WoM- Whew! This didn't want to upload fora second! I've been wanting to do this one for a while, but kept hesitating. It's a good thing I did, since I think it made it turn out even better…
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no help at all."
-Dale Carnegie
By and By
One by one the days march by
And all I can do is sit and observe
I feel powerless as I watch you try
To make sence of the absurd
"Danny? Are you okay?" I already know what your answer is going to be, just like I know it's going to be a lie. Still, I felt it was my duty to ask.
"Fine," Came the grunt, just as I expected. I bite my lip and turn away, pretending I didn't see the bruises lining your arm even as my stomach did flips.
'Who was it last night?' I wonder. 'Who kept you up to God knows what hour, fighting? Who put those bruises there?'
I chatter on about nothing to try and distract myself from these thoughts, not to mention keeping other people from noting those physical signs of your burden. As proud as I feel, I've got to admit I'm scared for you.
Who's to say one day the ghosts won't get fed up and try and revolt against you or something? You can handle them one at a time, but what about all together? Would you win that fight? Would you even survive? Can you even die in the first place?
That's another thing I wonder about now. After all, the accident did more then give you powers. Your temperature is colder now to anyone who brushes past you, physically you've gotten stronger, faster.
You've begun to do things unconsciously that makes me wonder if you've developed a stronger inner psyche, like dodging things when you're half asleep, and even pulling others out of danger before anyone, yourself included, even knew they were at risk.
Still, no matter what changes are going on inside of you, you still face every day with the same determination to protect everyone, to shoulder all their pain and fight off all their fears. You refuse to burden anyone else with your secret, your powers, No one.
Fib by fib I strive to hide
The secret you can't trust
You don't know how I've lied
While knowing that I must
"Where's Danny?"
When was it that my heart started pounding every time I heard that question? To any other person, that would probably sound stupid and overprotective, but I can't help it. I have to do something to help you, after all, even if it's something as minimal as this.
"He's gonna be a little late today, Mr. Lancer," I lied. "There was another lab explosion today, and he got trapped in clean-up duty."
The portly teacher sighs in annoyance, unaware that you've probably saved his life more times then he can count, and that all you got in return was Fs and scoldings about how irresponsible you were, when it was actually quite the opposite.
You were so much more then responsible. You are still just a kid, and you've taken the lives of everyone you know and many you don't onto your shoulders. You've suffered because of it, and you've had your losses, but you never gave up on what was important, which was what makes you a true superhero.
I often wondered what others would say or do if they knew. Would they accept you, acknowledge you as the hero you are? Or would they shun you for something you had no control over? Would they insist your powers be taken away?
I honestly didn't know how they'd react. As proud as I am for my perception skills in other people, this was a circumstance with results that couldn't be predicted, since logic dictates the accident should've never happened in the first place.
Still, I think you were destined for this. Because, as corny as this sounds, you're the strongest person I know.
Breath by breath I wait for you
Always fearing for the worst
Dangers leave you black and blue
And their hatred leaves you cursed
'Crash!'
I jump slightly at the noise coming from the supposedly empty room. I hope against hope that it isn't what I think it is, but already know that I'm wrong. Sure enough, a peek inside reveals you fighting another ghost, and losing badly. I cringe at the sight of the bloody gashes on your chest, once again feeling helpless as far as you were concerned.
I draw a sharp breath when I see someone coming from the corner of my eye, shutting the door behind me and leaning against it in a supposedly casual pose.
"Good morning, Mrs. Ishiyama!" I say, my loud tone drowning out the sounds of the battle so they didn't reach the Principal.
That didn't keep them from me, though.
"You honestly think you can win, you lousy freak?" Your opponent demands angrily, "You're merely a half-ghost! An abomination of nature!" I tried to turn my wince into a smile, but it must've still looked pretty pained, since Mrs. Ishiyama stopped to give me a concerned look.
"Are you alright, sweetie?" She asked, "Maybe you should see the nurse…"
"I'm fine, Mrs. Ishiyama," I answer. It's you who's in trouble. Not just from your enemies, but yourself. You're pride, your fear… it's all hurting you far more then any ghost has ever accomplished, though I'm sure they're doing their fair share to try and bring you down.
