This is my first time writing a Danny Phantom fanfiction. I love the idea about Danny becoming Dani's father and how being a hero burdened Danny, so I decided to combine those two ideas. This story takes place when Danny isnineteen years old and Phantom Planet never happened, so I guess this story would be AU. And Danny's character has changed much, so maybe he will be OOC.
This fanfic is mostly drama with a little bit of action. I decided not to add romance, since it is already covered by the first concept of how Danny will be Dani's father (DannyxSam story is interesting, it will take over if I write about them to much).
Just enjoy it
Credit for Fallenwolfe for beta-read this fanfic.
Warning: OOC, AU, Danny/Dani father/daughter relationship
Disclaimer: Danny Phantom isn't mine, seriously
FINDING A FAMILY
Chapter 1
Life wasn't fair.
That was a fact, everyone whom has had a taste of life in this world would agree. Life wasn't fair, like it or not, you have to accept that fact.
It was that fact that always lingered particularly in the hybrid ghost's mind who was resting in Amity Park.
His name was Danny Fenton, also known by his alias as Danny Phantom during his ghost form. He was flying, literally, in his ghost form through the night. If anyone took a closer look, his flying was a bit unbalanced, he kept swaying here and there. His body was covered with bruises and ectoplasma, his white hair was messy and there were bags under his eyes.
He was tired and beaten up.
That was nothing new really, after years of hunting ghosts everyday withouta break, a night like this was normal for Danny. Ghosts always came and came again into Amity Park, he would fight them again and again. It was an old pattern. Although he became stronger so too did his enemies.
He had just returned from Fenton Work after flushing Skulker back into Ghost Zone for the hundredth time in his life. That annoying frog ghost always came to him with new weapon, new problem and new plan. Each time, Danny got his ass beaten up, then he always managed to rise up and beat back Skulker.
It also mean that Danny came home with new injuries. And he just remembered that he ran outof his bandages yesterday and forgot to buy new ones.
He should have turned to his best friends' house, since they had a first aid kit hidden in their rooms but of course, the one who used it the most was Danny.
However, he didn't turn to them for help instead he just flew to his home.
He could bandage his wounds tomorrow, he had dealt worse than this.
Something that had changed in Danny's life was his entrance into college. He should have thanked Jazz a thousand times for being able to tutor him enough to get into college with a decent grade. He had also moved into his own apartment. Not to mention that his parents had known about his identity. How did they know? It was kind of a long story, but either way he was glad that he didn't need to come with lame excuses for them everyday.
When he got home he just passed through the wall, being half ghost meant that you didn't really need a key to open or lock the door, he just passed through the wall everyday. The only time he used his key was when he was with his friends, but usually he just left his apartment locked.
After turning tangible he let himself fall to the bed, and then turned back into his human self. He just wanted to close his eyes then and there, ignoring all his injuries, chores, meals and homework... but of course, remember, life wasn't fair so he decided to get up, even though his body protested from being tired and in pain.
Sam would have kicked his ass tomorrow if she knew that he left his wounds without proper treatment like this. And he would screw up if he didn't do his papers tonight. Plus he needed to eat as well, his stomach rumbled softly since he hadn't had dinner.
He ruffled his hair, a bit frustrated, then went to his bathroom to get the first aid kit. Well, he should have washed too, he smelled like a locker full filled with unwashed socks. Too tired to properly bathe, he just washed his body and tended his wounds without glancing at his mirror, which sat innocently on the wall. He wouldn't so much as glance in its direction. He was good at avoiding it everytime he went into the bathroom, but unfortunately, of course, he caught a glance when he was done with his wounds.
Those dull eyes.
He turned quickly, not wanting to stare into the mirror too long. He would see his reflection and he didn't like that.
Since when? He didn't remember.
But he had started to hate his eyes, years ago. His eyes were weird. Not the color, not the shape.
But...
Oh well, it didn't matter. He could still look into the mirror, he didn't have a phobia of it, he just wanted to avoid it if he was able to.
He walked out of his bathroom then took fresh clothes from his drawer. He looked to the desk where his homework was waiting for him. Except for the parts Tucker had completed the homework was blank, he didn't have enough energy to finish it.
He took a cereal box from the cupboard and ate it without milk then dumped the empty box after he finished it.
Then he threw himself onto the bed, he would be screwed tomorrow for not doing his homework. Tucker and Sam couldn't do it since they weren't in same study. Okay, they could help him to some extent but...
