Okay, so the beginning was kinda difficult to write since I wasn't sure about how to write Dan's personality. We just have two episodes with him, but I rewatched them and 'analysed' him a little. (Not really)
And this is what I discovered in case you were wondering:
Dramatic little shit (excuse me Valerie but before I end you I need a DRAMATIC entrance with fire and stuff, and a lot of poses. Everybody needs poses)
Surprisingly Calm and level-headed (I didn't really see him angry even once, he was even still grinning in the thermos) so I'm making him a little more manipulative instead (I'll try atleast)
Is a show off (he used three duplicates to defeat Jazz. Totally unnecessary. One pulled off the helmet while another 'glued' for lack of better word, her mouth Shut.) (p.s. Good job on finally getting the duplication right Danny :D
STILL makes use of witty banter/ is punny (am I the only one who noticed him saying 'MEDAL-ling again' after seeing Clockworks time-MEDALLIONS!?)
Still kind of a teen (HE FUCKING SAID 'neat huh?'. It just felt a little off to hear him say that..)
Sry for the long note, enjoy :D
Surprisingly, flying through the ghost zone was a quiet affair. None of his enemies, not even Skulker, appeared to challenge him to a fight. Not that he was complaining, of course, it was just... odd.
Now that he thought about it he hadn't even SEEN a ghost since he entered the zone. All around him it was deadly silent (no pun intended). No specters running free or anything. Just, green swirls and doors all around. Frowning in confusion Danny stopped suddenly jostling the 'dan can' in the process.
Flinching when a snarl sounded from inside the thermos Danny nearly dropped it before catching himself. The voice that he heard, a deep baritone sound, was low, threatening and all to familiar.
"Where are you taking me. Have you decided to pass me on to those One-eyed cowards?"
A question that wasn't a question but a demand for an answer.
Danny didn't dare speak. It was kind of irrational to fear something that wasn't able to hurt him, but who knows for how long that will last? The thermos? It was a flimsy comfort and he didn't dare believe for a second that Dan was unable to escape if given enough time.
"Not answering? Are you too afraid to speak D-A-N-I-E-L?"
This time he DID drop the thermos. Shock paralyzed him for what felt like an eternity. Something was caught in his throat, he couldn't breathe. He couldn't breathe. A small choking sound escaped him. Looking down at where the thermos containing Dan was slowly floating freely he tried to force his limbs to move again. He only succeeded in flinching.
Danny just stared at the thermos as it drifted away. How the fuck did Dan know it was him?! Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves Danny began to move, pushing his limbs forward to catch his parents invention.
Carefully grabbing it out of the air Danny collected himself and spoke as calmly as he could.
"How did you know it was me?"
He could FEEL Dan's smug grin before he even answered. How could his future self still be so self assured while trapped inside a soup container?
"Neat trick, huh? Just something I picked up along the way. Now, I won't repeat myself again, where are you taking me?"
Danny thought for a moment. Fighting of the sliver of fear that made his hands shake. It wouldn't do him any harm if Dan were to know, so there was no reason to keep it secret. Besides, he'd find out sooner rather than later anyway.
"I'm taking you home with me."
A snort, but Danny could tell that Dan was confused.
"You're saying that Clockwork let's you be in charge of the most powerful ghost to ever exist? You? Don't make me laugh. Has he gone senile in his old age? I doubt that you've grown powerful enough to beat me on your own. Not just that, you want me to believe he TRUSTS you enough for that? Or, don't tell me..."
Danny frowned at the pause. In his mind's eye he could see how Dan's lips curled into a sadistic grin.
"He doesen't even know about it, does he?"
Danny stayed silent, not sure of what to say. Instead he opted for glaring at the thermos in his hands. Not this again. He himself was still slightly unsure. But he would never go behind Clockworks back... that was impossible.
"I thought I was a lot more mouthy during your age. Where's the witty banter Danny? Don't tell me you're actually going behind Clockworks back?"
It was terrifying that Dan worded it the same way Danny did. Another reminder that they were indeed similar. When he still didn't answer Dan started laughing. An unsetteling sound to say the least.
"That's not something I expected from you... yet. Maybe in the future. I did say it was only a matter of time. Abusing somebody's trust like that. It sounds more like something I mysel-"
Slightly panicked at the thought of that Danny swiftly interrupted and stumbled over his words.
"I-Iam nothing, NOTHING like you! And I'm never turning into you! I'll never BE you! NEVER!"
With that Danny took of again, cutting through the ghost zone faster than before. He had nothing to worry about! Clockwork hasn't stopped him so this was the right thing to do! He-
"Then what was the second thermos for? If Clockwork knows about this then there is no need to hide it from him is there?"
"That was to hide this from the observants! While Clockwork probab-" He stopped talking for a moment "wait a fucking minute how the hell do you know about that?!"
