Chapter 14
Consequences
Disclaimer: I own neither Danny Phantom nor Smallville
A chill wind blew across the bare landscape, slicing its way through the skeletal trees up the hill to the cemetery. The breeze cut through the grey tombstones, the markers of people lost, and fading memories. It buffeted against them, rolling across in icy breaths. It whistled eerily, almost resounding with the whisperings of fading souls, echoes of bygone happiness. The moonlight lit the cemetery, its bright light emphasising the cold emptiness of the winter's night.
The cemetery was silent, but for the wind. Long shadows flickered across the ground making the whole place seem haunted. The longest shadow extended beneath the entryway, cast iron gates blocking the cemetery from unwanted visitors. In thick black lettering it identified the cemetery as the resting grounds of Amity Park, a cold silent counterpart to the otherwise busy township. There was a slight groan of metal on metal as the chains holding the gate closed shifted in the icy wind. The moonlight shifted as a thin cloud passed in front, the long shadows fading further into grey. The wind fluttered through the stones, twirling its cool fingers around all of the headstones until it came upon a single marble memorial.
It was carved with a likeness of each of five people. Two of whom; a man and a woman, had dedicated their lives to the protection of the town. The third was a younger woman, her youthful face keen and intellectual, the daughter of the two. The fourth and fifth carvings were two children, younger still. They had been adopted into the family by the only surviving member, but were no less important. Their angelic faces eternally gazed to the heavens from the centre of the cemetery, as if protecting the town still, even in death.
The grey inscription beneath identified them in artistic calligraphy denoting;
To the loving memory of
Jack and Madeline Fenton, Jasmine Fenton, Tucker Foley and Samantha Manson
Tempore Immortalium
Gone But Not Forgotten
In the coolness of the night it was almost impossible to miss the slight change, but change it did. There was a swirl of green mist, barely noticeable in the darkness, yet simultaneously thrilling with other-worldly light. From the mist appeared a boy. His dark raven hair seemed to ignore the wind, the only thing undisturbed by its presence. His pale blue eyes set on the large memorial in the centre of the cemetery and he fell to his knees before it. Blue orbs half-closed and brimming with glittering tears. His knees half sunk through the ground, as if he was immune to the solidity of the earth beneath him as he knelt in front of the stone memorial.
"I'm sorry" The boy sobbed. "I'm sorry I never came back, that I missed the funeral. I'm sorry I never got to say goodbye." He let out a painful sob before looking down to the ground. "I'm sorry" he whispered.
He was silent for several long minutes, blankly staring at the ground as tears spilled silently from his eyes. "I'm still human, aren't I?" he croaked, but there was no answer. "I feel... I care. I'm still human. I'm... I'm not..." He trailed off as harsher sobs wracked his body.
"Ghosts feel too, I know they do. We do... we do." He finished in a whisper. "I tried so hard, to be strong. To move on and..." he paused for a moment "but I was never good with change. Never good enough. Even before all this." He broke off, his eyes flicking to the elegantly carved names on the memorial.
"Mom, I need you." He croaked, soft tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. "I need you to tell me it's all gonna be okay. That I'm still your little boy. I need you. I need you mom." The boy broke off for a moment as another deep sob escaped him. "And dad, I need you too. I need you to blather on about ghosts and wrap me up in a big hug. I need you."
"Jazz, why aren't you here? You were always there. I need you to help me. I need you to tell me, to remind me... I need you back Jazz." There was a long silence, broken occasionally by the soft sniffles as the boy tried to calm himself.
"Tuck, I need my brother, my geeky techie, always got my back brother. I need you so badly Tuck. Why'd you have to go? Why couldn't I save you?" the raven head bowed low, the long fringe falling in front of his azure eyes. The cemetery stilled for several long minutes before the boy reached forward, trying to touch the final name even as his fingers passed through the grey marble. The boy pulled his hand back, wrapping his arms around himself.
"Sam" he croaked "Sam, I need you every day. I need you to remind me that it's okay. That it doesn't matter, 'cos right now... I'm not human, but I'm not a ghost. I need you to tell me that it's gonna be fine. That... I need you Sam. I need you. I need you." He whispered, his body wracking with silent sobs, shoulders heaving under the moonlight. "I need you."
The boy knelt there for several hours in silence. The sun was beginning to rise over the horizon before he made to move, shaking the last sniffles away as he wiped his eyes. Slowly he stood up, hesitating as he drifted away from the memorial. A soft blue wisp of mist escaped his lips, but he didn't move to react. A pale blue hand came to rest on his shoulder.
The boy turned to look, the girl who stood before him had pale blue skin. Her bright blue ponytail flickered like fire, but was temporarily subdued. Green eyes crinkled in sympathy as she looked down at the young boy. A pink guitar was slung over her back, and her gothic attire and heavy makeup would scare most away, leaving aside the blue white glow that surrounded her or the fact that she was floating. But the boy didn't seem to care.
"Hey Babypop" the ghost said, her voice sympathetic as she tried to meet the boys eyes.
"What do you want Ember?" The boy asked, his emotionless voice made her flinch. Ember pulled her hand back as if stung. The boy was usually so strong, so fierce. To see him now... he seemed...
"Broken" she whispered so softly that only the wind heard her. "Babypop, you... you shouldn't be here. You shouldn't be alone in a graveyard at night. You know that." It was an excuse, and Ember knew it. But the boy before her was different than usual. He seemed empty, as if there was something desperately wrong.
Usually she'd never think to do this. The boy had caused her too much trouble. But seeing him so broken in front of her, so lost... she felt compelled to help him. He didn't even struggle as she guided him through the natural portal she had come through. He didn't notice as they left the human world and she led him to her own lair. Ember frowned as the portal closed behind them. There was something desperately wrong with the boy, and she was going to find out what.
Line Break
"How is it that trash like you is still alive and my dad's dead?" Clark demanded as he grabbed Snake by the collar, forcing him off the ground. This man had mugged his mom, and left her to die. He didn't deserve to be alive, not when good people were being ripped from the world. Clark threw the man backwards, sending him crashing through a large crate.
Clark had found the address fairly quickly. It was a large abandoned warehouse, dimly lit with large puddles on the floor. There was some justice in the fact that pathetic excuses for humans like Snake and his gang only had this place to call home. But it wasn't justice enough. It was dark and damp, rusted panels adorning the thin walls. A gutted campervan sat against one of the far walls, the light flickering inside. There was a metal fence in the middle of the room, a lock on the gate guarding whatever these monsters considered precious. Clark watched as the man picked himself up, but couldn't stand to see that he was still okay.
Snake pulled out a knife, pointing it at Clark. "You better leave now, or you'll be dead too." He demanded, nostrils flaring a warning and the green serpent tattoo on his face stretched threateningly. Clark scoffed, walking up to the man, his voice deep and intimidating. He couldn't help but enjoy the thrill as the man backed away from him.
"You stole my dad's watch. I want it back." Clark ordered and the man flinched.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Snake spat desperately.