Danny just closed his eyes and prayed that every ghost in this world would spare him just a few hours tonight.
But when icy breath came out from Danny's mouth, he just snorted and got up again.
Remember, life wasn't fair.
IoI
Life was never fair.
It was a ridculous fact that had slapped the face of every living thing in the world, even the ones who had died.
Dani just looked to the night sky, thinking about that fact, how life wasn't fair.
She should be used to that, really. Her life had never been fair with her since she opened her eyes. She was just a clone, the one whom she once called Dad was an evil man who just used her, she had no home, no family, no food...
Her stomach growled deeply, she should eat but she was tired. She had had to run from the police and bad men in dark alley earlier today. Why won't they leave her alone? If not police then bad people, if not bad people then ghosts, if not ghosts then...
She sighed and just curled up on the roof of an old building. Strangers wondered as to why she slept on the roof? The answer was simple, she loved to watch the night sky when it filled with stars. Although today, the sky was cloudy, so only a few stars sparkled up there.
It was the only comfort she had. Stars.
She had nothing, since she was just a clone, heck, she was even a mistake.
Dani sighed and closed her eyes. She was hungry and tired, but rest came first. She just always felt how unfair life was to her, everyday.
Why couldn't she be normal like other kids? Why was she a clone?
She didn't mind being a half ghost but, she was getting tired of a life like this.
She opened her eyes a little, she had another choice, but no matter how much she wanted to take that, she couldn't.
A boy which had similar features appeared inside her mind, she tried to dissmised it but it stayed there and haunted her everynight.
No way, she won't go to him. She was a clone, though he always said otherwise but he had enough burden without her. She might be young but she could see how worn out he was every time she met him. She could handle this, she was strong, she could live by her own.
"Danny...," she mumbled softly before going to sleep.
IoI
"Danny, are you okay?"
Danny looked up and saw his girlfriend staring at him. He could tell from the way she looked at him, that frown, those eyes. She was woried, he saw it everyday, he could even tell she was worried just from hearing her voice.
"I'm okay," he said with half smile. It was a white lie, he was screwed up today. He was late because of the ghost attack, he didn't do his homework, he slept during the lecture then he dissapeard from the middle of class because of more ghost attacks and other unfortunate events that had become a routine in Danny's life.
"Serious dude, you look like you're thirty and have grey hair already," said Tucker, half jokingly. He got kicked by Sam under table while Danny just rolled his eyes.
"I'm just tired," he said, not really lying.
Years ago, Sam would punch or kick some sense into her boyfriend, but now, she just closed her mouth. She eyed Danny worryly. Then, she just sighed.
Lies, Danny always lied. Mostly he told white lies, not bad intention lies, just white lies. She was frustated but as her eyes fell upon Danny, she knew she couldn't say anything. Even if she scolded him, kicked him, punched him, it would add him more stress.
"How about we patrol togeher tonight, dude? I don't have any homework tomorrow," Tucker said, tried to enlighten mood.
"No, I'm okay, you get to turn paper next week. And you too Sam, I can patrol alone tonight," Danny had stopped Sam's words even before she opened her mouth.
Both of his friends looked at Danny, then each other, then sighed. It had happen too many times so they knew what would happen if they pressed further.
"Okay then, do you want to go to New Planetarium this weekend?" Sam asked. It got Danny's attention, he looked a bit baffled.
"New Planetarium?" he asked back.
"Yeah dude, it's still brand new, I'm shocked you haven't heard about this, seeing as how you love star gazing so much," Tucker said, half chuckling.
Sam kicked Tucker's leg so hard that the techno-geek screamed in pain when Danny's eyes turned dark, a sign that Danny had sad thoughts about that idea.
Star gazing, huh?
He half smiled to himself. Ironic, he almost forgot about that.
"Okay, I'm free this weekend," he said, surprising his two friends or... his friend and girlfriend.
"That's good then," said Sam with a wide smile. Danny half winced at that, yeah , she talked how he had become a great boyfriend, he tought sarcassamly.
He turned to the window and hoped that this weekend there weren't ghost disturbing them, but he knew it was useless. He closed his eyes and pushed aside his tiredness to hear what his friend and girlfriend talked about now.
IoI
Dani ate what food she had in her little hands quickly. She stole again and felt ashamed about it. But then again, she had no choice. She had no money, correction, she hasn't had money since years ago.
