Danny considered the question carefully, lying wasn't an option. For one, he was a terrible liar, he only got lucky with Jack and Maddie because they were idiots; Two, Robin had an IQ level that out matched both Jazz and Tucker's; And three, he didn't want to tell them something and have them figure it out. Telling the truth wasn't an option either. His eyes narrowed as his face darkened, unintentionally telling Robin that the question was a sore subject because it brought up that heart crushing betrayal from his so-called best friends. Even now it hurt him to think how before Freakshow crashed the party at school, Sam and Tucker wanted absolutely nothing to do with ghosts and then suddenly they were experts on how to handle situation and had the nerve to call him an amateur and a sidekick to his Foster parents!
Shaking his head, he sighed and looked at Robin with a look that clearly said not to pry where he wasn't wanted as he spoke, "I'm not an alien, but I am also not fully human. Just know that should I ever require medical attention to not set the machines to a normal person's read outs or else you'll end up freaking out when they go haywire."
Robin already figured that out when he thought the boy was dead. But never the less, he nodded his head as Danny sighed and transformed back, moaning a bit as he got dizzy. Robin quickly steadied him, watching him carefully for any signs that he was still ill or hurt.
"I'm fine... I shouldn't transform so soon after just recovering... I get dizzy, just gimme a sec." Danny assured. "As for this half, you may call me Danny."
Robin nodded and when Danny felt better, he brushed him off and walked a few steps to prove he was fine. Robin sighed and led him out of the room and off the med floor, heading up to the top floors where the training rooms, conference rooms and a few libraries/studies were at as well as the main living quarters for the team. When they stepped off the elevator and into the central living room where the mega huge flat screen TV was, Danny nearly fainted at the sight. He was sure he'd never have to sit close to the TV ever if he wanted to watch a movie or play a game or two. On the left was a fireplace with a couple of chairs and a coffee table, most likely for relaxation. And on the right was a kitchen area. He noted that there were two girls in the kitchen area, fighting a blue moldy monster as two boys sat before the TV, mashing away at the consul controllers for their game.
"Titans, come meet our guest." Robin called, not raising his voice or changing its pitch, but still heard over the noise.
The game was shut off, by one of the girls, causing the boys to whine and get up before hurrying over as the other girl came flying over to them and chattering cheerfully in greeting. Preforming a customary greeting from her people, nearly scaring Danny when she suddenly roared at him.
"Uhh, this is Starfire, princess of Tamaran. She's an alien." Robin introduced her. "That's how they say hello... aside from kissing someone to learn their language."
Danny nodded and roared back, though he blushed when it came out a girlish growl than a manly one.
"Ohh joyus! You remind me of the female Vagrok!"
Danny looked for a translation, but Robin looked as lost as he did.
"You'll have to forgive Starfire... She forgets we're not Tamaraneans nor do we understand what she means half the time." Came the dry voice of the other girl. "I'm Raven, Princess of Azarath. How are you feeling? You were pretty banged up when we got here."
"I'm fine, thank you for asking... Umm, do I call either of you by title or name?" Danny wondered, not wanting to be rude.
"Please, friend call us by name!" Star crooned.
Raven just nodded in agreement before the tallest of the group spoke up.
"Hi, my name's Victor Stone... You can call me Cyborg or Cy for short." The mechanical teen spoke up.
"Nice to meet you! Cool tech, this is the latest in bio technology right? The highly advanced version..." Danny admired Cyborg a bit, commenting on some of the visible gadgets and functions. "Hmm, this isn't very advance... Conner and I could make you a better battery core that runs on clean energy and won't run out nearly as fast as your current one..."
"Whoa, you can do that?!" Cyborg gasped.
"Yep! But, I doubt I'll be able to go home any time soon." Danny made sure the displeasure was heard in his tone and Robin winced like a knife was stabbed into his heart and twisted. "But if I'm allowed to, I can call up Conner and we can hash a plan out to work on the core for you, though he may want to take you apart just to see what makes you tick, literally."
Cyborg laughed as Danny turned to the final member, glad that they were almost the same height, the green male was an inch taller.
"The name's Beast Boy, BB for short if you want... What's your name? And what exactly are you if you don't mind telling us?" Beast boy smiled and Danny laughed softly.
