~ I Do Not Own Danny Phantom or the Teen Titans~

Chapter 17 ~ New Look

Danny's POV

I woke up to the sun shining in though the wall of windows. I laid on the bed for a few more moments, after having been woken, to make sure was completely awake before I got up and stretched. I glanced at the bedside clock and saw that it was only 9:34am. I sighed contently, now that I was fully awake, then walked out of the room and down to the living room.

I stepped inside when the doors swung open and I saw that all the Titans were already up and about. Beast Boy and Cyborg were playing a video game. Raven was floating in the air, cross legged, and reading a book. Robin was in the kitchen washing dishes and Starfire was floating around as if she were looking for something.

When the door swung open everyone froze and turned to look at me. I narrowed my eyes as them and just kept myself from snarling at them. Geez, does everyone have a staring problem this morning. I thought to myself.

I walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. I shivered, grossed out, when I saw that just about everything in there was covered in a weird, blue mold. I reached in and grabs something that WASN'T contaminated, that happened to be a red apple. I took it and walked over to the sink, Robin stepped aside so that I could wash the apple off.

I nodded my head in thanks to him. When I was 100% sure that there was nothing that could make me sick on it, I took a bite out of it and walked over to chairs at the counter. I sat down and I noticed that everyone was still staring at me, nervously.

I sighed into my half eaten apple and swallowed the bite in my mouth. "You know..." I began softly. "It's kinda rude stare." I said calmly rotating the apple in my hand as I studied it.

They all jumped at the sound of my voice and looked even more nervous. I raised an eyebrow as their particular behavior. I then realized why they were so nervous.

They were up something. I sighed and lowered my apple down some. "Alright." I said bitterly. "What are you all up to?"

Starfire approached me with a smile on her face. "'Not friend' Danny, We were all hoping to go shopping today to find you some new clothes." She said excitedly.

I glared at her. "And what happens to be wrong with the clothes I'm wearing now?"

Robin cleared his throat to get my attention. I looked over at him with a raised eyebrow. "Well, I guess I should answer you question with another question..." At my blank expression, he quickly continued. "How long have you been in those same clothes?"

My eyebrows creased when I realized what he was saying and I thought about it. "I..guess ever since I left home..." I said slowly.

Robin nodded as if he had been expecting that answer, which he probably was. "And just how many changes of clothes do you have?" he asked crossing his arms over his chest, staring at me calmly.

I hesitated again and looked down at the apple. "Just this." I said softly.

Robin nodded again, seeming proud that he was right about something. "And that is why we are taking you shopping. 1) Your clothes are probably VERY dirty. 2) They more than likely stink. and 3) Starfire insisted." He said that with a sigh.

Starfire grinned widely and her hands were clasped together in excitement. "So when you are finished with the eating of breakfast, we can all go out to the Mall of Shopping and find you some new clothes!"

I stared at her nervously and glanced at Robin. He smirked. "You wont be able to get out of this one. We all agree and Star will keep pestering you until you comply." He said looking highly amused.

I sighed in defeat. "I guess...I could use something new the wear." I said slowly.

Starfire squealed in delight and went to crush me in a hug, but before she could I quickly raised up my hand with ecto-energy covering it in a warning. I glared at her in spite. "Oh..." She said slowly as she back off a few steps, her eyes widening. "I forgot that you do not like the touching."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Damn strait." I growled out. "And don't try that again. Just be happy that I'm even agreeing to going shopping for clothes. I normally try to stay out of sight, in case someone recognizes me as the missing Fenton boy for Amity Park. Dead or Not"

Starfire's face was one of shock and hurt. She nodded slowly. "I understand. Please forgive me."

I sighed and took a deep breath to calm myself. Once I had control of my anger, I looked up to see the Titan's staring at me with mixed expressions ranging from shock(Cyborg), fear (Beast Boy), amusement (Raven), and irritation (Robin). I rubbed a hand on the back of my neck and looked back at the table. "No need to say your sorry. I just don't like being touched. It's okay to forget things...it's only human." I said softly.

Even without looking up I could tell that they excepted my apology, when the atmosphere relaxed somewhat and most of the tension melted away. I smiled softly and let my own body relax.

I looked down at my hand to see the half eaten apple still sitting in it. So I quickly finished i,t then got up, and threw the core away in the trash. I turned around and saw that the Titans had gotten back to what they were doing before I walked in. I looked down at my watch around my wrist and saw that it was already 10am. I hesitated then turned at looked at Starfire nervously.

"So...when were you wanting to head out?" I asked softly, still not sure with going out into public.

Starfire's green eyes brightened and she ran, or flew, up to me and grinned. "Whenever 'not friend' Danny wishes to go."

I mentally groaned in agony. "Might as well get it over with now." I said miserably. She yelled in excitement and she turned and flew to the door and out of the living into the hallway at high speeds. "Who the hell gave her sugar?" I asked with a raised eyebrow at Robin.

