Disclaimer: I still don't own Danny Phantom, no Butch didn't set Klemper on me again but he did threaten to get Vlad to escort me from the premises if I asked one more time. So I did what any Vlad fan would do I asked one more time. And guess what? I got Vlad's autograph…but I still don't own Danny Phantom (Expect to see these little stories from now on they seem to lighten the mood.)
Chapter 12: Moving on
Skulker smirked evilly his robotic eyes shining with triumph, lying at his feet barely conscious was Tyler and he was in bad shape. His clothes were torn and his body was bruised and battered, he hardly had the strength to lift his head and look up at the evil ghost before him. The boy opened his mouth but no sound came out his throat was bone dry and raw from his earlier pain filled screams.
"What was that whelp," Skulker questioned gleefully. Nothing pleased the hunter more than a successful hunt and his prey broken at his feet. "You'll have to speak up," he added with a chuckle.
Tyler swallowed a few times and tried once more, "S…kulker don't-" he was cut off when Skulker pulled his leg back and kicked him viciously in the ribs. His remaining air was taken from him in a whoosh that left him gasping for breath. Tyler curled in on himself wishing nothing more to just disappear, disappear from the pain that was racking his body. He felt weak and broken and yet it still got worse.
Skulker leaned down and pulled the boy up by his hair enjoying as he whimpered too exhausted to cry out fully. He turned the weakly struggling boy to see another teen she was tied to a wooden chair her head lolling limply to the side. When Tyler saw this he whimpered even louder his weak struggles becoming slightly stronger, Skulker rumbled in his chest a grin spreading across his face.
"Please Skulker," Tyler gasped when the ghost twisted his hair even more. "Leave her alone."
The robotic ghost sneered into the boys' face, "You are the one who brought her into this Tyler. This is all your fault."
"N…no," the teen shook his head tears starting to form in his eyes. Skulker threw him roughly to the floor just as glowing green chains appeared out of the floor and wrapped themselves around Ty, binding him there.
Skulker walked up to the girl and pulled her beautiful red head back her, eyes still closed, Jazz didn't even stir. A green blade slid out of Skulker's forearm mere inches away from Jazz's dangerously exposed neck. "And now you'll have to pay the price," Skulker went on as if the boy hadn't even spoken.
Tyler struggled even more at seeing the blade move closer to the girl's throat, "Skulker please don't, take me just leave her alone." The boy begged tears falling freely down his cheeks, not even bothering to try to free himself.
"Don't worry child," Skulker grinned, "It will be quick."
And before Ty could move Skulker flicked his wrist right at Jazz, "No," Ty cried his heart nearly tearing in two.
"Ahh," Tyler shouted sitting bolt upright. The shaking boy looked around confusion clear on his face he was in…the detention room? And several anxious faces were staring back at him, including the teacher, who Ty thought might be the janitor, and Danny Fenton.
"You alright," the raven haired boy asked concern in his voice.
Tyler took several deep breathes desperately trying to calm his racing heart, that wasn't the first time he'd had that nightmare. It had beena week since the incident with Skulker and Plasmius and every time that he went to sleep he had the same horrible dream. Ty shuddered thinking back on all of his sleepless nights, in fact he hadn't actually slept a full night in at least five days. The boy turned his light brown eyes, dark bags underneath them, to Danny and placed a forced smile on his lips.
"Yeah Dan I just had a nightmare about Lancer," he forced a joking smile on his face, though his eyes were pain filled. The two boys shared a laugh, Ty's more forced than Danny's.
"Yeah I can understand that," Danny agreed.
Ty chuckled a little more before turning his head away as a small whimper came from his lips. He quickly bit the whimper down and placed his head on the desk, doing his best to forget his horrible nightmare. It didn't work; this wasn't the first time however. Over the past fewdays Ty had been distant his lack of sleep making him irritable and the bad dreams causing him to be easily distracted and sometimes frightened. Jazz had picked up on this but Tyler had told her it was nothing and when she persisted they started to argue. The disagreement caused the two to not talk to each other, and the silent treatment was still going.
