Okay, first thing I've ever posted on here. The plot bunnies mauled me while I was sitting in maths, and forced me to write this to stop the torture. Curse them! -shakes fist at plot bunnies-.

Anyhow, Bewarethedarkness (my best friend) read this through for me. Much thank yous! Let me know what you think of it, and how I can improve. If you didn't like it, though, let me know why so I can improve if I write something else. And I think the title could be better, but there you go.

I've blabbed on enough. Oh, wait;

Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom. However I do own some books, a CD and a bar of chocolate.

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Emotionless.

Most people (though they were few and far between) that had met him would immediately say that when asked what he was like.

He did have emotions … he just didn't show them that often. He felt angry, sad, happy - but his face would always remain neutral, whether he was a child, an adult or an elderly man.

Except of course, like all creatures with emotions, he couldn't hide them forever. Occasionally the stone visage cracked and a frown, smile or similar facial expression would get through. They were infrequent; they lasted for only a few seconds before they were masked again beneath stone.

These … slips of his had grown more frequent and more pronounced when the business with Danny Phantom and his evil older self had come around. The Observants seemed to irritate him even more than they usually did, and his façade had been slightly chipped then.

A few hours later (to the residents of Amity Park, that is) found him in his first face-to-face encounter with Danny Phantom. It hadn't been on the friendliest of terms. After all, when you are trying to decapitate someone, they generally won't think of you nicely.

Their next meeting was certainly on better terms - saving Danny's friends and family had certainly allowed the young hybrid to get a second opinion of him - and give him a second chance.

Of course, time went on as always. Over the next few months, it became clear that Danny considered the calm Master of Time as an ally - maybe even a friend? - after the fiasco with Plasmius, Danny's friends and the ecto-acne. He'd shown annoyance there, as well.

Another chip in the granite mask.

Clockwork knew that he was meant to be emotionless. He knew he was meant to be someone who was always calm and focused and sure, no matter what form he was in. But his emotions kept grasping at him, tugging at the back of his all-knowing mind. Reminding him what was to happen in the near future.

One day … Danny would be left to face a great challenge. A great emotional and physical burden. On that day, he'd ask for Clockwork's help, knowing that the Time Master's help would be one of his last options - the next (and final) option would be to fight back against this horror which would plague the boy; but without his friends and family to support him, it would seem like suicide.

But Clockwork wouldn't be able to give him the help he needed. If he did, then the entire world would be endangered. The Ghost Zone would be. Maybe even the time stream itself would be damaged beyond repair. Danny would cry and scream, yell and sob, and he would hate the Time Master. Danny would never speak to him again - whether by choice or not was up to the decisions the teen made.

He felt guilt for not being able to warn Danny, to prepare him at least for the ordeal … and sadness, for when the time came, Clockwork would lose one of the only people his long memory could ever remember calling a friend.

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Hope you liked it!