Robin shrugged and smiled softly. "She's always like that."

I looked at him with a bit of fear. "Then I'd hate to see what she's like when she IS on sugar." I stated glancing nervously at the door in which Starfire had vanished through.

Robin laughed and shook his head. "Trust me. You don't want to." I smiled softly and shook my head slowly. "I guess we had better catch up with her huh?"

I nodded and morphed into my ghost half. "Yeah. I don't quite know my way around the city yet."

When all the Titan's got up and walked out the door to go find Starfire, I trailed behind them smiling in my head. They are like one big family. I thought wistfully, missing my own. I quickly sobered at the thought of my long dead family and friends. I watched from behind as the Titan's all laughed at each other and and shared jokes and thoughts. I remembered when Sam, Tucker and I would do things like that. Carefree and always happy.

But all that changed because of a damned explosion. It took everything away from me. All that happiness, love, and hope...obliterated. I closed my eyes and shook the thoughts out of my head. They were gone, I need to get past them.

But it was so hard to do. I think the death that impacted me the most...was Sam's. To be honest I was planning on asking her to be my girlfriend that very same day too. But that is now all a dream. I opened my eyes and looked up at the sky as we walked out of the Tower. The sky was clear and only a few fluffy white clouds were floating in the air.

"Hey, Danny? You okay man?" I heard a voice ask me, snapping me out of my thoughts. I turned to see Cyborg and the other Titan's looking at me with worry and confusion. I must have really spaced out.

I managed a weak grin at him. "Yeah. I'm fine, I was just thinking that all."

Cyborg looked a bit doubtful but he nodded anyway. "Well alright, But were getting ready to head out now."

I nodded and floated myself off the ground a few feet. "Alrighty then. Let get a move on."

They all nodded and smiled. Starfire, whom was practically bouncing off the wall with excitement, grabbed hold of Robin and they took to the air. Beast Boy shifted into the form of a Pterodactyl and grabbed Cyborg by the shoulders and took off after Starfire and Robin. I glanced at Raven who was watching me intently. I blinked in confused at her.

"You okay Raven?" I asked as I floated a few feet high.

Raven blinked, looking as if I had brought her out of a trance. "Uh, Yeah I'm fine." She said then took the air as well. I watched her with deep confusion. Her expression made me think that she was hiding something. I quickly shrugged it off and followed after the Titans.

When we came over the city I quickly turned invisible. I saw Raven glanced over at me, or in my direction, with confusion.

I floated over next to her. "I don't want to ruin your heroic reputation by letting you all be seen flying peacefully with a criminal." I said simply.

Raven nodded slowly in understanding.

We arrived the the mall a few moments later and landed in front of it. I phased into the building and into a bathroom, still invisible. When I checked to make sure the restroom was empty I changed back into my human form and walked out into the hall to meet up with the Titans.

Star quickly ran into a store and we all followed her. I stared looking through racks of clothes. After about a few moments I held a few white long sleave shirt with a blue oval the center of the chest, several pair of black jeans, a black belt with a circular ice blue colored stone buckle, and a black jacket with a hood.

Starfire practically threw me into the changing room to try on the new outfit. Quickly changing into and looked at my reflection. My eyes widened slightly. I looked a lot different in these new clothes than my old ones. I glanced at my old clothes that were sitting on the bench then back at the new ones. Man my old clothes look liked crap. I sighed then smiled. Guess this mean I also have to change my ghost outfit as well. Now that people know what it looks like, I need to change it...again.

Over he past year that I had been running and hiding, I have gone through 3 different costumes, trying to hide.

I stared at my refection for several minutes, the I slowly lifted one of my hands and moved my hair out of my face. I stared at the 4 inch long star that sliced across my right eye. I traced it gently with my fingers as I looked at it for the first time, in a really long time. I had mainly grown out my hair so that other people and myself could not see it. In my mind, it was a reminder of what happened. To me it was hideous. I hated having to look at it and know what I had lost to gain this.

I stopped in my ministration to the scar and shifted my hand, letting my hair fall back into place. I stared a moment longer at my refection before my eyes zero'd in on another excesory of mine.

My necklace. The ring that I have given Sam to hold onto for me, was still on the chain around my neck. I smiled gently at it and reached up to touch it.

"Come'on Danny! Let see what it looks like on you!" Came Starfires voice from outside the dressing room. I jumped slightly, and dropping my hand back to my side, I turned my back to the mirror and stepped out of the dressing room so the Titans could see the new outfit.

Starfire was bouncing up in down with joy her hands clasped together. Robin nodded, apparently pleased with my new look. Beast boy grinned and gave me a thumbs up. Raven was...well silent and just staring blankly. Like she normally does.

Cyborg whistled low and smiled. "Now thats what I call and extreme make over. Now all that need to be done is the Hair on-"

"No." I cut him of bitterly. "My hair stays." I said glaring at him.

