had he, he would have acted sooner. To avoid the tragedy that finally led him to his dream.
“Sleep well, Little Badger”
There’s a pat on his head and Vlad’s presence is gone, the door to his room shutting with a soft click. Looking at the door, a smile graces Danny’s face. He wouldn’t change a thing that led to this life, well maybe just one. Had he known Vlad sooner and under different circumstances, he would not hesitate and ask for his help.
To get him and his sister away from the hectic life that they had known and into one full of parental love and care. To someone who cares when they arrive home late, who fail tests, and who gets in trouble at school for idiotic reasons.
Who won’t hesitate and come to their aid when the world they have known falls apart before their eyes
Yea, he wouldn’t change a thing. He’s happy with the life he has now, a loving father, two overprotective sisters, his pet Cujo who sometimes fights with Princess and even becoming friends with some of his former enemies. Who also come to his aid when he needs their assistance.
He finally feels safe