A/N: So. Four months. Yep. Uh-hu. I... really have no excuse.

Okay, fine, I do have an excuse, but's it's just that: an excuse. It's basically one of those emo stories that inspires really bad poetry. You know, the kind that Raven likes. But, regardless, here is the new chapter. It explanes the Puppet King, who I now call by his correct name, and it shows some more interaction between Danny and the Titans! I've got to keep it relatively slow, because I've got several seasons to go through before Danny's Epic Moment. Like how Robin's is the first season fanale, and Cyborg's is the third. Also thanks to KnightHawker, who pointed out something to remove. It'll be back, but I've gotta pace myself. Sadly ShatterMyMuse was busy and could not beta this chapter, but probs to him to keeping with my flakiness.

Disclaimer: I own neither Danny Phantom nor Teen Titans. Sadly.

Faces

Truths... and lies.

Masks... and faces.

When truths and lies meet, which will win?

When faces and masks meet, which will win?

Is it even a fight?

Danny the ghost boy looked down at the Puppet King, who was currently attached to his waist.

He then looked up at Fixit the cyborg.

He looked down.

He looked up.

He looked down.

He looked up.

"Fixit. Explain. Now."

"Ah, well Puppet King-"

"Master! May I explain, Master?"

Danny looked down at the hugging puppet. He looked up at the cyborg. He looked down at the puppet. "Alright. Explain. But first..."

"Yes, Master?"

"GET THE HECK OFF OF ME!"

The Puppet King leaped away from Danny. "Oh, sorry, Master! I didn't know you disliked being touched, Master!"

Danny groaned while rubbing his head. "...Right. Just... make sure it doesn't happen again. Now, please, Puppet King, tell us why you insist on calling me Master."

"Certainly, Master! My pleasure, Master! My story begins long long ago...

Back before Death was born, back before Gods existed, back before the invention of Language, there was a man.

This man looked upon the world, and saw loneliness. He saw others playing with each other, but he himself was alone.

He searched for a companion, but none would befriend him. He wasn't as strong as the others. He couldn't play their games.

He decided that if he couldn't find a friend, then he would have to make a friend.

He worked and worked and worked. How long he worked is unknown, because Time did not exist. Maybe it was millenia Maybe it was a moment. It is unknown.

But for however long he worked, he worked hard.

He studied the way people walked, the way they moved. He took wood and tried to copy it.

But it wouldn't move.

He tried again.

But it wouldn't move.

He tried again and again, in that moment that was millenia, and none of them would move.

As he tried again and again, he eventually got better. He learned about joints. He learned about the mouth. He learned about speaking, and walking, and hitting, and hands. He tried again and again.

But it wouldn't move.

After try and try and try, he realized that it wouldn't move because of the one thing he could not carve; the human heart. So he searched for a way to make it.

He searched on the land, in the sea, and over the mountains.

He searched the sky and the ground and the mind.

He could not find a way to create a human heart. But he did find a way to move it.

So he took his heart out and put it in his greatest creation.

I knew him as Master, Life-giver, Friend, Father, Parent, Idol, and Creator.

He knew me as Servant, Debt-holder, Friend, Son, Child, Fan, and Reason to Live.

You know him as Death.

Without his human heart, Life-giver felt a gaping hole in his chest, one that would never heal. So he searched for another one, and took his heart, and put it in his chest.

Father was satisfied with that, for a year, for a moment, for a century. But it didn't last. Creator devoured that heart, and so searched for another one.

Life knew that, with Death, there must also be Time. For without Time, Death would devour Life, for Life could not continue and thrive alone.

So Life created Time.

With Time there was Distance.

With Distance there was Change.

And so it was that a Change took place.

As Master wondered, searching for a new heart, I was left alone. Idol and his heart are connected, and so without him near, I cannot live.

So if I could not live, I decided to exist.

I spent time and time and time alone, searching for when Master would come near. And whenever a being died near me, I could live, if just for a minute.

They called me cursed, and evil, for I would live when Father was near. I did not care. I could feel joy in living, instead of just existing.

It was thus that Slade found me, and thus that Slade let me live.

And it was thus that you found me.

You have given me life eternal, given me a connection always to Parent, Master, Life-giver, Father, Idol, Creator. So now you are my Master.

-line-

Danny tilted his head as the Puppet King finished his story. He looked up at Fixit who looked gobsmacked.

