Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom or 6teen.
Christmas season: a time of joy as everyone storms the mall for presents and good times. An odd mix of simple family happiness and sales to empower the economy as parents dealt with their children jumping and squealing at the new toys on display for the holidays.
To many, this is a pleasant time, but for Danny Fenton, it had become more complicated. After the last Christmas, the ghost boy tried to change his demeanor after a lifetime of horrible Christmases, but his parents soon got into a debate over Santa Claus...again.
The boy would try to use ghosts, seeing as how the parents had put their argument on hold last year at the sight of them, to placate them but the peace could not last long unless the chase excited them. This meant the ghost boy could not appear and then disappear at will.
All that could be done was leave the house to escape the sound of parents yelling at each other. However, the first choice that came to mind was the mall, where shoppers picked the building with last-minute purchases, provided they did not find what they were looking for online.
Nonetheless, Danny and his friends saw many students from school flocking the place. At least there was no sign of his parents, but that couldn't cure his surly mood.
Ironically, Sam was the symbol of joy as they walked around, doubly so as her family celebrated Hanukkah.
"You just gotta love those Christmas light!" Sam said in jubilee as she admired the decorations. As she led the trio through the mall, multi-colored lights and wreaths were hung everywhere on the windows and railing. Not even bumping into Paulina had soured her mood.
Not that either of the girls cared about the incident.
However, bumping into a mile-long line of people broke Sam's mood, pushing her to the ground in a daze.
"What the heck!" Sam rubbed off her soreness as her friend helped her up. "I thought everyone would have gotten the latest tedious toy the consumer market had peddled to them by now!"
"I don't think it's over," Danny said, pointing at the people.
Danny, Sam, and Tucker dropped their jaws as they saw the line was to visit Santa Claus. While it was a popular stop for kids, it seemed this year it grew with the added attendance of teens. It was almost like a craze or short-term trend.
"Ok, I know everyone has a list of presents they want, but since when do high schoolers line up for this?" Sam stared at the line as the trio walked along it.
"I just hope no ghosts are involved in this," Tucker added.
"You mean how my parents might be holding up the line again as they fight?" Danny snarked in exasperation. He pointed over his shoulder with a thumb, gesturing to the exit. "Can't be them, I left them at the house, where Dad was climbing up the chimney again."
"You'd think at some point he'd get stuck," Tucker muttered, bobbing his head around the line. "I wonder why there's so many people here."
Danny walked up as the others followed. The line had stretched past half the mall, outdoing the most intense of Christmas sale attendance. It was highly baffling to see excited teens jumping like children as they ventured further.
"Why do I have a feeling the answer's gonna be obvious?" Danny muttered as he reached Santa's workshop.
The usually evergreen trees and wooden cottage were set up with a manger/petting zoo next to it. Children who had sat on Jolly Old St. Nick were seen playing with the animals as their parents supervised.
Examining the big chair in front of the shack, the teens got their answer as they saw a jock on the mall Santa's lap. But the teen wasn't looking at the jolly man, opting to ogle his elves. In particular it seemed Amélie had volunteered as one.
Because of her highly voluptuous and statuesque figure, she was wearing green short shorts with a bright green tank top in lieu of the usual elf dress. Her legs were covered in white and red striped socks with elf shoes, highlighting their toned shape. Besides the elven Christmas hat, the girl had her hair in a ponytail showing off her elven ear tips.
Tucker drooled, shaking his head as he noticed more geeks and nerds in the crowd. It was an obscure fantasy no one realized they wanted to come true. Unable to resist his hormones, he walked past his friends.
"Wow." That was the only word to escape Danny's throat.
"I'll say. You'd think at least some would enjoy the holidays instead of ogling Amélie. I mean, they see her boobs all the time at school, albeit barely covered by her blouse. You'd think at some point that would be enough to put some blood in their brains," Sam snarked.
"But she has elf ears on!" Tucker yelled back as he ran to the back.
Sam slapped her head at the geeky obsession. Sometimes she wondered how
"Sam, the jocks are meatheads who get free passes from the school and the nerds are too lonely to care," Danny remarked with a grin. He glanced at Tucker, who was walking to the back of the line. The two watched as the jock was moved off Santa's lap.
A child walked forward, and despite the annoyance of the teenager, Amélie gave him a candy cane with a smile as he jumped off Santa's lap and ran to his mother. The French elf waved goodbye as Dash Baxter walked up and leaned on Kris Kringle's chair, smirking at the girl as he inspected her uniform.
