Danny takes a deep breath when the Infi-Map stops. Not that he needs it, but it is instinct that makes him do it. Danny looks around, noticing he's in an alleyway in the human world. It's dark out. Dark enough the Danny doesn't think anyone is out right now.
"Peculiar. Why would the map bring you here?" Frostbite asks, reminding Danny of his presence.
"Who knows." Danny laughs, looking out to the street.
"What do you plan to do?" Frostbite turns to Danny, "Haunt someone? Make a little mischief?"
Danny laughs at Frostbites teasing, "No. I'm not really…that kind of person. I think I'll try to make a life for myself. It's what Clockwork suggested. I just don't know where to start."
There is a bit of silence before Frostbite's voice echoes in the empty alleyway, "I don't think you could blend in enough to make a life in the human world, child."
Danny looks up at Frostbite in confusion for a few seconds before he's reminded that this Frostbite doesn't know about his secret.
Danny summons his power and changes from Phantom to Fenton.
"I kind of fit in in both worlds." Danny chuckles, "I'm a halfa."
Frostbite stares at him in shock before smiling, "It seems you are full of surprises."
Danny shrugs and stuffs his hands into the front pocket of the hoodie he'd been wearing, "I hear that a lot."
Frostbite nods before holding up the map, "I wish you the best of luck, child. I hope you find your place."
"Thank you. For everything, Frostbite." Danny steps forward and hugs Frostbite.
It's not uncommon for the Far Frozen, but it is rare. For them, there are better ways to express gratitude. But right now Danny can't think of any.
Frostbite hugs him back, "Remember you are always welcome in the Far Frozen, young one."
Danny steps back and smiles again, "Thank you."
And just like that, Frostbite speaks a few words and he's gone in a flash.
And just like that, Danny is left alone in a world he doesn't know. Danny stands alone in the alleyway, suddenly wondering if this was really such a good idea. He's by himself and while the cold doesn't really bother him, it registers in his brain that it is really cold.
He doesn't know where he is. He doesn't even know when he is.
Danny sighs and leaves the alley. He steps onto the open street and looks around. It's just as dark out here despite the lit street lamps. The street lamps give off an orange glow, casting a warm but creepy light down the street.
Nothing moves. There are no cars parked on the street. There are no people. There are no animals. There aren't even any insects making ambient sounds. It's far too silent.
If he weren't used to fighting ghosts and hanging out in the ghost zone, he'd probably creeped out.
He looks both ways down the street, trying to decide which way to go. He turns right and walks down the street.
'Everything will be fine,' He tells himself. It has to.
But Danny starts wondering just how he's going to make a life here. He has nothing he'd need to make a life. He has no valid ID. No birth certificate. No money.
While that last one would be easy to obtain with a job, the others are impossible to get legally. Since he was never technically born.
He starts crossing the street when he hears something that makes his stomach drop.
"Just give us the bag, sweetie, and we won't hurt you. Too badly."
Before he can stop himself – before he can convince himself this isn't his problem or that this is a bad idea – he's heading down the street.
'Me and my hero complex,' Danny shakes his head as he comes up to the group.
There are five of them, all dressed like clichés from a greaser movie. The leader –and he's obviously the leader – is holding up a butterfly knife and the others all have a weapon of some sort. They're circled around a young woman that Danny can't see all that well.
"Just give us the bag!" The leader hisses.
"Or you could give her a break and leave." Danny interrupts, drawing the attention from the girl to himself.
The leader turns to Danny and looks down his nose at him.
"Who the hell are you?" He sneers, pointing the knife at Danny.
"A concerned citizen." Danny deadpans, "Leave the lady alone. She's done nothing to deserve this."
Danny wonders if he's going to have to take this guy down. It wouldn't be hard, even with the knife, considering Danny's strength and training.
"Leave, pal. Or you'll regret it."
Danny sighs and shakes his head, "You don't want to fight me, man. Just go."
The leader scowls and steps forward, closer to Danny. He lashes out with the knife. Danny reacts quickly, grabbing the wrist with his right hand, stopping the knife from even getting close to him. He twists the guys' arm and tightens his grip. His other hand lashes out and hits the man's elbow.
If the sick crack that echoes down the street is any indication, Danny broke his elbow.
The attacker screams and falls to his knees as he drops the knife. Danny slams his knee into his face, knocking him backwards. Danny lets go of his wrist and lets him fall, unconscious.