Clark shoved the man roughly into the fence, the metal wire jarring as he lifted Snake up with one hand fastened tightly around his throat. Blood was pumping through Clark's head as he watched the man struggle for freedom in his hand. The man's knife clattered noisily to the ground.
"I don't have it anymore. I sold it" Snake cried in genuine fear, thrashing wildly for freedom.
Clark blinked, but didn't let go. "That was my dad's." Clark said, his hand tightening around the man's throat. It would be so easy to keep squeezing. So easy to watch the man die in his hands, snapping like a twig. It would be so easy to provide justice for his crimes. Suddenly s female voice cut the air.
"What are you waiting for? He deserves to die!" Andrea screeched as she swooped onto the scene, her leather coat flaring behind her. The sheer anger in her voice made Clark pause. A memory jumped to his mind unbidden.
Flashback – Three years ago
Clark's dad had found him, where he'd been hiding in Metropolis. Clark had run away because he couldn't deal with the pressures of living in Smallville. He didn't want the destiny that his birth father had laid out for him. He didn't want any of it. He'd slipped on a red kryptonite ring, knowing it would help him forget, to desert his inhibitions and be free.
But his dad had found him. He'd spoken to Jor-El who had temporarily given him the powers of a Kryptonian. His dad wanted to bring Clark back and they had physically fought over it, nearly destroying the basement of the apartment building Clark had been living in. Clark had finally beaten Jonathan down. He held the man in his hand, feet dangling over the ground. Yet somehow his dad had been able to talk to him.
"Do it." He said "If I could raise a son that could kill, then kill." And Clark stopped. He looked at the man who had raised him and let go, fumbling back. He couldn't do it. He wouldn't do it. Clark tore the ring off, throwing it away and rejecting all that it symbolised. He looked at his dad, expecting hatred, anger. Not pride. His dad had looked at him, proud that he had come to his senses. It was then Clark knew who he was and what made a man.
End Flashback
Clark looked at the man, Snake. He was so close to repeating the same mistake he had made all those years ago. But he wouldn't. He was better than that. Clark wanted to be a man his dad could be proud of, to believe that he could earn that look of pride in his dad's eyes. He would do the right thing. Clark lowered Snake to the ground, stepping back. He could almost hear his dad say "you made the right choice, son".
Andrea surged forward "If you won't kill him I will." She spat.
"No." Clark said, raising an arm to block her off. Then he started to feel sick. His eyes widened as she pulled out her kryptonite necklace, forcing him down and laying it on his chest. He was helpless but to watch, his strength fading from him as the glowing kryptonite stole his energy from him.
"I'm sorry, but I have to do this" Andrea whispered as she picked up the fallen knife. She walked over to the man as he struggled to his feet, leaning heavily on the fence for support. His eyes widened in recognition.
"You" Snake murmured, a slight tremble in his harsh voice.
Andrea slammed him back into the fence, the knife resting against his throat menacingly. "Is this the knife you used to kill my mother?" She hissed.
"No!" Clark managed to croak "He's not worth it." He had to stop her from making a big mistake. Chloe was right, both of them were letting their emotions cloud their judgement, and Clark could never forgive himself if someone died because of him. But Andrea ignored him.
"You didn't have to kill her. She gave you all the money she had!" She ended in a pained shout; her fist pounding against the fence in her rage. Snake whimpered before stammering an answer.
"It wasn't about the money. I was told to make it look like a mugging."
"It was a hit?" Andrea demanded
Snake quickly replied "She was in their way."
Andrea shook him, the fence rattling in her misery and anger. "Who?" She ordered. "Who hired you?"
"The Suits!" Snake exclaimed, his voice rising in fear. "The Apex Suits, the ones that are tearing down the slums."
"I want a name" Andrea hissed. Clark tried to call out to her to stop her, but could do nothing. He wasn't sure if she ignored him or if his voice was too weak to carry across.
Eyes wide in fear Snake replied "All I know is the guy who hired me got a call from Lionel Luthor."
"Don't" Clark struggled out. Andrea took a step back, her face seeming to calm. She met him in the eyes, the rage still there, but fading. It looked like she was going to do the right thing, to let this go. Then Snake laughed.
In an instant she was on him, the knife sunk into his heart and he fell with a loud thump. She marched off, leaving Clark to struggle against the debilitating effects of the meteor rock. In his pain he half wondered if Danny would come to save him. But the fact that he wasn't here now said he probably wasn't coming. Clark struggled; time losing meaning as he felt his strength leaving. His breathing became laboured as his lungs began to shut down. He danced on the edge of consciousness as he reflected all that he had done that evening. All that he had done in the past week.
He had pushed everyone away from him, trying to keep himself from being hurt again, but it had only made things worse. He had brought himself so close to the edge that he had nearly taken a life out of his own misery. His quest for justice had almost ended in bloodshed and he could never live with himself if he had done that. If he got out of this mess Clark owed so many people an apology. He hoped Lana could forgive him, he had pushed her farthest lately. His mom would always support him, and he was sorry for having hurt her when she was suffering too. Chloe would forgive him; she always seemed to; even when he was sure he didn't deserve it.
There was another wave of pain as the meteor continued to leech his strength from him. Clark was sure there was something he was forgetting, but the agony from the meteor rock dulled his senses. He tried to fight it. He had to stop Andrea before she did something worse. She had gone after Lionel Luthor, of that Clark was sure. While Clark didn't trust the man, no one deserved the fate Andrea would deliver him.
"Snake?" The man from earlier, one of Snakes gang echoed through the room. He called again, but Clark was in too much pain to make much sense of what was going on. Dimly he heard "you're a dead man" and couldn't help but feel that little could feel worse than the pain of the meteor rocks. Suddenly he was lifted away, the effects of the green rock instantly vanishing. He pushed the man away, knocking him unconscious. Now he would be a matter for the police. But he had to get to Andrea.
A quick run later and he was in Lionel Luthor's office at LuthorCorp, knowing that he would find both Andrea and Lionel there if he wasn't too late.
"You kicked people out of their homes so you could develop Suicide Slums for Profit!" Andrea exclaimed as Clark burst into the room. She held Lionel by the lapel of his shirt, forcing him back over the shattered glass from the large broken window that gaped into the night sky. Something told Clark that Andrea had made a very dramatic entrance and was trying to put the fear of her into Lionel Luthor.
"My mother stood up to you, so you had her murdered. No one escapes justice Luthor, not even you!" Andrea cried.
His voice strangulated Lionel choked "Listen to me, we're not as different as you might think." Clark cringed, knowing that the situation had just got a whole lot worse. Andrea would want nothing to associate herself with the man who murdered her mother.
"Like you know anything about me." Andrea retorted, pain evident in her strained voice. Gradually she forced Lionel backwards, his back perilously close to the open window. At the moment the only thing holding him back from losing balance and falling to his demise was Andreas closed fist. To Clark she looked dangerous, almost inhumane in her rage.