Jazz's and Tyler's relationship wasn't the only thing that had changed, Danny and Tyler had actually gotten to be close. They were nearly inseparable in the few classes they had together, being in two different grades was hard to overcome. And Ty had also become pretty close to Sam and Tucker as well, not best friends but still able to hold down a ten minute conversation with ease.
Tyler had yet to find Plasmius and had given up his search a few days after searching and had still found no signs of the helpful it not scary red eyed ghost. Though everything wasn't bad, Tyler had found out that a part of his spectral powers were controlled by his emotions. If he was sad he would fall through objects more often. If he was happy sometimes he would float off the ground. He had been working on controlling the powers and found the best way was to learn to control his emotions.
A lot has changed, the boy thought a small shudder passing through his lanky frame. He sighed into his hands and distracted his frightened mind by thinking of Jazz, his mouth slid into a frown his eyes troubled. He wished he hadn't yelled at her that day, but he didn't want her to find out he was having nightmares. He was a sophomore; he wasn't supposed to have bad dreams like a little five year old. And he figured that after a few days they would go away but they only seemed to get worse.
How did I get back on this subject, he thought in annoyance.
"Hey Ty," Danny voice pulled him from his angry thoughts. "You up for the Nasty Burger, Sam and Tuck are already there."
Tyler considered, he actually didn't feel like hanging out but he really needed to clear his head. "Sure Dan that sounds great," he said trying his best to sound upbeat. "Just as long as Sam doesn't order for me…again."
Tyler had soon found out that Sam was a vegetarian, well actually more like a super vegetarian as in way over the top. And after his first dining experience with letting Sam order for him he decided to never let it happen again. He could still taste the veggie sandwich she'd ordered for him, it had tasted like mud on grass. Actually I think it was mud on grass, he thought a small smirk on his face.
Danny laughed, "Will do." The two fell back into silence both lost in their own thoughts, not five minutes later the teacher/janitor looked up at the clock and back to the four or five students.
"You can go," he said in a raspy voice. It sounded like he was a chain smoker.
Tyler and Danny jumped up at the same time and headed out the door, "So Ty how's your mom doing," Danny asked as the pair came out of the school and into the chilly November air.
The blonde haired teen jumped at hearing Danny's voice, he turned his tired eyes to him biting down a yawn. "She's fine," he answered curtly turning his head away.
"And you how's your job going," Danny continued undeterred.
"Great," Tyler said just as curtly. The job that Sam had promised him weeks ago had turned out to be the equivalent to hell on earth. He washed dishes in an incredibly fancy Italian restaurant and the head waiter was a total jerk. He despised Tyler and went out of his way to make his life miserable, whether it was from giving him extra plates to wash or purposely causing messes for the boy to clean up he did it. And Tyler seriously hated the man, especially in his tired state he wasn't exactly in the mood to be beaten down.
"Glad to hear you're enjoying it that much," Danny commented dryly. He could tell his friend wasn't very thrilled with his job but didn't want to say anything.
Tyler rolled his eyes only feeling slightly annoyed but it wasn't the time to argue. He turned his head away and continued to ignore his friend.
"So I talked to Jazz the other day," Danny went on hoping to get a reaction.
"Well considering you live in the same house that's good," Tyler countered snidely.
Danny frowned at him before forging on, "And she wanted me to ask how you're doing."
"Tell her fine."
Tyler heard a sigh and smirked in satisfaction he did not feel like talking about this. After Tyler had "saved" Danny and Jazz from Skulker, Danny had gone out of his way to be nice to Ty. And had even gone as far as to not approve of Tyler and Jazz hanging out, but he tolerated it. But since Jazz wasn't talking to Ty Danny had seemed kind of annoyed.
"You know she's worried about you," Danny said quietly.
The blonde gritted his teeth, "I know."
"But you don't care?"
