Chapter three - Word on the street, I'm a suspect
If Natasha had to call it herself, today was a good first day of investigating even if they hadn't met the Fenton's yet. She was happy Barton made that U-turn and went for the school, based on the kids schedules alone she could build a profile but that wasn't enough... She was missing something. Barton laid on his bed and examined the photos his glasses can had snapped earlier, the Phantom kid was not to be messed with. He was going to call it a night till.
"Hey, Nat."
"Yes. " She chimed from the table while making notes on the kids' schedules.
"You notice something about these kids?" He asked as he went over to her.
"What? " She quizzed back.
"Lancer said it was a trio of teens but in the starter photos from SHIELD it's just the goth and geek plus Phantom. What's up with that? "
"Some parents do issue a curfew for their children. " She taunted in a serious tone. "You can relate. "
"I don't give a damn if these kids do have a curfew, based on those damn schedules those three are as thick as thieves... WE can relate."
"As in where the hell is Fenton? " At this they plotted, tomorrow was phase two of their plan, rounding up suspects and building a profile. Phantom was practically under their noses now; Natasha was even getting a knot in her stomach as she looked between their pics of Phantom and the Fenton kid. He was average but his piercing blue eyes reminded her of the fight from earlier, pure ice plus... He morbidly resembled Phantom only difference was hair and eye color. The theory that was threatening to develop in her mind would not desist but she fought to kept her tongue in check till further evidence showed itself. But for right now... Plot bunnies.
TUESDAY - STUDENTS RETURN
Messy spiked hair, white T-shirt with a red circle in the middle and baggy pants with chill blue eyes... Danny Fenton. The most infamous geek in school mainly because of his ghosts obsessed parents and his notoriety as a jock punching punching bag but for once in his teenage career... He was happy, as happy as a teenager with ghost powers could be at any rate. His grades were up, his best friend had become his girlfriend, while his powers were at their peaks and recently... He was crowned Prince of the Ghost Zone. He couldn't take the throne now because he was only sixteen but Clockwork saw to it he was powerful as well as educated... What could possibly ruin this week?... BANG! Except that.
"Watch where you're going, Fentonia! " Danny had tripped over Dash's shoe, he sighed in annoyance and gathered his things but not before he got in his Daily Dose of being petty... Oh look at that, Dash walked face first into an invisible wall. Danny snickered inwardly to himself and walked on to his locker, phasing his hand through and gathering the books needed for his classes. He was immediately hugged from behind, upon which the intoxicating scent of vanilla and honey met his nose and he smirked...
"Hello, Sam." All he got in reply was said Goth nuzzling her face into his broad back. Least it be known to the general population, Sam was a bit perverted more so than Danny and Tucker. Skilled hands had crept up his shirt and... GROPE! Danny shivered as she played with his small yet toned man boobies.
"Isn't a bit early to play the gropies game? " He whined while she fondled his chest.
"Nah." She mused with bliss. "You're too hot not to touch. "
"I beg to differ. " He replied.
"Come on! " A voice whined. "You got a Goth all over you and I can't even get one?! Where is the love~?!"
"Shut up, Tucker. " Sam replied and moved away from Danny but not before he got he got his revenge. "OW! "
"You grope my chest, I slap your ass. Fair trade. " She pouted playfully while the two homies fist bumped.
"Y'all ready for Lancer test?"
"Yeah, Clockwork helped me study." Danny chimed. "And meditation is like the best thing ever, I remember everything plus check this. " At his words Sam felt odd pressures on her chest and booty like two invisible hands were playing with her body plus it has suddenly become cold for some reason.
"DAMMIT DANNY! " She yelled and jumped him while Tucker laughed off to the side... Things were looking up.
