A/N: Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom.

The timeline numbers are set in the order I originally wrote them, not published. So timeline 3 is the third story I wrote, it's being published first because this just flowed while I'm still working on timeline 1 and 2.

Timeline 3: Suffocating

They always pressured him. She always pressured him. He might be half-dead but that doesn't mean he didn't need to breathe or sleep or just spend time with his parents without fear. He would be fully dead if he didn't need any of those things. They didn't get it. Every time a ghost hits him with a plasma blast, it hurts beyond their understanding. Yes, they understood the fighting hurts physically. But they thought it went away with the bruises. That he was fine and yes, he tells them it's fine. But every time he tries to tell them, every time he dips a toe in that water, he's called selfish. Or it's implied but the responsibility is still his - always his.

Why can't it ever be the professionals? He never asked for the powers, he never even wanted to look at the cursed portal. It was at her urging he looked inside, so shouldn't it be her responsible? If it wasn't for her, he would have never looked inside. Never had put his hand on the wall and never became a ghost. He would have never felt shocked to the point of death. It was his parents' fault, working on it for years and giving up as soon as it failed after it was completed. Not even trying a second time. They were the ones who put a damn on switch on the inside of an electrical machine.

He never wanted this. But still, they tell him that because he has powers, he has to save this ungrateful town who would love to do nothing but hand him over for experiments. He's only fourteen, he shouldn't have to save the town. His grades were gone, his dreams with it. Every time he wanted a break and tried to get away, he was always selfish. They didn't understand, how could they? They had no idea what it was like. Living a double life, fearing your parents, being reminded of what happened. Of how it felt and how much it hurt. Every time he was shocked, he could remember the pain so clearly. He could remember wanting to just cry and being unable to do even that in his last moments. And then he had woken up with a different appearance and powers, one his parents would love to dissect. Suddenly he had to save this ungrateful, hateful, pathetic city. He was only fourteen.

Every time a ghost blasts him, he feels like it's happening all over again. He knows the other ghosts know, they've been spending more energy plasma-blasting and shocking him than any other method lately. He's fourteen and gets hunted for having powers. Why can't he have rest? Why can't he ignore the ghosts during the nights? Why can't they see this is affecting his life and abilities? Why doesn't his life, his human life, matter to anyone anymore? What good is he if he's not going to able to support himself after school? Be independent?

He's not selfish. He can't be. He's ruining his life for a hateful city and yet each time he wants a break, he's being selfish. He can't use his powers for personal reasons, to get back at bullies he has to endure (and can't fight back because how dare he want to be rid of them, how selfish can he be) but they can tell him to use powers for their personal reasons. Or use any powers they might get for selfish reasons. But he can't because...why? It's not like he was targeting innocent people whenever he did use his powers for personal gain. Unlike certain other people.

The pain isn't it worth it. It's not and they don't understand, won't understand. They can't understand that every time he goes ghost, every time he changes, he remembers how it happened. How he felt like he was on fire and it's a miracle he can even fight the ghost sometimes with that searing pain fresh in his mind. With the constant reminder of his mortality, of the pain, felt and how no one cares. If no one cares, why should he? He won't care anymore. He needs to not care, it's all too much. He deserves to be selfish.

If they don't like his new morals, who cares? He certainly won't.

A/N Hey Clockwork said "everything is as it should be", not that the "should be" was a happy ending.