She couldn't get her own money, since no one would accept her for work. She had a body likea twelve year old girl, too young to do any work. She was wondering why she couldn't age. Danny was aging, but she was stuck, never growing up. It must have had something to do with her being a cloned mistake.
She sighed once she had finished the food, then she glanced to sky. Now that she was full, maybe she could go to the park to play around or something.
She was friends with the children around this place to some point. But, just to play, never more. She was hunted by police and ghosts after all.
By the time she reached the park, she saw how many families were gathered there. Today was a weekend and it was sunny, of course the park would be crowded. She glanced at the families who were having barbeques, then at the children who were playing around with their parents.
She frowned then turned around, feeling she did not belong in this kind of place.
She could have left there but she knew most adults would ask "where are your parents?". Then she would have to lie or they would call the police. She was tired of lying and being chased by the police.
She glanced to the sky, wondering what Danny was doing now.
Did he ever think about her? Did he care about her?
She just pushed that thought aside, Danny must be hanging out with his friends now...
Or chasing ghosts. He had his hand full already.
IoI
Danny sighed, really, sometimes he felt he was thirty. He was tired, both in body and mind. He looked down to see the Phantom Thermos. He had just caught Technos, really a way to ruin his weekend. He didn't even have a chance to go into the planetarium before his ghost sense went off.
He could have gone back but the day had turned into night. The planetarium should be closed, Tucker and Sam should have already went home.
They could have chased Technos together with Danny but...
The half ghost turned to sky, to see a dark sky which was only lighted by a few dim stars.
When had his life turned into this? He asked himself.
Back then, he still could be having fun with his two friends and his sister ghost hunting.
But...
He couldn't go back to that time.
It was the truth.
And with that, he called it a day then went back to his home.
IoI
"We should do something."
"I know Sam, but how?" asked Tucker frustated. He half screamed into the phone, it was a while before Sam replied back.
"He's burdened Tuck, Danny has gone too far, just wait a little more and his mind will snap," said Sam desperately.
"I want to help too, but... it's hard Sam, Danny is... not the same anymore. He's... too distant, he has shut himself off, he never tells us anything or lets us do anything," Tucker replied back.
"Sometimes I wish he was a normal boy, I mean, man, again. It crushes me to see him in pain everyday, this 'hero thing' has worn out the very life of him," said Sam, she bit her mouth.
"I know, but we both know that he has gone too far, Sam. He can't go back," Tucker said.
Sam sighed. "I know, and we can always just stay at his side," she replied back. She sighed then glanced to the sky outside of the window where there were a few star blinking. As Danny's girlfriend, she felt useless. She hung up the phone and felt a sadness clouding her heart. She used to be strong and tough for Danny, the one who kept reminding him that he was a hero. Now, somehow, she felt a bit guilty for that.
She walked to her drawer, looking at a photo frame which sat beside her bed. There was a photo of when she, Danny and Tucker where in high school, when they were younger, when they still held so much innocence. When they thought they could do everything.
When she believed Danny was strong enough to do anything.
She closed her eyes, she was naive back then. Since Danny got that accident in his parent's lab, he was never the same again. She was sure she always saw and noticed everything about him, every pain, every change. But no, she was wrong.
Since that day, Danny had been out of her and Tucker's reach.
Every little secret that Danny hid from her and Tucker, somehow it piled up so much that she hardly knew anything about Danny.
Even though Danny had clearly declared that he loved her and she loved him back, that they were officially dating now, Danny was hardly a boyfriend to her .
The reason why she stayed as his girlfriend was because she didn't want to hurt Danny more. She loved him, but... for now, it was hard for Danny to love her back.
He still loved her, she was sure. But, it was dim. It was overlooked by something much bigger.
His burden as a hero.
She just let herself fall to the bed, she thought she understood him more than anyone.
But, she hardly understood anything, not his pain, not his burden.
No one knew except Danny himself.
She just hoped one thing, she didn't even ask Danny to be a good boyfriend,
She just wanted those dull eyes to have more spark, like he used to have in the past.
To Be Continued
How is it? Bad? Too angst? Too OOC?
I guess I hardly explain anything in this chapter, how Danny had changed so much? Even Sam and Tucker had changed too. You will get the answer, not soon but it will be explained bit by bit later.
Now, review please!