Hey there! In order to celebrate the coming of Spring Break, I have made a new chapter! This one is about as long as the last chapter, so have fun with it! I'm still not good with chapters I don't think, but this chapter has some hidden things in it that help lead into later chapters... I am pretty sure at least. Haha. So I'm sorry if it's a bit boring, but it helps lead into the later parts of the story. And I was also thinking about going and naming all of my chapters. What do you all think? And I'm also unsure of the genre I have this story set in, so please let me know what your thoughts on that are too! Okay, please enjoy and R&R!
Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom.
P.S. To Kimiko1234, Vlad has become MacubeX.
Chapter 9 Start!
Vlad was truthfully quite pleased with himself.. Over the course of the day, he had seen Danny successfully defuse the situation with Sam and Tucker, and thwart all of their previous plans to get answers, and Danny had been able to continue the act that Skulker had started in order to pass along Vlad's message. He had taught his son well.
It didn't matter what Clockwork said or thought, Vlad knew his son took after him and not Clockwork. That meant that everything was how it should be. Vlad couldn't really picture himself being very keen on having a son who was more like Clockwork than anyone else. Having a miniature version of the time ghost would ride on his nerves. That wouldn't lessen the love he held for his son, no, but it would make it harder to bond with the boy.
Maybe that was why Clockwork could get so straight with Danny. Clockwork could see that Danny was more like Vlad as well. It was probably the confidence that drove Clockwork to near insanity. But, in Vlad's defense, having a high self esteem can never hurt. It just protects his son from verbal attacks. Being who he was, Vlad knew especially well what kids could say out of jealousy and spite. He had to make sure his son's self confidence could stand up to those blows. Vlad also enjoyed how sanguine the boy could be, and he figured that stemmed from the boy's confidence as well. He knew there could be downsides to having such an oversized confidence, like arrogance and cockiness, but Danny had never shown signs of anything like that.
He figured that Clockwork was against the boy's excessive confidence seeing that Clockwork highly valued humility and modesty. Clockwork probably just feared the worse outcomes from having such a quality.
Vlad couldn't help the scoff that came from that thought. Honestly, Clockwork didn't give him enough credit! Did Clockwork not think he was capable of raising Danny well? Vlad knew he wasn't exactly the most honest and moralistic candidate, but he definitely knew well enough to be able to steer his son in the right direction.
That was yet another reason for Vlad's anger at the specter to grow into rancor. He wouldn't attempt anything though. Both out of self preservation (he knew he couldn't match Clockwork in power) and in thinking about his son's feelings on the matter. Danny would definitely not be very happy with him if he went to attack Clockwork merely out of anger. It was fine in the minority case when Danny felt the same way on a matter, Vlad finding out about how he felt by either having had to coax those feelings out of the boy or Danny having come to him specifically, hoping for advice. There was even one time that Vlad could remember Clockwork coming to him himself. That one was strange...
This may not be one of those cases, Vlad didn't know. He'd have to wait and see. He really did not want to have his son angry with him over anything, he never liked that.
Clockwork tended to try to sway the boy's opinion somehow, and that was what resulted in a brooding Danny holed up in his room. Vlad would have to coax him out to be able to explain his position on the situation, effectively pacifying the drama for the day. Vlad figured that Clockwork was just trying to get his point across.
Vlad swore it was some kind of strange parental war between him and Clockwork. It didn't make sense.
But, Vlad could put off his feelings for the time being (he knew that skill quite well, actually) and focus on the task at hand. It would never do to get distracted by his own thoughts. He pushed his attention back to the screens in front of him that formed a sort of half circle. He hadn't really noticed how dark the room was until now and briefly considered turning on some lights with the worry of ruining his eyesight - something he had scolded Danny for multiple times - but dismissed that thought rather quickly. He could worry about his eyesight later.
Skulker had done his job eminently, as well. Vlad considered giving him a raise in pay, but decided against that. He would give him a boost in pay if he could finish his current assignment with the same amount of effort and dexterity. He couldn't give him one half way through his assignment!
