Chapter Text
Danny remembers the mistake and all the worries that lead up to said mistake but the aftermath is a blur.
He remembers Jazz reassuring him that it would all be alright.
He remembers his friends saying nothing bad was going to happen.
That if something did they'd always be there to help and protect him.
What a joke.
———
“Come on Danny what's the worst that could happen?” Jazz's voice was tilted up in such a way that Danny knew she was trying to joke.
Danny really didn't think this was a joking matter.
“They could dissect me on a table.” He stated voice flat.
He wanted to believe they would but they were constantly going on and on about how they'd love to catch and tear Phantom apart.
Molecule by molecule.
They'd tear him apart piece by piece; he didn't want to take that risk and couldn't take that risk.
——
Tucker was sitting on his beanbag entire body limp.
“You really think they'd hurt you if they knew?” He wasn't trying to be cruel, just genuinely curious.
Still it felt like a shot to the heart.
He hated that he was still 90% sure they would hurt him.
That they would end him with zero hesitation.
They would shatter his core into a million little pieces and call it science.
Call killing their own son an act of good.
They would find his limits and push them as far as they could before he was gone.
Because ‘Ghosts don't feel don't be silly Danno!’
“They would.” Danny murmurs voice low and upset.
Tucker's face falls from curiosity to sadness.
“Sorry didn't mean to press on a wound. Wanna watch me hack into the GIW database again?” Tucker was already pulling out his computer and Danny flopped onto the beanbag next to his friend.
He couldn't risk it.
It wasn't worth the loss something like that could bring.
They would hurt him yes but others would suffer if they found out about cores.
If they found the way to shatter a ghost into nothing.
Danny couldn't take a risk like that.
Piece by piece
——
Sam was painting Danny's nails while Tucker fetched snacks.
“What's on your mind?” She didn't look up when she said it but her tone was gentle.
She wouldn't force an answer out of him.
None of them would ever do that unless they thought he actually needed it.
But she was worried.
Soft eyes flanked in eyeliner and eyeshadow glanced up at him.
Gentle but curious.
But also worried.
She was worried about him.
“It's my parents.” He blurted eyes flicking around the room in an effort not to make eye contact.
“What they say this time?” She thankfully wasn't trying to make eye contact; she knew him better than to try when he was like this.
“Its not really them, it's just…” Danny searched for the right words. His brain working at top speed to find the real reason he was upset.
“They would end me if they found out. Tear me apart until nothing was left. Right?” That was the crux of the issue wasn't it?
He was starting to be more and more unsure of what they would do.
Jazz was always talking about how they would always support him.
How they loved him no matter what.
What hurt deep in his chest was the fact they were his parents and he wasn't sure if they were going to end him.
Sam looked at him eyes soft and gentle.
“They're your parents, you're not required to think the best of them." She capped the nail polish. “Whatever you think, me and Tucker will always support you. Even if you decide to never tell your parents.” She stood and patted his head just as Tucker came back with an armful of snacks.
“What I miss guys?”
Limb by limb
——
Jazz was laying on the floor.
Staring at his ceiling covered in stars.
He wasn't mad at her.
Not really just scared.
Scared of what she was suggesting.
They'd gotten back on to the topic of Danny telling their parents and when he flat out refused she'd been hurt.
She didn't yell or cry.
Didn't try and guilt trip him into telling them.
But she looked so upset that Danny couldn't trust his own parents.
She just wanted the best for him.
Just wanted them to be a happy family when it just wasn't working anymore.
Now that he thought about it they hadn't been a family in… a long time.
He wasn't sure he even remembered what it was like.
Nowadays they all did their own thing seeing each other on the odd occasion.
Their parents caught up in work never actually being with their kids.
Danny half dead and hiding it from fear their parents would end him.
Jazz stuck playing the unaware older sister who didn't know a thing about Phantom.
Their family had already been in pieces before. Never quite a family unit, always broken pieces barely holding on to each other.
When their parents had locked themselves in the basement for weeks to build a portal it had only made it worse.
Jazz became more of a mom than a sister and she took care of not just Danny but their own parents.
Fully functioning adults that needed their daughter to remind them to eat and drink.
When the portal didn't work they'd come back for a bit.
For a week they'd been parents again upset over the failure but they were parents again.
Gentle smiling parents. Kind and sweet and focused on their kids.
Jazz stopped having to make dinner every night.
Danny got homework help from his dad instead of his sister.
Every day they felt closer like before when his parents had been less obsessed. It was like after their obsession was stopped they could finally be people again.
Be parents.
It was good. They were a family again. Or as close as they could get to one.
Danny was happy. So terribly happy.
The fear of being forgotten and left behind for research faded into nothing.
His family loved him.