That test was made for six year olds, Danny practically breezed through it then took a nap but he wasn't heartless, he setup a telepathic conversation with his friends to help them out without getting busted but mainly they finished and passed on their own. The school day went by relatively fast after that, as usual gym had sucked but only because Danny let it for the sake of his cover, Chemistry was perfection — being the son of world renowned scientists had it's perks, while Art was sweet and calming yet he painted a somewhat compromising picture... Of him in Phantom form with a new suit, with the arms surrounding him making him look like the Hindu deity, Shiva. The only thing that irked him the whole day was... The GIW. They were doing a security check of the school for ghost activity, he was a walking security risk. Oh, well.
Meanwhile with Lancer
He was grading the lastest set of tests, smiling softly once more as he looked over Team Phantom's tests, the three were so close that once he had chanced upon them studying together... By the end of it, they had grilled each other senseless but they had all passed nonetheless. He was about to start grading another one when there was a knock at his door, luckily it was lunch time so he could spare a conversation.
"Come in. "
"Mr. Lancer? "
"Ah! Ms. Maxwell, Mr. Dillon. " They shook hands again and the two pulled their own chair's this time. "Back again and so soon. How can I help you? "
"We were just wondering whether or not those students we discussed are here today? "
"You're in luck, all three are here plus the sister. " He supplied. "You're especially lucky today though, Mr. Fenton usually has a standing to miss a few days at a time but lately he's been coming on time. "
"So, the Fenton kid has spotty attendance?" Frank quizzed yet had a strong clue of what the answer was gonna be.
"During his sophomore and junior year it got REAL spotty but now he's mainly good for showing up. "
"Since it's their lunch period and we can't talk with them directly yet. You got any pointers on how they act? "
"Even better, I need to get down there and do damage control." Lancer Replied as he stood. "Please follow me. " At that the man and the two researchers left the room.
LUNCH ROOM
Danny sat with his homies which now included Valerie as the two had made up after he accidentally revealed his identity to her during a particularly nasty fight. But the two had become close and forgave each other after a long yet tense chat being Valerie had come to know her employer's real identity.
"So, Danny." She started. "Tell me about this 'Shiva's arms' thing you got going on. " Sam glared but she had to admit, she was interested as well. She didn't fully trust the huntress being her and Danny's truce required they make it look like she was still hunting him so he'd have a spy within Vlad's ranks. The vampiric fruitloop was on the war path mainly because of his arch-nemesis had been crowned Prince of the Ghost Zone plus had mastered a technique that had been lost to legend (minding the fact he learned it from a video game).
"Oh, well, I mainly need to thank Tucker for that one. " The three teens then looked to the aforementioned geek as he hacked a credit card he had swiped from Vlad so they could order a couple of pizzas instead of eat the crappy cafeteria food. Danny lowered his voice and gestured for her to lean just in case a certain someone was listening in (Valerie even had her dad disconnect her suit from Vlad's software). "It allows me to freeze the air around me to create four to six arms and use them to attack my enemies. Makes me look like the Hindu god, Shiva is all and Mr. Lancer just made it official. "
"Just go easy on me will ya, if you ever use it against me."
"Danny knows his limits, Creep. " Sam teased. The term had become one for endearment but Valerie knew it meant Sam's trust for her was still wary. Allegiance was everything to Team Phantom now especially after Danny had been crowned, he may not have been made king yet but there was still time to dethrone him... Which is where Plasmius comes in, usurper. Some of Danny's enemies had now turned good mainly the ones who he had saved or helped in some way and add in his main allies Danny was set straight: Clockwork- being he was his benefactor, DanI, Ember, Princess Dorathea- big help, Pandora, Frostbite, Johnny and Kitty, Wulf - his power would come in hand, Nocturne, Amorpho, Ghost Writer - after they had made up, Desiree but AMAZINGLY AND INSANELY ENOUGH... His Evil Future Self... Dan had renounced his villainous nature but retained his sadistic tendencies but all in all, he was on Danny's team mainly for the sake of his 'crush' on a certain time ghost. Valerie had a long way to go before she was truly allowed into Team Phantom's ranks but for now they all settled for frenemies.
