Danny had never really noticed, in all honesty. Freshly dead people created freshly born ghosts, and while most of those ghosts headed to the Ghost Zone on blind impulse, some got stuck or stayed because of certain engagements that had to be handled before continuing to the next realm.
Of course, at fourteen and as a new member of the Ghost Zone (though only partly), Danny wasn't educated on this kind of stuff. He wasn't even sure what the purpose of ectoplasm was. It was all just a big, unsolved mystery.
Therefore, when he noticed a few more people travelling the streets than usual, most with rather blank stares, he thought nothing of it. The thought that those people might be ghosts genuinely never passed through his mind.
So, when Danny headed off to Grandpa Bernie's funeral, tugging uncomfortably at the too-tight tie wrapped around his neck, he had to bite back a scream when the person in the open casket was also standing solemnly at the front, as alive-looking as ever.
No one seemed to notice. In fact, as Danny openly stared, he watched the priest travel straight through Grandpa Bernie's body. Both Bernie and Danny shivered rather uncomfortably, though Bernie shivered from the sensation of someone travelling through him and Danny shivered at the sudden drop of temperature in the room.
Then Bernie's and Danny's eyes locked, and Bernie raised an eyebrow in a sort of amused befuddlement.
He and his Grandpa stared at each other for the remainder of the funeral, and, as Danny walked up to pay his respects to the cold corpse resting in the coffin, he felt a chilly hand come to rest on his shoulder.
"I can touch you," came Grandpa Bernie's deep voice from behind, tinged with excitement. He sounded healthier than he had ever been in Danny's fourteen years. "I wasn't aware that you were a medium, Daniel."
"I wasn't either," Danny muttered into his clasped palms. The people around him thought nothing of the incoherent whispers, chalking it up to the boy saying his last few words to his grandpa before departing. "This is kind of new to me."
"New to you?" Grandpa Bernie crouched beside him, bright blue eyes searching matching ones. It was easy to see where Danny got his messy hair and twinkling eye color. Grandpa Bernie's hair was only a few shades darker than Phantom's.
Danny sighed, resting his forehead against his thumbs and closing his tired eyes. Even quieter than before, he responded, "There was a lab accident. I'm part ghost now. I guess seeing you is a side effect or something."
Grandpa Bernie scoffed unbelievingly and gently lifted Danny's chin with his forefinger, staring intently into Danny's soul. "That's impossible."
"I thought so, too." Now, this close to his Grandpa, Danny's eyes began to well with tears. The stress of the situation and the knowledge that his grandfather was lost to the human plane was too much to take at that moment, and a single tear slid down his cheek and landed silently on his too-big tie. Grandpa Bernie's cold thumb brushed against Danny's cheek. He used to be so warm.
"But you're alright?" Bernie queried, frown twisting the laugh wrinkles on the corners of his eyes. His right dimple revealed itself, though only slightly.
Danny breathed out a laugh that sounded more like a sob. "I'm fine. I'm learning more about myself every day."
Grandpa Bernie smiled brightly, his right dimple coming out fully now. His eyes crinkled. "That's good. That's so good, Danny. I see so much greatness in your heart."
It was Danny's turn to smile, though tears still stained his cheeks in lines. Grandpa Bernie wrapped both of his cold hands around Danny's clasped ones, so close to his face that their noses could touch. "You're going to do amazing things. I love you very, very much."
"I love you, too." In the moment, Danny forgot to whisper his words. A few adults glanced in his direction and sent him pitiful glances before looking away, sorrowful tears in their eyes.
Grandpa Bernie stood, helped Danny up from his kneeling position, and brought him into a hug that Danny wasn't able to return for fear of strange looks and questioning parents. Bernie pulled away, held tightly onto Danny's shoulders, and took in the details of his grandson's face. "Wow."
"What?" Danny whispered, cheeks burning under his gaze.
"You're so handsome. Just like me."
Danny exhaled amusedly.
"Take care of your parents. Take care of your sister. Take care of your town, Danny. You're capable of amazing things. I know it."
"I'm gonna miss you, Grandpa." Danny breathed.
"Nonsense. I'll be right here." Bernie patted Danny's chest. "In your heart."
And then, with one last reassuring, love-filled grin, Bernie dissipated into the air and the weight of his large palms on Danny's shoulders fell away.
Danny couldn't stop the wide, watery smile on his face as he and his family exited the church.
Everything was going to be okay.
im kinda proud of this one just because i liked writing grandpa bernie. YES im aware hes an oc but i dont rly care that much i need to protect grandpa bernie god bless him
also i feel like danny would just be kinda depressed and self conscious following the first month after the incident which TOTALLY shows in the first episode so hey ! a little comfort from a loved one that isn't tucker or sam
hope u liked it. also, if you've read the first nine oneshots and youRE JUST SUPER CONFUSED, im rly sorry. this was for my benefit (i was getting confused and all the oneshots permeating my account was making me feel unorganized and anxious) every dannymay oneshot i make from this day forward should be on this story and shouldn't be reuploads. once again, i apologize.
once again, review. yesterday i believe i said 'review fucker' and thAT WAS in nO WAY ATTACKING ANYONE I WAs JUST ReALLY TIRED AND I MAKE JOKES LIKE tHAT PLEASE DONT TAKE OFFENSE AND IF YOU ALrEADY HAVE AND ITS TOO LATE IM SORRY I HAD NO menTAL CAPACity LEFT I WAS SO TIRED
xx