I own nothing that is in this fic.
Danny sighed sitting in the school gym, where a school wide announcement was being made. The students were sitting in the bleachers, chatting loudly, as Principle Kelly approached the podium.
"Good morning students," Kelly started, which he repeated twice more to quiet the students. "As I realize this is the middle of the year, I regret to inform you that I will be leaving my post as principle of Bayville High School." A small amount of chatter began once again amongst the students.
Ray nudged Danny out of his tired state, "dude, we might get someone how doesn't hate mutants in here."
"Uh, yea," Danny said, with a yawn.
"To answer your questions," spoke Kelly loudly, getting the students to quiet down, "I will be going into a career in politics, for which I wish to ask you to tell you parents to vote for me for the United States senate, for which I am running for the state of New York. As for the man to replace me here at Bayville High, is the former vice principle of Casper High in the city of Amity Park, Oregon. My you please help me welcome your new Principle, Mr. John Lancer."
The entire student body applauded, except Danny, who just felt what little life he had flush down the toilet with the introduction of the new principle. 'It couldn't be,' thought Danny, 'he didn't.'
But he did, once the man entered the gym. Wearing his normal black tie, blue collared shirt, and darks slacks, was the pointy goatee and chin of Mr. Lancer, Danny's old Vice Principle.
Danny groaned, putting his hands in his face, "why me?"
"Moby Dick," said Mr. Lancer as he took the podium, "you are a lively bunch. Now, I know that I am no Kelly, but I will tell you that the only reason I am here is to give you the chance to better yourselves, as well as others." Mr. Lancer began to look over the school, "I will be fair, and I will listen to both sides of the story should there be trouble amongst students and teachers. I also realize that students with special, gifts," the entire mutant population looking colder at the man, knowing what he was talking about, "have to deal with more because of what they have become. Realize that yes, I will come down on you, and on you hard, but I will be talking with your guardians about the rules in having to deal with your powers. And to the rest of the student body, I will not tolerate hatred of any kind. If I see so much as one student picked on, you will be suspended without question. I also realize that I may seem harsh with my current words, but this is a school, a safe haven for its students. And I am the soul person that looks after you and protects you and helps each one of you obtain the person you want to and shall become. Thank you for listening to me, now please, returned to class, seeing as how a school day like this is being wasted."
As the student population moved off to class, Danny could only groan. First, he had a bad night with several annoying ghosts, then he got a surprise early morning private session with Wolverine. Followed by being surprised by Becky at breakfast, which scared her into surprisingly, Rogue's arms, who must have been the closest person Becky felt safe with. And now Lancer's return.
Danny should have stayed home today, he knew he should have.
"Danny, you coming," asked Ray of almost left him.
"Yea, I'm coming," replied the half ghost, following his fellow new mutant.
Ray turned to talk, "that Lancer guys doesn't seem to bad."
"Ha, this is just the first day," replied Danny. At Ray's look he explained, "Mr. Lancer was the vice principle of my old school, remember. The one that was also the English teacher while I was there that gave me detention every time I was late from, well, you know."
Ray groaned, knowing what Danny was talking about, "great, how much you want to bet when one of us uses our powers, we get detention without question." Ray looked at Danny, "all your trouble are just following you, aren't they?"
Danny nodded, "yea, no kidding."
Back at the Institute, Max was wondering the halls after his tutoring session with Mr. McCoy. The schooling wasn't too bad, it was the Danger Rooms he hated. He was told that he could use his powers there, but he still held back greatly. He didn't want what happened to his parents to happen to anyone else.
He could still remember the screams as his parents were sucked into shadows. And he could still here them, even faintly, now. He knew by now they were dead. Max didn't hate his parents, it just that they yelled most of the time
-Flashback-
"Damn it," shouted Steve Stanhope, "that kid failed his P.E. class again! Now he has to repeat it next year!"
Max's mother, Virginia, tried to calm her husband down, "you know he doesn't stay close with others. He has no friends, spends all day in his room."