My greatest fear lately had been that you'd die in a fight. What would I do if you left? I can't even begin to imagine how much that would hurt, and I'm deathly terrified of finding out. Still, I'm too proud of you to ask you to stop on account of my fears. They're your powers, after all. Your responsibilities, your burden and your life.
You don't want me meddling, you've already made that clear.
Fight by fight you keep us safe
From terrors most don't know
For all the dangers you erase
For troubles high and low
"In other news, Amity Park's very own Danny Phantom has shown heroism yet again, fighting off a ghost that attempted to kidnap an entire kindergarten class. Not only did Phantom saved the cute little tots from impending dangers, but he also stayed to watch over them while waiting for help to arrive, going as far as to play with them even so they wouldn't wander off. Here's Darryl White with more. Darryl?"
"Since when did ghosts baby-sit?" I ask in amusement.
"Since kids took to clinging to their legs wailing like somebody told them all major holidays were cancelled when they tried to leave." You respond. I bite back a giggle, but can't suppress my smile.
"Thanks, Suzan. I'm here with four year old Katie Daniels, one of the students saved by the controversial white haired ghost. Katie, can you tell us what happened?"
"Uh-huh!" Katie said happily, "Everyone was playing outside when a scary shadow ghost attacked us, and Phantom came swooping in and fought him. It was really cool, like a superhero!" another suppressed giggled at your brilliant blush. "Then after he sucked the bad ghost up, he was gonna leave, but Frankie started crying cuz he was scared more bad ghosts would come, so Phantom stayed and showed us lots of cool tricks he could do! Did you know he can make people float like him?"
"No, Katie, but thanks for enlightening us," Darryl said smiling. You roll your eyes.
"I still don't get why they can't see ghosts are dangerous…" You gripe, shooting the TV a dirty look. I smiled.
"I can think of a few reasons…" I said knowingly.
After all, you'd always been there to take the worst of the blows for us.
Drop by drop I count the tears
You're determined not to shed
Bringing new life in my rising fears
As your foes toy with your head
I give you a weak smile as I stand at the threshold of your door. You were laying on your bed, staring at the ceiling and pretending I wasn't there. You knew I was, I knew that much right away. How could you not, after all? But you just really didn't want to talk. Fortunately, I had the birthright to make you talk to me.
"Hey," I said softly, coming in and sitting on your bed, "Wanna talk about it?"
"I'm fine," You say. If it wasn't so serious, I would've rolled my eyes. You didn't sound fine. You didn't look fine, and years of being around you taught me that you weren't fine. Anything but, actually.
"Well, I'm here when you want to talk," I told him, standing up. I made for the door, when a question stopped me.
"How come everything I do only makes things worse?" He asks. I frown.
"Danny," I said scoldingly, "How can you say that! You've done plenty of good."
"But it's never enough!" You say in frustration, "Everyone hates me, I'm always swamped… and the people I love most are all being dragged into this mess!" I sit back down.
"Danny," I say firmly. "Not everybody hates you. People don't understand some of the things you do, yes, and that scares them, but no one actually hates you,"
"I beg to differ." You say dryly.
"And as for the people you love…" I ruffle your hair, "Maybe I can't speak for all of them, But I at least will stand by you no matter what, Danny. It doesn't matter to you how much danger you're in, so why can't we say the same?"
"But it does matter." Danny sighed. "I don't want anyone hurt because of me," I smile and kiss your forehead.
"Which is why you never have to doubt we'll always be there to help," You smile at me.
"Thanks," You say shyly.
"Any time," I respond, proud of myself for even this little bit of aide.
Hope by hope I feel so proud
Of all the good you've done
A strong hero among a crowd
Of those who'd only run
I barely hear the crowd of screaming students around me. All of them are running to the doors, already too used to the procedures for ghost attacks. It was almost becoming a routine, actually.
I stay, though I do take cover as you advise everyone who couldn't make it to an exit to do. This includes Paulina, who (Unfortunately on her part,) is currently trapped against the wall by the looming, leering monstrous ghost.
