A oneshot I did as a request challenge for Gryffindor-Sword on DeviantArt. Dani's feelings before 'Exceptions'.
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Fathers and Clones
"X times three to the fourth minus eleven equals Y times…ugh, this is so boring!" Dani slammed the math textbook closed and shoved it moodily back onto its shelf. This latest library was not better than the last five, really. Quiet, empty, dark…
Still, it was better than sleeping on the streets. She'd tried that at first, confident that her powers would protect her. It only took a few days to figure out that her powers didn't work so great when she was asleep. After three or four close calls, Dani decided she needed to reevaluate just how evil breaking and entering by ghost power was.
In the end, she had compromised, using her powers only to sneak into public buildings, like this library. After all, she was public, right? Now the only big problem was that Vlad's goons were still after her.
She was just settling in to sleep as a blue mist flew from her mouth.
"Oh no." She groaned angrily as she dived under the nearest table.
Seconds later a small group of ectopusses flew through the ceiling and started floating about the room. She hissed in fury under her breath. Even with her little…melting problem, these wimps were easy! But if she hit even one, the others would take off at top speed and tell Vlad where she was. And there was no way she was facing that jerk!
The minutes passed as Dani held still, using invisibility when required and forcefully ignoring the growing puddle of herself that pooled out from her feet. Finally, the last of the little monsters flew off through the wall. Scowling, Dani pulled herself together and shuffled over to one of the small reading couches to get some sleep. She'd have to leave in the morning.
As she leaned back, her eyes caught a poster on the far wall. 'Happy Father's Day'. The girl's usual tough smile faltered slightly at the picture. Nothing special. Just a kid and his dad flying a kite, big fake dorky grins on their faces. Besides, it wasn't even the right day! Still…
"Dad…"
She turned away roughly, rubbing her eyes. That holiday wasn't for her, so why care about it? Clones didn't have dads.
Well…her look turned wistful. Flashing, laughing green eyes floated in her mind. She forced the image away hard. That was too weird. Danny was more like a cousin. He wasn't her dad.
So what then? Did that leave Vlad? That freak that tried to control her and force her to melt? The guy who created her, but didn't even care about her, who wanted to hunt down and destroy her? No way she wanted anything to do with him!
But Danny?
She shrugged. Maybe it would be okay…to pretend. She might never see him again anyway, since she had to constantly run from Vlad and his freaky minions. So he'd never know. She smiled. Yeah, Danny was a good dad. She could almost see them standing together, like in the stupid poster.
"Happy Father's Day…Danny." She whispered as she curled over and fell asleep, a small smile on her face.
Moments later, a glowing blue watch spun in midair, leaving an ancient ghost in swirling blue robes. He watched her for a time, smiling sadly at all she had been through, and all that he knew she'd still have to do.
"I'll tell her in the morning."
A moment later, the library was quiet once more, except for a sleeping ghost girl who'd just celebrated her first, belated, Father's Day.