"My name's Danny. My other half is Phantom... and like I told Robin, I'm not an alien, but I'm not human... I'm not saying more than that and I'd appreciate it if you didn't pry... I had a bad experience when people found out what I was... people who hated me helped me out and people I thought were my closest friends, betrayed me." Danny's eyes darkened as his fists shook before he sighed.
They nodded and soon gave him a tour of the building, carefully picking their way around what to ask him. He declined showing his other have, still too weak to sustain the transformation let alone preform any of his skills and abilities for them. At some point, they found room across from Raven's for Danny to stay in. It was dark and a bit lacking, but Danny said he didn't mind sleeping on the sofa. Until they had time to make the room more lived-in. Cyborg managed to get Danny talking about Conner and the things they made, he even showed them a few of his gadgets, modeled off of the Fenton's work, but nowhere near as faulty nor dangerous to them. Beast Boy goaded him into playing a few games with him, both laughing as they won and lost fairly.
"How'd you do that?!" Beast Boy gasped as the replay of Danny's last combo played on screen as well as the deathblow.
"It's one of Isa's secret moves. You have to beat story mode with her on hard, with no continues and with either all perfects or a minimal damage of 10% percent of your life bar or less. It took me months to get it, but once I did? Boss rush was pie!" Danny laughed before he gasped, his breath misting out of his mouth. "Oh no... not now... Where are you..."
"What's wrong, Danny?" Robin rushed over as Danny stood and walked over to an open area before a second mist left his mouth, he frowned and transformed, everyone watching in awe as he did so. He floated in the air, his hood hiding the majority of his face as he looked around. Suddenly he looked up as something came through the ceiling and landed on him.
Everyone got into a fighting stance, ready to help the teen, but gasped when Danny was laughing. The smoke cleared and revealed a white puppy with a spiked black collar, a red squeaky toy resting beside Danny's head as said teen was being given a thorough face licking.
"Cujo! Down, boy, down..." He sat up and pets his dog, smiling as Cujo calmed down and sat on his lap, tail wagging a mile a minute and tongue lolling as he panted happily. "How'd you find me?"
Cujo jumped off his lap and then made a show of sniffing the floor and pointing before running and fazing through the furniture as he went before jumping on Danny and barking.
"Aww, you're a smart boy, yes you are!" Danny cooed and picked up his dog and looking at the ceiling, seeing the large hole his pup left and sighed. "Sorry about Cujo... he's only a puppy, he doesn't understand his own strength."
Star flew over and awed at the cute white dog until Cujo snarled and snapped deadly teeth at her.
"Eep!"
"Cujo!" Danny scolded. "That wasn't very nice! Starfire's not trying to hurt me or you! No one here is trying to hurt us... but the man in black and orange? Feel free to chomp him."
They stared at Danny as he grinned at the dog, the hood making it seem even more demonic than it should have been.
"I get the feeling my parents sent Cujo to find me... meaning he's to stay with me at all times and I'm glad they did... Cujo's not known for his tolerance of anyone but me, mom, dad and my sister, Jazz... And never, I repeat, NEVER mess with his squeaky toy." Danny picked up said item and Cujo happily took it and began to play with it barking and growling as he chased his toy around.
"Okay... is it me or is anyone else curious as to how Cujo got on the roof, let alone made that hole up there?" Beast Boy questioned.
"Sorry... I'll patch that up for you... Cujo! Come..." The dog jumped into Danny's arms and he floated up the ceiling and Cujo spat out a chuck of the ceiling which Danny used his fire powers to melt it back into the roof. Smiling at his patch job, he dropped back down and turned back to a human as he set Cujo down on the floor and rubbed his belly. "I'll need to go shopping for Cujo too, but hey, at least my parents will know I'm fine. Cujo's very smart and very loyal. Just give him time and you'll see. And I'm sorry in advance, I haven't house broken him yet..."
The others nodded dumbly, still staring at the patch job Danny did.