"I know, goth baby but here's my thing, how does he manage to control those things?" Valerie whined as she sipped her soda. "It's gotta be hard not to lose control. "
"Simple... " Danny sighed out. "Meditation." At this he crossed his legs and breathed deeply, he had gotten into the habit after mastering the Shiva's Arms technique, to be able to better control the power but in the long run, it helped control his other powers too, but at that moment he didn't notice... He was floating, again till... A rough shove knocked him out his inner peace.
"Look at the pixie guys, he flies. " Dash and his crew. Danny was still within his zone and couldn't care less so Dash took that as his opportunity to kick the royal halfa... BOOM! An invisible force blocked his foot, Kwan tried to stomp him but the same force stopped him...
Natasha and Clint had just arrived at the lunch room with Lancer when they saw the confrontation. A crowd of teens had built up around the altercation and as soon Lancer assessed it he went over only to spot the strangest thing ever... Danny laying on the floor with two football players steadily trying to injure him only it was if he was surrounded by an invisible casket of protection, but even stranger he was laying there like Sleeping Beauty with the most peaceful of expressions.
"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?! STOP THIS AT ONCE! " Dash and Kwan knocked it off immediately for fear of being kicked off the football team but all eyes fell back on Danny who only breathed softly within his invisible cocoon of safety. "What happened to him?! " Sam and Valerie just looked to each other and shrugged but tried to wake him.
"Danny! Danny! " Sam tried but the boy remained in his unconscious uniform state, that was the main problem with his meditation, his ascension state. If Danny was distributed in a violent way while starting his sentient state, he'd be knocked into his ascension state and fall into a mini-coma, think Odinsleep. A barrier would form around him and only Danny could stop it, he had to trick himself into believing all threats were gone even the most immediate ones... He was getting better at it, because he woke up. Alert and in shock.
"Get me the number on that limo! " Sam pinched him. "OW! " He then noticed all the people around him and how their eyes were filled with fear especially the two new administrators who now knew he was the resident school freak.
"I guess I got detention today? " He quipped shyly.
"No." Lancer deadpanned. "But I do want to talk you about~ THIS. Along with you two. " Sam and Tucker sucked their teeth but complied while Danny got up.
Clint and Natasha were awe struck at what they just witnessed, either that Fenton kid had a severe case of narcolepsy or they just had a close encounter with a powerful inhuman, Fury was going to flip. He was possibly a level 4 or 5 based on the way that force field had protected him, it felt woven but was diamond hard. Which got them thinking what other powers could he possibly have and if they could possibly recruit him to SHIELD, two for the price of one... Despite the nagging feeling in the back of Natasha's head. Clint more or less was done with this place, they had not only stumbled upon a ghost infestation but also two inhumans, powerful ones at that. He was afraid of what was to come as in they had followed Lancer and the kid to the Nurse's office and this just got weirder. He was observing the kid's vitals as they waited for the nurse to assess him, but legally... This kid was dead. What's even worse, said technically dead boy was subtly eyeing them in trepidation. Natasha stared at the vitals in worry but then looked to their owner in awe. How was he legally dead but alive? Lancer was used to this but knew the two authors at his side weren't, it's been this way since the boy's freshman year. Unexplained horrible injures that healed within hours, a heartbeat of 42 beats per minute, a steady temperature 86/98.6 - a body in constant rigor. The boy was the school's most prominent and prized enigma...
"Ms. Maxwell, Mr. Dillon, can I see you outside for a minute, please? " The tone of his voice made it clear, they had no real choice. Once they were all out...
"Why is that boy not in the hospital?!" Rebecca asked, the boy's condition awakening her inner maternal instincts.
"Because, he refuses to go... " Lancer sighed out. "Even his own parents can't get him to go. "
"They can always strap him down and examine him. " Suggested Frank.
"That's the THING! " Lancer countered. "THAT has been done and it didn't turn out to well..."
"What happened last time?" Frank asked.