"So, I was thinking about a hot chick's lonely Christmas and wanted to give the gift of football, specifically a quarterback to keep you—"
"Hey! You're supposed to talk to Santa!" A little girl behind the jock complained. She waved her arms at the bully, tearing up as she was glared back. Her mother glanced at mall security, who were already on the scene with their batons ready.
At this point, the jock would roll up his sleeve to shut any interlopers or losers up. Most of the time, this happened at school or the Nasty Burger, typically because he took too long in front of a locker or register, blocking off anyone with business. This was a moot tactic at the mall, where security would not let him threaten a child.
Seeing his time was forced short, Dash clarified his intentions with about as much seduction as a broken bugle.
"Hey, Santa, when's your elfy chick next day off?" Dash asked, pointing at Amélie with his thumb. "I think she could use some company or a bodyguard."
A roll of Amélie's eyes, and the French girl sighed. She loved working with Santa, a tenant of childhood innocence she could never let go of. This time of year had a train full of effort and Christmas joy running at full speed as she scheduled herself for all her favorite traditions and hobbies over the course of the month, with more so after her bonus from working at the ice cream parlor.
Still, Dash was an idiot who would try to insert himself into her hours, and she knew he did not mean time.
"I don't need your company, and this town had Messiur Fantomé to protect us," Amélie retorted.
"Then I better ask for super powers." The jock wiggled his eyebrows as he stared at her, ogling her voluptuous figure.
"Hey! You're hogging Santa!" The next kid in line complained, held back by his mother as he swung his arms.
"Stupid twerp," The jock said, annoyed.
While the kids weren't a threat, their parents were more than enough to have the jock slink away from the mall Santa. But even being oust like that would not deter his attempts at affection, hormonal as they are. It was apparent the boy would go back to flirting the next chance he got, but for now, mall security gave him a warning, keeping him away from the French elf.
"Ce Bouffon, Il Est Trop Chelou," She muttered, pinching her nose.
"Are you okay, Amélie?" Bob, the mall Santa, asked her in a concerned tone. His fair share of teen visitors today and their "requests" made him wary of his assistant's limits. He knew this elf was an ordinary girl with patience as vast as the ocean, but even this had to be annoying.
"It is alright. Nothing that I am not used to already," Amélie shrugged, unaffected by the workload. "I get enough of this working at Fantomé Flavors. To be honest, we're starting to run out of ice cream."
The mall Santa smiled warmly, proud of the girl's strength. This job was never easy, earning respect from the employees, who didn't laugh, around the mall.
Danny watched as Dash left the premises. Not even seeing his long-time tormentor was enough to truly cheer him up, drowning him further into a sad well.
"Okay...aside from how weirdly hot Amélie looks now, how the heck can I cheer myself up this time of the year? Cause if that doesn't work, what will?" He asked out loud.
"Leave that to me! Come on, I know some great shops that have carolers and plenty of awesome stuff," Sam said. She grabbed the ghost boy, dragging him through the mall as Tucker waited in line.
The goth girl was not kidding when she said she knew places. She took Danny to a couple of shops that offered free hot cocoa samples; some had cookies on display for customers. People were smiling in these establishments spreading contagious Christmas cheer all around. However, it did little to help the ghost boy, who was still in his funk.
"Danny, I know this time of the year has never been good for you, but you gotta at least try harder to get over it. I get you won't get over this in one go, but you can't give up," Sam urged, but the ghost boy turned away from her.
"I'm gonna go on a flight to clear my head," He said as he left the mall. All Sam could do was stare at her friend, disheartened at his attitude and sorrowful demeanor and how she could not help him.
Finding a private area to transform, Danny took off, wanting to get away from the "merry making" and relieve some stress. And this time, FAR AWAY from the Ghost Zone. He need not repeat or accidentally cause an incident like last year. Though the ghosts held a truce on Christmas Day, everyone had limits.
Flying for what felt like hours, the chilly air and rush of wind did little to relax Danny. It was invigorating beyond anything else he could do right now. All the ghosts were gone, taking the time to prepare for the annual Christmas party they held every year. Ember had come by a few weeks ago to tell him about that detail.
That was a curious thing, but the ghost boy let it go, content he had some time off from ghost fighting.
After what felt like enough time to cool down, the ghost boy came back home. His parents were gone, still under the assumption that there were ghosts out or arguing somewhere with some depiction of Santa.
However, seeing someone at their doorstep surprised the ghost boy as he phased inside. He landed, transformed, and soon went to his door. There, he saw Amélie, who was no longer dressed as an elf, wearing a purple winter coat that still showed off her elegant figure.
"Joyeux Noël, Danny!" Amélie waved with a smile.