Max remembers sitting on the stair that lead to the second story of his parent's house in Los Angles. His report card came, and again he failed P.E., his worst subject, and his parents were arguing about him again. His father wanted him to be good at it, while his mother just wanted him to be happy, which Max never seemed to be.
"Damn it Steve, yelling doesn't help any," shouted his mother.
This happened every time Max's father got angry about something. His old man spent more time on the couch then any father at Max's school, because his mother always ran into their room and locked the door keeping him out.
"You," shouted his father, snapping Max out of his thoughts. "Get your ass in the kitchen, now!"
Max quickly did so, sitting in his chair.
"What did I tell you," shouted his father, "If you failed a class again, I would take those fucking books from you. That's all you ever do. Hide in your goddamn room and read. I'm amazed you have any color in your skin."
"Steve," shouted his mother, "you will do no such thing. So what if he doesn't pass his physical class. He always goes off on his own. But taking his books from him will only drag his other grades down."
Max's parents went on arguing, this time with Max in the middle, hearing the full volume.
And it was starting to hurt. Max's head started throbbing, growing with the shouting of his parents.
"Please, stop," his begged quietly, but nether parent heard. They just kept shouting, arguing.
"He needs to pick that fucking grade up like a man, not pussy foot around," shouted his father.
"He needs to keep all his grades up, not just one," replied his mother, even louder.
"Please," cried Max, gripping his head in such pain that he was seeing spot, "STOP."
At which, the shadows came alive. Both parents turned to Max, seeing him on the floor in a ball, clutching his head, that nether saw them. Until one grabbed Steve, pulling him back.
"What, get off me," he shouted, but his strength not helping. It began pulling him into where the shadow was forming, the shadow next to the stove. His mother screamed in fear, backing into another shadow. It grabbed her, and pulled her into the shadow created by the refrigerator.
They could only reach out for Max, who had looked on in fear, as they disappeared into the shadows.
-End Flashback-
Max could hear their screams for the entire following day, but they have quieted since. But if nothing was going on around him, and all was quiet, he could faintly hear them still.
Max passed as mirror as he wandered the mansion, and saw himself in his thoughts.
His face was set in stone, emotionless. It was as if he couldn't care about a single thing in the world, and felt no one would really care about him. He was just another face in the crowd that just wanted to get by. He doubted any girl would want to be near him.
His mind shifted to Kitty. She had shouted out how cool his shadow powers must be cool yesterday before they had gone to school. She was cute, kind, and she seemed smart last night at dinner when she tried to talk to him. He answered her questions simply, just wanting to get away from the crowded table. She was just probably trying to be nice.
Max doubted that it would ever be different.
Rogue sighed entering her room. She had just gotten home from school, which wasn't to bad seeing as how the mutants weren't as picked on too much today. It seems that after the third person caught doing something Mr. Lancer didn't like, they had gotten an immediate week's worth of detentions as well as threats of suspensions.
But that didn't mean that Jean, Danny, and most of the brotherhood ended up in detention. Someone claimed Jean had read their mind, even though she didn't. Danny was caught late to class, even though the Institute kids knew that loud mouth box ghost showed up again. And the Brotherhood was acting like a bunch of punks towards the new principle, on to get caught by him.
Rogue put her bag on her bed when Becky's head poked in, clutching her bear. After a couple of days, the institute kids had gotten used to the little bloody little ghost girl. The only person how still seem to have any reaction was Mr. Fenton, but Mrs. Fenton or Jazz was nearby to keep him in line. But it was sad to see how she kept to herself all the time. She would just sit in her room during the day, unless it was time for food. Breakfasts and Dinners, she sat back till everyone got their share, and then took what was left. Lunch was the only time she ever seemed to get first dibs on something, because Ororo would make it just for her.
"Rogue," she asked quiet, "I thought about this morning, and I'm sorry for what I did."
Rogue looked the girl of a bit, "for wha, jumping in my arms after appearing next to Danny?"