They were a family.
Until Danny decided to go into the portal.
Until Danny's body was split between two worlds.
Until he was schrodingers boy.
Not dead and yet not alive.
Stuck in an in-between that he couldn't escape.
A line he would dance.
A tightrope he could not fall off.
To the left lay death. The right life.
Yet he walks the tightrope.
Half dead half alive.
Never able to pick a side.
Never able to die nor live.
Never able to tell his parents who would most likely destroy him.
The parents who devoted everything to the portal. To their research.
They didn't know how much the portal had cost him.
They only knew he'd gotten hurt. At first they'd been oh so worried. Still parents.
Then they'd had time to think. About the portal. About the opportunity.
Suddenly they forgot about Danny and his injuries.
His parents had been delighted by the portal opening.
Never had they questioned why it only opened a week later.
Why Danny had been so hurt by it. Though honestly he thought they may have forgotten he'd even gotten hurt.
Or why Danny started hanging out at his friend’s more often.
Why a hazmat suit was missing from the lab.
They never asked. Never questioned a god damned thing.
They didn't know portals relied on death energy.
Danny had given it all the death it needed.
They didn't know a thing.
“Ghosts are unfeeling monsters, Danny, just impressions of people long gone.” She’d smiled when she said that. Like she knew.
She thought she knew so much.
He wondered what she'd do if she knew how much she was wrong about.
Molecule by molecule
——
Danny had defeated Pariah.
Trapped the ghost king in a coffin of eternal sleep.
Saved his home from making a permanent haunt in the Infinite Realms.
Saved his whole town.
Saved his parents.
Saved everyone.
Had he done nothing they would all be dead. They wouldn't be able to live.
Yet they still hated Phantom.
Called him unfeeling and a monster playing hero.
Never acknowledged that he was a child ghost trying to protect them from other ghosts.
Never once did his parents try to understand him more.
Never once thought Phantom could be more. That any ghost could be.
Never questioned why their son tried so hard to make them see that Phantom was good.
They would never do those things because they were far too sure of themselves to try and learn more.
So sure, so set.
Refusing to believe anything but their chosen perspective.
“Ghosts are monsters, Danny they only want to trick people.”
“Good Danno? Not at all! Just an act you see. That little bugger is just waiting for his opportunity!”
Pieces pulled away until nothing remained.
——
“Danny you defeated the literal King of Ghosts you could just fight back if they tried to hurt you!” Jazz was back at it again. The argument came back pretty often.
He was tired.
Why couldn't she just leave it?
Jazz was desperate to know their parents would hurt her baby brother.
Desperate to prove to everyone she was right and that their parents would never hurt him.
He sighed. Slowly he looked at her before looking over to Tucker and Sam.
Sam shrugged and Tucker mirrored her.
“Danny whatever you think is right but you are pretty strong now.” That was Sam smiling at him.
Tucker nodded before beginning to rapid fire Danny's different abilities.
He was assuring Danny in the way he knew how.
Giving Danny the evidence that he was strong that he could fight back.
He took a deep breath.
“Fine.”
Jazz started to jump from joy. Well not literally but she jumped up and shook Danny's shoulders.
“Really? Really you will Danny?” She sounded so happy. Danny nodded softly at her.
She started dragging Danny to their house, excitement clear in her posture.
It felt like seconds before they were in his living room with his parents on the way.
Jazz had messaged them said something about ghost and then they were running.
Danny was still unsure.
He hoped Jazz was right.
Tucker and Sam had gone to his room making preparations just in case.
If he had to leave they would already have everything packed and ready.
Tucker was a paranoid son of a bitch.
Also protective, he wanted Danny to be safe.
Danny was starting to hope they wouldn't need it.
A dangerous thing hope was.
Despite knowing this he hoped desperately that it would all be okay.
His parents were across the room from him now both sitting on the couch while he stood in front of them.
Their faces screamed worry.
Jazz shot him a smile and then went to the kitchen so they could speak in private.
“Mom Dad I have something I want to tell you.” Danny fiddled with his hands avoiding eye contact like it would kill him.
“What is it Danno did you fail a class or-” His dad started to speak before Mom cut him off.
“Whatever it is, we'll always love you sweetheart.” With those words she'd sealed Danny's fate.
Not that he knew it yet.
He'd almost backed out but those words so soft and genuine made him want to speak the truth.
To stop the lying.
Danny thought that then was the perfect moment. She'd literally said they'd love him.
It would be okay.
He opened his mouth floundering for words.
His parents had a soft look on their faces concern but love too.
They didn't look like the type of people to pull their son apart into tiny pieces. No matter what they said in the dark nights of research.
“I'm Phantom.” Two words uttered and the room became hostile.