Later that night Danny was sitting on the sofa, Cujo sleeping on a pillow, gnawing his toy in his sleep. He was staring out at the ocean and Jump City, thinking about Slade and what he wanted with him. Robin had told him and showed him everything they had on the man, but as much as they knew, it was still nothing. He sighed, standing up and looking up at the full moon, touching the glass windows he smiled as it began to frost over and he drew a Celtic Knot on the glass and smiled as it glowed with Ecto-energy. Touching it, the glass in the center of the Knot rippled like water and an image of his mother appeared.
"Danny!" Dan cried in a hushed voice, unsure if Danny was alone or not. "Are you alright!? Did Cujo find you!? Want me to come get you-"
"Dan, you know we can't-"
"FUCK YOU CORNEL!" Dan snapped and Danny blushed hotly. His mother was very upset if he was cursing, but then again, last time they were forced to sit back, Danny nearly had been killed. "Fate is a bitch and she knows it! But I am not going to let her mess with my baby!"
Danny sighed and tapped the surface, giggling when his mother was splashed with water, "Mom, calm down, please... I'm fine. I promise. The Titans have been nice to me this far, though until they can figure out who this Slade character is and what he wants with me, they don't want to risk me being out in the open."
"So they kidnapped you instead! Honestly, why can't you stay with us? Where WE can protect you since WE know you best?" Dan sighed, calming down before becoming serious. "Danny, you've been hurt once already... I don't want to see you suffer again."
"And I don't want anything to happen to any of you... Slade is not above killing and torturing those I love and hold dear just to get to me... He's done it once to the Titans, they don't want it happening to me... Besides, if Fate wants to keep thrusting this duty onto me, I'm not gonna runaway. I'll face it head on... I won't get hurt, not this time..."
Dan smiled softly as Clockwork nodded, a smirk on his lips.
"We'll be sending you care packages and a few letters for the Titans... We best go. It has seems something is happening in the Ghost Zone that needs my attention. I shall see you again soon, be careful Danny. Dan, let's go."
"Alright... Tell Jazz she's in charge... Danny, I love you."
"Love you more, mom."
"We love you most..." Clock smirked as their images faded and the Celtic Knot turned to condensation. Danny sighed, moving over to the sofa and laying down on it. He sighed and relaxed his breathing. To be honest nothing was keeping him here; he could easily faze off the bracelet and turn invisible, flying away without anyone noticing, but he promised and he would keep that promise. Besides, the Titans were about to learn, Danny's parents could and would always find him no matter where he went.
"I hope they are ready for the insanity that is my life, Cujo... they are in for a big surprise..." Danny sighed and curled up to sleep...
The next morning Starfire was up and feeding Silky, her pet worm as Cujo tailed behind her, curious and playful as always, getting use to the new faces and scents around him. Raven was floating by the window, meditating as Beast Boy and Cyborg argued over food as always. Robin walked in and noted that Danny was still sleeping. He walked over to the sofa, but jumped back when Danny's eyes snapped open and his breath appeared once more.
"What is that, dude?" Beast Boy asked. "Does it always happen?"
"It's my sixth sense, if you will... And it only reacts to a certain kind of energy or presence. And speaking of presence..." Danny got up and Cujo ran for the door, barking. "CUJO- Oh... what is it?"
Cujo ran through the door and returned a moment later with a fairly large box in his jaws. He dropped it at Danny's feet and sat down, waiting for praise. Danny smiled and rubbed his head, saying he was a good boy before he picked up the box and blinked. In neat cursive was his name in Irish and he smiled. His parents sent him his first care package. He walked over to the table and took a butter knife to cut the tape. Opening it up he pulled out clothes and linens for his room as well as a few books and a letter.
"Looks like Jazz want me to keep up with my studies..." He commented as he looked at the books, smiling at the French and Irish titles, and secretly laughing at the hidden insult his family gave the Titans.
"Jazz?" Beast Boy asked.
"My sister. My parents sent a care package, meaning they are trusting you to keep me safe. They don't trust easy and neither do I..." Danny answered as he neatly packed the box and moved down the hall to his room, Cujo at his heels.
"He's... interesting." Raven stated. "A bit cold, but then again we did force our way into his life."
"Yes... it was... rude of us to intrude." Star struggled, trying to find the right words to use, still not use to the human language.
Robin nodded, feeling that knife twisting feeling in his chest again.