"You weren't exactly being sneaky with how you threw it around the room."
"But HOW did you know that it was a thermos?"
No answer. But Danny had the feeling that Dan was smirking. A chill ran down his spine and he was sure that Dan knew something he didn't. Gritting his teeth he ignored his sense of foreboding, tightening his grip on the container.
Dan was silent for the rest of the way home. Danny wasn't sure how to feel about that either.
He couldn't hold back a sigh of relief once he finally spotted his the fenton ghost portal in the distance.
The silence and the feeling of isolation and loneliness that accompanied it had begun to feel unnerving.
Climbing through the portal with practised ease Danny let two rings of light travel over his body, transforming him back into a human. Unable to suppress a giddy grin at the thought of a good nights rest Danny practically skipped up to his room. Ignoring the fact that he hadn't eaten anything. He was half dead after all, he didn't need as much food to sustain his body anyway.
...Only to stumble into his mother. Quickly hiding the 'dan can' behind his back he turned to face her. Preparing to swindle her a long winded and totally unbelievable story as to what he was doing in the lab, but he froze at the look on her face.
The look only a disappointed mother could give. Before he could utter even a single word she questioned him with inquisitive eyes.
"Where have you been young man? We had to have dinner without you! You didn't answer your phone. And what where you doing down in the lab without my permission? You know how much your father hates it when you disrupt his... organized chaos."
He's still terrible at lying to his parents, usually their obliviousness is enough to keep his secret safe though on the rare occurence that they do question him he tends to tell them half truths. After all honesty is the best policy. Most of the time. Kind of. Maybe. Not really.
Sweating nervously Danny licked his lips before carefully wording his response.
"It's just that... over the last week, the schools been targeted by ghosts much more often". That was actually true, there had been at least four ghost attacks a day. Not that it had anything to do with him being in the lab. "And I, well, I might be a little afraid of them". That lie was extremely painful. Even a little embarrassing, Danny could have sworn that a snort of amusement echoed in his mind after he said that. He shifted uncomfortably. "And I guess the lab is a comfort. You know, since there are so many anti-ghost weapons."
His mother didn't say anything as she looked him over. Her gaze trailing over his tense posture and stiff shoulders.
...Well, he tried. He failed, but he tried.
"Oh, sweetie. You should have told me or your father, there is no need to be so embarrassed. I'm sure we can make time."
Danny blinked confusedly for a moment.
"What do you mean make time?"
His mother gave him a patient smile, understanding shining in her eyes.
"Why, to drive you to school of course! That way you don't have to fear those disgusting and slimy ectoplasmic manifestations of hatred and obsession."
Danny held back a wince at his mothers rather harsh description of ghosts. Though it did speak true for some. However few they were.
"If it makes you feel better we could also give you the specter deflec-"
"NO! I-I mean, I don't even wan't to come that close to a ghost. I'd be the first person to book it outta there you know? I'm out there so fast you wouldn't believe that I'm not on the scool's football team! So, yeah, no need to worry about lil' old me... yeah"
Maddie frowned sceptically, clearly disagreeing with him. But before she could voice her opinion on the matter Danny suddenly jumped, just now realizing the full extent of the words 'drive you to school' when his parents are involved.
His parents. Driving him to school.
His slightly eccentric Parents. Running free on highschool ground. Every morning.
Danny cringed at the mere thought of it. Between his father embarrassing himself on a minutely basis and his mother's habit of telling equally embarrassing storys from his childhood, Dash would have enough blackmail material on him to last all through out his sophomore year within a month. And not just that his parents would ghost-proof the place after a week once they've seen the lack of a security system in the school.
If they were to only integrate a ghost shield it would just be a slight hinderance, not too much of a problem. But he knows his parents, they would go all out. What he was worried about were all the other inventions his parents had thrown together in the lab. The ones that were able to immobilize a ghost for hours, burn them until there was nothing but ectoplasmic residue left or, hell, maybe his father had invented a weapon that ripped them appart 'molecule by molecule' like he so often proclaimed.
They would hone in on his ecto-signature in a matter of seconds. Feeling his face begin to twist into a pained grimace he forced himself to smile softly at his mother instead.
"There's really no need for that mom. I'll be fine... after all, we know how to behave during a ghost attack. ...We have drills 'n stuff?" Not so much drills as they had actual attacks.
"I don't know Danny, as you said the ghost attacks are getting worse. It's very dangerous, you could get hurt!"
Danny had to fight the urge to say something very sarcastic.
It was a strong urge.
"You know sweetie, I think we could convince the school to let us improve the security system and make it ghost proof. But that could take some time... so until then your father and I will drive you to school. Alright sweetie?"
Without waiting for an answer she marched up the stairs, most likely to tell his father about this development, leaving Danny speechless as he tried, and failed, to call her back and change her mind.