Tyler didn't answer, just clenched his jaw glaring banefully at Danny, the shorter boy held up his hands. "I don't want to talk about this okay Danny," Ty said opening the door to the Nasty Burger. "It would just be best to not mention it again."
"That might be a problem," Danny said sounding a little nervous.
"What do you mean," Ty asked anxiously not liking the grin that grew on Danny's face. Danny only pointed over Ty's shoulder and the boy unwillingly turned around. Sitting at his usual table was Tucker and Sam. But that wasn't the shocking part sitting squished in between them was Jazz and she looked a little annoyed herself. Tyler paled and looked around hoping to duck into hiding before Jazz noticed him but Danny killed that hope.
"Hey Jazz," he shouted grabbing Tyler as he tried to leap past him and back out the door. He turned Tyler around noticing the look of anguish pasted on his face.
"Why do you torture me," he hissed.
Danny shrugged, "Because you like my sister."
Danny marched the unwillingly Tyler up to his friends and sat down across from them, he leaned back and gave Tuck and Sam a wink. Their plan was working smoothly, for now. Jazz was staring at Tyler a mix of emotions on her face and Tyler was doing his best to act casual.
That little twerp, Ty thought heatedly. He had this planned all along, oh I am so going to pound him later. He looked up and quickly looked down again when he saw Jazz looking at him, this situation was not making him feel better.
"So um Danny, Tuck why don't we go order," Sam said loudly standing from the table. Before either boy could object she had grabbed their arms and dragged them away. Ty swore he saw Tucker look back over his shoulder and send him a thumbs-up. Ty glared after them silently cursing them.
"So Ty how've you been," Jazz asked sounding uncertain.
Tyler unwillingly dragged his murderous gaze away from the three teens and back to Jazz. "Fine, you," he answered. He wasn't trying to be mean but it might be the only way.
"Good, I guess."
The two fell into a stony silence neither knowing exactly what to say, "So um how have your powers been going," Jazz said lowering her voice.
"Better, I still haven't gotten control over them but it is better than it was before," Ty said his voice also quiet. The two fell into silence once more and they both shifted uncomfortably.
Then with no warning Jazz and Ty began to speak at the same time.
"Look Ty I'm sorry for what I said but there really is something bothering you-"
"Jazz I don't think I should be seeing you now I don't think it's a good idea-"
Tyler and Jazz stopped at the same time, Jazz with a look of pained shock on her face, and Tyler with grim determination.
"What," Jazz whispered her voice hurt.
Tyler sighed quietly he really didn't wish for it to happen like this but it looked like his luck was back to its normal sucky-ness. "Jazz," he started taking her hand gently in his. "After what happened with Skulker…I just don't think it would be safe to be around you."
Jazz stared at him shock clearly in her gaze, "I don't understand Ty," she breathed her hands shaking.
Tyler took a deep breath, biting back the stinging in his eyes. He didn't think it would be this hard, or affect him this much. "Jazz I can't be around you anymore it isn't safe," he told her firmly giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.
This seemed to reach Jazz and she blinked stupidly at him, "But Ty you, you saved me from Skulker-."
"No," Tyler interrupted anger finding its way into his voice. "I didn't do anything," he looked away from the girl. He was about to tell her that Plasmius saved them but something held him back, for some reason he felt the need to protect the ghost. "If it wasn't for Phantom we would've been screwed," Ty lied.
"But you said," Jazz denied shaking her head numbly.
"I know what I said," he said sharply, "I lied."
"Why."
"Because I thought I could protect you Jazz…but now I know that I can't. And as long as you're around me you never will be safe," he whispered the last part feeling a lump rise up in his throat.
"I don't need protecting," Jazz countered her voice suddenly angry.
Tyler looked up into her face, feeling the sudden urge to stroke her cheek but he held himself back. "You're right Jazz, as long as you're away from me you won't," the teen smiled sadly before rising out of the booth.
Jazz jumped up with him grabbing his hand tightly, "No Ty I can't let you go. What happened wasn't your fault and you don't have to protect me, I can defend myself."
