"Sweetie, you busy?" Maddie asked as she pried the door open. When he didn't respond, Maddie frowned, opening the door fully. She gasped.
Danny was arguing… with himself.
Phantom floated a few feet above the ground, a defiant eyebrow raised at his human half who's crossed armed glare would send ghosts flying even without the glowing green eyes.
"I don't," Danny said tersely. "This is all just some stupid thing that my brain just made up for you to come and annoy me."
Phantom scoffed. "Ethelwulf told you we split 'cause you're lying to yourself. Which you are - you totally like her."
"I do not like her. At least - not like that."
Maddie watched in amusement, crossing her arms and leaning against the door as she watched the two of them argue. It was interesting to see this aspect of his powers - Fenton and Phantom as mirror reflections, different but roughly the same. She heard the same sarcastic tone Phantom was currently using from Danny a myriad of times. Danny's stubborn, determined glare on Phantom's face in an intense battle.
They were two sides of the same coin.
As the two boys argued over his feelings over Sam, Maddie's amusement turned into fondness for them both. Fenton and Phantom; both of them her Danny. "Sweetheart, you got a second?"
Both boys jumped, turning to the door with half surprised, half mortified faces. "Mom?" they said in unison. Danny's left eye turned green, making Phantom disappear. "How - uh… how long were you standing there?"
Maddie chuckled. "Don't worry about it Danny," she said with a smile. She came over to his bed and patted beside her. Danny frowned, making his way over. "I wanted to ask about Vortex."
Danny glowered. "Don't remind me," he said angrily. "The one time I can use ecto-storm powers with ease is the one time I get electrocuted by a powerful weather ghost. Doubt I'll get them under control in time before I meet Ethelwulf for training."
She smiled sympathetically. "Actually, I wanted to ask how he got here. Vlad's blaming -" she cut herself off, watching as Danny's eyes turned green in anger at the mention of the mayor. "Danny? Your eyes are glowing."
Danny blinked, confused as they faded back into the regular blue she was familiar with. He smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry," he said. "That happens sometimes when I get angry."
"I know," she said gently. It had been months after all. Maddie took a deep breath. "I was saying, Vlad's trying to blame you, but considering it was his machine that caused the rain… Was it Plasmius?"
Danny looked at her, scrunching his face up in disdain. "Yeah," he replied. "I tried to -"
"I know Sweetie," she said softly. "I saw. Your sister tried to cover for you by the way; it looks like you aren't the only one holding onto past secrets."
Danny gave her another sheepish smile. "Sorry."
Maddie chuckled. "It's fine. We made it, didn't we?"
Danny chuckled. "A little late but yeah, you did."
"You've really come a long way Danny," Maddie told him, ruffling his hair gently. He swatted her away with a smile. "I remember the Ghost Boy's first few fights - Vortex must have been strong."
Danny shrugged. "Yeah, but we got him. He's back with the Observants now."
Maddie sighed exasperatedly. "Danny," she admonished. She gave him a small smile. "I'm proud of you."
He blinked, surprised at the praise. "Really?" he asked hopefully.
She brought him into a hug. "Really."
Ecto-Storm, Danny/Phantom splitting themselves and my OC Ethelwulf all from the MtG and OoT fics.
Thank you so much for all those kind reviews! See you in the next one!
MATW