::
"For the last time, Mr. Weston, I am not accepting your assignments when all of them revolve around 'unmasking' Phantom. If you want to create an essay detailing ways in which you think Phantom is masquerading as a human in the school in French, then I'll accept it in French class. Not Creative Writing." Honestly, the child didn't even have any idea which student it was, just that Phantom was a 'high school student'.
"Now, if we're through with interruptions, then please take out your notebooks. I have a few warm-up exercises I want you to try-" The high, sharp sound of glass shattering had Andrew throwing a shield up around the students before he was even aware of the action, eyes wide as he saw Danny tumble into the classroom through the window. He wasn't sure if him being in his ghost form made the situation better or worse. "Evac?"
It took a moment before Danny was groaning and trying to push himself up, Andrew dropping the shield and flying over at once to help him. "Guys-in-White. Non-threat."
"To them, perhaps. You? Not so much." Danny needed to change back before the scanners found him, but that was a little hard when he had just crashed into a class in session. "How far?" A loud bang sounded from the front of the school. Looking around, Andrew swore quietly to himself as he shoved Danny under his desk. "Suppress your signature, stay there and do not move."
"Andy-" Covering Danny's mouth, Andrew pushed him further under the desk. It was only a moment before he broke, clutching Andrew's hand and pulling it away to speak quietly. "Don't do anything stupid."
"Of course not. I leave that up to you." Giving him a quick kiss, Andrew pushed his desk chair over to hide Danny as best he could, a flick of his hand directing his powers to take care of the broken glass and window.
Sensitive ears caught the sound of quickly approaching humans with some rather dangerous equipment. Smirking, Andrew silently held a finger to his lips as he looked to his class. "Not a word." Turning to the board, Andrew began writing as he spoke. "These warm-ups should help you get loose to allow your ideas to flow, instead of stifling them-"
This time he was cut off by the door being kicked open, Andrew making sure to flinch an appropriate amount as he fumbled with his marker. Turning around - clumsily, he made sure - he let his eyes widen at seeing the two agents standing in the doorway. "Ghost. You're coming with us."
"Wha- On what grounds! You're the ones bursting into my class with guns!" Andrew let his mouth click shut as one of said guns was leveled at him, trying to keep his body tense as he took a stumbling step back.
"Amity Park is a ghost-free zone since the 1920s. Any ghost caught on this land is in violation of the law and must be taken in for relocation." Relocation. More like experimentation.
"That law was abolished two years ago! In court, mind you." Surprisingly enough, it had been Plasmius who overturned the law, once he managed to prove a great majority of the ghosts were peaceful. "Yet here you are breaking into a school with weapons and holding a teacher at gunpoint." When the agents glanced to the students, Andrew took the chance to give the class a wink and quick smirk. No need to frighten them too badly in this little game. "Ask the school if you don't wish to believe me, but I am employed with full credentials."
"Save it, ghost, we didn't even come here for you. We're here for the ghost that's hiding under your signature." Damn. Andrew supposed it had been too much to hope Danny had been quick enough to get off the radar. "And this one we can hunt freely, since it's shown to be a public menace and threat."
"Hey! Phantom isn't a threat!" Oh, no, no. The last thing Andrew needed was a room full of wildcards. "He's the town hero and-"
"It's a monster that's deceiving you, and you would do better to learn that now instead of regretting it later." The agent hadn't even taken a full step forward before Andrew was in front of him, forcing him to take a step back instead.
"I will not have you threatening my students. Now leave, before I am forced to call in the authorities. No doubt you organization is already on shaky ground with those trifling legalities you manage to constantly ignore." It was a fight to shake in fear at the gun that was pressed under his chin. He so badly wanted to reach for his knives. Just one knife. One would be all that was needed…
"Watch yourself, ghost. You and your kind will come to an end soon enough, but fine. You want to play? We'll be sure to pay you a visit later." Keeping his gaze to the ground, Andrew let his body shake until he was certain they were halfway down the hall, door slammed shut behind them.
"Despicable filth." Brushing himself off, Andrew threw his marker in the air, devoting a portion of his attention to his powers using it to write on the board. "Write at least three prompts. Fifteen minutes to be handed in at the end of the session. It's an exercise so it doesn't have to be polished or completed, just have something shown."
Seeing at least five hands dart up, Andrew sighed and shook his head. "I'll… I'll explain and answer your questions in fifteen minutes. For now do your work." He didn't wait to see if they would comply, instead walking over to his desk and pulling the chair out. Bending down, Andrew sighed as he saw Danny pressed up and tucked against a corner. "How bad?"
"You're never this hard on our class, you know. Now I see why the students both admire and fear you." Breathing still seemed a bit off, but Andrew could contribute that to hysterics. The Guys-in-White had started as a joke but… They had certainly become a threat along the way. "They didn't get any good hits in."