Well, gobsmacked for him. His eyes were a fraction of an inch wider and his mouth was slightly open.

Danny looked back at the Puppet King, and he shrugged. "Well, alright then. I guess I have no choice in the matter. Fixit, teach the Puppet King what I do, who I am, and who you are... while I go to bed. It's been a long night."

He started walking away, turning back to his human form. "Oh, and Fixit? Get him and yourself some combat stuff. We're gonna show the Titan's how this 'hero' thing is done."

As Danny walked out of the warehouse, the Puppet King turned to Fixit and beamed. "Isn't Master wonderful?"

Fixit kept in an internal groan. At the rate Danny was collecting life debts, he'd have Slade working for him in under a month.

-line-

Robin waited in silence on top of 'The Fenton Works Book Store'. He didn't know why, but Slade's new minions where homing in on this location. Fast. He and his team barely managed to get into position on time. Robin was waiting in what looked like basement. A bunch of... strange... books and machinery where in there, and Robin had to convince his goth team mate to not take the spooky books.

Even if the majority of them where on ghosts.

And weren't available on the top floor.

...Damn. He really wanted to read those books; they might give them a clue into the Phantom mystery!

*Crash* Robin watched as one of the black suited minions flew out into the street, covered in dark energy. In his hand a book was a book. "Titan's, go!"

Robin jumped down as Raven phased out of the ground. Starfire flew from the sky, Beast Boy reformed from a mouse, and Cyborg stepped out from an alleyway.

Robin stepped forward and, in his best 'cool leader' voice, said, "Game over. Hand over the book."

It was then that about ten other minions, all in the same outfit, appeared, and leapt into the fray.

The Teen Titans started fighting back only a moment later, the fluidity that only countless practice can grant guiding their movements. The played on each other, using each other to dodge and counter, and maintained their harmony.

Starfire would dodge an attack from one of their guns as Cyborg would take it out; Raven would be about to get shot as Beast Boy came to the rescue. Raven repayed the favor only a moment later.

It was slow going, but it looked like the Titan's would win... if this was a normal fight.

But one of the minions, the one with the book, saw no reason to stand around and wait to be taken out. After recovering from a well timed kick from the Boy Wonder, he turned around into an alleyway and ran. Robin, with a quick shout to his team, gave chase as the rest of the Titan's fought off the rest of the intruders.

He ran through alleyway after alleyway, jumping over crates and dodging under cloth lines. Unfortunately, the man in the black suit was beginning to pull ahead, having the advantage of being in front, with a clear line of sight.

Until, that is, a familiar fist hit him from the side.

Danny stared coolly at the man below him as Robin ran up. "D-Danny! What are you doing here?"

"I was just on my way home for a good nights sleep when I saw you two running nearby." He leaned down and picked up his book, opening it up and checking for any damage. "I figured that you'd end up here, so I took a shortcut. Can't let my special stock out of my hands, after all."

Robin slowly recovered from his heavy breathing, and absentmindedly kicked the man as soon as he looked like he was recovering. "What's in that book that's so special, anyway?"

Danny shut the book close. "None of your business. This book has some dangerous stuff in it." He started walking off. "There better not be anything missing in my basement when I get home. If there are I'm gonna be forced to get invade your tower to make sure you didn't take anything."

Robin mentally scoffed that a single human teenager could invade Titan Tower, but neglected to say anything about that. He needed to talk to Danny about something much more important. "Wait!"

Danny slowly turned around, raising an eyebrow. "...yes?"

"What do you know about ghosts?"

A pregnant pause followed that. Danny's face froze as he thought through everything that he could say here, and everything that he should not say here. He settled on, "Any ghost in particular?" even though he knew the answer.

"Danny Phantom."

Yep. There it is. Danny couldn't help it; he let loose a quite laugh. "Heh. More then you'll ever know."

Robin was slightly annoyed. He could sense a slight a mile away, and while it was subtle, he just knew that Danny was teasing him. With years of practice, however, he could easily hide his annoyance. "Will you tell me?"

Danny paused, and cocked his head in mock thought. "...No."

Robin growled slightly. "Why not?"

"Because I don't like you, and you don't need to know." Robin opted to glare at the teen from under his mask. "Come now, Robin, that won't work on me. I've seen things that'll make you run for the hills if you just heard of them coming after you. I've studied things that people have been killed for knowing people who might know about it. I'm not telling you." He turned back around. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to move my stuff."

