Midnight

Danny's dreams had been plagued with horrible nightmares. Images of his own humanity being stripped away slammed against his skull, heavy and hot like coals being fired from a canon. They kept coming relentlessly for the entirety of the first few days they spent back at Vlad's mansion.

'Hey, you're ok,' Phantom spoke into Danny's mind on their fourth night back. 'Just another nightmare.'

Danny gasped air into his lungs so hard it hurt, sweat dripping from the ends of his hair. "Hurts," he managed to wheeze, earning a reassuring hum from Phantom.

'I know. Just breathe.'

Danny did as he was told, letting Dan's image fade from his vision. The room was dark, which meant it must have been the middle of the night still. A quick glance at the alarm clock next to his bed affirmed his suspicion; it read 3:17 am.

'Are you going to go for another walk?' Phantom asked gently. He must have felt Danny slipping back into his panic.

"I..." Danny almost told Phantom that he would go on a walk, only to stop for a moment and think a bit further about the idea.

The last few days, Danny had been going for walks around the mansion when he couldn't sleep, and every single night, without fail, he managed to stumble into a bizarre situation.

The first night, for example, he'd found Jazz sitting along and staring out a window into the dead garden in the back of the mansion. She had this far away look in her eyes, as if she was remembering when the flowers were still alive. They'd both seen what the garden was supposed to look like, after all, and in comparison, now it looked pretty pathetic.

"Hey, what's up?" Danny asked gently, sitting down next to his sister. She jumped a bit, sending him a sad smile as soon as she realized it was him.

"Oh, uh, hey. Can't sleep?" Jazz asked, quickly wiping a few tears from her eyes.

"No...you?"

"Nope," Jazz popped the 'p', leaning forward and resting her head in her hands. "Ugh, I'm an idiot."

"Ok, so that's not true," Danny jumped in, scooting a little closer to his sister. "Hey, what happened?" he draped his arm around her shoulder, letting her cry into her hands for a few moments.

"I...I can't...I don't know..." Jazz murmured, shaking her head a few times before taking a deep breath and finally looking up at her brother. "Why can't I just be gay?"

Danny froze, not sure how to respond as an instinctual nervous laugh bubbled out of him. "Uhm, what?"

"Or bi, or pan, or something, you know?" Jazz continued, looking away from Danny now and down to her hands as she used them to speak. "Just not stupid and straight and...and...why do I have to hurt people?"

Danny's expression softened as realization washed over him. "Is this about...?"

"Valerie, yeah," Jazz's shoulders dropped as she let her hands fall into her lap, eyes still locked on them. "She kinda...came on to me earlier today."

"Oh."

"And I didn't know what to do so I just ended up here and—" Jazz stopped herself, taking a deep breath as her entire form shook. "What am I supposed to do?"

Danny didn't know how to respond, his arm still slung over his sister's shoulder as she continued to shake silently. "I...don't know..."

"You know," Jazz laughed humorlessly, looking back at Danny with eyes full of tears, "this isn't the first time this has happened. When I was a freshman, my best friend Carly came out to me and asked me out." Jazz's expression shifted from a distant wistful look to one of regret. "We tried it. That's how I know I'm straight."

Danny nodded, letting out another laugh before he could think to stop himself. When Jazz gave him a jilted look, he shook his head quickly. "Sorry, it's just...Dash just came out to me the other day. I guess there's just something about us Fentons, huh?"

Jazz laughed a little, wiping unshed tears from her eyes. "Yeah, I guess so."

The two siblings sat in a comfortable silence for a few more moments, Jazz collecting herself carefully. They ended up talking about Danny's plans to go into the Ghost Zone the next day for a little while longer before they both went back to their rooms, attempting to sleep once again.

The next night, Danny had nightmares about killing his family with his bare hands. He ended up in one of the many living rooms, staring out the window by himself while Phantom tried to rationalize with him.

'We both know you would never do anything you saw,' Phantom repeated, words hushed and soft against the teen's pounding skull.

"Mmm-hmm," Danny sighed half heartedly, leaning his head against the window and staring out into the black sky.

'Please, Danny, you need to snap out of it. Just listen to me and—'

"Fenton?" a soft voice came from the archway into the room. Danny turned too fast to find none other than Kwan standing there, eyes red and puffy.

"Oh, uh," Danny winced when his voice cracked, "hey Kwan. What's up?"

Wordlessly, the jock sat down one the couch across from Danny, head dropping into his hands. "Can't sleep," he muttered lowly.

"Yeah," Danny pressed his cheek to the cool window once more, closing his eyes and letting a few tears fall, "I know the feeling."

The two sat there for a few moments before Kwan gasped, jolting Danny out of his daze. "Dude, are you ok? You don't look so good..."

Danny turned his attention to Kwan, not bothering to wipe the tears from his face. "I'm fine," he snapped, harsher than he meant to. Upon seeing Kwan flinch back, he let his defenses drop, closing his eyes and shuddering a deep breath. "Sorry."

"It's, uh, fine. But, are you? Ok, I mean?" Kwan stuttered, drawing Danny's attention back to him.