“WHAT?” His mom's voice was aggressive.
They both tried to speak but his parents just ended up yelling in what sounded like rage.
No love and softness.
What remained was sharp and dark.
Hate. Anger. Rage.
Disgust.
His parents were disgusted with his very existence.
“I-I can explain I'm half ghost and-” The slap was unexpected.
Pain blossomed across his cheek as he fell to the ground.
Tears welled in his eyes and began to fall hiccuping sobs coming fast after.
“DON’T YOU DARE CRY YOU MONSTER!” Mom no Maddie snarled.
She didn't seem like a mom anymore, only a rageful person looking ready to kill him.
To tear him apart.
Jack looked numb but Danny saw the anger in his eyes. He wasn't explosively angry like Maddie but maybe the quiet anger was worse.
Jazz rushed in and tried to stop them.
Maddie thought that he had tricked Jazz into thinking he was her brother.
She got Jack to restrain and lock Jazz in her room.
Danny was still sobbing on the floor.
He was dragged across the floor by Maddie who had gotten her gun out.
Her face was still twisted in rage.
She was still spitting rage fueled words at him.
Danny couldn't stop crying.
She slammed him onto the table and he came back to himself.
He couldn't let this happen.
He jerked trying to escape but cuffs slammed over his wrists.
He knew they were ecto proof.
He couldn't phase through.
Panic flooded his veins. He thought- he thought they wouldn't do this.
He thought they were parents.
They seemed more like monsters now.
He kicked and screamed as she shoved a muzzle on his face.
Suddenly he couldn't speak or yell or cry.
Each attempt hurt his jaw, it ached. Already he could feel the harsh metal digging in no doubt leaving red angry marks.
A collar snapped on his neck and restraints were on his ankles.
Danny was pinned like a butterfly on a board. Utterly at the mercy of his captors.
Danny knew they would not be merciful.
He sobbed his chest heaving, barely able to make noise around the muzzle.
It was blocking any attempts at words or cries.
Holding his mouth shut.
He felt violated. A right stolen from him.
Jack was back now.
Danny was worried about Jazz.
A scalpel appeared in her hand, a grin on her face.
“You really thought you could get away with impersonating our son? You thought we'd believe your lies?” Maddie snarled she didn’t even sound remotely like the woman he’d called mom.
She began to cut not a second thought to what Danny would feel.
He screamed and screamed trying to thrash against his bonds.
The metal held true tight and unforgiving on his skin.
She cut deeper and deeper ignoring his pleas for mercy.
As it went on he started to become numb. The pain overwhelming his senses to the point he couldn't feel it any more.
Things began to blur together.
Moments a kaleidoscope of color and pain.
He thinks passed out once or twice before coming to when the pain became too much to remain asleep.
Danny wasn’t really sure of anything at this point.
He didn’t know how long he’d been here.
Didn’t know what happened to Jazz or his friends.
He could barely think straight let alone try and use his powers to escape. Not that they’d work with how the room had been ecto-proofed long before he’d made the stupid decision to reveal himself.
Danny could do nothing but wait and hope they either ended him or his body gave out on itself.
He was so so tired.
They made good on their promise though.
They really were tearing him apart.
Molecule by molecule.
He was sure soon nothing would remain of him considering how much they’d torn him apart.
“Danny! Danny it’s going to be okay, I promise.” He knew that voice and it didn't belong to his tormentors.
That voice meant safety.
Maybe it would be safe enough to sleep…
“Danny don’t fall asleep Danny-”
———
Danny awoke slowly.
His brain slowly turning on as he opened his eyes.
He blinked, almost confused. It felt like an eternity since he'd not felt pain.
He took in his surroundings carefully; he didn't recognize where he was.
It was a simple room with no windows and no visible exit.
The ceiling of the room was shaped oddly an attic maybe?
Suddenly a part of the floor opened and three people entered.
“Danny! You're awake!” Jazz threw her arms around his shoulders and Sam and Tucker quickly followed.
Curled in a pile with his friends and family he relaxed, eyes drooping for just a moment.
Before he felt a dull pain in just about every part of his body.
Then everything came back in a flood of memories that were filled with pain.
He gasped and they all pulled back.
Sam began examining him and asking what was wrong.
“They-” His face scrunched up he didn't want to think about the people he’d once called his parents anymore.
“Where am I?” He questioned instead hoping to avoid the topic for as long as possible.
“My attic we should be safe here.” Sam answered, her voice terribly soft. “The house is too huge for my parents to come around here much, if at all.”
A familiar grin settled on her face. A look she only got when getting one over on her rich parents.
It was familiar. Safe in a way Danny had forgotten things could be.