Danny walked off, leaving an annoyed Robin alone with his suspect. Almost as an after thought, Robin turned to the down guy and frowned. "Now to find out why you're working for Slade." He removed the mask, revealing... a small television screen.

The screen flicked into life, showing a Slade covered in shadow. "Hello, Robin. I must admit that I'm upset that you aren't paying me as much attention as I deserve."

"Slade," Robin snarled, "What do you want with that book?"

"Knowledge is power, Robin. And that knowledge is particularly potent."

"What do you mean by that?" Robin's every word dripped with menace.

"Patience, Robin. What say you we meet, and talk about this?"

"Tell me where you're hiding and I'll be there in a heartbeat."

"Patience, Robin. Patience. We'll meet soon enough. Unless, of course, you find that Danny boy more interesting. I might feel... slighted."

Before Robin could respond, the robot that he thought was a man sparked and became inoperable. Robin grunted as he kicked the machine away. He needed to know what was up with Slade! Why was Slade interested in Danny? And what was Danny hiding? How could he find out?

-line-

Danny walked back to his store, an annoyed expression on his face. Truly, dealing with the Titan's childish behavior was tiring.

As he turned the corner to his store, he saw robot parts scattered around, and the remaining four Titan's panting, recovering their breath. Danny raised an eyebrow. "Well, if you're all done, why don't you leave? I have to get to sleep and move my books."

Starfire turned and squealed. "Friend Danny! I see that Robin has returned to you your book of secrete knowledge!"

"...yeah. Sure. Whatever. Now go."

"Not yet, dude." Cyborg spoke up. "Why was Slade interested in your book?"

"Not telling."

Cyborg frowned and crossed his chest. "Nu-uh. Not good enough."

Danny narrowed his eyes. "I'm not telling. Now, please, leave."

Cyborg frowned deeper. Starfire was flitting about between half robot and half ghost, not liking the conflict that looked to be emerging. Beast Boy was just looking between the two, his animal instincts screaming 'run'. Raven was staring at the book in Danny's hand, a curious and wanting look in her eyes.

Cyborg finally spoke up. "If you won't tell us, we won't leave."

Danny raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

"Yes. We have permission from the city to stay and go anywhere in the city as long as we deem there is a reasonable chance there is going to be a super villain fight or threat there. So we're going to stay in your shop."

Danny chuckled slightly, annoying Cyborg. "What?"

"My shop isn't owned by the city. The deed to the land, the shop, the air above it and the ground below it belongs to me."

Cyborg blinked. The only people that he could think of to have that kind of influence... the kind to just buy land in the middle of a super villain infested city, were Bruce Wayne and Vlad Masters. And the chances of this punk kid knowing either of them, let alone knowing them well enough for a personal favor, was about as likely as him going above one hundred percent.

In other words, zero.

Starfire could see that Cyborg was about to up the confrontation, and decided to try and head it off. "Friend Cyborg, perhaps we should leave now. If Friend Danny is truly unwilling to show us his book, then we should respect his wishes, should we not?"

Cyborg ignored her. "...Prove it."

"My my," Danny said, shrugging and shaking his head. "Is that any way for super hero's to treat an honest and every day citizen like myself?"

"We trust honest and everyday citizens. Not citizens that have strange weapons and books that interest super villains in their basement."

Danny had to give him that one. "Touche. Stay right here."

Danny went right down to the basement and picked up one of his many copies of his dead. He walked right back up and handed the copy to Cyborg. "Here's a copy of the deed."

Cyborg scanned it with his eye. It seemed ligetament. With a sigh, he handed it back over to Danny. "...fine, fine. We'll leave."

"Thank you," Danny responded graciously, though his tone was anything but. "Oh, and next time, defeat the super villain's robots before they get into my basement."

Cyborg frowned. "Yeah, yeah."

Starfire floated up hopefully to Danny. "Friend Danny, I was-"

"No."

"But-"

"No."

Starfire pouted. "Why are you so mean?"

"Because I feel like it. Now shoo."

Danny started rubbing his forehead. Why did every Titan feel the need to say something personally to him? Beast Boy was up next. "Yo, dude. Sorry about Cy. I don't know why he acted that way."

"I don't know either, and I don't care. Now please, have a good night. Away from me."