"I do" Lionel fearfully assured "I grew up on the same treacherous streets as you did. I lost my parents like you did to a senseless crime."
"It wasn't senseless, it was calculated" She angrily spat, lowering Luthor out the window. Clark saw his gaze drop terrified to the streets below. Clark had left it too long; he needed to pull Andrea back now before it was too late.
"Andrea stop!" Clark finally interjected, trying to defuse the situation. "Let the police handle this. If he's guilty, he'll pay." Andrea turned to Clark, his fist never loosening from around Lionel's throat.
"If your father was murdered, and you were face to face with the man who killed him what would you do?" Andrea demanded. Clark flinched, knowing he was in no small way responsible for his Dad's death, first he had all but given him his heart condition and then he had made the deal with Jor-El. But that didn't mean he had to go out and kill people for justice. It wasn't his place to do so, even if Lionel was responsible.
"What if you're wrong?" Clark asked, cautiously and slowly making his way over to her. "What if he had nothing to do with it?"
"Andrea" Lionel interjected, all but confirming that he was responsible if he had made the connection between the mother he murdered and the daughter left behind. "Listen to him, listen."
"I know what's in your heart." Clark said "It's anger. I feel it too. But killing him, making him suffer, it isn't gonna change anything."
"Yes it will" Andrea screeched, her fist tightening around Lionel's throat.
Clark's eyes widened, seeing everything spiral out of control. "Andrea stop!" he yelled "Think about your mother. Is this really what she would have wanted you to do?" Andrea paused and looked at him, deep regret evident even through her mask. "Let him go." Clark said "Let him go and everything will be okay."
Andrea's eyes filled with unrefined agony "I killed a man" she cried. "And I know you Clark. You could never let me walk out of here. It's time for you to be the real hero." She said, letting Lionel go. There was a moment pause as the world slowed around Clark. He saw Lionel falling, his whole body beginning the plunge towards the pavement below. Clark raced forward, grabbing the man by the shirt and dragging him back to safety.
He didn't care about his secret, Lionel was a vessel for Jor-El; after all it was Lionel Luthor who had brought Clark's dead corpse to the Fortress so Jor-El could revive him, so some part of Lionel already knew. But he hoped that he would not notice Clark using his abilities to save him all the same. The most important thing at the moment was saving him, and that's just what he would do. In those few seconds Andrea escaped, disappearing into the night.
"Exceptional woman" Lionel commented, rubbing his neck. Clark was surprised at how quickly Lionel could switch from pure terror to controlled businessman. "Grossly misguided." Lionel concluded.
Looking out at the night below and thinking of his own problems, he couldn't help but see how badly he'd been handling everything. "She's been through a lot." Clark replied softly, shaking his head ever so slightly as he tried to do away with his own guilt.
"Why do I get the feeling you saved my life for her sake, not for mine?" Lionel asked with a hint of sarcastic anger in his usually controlled tone. But it vanished in an instant as he finished "Whatever the reason, thank you, son." Clark felt a hand on his shoulder as he continued to stare out the window. The cool night air blew on his face as he looked over Metropolis city. Clark was starting to feel himself again.
Line Break
It was close to 6am and Martha Kent couldn't sleep. She was still anxious from the mugging earlier this evening. Her fingers reached to the angry red bruise on her cheek once more. But that was not her only concern. Clark's anger was making him unpredictable; Martha could only hope that he would come to his senses before he did anything too drastic. As a mother she felt scared to see her little boy destroying himself the way he was. If Clark did anything she knew he would never forgive himself and that tore at her heart.
But her concern lay also in her nephew. Danny hadn't really voiced it, but she suspected there was something desperately wrong with the young half ghost. Yesterday morning – although it still felt like today – he hadn't been able to become tangible, having to resort to telekinetically interacting with the world. While that alone wasn't too bad there were other signs they'd passed over. Accidentally phasing through chairs, the occasional slip from vision, there was the day that his eyes had been green for eight hours straight, not to mention when he had been stuck writing in the ghostly language. When it was all put together there was definitely something wrong. The only question was what.
Martha sighed. She wished Jonathan was here; somehow her husband had always managed to hold things together. She didn't know what to do or what to say. Martha headed out to the barn, it was Jonathan's place. He had always been in there, chipping away at some project without a care in the world. She blinked tears from her eyes, it was still the same. She half expected him to come out from behind the workbench with his loving smile and a friendly greeting.
She drifted through the barn, finding his work jacket still hanging from its hook. He had left it there before the election party, having worked an hour before they all had to get ready. Martha picked the worn jacket up, pulling it towards her nose and drawing in the scent. She missed him, terribly; she wished he hadn't been taken from them. But the truth was that Jon had lived a happy live, raised a son he was proud of and lived every day with love. It was a life that Jonathan had enjoyed and she was glad to have been blessed enough to spend her life with him.
"Martha" A deep voice said, breaking the silence and she jumped slightly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." Martha turned to face Lionel Luthor. She was surprised by the late – or rather early – visitation, but was in a way strangely glad for the company.
"Sorry," Martha murmured "I was... somewhere else."
"Yes" Lionel sympathised "These days must be difficult to get through, I understand. When my wife... when Lillian died, I... I thought I'd never be whole again. It takes a long time to heal." Martha blinked, unsure of what Lionel wanted at this hour.
"Well I'm doing the best I can." She replied, turning to move away, but she was interrupted.
"I hear the Governor has asked you to take Jonathan's seat in the Senate." Lionel said. Martha turned around sharply.
"I haven't even told Clark yet, let alone Danny. How do you know?" While she was trying to remain calm she was struggling. In all the turmoil of the day she had forgotten about this, but she wanted to talk it over with the two boys before she accepted the offer. She certainly had not wanted the input of the elder billionaire, even if he had provided moral support at the funeral.
"I make it a point to know things" Lionel shrugged "I... I wanted to know how you were."
Martha raised an eyebrow sceptically. If that were really the case he could have come to talk to her at a more civilised hour. "I'm not sure I'm going to accept the offer. If you came by to sway me one way or the other." It may have sounded cold, but she didn't want to hear political advice from Lionel at the moment.
"No, no." He assured "You are perfectly capable of making that decision on your own. I'm only sorry that you're burdened with this." Lionel empathised softly, stepping closer to her. "You've got so much to deal with right now, Martha. I know that Jonathan leveraged a good part of the farm."
"That was his decision." Martha interrupted coolly.
"That was his pride" Lionel returned, perhaps a little too quickly. "So he could pay back the campaign contribution I made. I can't accept it." Martha creased her eyebrows in confusion. Jonathan had always believed in fair play, in always earning your way through life. While he was prideful, he was always honest. He wanted to repay the debt and Martha had intended on seeing it through in his memory. "Jonathan and I" Lionel continued "Let politics and money come between us. I don't want that to happen to us, Martha."
Martha's eyes widened. Lionel was being honest. Jonathan had always believed in second chances, in finding the best in people and letting them bring it out. Maybe he would have wanted her to forgive Lionel. After all, he had been there for her when she needed support the most.
