Chapter Thirty-Six: Identity

"So…the clothes?" Vlad gestured to his outfit as they sat in the hotel room on chairs facing each other.

"Valerie thought the suit was too gloomy." Dan handed over the bag. "Here's the suit. Also, is there a way you could make the ecto-dampener something less…" He struggled for the proper word.

"Medieval?" Vlad offered.

"Yeah. Something other than a cloak?" Dan continued.

"Hmm…" Vlad looked thoughtful. "Well, looking at the rest of your outfit, a bracelet might be good. I'll get started on it when we get home, after your training session with Plasmius. Or…" He nodded. "I'll have you train with a clone. That will give me time to work on your ecto-dampener's new design and you'll be able to do your training sessions."

Dan nodded. "Alright."

"I'd like you to do your training in your usual outfit, Phantom." Vlad looked at him. "The human clothes won't recover from wounds like your hazmat suit will."

"I understand." Dan nodded. "It's a good look though, right?" He grinned, pulling one knee up to his chest and lacing his hands around it, leaning back against the arm of the chair.

Vlad stared, then coughed softly. "Yes, it is a nice look. Let's not destroy it by sessions with Plasmius."

"Got it." Dan nodded. "Anything else you want to address before we sleep?"

"Yes." Vlad sighed. "What was that about earlier? Have you been flirting with Valerie?"

"Can't help it if she thinks I'm hot." Dan shrugged.

"And if she finds out who you are?" Vlad asked.

"She won't." Dan said firmly. "That's the point of asking for a new ecto-dampener design."

"So, you want to pursue this relationship." Vlad said, looking amused by it.

"I want to continue to experience a human life." Dan replied. "Valerie has shown a clear interest in me, so I figure that it would be a good idea to pursue it."

"And you get to see Danny's friends more." Vlad nodded. "I should warn you, at least one of them has figured out who you are."

"Which one?" Dan asked.

"Samantha. That's what she wanted to talk to me alone about. Apparently Daniel's last wish to her was for her and Tucker to free you from captivity and she was relieved to hear that you were safe and relatively happy." Vlad said calmly.

Dan nodded. "I figured she would. Tucker most likely does, too." He got up and stretched. "Well, I doubt they'll give away my secret. They might even help cover it up if something slips."

"Jack was wondering where Phantom was. You might want to make some kind of appearance, so he'll stop worrying that the Guys in White got you or something. At least show your face in the Ghost Zone so the ghosts stop asking where you are." Vlad got up, undoing his tie and unbuttoning his shirt. Noticing Dan's grin he shook his head. "Not tonight, Phantom. We're going to sleep."

"Darn." Dan took off his jewelry and set them on the bedside table, changing into pajamas. "You're no fun, Vlad."

"You can play with Plasmius tomorrow, while I make you that ecto-dampener bracelet." Vlad replied, finishing with changing into his own pajamas and climbing into bed. "Sleep well, little badger."

The next morning, Dan changed into one of his suits and went with Vlad to the airport. "Don't see why we can't just fly ourselves." Dan mumbled.

"Because I'm not leaving my private plane here." Vlad replied, gesturing for him to get inside, then paused. "You're not going to say good-bye to your friends?" He gestured to figures running up to the plane.

"I think I need a cell phone." Dan said, turning and walking down the steps to them. "I didn't think you'd make it."

"Well—we—almost—didn't." Tucker said, panting for breath. "Why—you—leavin'—so—early?"

"We have a long flight. Godfather wants to get home before night falls." Dan replied, then looked at Valerie and Sam. "Sorry I have to leave already."

"It's fine." Sam nodded. "Just have a safe flight, and be sure to write."

Dan nodded, then turned to Valerie. "You left before I could do anything."

She blushed, glancing away. "Yeah…"

Dan moved closer and kissed her cheek. "I'll visit again, and I'm sure you know where I live."

Valerie nodded. "I'll ask Mr. Masters if I can visit, before coming over. I know he's a busy man."

Dan nodded, gently brushing her cheek and arm with his hand before walking off to the private plane. As he sat down in his window seat, he saw them enthusiastically waving before being ushered away by airport staff.

"That was interesting to watch." Vlad commented, sitting down across from him. "So, it seems you've invited her to come see you. I see I will be buying a lot of red hair-dye."

Dan shrugged. "Sorry."

"No, it's fine." Vlad sighed softly. "Anything for you, my dear boy." He reached out and took Dan's hand, smiling softly. "I just want to see you happy."

"Thanks, Vlad." Dan smiled.

Vlad nodded, pulling out a notepad to start making notes. "It'd have to match the rest of your silly outside. No, it really should just go with anything. We'd have to alter it slightly when your body grew and powers increased…Hm, but I wonder if we could…" He faded off, the rest lost in his thoughts.

"Could what?" Dan blinked.

"I wonder if we could allow you to change between appearances with the dampener, sort of like when you used to change into Danny. An artificial human half." Vlad explained.

"The red-haired Dan and the white-haired Dan Phantom?" Dan raised an eyebrow.

"It could work. Especially since you want to be active in both roles." Vlad nodded.

"I'm not going to be Dan Phantom in Amity Park." Dan said firmly.

"You don't have to, and this is just an idea." Vlad replied.

Dan shrugged. "Well, we'll figure it out."

Vlad nodded.

"See you later, Val." Tucker waved before he and Sam left the front of her house, walking down the sidewalk. "…That was just odd. Last night. And this morning. I mean…"

"Yeah." Sam nodded. "I have NEVER seen him be flirty like that."

"Did losing Danny also make him lose his common sense?" He hissed quietly. "How often has she shot at him?!"

"Well, to be fair, he's also living with Plasmius." Sam reminded him.

Tucker stopped short. "Phantom has lost it. He's really lost it." He breathed. "And now Valerie is head-over-heels for him."

"And we're going to keep his secret, just like we've been doing for Danny." Sam said firmly.

"Yeah, duh! Doesn't mean he's any less nuts!" Tucker threw his hands into the air. "He's NUTS!"

"Tucker, shh!" Sam covered his mouth.

"Sorry." Tucker lowered his voice again. "I just…this is worse than with Danny, since all he has to do is lose that darn cloak and POOF! Identity revealed!" He said in a harsh whisper. "I mean, we need to talk to him. What's Vlad's number?"

"They'll be on the flight until tonight. We'll call them then." Sam assured him.

"…Alright. We'll call Vlad tonight." Tucker sighed. "He's gotta work with us on this, we've been hiding Danny's identity for a full year. Then he goes on that trip with his dad and it all goes to hell." He huffed. "If only he'd stayed home…"

Sam nodded. "Yeah. If only."

They split up and went to their respective homes, both of them cringing as they thought of Valerie being love-struck for Phantom, her worst enemy and biggest target. If they were old enough to, they might consider drinking.