Sequel to Ooze, where Danny got frozen in a chunk of ice.
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Heat
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In the middle of the Vlad's lab sat a huge chunk of ghost ice. This was a problem, not least because Daniel was inside the ice. Vlad had no idea how to get him out. The ice wasn't melting on its own.
At least Vlad's instruments told him that Daniel was still extant within the ice. He hadn't inadvertently ended himself. Vlad couldn't imagine what he'd do if that were the case. He and Daniel might not get along- no, that was putting it too mildly, they were enemies- but Vlad didn't want to be the only one again, the only one to understand what it was like to one day be normal, and the next to be some kind of half-dead freak.
No. Don't think about that. Instead, focus on how Daniel was just as alive and dead now as he had been earlier today. Focus on solutions. Focus, even, on how he might turn the situation to his advantage, in the future. Daniel was sure to be grateful, wasn't he?
Vlad stopped pacing and collapsed in a chair. He felt calmer, now, and used his telekinesis to levitate a book to himself from a shelf across the room. He opened it to the section on ghost ice.
Ghost ice was notoriously difficult to melt and harder than diamond. Although it was cold, and ghosts who made it could make normal ice as well, ghost ice wasn't really ice at all. It was mostly made out of water, yes, but the ectoplasm changed its crystal structure significantly. What's more, there wasn't just one possible crystal structure; it depended on the desires of the ghost forming it.
It was complicated and frustrating, and even though Vlad had started researching it as soon as Danny had demonstrated the capability, he still didn't entirely understand it.
The one thing Vlad did know: ghostly fire could melt the stuff. If it was sufficiently hot. Sometimes. It was a tricky proposition.
Vlad didn't want to burn Daniel. Even if he was being annoying.
This would be so much easier if Daniel simply thawed himself. Vlad knew he could. At least, he should be able to. Perhaps if Vlad knew why he had frozen himself, he could do something about it, but he didn't, and there really wasn't any way for him to find out.
Curses.
He got up and picked up the ice again, taking it to his largest containment unit with a drain. He set the heat inside to high, a pleasant temperature for a hot cored ghost like himself. If fire was the only option, then fire was the only option. He'd just have to go slowly, stop well before he reached Daniel.
It was slow, exhausting work. Ice might have to be encouraged, but fire hated being held back, especially given the amount of power Vlad had to pour into it to make any progress.
He stopped periodically to check the time and Daniel's vitals. Daniel's vitals were fine, but he'd better have a truly remarkable excuse in reserve for his family. It had been hours since their fight.
At last, Vlad had reduced the block ice to thin shell around Daniel. Daniel was curled in on himself, the attitude of his arms indicating that he'd been protecting his head and neck. Something had frightened him. Perhaps he had been attacked by whatever had passed by Vlad in the ectoplasm sea?
Vlad pursed his lips. It wasn't like Daniel to be timid. Whatever it had been must have shaken him badly. Or perhaps it had been the attack on top of not being able to breathe. Vlad wasn't sure if Daniel knew how optional that particular bodily function was for the two of them.
Regardless.
Vlad knocked sharply on the ice, right next to Daniel's ear. The reaction was instantaneous. Daniel twitched and kicked wildly, and the ice shattered. He dragged himself to a corner of the containment chamber with an odd, swimming motion, and started retching, vomiting up a copious amount of water and ectoplasm. As soon as he was done, his body flashed with light and became human. He collapsed.
Both disgusted and worried, Vlad strode to Daniel's side. He touched Daniel's shoulder, and he flinched violently, twisting to stare up at Vlad with frightened but somehow vacant eyes.
"Daniel," said Vlad. Daniel's eyelids fluttered, but otherwise he didn't respond. Vlad reached out to touch him again, but this time, instead of flinching away, Daniel leaned into the touch, rubbing his cheek against his arm.
He slurred something that might have been interpreted as warm.
Vlad sighed and rolled his eyes, secretly relieved. "Yes, yes," he said, maneuvering himself behind Daniel and picking him up. "Let's get you warmed up, and then we can go back to fighting or whatnot."
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Aargh... this was short... I'm afraid I'm starting to lose steam.