"If you need anything..." Lionel said as he moved away, pausing briefly. "I'm here for you, always. As a friend." With that he was gone, and Martha was left conflicted. Tears stung in her eyes as she thought of Jonathan and what he would have wanted for her and the family. She clutched Jonathan's jacket tightly as she sat in the empty barn. Slowly the sun started to rise; it was the dawn of a new day.
Line Break
Clark walked into the Daily Planet early. He had gone home briefly to get changed, quickly explaining the night's events to his Mom before making the return trip to Metropolis. It was barely 9am, but the Paper was already bustling. Clark made his way downstairs to the bull-pen where Chloe and Andrea worked, brushing past a number of people as he opened the glass door.
He was surprised to see a vacant desk where Andrea's workstation had once been, completely cleared of everything but the office phone. He blinked, but it was still empty. "Hey" Chloe said, sidling up next to Clark. "I found her desk like this when I got here this morning. I called her home, I called her cell. Looks like she pulled an Amelia Earhart."
"She's never gonna let anyone find her now." Clark commented looking down at the blank desk.
"Well, I guess exile's the price you have to pay when you play judge, jury and executioner." Chloe replied "Phantom though..."
"What about Phantom?" Clark asked, for the first time since last night thinking of his cousin. He had almost forgotten that he'd been around last night too. Clark frowned, wondering why he hadn't jumped in to stop Andrea before he killed Snake or pull Lionel back. Danny was better with words than Clark was, and maybe could have kept Andrea from skipping town.
"Clark, you said some pretty harsh things to him." Chloe reprimanded, and Clark flinched. He had entirely forgotten that he had lashed out at Danny. He couldn't even remember what he'd said, but from Chloe's tone it was pretty bad. She paused for a moment before changing subject. "Clark, what really happened out there?"
"I should have listened to you Chloe. You tried to warn me." Clark admitted.
"And Phantom" Chloe tacked on.
"And Phantom" Clark conceded, trying to shake the guilt. As soon as he saw Danny Clark was going to apologise, but for now he owed Chloe an explanation; a confession. Clark looked away, unable to meet the eyes of his longest standing friend. "I had my hand around that guy's throat. And I thought that if I just kept squeezing the life out of him then it'd make everything feel right again."
"God Clark" Chloe whispered, obviously stunned. She came around to meet him in the eyes. "But you didn't?" She demanded.
"No." Clark replied shaking his head.
"What made you stop?" Chloe asked, and Clark smiled.
"My dad's voice" he replied. "This is gonna sound weird, but I... I could hear him. He was the one who always kept me from going over the edge when I was too close." Chloe smiled at him for a moment, and Clark was glad. He knew he could make his dad proud, and he would do just that to honour his memory. Chloe's smile suddenly dropped and she turned away.
"It's too bad Andrea didn't step back in time. I think Metropolis could really use someone like her right now; someone who will fight the human crime."
Clark thought for a moment. "We'll have to see if we can put Phantom up to it." He commented, Danny probably could do it, and maybe it would be good for him to step outside his usual role, especially if he had to be King of the ghosts someday.
"Maybe." Chloe murmured. "Do you think you could ever do what she did? Play the mild-mannered reporter by day and a crime fighter by night?" Chloe asked.
"Honestly," Clark replied, thinking of the trouble having a double life had caused his cousin. "I'm kinda hoping I can find a way to not have to hide who I really am." Chloe smiled at him encouragingly. He was in a cheery mood when he left the Planet, but he needed to talk with his cousin who he knew he owed an apology before it got much later. It was only 10am, but he wanted to repair the damage before it got much later. With that on his mind he raced home, hoping to find the young half-ghost.
Line Break
Danny felt numb. He felt the world moving around him, but couldn't find it in himself to care. There was nothing to care about. He knew what he had lost. He knew that he was alone, that everyone he had cared for was gone. He knew he hadn't saved them, that he wasn't good enough, and that he couldn't protect them. He hadn't been able to say goodbye. He felt empty, an emotionless void.
"Babypop" a soft feminine voice wafted through his semiconscious haze.
He knew there was something wrong with him. He felt hollow, like something vital had been taken from him, stolen from him. But he couldn't find the hatred or resentment or even the desire to care. He felt like his essence had been stripped from him, leaving a hollow shell behind. There was nothing to tie him to the world, to bind him to action.
"Babypop!" The voice whispered again, brushing against the emptiness.
He half recognised the voice, but everything was too distant, too far away to be worthwhile. He was apart from the world, from himself, from everything and it didn't matter. Nothing mattered, because there was nothing.
"Phantom! Snap out of it!" The voice came again, slightly more urgent this time.
But there was nothing to snap out of. For Danny there was nothing. He was nothing. If there was nothing and he was nothing then it didn't matter if he snapped out of it because there was nothing to snap in to. It wouldn't matter if he remained in his numb state surrounded by endless nothingness. There was nothing and he was empty. The shallow consciousness left to him only emphasised his insignificance.
"I really didn't want to do this, Phantom" The voice said. There was a sharp pain as something slammed into him, Danny felt himself fly backwards and come crashing into something hard. A sharp crack ripped through his spine, but he didn't move. He was in a void of nothingness and there was no reason to move.
Suddenly it changed, a soft tingle swept through him, becoming more intense even as he tried to ignore it. Something at the back of his mind whispered Protect but it was easy to push back. It got louder, more forceful Protect! Danny was still too lost in the void to move, but it screamed louder PROTECT! Danny felt himself move towards the feminine voice, shoving its owner out of the way as a heavy something came crashing down on him. He caught it, blinking and he felt that missing part of him coming back.
It was dim, but it was there; his purpose, his raison d'être. Danny felt himself coming back to reality. The world came into sharper focus as he snapped back to lucidity. He gently lowered the large – amplifier? – that had fallen on him to the ground as he finally took notice of his surroundings. He was standing on the stage of a large amphitheatre, surrounded by the gothic instruments of an absent band. Around him were large speakers and amplifiers, leading right up towards the ceiling where an elaborate display of stage lights hung.
"Babypop?" The soft voice asked "Are you back?"
Danny turned his attention to the speaker, and was stunned to see Ember. Her blue flamed hair was short and remarkably subdued, making Danny suspect she intended him no harm. Danny nodded slowly. He was more "back" than he had been, but there was still something off.
"Yeah" he choked out, surprised at how weak his voice sounded.
"Clockwork, Babypop. You scared me." The punk diva declared. "What happened?" Danny was surprised. Ember always seemed to hate him, and the two of them had never been on better than adversarial terms. To see her acting so... caring was strange and surreal. But the truth was that he needed someone to be there from him; a last bastion of his old life that he could cling to. A small remnant from his life – half-life – as the Protector of Amity Park. If Ember was willing to extend an olive branch, then Danny was not going to push it away.