"Amélie? What are you doing here?" Danny asked.
"Jazz wanted to hang out. So I put on my coat and took the bus over here," she said, walking inside.
Danny nodded, blushing as he noticed the girl's bare legs again. This time, he remembered that it was cold outside and stepped to the side, allowing the girl inside.
"Uh...it's pretty cold out here. Let me get some to drink. You like hot chocolate?" Danny said and walked to the kitchen for a moment before he came back with the mix. To his surprise, Amélie had hung up her coat, revealing a two-piece Santa outfit.
Blood cycled down as the sweaty ghost boy stared. He had seen a lot of Amélie many times, mostly at school when the boys weren't crowding her, and the time she showed off her cleavage to distract him that time with Ember, but this was flashier than the elf suit. The red clung to the French girl's skin as the cloudy hems served more like borders. He watched as the girl walked towards the couch with the same supermodel sway of her hips.
This seemed more like something out of a comic book than reality, as the boy could not believe he was seeing the hottest girl in school—no, scratch that. To him, Amélie was just as well the most beautiful girl in the world. He could not deny that. His hunger shrank as his eyes became full of desire, which took a lot to fight off.
"If it is that powder, non merci." Amélie dusted her skirt as she sat down, now adjusting her top. She had never worn a tube top before, pinching at the upper borders as she inspected it. "I prefer the hot chocolate back home."
Danny shook his head, running a hand through his forehead as he wiped away the sweat. He now looked at the box, seeing the Swiss brand on it.
"What's wrong with this?" Danny shook the box at head level. "It's just as good as French hot chocolate."
Amélie smiled innocently as she looked back. She was an angel or more like a goddess of beauty with how she was affecting her host. It was almost cute how the box fell to the ground as she saw the stupefied face.
Drool filled her mouth as she recalled the food back home. Anyone who traveled to Europe would know of the difference in taste between the two nations. And while America was home to some famous things like burger chains, something surprisingly popular in France, the flavor of fresh fish and exquisite cheese filled her tastebuds as she recalled the hot chocolate back home.
"You clearly don't travel much. And it's not French hot chocolate I'm talking about. It's Italian," Amélie added.
"Italian!" Danny picked up the box of hot chocolate. He grimaced at the contents, like a child who got the wrong present for Christmas. "Is there some kind of gourmet hot chocolate I don't know about? I should call Sam and Tucker about this."
The girl giggled as she watched the ghost boy pull out his phone. He looked cute as he went through the web browser.
She sat up straight and felt something in her chest, her heart beating rapidly. It jolted as her body jumped, pushed by the torqued pressure of Danny jumping next to her on the couch. He was now closer than he ever was, holding the screen in front of her.
"Is this what you're talking about?" Danny asked. He looked to Amélie, now noticing how close their faces were. Leaping back, the crimson boy stuttered, recollecting nervousness as he went to the side of the couch.
"S-sorry," he muttered, turning to face perpendicular to the couch as he looked away. He sighed. The clock's ticking echoed as the two waited silently for Jazz.
Christmas decorations that were up were beautifully arranged as the tree stood tall. Tinsel and stars were hung along some lights that adorned the wall, giving a sparkle that wanted the French girl's heart.
"Belle," Amélie said. Her smile never left. Perhaps it had widened, but the ghost boy kept all thoughts away from the girl and her sexy outfit that made her more attractive.
He didn't need to poke the beehive, precisely as in the jocks and bullies who would strike vengeance on the ghost boy the moment they heard he was alone with the popular girl wearing such an outfit. It did not need to make sense for those kinds of boys to justify an attack.
"So...uh...you said something about Paulina and Star changing plans? F-for what?" The ghost boy stared at the Christmas tree.
Amélie nodded, swaying her chest rhythmically as she hummed.
"Oui. They are gong to take part in the local talent show by singing a song called Jingle Bells Rock. Paulina asked me to join and I could not say no." The girl clasped her hands together. "We had these outfits ready, but then Paulina said it was canceled because something was wrong with her costume. Then Star called, saying she was busy, and that's when Jazz called me."
Danny blushed deeply, his hormones unable to be blocked as he glanced at the French girl. The deep valley of her chest drew his attention as his eyes ventured down, now noticing more distinct features like her flat stomach. It seemed soft, yet an indent or shape of muscle was seen. It was unfair to see the taller girl hotter and progressing towards a six-pack before him. Her legs, no longer covered by socks, were shown in full view, save for the lower calves in her red boots.
This is probably the first time I ever LIKED seeing someone wear that costume.
