Chapter Four: Hunter


"Remember, not a word about who I am in your journal. You know she'll be reading these, so I've been leaving out any and all mention of ghost fights." Danny said when they sat down with their notebooks.

"Yeah." Dash looked towards the pan of moles. "Might need to get more tomorrow. Or at least get something else to eat for variety."

"Mole isn't so bad." Danny commented. "I'd never had it before now."

"Yeah, it's pretty good." Dash finished what he was writing and then put the notebook away. "Still writing, Danny?"

"…I think I preferred when you gave me the nicknames." Danny said, grimacing. Yeah, Dash really would have to be told again to pretend he hated him.

Okay, so he was stuck in a cabin in the middle of the woods with his biggest fan and bully for years. Which was REALLY weird, but he could live with it. It was only for a little while. He put the notebook away and then started to pull off his t-shirt but paused, climbing under the covers with his pajamas and changing without Dash seeing. He didn't feel any safer around him than before, but for much different reasons.

He finished changing into his pajamas and then put his dirty clothes under his bed, climbing back into bed and turning to face the wall. The fire in the fireplace was lower, giving off a dim light that barely showed much more than the moonlight. He sighed and curled up, closing his eyes.

And then promptly opened them again when he felt a weight on the edge of his bed. "Uhm…excuse me…" He glanced at Dash. "You have your own bed."

Dash reached out and stroked his hair. "Why does it turn white?" He asked.

"Don't know. My entire appearance got inverted that day. And as for the eyes, ectoplasm glows green." Danny said, jerking his head to try to get him off his hair.

"Huh." Dash leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Well, I like it white. It's got a kind of purity to it."

"Please, stop touching me—don't kiss me." Danny squirmed, trying to get away, but Dash was straddling him and keeping him from moving or getting away without going intangible. And, no, he wasn't going to do that again.

"I like touching you, though." Dash said. Danny glanced at him and grimaced a bit. His eyes were sharp – the eyes of a hunter that had cornered its prey – and he had an adoring smile on his face. His hand moved from Danny's hair to his chin, turning his head to his as he leaned in close.

NOPE! Not happening! Not again! Danny went intangible and ducked under the bed, crawling out and standing up before turning tangible again. "Did I forget to mention I can use my ghost powers in human form?"

"Did you know the best part about hunting is the chase?" Dash asked, getting off Danny's bed.

Uh oh. Danny changed into Phantom and flew out, going into the woods.

He COULD run away, go back home, but people would wonder how he got back without a ride when the cabins are so far away from Amity Park. Instead, he found a tree to sit in and watched cautiously as Dash came out with his coat and shoes on, looking around.

'Great. As if ONE hunter wasn't bad enough, now I'm being stalked by TWO!' He thought, slumping against the tree.

In retrospect, being Phantom at night when trying to hide was a bad idea. His glow alerted Dash to his location and he flew off, being trailed easily. Then a blue mist escaped his lips and he let out a groan. This was NOT his night!

'Whoever this is, they're going to get BEAT.' Danny flew up and looked around for the sign of the ghost. Oh, right. Make that THREE stalkers; how had he ever forgotten that they were around HIS territory?

"Daniel, what a pleasant surprise!" Plasmius grinned.

"I don't have time for you, I have a hunter on my tail." Danny said, holding out his hand. "Don't care what you're up to, I don't have time for it."

"Skulker?" Plasmius guessed.

"No." Danny sighed.

"Guys in White?" He guessed again.

"No." Danny looked down at the blonde figure that had spotted them.

"Your parents, then." Plasmius guessed a third time.

"Wrong every time, fruit-loop. It's a psychotic fanboy who found out who I really am and is being very…ah…" He covered his mouth, thinking. "…Touchy-feely?"

Plasmius laughed. "Well then, by all means! Why deprive him of this?" Plasmius powered up an attack.

"Uh oh." Danny cringed and ducked out of the way, but a clone appeared and latched a belt onto his waist, locking it on as another went behind him and caught his arms so he wouldn't fall. "Hey—no fair! This is—ungh!" He groaned in pain as he was punched in the gut and then a whop to the head had him seeing stars.

Plasmius chuckled and then he and the clones lowered down to where Dash was. "Do me a favor and keep him busy, would you?" He tossed him the key to the belt and then Danny was dropped at his feet.

Dash blinked and examined the key. "What's this?"

"As long as he has that belt on, he can't change form even if knocked unconscious or use his powers." Plasmius explained. "The key unlocks the belt."

Dash knelt next to Danny, who was groaning in pain. "You hurt him?"

"He would've run off by now if I hadn't. He'll heal." Plasmius smirked and flew off, his clones going back inside him.

"Huh. Weirdo." Dash pocketed the key and picked up Danny, lifting him bridal-style and carrying him through the woods. He was surprisingly light for a boy his age, but maybe it was because he was in his ghost form.

They got back to the cabin and he laid him down before gently kissing him and going to pull the curtains on the cabin.

Even with the fire down and the curtains closed, the cabin was still lit by the soft glow from the ghost teen. Dash swallowed and approached him, looking him over. He had seen him in action so many times, but seeing him in a completely vulnerable state was…enticing. And yet, he still felt like it was missing something. Maybe it was because he hadn't caught him himself, but the catch felt a little empty.

Still, a catch was a catch and while he didn't know what the older ghost's deal was or what he needed Danny Phantom distracted for, he wasn't going to miss this chance. He reached up and gripped the small silver zipper at the base of his neck before pulling it down, the black bodysuit parting to reveal flawless skin. He tugged off one of his gloves and looked it over lovingly. The fingernails were short but neat, the skin was soft and pale, and he could see green veins beneath. 'Ectoplasm, maybe.' He thought. He didn't know much about it, but it seemed to be a big part of ghosts.

He removed the other glove and then the boots and socks. The belt was in the way of the bodysuit, but he hesitated to take it off and decided to save it for another day. He kissed Danny's lips gently, then moved down his chest to where the belt stopped and then took off his coat and shoes before climbing in bed with him.


Phew, creeper decided removing the belt was too much trouble and left it on.
Uh...Dash, you have your own bed. ~ Zone