And yet... he had no idea what to say. He didn't know what had happened, why his mind had shut down like it had. He remembered the fight with Clark, and the subsequent visit to his family's memorial. He remembered reflecting how much he needed them, and how he had failed them. But it blurred into blackness; into the nothingness that he had been consumed by. He had no idea where to start explaining.
"I..." he began, but came to an abrupt halt. He looked down at himself, his human hands. He was still in the clothes he had slept in two nights ago, and he was slightly grateful that he'd gotten home so late he'd crashed in his street clothes. He tried to shift into his ghost form, but couldn't find the energy to even summon the rings that allowed him to transform. He felt weak and lethargic, but was glad to be out of that blank nothingness. He looked at Ember's staring green eyes. He owed her some sort of explanation.
"I..." He began once more but changed direction halfway "You know they're dead... Sam, Tuck... everyone."
Ember cringed "Skulker mentioned they weren't around the last time he met you, but I had no idea they were gone. Are they really...?"
Danny's core clenched. He hadn't really talked about any of it since he came to Smallville, not wanting to burden the living humans with his problems. But now more than ever he needed someone to talk to.
"Yeah, about seven months ago" Danny stated, pausing for a moment, "We were all at home. Mom, Dad, Jazz, Tuck, Sam and I. I heard a loud roaring noise. Next thing I know I'm waking up in hospital with the Doctors telling me that I was the only one left. The house was destroyed by a stray meteor. I still have no idea how I survived."
Danny was shocked as the punk diva came up and gave him a tight hug. "Phantom" she whispered sadly, her arms tightening around him. If he were human he would have been crushed by the force. "I'm so sorry" she consoled.
Danny was confused. Ember had never displayed any signs of sympathy towards him. Ever. She always employed an attack first mentality, so this show of affection caught Danny off balance. Although in a way it did make sense, Ember only ever wanted to be wanted. Danny found himself clinging to the female ghost, desperate for some way to release the pain he had been bottling up for months.
The ghost hunters didn't understand ghosts. They felt emotion just as much as, if not more than humans. The necessity, however was to learn to control them and harness them, otherwise their powers became impossible to control. For the ghosts great emotional control was a necessary and desirable quality. Danny was never able to do that, there was too much human in him. But he did need to control his emotions, otherwise his powers became dangerous.
Danny had been suppressing his own mourning since the day he woke up in Vlad's hospital and now it was catching up to him. He needed someone to talk to, and he couldn't turn to Aunt Martha or Clark. The loss of Uncle Jon had only worsened Danny's emotional state. Aunt Martha needed to mourn herself and Clark... well; Clark didn't even see Danny as human. The other humans, living people couldn't understand, and Danny had no one left to turn to.
Awkwardly Danny broke away from Ember's tight hug, searching her emerald eyes. There was no malice in them, only honest concern. She guided him over towards the edge of the stage; motioning him to sit. He complied, feet dangling over the two metre long gap above the hard floor below. He felt Ember take a seat beside him.
"What happened Babypop?" she softly asked. Danny looked out over the empty amphitheatre stands, eyes searching for answers that weren't there.
"When they died" Danny explained; his voice barely above a whisper "I was taken in by my Aunt and Uncle, and their adopted son Clark. He's... special, almost unique" Danny shook his head, trailing off. He wouldn't tell anyone that Clark was Kryptonian, besides the fact that it wasn't his secret to tell there was the fact that all Kryptonian's were meant to be dead.
"They live in Kansas, a town called Smallville. I... I never planned on telling them about me. With the portal closed I knew the links to the real world would diminish, so I could handle it on my own without anyone the wiser. Then Phantom could fade from the public eye."
Danny smiled ruefully before continuing. "Skulker kinda ruined that for me. Clark caught me, he saw me using some of my powers as a human. But it was alright, because he accepted me. They all did. And I thought it'd be okay. That I could manage."
He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Uncle Jon decided to run for State Senate. For the humans that's kinda like the Leaders of the Realms. They still answer to a higher power; the Federal Government and the President, like the Observants Council for us. But they help govern the smaller regions. It would attract public attention, but it was fine 'cos I know how to hide." And Clark never did anything too public. Danny added mentally.
"But on Election Day Uncle Jon had a heart attack and..." Danny paused, struggling to reconcile himself with this recent trauma. He gulped once before continuing. "He had a heart attack and it killed him."
"Ok Babypop" Ember sighed, laying her gloved hand on his shoulder. Danny hardly noticed, too lost in his memories.
"Clark took it the hardest. He lashed out at everyone." Danny continued, but felt Ember's aura surge. This was the first he'd felt it since he arrived here. But it was hardly surprising; for ghosts, lashing out at anything other than a threat to your obsession was disgraceful. Humiliating. Danny though, could understand Clark's position, somewhat. While Danny's mind no longer worked quite the same as a regular human's he could empathise with them in a way that other ghosts couldn't.
"It wasn't his fault. Clark was really close to his dad. I think he blames himself for it, he takes a lot of responsibility for things that aren't his fault... but that doesn't change the fact that he was lashing out." Danny broke off once more, his gaze falling to his hands as he wrung his wrists in his lap. He recalled in perfect detail everything Clark had said to him. Clark had pointed out every one of his fears, his flaws and failings and spat them back at him. The only thing that could have made it worse is if Clark had said that Danny was like his evil alternate future self. Part of Danny was glad that he'd elected not to tell Clark about that aspect of his past.
"Ember..." Danny murmured, reflecting on the one thing that had stung the most. "What am I to you? To the ghosts?"
Ember half laughed, obviously trying to dissipate the heavy tension that had built between them. "You're a nuisance. You always stop us and throw us back in the Zone. You're arrogant, you're annoying, you're overly emotional. Some days you have more mood swings than the Lunch Lady. You've grown up a lot since I first met you, but you're still the same dipstick that makes afterlife in the Real World difficult for us."
Danny half laughed at her rant, a small smile dancing on his lips. "Thanks, I think." Danny murmured, but the smile faded quickly. "One of the things Clark said... He said I was a ghost, in the human view of the word. It shouldn't mean anything anymore. My parents always said it. But coming from him... It hurt because he knows. He knows what I am, but sometimes I wonder..."
"Babypop... Phantom" Ember said firmly, and Danny raised his eyes to meet hers. "You're a ghost in every way that counts. You gotta deal with the heightened emotions and the need to control them. You've got powers that make most of us green – or greener – with envy. I know that some of the way you think is ghost. So you're one of us." She paused briefly before continuing.
"But you're also human where it counts. You can accept change where we can't; you can enjoy more freedom with your emotions. You've got a heart that beats and lungs that breathe. You're alive in a way that we aren't. What are you? Only you can say. You're a halfa, the only Halfa. But above all that you're you. The same annoying dipstick that I love to beat up once in a while. The same dipstick that shoves us in a tiny container before chucking us back home. The same kid that messed up my world tour two years ago." There was no venom in her voice, only light-hearted teasing. She gently punched him on the arm and Danny smiled.