Beast Boy bobbed his head, not willing to upset Danny any further. And his animal instincts where screaming 'Get away! He'll kill you!' It was a major conversation deterrent.

Last, but certainly not least, was Raven. She did her float walk to get near him, and said, "I would like to read that book."

"No."

"Then any other book in your basement?"

"No."

"...Why not?"

"Would you let me read one of the no doubt many mystical tomes that you own?" Danny countered.

Raven, thrown off by this, responded on reflex. "No."

"Why not?"

Raven took a moment to respond. "...I see your point. May I suggest a trade?"

Danny frowned. "...you may suggest..."

"We temporarily swap books. Given the amount of books I saw down there, you are searching for... something... correct?"

Danny did not respond, which Raven took as a yes.

"I, too, am searching for something. If we swap books, we both might get closer to our goals."

Danny pursed his lips. "Temporary swaps, and some books will not be swapped."

"Of course."

Danny nodded slowly. "...I find that... acceptable. Weekly trades?"

"That will work."

"Good. I will see you at my shop tomorrow." Danny turned around as Raven floated away. He walked down to the basement and put back in its place 'Theory's on the Ghost Zone by Jack and Maddie Fenton', locked the store, and went to bed.

-line-

As Raven floated back to the tower, her thoughts couldn't help but wonder. Wonder why she was so eager to make a trade with Danny Fenton. Why she was so eager to see him tomorrow. Why she was so eager to trust him.

Normally, even if others offered a trade, she would not let anybody else touch, let alone read her books. They were much too dangerous for normal people to read.

But Danny was... different. There was something about him. The artificial calm with the torrent of emotions underneath. The calm and rational way he thought of things. And his eyes...

They were... similar.

She wasn't thinking about getting romantically involved with him. No, not at all... that would only lead to tragedy. But still... he was... not nice, exactly, but comforting to be with. And she could get every drop of comfort she could find.

-line-

Danny awoke in the middle of the night to the tinkling of a broken window. He willed himself awake and leapt down the stars, running down to the basement, not even aware that he transformed halfway there.

His ghost senses extended, he was a bit surprised at who was down in the basement. But soon he didn't care. It just got him angry.

Instinctively flying down, he saw a teenager in a black costume with a black cape. A distorted red X was on his chest and his strange skull mask. In his hands was a book very important to the owner of the store.

"Well well well. Decided that playing hero wasn't for you?"

The teen turned to look at the invader. "...I have no beef with you, ghost. Just walk away." His voice was distorted, probably by a device in his mask.

Danny snorted. "I don't think so, Robin." The black teen started a bit. "I told you that if anything was missing from my basement I would invade your tower. I wonder how your team would react if I told them you stole my book? Or... did you already leave them?"

They started circling each other in the tiny room. Robin spoke up. "...How do you know who I am? And why are you talking like you are Danny?"

Danny took a quick mental once over. Oops. He made a mistake. Acting like Danny while he was Phantom. Ah, well. The ghost boy grinned. "Secrets, Robin. As you well know. Or perhaps you really think every super powered teen goes out as they are?"

That paused Robin. Though you couldn't see it through his new mask, his eyes narrowed. "...I see. This makes sense. I have many questions for you." They resumed circling each other.

"Oh, questions. I'm sure they're just eating you on the inside. However, I've got no answers for thieves."

Robin growled slightly, but had no answers.

Danny stopped, leaving Robin's back to the stairs. It was a tactical move of Danny's part to avoid leaving anything in the way of being damaged with his starting combat charge. "So, Robin, what will you do? This could ruin your reputation. No one would trust you. I have contacts in places that would make sure that this gets out everywhere."

He slowly held out his hand. "Hand over the book and this won't get anywhere. Run and flee and it will get everywhere... in addition to more then a few bruises when I beat you up."

Robin had, if nothing else, a tactical mind. Currently it is sharpened with rage at the irritant before him. Tactically, he had no advantage in running. His chances of getting away was about... ten percent, and that was only because the night favored run aways. However, even if he did manage to run, Robin had no doubt the human ghost would fulfill his threat.

Robin tossed over the book. Danny caught it. "Wise choice."

Robin grunted, and took off his mask. "How did you recognize me?"

"Your ecto-signature. It's unique to everybody."

Robin sighed. "Pha- ...no. Danny. I need your help."

"And why should I help you after you nearly stole one of my books?"

Robin just looked away at that comment. "...Slade wanted that book. I want Slade. That book was... is an 'in' with him."

