Chapter Eighty-Four: Mob
"It's such a shame you have to leave so soon." Vlad said calmly as he, Danny, and Dan walked the Fentons to the door.
"Well, you know the urgency." Jack said, nodding. "Phantom was sighted in Amity Park again, so we have to go home and hopefully catch him before he disappears for two years."
"Well, it was fun having you over. And be careful." Dan said calmly. "I'd really hate to hear of your demise."
Danny hugged Maddie tightly. "Visit again soon, okay?"
Maddie smiled and gently stroked his hair. "I will, James."
Danny nodded before releasing her and stepping back to watch Maddie and Jack get into their car and drive off.
As soon as they were safely out of view, Vlad shut the door and then they did a sweep of the house to make sure Jack hadn't planted any bugs or other surveillance equipment.
Once they were sure it was completely clean, the boys removed their bracelets and entered the Ghost Zone to bring back their family, Vlad going to the lab to work on Dark's bracelet.
Once they were all back home, their life settled back into some normalcy. Lucretius had started to talk, and by the time the bracelet was done he was looking at picture books with his father and mother.
"Almost Thanksgiving." Dan remarked, looking at the calendar. "Just in time for Dark and Daniel to join us."
"A fitting time to celebrate their joining our family." Plasmius said, chuckling as Lucretius phased through his dad's arms and flew into the air. "Daniel, he's getting loose again."
"Do I have to tether you again?" Dan set down the book and got up, grabbing him. "You have to be good, Lucretius."
"You know, Lunch Lady's looking pretty plump lately." Sam commented.
"More than usual?" Danny carried Lucretius over to her and handed him over.
"In the front, Danny." She raised an eyebrow.
"Oh god, you mean Box Lunch?" Dan groaned.
"It is about that time." Danny nodded. "She looked around eight."
"I still think it's 'ew' that they got together at all." Dan shuddered.
Plasmius pulled Dan down into his lap, surprising the teen. "I'm sure you'll get used to it, just as you have many other 'ew' things."
Dan looked up at him. "Nope, never getting used to it; it'll always be 'ew' to me."
Dani entered the room with Vlad. "The bracelet's finished! Who's going get Master Dark and Daniel?"
"How about you, Dani?" Dan grinned. "Since you're so fond of him."
She blushed a bit and looked up at Vlad. "Can…Can I?"
"If you wish." Vlad nodded, handing her the bracelet.
She smiled and took it, skipping out of the room.
"Daniel's got competition." Plasmius smirked.
"That's still just weird." Dan commented, Danny silently agreeing.
Okay, Dan had to admit. Dark was hot. He was hot before, but he was hot as a human too. He retained the strong, chiseled features, and his eyes had changed from red to green. His clothes were black leather, like something Ember would wear only male and sexier. He wore combat boots and had a black studded choker on his neck. The red bracelet fit around his wrist nicely, not too loose and not too tight, and he had fingerless gloves on his powerful-looking hands.
Dan had to wonder if Daniel was willing to share, recalling that their first time (albeit against his will) was before they'd picked up Daniel from the alternate future.
The most important thing was that he looked nothing like Daniel or Jack or even Vlad. He had his own look, and so he would be viewed as completely unrelated to anyone in the household.
"It's been so long since I was human." Dan remarked, looking himself over. "This heat, and the red blood in my veins…it's unsettling but amazing at the same time. Well done, old man. You have successfully made life in death. I haven't felt this good since the last time I overshadowed someone; and it still wasn't the same as being alive."
"Are you happy?" Daniel smiled, walking over and touching his arm.
Dan nodded. "Yes, actually."
"I think just bleaching Daniel's hair or putting a wig on him will do for disguising him, but we can use makeup to darken his complexion." Vlad suggested.
"Or maybe they'll assume he's some relative they didn't know of." Sam commented. "I mean, I have a cousin I've never met."
"Really?" Danny blinked. "You never mentioned them."
"'Because we never met?" Sam raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, yeah." Danny rubbed the back of his neck.
Dark chuckled a bit, then blinked when Lucretius landed on his head. "Hey, Danny. Your imp is making a nest on my head."
Dan laughed, taking him off. "Lucretius, people aren't seats."
"Why?" The baby asked curiously. Wasn't everything a seat? Or food. And since people weren't food, they must be seats.
"You take this one, dad." Dan handed him over. "Vlad, he's developing his powers too fast. Let's make him a bracelet."
"That's the problem; his ecto-energy levels keep rising and falling. I'm waiting for it to stabilize before I can do that." Vlad said. "Let's step out of the lab now; we'll discuss this further in the den." He led the way out.
"Yeah, Plasmius is waiting for a plan about how to handle the ghosts." Sam nodded, following Danny out as they all headed up to the den.
When they arrived, Plasmius looked up from some papers and smirked. "Wow. What a mob we are now."
"We should get sunglasses and black suits." Danny suggested.
"Ew, no. That's so stereotype." Sam made a face.
"Whoops, sorry." Danny shrugged, leading her to the couch and sitting down with Lucretius in his lap and Sam by his side.
"Alright, so we obviously don't want Danny Phantom to be spotted and Jack Fenton to come back over here." Plasmius nodded to Dan as the others all sat down in their seats, Daniel sitting on Dark's lap. "Therefore, Dark, you'll have to teach them how to put up a shield while invisible, and then they'll have to fight invisible."
"Aside from him not liking Phantom, why are we avoiding your dad?" Sam asked.
"…Long story. I promise I will tell you when the time is right, Sam, but not now." Danny said, shaking his head.
She sighed. "Alright, Danny." She reached out and lacing her fingers in his hair. "But I want a full explanation."
"You'll get one." Danny promised.
"I can do that just fine, but the question is how much focus these kids have. Being invisible takes concentration and building and maintaining a shield takes a LOT of focus. Not to mention that you'll need someone to hold the shield up once it's in place."
"I could do that!" Dani volunteered. "I'm really good at shields!"
"Alright, so Danielle on maintaining the shield…" Plasmius made notes. "We should put it up after Thanksgiving, that will give you time to master invisibility during shielding."
"While you focus on that, we humans will focus on Thanksgiving prep." Sam smiled at Vlad. "I know you're not really a full human, but…"
"It would be odd for me to take my brother's form again." Vlad nodded. "I haven't changed into him since I found out."
"I can help out, too." Daniel nodded.
"I!" Lucretius held up a hand.
"You guys figure that out." Dark shrugged. "I'm gonna be focused on getting the kids into shape for battle."
"Yes, have fun with organizing that, Vladimir." Plasmius nodded.
Pft, poor Vlad. He got stuck with everything. At least he's got Sam and Daniel to help him out, though! I think part of him misses turning into Ghost Form.
By the way, I'm gonna have a baby myself! ^^ In June! ~ Zone