Tyler shook his head and grabbed Jazz's hand pulling it away from his own, "I'm sorry Jazz it's just better this way." Before the girl could object he walked away from her and out the door not glancing behind him once.
She's safer this way, she's safer this way, he chanted to himself as he walked away. He felt as if his heart was tearing in two as he turned his back on the girl he loved. He didn't know how long he walked through the cold streets of Amity, probably a couple hours but he was too numb to really notice. It was like the emotional pain had forced him to crawl back inside his body, leaving only an empty zombie like shell behind. Eventually when Ty came back to himself, he found he was at the bus stop sitting on a bench and staring into space.
Tyler sighed debating whether to go home or just sit here for a few more hours, or days. When suddenly a voice filtered into his brain, "I told you so," it whispered at the edges of Ty's mind.
The boy looked around for the source of the voice but there was no one around, praying that he wasn't going nuts Ty swallowed and said quietly, "Uh what?"
He heard an impish chuckle greet him and then out of nowhere, as if he'd been standing there the whole time, Blaze appeared right in front of Ty. "I said I told you so," the man said again a smile on his face.
Great now I'm seeing things, maybe I am going nuts, Tyler thought dejectedly lowering his head into his hands.
Blaze floated closer and said confidently, "Oh you're not seeing things Shade I am here." The ancient Shadowhunter lifted the boys' chin before stating "Didn't I tell you the girl was trouble?"
Ty pulled away from the man brief anger flashing in his eyes before it was replaced by pain, "Leave me alone," he whispered. The teen flinched when he heard cruel laughter sound in his ears and he glared at Blaze wondering why the man was acting this way. "Why are you doing this Blaze," the boy demanded.
Blaze calmed his laughter and stared down at the boy a hint of insanity in his gaze, "Because Shade, I am teaching the ways of the Shadowhunter. There is no room for love in our world and that is your first lesson."
Tyler stood up and backed away from the ghost pointing an excusing finger at him, "You're insane."
"Am I," Blaze questioned chuckling a bit. "Do you remember when I told you of the enemy who appears to be friend?" The ghost advanced on the backpedaling teenager, "You know of whom I speak, Danny Phantom."
"No, no," Ty shook his head. "Just leave me alone," he shouted turning to run from the ghost.
Blaze let him go shouting after him, "You can't run from your destiny Shade, remember that."
Tyler ran blindly for home his head beginning to pound again but he ignored the pain and ran faster, the next thing he knew he was at home panting on the living room floor. The boy wrapped his arms around his legs and put his head against his knees. Nothing was going the way it was supposed to, Blaze wasn't supposed to act crazy and evil, and he was supposed to get the girl, but everything was just wrong. Ty repressed the sob growing in his throat and clenched his eyes shut against the pounding headache.
He knew he should go to sleep but the thought of the nightmares kept his mind working. Ty shook his head doing his best to think clearly against the blinding pain erupting behind his eyes, no matter what Blaze said he wasn't going to listen to him. The ghost was crazy in every sense of the word. But…he was right about Phantom, wasn't he?
Phantom did appear to be friend even though he wasn't.
Ty put his hands on his temples feeling anger rise up in him, Phantom tricked him, Skulker threatened him, he had to leave Jazz to keep her safe. And now Blaze was against him, it was all too much, Tyler felt the tips of his fingers start to tingle as rage burned in his now glowing eyes. With an animalistic cry Tyler threw his arms to the side just as crackling golden lightning erupted from his palms exploded into the couch sending the inside of the cushions flying into the air.
The teen blinked dumbfounded at the couch that now had a steaming hole through the top, with smoke still rising out of the wound. Ty glanced down at his hands shocked to see golden energy dancing between his finger tips. He stared stunned at this new discovery before a small smile grew on his face, he slowly clenched his fists causing the energy to disappear back into his hand.
Maybe I can get things back to the way they were, the boy thought his eerie smile growing even more.
Authors Note: Well as you can see lot's a angst in that chapter. Heh, don't blame me blame my evil side. Sorry for the wait.