"No."

"But I need that book to-"

"NO! You don't get it, do you? Even if there is a one percent chance, even if there is a millionth of a percent chance that somebody like Slade can get their hands on any of these books in this room, I can't hand to you! The information in this book involve theories and idea's that, with a devious enough mind, could cause havoc and destruction wherever he wanted!"

Robin's eye's widened slightly. "It could let him twist minds, twist souls to his desires! It could let him make a bomb that only effects those that he wants! It could let him destroy the world!"

"That kind of stuff is in there?"

Danny snorted. "Of course not. But it can be taken that way. Theories on altering the ecto-signature. On how to control ghosts and where they appear. I have read and memorized this every book in this store thrice over, and I know better then anyone the horrors it could unleash."

"..." Robin didn't know what was in that book, but now he knew that he couldn't let it see the light of day. "Why not destroy it?"

"...I need it for my research." Robin paused again. That sounded like something Raven would say.

"Fine. But I still want your help."

Danny just raised a questioning eyebrow in response.

"I want your help to corner Slade."

"No."

"But Danny! Slade is a psychopath that will do anything to get what he wants! I... no, we need your help!"

"No, you don't." Danny raised a hand to forestall the inevitable denials. "This is just a mystery, and you're taking it as a contest, to see which one of you is better. He's hiding from you, and you're too impatient to wait for a mistake."

"Of course I'm too impatient! His every plot has to be for some evil plan!"

"So you're willing to aid in that plot just to get information?" Danny shot back.

"I wouldn't of given him the book!"

"But he would have taken it from you! You could have made a fake! You could have asked for my help in staging a fight! But no! You just had to solve this mystery on your own! You just had to be better! THERE IS A REASON YOU'RE ON A TEAM!"

Robin stepped back as if he was slapped. He... truly didn't have a response to that. If one that hated hero's, and hated teams as much Danny Phantom could recognize his problems... Robin turned around and started walking away.

Danny's voice stopped him, however. "...A secrete for a secrete. You keep mine, I'll keep yours."

Robin turned his head slightly, just enough so Danny could see his nod, before he continued walking away.

Danny waited before Robin was out of sight before turning back. He groaned. "When am I going to get a good nights sleep in this city?" He put the book back in it's place before wandering back up to his room. Wait...

Danny sighed and opened up his cellphone. Fixit answered the call. "...yes?"

"Fixit. I need Puppet King to guard my store. It's been broken into twice now."

Danny could practically hear the slow nod on the other end of the line. "Very well. I will give him a couple of ecto-guns for self defense."

"That would be nice. We really need to give him something better to defend himself with."

"Agreed. Permission to start working on something... special?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"...It'll be a surprise."

Danny pursed his lips in thoughts. He trusted Fixit, as much as he trusted anybody, but he didn't like surprises as a rule. "I expect it to be something amazing."

"Of course."

"And don't forget my belt!"

"Never."

Danny shut his phone and collapsed onto his bed. He knew Fixit would give a key to the Puppet King, and all would be well. At least he hoped all would be well long enough for him to catch up on his sleep. He was exhausted after a long day and night... he really, really wanted some rest. Lots of rest. Lots and lots of rest.

Maybe he'd sleep through the day tomorrow. But Raven was coming to the store tomorrow... maybe not. He better get up early and shower, actually. He wanted to make a good impression, after all.

He was so sleepy that he didn't notice his thoughts turning to ways of impressing Raven.

He'll have a week to study a new book. New knowledge. And Fixit would work on something for the Puppet King.

Surely, by the end of the week, things would be looking up.

-line-

Robin wearily walked into Titan Tower. He was tired. He was weak. And he had some thinking to do.

Now that he thought about it, whenever somebody was about to get away, he just abandoned his team to chase after them. He never accepted help from his team, and more often then not just left them to do his own thing.

Sure he was the leader of a team... but he wasn't really part of it.

Well, he thought, straightening his back, he'd just have to fix that. Some more team exercises, and actually asking them for help when they were better for the job.

He should have everything done in... about a week.

In a week, he'd be part of the team he lead. Just one week.

-line-

Slade frowned on his throne. He... miscalculated. Robin should have tried to go undercover, but for some reason, he didn't. ...He was planning the Mad Mod fight in a month, but perhaps in a week would be better.

Yes... one week. In one week he'd up his game.