He was currently trying to find a good spot to place a camera in the Fenton living room. He really hoped Danny wouldn't be cross with him for being so overprotective, but he was pretty sure Danny didn't care all that much. He couldn't help his curiosity when the Fentons' front door had opened, revealing his son and two others near his son's age, so he settled the camera down on a wall - he could move it more later - and leaned back to watch the situation. (He didn't plan on constantly watching, that would just be disturbing on several levels, but he felt that having the area bugged would help him keep aware of any other threats to his son's well-being. He did not like the idea of having his son living in a house full of ghost hunting equipment. The cameras were going to set off an alarm if they witnessed anything happen to Danny, leaving none of the work for Vlad to do. He was satisfied with that.) He wondered how long he had been sitting there dealing with the placement of the cameras.
He remembered that he had started fairly early, before Danny had to go to school, but he couldn't imagine he had sat in front of the row of computers for more than eight hours. He then decided it would be in his best interest to turn the lights on, so he stood from his chair and slowly made his way towards the wall where he knew the light switch was mounted on. He felt along the wall for only a second or two, having lived there long enough to know the area that the switch was in, and flipped it upwards. The lights flashed on, the sudden brightness temporarily disorienting Vlad. He blinked until his eyes were adjusted enough to return to his seat. His curiosity still needed to be satiated.
"So you sure you're okay, dude? I mean, you've been acting a little strange..." Tucker asked hesitantly, as if afraid the question would spark some kind of new anger in his friend.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just feel a little different, that's all." Danny was never fond of lying, yet he felt he pulled that one off flawlessly.
"Is it just that stuff that's going on?" Sam asked, motioning with her eyes that there was a hidden message beneath her words.
"Yeah, that's probably it." Danny was inwardly beaming, extremely happy that out of all of the things that hadn't been working out in his favor, at least the people were easy to fool. That just made things so much easier on him! Danny opened his mouth to continue, but stopped short of himself when Jazz walked in from the kitchen. She had been carrying a pretty hefty stack of books - no doubt in anyone's mind that they were psychology books - and from where the camera sat on the wall, Vlad could see there were still several others lying open on the kitchen table. The girl had clearly been doing quite a bit of extensive research...
She approached Danny, Sam, and Tucker, a thoughtful look of concentration stained on her face. It was pretty obvious that she had had the expression (or one very similar) sitting on her features for quite a while. "Danny, is something going on? You've been acting a little strange for the past few days..."
Danny looked slightly taken aback at her 'innocent' questioning for brief second, only really noticeable to someone who may have been looking for it. Like Jazz, for instance. He recovered quickly, and Vlad prided himself with the knowledge that he had been able to help get his son to such a level of higher and quicker thinking. Most of their conversations required for quick thinking, that was just how they were. Danny replied almost at the perfect time, making for no real suspicion to be risen, "No Jazz, I'm fine."
Jazz looked at her brother, an air of impassiveness clouding around him. She'd say it was forced emotion, but it seemed pretty legitimate and real. Though, she could never be sure...
"You can talk to me about anything, you know. I can help. I know you think I'm just being an overprotective and nosy sister, but I really can and am willing to help." she said slowly, hoping to reinforce her point. Jazz knew to back off when she saw Danny glance to Sam and Tucker in a strange sort of apprehension.
"Alright, can we go now?" Danny asked, tinting his voice with annoyance. He had been quite proud of himself throughout the entire day! People kept dropping hints about what he should be doing and how he should be acting. They had no clue whatsoever, but it was extremely helpful! Danny had been able to determine that the youngest Fenton had been a kind of shy boy, he didn't have many friends and tended to stick with what he knew and was comfortable with. He had also learned that the boy didn't really have hobbies or interests, except a love for gaming and astronomy. That there may have been the only thing Danny saw as useful in the Fenton kid. Astronomy could actually lead to a career, many actually. It had already been painfully obvious, having become accustomed to sleeping in Fenton's bedroom, complete with NASA posters and model rockets. It was only reinforced even more throughout the day when some upperclassmen in the school science club (at least that's where he thought they were coming from. Keyword: thought) had come to try to strike up a very educated conversation with him over the mechanics of the newest prototype model of the so-and-so ship. Danny didn't picture Fenton participating much in one of those conversations, but at least he would know what they were talking about. Currently, it was sounding like a bunch of gibberish. Maybe Danny should read up on some astronomy and space travel...
Jazz looked at Danny peculiarly, before nodding and moving to sit on the couch. She had already begun reading again, flipping back and forth between pages and alternating between different books.
