If I restart Danny Phantom I guess I'd own it then

How on Earth were they going to get through English today? Edward Lancer rubbed at his eyes and glanced at the clock almost as relieved as his students to see that the period was just about over. As a teacher in the most haunted school in the most haunted town in the nation, Lancer had seen some strange things but ghosts had nothing on teenagers. Try as he might, getting through Tennyson's Ulysses was absolutely impossible what with everyone hovering over Danny Fenton of all people, not that given the circumstances Edward Lancer really blamed them. After all, it wasn't every day that the quiet boy in the class, the one no one paid attention to lest to mock, the most baffling, confusing student he had ever taught, would end up a veritable hero.

The boy of the hour seemed unduly uncomfortable with all the attention being directed his way which was in itself unusual for a 15 year old. Most teenagers would be soaking up the attention, shamelessly exploiting the fleeting fame while it lasted. Perhaps if Danny were grinning and gloating like Lancer had expected then he too wouldn't be sneaking quick glances at the young man over his poetry book. He tells himself he only does it to check in and make sure the other students aren't goading the boy too much but another part knows he's trying to see the hero burning within the mild-mannered student. Danny had always been a complex individual, but of all the things he had expected, heroism was not one of them. The bell rings not a second too soon signaling not only the end of sophomore English but also the end of the regular school day.

Most of the class was gone within moments of the bell ringing while a few stragglers ended up gravitating towards Mr. Fenton's desk. The boy merely gave them an exasperated glance that looked far too cynical for a young man's face before continuing to pack up his things. Edward slammed his book shut causing the few remaining students to flinch.

"You are dismissed; now I believe Mr. Fenton could do with some breathing room wouldn't you say?" He replied testily watching as the rest of the class departed all except for the aforementioned hero. Once the last of the teens had exited, a terribly wearied expression appeared on Danny's face as he let himself sink down into his chair and quietly exhale. Now Lancer knew the myriad sounds of teenage angst well, could pinpoint whether a young person's moan was sarcastic or frustrated or wistful. But this, this was not the sound of a tired young man but of something much, much deeper. He couldn't even find a way to describe it, the closest he got was the sounds his granddad used to make when talking about his experiences during the war.

"Daniel?" He asked quietly as he took a tentative step towards the boy who merely popped open a eye to glance at him. Though he didn't move, Lancer sensed the boy was putting himself back together, reasserting the illusion the Danny Fenton was uninteresting and unimportant, but for just a brief moment, Mr. Lancer saw just how deep Danny's eyes were and it terrified him. "Danny, are you alright? You seem..." Disheartened? Melancholic? Weighed down by some insurmountable force? "Tired," he finished lamely. A cheeky grin that did little to guise his weariness, now that Edward was actually looking for it, appeared on Danny's face as he reluctantly sat himself upright.

"Yeah, I'm fine Mr. Lancer," he said stretching his arms over his head. "It's just been kind of an exhausting day, I never realized how annoying all this attention was. I don't understand why people want it so bad." Mr. Lancer raised a curious eyebrow, now that was something he thought he'd never hear from a highschooler's mouth.

"Oh?" He asked mildly while Danny continued on as if he hadn't said anything strange.

"I mean aside from the fact that the attention is all fake, coming from people who don't know or care about me and will go back to ignoring me in a week, I just don't get it. Yes, I saved some people from a fire but it's not like I leapt a building in a single bound or anything. I feel like all this attention is undeserved, I mean, I just did what anyone else would do, right?" Danny replied with a shrug and a shy smile as if he didn't just demonstrate wisdom and emotional maturity well beyond his years. As if the hero, that had apparently always been there, hadn't been shining in his eyes. Mr. Lancer smiled warmly and set a hand on the young man's shoulder.

"True Daniel, you may not be some kind of ghostly hero but that does not make your actions yesterday any less heroic." Danny took that moment to fumble and start coughing awkwardly into his fist. Mr. Lancer pulled his hands back with an affectionate eye roll. Somethings, he supposed, would always remain the same and that was probably for the best. Anything to keep that haunted look out of young Daniel's eyes.

"Well now Danny, unless you plan on saving me from grading a pile of essays, I think you are allowed to leave. Most of the students have already left so I don't believe you can worry about being harassed for today." Lancer's warm smile dropped a bit as he thought of that mournful sigh Danny had given not too long before. He continued on in a softer voice. "You know Danny, if people are still giving you a hard time, you can always come talk to me. I know you kids like to think I'm out to get you or something but I want to help Danny. You can talk about anything on your mind and I promise it will stay between the two of us."

Danny, who had been in the process of arranging his things and putting them away in his backpack, looked back up with that same sharp, burdened expression. It was almost accusatory, if Lancer were to be dramatic, as if those normally soft baby blues were telling him that he couldn't handle the things Danny had to say. Of course the moment quickly passed and Lancer wrote it off as a strange, uncomfortable feeling as Danny smiled.

"Yeah, okay, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks." With another lethargic stretch, Danny sat up tossing his backpack over one shoulder. "Hopefully this will all die down soon enough, it's been so tough to change with people surrounding me 24/7."

"Change?" Lancer asked incredulously as he walked back to his desk.

Danny chuckled nervously and turned out his pockets as he shuffled towards the now empty hallway. "Sorry, no change on me today. Spent it all at the arcade yesterday." Danny replied in a slightly-too-high voice that was, of course, incredibly suspicious but he'd let it slide for now. Lord of the Flies knows the kid has had enough scrutiny for one day.

"Well then Mr. Hero, have a good rest of your day." Danny smiled, again it wasn't entirely innocent or burden free but it was a genuine smile none the less. He waved one last time as he disappeared outside the classroom.

"Bye Mr. Lancer, see you around." Edward stared at the spot his student had just occupied with suspicious curiosity. Try though he may to deny it was clear there was more to Daniel Fenton than he was letting on. But boys were allowed their secrets and Lancer wouldn't pry unless he felt the boy's life was in danger. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to keep an eye on the young hero.

"Yes Mr. Fenton, I'll be seeing you."

Ha! I bet after the long wait for the last update you thought I'd take forever, huh? Well in a completely rare occurrence I sat myself down, said I was going to write and it actually happened! It helped I had it mostly planned out ahead of time. I'll do one final sort of wrap-up chapter that I sort of know what I'm going to say. Gosh I just need to find more time! I'll get that out as soon as I can, thanks again for all your support. Glad to know the DP community is still up and running!