"I'm not really clear on the details, you'll have to talk to the doctors on that one." Lancer replied. "But a rumor did spread about that they tried to experiment on him, take a skin sample or something. He is a strange boy but he's of good heart, he's bullied on a regular basis and if I didn't know any better half the ghost attacks target him. He goes through enough and the last thing he needs is someone trying to illicitly rip something out of him or chase him down, turn him in and have some idiot in a suit label him a FREAK. "
"Idiot in a suit? " Frank asked in an mild anger.
"The Guys in White. " Lancer supplied with a sigh. "Forgive me for my outburst, but no one in this town likes them or trust them plus they enjoy destroying personal property. They're supposed to be some SECRET government agency but EVERYONE knows about them we just choose not to speak on it. " Natasha and Clint were struggling to hold back their laughter at the information the man just told them... THE GUYS IN WHITE?! Seriously! The people in this town were afraid of those idiots?! Natasha would give them credit for finding out that ghosts were real but damn, she could only LMAO in her head. She was going to flip when she told Fury this. Clint was the epitome of the 'Struggle is real ' at the moment, he was a war with himself to NOT to laugh at this info.
"They're that big a problem, huh? " Rebecca quizzed.
"Well, them and the local ghost hunters."
"What's their game? " Frank asked.
" Any and everything they claim to be an evil malicious ghost. " Lancer answered. "As in Daniel is a walking haphazard to himself and others. "
"His parents know? " Frank asked while looking back into the room only to find the teen was feigning sleep (to eavesdrop like a ghostly boss).
"No, he begs us to keep it a secret." Lancer acclaimed. "If anything that nurse in there is the one who possibly knows Daniel's true nature despite the fact she's a Hel on the school budget. "
"Legit doctor?" Rebecca.
"Yes. "
"Is it all right if I speak with him? " Rebecca asked.
"Fine but be careful... " He let her back in.
Danny could only blush and stare in mild trepidation as the two new administrators looked him over in worry. He could feel their auras and the hardened looks within their eyes said they had seen the real effects of combat. He just decided to count down the amount of time it took for them to drag him off somewhere and never return. At least they weren't with the GIW, it was mandatory even when doing spy work those idiots were required to wear WHITE something and he didn't spot any on these two. Who were they with? Vlad, to find out his weaknesses and exploit them? Nice try, maniac but his one weakness was constantly within his sphere of power which was the whole town. Stark Industries? Leave it to his parents to find a way to attract Tony Stark's attention somehow, him and Vlad could kiss his ecto ass if they were going to use outing him as a way to get what they want. Were they here to scope them out and find blackmail material and if this theory proved true, they had found it. Speak of the devil...
"Danny? " The red haired lady had come back in. "My name is Rebe~!"
"Don't lie to me. " He ordered. "I know those eyes... The eyes of a soldier... Or someone with an agenda. " Natasha was taken aback by his claim and order, wondering how he had seen through her lie. Plus she felt as if some power was compelling her to spill her guts unto him, she looked into his eyes only to find them alternating between neon green and electric blue, he was an inhuman and a powerful one.
"How can you tell? "
"You don't wanna know."
"There needs to be a mutual level of trust established here, Danny. " The boy let loose a sickening yet mocking laugh.
"Trust?" He taunted. "I don't even know you. Let alone who you work for? No! Wait! Let me take a guess. GIW. Nah, you're to reserved and haven't destroyed anything yet so FBI? CIA? DALV?" Natasha took the seat beside him yet couldn't avoid the glance at his vitals.
" None of the above..." She replied as she sat down. "My REAL name is Natasha Romanoff, I work for the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. "
"Too long, got an acronym ?" Romanoff let out a soft laugh.
"SHIELD, for short. " She continued. "My boss sent me here to ~ chat with a possible ally." Why was she even telling this kid all this sensitive information, at least there was leeway to use for her benefit.
"You've come to the wrong place... "
"If anything, I believe I'm in the right place. " She countered. "We're the highest security agency in the world, Danny and we look to people like you for help when it comes to global protection, which goes back on my earlier question... How are you manipulating me into spilling my guts? " Danny let loose a soft chuckle at the woman so she had seen through his hypnosis.
"Call me psychic."