Vlad couldn't help the sigh that came forth. His son had already gotten someone suspicious. Of course. It already looked like Vlad would have to help his son with this assignment.
That was just what Clockwork wanted, wasn't it?
Clockwork just had to go and tweak things to get things the way he wanted. Well, if that's what he wanted, Vlad would make sure he helped more than needed. Clockwork should learn to just keep out of his and his son's business, and not get the involved in his own business.
Okay, maybe Vlad hated Clockwork. Not that he would admit it to anyone but himself, though. His feelings about the time ghost were insignificant and currently unneeded. If and when the time came - whether that be from any of the unlikely possibilities such as Vlad having gained enough power to face Clockwork, his son deciding he shared the same feelings as his father, or any other absurd likelihood - he would make sure his dislike of Clockwork well and widely known.
But that time was not now, so he'd have to wait.
Vlad returned his attention to the screen before him, watching Danny ascend the stairs with Sam and Tucker following closely behind.
That boy may be Vlad's greatest treasure, but he may just end up being the death of him. Vlad set to work, his curiosity for the situation quenched. He really needed to find optimum placement for the cameras soon.
He still had paperwork that he needed to do, sitting on his desk. Not to mention the documents that sat overflowing from his briefcase...
He had a long night ahead of him...
Danny flopped down onto his bed, feeling extreme relief rush through him. He had thought he had been doing so well! Apparently not. He was just glad he was able to steer Jazz away from the trail of clues he had unknowingly left for her. How many times had she questioned him already in the day's entirety? Danny couldn't remember, he just knew that he had been questioned by the persistent redhead enough to annoy him. He also had a feeling that she would return to pester him again later after Sam and Tucker had left. He wasn't looking forward to that...
"That was close!" Tucker said in in relief. He let out a large puff of air, as if he'd been holding it throughout the entire encounter with Danny's sister.
"Danny, this isn't good. She already knows something is going on." Sam said, concerned. "She's going to find out eventually... We could just tell her. Then no one else can get suspicious too."
"I'm not quite sure people would really care. She doesn't really have many friends." Danny said, trying to make sure he acted as Fenton-like as he could. He was pretty sure he was close. Close enough, anyways.
"Danny, that's not the nicest thing to say, as true as it is. You know she's only worried about you." Sam said, her voice ringing with an almost inaudible disapproval. "I really think it would be best to tell her. It could help out in the long run."
"I'm not really sure I want to tell her though. She can be bossy and nosy and -" Danny abruptly stopped talking when his bedroom door opened. Jazz stood smugly, a smile of victory gracing her features.
"Tell me what?" her voice held boundless delight, pleased with having her suspicions proven correct.
Danny couldn't believe his luck. Surely this had to be Clockwork's doing. There was no way he could fail so early on! There was absolutely no way! He knew he could be better than that. He was better than that.
Of course Clockwork did this. There was no other explanation. So, that meant there was no reason to panic! Maybe he could convince her that it was all because of the 'new' ghost powers, like he did with Sam and Tucker.
"Danny, does this have anything to do with what happened in mom and dad's lab a few days ago?" Jazz persisted. She had the information, she would follow through!
"Wait, how do you know about that?" Tucker asked, oblivious to the identical glares coming from Danny and Sam voicing their thoughts of "Shut up! You're giving it away!"
"We have security cameras in the basement. It wasn't that hard to get the tape and watch it, you know." she then turned her attention to Danny, worry dancing in her eyes. "Danny, that looked painful. Did it hurt?"
Sam jumped in with, "Of course it did! He got electrocuted and killed halfway!"
"What? Killed halfway?" Jazz had known something was up, but this was getting a little strange.
Sam hung her head, uttering an apologetic "oops" before leaving the stage to Danny.
Danny was still confident that this was all Clockwork's doing, so he continued on, ready to reveal what Sam and Tucker already knew. "I became half ghost, Jazz. I'm pretty sure that's why I've been acting a little weird, so yeah."
"Danny, quit playing around." Jazz was now on edge. This was way too weird!
"I can prove it." Danny nodded to himself before reaching over to reach through Tucker's head, sending the boy into a fit of shivers and chills.
The only thing that filled the silence after that demonstration was the sound of Jazz's head hitting the floor with a thud...
End Chapter 9!