"Thanks, Ember." Danny replied, genuinely. Maybe she was right, maybe him just being him was enough. He was human and he was ghost. He was a Halfa, a species all to his own. And for now... he was okay with that.
"No problem Babypop." Ember said and pulled herself to her feet. "Now, let's get some food into you and you can tell me what in Clockwork's name you were doing alone in a cemetery by yourself at dawn" Danny smiled and followed her, still unable to transform into Phantom. He lost himself in silent musings.
It was always strange hearing the ghosts swear by Clockwork, considering Danny knew him personally. 'God' as an omnipotent being, or concept was for the living, which Danny was no longer. The ghosts looked to Clockwork as a more mythical sense, almost like God to the Christians. Danny however felt better not swearing by his friend and guardian. So he had started calling to Hecate, the Greek Goddess of spirits and magic. Sam had dragged him through Greek Mythology, and the Goddess Hecate seemed the closest god to what he now was. So he had adopted her as his patron goddess. Danny shook his head and trailed behind Ember as she led him through her lair.
Line Break
It was early afternoon by the time that Clark got back to the farmhouse. He wanted to talk to Danny and knew that the best place to find him was usually up in the barn loft. He walked up the stairs somewhat nervous, but was surprised to find he wasn't there. He walked over to the desk, noticing a change there.
On the desk sat an old leather bound watch, sitting on a blue velvet drawstring bag. He was shocked, Snake said he had sold it and yet somehow his Dad's watch was here. "I searched every pawnshop in Metropolis for it." He heard Lana's dulcet tones coming from behind him. He turned around, not hiding his surprise.
"I can't believe you found this" Clark replied, his heart melting at the lengths Lana had gone to just to be there for him. He vowed never to let himself sink as low as he had again. "Lana" he said "I'm sorry for the way I've been acting. I know I should be able to move on, but life without him... it doesn't feel real." He confessed.
"It's like you're frozen, and the whole world's going on around you." Lana empathised. "No matter how many people wanna be there for you, you end up going through it alone."
"It's not like he ever let me take the easy way out either, huh?" Clark asked with a faint smile playing on his lips. Lana smiled back at him, seeing that he was on the way to normality.
"Put it on" she suggested and Clark acquiesced, quickly replacing his old watch with that of his dad's. "It looks great. Your father would be really happy." Lana commented, smiling at him. She gave him a gentle hug before she left, saying that she needed to head back to the Uni before it got too late, and Clark was able to watch her off.
He walked back into his home, and heard old family movies playing on the television. It was the day his dad had taken him on the tractor out to see the back 40. Clark smiled at the memory, but he wasn't over his grieving. His mom heard him come in, and turned to face him. She smiled faintly when she saw him wearing his dad's watch and she opened her arms, embracing him in a tight hug.
"Goodbye" He heard his dad in the video say as he pulled the tractor away from the camera, and Clark allowed himself to feel the one emotion he'd pushed away for days. He cried, sobbing mournful tears into his mother's shoulder as she comforted him. They stayed like that until Clark could cry no more and he stepped back still red-eyed.
"I miss him." Clark said simply
"I know, Clark" His mom said sadly, but sent him a small smile "But he'll always be with us, so long as you let him be." Clark smiled at his mom, pulling her back into a hug. For now it was enough to be here, with his mom still to back him. He would make his dad proud, he would keep his dad in his heart always, and be the man that his dad always wanted him to be.
Line Break
Embers Lair wasn't just the amphitheatre. It seemed to be a whole concert hall, complete with backstage dressing rooms, and a lounge with a kitchenette attached. Ember rummaged through the refrigerator and pulled out a bucket of yoghurt and some strawberries. Next thing Danny knew he was faced with a large bowl of strawberry topped yoghurt and being ordered to eat. It wasn't as fulfilling as human food on his human stomach, but the pure energy from the ghost food was doing wonders for his ghost half.
"So, Babypop, why were you in that cemetery all alone?" Ember asked as she finished her own bowl. She chucked the dish in the sink, along with a whole other pile of dishes. Danny finished his own and wandered over to the sink, looking for something to distract him he started the washing up.
"I went to visit my family. I didn't get to go to the funeral, and after that I got carted off to Smallville. I never got to visit them, but I just... I needed to see them." Danny explained. "I spent the whole day intangible, no matter what I couldn't shift back. And then Clark said I was the same as a full ghost... I just needed to feel like I still had them." Danny shrugged. It was hard to explain just how much he needed his family at times.
"You couldn't turn tangible?" Ember asked, clearly confused.
"No," Danny said "It probably was nothing, lately my powers have been a bit off."
There was a brief pause before ember asked "How long have you been a ghost Phantom?"
Danny shrugged again, finishing off the dishes and turning around "About two and a half years, why?"
"Two and a half..." Ember whispered before looking up to meet his eyes before breaking into a wide smile. "Aww, little Babypop is finally growing up." She wiped a fake tear from her eyes. Danny blinked.
"Sorry, what?" Danny asked, shaking his head in confusion. Danny felt his energy spike, and didn't even notice as he shifted into his ghost form, floating an inch off the floor as his legs became a misty tail. Ember's eyes widened.
"Nice costume" She commented. Phantom looked down, noticing that he was indeed in his ghost half. This was the first time Ember had seen him since his outfit had changed. "You're in your third year." Ember explained, shaking her head to get back on track. "This is one of the things we don't want the humans to know about. You're the first ghost to go through it in the Real World, so I don't know what that will mean for you. But I can tell you what it was like for me."
Ember guided Phantom over to the lounge area and flopped into the red sofa, gesturing for Phantom to do the same. "See" Ember began "when I first became a ghost, I was in the Zone. I didn't have a lair so I was just sorta floating; all I had was my name and my guitar. It's the same for all of us. No one gets a lair until their third deathday. For most of us we float around for the first two years mastering the basic powers. Then after the second deathday your core starts to stabilise and specialise. It doesn't fully manifest until your third deathday, but that's when most of us start learning our particular powers."
Phantom was intrigued, from the sounds of it; his development was slightly different to most ghosts. He'd started developing particular powers after only a few months, and he already knew his core type. Although it could explain why he'd picked up two new powers within the space of three months and mastered them ridiculously easily, and that was leaving aside mastering his ice powers.
"The third year" Ember ploughed on "is when a ghost fully comes into themself. There are weird power surges and shortages. Most of us go through a physical change; my hair turned into the beautiful blue flame you see today. By the end of it we're a whole lot stronger and ready to face eternity as a ghost, but it's a pretty painful ride."
Some of what Ember described explained the weird things happening with his powers. The weird power spikes, the day he'd spent unable to read English, green eyes that wouldn't change back. It all related back to this third year thing. "So it's sorta like ghost puberty?" Phantom queried and Ember laughed.
"I guess you could say that. Hey, maybe that's why you haven't grown up. You were just waiting for your third year." She lightly shoved his shoulder and Phantom glowered. He wasn't particularly happy with the fact that he barely passed as fifteen. Something which the Seniors at school had so kindly pointed out. Multiple times.
