Danny reached the library within minutes. Valerie waved to him from her hover board. He came to a stop in front of her.
"So, what did you see? Or where did you think you saw something?" Danny inquired. Valerie rolled her eyes and pointed down to the street.
"I thought I saw someone run across the street but when I looked again, there was no one. I thought it might have been a ghost and it turned invisible, but like I said my sensors didn't go off," Valerie informed Danny, clearly thinking that Danny was overreacting. However Danny had learned a long time ago, repeatedly, not to ignore something like this. If you ignored it, things only ended up ten times worse. Danny scowled with determination and carefully landed in the middle of the street. If it was a ghost, they'd make themselves known. If it was an enemy, they'd probably take a shot at him and if it was a friend, they'd probably come out of hiding and say hi to him.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, his ghost sense went off. He'd been right to come after all. But that just made him worry more. Valerie's equipment hadn't gone off and that was a concern. Suddenly he was tackled from behind. It took a moment for Danny to realise that he hadn't been tackled, more hugged tightly from behind. He managed to wriggle his way out enough to turn and see the person hugging him. Dani Phantom looked up at him and grinned happily.
Danny grinned back and returned the hug.
"Danielle, what are you doing here? You alright?" Danny asked once they finished their hug, suddenly anxious. Danielle usually only turned up if there was trouble. Danielle raised an eyebrow.
"I can't visit my cousin?" she countered. Danny smiled.
"Of course you can, but usually you only come for help," Danny replied gently. Danielle shrugged.
"You know that that was because I was worried about Vlad," she retorted but before she could continue she heard an engine above. She tensed, thinking that it was those guys chasing her. They sometimes had jetpacks and stuff.
"Hey Dani! Why did you hide?" Valerie called as she landed beside them. Danielle relaxed, but not before Danny noticed her fear and panic.
"Danielle… are you in trouble?" Danny asked carefully. Danielle looked to Danny and opened her mouth to explain. However there was an explosion behind them.
Danny wheeled around and saw the guys chasing her. Agent O and Agent K from the Guys in White. Danny understood the situation immediately and stood protectively in front of Danielle.
"Who are those guys Danny?" Valerie whispered noticing the change in him. He had a slight spilt personality she'd noticed. Fenton and Phantom. Fenton was the unsure, clumsy geek everyone knew but Phantom was the all-business, protective leader everyone respected. And the moment he saw the Guys in White, he became Phantom.
"They're ghost hunters. Secret government division called the Guys in White. They're bad news," Danny muttered softly, keeping his eyes glued on the men in white suits holding large guns.
"What do you want?!" Danny shouted to them. The dynamic had certainly changed since they knew his secret. He noticed that they were wary of him. Danny was aware of the power he had to sway people's views of things. He knew that the Guys in White knew that and obviously didn't want to openly confront him because of it. He could use that to his advantage.
"We want that ghost hiding behind you Phantom! We caught her stealing from us!" Agent O lied. Danny knew it was a lie. No ghost was stupid enough to steal from these guys. Well, he had gotten close to them before but he was used to being so stupid beyond reason that it looked heroic. Valerie made to answer, but Danny put a hand on her shoulder.
"I'll handle this. This isn't the first time I've dealt with them," Danny whispered to her. He had experience in saying just enough information without saying anything to blow his secret, Valerie hadn't necessarily. She'd hunted ghosts secretly, yes, but that wasn't the same. If she slipped up, she just got a slap on the wrist and told not to do it again. But if Danny slipped up, before his secret came out, he'd be arrested and experimented on and chances were killed. If not on purpose, then by accident.
"Danielle is under my protection. Stand down!" Danny ordered forcefully. He doubted that they'd listen, but he had to try.
"She is a thief and dangerous. We have to take action," Agent K shouted back. There was still a lot of distance between them, obviously in case either party attacked. Danny scowled.
"Danielle turn invisible. Go over a few blocks and change. I'm guessing they don't know your secret," Danny whispered without looking at Danielle. He saw that she obeyed when the Guys in White lurched forward to pursue Danielle but stopped when they saw Danny hadn't moved.
"I told you Danielle is under my protection. Stand down. She is not dangerous," Danny called to them sternly. The Guys in White frowned at him.
"This isn't the end of this Phantom. We'll be back!" Agent O snarled before they both turned and left the street on foot.
"I don't doubt it," Danny muttered to himself and immediately relaxed. The Guys in White were beaten, at least for now.
"How come Dani didn't show up on my sensors?" Valerie wondered aloud as they walk down the street to meet up with Danielle. Danny laughed softly.
"Because you're weapons don't pick up me anymore. Remember, Danielle is my clone. We're technically the same person. Maybe we should change that and make it a different signal or something, or optional," Danny explained and smiled as he noticed Danielle's human face peer out of an alleyway.
"Danielle, over here," he called, confident that no one would over hear. She smiled and ran over to them.
"Now be honest Danielle. Did you steal from them? Even by accident," Danny asked. He had to check since he was putting his neck out, he was aware that Danielle stole things but understood that it was only so she could survive. Danielle scowled at him.
"No! They were lying. They came after me for no reason," Danielle replied firmly, crossing her arms. Danny smiled apologetically.
"Sorry Cuz, I had to check. Come on, I'll take you home before finishing my patrol," Danny decided. He could explain everything to his parents in the morning. Jazz was working on a thesis or something, so she could keep an eye on Danielle for him.
"Alright, thanks Danny. Bye Valerie," Danielle relented easily and waved goodbye to Valerie before Danny turned them both invisible and flew Danielle home. It was safer if she didn't go ghost just yet.
So Danielle meets up with Danny and the first encounter with the Guys in White. That's right the first. Let me know what you guys think of the story so far.
Anyway, until the next chapter.