"Meaning they still managed to get some in." Reaching under the desk, Andrew pulled Danny more into the light, noticing the wince at once. "Where."
"Along my back. Snuck up on me. Burns, but I don't think I'm bleeding." Which meant he still could be and just wasn't aware of it. "They don't hurt that badly."
"Now is a very poor time to lie to me, mon cher." Not when he was so wound up and he had a knife. He had multiple, he always did. It wouldn't take much to catch up to them. To pin them down and force his blades into them and just a few good minutes-
"It hurts." It took effort to hear Danny's voice, quiet as it was. "It hurts but I've had worse. I'll be okay, Andy, I promise." Still shaking, and the fact that stubborn Danny hadn't been able to even hide his wince…
"Come on, mon cher. You're going home and I'm having Randy look after you." Not giving the teen a chance to protest, Andrew pulled him out completely and picked him up. No tail… "Legs?"
"Left thigh." At least the teen knew it was pointless to argue, Danny letting himself be gently set down on Andrew's desk. "I also banged my wrist a little when coming in through the window, but I swear that's it."
"That you know of," Andrew muttered, tangling a hand in Danny's hair, free hand fiddling with his phone. A quick description of everything - as detailed as he could get it - and Randy was shooting back a short message of being on his way.
"You really don't need to have Randy come get me. I'll be fine in a few hours. I mean, it's just a few scrapes!"
"From guns designed to hurt ghosts." It was a bit amusing at how half the class jumped at Randy's sudden appearance, Danny doing nothing but groaning. "Yeah, yeah, complain all you want."
"Back, left thigh, wrist, possible cuts from crashing into my classroom through a window. A closed window," Andrew emphasized at Randy's forming grin. "He takes after you."
"I choose to take that as a compliment. Alright, come on, petit mec." Randy had one of his bubble shields around Danny before anything else, the teen giving Andrew the most betrayed expression he could. "Let's get you patched up."
"I'll see you after school." Alright, Andrew may have taken a bit too much enjoyment out of Danny's offended expression. Although any smile he had dropped as the two disappeared and left him with a classroom full of curious teenagers. "You better have those prompts finished."
::
"I really am fine, you know." Danny didn't even know why he was trying. If there was anyone worse than Jazz and Andrew when it came to worrying over him, it was Randy. "It's not like I'm bleeding-"
"No, you just had your skin burned by weapons designed to destroy creatures made of ectoplasm. If anything, that's worse for you because your structure is still half-human." Squeaking as the bubble shield disappeared and he was suddenly dropped, Danny blinked at realizing it was in Randy's nest of a den in his own lair. "Suit off."
"Guess you and Andy really do share well." Screw it, if Danny was going down, then he was taking Randy with him. Unfortunately, he forgot for a moment that his shy and dorky Randy was also worse than Andrew when he got in the mindset for it.
"Oh, my sweet." Fingertips rested under his chin and tilted his head up, the words a soft croon that wrapped around him. "You have no idea." A hand slipped around to cup the back of his neck, touch slipping just below the collar of his jumpsuit. "If you really aren't hurt, though…" The touch slipped lower, Danny's breath hitching and catching in his throat before he was shivering as his suit was phased off of him entirely. "Then you won't mind me checking just to make sure."
Oh. That… That was mean. That was just… "You're not good for my heart." Huffing at the small pat to his cheek, Danny stuck his tongue out and watched as Randy teleported a few things to the bed.
"I'm rarely good for anyone's heart, petit mec. Now, show me where it hurts the most." Realizing he wasn't going to be getting out of it, Danny sighed and shifted to where his back was to Randy, head and shoulders tilted down so he could see better. A sharp breath and a hiss of a swear told him all he needed to know.
"That bad, huh?" Maybe he should thank Andrew for sending him home early, because even with how good he was at blocking out pain, this was starting to get to him. He could only imagine how worse it would be if he had shifted back. "How long should I stay in ghost form?"
"Until Andrew gets home, at the least." There were quiet sounds that drifted up after a moment. Randy shifting on the bed, the snap of something being opened - the first-aid kit, probably. The crinkling of plastic and soft ting of jars being knocked against each other. "Right, lucky for you I know my poisons and antidotes. I have some burn salve here I made from some Ghost Zone flowers so that should speed along your recovery-"
"What the hell how do you keep getting cooler?" It was a struggle to not turn around and glare because, no. It was unfair for Randy to be this cool. "That's not fair, Randy. Stop being cool."
"I can't stop being who I am." Ugh, the jerk. Danny wanted to keep him for… Well. For forever. "This might sting a little."
"I was just shot by the Dicks-in-White, I think I can handle a little-" Danny's words were forcibly cut short with his own whimper, hands darting to find something to grasp onto. He ended up finding Randy's arm, which had wrapped around his waist in order to pull him into his lap so he could more easily work on his back.