Cyborg quickly put his hands up in a sign of surrender. "Alright, Alright. Don't bite my head off, please."

I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck. "Sorry. It's just, I grew out my hair for a reason, and I don't plan on changing it." I explained softly.

Cyborg nodded in understanding. "Your talking about the scar, airn't you."

I nodded slowly in answer.

Cyborg smiled and gently placed a hand on my shoulder, causing me to flinch away from it. He quickly pulled his hand back and smiled sheepishly. "Oops, sorry forgot. But anyway, Danny. I understand that you are trying to hide the scar from the world...but it isn't going to make it go away."

I looked up at him and blinked. "I know...I just don't like to look at it...and I hate it when other people stare at it. It's...unnerving in a way. It makes me feel ashamed." I said softly and looked at the ground.

Cyborg sighed and I saw him shift his feet slightly, as if he were uncomfortable. "Yeah, I understand. When I became half robot, I was always trying to hide it as well. I was ashamed and I was afraid on how people might treat me. Just for being different. But I over came what other people thought of me. Besides, there is an old saying that I fallow. 'Those who care don't matter, and those who matter don't care'."

I looked up at Cyborg for a moment, and a small smile broke across my face. "I see what you mean. And that is a very wise saying to go by." I said honestly.

Cyborg nodded with a warm smile on his face. "Yeah. As long as I have friends who like me for who I am, then I have nothing for be worried about."

I smiled softly and nodded. "Alright...well I'm going to go and get back in and get changed so we can buy these clothes." I said as I turned around and walked back into the stall. I looked back at my refection one last time before I got back into my original outfit. I came back out with the new clothes in my arms and walked up to the counter and waited while the casher rang up everything.

Once they bought the clothes I went into the next restroom and got changed. I came back out and threw my old clothes in the trash, no longer seeing any reason to keep them. I meet back up with the Titan's in the food court.

As I walked down the hallway I could feel the eyes of just about everyone in the room. The girls were staring at me with dreamy eyes and the boys were all glaring at me for drawing their girlfriends attention away from them. But even so, all the eyes on me were unnerving me greatly. Fear of being found was racing through my veins like a high speed race car. I came up to the Titans and glanced around nervously seeing that most of the girls in the food court were now staring at me with heart in their eyes.

I shivered and looked away.

The Titan's all laughed. They all walked over to a Pizza food place and got themselves a few pizza's. Then they turned to and empty table and sat down. I joined them hesitantly.

Cyborg smirked at me teasingly. "Man, all the girl in this room are practically drooling over you."

"Dude! Thats so not cool!" Beast Boy exclaimed looking offended. "What about me? I have good looks too!" He turned to a group of girls and gave them the 'eyebrow'. The girls glared at him, then huffed and walked away. "Aww man!" He said with a defeated look. "How is that Danny get all the girls?" He mumbled.

I sighed softly, I grabbed my own slice of pizza once everyone else got one, and leaned back in my chair. "I don't want all these attention. And I have no interest in any of the girls around here." I said softly my gaze on the table as I took a bite out of my pizza.

The Titan's all stared at me blankly.

"So...your gay then?" Robin asked slowly

I almost chocked on my bite of pizza. My gaze snapped up to his. "No, I'm not gay. I'm just not looking for love anymore."

He nodded. "Why not? Did you ever love somebody before ?" he asked.

I glanced around the table to see that they were all staring at me waiting for my answer. I looked back at the Table sadly. "Yes. I did."

Robin raised and eyebrow and smiled. "Mind telling us who the lucky girl is?"

Cyborg quickly cut in. "'Did'." he asked slowly. "Past tense."

Robin looked shocked as he stared at me. "What happened to change your mind about her."

I shook my head placing my slice of food back down on the table, only one bite taken out of it. "I never changed my mind. I still love her. It's just...she's dead."

The Titans all looked at me shocked and guilty for bring the subject up. "Sorry." Cyborg said softly. "We had no idea."

I shook my head. "It's fine, don't worry about it."

Beast Boy quickly cut it. "So...umm, how about we all go and do something else?" He asked nervously looking like he was trying hard to fins something to change the subject with.

That reminded me. "Yeah...I have a favor I want to ask of you, almost like what we were just doing."

Robin raised an eyebrow. "Fire away."

I smiled softly. "I wish to change Phantom's outfit as well." When they all stared at me surprised I quickly continued. "Seeing as how the world now knows what his new outfit looks like I wish to change it again so that no one will recognize me. When ever I was on the run and my new outfits got exposed, I would normally change it again to try and hide." I explained.

"Ohh. I see what you mean." Robin said slowly. "Well... If you can give of a design we can get it made for you."

I smiled thankfully at him. "Thanks...And I already have a new costume in mind..."

~ There is Chapter 17. Not much action, but It will be come Soon. Within the next 5 chapters at the most. lol. Well see you all next week for my next chapter. TA!

Rej aka TigerWolf1103~