She screams as the ghost lunged to attack, but you knock it away, too caught up in the fight to even notice her adoring gaze which would have had you preening in normal situations. The monster attacks you now, but you dodge.
The rest of the fight is easy for you, and the ghost ends up like hundreds before him; sucked into the Fenton Thermos to be released into the Ghost Zone later that day. I smile slightly at your surprised expression as some of those students left begin to cheer.
Here in the Halls of Casper High is were most of your fans lie, since they see more then anyone how much you put into these fights to protect them. They still don't know everything, though, and neither do I. But I'm a patient girl. I can wait.
Stress by stress begin to build
As your two lives always clash
You never stop the role you've filled
Since you changed in one big flash
"Aaarg!" You growl in frustration, "I can't get this!" I smile sympathetically as you give the book in front of you a glower that would've sent half the Ghosts who attack you packing.
Unfortunately for you, the basic ninth grade chemistry textbook was no such foe, and remains stationary, undaunted by the glowing green eyes glaring at it accusingly. Sitting I shut my own book and lean over to see what the problem is.
"Need some help?" I asked. You blink at me.
"What happened to 'doing your own work by yourself builds character, good habits and teaches necessary responsibility skills to succeed in the future,' and all that junk?" You ask. I glare slightly at that, not really mad, but whatever.
"I just figured you could use a hand is all," I said airily. "Now, what's the problem?" You frown again, looking a little wary.
"Are you okay?" You ask me suddenly, actually seeming pretty concerned. You study me with a little frown as I pull back sharply. "I mean, there's nothing you want to tell me, right?"
"Of course," I answer, genuinely surprised, "Why wouldn't I be?" you shrugged, not meeting my eyes.
"It's just… You've been acting a little weird lately," You said vaguely. "Dad's even started insisting you're overshadowed or something…" I rolled my eyes here. He would think something like that…
"I'm fine, Danny," I said firmly, "Why? Is there something you wanna tell me?" You hesitate for a moment and open your mouth to say something when there's an explosion downstairs.
"No," You mutter, "Nothing." I smile, though at the same time I'm hurt. I understand, though, and I can wait.
"Now," I say, pulling the book towards me, "About that problem…"
Love by love your heart now reels
As you can't seem to decide
You're still you in how you feel
Though you don't know where to abide
"Danny? Danny?" I shake my head and snapped my fingers in front of your eyes, finally gaining your attention. I roll my eyes and add a dry. "Welcome back to earth, space cadet," you blushed brilliantly.
"Sorry." He murmured, "I was just… thinking," I smirk slightly, knowing you well enough to know your attention had been on the pretty Latino girl currently laughing at something her blonde female companion had said.
"Thinking?" I said, blinking innocently, "You? Wow, that's a first…" You glare and kick me under the table as I laugh, happy to get a rise out of you. Ah, hormones…
My smile sinks after you leave to get a refill, when I turn back to glance at the girl again and see her writing something in a Danny Phantom-Themed address book. She giggled girlishly when someone questioned it and told them something I couldn't hear before kissing the picture of you in your ghost form she'd taped to the inside of the cover.
I sigh before turning my attention back to you as you finish capping your cup. Paulina was pretty, and a real social butterfly, but she wasn't for you. I didn't know the girl too well, and what I did know about her wasn't good.
Still, I knew she had to have a good side with the bad, as her vigorous defense of you to disbelievers proves. She has to have at least some sort of loyalty and gratitude to stick up for you instead of doing as she normally did and going with the flow of the general opinion.
But even with that, you two couldn't work out. You needed a girl who was stronger then the 'Flawless' Paulina, someone who could stand up for herself if a ghost tried to attack. The Damsel in Distress stuff was great for old fairy tales, but such a mindset for your girlfriend nowadays would only bring you, her and everyone else involved more headaches.