"How'd his parents know where to send the package?" BB wondered, looking to the others for an answer.
"Something tells me we got involved with something way out of our league..." Cyborg answered BB's question...
~Time skip~
Danny raced down the halls with Raven as the alarm blared through the tower and red lights flashed on and off. It's been a little over a month since he joined the Teen Titans, his parents sent him a few more packages and Robin allowed him some freedoms such as calling home and meeting his friends in town. This helped them out as well seeing as Conner and Cyborg really hit off and Danny and Conner were working on the new battery for Cy. Beast Boy and Danny seemed to be close, Danny picking up on things the others missed and forming a deep friendship with the Shifter. They worked as a team and were amazed with Danny's skills, the few he displayed that is. Danny and Raven seemed to find similar tastes and likes, Danny managing to get a few books from his father for the young Demon Princess. Starfire was all around cheerful and Danny liked learning about her people and she about the people he lived with since they were a wild mix. For some reasons, there was tension between Danny and Robin, both keeping away from one another, though somehow still together.
Danny guessed it was because Robin was his 'Captor' and he felt like a pawn in a twisted game of chess between him and Slade. No one commented on it, preferring to remain on Robin's good side and avoid digging up old demons for their guest. Danny snapped out of his thoughts as he slid to a stop behind the sofa, between Cyborg and Beast Boy as the screen lit up.
"What's going on!?" Robin called as he ran in from the elevator.
"Don't know... Hey Bee! We're getting some strange signals over here. Is the same happening to you?"
"Yes, but it seems to be focusing in one point on our boarders... Mas and Menos are over there now trying to get a better lock on the readings. Aqualad, Speedy, and I are heading over there now." The young black girl spoke up as her bee wings twitched with anticipation.
"Go, we'll meet up with you as soon as we can." Robin told her. "Could you send a copy of your readings to Cy?"
"Sure thing, Robin! Boys, move out!" The call ended and everyone moved the elevator and down to the hanger. Cyborg typing at one of the computers in his forearm as Beast Boy ran over to the computer in charge of cycling through their transports. Selecting the Titan Jet, he grabbed his goggles and jumped into his seat, Raven flew up to hers as Cujo fazed into her lap.
"Sorry Cujo, but you're staying here." Robin said, picking the pup up, but blinked when he fazed out of his hand and raced through the ship to Danny, who was sitting in Starfire's seat, the alien princess taking off ahead of them with coordinates from Cyborg to meet them there.
"Sorry, Robin, but Cujo's coming with us, who knows, he may be useful." Danny smiled secretively as he pet his puppy's head.
Robin didn't push the matter for now, more focused on finding out what was going on rather than the lack of trust between him and Danny. Within 10 minutes, they were airborne and Danny stood up and moved to the back, Cujo in his arms so the pup wouldn't cause them trouble. Robin followed behind him as the others stayed up front. Danny didn't turn to face the older teen as he set Cujo down on the floor and rubbed his head.
"Normally, I'd lecture someone for disobeying orders, but I get the feeling that won't work with you... Whatever this... Tension is between us, I'd like to know what it is and work it out... It's affecting us and I don't like seeing anyone of my friends hurt... And I do see you as friend, Danny, but only if you let me be a friend."
Danny didn't say anything, but Robin saw how his body stiffened at the word 'friend.' It would seem that whatever happened to Danny happened between him and a former 'Friend' or possibly 'friends.' Said Halfa stood up and looked at Robin, his face a near perfect mask of indifference, but his eyes betrayed him with the raw pain and anger in their depths as well as the near painful look of betrayal.
"... You don't trust me and I don't trust you... that's our issue, Boy Wonder." Danny hissed coolly and then jerked up as a familiar mist escaped his mouth before he frowned. "That's not possible... Dad told me that there weren't any others and he never lies..."
Robin blinked and frowned slightly, wondering when Danny and father had that time to talk seeing as someone from the team was always present during his calls and with him when he went to the city to see his friends. The ship landed soon enough and they all piled out of it. Bumble Bee flying over Speedy and Aqualad walked over as well. The Atlantian blinked seeing the addition to the Western Titan group, but didn't say anything, only offering his hand in greeting.
