Notes: Here's a oneshot with only Daphne and Vincent taking place during the part of the Curse of the 13th Ghost movie where Daphne goes with Vincent while Shaggy is with Scooby. We never saw a scene with just Daphne and Vincent during that part of the movie, so I thought I would write what I think it would've been like had we gotten a scene with just the two of them. This is basically like a deleted scene from the movie in my mind.
Daphne couldn't see much other than what her flashlight was shining on while under the temple grounds, feeling a chill in the air around her as she noticed Vincent was a little too quiet. The kind of quiet he always is whenever he is in deep thought about something, especially if that something was bothering him.
She tried to shrug it off as him not being used to being out of the house for all this time, but the thought lingered in the back of her mind as she searched for signs of the chest and of Asmodeus.
"Are you okay?" she asked, shining her flashlight onto him.
He looked back at her and nodded nervously.
"I am perfectly fine," he lied, giving her a fake smile. "I hope you are alright as well."
"I'm fine, but you're clearly not," she told him. "Well, not right now anyway. Before you were laughing, making those spooky puns, but you're being too quiet here. Vincent, you can tell me what's bothering you."
She put his hand on his arm.
"Is it Asmodeus?" she wondered.
He sighed.
"Well, that is part of it. The rest of it is… Mortifer."
Her eyes widened. She and the others were told that Mortifer had died after him and Vincent captured all 13 ghosts. He was Vincent's best friend, his partner in everything he did. She couldn't imagine the guilt Vincent had felt ever since that night.
"Oh. I'm so sorry," she frowned. "I know how much you cared about him, and how much he meant to you. I'm sorry, you know what, I probably shouldn't have asked," she decided, backing away.
"No no no, it's fine," he insisted. "I don't usually have many chances to confide in someone about it, since I am alone and haunted by the ghost of my-" He then paused, realizing he was about to let the fact that Asmodeus was his ancestor slip out of his mouth.
How could he ever tell her that secret? Or any of the others? How would they feel about him and look at him knowing that the most powerful of all evil spirits, the King of Demons, is related to him by blood? How would they respect him or even want to be around him if they ever knew?
"Of your what?" she wondered, snapping him out of his deep thoughts.
"My friend, Mortifer. The memories of him, especially of his death, haunt me like a ghost," he replied, which was true, though he also said it to cover up what he would've just said had he not stopped himself.
"I know it does. You're still grieving, and you've been grieving for many years, and it's okay. But you're not alone, you have me, you have the rest of the gang."
She gave him a hug, which was, admittedly, a surprise to him, so much so that his eyes widened. He doesn't usually get hugs, and especially not as warm and comforting as this.
He smiled gently and returned the hug, which made her smile a few seconds later too.
"I'm sure somewhere, Mortifer is proud of you, and that he found peace," she told him.
"That is very comforting, thank you." He then let go a moment later. "I just keep finding myself wishing that we would've grown old together. He deserved to have more days of life."
He then sighed again.
"I have been blaming myself for his death for years," he admitted. "Daphne, I cannot help but feel that there is something that I could've done differently that night. Had I dropped the chest and ran to him instead of running away with it, he still would be here."
"No no, it's not your fault," she insisted, taking his hands. "You had no idea what was going to happen. There was nothing you could've done to prevent it. It's the fault of those minions of the 13 Ghosts, they killed him."
They both stood there in silence for a few moments, and Daphne had let go of Vincent's hands.
"May I ask you something else?" Vincent wondered.
"Of course, anything," she told him.
"Would you and the others have come back, if you never got that call from me?"
She stared at him with a confused look, did Vincent not believe he would've seen any of them again?
"Of course we would!" she exclaimed. "You were like a father to all of us. The boys and I owe you an apology for leaving you in the first place. We shouldn't have done that. Also, we should apologize for not reaching out since then. It's just… life got in the way, and Fred and Velma-"
"There is no need to apologize. I understand," he interrupted. "It was all too much for Scooby. He reached a point where he could not handle it anymore. Though, I am thankful that you see me as a father figure. I see you and the others as my kids as well. I prioritize you all over any ghost."
"And we do too!" Daphne effused.
They then started walking together.
"So, when this is all over, would you want to return home with us?" she asked. "Hang out for a couple of days?"
"Of course," he immediately responded. "I would find satisfaction in catching up with all of you, and getting to know Fred and Velma more. I have been in that castle for too long, I don't think it's best for me to return there so soon after Asmodeus is captured."
"Great! I'll let the others know. And will you promise not to make too many spooky puns?" She stared at him.
Vincent laughed a little bit.
"You know I can't promise that."
"I figured so," she also laughed. "And that question was a joke actually, everyone secretly loves them."
"They do!?" he exclaimed. "I am glad."
"Yeah," she smiled. "Now come on, we should go see the boys."
He nodded and followed her, with the exit slowly opening as they both ascended up the stairs.