Becky nodded, "Yes, and I'm sorry. I know how you don't like people touching you, and I hope you're not mad."
"Sweetie," Rogue sighed, using the nickname all of the institute girls had given her, "come take a seat."
Rogue patted the spot on the bed, sitting down next to it. Becky floated over and sat down, looking at Rogue with a mixture of sadness and fear.
"Becky, why do you think you need to apologize for every little thing," Rogue asked. It was an honest question everyone had. None of the people had every seen so one so skittish, but none wanted to ask in fear of upsetting the little girl.
"I'm, I'm afraid you'll take me back to the bad place if I'm bad," Becky replied, looking towards the floor.
"Ain't going to happen," said Rogue. Becky looked at her, "Most of the kids here are from broken homes, meh included. Heck, ah've got the worst family tree you can think of. But we all look after each, ah've learned that here. Ah bet you, that if someone took you away, Danny and his family, Jack included, would fight them off, and if they got past the ghost hunters, then they have Logan, meh, and the rest of the mutants here to deal with. And don't think that teddy wouldn't fight, ah heard about the thing with Logan."
Becky looked back, looking with a bit of hope, "do you think so?"
Rogue nodded, "Ya, ah do."
Becky smiled, "still, I know how you don't like to be touched…"
"That's different," said Rogue stopping her. Rogue sighed, hating to explain this to everyone, as she pulled off one of her gloves, "if ah touched a living person, everything about them would flow right into meh. Memories, life force, everything. But, if it works the same with you that it does with Danny, then I can touch you. Mind if ah try?"
Becky looked at Rogue's hand for a moment, "will it hurt?"
"Ah just tap you," assured Rogue, "the most you'll feel is light headed, but no pain."
Becky thought it over for a moment, then nodded, and closed her eyes, holding her teddy bear close. Rogue did as she said and lightly tapped Becky on the cheek. Nothing
"Cya, ah can touch you," said Rogue, with a slight unseen tear in her eye.
Becky opened her eyes to see Rogue's hand. She asked quietly, "so, your not mad?"
Rogue shook her head, "nah, I'm not mad. If anything, I'm happy to actually touch someone without hurting them." Becky smiled at that, when Rogue asked, "but why did you fly to meh? Why not Storm?"
Becky blushed green in her checks, "well, not to sound mean, but you look like you could stop anyone with a look."
"So, you think I'm scary," asked Rogue, with a raise eyebrow. Becky nodded, and Rogue patted her back, "it ok, ah got no problem with it. Ah kinda like ya."
"Really," asked Becky. To which Rogue nodded.
Rogue stood up right when Kitty phased through the door, giving an angry sigh.
"Lance," Rogue asked, putting her glove back on.
Kitty nodded, "he just can't take a hint. I told him I don't want to see him anymore, but he can't get it through his thick head."
Rogue shrugged, "whatever."
At which, Kitty turned back to Rogue, "fine, that how about you. You thinking about going out with Danny Friday like he asked?"
Becky's head snapped at her, then back to Rogue, "Danny asked you on a date? And you didn't accept?"
Rogue glared at both, "no, ah don't think ah should."
"God Rogue," moaned Kitty, "why. Like, we know he likes you, you said it yourself last night."
"How can ah date him if ah can't touch him," Rogue replied, fists on her hips.
"You could touch me," said Becky. "If Danny went ghost, he could touch you too."
Kitty, finally noticing the ghost girl, nodded in agreement, "Becky's right, we know you can touch him in his phantom form. We all saw it."
Rogue sighed, knowing she wouldn't be able to get out of that now. She sat back down on the bed, Becky moving a bit so as not to get squashed. "But," said Rogue quietly, "how could ah ask him to do that. He barely knows meh. Why would he waste his time in his fighting form just to be with meh, when he could have a girl he wouldn't have to do that for."
Becky floated at eye level of the Goth, "I think if you talked to him, I'm sure you could find out. Or maybe, I cold talk to him for you. As a thank you."