"Why haven't I been told about this before? I mean, I've spent time with Frostbite and Dora, neither of them told me." Phantom asked, surely one of his ghostly friends would have told him about this before, it was strange to be hearing it first from Ember, one of his longest standing enemies. Even if she wasn't being adversarial now, that didn't erase their history. Then again, Phantom had long since figured out that her obsession was to be wanted. Maybe she didn't mind creating a friendship with him after all. It was probably worth a try.
"Don't know" she answered, getting back to the topic at hand "It could be that they'd forgotten about it. But I think it's more likely they assumed you were past it. Phantom, you're one of the strongest ghosts here already, and you haven't had your third deathday yet. Most of us only master the basic powers in the first three years and you already have a whole arsenal of specialised ones. You have so many unique powers already that it's scary. You might as well be fully developed for all that you've done."
Phantom frowned at that news; he never wanted to be scary. All he wanted was to help people, to keep them safe. Then another thought hit him. "What about Vlad, Plasmius." Phantom asked. Ember frowned.
"He isn't a proper ghost. You know that. He has a ghost half, sure, but I don't think he ever had a third year, at least not in the same way. He definitely wasn't in the Zone for it. He has a lot of powers, and he is really dangerous. But he doesn't belong to us in the same way you do. You're as much a ghost as you are human, Phantom. And he..."
"He's only ever been human with ghost powers." Phantom finished off for her. Phantom was silent for a few minutes, reflecting on what he was learning. Eventually the silence became too much for Ember and she interrupted his musings.
"Now I know your cousin said some bad stuff, but you gotta give me a bit more. Something tells me there's more behind the story than just you having an identity crisis."
Phantom sighed. "He said I wasn't good enough, that I should have tried harder to save everyone." He felt a painful twinge in his core and he felt physically heavier. Ember's eyes widened in sudden realisation.
"He insulted your obsession, didn't he?" Ember whispered. Suddenly her eyes flared with concern and her voice picked up much more strength. "Phantom, he could have ended you." Phantom cocked his head to the side in confusion.
"How?" He asked, genuinely confused. Phantom had been insulted before, in almost every other way and nothing had happened.
"When I found you in the cemetery... you weren't you. You were... empty. It was scary. You would have been better off as a comatose human. Just now, your aura flickered, you're barely glowing. I'd bet that he said some pretty bad stuff about your obsession."
Phantom just nodded grimly, his eyes turned to the floor. Ember was mumbling, connecting the dots about his obsession. He wasn't going to stop her; he was surprised she hadn't figured it out before now. Actually he was surprised none of the other ghosts he fought had figured it out. If someone was in danger he always came running to save them.
"You need to protect people, don't you?" She whispered. Phantom stiffly nodded. She was the first ghost other than Clockwork to know his obsession. It was a strange feeling. She turned to face him, kneeling on the couch. She gently picked up his chin with her un-gloved hand and pulled his face around so their eyes met.
"Look, Phantom." Ember insisted "I know we don't get on usually, but that doesn't mean I want you ended. At the moment, your obsession is gonna be a saw point. There'll be some days when you can ignore it, others when it's all you can think about. That Clark guy insulting your obsession caused a hell-of-a-lot of damage. If you'd stayed in the Real World much longer..." Ember shivered. "Just, you need to be more careful with yourself."
Phantom nodded solemnly, fully appreciating what she was saying. He had felt it, and he never wanted to feel that again. Never before had his obsession meant such a big deal, but he guessed it was all a natural part of being ghostly.
"Now" Ember commented, her tone lightening dramatically as Phantom accepted her warning. "I have a problem. I know you'll be wanting to go back to the Real World, and you are well enough that I could let you go. Something tells me your human half needs food too. But I can't get you back there. I only found the last portal by chance, but it closed hours ago."
Phantom just smiled at her and stood up from the sofa, his legs finally reforming. "Thanks Ember. I have my own ways of getting home." Without further ado he opened a portal to the human world. He smiled slightly at the shocked look on Ember's face.
"Is that...?" Ember stammered, and Phantom nodded. "Clockwork, Babypop. Just how powerful are you?" Phantom rubbed the back of his neck shrugging. By now this was second nature to him, he hardly wasted any energy opening the portal and so he hadn't really thought of what it meant. That was something to think more about later. However, he was in a fairly chivalrous mood seeing as how Ember had not hesitated t welcome him into her home to help him recover.
"Would the fair lady like to accompany me into the Real World?" he offered, extending a hand to Ember. She nodded and took it, still shocked as Phantom helped ease her off the couch. The two of them walked through the portal. Phantom had opened it in the forest behind the farm, knowing there would be no one there to see the two ghosts come out. After a moment's indecision he extended the offer for Ember to explore for a bit, provided she didn't cause trouble he didn't mind her being in the Real World. He suggested they meet by Crater Lake later, knowing it was an easy landmark to find. From there he could send her home.
Brushing his hand past a few trees proved that he was still intangible, but he was going to pretend to be normal for as much as he was worth. He watched Ember's retreating form before beginning a slow walk back to the farmhouse. He wasn't sure he was ready to face anyone living, but it needed to be done.
Line Break
Clark sat in the kitchen with his mom; the two of them had shared a cup of tea together before either of them had asked about Danny. Clark was stunned when he found out that Danny hadn't been able to be tangible at all yesterday. It only worsened what Clark had said to him. Clark had been the last one to see him, Danny hadn't even returned home last night and both of them were worried. It wasn't like him to stay away from the farm unless he was on Patrol or fending off a ghost.
Clark heard the faint beating of a heart, and immediately picked it up as Danny's. The boy was apparently standing on the porch, although there'd been no sign of his approach. Clark walked over to the door and pulled it open. Danny stood there with one arm raised as if to knock on the door. Without even thinking Clark reached forward and hugged his cousin, giving him as much of an apology as he could as he ushered the boy inside.
Danny looked disoriented and slightly surprised. But then it settled to understanding. There was a deep forlorn look in his blue eyes, and he looked tired, fragile even. As if he was about to break in the slightest wind. Clark guided him into the kitchen and bustled about making him a hot chocolate. He poured his mom and himself another tea before taking a seat himself. His mom practically beamed as she saw Danny and moved to give him a hug, but she passed right through him.
Danny didn't seem surprised, but Clark was still confused. He didn't want to pressure his cousin though; Clark knew he owed him a serious apology he was about to speak, but Danny got there first. "I..." Danny stammered "I'm sorry for not coming home last night. I know I probably worried you, I didn't mean to, and I'm sorry." Martha smiled sadly at Danny.
"It's alright. You're here now." She consoled. She reached out for the tea that Clark had prepared for her, taking a sip and subtly nudging Clark.
"I'm sorry..." Clark began, hesitatingly as he didn't know what to apologise for first. "for what I said last night. I shouldn't have taken it out on you like that." Danny smiled sadly, a look of forgiveness in his eyes, as well as something deeper.