"Thank you for your cooperation then." She chimed. "But here's what I don't understand... What's with the faulty vitals? " At this she saw a flicker of fear pass through his eyes before they hardened again, dammit she had lost him.
"Faulty equipment. " He lied/ quipped in return.
"Okay, we'll skip that... Better question, dismissing the fact you were right, why did you think I was with some type of organization?"
"Have you met my parents? " He asked with a cocked eyebrow, Natasha noted this and made it a priority to meet them later. "They invent the world's most powerful weapons but they forget to protect the patents, do you know how much their research and patents are worth? Hell, Vlad Masters got rich off half of them and TRUST me when I say he's as cutthroat as they come. " Romanoff nodded, analyzing all the data the boy had supplied her, it then dawned on her to ask about~!
"What do you know about Phantom? " Once again, that hard flash of fear passed through those ice blue eyes only to be replaced with something fierce yet cautious.
"What about him? " The cold glare he was giving her was literally making the temperature drop so she decided to cut their chat short but she knew they'd meet again especially if her theory panned out.
"This has been interesting... See you later, Danny. "
"Goodbye, Agent Romanoff. "
Sadly that chat lasted the better part of the whole school day so Clint decided to hightail it back to the hotel. He was worried about his partner, the look in her eyes was way too content and had that tint of gloss in them like she had been hypnotized. That Fenton kid had done something to her, hopefully she wasn't compromised. The drive back wasn't any better were as Natasha was way too silent, even for her own liking.
"So... You wanna tell me what happened back there? " His fellow agent blinked blearily as she came out her trance.
"Huh? What? " At that Clint shook his head and pulled over to the side of a vacant street.
"You have been acting weird since talking to that kid. What the hell did he do to you? "
"That is no ordinary boy, Clint... I couldn't even lie to him, he saw right through my facade and everything."
"What?! What the hell did he do to you?! You're SHIELD'S top agent, nothing has ever been able to phase you or make you tell the truth and that's saying something coming from a friend~!"
"ENOUGH! " Natasha ordered in anger. "I know that, and besides you didn't let me finish. He is a POWERFUL inhuman. The way he had me hypnotized was comparable to Doctor Xavier, he was NOT playing. But even before he hypnotized me he knew I was an agent by the look in my eyes and I know I wasn't giving anything away with them. This kid has seen shit, Clint! I don't know what but I bet your ass, it goes pass half of the shit, WE'VE done. NOW DRIVE. " That was that as Clint stared at his partner with apprehension and silent anger but more so worry than the former, something was up and they were up to their knees in it. The kidhad gotten to her somehow, granted she said he had hypnotized her but how? They were SHIELD agents for Christ sake, they were trained to resist the worst of truth serums and mind control. What was that kid on, what was his play? But being Natasha shot him down, he dropped the subject and pulled off. He did NOT feel like catching a Widow's bite to the ear.
BACK WITH DANNY
It was the end of the end of the school day before he met up with his friends again, sadly Valerie couldn't come — gotta keep up the image, ENEMIES . The ghostly royal's mood was thoroughly off though, he was afraid and mad all in one setting, agents from someplace other than the GIW were now on his back. Just when he thought he was in the clear what's worse a servant had slipped from the GZ to tell him, Vlad had secured the Badlands, FUCK! That bastard was going to pay and it was going to hurt, slowly but painfully; all the ghouliscious heir wanted to do was go home and meditate, it helped control his powers, nerves and gave him clarity to sort out his ever growing problems. Sam could sense his irritation and let up on messing with him while Tucker absentmindedly offered him his tablet to play with while Jazz just let him be, he couldn't afford her nagging in case he missed something vital. They entered the Fenton home only to have a glare down of ideologies and war... Vlad Masters was in the midst.
"Hello Daniel. " Vlad greeted in a taunting tone, waiting for that bark-bite he, oh so, loved. The darkness and evil in his eyes practically burned with trying to antagonize the boy blantly screaming: "Come on! Give me a challenge, Daniel! Show me your true colors!," but instead all he got was...