"Just peachy," Danny scoffed, hastily wiping the tears from his face. "You?"

Kwan studied Danny for a moment, skepticism washing over his features before he looked away quickly. "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine," Danny prodded, leaning forward and pressing his elbows into his knees. "What's going on, Kwan?"

"I'm not the one you should be worrying—"

"Don't tell me what to worry about," Danny growled, leaning back and looking away from Kwan. He tried to keep himself in line, he really did, but something inside him broke in that moment. "I know what to worry about, but I can't do a damn thing about it. Nobody in the Ghost Zone will tell me anything, and my friends...my *family...I'm the reason they're dead."

"Danny, they're not—"

"I'm the reason they're *going to die!" Danny shoved himself up, pacing in front of the window without looking at Kwan. "I'm going to kill them, I'm going to. I've seen it - I can't *stop seeing it, actually, and I can't- I can't- I—"

"Danny, calm down—"

"I can't breathe," Danny stopped pacing, hands flying to his chest and throat. Scared eyes turned to Kwan while painful breaths dragged against his throat. "I can't—"

"Ok, look at me, stay with me," Kwan jumped up, taking a tentative step towards Danny, who was hyperventilating at this point. "Sit down, put your hands behind your head to open up your chest."

Danny did as he was told wordlessly, brain unable to defy the upperclassman at the moment. "Ok."

"Try and breathe. Hold each breath for the count of four. Let it out slowly," Kwan instructed, watching as Danny complied. "Good."

"Ok," Danny squeezed his eyes shut, wincing when the image of everyone he loved dead engulfed his vision. "No," he muttered, breath hitching as his eyes flew open. "Make it stop."

"I can't, but I can help calm you down," Kwan reassured, smiling softly at Danny as the younger teen's eyes continued to plead with him.

"They're dead and I killed him," Danny brought his hands down in front his his face, the image of fresh blood staining his vision. "I...I'm a *monster."

Kwan's expression shifted to one of pity, eyebrows drawing together. "You're not a monster. You're a *hero."

Danny's eyes flickered up to Kwan once more before gluing themselves you his hands. He tried to say something, anything, but his mind came up blank.

"You're a better guy than I am, anyways," Kwan sighed, sitting down across from Danny once more, eyes never leaving him. Meanwhile, Danny refused to look up, eyes still stuck on his hands while blood splashed his vision. "Dash and I kissed."

That caught Danny's attention, eyes flinging themselves in Kwan's direction as his hands fell to his lap. "What?" he rasped.

"Well, I kissed him and..." Kwan let out a deep breath when Danny's attention stayed on him this time. "I don't know. I think I messed up."

Danny blinked a few times before chuckling lowly, eyes still trained on Kwan. "Wow. I don't know what to say..."

"You don't have to say anything," Kwan smiled, relief washing over him as he watched Danny start to breathe normally again. "It's just been weird."

Danny nodded, swallowing hard. "So you guys are dating then?"

Kwan tilted his head to the side, a confused smile playing across his lips. "Huh?"

"I just mean...I guess considering Dash is gay and everything—"

"What? He's gay?" Kwan asked, smile melting from his face.

"Oh. Oh, he didn't...oh," Danny said slowly, eyes traveling back down to his hands. "I'm sorry."

"Hey, no, it's ok. Look back up here," Kwan stumbled over his words, trying to draw Danny's attention back up to him.

"It's all my fault," Danny muttered, squeezing his hands into fists.

"What? No, Danny—"

"I should go to bed," Danny shoved himself up, rushing to the door without even so much as looking at Kwan.

"Wait—"

But Danny was already out the door, rushing back to his room before he could break down again. Somehow, he didn't run out of breakdowns, no matter how many consumed his nights.

On their third night back, Danny ran into Star — literally. She almost fell backwards, but Danny managed to catch her before she did, eliciting a small squeak from the blonde.

"Oh, thanks Danny!" Star smiled, letting Danny help steady her before letting go.

"Yeah, for sure," he smiled, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. It had been just after two in the morning when he left his room, and he hadn't been expecting to see anyone else up. "So, uh, you're up late."

"Oh!" Star smiled awkwardly, face flushing red. "Yeah, I couldn't sleep. Sometimes that happens, so..."

Danny nodded, shuffling his hands awkwardly in front of him. "Oh, yeah. Same, I guess..."

"Hey, listen," Star straightened up, movements stiff as she laughed awkwardly. "Um, I've been meaning to talk to you...about your parents..."

This time, it was Danny who stiffened, back completely straight as his full attention settled on Star. "Yes?"

"Um, well..." Star let out a deep breath, closing her eyes and attempting to collect herself. "They might be planning something."

Danny's stomach dropped, the news hitting him hard. "Oh."

"Paulina and I kept trying to listen in on them, but they kinda knew what we were trying to do so we didn't end up hearing much and—" Star stopped herself from rambling with a deep breath before flicking her eyes up to Danny quickly. "I'm sorry."

"It's..." Danny took a deep breath to keep the panic at bay, "it's fine. What did they say?"

