Chapter 8
The Avengers, and by extension S.H.I.E.L.D, and by even further extension the world, now knew that that there was a superhero running around that either had ghost powers, or was a ghost, and nobody really knew what to believe. Some called him a hero, and others saw him as a monster because he's a ghost, and others tried to summon him. Luckily none of the attempts have worked yet.
The bank excursion was of course brought up in conversation the next time he and the Avengers met up. It was nice having friends who understood the life, and they were all super happy for him. But one question kept coming up.
"How did you get there so quickly?"
"I was just in the area. All luck, really."
And that was that. The media had a few field days with Danny's presence, and then interviews from Tony on the subject of Danny, which everyone but Tony enjoyed.
Over the course of the next few weeks they became even greater friends. They visited each other frequently, which Steve liked for the sight seeing and sketchbook potential, while Tony and Bruce enjoyed it purely for scientific reasons and not because Dora made them flower crowns the third time they had visited. Clint kept coming back for Cujo. Apparently he knew how to ask someone if he could pet their dog in seventeen different languages, and Danny gained a lot more respect for the man the day he found that out. But Clint also has a tendency to be a bit of a dumbass sometimes so Natasha joined him just in case. Thor came because he's an overgrown overprotective godly Labrador who will do anything for his friends, even if it means coming into the Ghost Zone time and time again because they think it's fun.
Danny had a lot of patience. As a king it was something he learned very quickly. It was a necessity, especially when dealing with new ghosts. So it's only reasonable as to why it's taken him this long to finally be bothered by Thor's constant glaring at him, for just simply existing. And Danny knew exactly how he would help Thor understand that despite being a ghost or a draugr or whatever, he was just as good as Thor was.
As Valerie took them around to the roof garden they let Tulip have, Danny pulled Thor aside, into a smaller storage room that had a bunch of old paintings nobody liked.
"Why do you wish to speak to me alone?" Thor asked. He was defensive more than hostile, but Danny could tell it was mostly out of necessity. Not because he didn't actually want to fight Danny.
"Because," he said, "Since day one you've hated me. And I need to make you understand that I'm a good guy."
"That sounds like something a bad guy would say."
"It sounds like something a good guy would say, too!"
Thor was silent after that, and Danny sighed.
"Listen, I know draugrs are bad, but the ghosts here aren't like that. I'm the best example."
"How so?"
Without saying anything, Danny looked Thor in the eye and let the white rings wash over him, turning white hair to black, green eyes to blue, and his armor to a flannel and jeans.
"I'm a halfa," Danny explained. "Half ghost, half human. Half alive, half dead. So when I say I'm a good guy, I'm not just trying to be relatable. And for the record, there aren't any draugrs in the Zone, so could you please start treating my people with a little more respect?"
Thor was speechless. His eyes were wide as he looked at Danny, who had a lump in his throat and felt rooted to the spot. Exposed like a wire, out there for anybody to pour water on. Vulnerable, despite the authority he had over others. But Thor needed to see this. Needed to see that Danny could bleed red as well as green.
"Wh...How?" Thor asked. His voice was soft, and all of the hostility in it had long since left. Danny sighed again, and sat down on a pile of paintings.
"When I was a teenager, I got into a lab accident. All of that is true. But what I didn't tell you guys was that it only half killed me. The ectoplasmic electricity fused with my DNA and turned me into a halfa. I should have died. I think if it was anybody else they would have. We think my exposure to ghost related things my entire life is what saved it. Er...Half of it, anyway.
"Then, five years ago, Pariah woke up. And he was the first thing I've ever killed. I pray to whatever higher power that exists that he's also the last."
Thor looked down at Danny. He saw how tired the young man was. Despite his size he seemed to shrink in on himself so that he was smaller, unnoticeable. He had seen the same weariness in his father, who always had the weight of the world on his shoulder. But Danny?
Danny's got two on his.
"I understand if you want to tell the others, but I ask you, please don't," Danny said, looking him in the eyes. Thor saw, despite the weariness of his body, his eyes blazed. They pierced his soul, just as they had before when they were green. "It's my secret to tell. And I will, eventually. Just...Reliving the day that I died is hard sometimes. It's not exactly a pleasant memory. So please...I'll tell them when I'm ready. Last time somebody found out it didn't end well. So pleaseā¦"
Danny was looking down now, and Thor could see that he was visibly shaking.
Thor knelt down in front of him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. Danny flinched when it touched him. This man, even though so young, has seen more trauma than the battle-weary warriors he's fought with. He could do this for Danny.
"Your secret is safe with me, my friend. You don't have to explain your traumas to me. They are your scars to hold, and to share."
Danny sniffled as he raised his head up, furiously wiping at his eyes for a moment before giving Thor a big grin.
"You called me your friend."
"I suppose there is no point in thinking otherwise, now is there?"
Danny grinned at him, before letting the rings go over his body once more. He stood back up as Phantom, and offered Thor his hand.
"Shall we?" He asked. Thor took it, and stood up.
"We shall."
Danny smiled as he led him out of the room and back to the group.
They both smiled the entire way.