"Ssh, it's alright, Danny, it's alright. I've got you." Randy's words were soft and compelling, Danny forced to focus on them instead of the pain. "That's right. See? You'll be okay. You always are, mon petit héros."
Danny wasn't sure how long it was until the pain finally dulled to a haze instead of a roar. He was vaguely aware of Randy wrapping up his back with bandages - must have been really bad, then. "I hate your burn salve."
"Rapid healing at the sacrifice of extreme pain." Randy sounded apologetic, tucking Danny close before kissing his cheek. It was an action that should not have had Danny blushing as badly as he knew he was. "I wouldn't have used it in normal circumstances, but… It was bad, Danny."
"Their weapons are getting better, then." Feeling his hurt wrist taken, Danny glanced down to see Randy's left arm was still around him, his right hand feeling around the area for anything broken. Danny didn't bother hiding his wince or small hiss. "There- That. Ow."
"Not broken, at least. Don't even think it's sprained, you just really jostled it when landing." Randy gently let Danny's wrist go before giving him a small nudge. "Alright, let me see your thigh."
"What?" Oh. Okay. Voice crack. That was a thing- . "I mean- Um, okay? No- What?" Danny was pretty sure he was blushing, and it probably got worse when Randy buried his face against Danny's neck to hide laughter. "Shut up!"
"Easy, petit mec. Andy said you got hit there, too. Did you?" Oh. Right. Shifting and squirming - and doing his best to not stretch his back - Danny managed to get turned around in Randy's lap until he was sitting sideways, left leg hooked over the man's own. "Comfy?"
"I am. You Riters are very fluffy, after all," Danny smirked, poking at Randy's stomach and laughing at the unimpressed look he was given. "If it helps, Andy's more so than you are."
"That's because I stayed active after the Sect. Andy shut himself away in a library all those years and let himself go. Stay still, okay? I don't want to hurt you if the burn is too bad." With that, gentle hands were shifting and moving Danny until Randy could see the burn that was on the inside of his thigh and this was really the wrong time for Danny to be aware of the fact he was wearing nothing but a pair of boxers.
"Worse or better than the back?" Fingertips were prodding and skimming across the skin, Danny closing his eyes before realizing that made it so much worse.
"Um, better? I mean, it doesn't hurt as much, at least."
"That's not always a good thing." With his eyes closed, Danny realized just how tightly pressed against Randy he was, and how much bare skin of his was being touched and oh, god. He was going to hell, wasn't he? "Easy, Danny. Just relax."
"That is so not helping me relax." That was making him unrelax. By a very large amount. It was made worse by the fact his thighs were a sensitive area to begin with. "Is this going to hurt as much as the back?"
"Not nearly as much. The burn isn't too bad, looks like it skimmed you instead of a full hit, like on your back." Cracking his eyes open, Danny watched as Randy moved to grab a small jar of faintly glowing salve, unscrewing the lid and getting a good amount before moving to rub it against the inside of his thigh.
It was upsetting how Danny couldn't hide his squeak at the shock of cold, especially considering the cold was his thing. "Not one word." As requested Randy stayed silent, although his did let slip a few chuckles as he tightened his arm around Danny for a moment. "You're being unbearably cruel today, you know."
"I guess this is my own little form of revenge." Over what- Ooh. Okay. Danny might have tormented Andrew and Randy equally with his new glasses a few days ago, but in his defense, Andrew had made good on those 'threats' that day in the school halls. "Lucky for you I'm not as cruel as Andy."
"Very lucky," Danny agreed, hissing when he felt the salve start to work. Which meant a fierce burning pain all along his leg, only soothed as Randy gently rubbed against the spot, working the salve in deeper. "I don't know if I hate your salves or love them."
"Trust me, many feel the same." The two were quiet for a moment, Danny trying to focus on anything besides the pain and Randy when he heard the other speak again. "The Guys-in-White are getting more dangerous."
"Yeah… Yeah, they are." Something would have to be done about them. They were a threat to the ghosts and even the other ghost hunters. "Think there's a way we can deal with them?"
"Maybe. For now let's just avoid them for a while. Let the other ghosts and hunters know and just keep our distance." Nodding, Danny yawned as the pain started to fade for Randy's soothing ministrations, the hand wrapped around him tracing gentle circles on his hip. "Go ahead and take a nap, petit mec. You need the rest."
"Mm." This felt… He had curled up with Randy when asleep before, but right now felt different. The air was thicker, and there was something there that felt like it could snap at any moment. "You'll stay here, right?"
This time, when lips brushed against his cheek, Danny arched into the touch instead of getting the urge to flinch away. "For as long as you want me."
"Forever."