It looked like Fenton Works would be a ghost free household for the foreseeable future. When Mom was through with the lecture she did more than just turn the ghost alarm back on. She locked it up. There was no way Danny would be able to turn it off again.

Which was a shame because where else would he and Phantom hang out? They couldn't exactly wander around the mall without drawing attention. Even if he wasn't immediately recognized for his infamy people might think it was weird to see a glowing teenager casually window shop. It just wouldn't work.

Tucker said they could go to his place. "But, you know, if my parents come knocking on my door he needs to disappear, same as he did with yours. Cause I am not about to try and explain how and why I'm suddenly friends with a dead guy."

Despite his original shock and fascination Tucker took to Phantom easily. When the ghost had re-materialized beside them he barely even flinched. "So that's just going to be a thing now, huh? Okaaaaay."

He showed Phantom his favorite gadgets with his usual enthusiasm, pleased to be introducing them for what he thought was the first time.

"It's practically vintage," he was saying, proudly showcasing his projector. "And don't you just love the giant TV? My mom painted that for me."

One wall of his bedroom was dedicated to the painted TV. When Tucker fired up the projector the screen materialized within the confines of the design. He showed them the footage he'd taken of Phantom. "The quality isn't as great as, you know, an actual giant TV. But it's not about that…"

Was it the years he'd already spent with Tucker that made it so easy for Phantom to talk with him about his favorite things? They went from tech and special effects jargon to movie references that went over Danny's head. He tried to keep up, but before he knew it he was tuning out. They hardly seemed to notice.

He wished Sam had stuck around, but she had elected to go home instead of following them to Tucker's. Because she didn't like Phantom? That's what it had seemed like.

Though she'd accepted the Fenton Phones he'd given her for ghost emergencies.

"That's Danny's favorite part too!" Tucker was saying. Danny had no idea what movie they were even talking about. "Man, you guys have so much in common, it's freaky."

And just like that the room's temperature plummeted. Danny scrambled up to turn off the ceiling fan, chuckling nervously. "Whoa, did your mom blast the AC?"

"She must have," Tucker said. They both shivered. "Haha, weird..."

Phantom was flickering. He looked apologetic.

As casually as possible Danny tugged Phantom's leg, which was hovering just below eye level, and pulled him onto Tucker's bed. He settled against the ghost with an arm around his shoulder, ignoring the cold.

Did the room warm up? He couldn't be sure pressed up against Phantom like this.

"Gaaay," Tucker said, directing his iPad at them for a picture.

Danny flushed and removed his arm from around Phantom's shoulder, but the ghost snaked his arm around Danny's waist. He laughed and nuzzled his chin into Danny's neck. "Wha, you don't love me? Stop squirming away."

"Y-you... I just... hey! It's cold," Danny said. He put his hands against Phantom's face and shoved him away.

"Then why'd you cuddle up to me, hmm?"

"Yeah why'd you cuddle up to him?" Tucker echoed, snickering. They was having way too much fun with this.

Danny jumped off the bed and threw his hands up, "I don't know!"

That made them laugh even harder. Scowling, Danny announced that he needed to pee. He slammed the door behind him as he left and Tucker's mom shouted up from downstairs. "Watch it! Don't destroy my house!"

"S-sorry, Mrs. Foley!" Danny called down.

Then, because he had no other choice, Danny locked himself in the bathroom.

He didn't need to pee.

oOo

After eating dinner with the Foleys, Danny walked home. He half expected Phantom to stay behind with his new best friend, but the ghost was hanging off Danny's shoulders as he walked. "Dude, go back to being invisible."

"But his parents are inside," Phantom said.

"What if they peek out the window?"

At first Phantom just had his hands on Danny's shoulders, he acted like he was floating in a swimming pull and being pulled through the water like a toddler with a lifeguard. But then he shifted forward, fully wrapping his arms around Danny's neck and clinging like a koala. "They won't," he said.

"What if somebody else peeks out their window?" Danny said. "Or comes out of their house to take out the trash?"

Phantom sighed. The puff of cold hair tickled the back of Danny's neck. "Fine, fine."

And suddenly Phantom's cool arms went from pleasantly cool to freezing. He took notice of the way Danny shivered. "See? That's why I wanted to stay visible."

"Well, you could also get off me," Danny said.

"Nah." Phantom carded his fingers through Danny's hair from the base of his neck to the top of his head. Being pet against the natural fall of his hair felt amazing. Of course Phantom knew it would.

Sometimes it was unsettling, the things Phantom knew about his body before Danny did.