"It's... it's okay." Danny replied slowly "I know you didn't mean it. You didn't know." He shook his head and his hand reached absently to his heart. Clark frowned. Something told Clark there was something deeper going on.
"Where were you last night?" Clark heard his mom ask.
"I was..." Danny paused for a moment, sadness washing through his eyes. "I went to Amity Park Cemetery. I never got to say goodbye properly. I was there until dawn but then..." Danny trailed off. Clark felt a stab in his heart. In his anger he had accused Danny of not caring about his family, seeing the boy in front of him he knew how deeply that accusation had wounded him. "Then a friend came by and helped pick me up. I was with her 'till just recently." He finished
"You spent the whole night in a cemetery?" Clark's mom demanded and Danny shrunk in on himself. Clark felt terrible; it was his fault that Danny had been driven to that. His epiphany had come at an expensive price.
"Yeah," Danny admitted quietly "But I didn't really notice it. I just..." Clark went to rest his hand on Danny's shoulder, feeling the need to make it up to him. His mom frowned seeing this, but Danny had already guessed her question.
"I'm intangible to the human world, but I always have to focus to be intangible to Clark." Danny explained and Clark felt another weight on his chest. All day yesterday Danny had been a literal ghost to the world, and the one person who had touched him had just yelled at him before shoving him out of the way.
"I'm sorry" Clark apologised, putting as much sincerity as he could muster into it.
"It's okay." Danny shrugged with a weak smile. "It's okay, I'm here." He said more quietly. In a soft whisper that Clark barely heard he concluded "I wasn't ended." Clark's eyes widened. Hadn't Danny said that being ended was a ghost's version of dying? How had that happened?
"Clark, please calm down." Danny whimpered.
"You said you were almost... ended?" Clark cringed. Danny shrunk further into himself.
"It's nothing." Danny said, but Clark wasn't going to let him off that easily. He wanted to know what was wrong. "I'm a lot more like a ghost than I sometimes like to think." Danny said by way of explanation, but Clark still didn't understand.
"Please tell me Danny" Clark beseeched.
"You... you attacked my obsession Clark. And..." Danny's voice cracked as he came to a stop. Clark's eyes widened as he realised exactly what he'd done. When Danny had explained about ghosts all those months ago he'd made it sound like the obsession was a ghost's essence, their soul.
"I'm so sorry Danny." He apologised. There was a lot about ghosts and ghost culture that he didn't know. There was a lot about his cousin that was too complicated for him to understand. But what he did know was that his cousin was hurt and he was responsible. Yet somehow Danny was already shaking it off.
"It's fine, you didn't know. And I'd prefer you lashed out at me than someone who couldn't handle it." Danny shrugged. Clark was amazed at how forgiving his cousin could be. But then again, it could be Danny's own strange way of protecting Clark. Clark frowned, he wasn't sure if he deserved forgiveness. It was something that had to be earned, and Clark wanted to earn it. But perhaps what Danny needed the most now was a friend.
"So the friend you mentioned, were they from your old school?" Clark asked curious.
"No." Danny replied with a more genuine smile. "Actually she's a ghost. She found me in the cemetery, and explained a few things. I guess I just needed someone to talk to, and she was happy enough to listen." Clark noticed the change of mood, Danny seemed much happier now. He looked to his mom who sent him a comforting smile.
"I'm glad for you." Clark's mom comforted "Where did you meet her?"
"Actually," Danny said, embarrassedly looking down into his lap. "She and I never used to get on. The first time we met she was trying to control all the teenagers in town. But she was there for me, and I sort of know why she was. I think she wants to be a friend, and if I'm being selfish I want friends who can like me for me; Halfa and all."
Clark was confused at that admission, but let it slide, not wanting to offend or further hurt the young boy in front of him. "So what did she explain?" Clark asked curious. Danny looked a bit embarrassed.
"She explained why my powers are acting up. It... It'll settle down by my next deathday." Clark blinked that was... strange to say the least. It was odd to hear the casual mention of the term 'deathday', as if it was natural to talk about death like that. And it didn't seem like Danny was going to elaborate. Instead he got a curious look in his eye. He looked at the fruit bowl in the middle of the table.
Clark watched as an apple floated over to Danny and he caught it in his outstretched hand. He blinked and looked curiously at his cousin. "You can touch it?" Clark questioned.
"No" Danny replied shaking his head "It's all telekinesis. I just wanted to try the experiment. It's more like I'm making it move how the apple would move if I were holding it." Clark didn't understand, and he must have looked confused because Danny elaborated. "I can move stuff with my mind. By thinking the right way I can make it look like I'm touching things, interacting with the Real World without really touching anything."
That made more sense to Clark, and he was glad that his cousin seemed to be in a happier mood. He knew that things were a long way from being alright for all three of them. But he was determined to make things right. His cousin seemed to be doing better now, so he allowed himself to smile indulgently. One thing he was learning about living with the halfa was that life was never boring.
"Complicated?" Clark asked smiling, continuing their old running joke.
"Complicated." Danny answered with a smile that told Clark it was all going to be fine. Although there was a deeper, darker level to Danny's blue eyes that Clark couldn't fathom. Clark rustled his hair, only for Danny to scowl and teleport away. "Catch me if you can!" Danny teased, initiating a game of catch as the two of them raced out the door. There was still a lot of damage done that Clark had to make up for. He'd hurt the halfa deeply and he needed to make up for it. It was a testament to how good a person that Danny was that he was so willing to give Clark a second chance; and Clark was determined to earn it. He smiled as he chased after his cousin, the sun gently warming his back.
Clark could have sworn he heard his mom laugh, her soft voice asking the air "Oh Jonathan, what have we gotten ourselves into now?"
AN: Okay, there's another chapter, and that Smallville episode done. It was fun to write, but gosh was it emotionally heavy.
Hope Ember wasn't too OOC, but when you know her motivations, it kinda makes sense. In case it wasn't clear I figured that her obsession is to be wanted/remembered. Hence gaining power off people shouting her name.
At the end, Danny was trying to cheer Clark up. He's still not fully over it, none of them are. But Danny will always try to make the people around him happy.
I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed the last chapter, and I hope this feels like a suitable close to the story.
Jay: Thank you for the review on the last chapter, I'm glad you thought the fight felt human. That is what I was going for. The Danny I am working with is the original Danny from the series, plus about six months of different experience after season 2. He has had a lot of experiences that made him grow up fast. He's had a lot of ghost fights as a human and come up against a few human 'enemies' too (How he found out he could survive bullets). Besides that Danny is a very powerful ghost, and as he grows up his power grows too (To a point). But also, because his family died he put up emotional walls to protect himself, so he is also making himself seem more powerful than he really is (sorta like scared animals raising their fur to look bigger). So yes, he is Danny still (I hope) but he's lived a slightly different life than the Danny in the canon. Hope that explains a bit more to everyone who's curious.
Adieu till next time.
Bluerose