As I was thinking this, another girl intercepted you on the way back to the table, and I couldn't help but smile slightly as her violet eyes danced at whatever she was telling you…
Scream by scream silent and hurt
That I must hear every night
You've been shoved into the dirt
And still don't give up the fight
I flinch as I hear you groaning in pain. After a small mental debate, I decide a quick peek in on you won't hurt anything. Gathering my courage, I open your door.
"Danny?" I call softly, so you won't get too mad at me if you're awake. No response. I open the door wider, gasping at the sight before me.
You lay on the ground, still fully clothed with dirty shoes on and everything. The window's open, and a chilly breeze cools the already freezing room. I cringe, sick to my stomach when I see your open wounds, with are already healing. Ghost powers must've given you a faster healing rate then humans, but instead of comforting me, this only made me more worried.
After all, there were many times you still had visible wounds when you awoke, what were you being put through that involved being hurt so much?
I freeze when you draw a long breath, only to sigh in your sleep. Calming my pounding heart, I brush some of your messy hair out of the way to examine your head injury. It was still bleeding slightly, but seemed to be healing fine.
Looking at you again, I stand and gather the first aid kit from the bathroom, cleaning and tending to some of your minor wounds the best I can with my minimal experience with medicine. After taking care of that, I pull your shoes off and throw one of your arms over my shoulders to carry you to your bed, my knees buckling slightly under your weight.
You don't wake up once throughout this, and merely curl into your blanket after I set you down. You murmur, something about Plasmius or something, before settling back into a dead sleep.
I cast you one last worried look before heading back to my room, trying not to think or worry too much. After all, you were strong enough to handle it alone.
Right?
Side by side now you accept
Your life as it's become
You put faith in me, your secret kept
And our new bond never undone
"So, how long have you known?" You smile at me in a way that reminds me of a man freed from a burden. I smile back as I stop on the steps.
"About the test?" I clarify, "For days. But I'm really proud of you for not cheating,"
"Not that," You said, taking the Boo-merang, my tattered headband and the note I'd written to you out of your pocket to show me, "Your headband, your note with your handwriting…" I freeze, feeling like an idiot.
Sure you weren't up to my standard academically, but you'd always had a lot of common sence, and of course all this ghost stuff had made you much more perspective to details, even in the middle of something as vital as saving your future.
"What, that?" I give a meek laugh even as my cheeks heat up, "I didn't write that, and there must be dozens of headbands…"
"Jazz," That was all you said. Combined with your skeptical look, though, it was all I needed. The jig was up, it was time to come clean. Sighing, I sat next to you, taking the note and everything else from your hands.
"Since the Spectra thing," I admitted, a little downcast. Then, so you didn't get the wrong idea about me being ashamed or anything, I quickly added "I didn't want to tell you until you wanted to tell me," I meet your eyes, "It's your secret," I told you firmly, hoping you'd know that I wasn't going to blab to anybody.
"Well," You say, smiling, "It's our secret now," I smile back, relief flooding through me that I was finally included in your circle of trust. No longer did I have to hover behind the scenes, worrying without knowing anything about what was going on.
I felt my smile widen as I hug you close. In that moment, I felt closer to you then ever, and it felt good. Still, as we parted, I couldn't help but add one last warning to you, just because I felt you needed it.
"Don't think this means I'm gonna stop being meddling and overprotective!" You laugh warmly at that.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," You declare firmly.
And you know what? Neither would I…
WoM- I love Jazz. I'm a big sister myself, and I've had to help my brothers out of their screw ups, so I really relate to her well. I guess that's why this one was so long… 'laughs sheepishly,' And this is up just in time for the episode tonight, too!
Thanks to;
Tetsukon
Myst
dancegrl
Saramis Kismet
TayloWolf
Questions;
Myst (I'd be happy to! I'll check it out this weekend now that I have some time to breathe!)
dancegrl 'blinks' Erm... Thanks?)
Saramis Kismet (Thanks! I understand, too. And I loved the poem you did! Yeah, Valerie's may favorite character. I like that there's so much to work with in her and thatshe's not a good or badguybut rather just herself, struggling with a force that should dbe beyonfd her scontrol and doing a good job with it.)
Next poem; December 16th
See you then!