"HA!" Danny shouted as he finally struck down a particularly elusive ghost-it's body burning with the intensity of the blast. He then rocketed off once more, while Dan chased after him with a fond grin on his face.
Both had a fair share of ectoplasm on their suits, but Danny seemed to have the most. He zipped around like lightning and struck down unsuspecting ghost after unsuspecting ghost. The rapid movement only stopped when he found a particularly small and squishy one that was quaking in absolute terror. Danny quickly hugged it to his chest with a manic smile, and as Dan approached he found the little thing was starting to cry a little.
"Can I keep him dad? Can I?" Danny asked, eyes wide and bottom lip out.
Dan hesitated-he hated saying no to Danny, but they really didn't need any ghosts running around their apartment. "No, Danny. What would the humans think if we had a ghost in our house? You can play with him, but we can't bring him home."
Danny looked at the ghost in his arms for a moment, deep consideration on his face, before he smiled again. Taking the creature into his hands, the halfa squeezed his body until it popped and drenched his hands and face. He giggled before an idea struck him, as he flew up to his father.
"Ooh! Can I play with Cujo?" Danny asked, with ectoplasm-covered hands clasped together.
Dan frowned. The full ghost had found Cujo when he was 14, but never really saw him again after half of the globe became a vacant lot. Well, until around the time Danny turned 5. The ghostly mutt loved Danny, even though he was initially a little cautious of him. They'd been friends ever since, and often hunted for victims together. He was a very welcomed companion, and seemed to enjoy running around the ghost zone with the halfa whenever he called.
"I don't know. You can try to call him, but he might not recognize you." Dan tried to explain, only to stare in shock as, a ghostly whistle later, and the giant dog proceeded to bound towards them and tackle Danny. His tongue lolled out of his mouth, and coated Danny's face in slobber. The boy was in a fit of giggles, while Dan was left to wrap his head around all of this. Then again, they never did train Cujo to recognize the whistle so it was possible he already knew it from somewhere... Dan suddenly went on alert, glancing around.
Out of the corner of his eye, Dan noticed that the whistle also caught someone else's attention. Flying towards them, with green flames of hair and a predatory look to his eye, was Skulker. And for once the sight of him made Dan smile.
"Danny, Cujo's chew toy is here." Dan said, making Danny leap up with a grin.
The halfa pointed at Skulker, while the mutt wagged his tail. "Kill!"
The dog understood immediately, and rushed Skulker with an eager halfa behind him. The two tore into the mechanical bot before he even realized what was happening, while Dan watched from the sidelines. Danny really was impressive, especially in an environment like this where targets lurked around every corner.
And that thought made Dan pause. This really way a good environment for Danny-at least compared to their home. He had plenty to do, plenty to try, and plenty to enjoy. He seemed so happy here, and the full ghost wondered if they should stay. Dan could only imagine how bored Danny would be once they went home. There would be nowhere near as many ghosts, and there would be none of the food he loved. They wouldn't have TV, video games, or even proper beds.
Everything here was already situated anyway. And if they really had to go back, Jack and Maddie would probably have something ready for them. But then rose a substantial problem-the Fenton family.
Living in the same city as the parents of the child he stole was bad enough, but to think that one day Danny could find out? It made the ghost's flaming core feel cold. He didn't even realize it, but his body was twitching faintly as his mind whirred. It took him a moment to realize he was afraid.
And that realization made Dan stare down at his hands. He hadn't felt like this in years, since the first time Danny was injured. And before that? The day his loved-ones died. But those moments he could deny and explain away. His human half was still a part of him when everyone died all those years ago, and it had to have been solely instinct to feel fear for Danny's life. This though...? He couldn't just explain this.
This wasn't instinct, nor a biproduct of humanity. This was genuine concern for another person's well-being, and happiness. More than that however, it was a fear of losing the only person he knew cared about him-no matter what he did. No matter how much of a monster he was... Danny loved him.
"Dad, look!" A cheerful voice yanked Dan back into reality, and the full ghost gave a somber smile.
The halfa was holding up a suit-less Skulker, who was fighting fiercely to get away. Cujo's tail was wagging as well, as he held the armor in his maw. Both looked quite proud of their achievement, but Danny's mood dimmed a bit when his father approaches him and gives him a look. "Danny, can I talk to you alone?"
Concerned, Danny holds Skulker out to Cujo and watches as the dog shrinks down and dashes away with the screaming blob in his mouth. And once they were gone, Dan crossed his legs and motioned for Danny to sit down. The halfa does so, worry present in his ruby-red eyes as he waits for the man to speak.
Dan takes a breath, before he asks him. "Danny... Do you really want to stay with me? No matter what?"
Danny crossed his arms and raises an eyebrow. "Why're you asking the same questions and being sad?"
"Well..." Dan hesitates again, wishing this mysterious sense of dread would just go away. "It's because I haven't told you something. Something very important."
"What is it?" The boy asked as he shifted a little.
"I... I'm not you're real dad, Danny. When you were about 2 months old, you belonged to Jack and Maddie Fenton-the people we met yesterday. Before I found you, I was... Captured, by my past self and given to Clockwork." Danny frowned at that name. He never liked the time ghost. "Eventually however I broke free, and I found you. I then stole you so I could get back at my past self, the one who looked like you..."
At the end of the story, Dan noticed the odd look his son was giving him. "Dad, you're being silly. You're the only dad I've ever known, and that means you're my dad. If those weird science people didn't recognize me then they aren't my parents. Plus, I don't like them."
Dan could only stare at the boy, before a smile formed on his face. "When did you grow up so much?"
The ghost child just smiled, before a yawn pried his mouth open. "Can we go home now? I'm tired..."
"One more thing." Dan said, standing while holding the boy under his arms. "Do you want to stay in this timeline?"
Danny's face scrunched up as he thought about it for a long time. He then shook his head. "I like it here, but it doesn't feel like home does. Oh, but I want to come back sometimes and eat more pizza!"
A deep laugh sounds from the full ghost, making Danny smile. He then shifts his son to one arm, and tears a portal open into their living room. And once inside Dan proceeded to carry the boy into his room, where a space-themed bedroom waits to carry him into dream land.
But as Danny transformed into his less-messy human form and is placed under the covers, he tugs on his father's cape and asks. "Can you tell me a story?"
Dan blinked, before a smile formed on his face. He phased the ectoplasm off, left to be cleaned later, and sits on the bed with the child. He then begins to tell his story, and he finds that this is the first time he's ever truly and undoubtedly felt like the ghost boy's father.
A/N: You know, I just find it great that the majority of this scene was done with Dan and Danny covered in what is basically blood. I really think it hits home the fact that, no matter how sweet they are, the two are incredibly sadistic monsters in their own right. And I like that. Dan's a great character and exploring what one can do with him is fun, but I really enjoy keeping him in certain aspects a monster. Like this little thing I've created for instance. To Danny, Dan's a really kind and loving father, but he's also a sadistic killing machine who takes joy in watching things die. Even if only a little bit, I like trying my best to maintain that. (Also, to hrisi292, believe me when I say I'm the queen of long convoluted sentences-typically with too many commas. And you're welcome to for the mental image.)