Danny feels a little guilty attacking a human, but he hadn't even tried all that hard. In fact…he hadn't tried at all.
Danny looks over to the others of the group. Each of them looks skittish. Danny reaches down and grabs the leaders butterfly knife and flicks it closed, using a little more flare than needed.
He steps over the unconscious leaders body and the other men scatter like the wind, leaving their friend behind on the pavement.
Danny makes sure they're gone before making his way over to their victim. When he gets close enough, he stops short.
This close, he can see her face very clearly. She's scared and clutching her bag to her chest. She looks more skittish than the guys who fled.
"Are you okay?" Danny uses as calming of a voice as he can, despite how dry his throat suddenly is.
She nods rapidly and takes a step back. She looks around, eyes flickering around. Danny doesn't move any closer to her.
"Thank you, um…" She looks him over, more than likely trying to gauge if she should bolt as well.
"I'm Danny." It feels so weird telling her his name.
"Well…thank you, Danny." Her eyes flicker over to the unconscious man behind Danny, "So much."
"It's not a problem. Really." Danny feels a little queasy staring at her. She looks…so wrong.
Not quite right.
Danny's mind runs wild. Why here? Why now? Why this time period? Why did the map bring him here?
"Do you want me to walk you home?" Danny offers.
"No. No, thank you. It's just two blocks from here." She turns and takes a few steps.
Before Danny can move, she turns around and looks at Danny.
"Okay, maybe I would feel…a little better if…if maybe you walked me home? I know, everyone says not to trust strangers but…I mean you did just save my life."
"Would it make you feel safer if we walked in well-lit streets?"
"That…that would help. I'm sure my boyfriend would feel better if we did that. He's probably waiting for me at home."
Danny smiles, "Alright. We'll do that then."
Danny walks over to her and they start walking down the street.
"You're not going to ask where I live?"
"No? You know where you live. I'm just making sure you get home safe. I'm sure your boyfriend would appreciate it."
Danny looks down at her and it a little disorienting. While he's used to being taller than her, he's not used to being this much taller than her.
She keeps picking at her back and looking around, nervous.
"I'm a black belt," She suddenly tells him, "I know how to defend myself. Well…kind of."
She laughs nervously and Danny waits for her to continue as they turn a corner onto another street.
In front of him he can see the campus for the University of Wisconsin.
"I guess practice is a lot different, though."
"Yeah, it is." Danny agrees. Learning to fight and using what you learned in a fight had been drastically different.
"You…you train?" She asks, suddenly looking nervous again.
"Yeah. MMA and Tai Kwan Do. Black belt in each." It feels weird telling her that since she'd been there when he'd graduated both times.
"Well…uh…thank you. Again. For saving me."
"It's not any trouble. I do this a lot actually. I have a pretty bad hero complex."
"Oh?" She laughs, "Do you often save damsels in distress?"
"Not always damsels." Danny tilts his head, "Not always in distress."
"Well it's nice to know there are good people like you around." She gives him a look and he realizes she's teasing him.
It makes his chest hurt just a bit.
It makes his chest hurt a lot.
"Thanks. I try."
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, you're my hero."
"Don't mention it." Danny scratches the bridge of his nose before stuffing his hands into the pockets of his pants.
They walk onto the campus and Maddie leads the way. Danny makes a mental note so he can backtrack when he needs to.
"This is my building." She points ahead.
Danny walks her up the six steps to the front door where he can see a guard sitting inside, giving Danny a dirty look. Maddie opens the door and shows her ID to the guard, who nods and clears her.
Instead of disappearing inside like Danny expected, she turns around.
"Is there something I can do to repay you?" Maddie asks as she stands in the doorway of her dorm building.
"Actually, now that you mention it…could you tell me where the nearest Homeless Shelter is?"
At first, terror had flashed its way across her face, thinking he was probably going to make some sick request but it's quickly replaced with shock.
"Oh. Um. I…I actually would have no idea. I'm so sorry."
Danny smiles and waves, "It's alright. Don't worry about it. Stay safe."
He turns and walks down the steps of the building.
"Wait!" Danny stops and turns around to see her standing in the doorway with an embarrassed face.
"Yeah?" Danny asks from his spot, not particularly inclined to walk back up the steps.
"I totally forgot my manners." She laughs, "I'm Maddie."
Danny smiles, "It's nice to meet you, Maddie."
Danny turns again and leaves, the ache in his chest feeling like a fire.