"Hi, I'm Aqualad..."
"Hi..." Danny didn't offer his name in return, the mist shuddering out of him longer this time.
Robin noted this and nodded to the others, who formed a ring around him, shielding him from sight as he transformed. Once Danny was replaced with Phantom, the teen flew into the air and began to search around for the ghost.
"Whoa... who is that and what is he?" Bee wondered as they followed him. Danny landed in the heart of a large crater, looked like a bomb had gone off in the area.
"That's Phantom... Slade's after him, but we don't know why..." Robin told her, frowning as Danny examined the ground. "Anything?"
"Looks like a bomb of some kind went off... I've seen similar things back home... It's here..." Danny spoke aloud, the mist swirling around him from his mouth. A moment later, it solidified into a barrier as five blasts were aimed at him.
"TITANS, GO!" Robin shouted, jumping into the crater and over to Danny as Beast Boy transformed into a Hawk and took off into the air while Raven and Starfire searched the surrounding area. Cyborg and Bee scanned what they could while the twins, Mas y Menos zoomed in reporting that they didn't find anything. Speedy had his bow and arrows ready while Aqualad braced for anything, seeing as there was no water for him to use within a mile radius of them. Danny dropped the shield and looked at a single point where no one else was looking.
"That was a pretty cheap shot, don't you think so, Skinner?" Danny called as everyone looked to where he was looking and blinked when a pale man appeared from thin air, his eyes deep glowing red as his black hair hung around him like inky curtains, his skin pulled taught against his painfully thin frame. In his hands were a set of knives, a hunting knife and a cleaver, both stained with blood and both very deadly. "What are you doing here? How did you get here?"
"Ooh? Is that you Phantom?" His voice was like rubbing a brillo pad over glass while using sand for soap. "Finally, I can have my vengeance..."
Danny frowned, moving out of the ranks the others formed around him and dodged three more blasts from Skinner.
"What do you mean by that? I sent you back to the GZ to keep you from being killed by the Fentons..."
"Ooh? So you haven't heard? The Fentons work for the Government now... hunting us down one by one, torturing us, taking us apart molecule by molecule... Trying to see what makes us ... Tick!" The man laughed, his grating voice hurting their ears.
"What?" Danny asked. "But the shouldn't be able to get to the GZ-"
"Oooh but they have gotten there! Searching for you! Everyone has fled the Zone, most to find a new place to live, others to form groups and fight back, the rest to hunt you... If we give you to them, we'll be able to return home!"
"Fool..." Danny spat. "They won't stop with me! They'll keep capturing us and killing us off until none of us remains! Why not try contacting the Ancients!? Or the Observants?!"
"HAH! The Observants are a myth! The Ancients are nothing more than books covered in centuries of dust and cobwebs!" Skinner yelled. "But enough history, boy... You're coming with me..."
"Sorry Skinner... but no." Danny fired an ectobeam from his eyes before he jumped into the air, the wraith like ghost hot on his tail, having blocked the attack. 'Gotta lead him away from the others. They can't fight him-Whoa!?'
"Hello, Ghost-child..." purred a dark voice he wished to never hear again.
"Skulker... WHOA!?" He dodged a net and growled when more ghosts appeared.
"PHANTOM!"
He looked and gasped when he saw Starfire fly right at them, but he quickly flew at her, grabbing her just in time as they both went intangible so the attacks sent their way went through them.
"Get out of here, Star, you can't fight- AAAAAAAAAAAH!" Danny screamed in agony as electricity shot up his spin and short-circuited his powers. He turned human and began to fall but Star grabbed him as Raven let out a bit of her anger, her powers manifesting into a four eyes demon connected to her via her shadow. The sight alone terrified the Ghosts, but they bravely attacked. Raven growled as her own eyes turned red, but she gasped in shock when a vicious snarl came from behind them and they turned to see Cujo's normally bright blue eyes glow demonic red as he began to grow to the size of T-Rex and attack the ghosts.
"Star!" Robin raced to her as she lowered Danny into his arms, the teen was hurt bad, his back burned, but he was alive. "We need to get him help fast!"
"Maybe I can be of service..." A cool voice spoke up as they turned to see...