Star took a deep, shuddering breath before responding, her eyes glued to the ground as she did so. "They think they found a serum that can separate your ghost and human half. Do you remember them doing tests, or something?"

Danny's blood ran colder than usual, turning into ice in his veins for half a second before he shook it free. "Yes."

"They, uh, used them I guess to come up with a prototype. We weren't able to hear what they were planning on doing with it," Star explained solemnly.

Danny knew what they wanted to do with it. They'd made that pretty clear already. Phantom clenched on his cores in anxiety, causing Danny to awaken from his thoughts.

"Thank you for telling me," Danny's voice sounded hollow even to himself.

"Are you—?" Star started to ask.

"No, I'm not ok," Danny breathed out the words with a puff of frost. "It's...it's fine I'll be..."

Phantom tugged at Danny; a reminder that it was *not fine, and if his parents followed through with their plan, it wouldn't *be fine. Star stood and watched Danny as his breathing quickened, heart rate skyrocketing and hands beginning to sweat.

"Danny?" her voice was quiet next to the roar of blood in Danny's ears.

"They're going to take him again," Danny's words tumbled off his lips before he had the chance to stop them. Tear filled eyes turned themselves to Star, threatening you spill.

"No no, they won't, we won't let them," Star rushed forward to hug Danny, only to take a hasty step backwards when sparks flew across Danny's skin.

"I'm sorry," Danny hissed the words, trying unsuccessfully to pull the electricity back into himself.

"No, it's ok! Just...what can I do for you right now?" Star asked, the sincerity hitting Danny like a brick wall.

"What?"

"Whenever I have a panic attack," the words 'panic attack' sent a shiver down Danny's spine, "Paulina helps me calm down, but everyone needs different things. What helps you?"

Her tone was so slow and careful, it was already helping to lower the halfa's pulse. He tried to gulp in a few strangled breaths, but his throat felt too tight.

"Ok, breathe with me," Star concluded, watching Danny's frightened eyes at her words.

"C- can't—" Danny started, still struggling to breathe.

"I know, just...hold your breath for a few seconds, ok?" Star urged, causing Danny to do as he was told. Star smiled and nodded, everything about her somehow still calm. "Ok, now let it out."

Danny's breath fell out of him, a cloud of icy air erupting from his lips.

"Good, now slowly, in," Star instructed, the smile spreading to her eyes when Danny complied. "Hold...and out."

Danny let another breath out, this one not nearly as cold as before.

"Ok, good. Do you feel any better?" Star asked gently, a half-smile lingering on her lips as she spoke.

"I..." Danny assessed himself. He was still shaking, but he was back to breathing normally. Sure, his fingertips and nose tingled a little, but that was just the hyperventilating. "I'm ok. Thank you."

Star beamed at him, offering a small nod. "Of course. It's the least I can do after everything."

"You don't owe me anyth—" Danny began quickly.

"No! No, I know I don't, I just..." Star sighed, crossing her arms and thinking for a moment. "It's the least I can do to *say thank you*."

Danny gulped, blinking misting eyes quickly. "Oh, of course. Y- you're welcome."

"Hey, listen," Star took a little step forward, "if you ever need anything, or just want to chill or whatever, I'm always here, ok? I mean, Paulina will probably be with me, but still."

Danny smiled at her, watching as she smiled excitedly back. He'd never really known Star before he helped her get help for her eating disorder, but she hadn't ever been particularly mean to him. Sure, she'd gone along with the rest of the a-listers in turning him into the school pariah, but it didn't feel personal. Now, watching her be so excited about the prospect of being his friend, Danny couldn't help but feel a little excited as well.

"Yeah. I'd like that. Maybe one of these days after training or something we could all just..." Danny thought for the right words. He was under so much stress that saying he wanted to 'hang out' felt too...*normal. "I don't know, just relax or something."

The two ended up chatting for a little while longer before they both decided to try sleeping again. Sure, it was another breakdown, but he felt like he'd gotten closer to Star in the process.

That brought him to that night, laying in his bed and contemplating getting up and walking around the mansion again. While the idea of running into someone again was mildly interesting, mostly he just wanted to be by himself in his terror. After all, vulnerability wasn't exactly something he enjoyed.

Before Danny could make up his mind, his door flew open. Sam stood in the doorway, heaving breaths wracking her entire body as she looked at him with wide eyes.

"Danny, thank god you're already awake," she smiled at him for the first time in days, a quick flash before her worry took over once more. "We have to leave. *Now."

"What?" Danny jumped out of bed, looking around him quickly and relaxing just slightly when he realized he didn't have much to pack. "Why?"

Sam took a deep breath, eyes flashing with pity for a moment. "The media is here."

Hey all! What do you think?

Thank you all so much for being so supportive of my new posting schedule - I know it's a lot more scarce, but I'm feeling so much better about my content and my stress levels with everything.

Theres not a lot left in this story - I was going to take longer to get to the ending, but the more I think about it, the more that would overcomplicate things. That being said, there's still a ways to go first, so no worries about this ending within the next few updates.

As always, thank you so so much to everyone who interacts with this story - it honestly means the world to me.

Until next time,

~Ash