"I'll be in my room." At that, Danny traipsed on upstairs, this mainly was excuse to NOT punch VLAD in the face. He had no time for his arch-nemesis and his childish games, a true ruler let the enemy play hisself not them. Translation: the dark circles under Vlad's eyes meant that the man had been plotting and plotting hard... Danny smirked and continued on his way.
"DANNY, THAT IS RUDE! " Whined his mother, Maddie. "Come say hi to Vlad. " The melancholy teen ignored his parents protest of proper courtesy not having a clue of their best friend's true nature, Team Phantom followed on to make sure Danny's was really okay. They all could've sworn they heard the inner monster within Vlad scream like a banshee, #noticemesenpai!
Danny's room was dark save for the few lit candles and his ceiling, he was turned away from the TV so the light wouldn't break his concentration... He was meditating... HARD! Sam, Valerie took the bed while Jazz took the computer chair, Tucker quietly played his game while the ghostly prince eased his nerves in the windowsill seat and bonus, he was playing Twenty One Pilots - Heathens. The first problem, SHIELD, who were they and what did they want with Phantom aka him? Agent Romanoff claimed they were the highest security agency in the world and strived for world peace but could he really believe her? His hypnosis could only help him so much, he basically cheated by spiritual ripping the truth from her but... She had known he had done it though and surrendered unto his power peacefully so maybe they deserved a bit of a chat and from there a chance, possibly? Her eyes told him enough, whoever was above her was the person to talk to. Man, if he got a government agency on his side... Vlad would be kissing his ass! All they wanted was to talk to Phantom... He could make it happen. Next, issue corresponds with the first and was literally, RIGHT down stairs... Plasmius and his cohorts. The bastard had taken the Badlands which was rich in Ghost Ruby and... Effective against the Far Frozen, his strongest allies. He could truly see Vlad now down in the lab with his parents plotting to steal something and everything. Lucky, Danny had placed wards on all the more damaging devices, but what could he do? ... BINGO! It would take a minute but it would INSANELY work... Him and the only other ghost that could perform it... Dan. He'd bring it up tomorrow, the fruitloop may have claimed the Badlands but couldn't control where they floated. The end (he was saving the more devastating powers for the later battles), speak of the devil...
"Daniel... " Danny couldn't help the vicious twitch of anger that passed through him at the sound of that suave yet vicious and sickening voice. At the very tone took him back to the time before he got crowned, it had been the worst two weeks of his life. It had all started with that bedamned yet powerfully awesome move, Shiva's Arms. Him and Tucker had been playing Bayonetta 2 and the boss battle for Young Loptr had come on, of course said geek likes to push the limits of Danny's abilities and had made a bet with him, he couldn't figure out how to do Loptr's move set with his ice powers. Danny being stubborn and insulted took the bet on, it took him a month but he had figured it out and that's when things got weird, royally weird. Some of his enemies became allies while those who were antagonistic towards him got worse but VLAD... Can someone say he did a 180? He was so sugary sweet towards Danny you couldn't even say the words 'sugar daddy' ! It was like he was Danny's personal stalkerish Desiree, if the Prince even whispered something about wanting new clothes or a video game, Masters was in the mix asking a thousand and one questions about how he wanted it. He even kidnapped him for a few trips and got his teachers to stop giving him work. Danny knew he had an alternate motive but as long as Vlad kept spoiling him, he didn't mind... Till IT happened... Masters popped the question! The ghostly version but nonetheless he popped the question! He asked during an impromptu trip to Florida and that's when it all came crashing down... He fought Vlad, ran away to the GZ, Clockwork finally told him he had been secretly declared King of the Ghost Zone. Back to the present though, Sam growled at the door and moved to let that SOB have it but an icy chill ran up her spine, the whole Team's spines in fact.
"Leave him... " Danny ordered softly. "I got this. " At his proclamation, he made an up motion with the two-finger salute... Then all was quiet again, save for the crash, wood cracking and giant ice hand that had shoved Vlad into the ceiling.