"No," Rogue said, "you shouldn't have to for me."
"But you help me," said Becky, surprising both mutants, "and my mommy told me that I should help those who help me, I think. But ether way, I want to help. So I'll go talk to him." Without another word, she flew through the door looking for the half ghost.
Rogue just groaned in embarrassment, when Kitty asked, "what was that all about?"
Danny had gotten back with Jean an hour later then he would have liked. Had it not been for the box ghost, he wouldn't have to sit in detention. At least he was able to keep Jean company, seeing as how the brotherhood enjoyed picking and teasing her.
Danny walked through the front doors when Becky flew down in front of him, her teddy bear hanging from one hand, "Danny can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Yea, sure Becky," replied Danny, doing his best to keep awake. All he wanted to do was fall asleep.
Becky tilted her head, "why do you like Rogue?"
Danny blushed when she asked that question in front of half the institute, including his sister.
Jazz just nodded, walking past, "I thought he would. C'mon, everyone out, let the ghost's talk."
Collective 'awes' could be heard from Jamie, Roberto, Jubilee, and Rahne, as they were shuffled out by Jazz.
When only with the ghost girl, he turned back and asked, "Why did you have to ask that question?"
"Rogue doesn't know why," Becky replied, "she thinks that you should date someone you don't have to transform for. I think that's wrong, but that's how she feels."
Danny sighed, "she I go talk with her?"
Becky looked over her shoulder in the general direction of Rogue's room, "I left while she's with Kitty. Maybe later would be safer."
Danny nodded. The last thing ether of them needed was the entire institute hearing from Kitty what was going on. He could only hope that Kurt wasn't sitting in here with Becky and Danny, listening in.
"Look," Danny said, Becky turning her head back, "I like, well, cause, I think touching isn't as important as what feeling someone has for another. I learned that the hard way with one of my friends. I had wanted to be with the best looking girl in school, who was a complete airhead. Rogue's not like that. She's someone who I could enjoy myself with, and I think the two hair color works for her."
Becky nodded, "so, you like Rogue, for Rogue. Not because of the untouchable thing, or the fact she's a Goth, but the fact she's a person and not a figure."
Danny thought it over a bit, then nodded, thinking that sounded right.
"Ok," said Becky, nodding in agreement. Then she got in close, "I think she might like you back."
Danny blushed, "rea, really? How do you know?"
"Kitty and Rogue talked last night, and I," she looked down a bit, "listened in. Rogue says that your nice to her, and that she does agree with Kitty that you are cute, but that had been it. I think the no touch thing is what held her back the most. She doesn't want to hold you back."
Danny nodded, "yea, but I don't mind. I mean, its like changing clothing, it doesn't drain me or anything."
Becky nodded in understand. A moment later she asked, "something else. If I did something bad, would, would you send me back to the bad place?"
Danny looked shocked, "no, why would you think that?"
"I've just been, afraid, that everything I do, I'll make someone upset with me," replied Becky, now clutching her bear.
Danny patted her on the shoulder, "believe me, you won't go back. I'll do everything I can to protect you from Walker and his guards. I promise."
She looked up with hope in her eyes, "really?"
He nodded, and the first time since coming here, Becky felt truly happy.
Ok, so, I've brought Lancer back, and you saw a bit more in Max Stanhope's past. Kage, I hope you like what i've done. Also, i apologize if Rogue was a bit OOC, but I kinda wanted a sweet scene between Becky and Rogue, and the second Becky and Danny scene was an extenstion I wanted to add in. I hope everyone likes it. And please R&R.
And this is a call out to all people, aBG poll in now open. I plan on bringing in Tucker and Sam and have them join the Institute (hey, I'm not going to bring in everything bad from Danny Phantom.) So, for this, I want to know who you think Tucker should date. Any female from X-men Evo is avaible, minus Jean, Kitty, Ororo (she would be too old anyway), and Rogue. So please, tell me how you think in your review.