"You're so touchy these days." Danny shoved his hands into his pockets and tried to keep his posture straight, but he could feel his shoulders rising against his will. He'd seen himself reflected like that in a window once: shoulders to his ears and head hunched forward. It wasn't flattering.

Phantom didn't respond. Just kept petting him.

"Did you have fun?" Danny said. They'd almost reached Fenton Works, so they'd have to say goodbye.

"I did," Phantom said. "Though it was… weird."

"Think it'll be less weird next time?"

"Maybe."

Suddenly Phantom was gone. His weight, and the cold he brought with him, had vanished like smoke. Danny blinked and before he knew it the ghost was directly in front of him, glowing softly under the street lights. "Hey do you have homework tonight?"

"No," Danny said. It was a bald faced lie.

Phantom tutted.

"Okay, not much," Danny amended. "Nothing due tomorrow!"

He had an idea of why Phantom had asked. It was always the same reason.

"Ah, but I can't turn the ghost alarm off anymore." Danny glared at the Fenton Works sign over their heads. It represented the Powers That Be, namely the ghost hunters that wanted to destroy his best friend.

Phantom didn't even look surprised. "It was only a matter of time," he said. "But that's alright. I have an idea."

oOo

"I am not jumping," Danny said.

"I'll catch you!"

"Why can't I just sneak out the front door?"

"They'll catch you."

"Very funny."

"It's past your bedtime, Fenton. If you want to be a rebellious teenager the window is the only way to go."

"Maybe I don't want to be a rebellious teenager."

Phantom pouted. "But we barely got to hang out today!"

"We spent hours together!"

"Nah, I was with Tucker. You were sulking in the corner."

"I wasn't sulking."

"Suuure you weren't."

"Now you're sulking."

"Do you want me to sulk?" Phantom smirked. "Want me to beg?"

Danny blushed. "Don't say it like that…"

"How should I say it?" Phantom waggled his eyebrows. "Tell me how ya like it."

"Why are you and Tucker such pervs?"

"We're teenage boys," Phantom said. "It's normal. You're the weirdo."

"Am not." Danny heard knocking on his door. When he turned back to his open window Phantom was gone.

Not gone, he assured himself. Just hiding.

"Why is your door always locked?" Jazz said when he opened it.

"Because you'll just come in if I don't lock it."

"I'd still knock."

"You'd knock and then come in. And what if I'm changing or something?"

"Were you changing?" She frowned at his clothes. Jazz was in pajamas but he was still fully dressed. He even had his shoes on.

"I was about to."

"Alright, sorry." Jazz smiled at him. It was a smile he'd come to dread. Uncertain and hopeful. "I just wanted to help you study."

He blinked.

"For the midterm?" Jazz waved a packet of papers in his face. "You are studying, right? I found my exam from my Freshman year, thought it would help."

When he reached for it Jazz pulled it out of reach. "Let me go over it with you."

"I can read it on my own, Jazz."

"But-"

"Or I can study without it."

"Ugh, alright," she sighed, but let him take it. "Let me know if you need help with anything. Or if my handwriting is hard to read-"

"You've got perfect handwriting."

"I wrote it in cursive."

"What?!"

She giggled. "I'm kidding! You should have seen your face."

He laughed despite himself. And it was nice. Danny was almost tempted to change his mind and let her into the room. He really should study. Plus, she was an excellent teacher.

But Phantom was hovering outside, waiting for him to jump out a window.

"Can we go over it tomorrow?" As soon as he said it he wished he hadn't. Danny braced himself for a lecture on procrastination. Or for her to try and diagnose his tendency to avoid responsibilities.

She didn't lecture him. Jazz ruffled his hair and said, "Be home by four and I'll consider it a study date."

"Ew, don't call it a date."

"A study session, then."

Before he could stop her Jazz kissed him on the cheek. He made a face and wiped at the damp spot left behind and she laughed, ruffling his hair again. "See you tomorrow, little brother."

She shivered and glanced over his shoulder. "You shouldn't leave your window open."

"Sorry, I'll close it right now."

Rubbing her arms, Jazz nodded. He carefully closed his door behind her and locked it. Then he went back to his window and called out to Phantom. "You okay?"

Phantom re-appeared. He tried to smile, but it was more of a grimace.

"Do you still want to catch me?" Danny tugged at the hairs at the back of his neck. "Or just let me fall? I'll jump either way."

"Don't even joke about that." Phantom's eyes were glowing more brightly than usual. They felt like high beams, searing into Danny's soul. Looking for… well, Danny didn't know.

He swallowed. "I'm sorry."

Not just for the joke, he thought. For everything. For being a thief.

Phantom blinked and his eyes were back to normal. He smiled. "We still hanging out?"

Instead of answering, Danny jumped.