Summary: A boring night taking pictures takes a turn when he gets swept off his feet. (Following up to Ghost Stories 38: Snow Colored Lens)
Pairing: Phantom x Fenton
Prompt: Flying

Day Two

He snapped another photograph of the large ballroom with its grand chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling, decorated with what could be thousands of little crystal droplets. Danny felt ridiculous in his suit that looked like he bought it for two dollars off a clearance rack compared to the fancy clothing worn by everyone else attending the function. They probably all spent at least five hundred dollars on their outfits. That was the whole reason he hated being a photographer at these sorts of things. It only served to remind him, painfully, of how much poorer he was than they were.

"Oh, sorry," Danny mumbled after he accidentally backed into someone. He gulped when he glanced over his shoulder to see into whom he bumped.

"Quite all right, son," replied the silver haired man with half a smirk upon his face. The look in his dark blue eyes unsettled Danny. "Enjoying yourself?"

"Very much, Mr. Masters, Sir!" Danny's gaze darted around the ballroom nervously. Why would the host of the party bother to speak to a lowly photographer such as himself?

"Please. Call me Vlad." The smirk remained upon his face as Vlad lifted the wine glass to his lips and took a sip of the deep red liquid. "I'm glad to hear it. I like to know all my guests are having a good time." He leaned down, and Danny forced himself not to step away when the man's face came a little too close to his own. "Even the ones getting paid to be here."

"And now a word from our host," came the voice of an announcer over the din within the ballroom, "Vlad Masters."

"I suppose I have to make my speech now." Vlad sighed out dramatically, like it was such a chore. After placing his wine glass upon the tray of a passing waiter, he walked toward the stage, a hand patting Danny on the shoulder before he departed.

A shudder that he couldn't explain ran through Danny as he watched Vlad walk up to the stage, smiling and bowing his head to the applause he received from those gathered in the ballroom. Thankfully, there were other photographers from the newspaper there to capture the moment. Danny took the opportunity to slip out onto the balcony during the speech. The cool night air felt wonderful after being crammed into the crowded ballroom for hours. He sighed as he leaned onto the railing around the balcony, staring up at the starry night sky.

"That's a good look on you."

Danny spun around at the voice, and a soft flush crept onto his cheeks when he met gazes with the white haired ghost. "What are you doing here?" This didn't exactly seem like the kind of thing a ghost would care to attend. It was rather dull, and even Danny had moments when he thought he might fall asleep after catching bits and pieces of the boring conversation of the wealthy adults.

"I was out patrolling," Phantom explained, not even touching down upon the balcony, floating a few inches from the ground. "Then you appeared." He tossed a glowing green eyed glance back at the ballroom. The door remained slightly ajar, and Vlad's speech drifting out to them. "This doesn't seem like it would be your kind of thing."

"It's not, but it's a job." Danny shrugged as his insides twisted with nervous excitement. He saw Phantom many times before when snapping pictures of him, mostly for the newspaper, but this was only his second real encounter with the ghost, actually speaking to his hero. Who he had a small crush on.

A mischievous look crossed Phantom's face, an impish grin appearing. Danny barely had a moment to think before the ghost scooped him up into his arms and lifted him into the night sky. With a startled yelp, Danny held on tight, arms squeezing around the neck of the ghost, as he clamped his eyes shit.

"I don't think this is a good idea!" Danny shouted, not daring to open his eyes.

Phantom chuckled, and his cool breath washed over Danny's neck. "Not scared of heights, are you?"

Danny frowned at the teasing note in the ghost's voice. "No," he snapped, but he doubted Phantom missed the fearful tremble of his body. "I just don't think I should leave the party. I'm supposed to be taking pictures."

"They can get along without you for an hour. Or more." Phantom paused in his flight, and Danny only knew that because the wind stopped whipping past them, and the slight queasy feeling in his stomach eased. "Open your eyes."

Danny refused at first, scared of glancing down and seeing how far away the world was from him at the moment. Then he cracked open his blue eyes, slowly peeking at the world around him. At the mistiness around them, his eyes snapped wide open. His hold on the ghost's neck loosened somewhat as he pulled back and swept his eyes all around them. They floated just barely above a cloud, and overhead was the twinkle of a thousand stars.

"Wow," Danny breathed out, mouth gaping open at the vision.

"I was thinking the same." When Danny dropped his gaze to blink at the ghost, Phantom leaned forward and stole a kiss from the stunned human held within his arms.

MsFrizzle: Thanks! =) I kind of liked giving it that air of mystery about whom it was about.