"Pardon de moi. What does that mean?" Amélie asked, staring at the boy with blinking eyes..
Danny blushed. He did not realize he had spoken out loud. It was supposed to stay in his head. Perhaps all that quipping in battle made him unable to hold such remarks.
"I-it's nothing. Don't worry about it." The ghost boy looked away.
"Danny, I can tell that you are lying to me. Maintenant, avoue." Amélie scooted to the side, cornering the boy. She could feel the heat coming off him, seeing sweat began to form on him, despite his gaze being elsewhere.
Part of Danny wanted to remain quiet, keeping his thoughts to himself. However, this was not some dark or family secret, and the whole town knew. What was one more person going to do?
"I...don't like Christmas," he spat out.
"Pardon moi?" The girl put a hand to her ear. "S'il vous plait, répétez cela."
"I don't like Christmas...I've never had a good one..." Danny's head sunk, gazing at the floor.
"You don't like Christmas?" Amélie paused. It was a statement she couldn't believe. "Pourquoi? S'il vous plait, répétez cela?"
"Ok, I don't think you've taught me enough to understand that...or at least get the jist of," Danny replied,
"Eh, pardon. I meant to ask, what happened."
"What happened was my parents have been ruining every Christmas with their arguing," Danny snarked. "Apparently, it's possible for ghost hunters to not believe in Santa Claus."
Amélie blinked again. "Excuse-moi?"
Danny explained everything to her: from his First Christmas to the events of his last one, all ruined by his parent's negligence as they let things fall apart, too engrossed in their arguements over the existence of Santa Claus. Once he was done, Amélie looked appalled and even horrified.
"Quel genre de mot est-ce là où les gens se disputent le Père Noël ?"
Danny had no idea what the girl said, but was pretty sure the girl might have lost some childhood innocence. He frowned. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ruin anything for you," he said. "It's just that this day isn't...it hasn't...—"the ghost boy sighed. "—Christmas doesn't really mean anything for me. I mean, Jazz and I tried this year, but my folks are still arguing."
"Non. Non. Ça va."
Amélie leaned down, hugging the ghost boy. The idea of Christmas Day being ruined every year made her want to cry. It was a forbidden sun she never wanted to hear. Her soft eyes watched as a small smile crept on the boy's face.
"Thanks, or merci, Amélie." The ghost boy chuckled, sitting up. "It's nice to know I have a friend like you."
Amélie blushed, smiling wider with a giggle. She did not know when, but before the next minute, she soon tasted the boy's cheek on her lips. Her hands cupped his face in response.
Danny's face turned red as he felt the warm pair of lips on his face. His hormones went crazy, making time slow as he felt his body temperature rising. He could barely register that Amélie Lemieux, the incredibly hot girl from Paris, was kissing his cheek right now.
The clock in the room ticked rapidly. The hands spun like a tornado. No one noticed or cared about the time as the ghost boy felt the cold air brush against his hot cheek.
Amélie blushed as she leaned back, holding her lips with a stare. Her heart raced in confusion as she grabbed her purple coat and ran.
"Excusez-moi! Je dois partir maintenant! Je te verrai à l'école ! au revoir! Joyeux noël!," Amélie said as she closed the door.
Danny blinked, frozen in place. He does not know Amélie has left, nor is he present as his sister arrives asking about the French girl. The Fenton parents arrive, still arguing over the existence of Santa, but their cries do not reach their son.
Danny finds himself in his bed at night, staring at the ceiling. As he sat up, he asked one question:
"What the heck happened?!"
Obviously, this was supposed to be posted back in December, but I felt there wasn't enough story with Danny's and Amélie's character interaction. But things are heating up as Amélie now wonders what she may or may not feel for Danny, who now has different challenges to face.
Special Thanks! to Flower Princess11 for all her help!
Thank you to everyone who reviewed. Let me see what you wrote:
Invader Johnny: Glad you enjoyed.
Luiz4200: All Fenton purchases are nonrefundable unless equipment is defected upon use. The Fenton Anti-Creep Stock doesn't count because it wasn't made for ghosts, ie it's not defective.
RonaldM40196867: Not scammed. Dash was being prejudiced about all Fenton gear. I figured everyone could use a laugh. Can't say anything about jokes, mainly because my humor is drier than the Sahara Desert. I have other ideas, but I'm putting most on hold.
Jebest4781: Thanks!
pokemon fan 1991: Thanks!
qazse: Sadly, that favoritism is only diminished. As long as the school board tells the teachers they want better games and sports teams, that favoritism will still last. This is actually a real life thing. Look it up, though I am simplifying any explanation.