“The GIW has been going after anyone who was in contact with you and we just barely got you out before they raided the house. This was the best place to hide you and us.” Jazz elaborated she too was trying to keep her voice soft like Danny would shatter if she reached too high a decibel.
Danny wasn’t sure to be glad or offended.
“I’ve been keeping track of the GIW’s movements from here. So far about fifty kids have gone ‘missing.’ Those kids got snatched by the GIW who when questioned claimed the kids were contaminated and needed help.” Tucker didn’t give him a chance to think and instead distracted him with information.
Sighing deeply he shook his head. “Their inner reports say otherwise.”
That was bad. If they were stealing kis and lying about the reason it was only a matter of time before somebody ended up dead. Over time the kids of Amity Park had become more and more tainted with Ecto. It meant the GIW could use ghost weapons against them.
It meant the majority of people living in Amity might count as Ecto entities to the GIW.
“The numbers are rising by the hour and if they keep going all the kids in town will be taken by the end of this week. No ghost sightings since they started but the ghosts may have been captured as well I’m not sure.” If Tucker wasn’t sure it meant something was really wrong he was able to hack into just about anywhere he should've had all the information by now if it had been happening for this long.
“You're not sure?” Danny questioned hoping to find out why Tucker wasn't sure what was happening with the ghosts.
“The GIW beefed up their systems and now I’m struggling to get in. If I had a few more hours I could open it up but we really don’t have that time.” Tucker explained quickly, voice tight with anxiety. “I managed to get my hands on some reports but then they blocked me out.”
“We don’t have the time?” Danny was really hoping it wasn’t for the reason he thought it was. He almost wished it was back when nobody knew.
Back when the people of Amity weren't the target.
“They're getting more and more aggressive and taking more kids. Any parent who tried to resist got detained as well. We know ecto latches onto children easier so it's more likely they'll hurt the kids but the adults are still in danger.” Tucker sighed, tapping aggressively at his computer.
“So I need to get in there and get them out simple.” Danny said and tried to push himself up from his seated position.
Jazz immediately jumped up prepared to stop him. “Danny you were just vivisected your in no condition to-” Jazz was trying to convince him to stay but was interrupted by Danny transforming.
“Jazz I have to do this.” Danny stated simply. He needed to do this; he needed to protect this town and its people.
It was his fault they were in this mess afterall.
If he could save the town maybe just maybe he could forgive himself. Maybe they would forgive him.
He had to try.
Danny phased out of the attic and flew toward the GIW’s base.
———
It had all gone wrong so fast.
Danny had been winning, getting everyone out of the base with surprising ease.
Until the GIW agents stopped using just Ecto bullets.
Started firing at the civilians who had nothing to do with this fight.
Started killing everyone.
No hesitation, no shock, just shots. Ecto and bullets going everywhere. Danny couldn’t keep up.
Kids died adults died. Everyone was dying. Danny couldn’t save them.
No matter how much he tried, the GIW kept killing.
Danny was afraid.
He’d tried to tell them to stop. To see the damage they were causing.
Nothing worked. No amount of begging could convince them they were wrong. That these were people just like them.
That they didn't deserve this.
It all came to a head when Jazz went down.
His parents had rushed to her side. Danny had no time already protecting Tucker.
Six shots echoed out.
Each hitting true.
Maddie and Jack. Mom and Dad. Hit the ground next to their daughter.
Danny screamed.
—-----
When Danny came back to himself it was late.
Much of the town had been slaughtered.
One hundred and thirty eight children. Thirty adults.
Those who were left barricaded themselves in Casper High. Hoping that it would be enough.
Others had tried to get out of the town.
That hadn’t ended well. If any of them were to get free Danny would need to get rid of the GIW.
So carefully they planned.
Danny would distract the GIW while those remaining would run through the barricage and make it to a big city. The GIW wouldn’t be bold enough to attack where witnesses could see.
That was the hope at least.
Tucker and Sam had been so sure.
They’d lost their parents. They’d insisted on going with him. They’d pulled out everything Ecto weapons and real ones.
Sam and Tucker said they would never leave him behind.
Said they’d break through with him to make sure he got out safe.
They’d given him bags to phase into his chest. Meger things all that was left of their lives.
Then they’d rushed the barrier with Danny by their side.
An hour later they were dead.
Sam had been shot twice and then screamed at Danny and Tucker to run.
They had.
She died alone in the dirt bleeding out slowly.
Tucker died in Danny’s arms.
A final whisper of ‘I love you’ on his lips.
Danny, desperate afraid Danny had fled.
He’d run until he couldn’t.
Until his body gave out.
Until he arrived in a dark and gloomy city.
Until he let it all go.
Let the pain and loss flood his body like mud.
Danny passed out just within Gotham city’s borders.