The Life We Fight For
Chapter 35: Sunshine Before the Storm
When Vlad asked to speak with her, Jazz immediately thought up dozens of reasons as to why. None of them however, fit the discussion they would end up having.
Vlad met her down in the lab and quickly she recognized the seriousness of the conversation at hand. When the man spoke, her hypothesis was swiftly proven correct.
"I have no doubt that if things go sideways tonight, Daniel will act." Vlad told her. "I need your help to ensure he doesn't do anything dangerous."
Jazz rolled her eyes. "Like, break into your security systems and go flying into the Ghost Zone? Because he's done that already."
"Hence why I fear he'll do so again- despite my upgrades." Vlad said.
Jazz looked at him suspiciously. As usual, Vlad seemed to be scheming. So much for change.
"What do you want me to do about it? I don't have powers." She said.
Vlad pulled a small object from his pocket and held it out. It looked almost like a phone, but not quite. The screen was wide and displayed fluctuating stats that were all too familiar.
"I need you to monitor the ecto-activity in the manor while I'm gone," said Vlad, pointing to a particular bar. "Specifically, Phantom's."
"You want me to stop him if he goes rogue..." Jazz said, taking the reader.
"If Daniel puts his mind to it no one can stop him," Vlad clarified. "But every second counts and if you can so much as stall Phantom, I'll be grateful."
What he didn't mention was that should Jazz fail to stop Phantom, Godfrey would intervene. Vlad would rather have the boy make the choice to stay in the manor, but it was life and death now. Godfrey was currently in the possession of a Plasmius Maximus, with orders to use it if he saw fit to do so.
"And if he doesn't listen?" Jazz asked.
Drat. He'd forgotten how smart this girl was. Surely from Maddie's side of the family.
"I can't stop Daniel from making his choice, I can only do what I can to keep everyone in this mansion safe." Replied Vlad. Close enough to the truth, he supposed.
Jazz's face softened. "That's very evolved of you..."
Vlad felt his cheeks heat up. His reputation would surely never recover from this.
It was bad enough when Godfrey mocked him for being overly paternal. He didn't need the children themselves feeling he was going soft!
"This waste of ectoplasm has challenged the half-ghosts," Vlad said, "as one of those half-ghosts, I have my honor to defend."
"Whatever you say, fruitloop."
Turmoil was a feeling Danny Phantom was all too familiar with, yet it still managed to turn his stomach. Uncertainty mixed with an inescapable mix of hopelessness; it was nothing short of miserable.
The only thing on his mind since this morning had been his mother, but as he shuffled down flights of marble staircases to the lab, Danny felt conflicted. What if Vlad never came back? Whether he liked it or not, there was something between them he couldn't ignore anymore. More than allies, but still too shaky for real family.
Still, as he stomped down into the depths of the manor he felt his chest tighten at the thought of losing the man he'd spent all these months with. Horrible images filled his mind, Vlad choking under the weight of Ivix's countless duplicates, or burning with the fire spit from Dora's overgrown lizard of a brother.
Dora. He'd asked to talk to her before he headed down, but no one had seen her since she'd shut herself up in her rooms that afternoon. Something about how she couldn't bear being social knowing what was going on tonight. It was understandable, of course, so Danny didn't push.
The cold, double metal doors of the lab greeted him with a soft whirring as they parted. With a shaky breath, Danny entered the lab.
Skulker, Vlad and Godfrey hushed their voices as he entered. Before Danny could question it, Vlad smiled warmly and addressed him.
"Daniel, good!" He said, "I was hoping to see you before heading out. Come to wish me good luck?"
Vlad was playing up Danny's confidence in him. Probably as a favor given who was in the room. It wouldn't do for Danny Phantom to seem insecure.
Not that Danny cared, of course. But no matter what was going on Vlad was still playing the game. The game of house they'd been wrapped up in since his arrival.
Godfrey quickly excused himself, giving Danny a warm, almost reassuring smile as the ghost passed. He must look worse than he thought.
"Just wanted to make sure you actually have a plan for this thing," said Danny. Skulker laughed.
"Even the child knows this is a hopeless endeavor!" He said.
Vlad crossed his arms and glared. Skulker stiffened quickly, the sound of metal squeaking almost comical. Danny might have laughed, but his mind was still racing.
"And what are you tagging along for anyway?" Danny asked the ghost.
Skulker grinned, a hollow smile that somehow still displayed malicious glee. He leaned in, still towering over Danny.
"Oh I wouldn't miss it for the world," he said, "if by some dumb luck this doesn't go sideways, I've called dibs on the big one's pelt. Tell me ghost child, wouldn't you like to slay a dragon just like in the fairytales?"
"The boy stays," Vlad said abruptly.
Skulker straightened, shrugging. "As you wish."
Vlad quickly gave Skulker the order to enter the portal and Danny suddenly felt like he had cotton in his ears. Everything was muffled. His breathing, which normally wouldn't exist in ghost form, was coming out hot and in small puffs.
His head felt like it was spinning. Not good...
Vlad dismissed Skulker and shut the portal despite his protests. He'd have plenty of time to rendezvous with his band of misfit soldiers later.
Daniel was nothing short of a mess from the moment Skulker was out of sight, as Vlad anticipated. He walked over and firmly grabbed the boy by his arms, causing him to jump.
"Look at me and stop that gasping," Vlad said, "We don't have much time and you need to listen closely."
Daniel swallowed and blew out a long, hissing breath. For the first time that night he didn't avoid Vlad's gaze and finally he saw those green eyes rise to meet his.
"I want to promise you that nothing bad will happen tonight and I'll be back soon," Vlad began, "but you know I can't. Any number of things could go wrong and I know you're aware of that.."
Daniel sucked in air and started to look away. Vlad tightened his grip quickly to ground him.
"I need you to trust me," Vlad said, "Do what you need to do, call your friends to come and be with you tonight, talk to you sister...but whatever happens you will not come through that portal. Promise me, Daniel."
"I can't," said Phantom quietly. "It's my mom..."
Vlad swallowed hard seeing the beginnings of tears welling up in the teen's eyes. He threw caution to the wind and pulled the boy close. He expected to be shoved away, yelled at or worse. Daniel was after all quite good at letting Vlad know how he felt about him.
But as Vlad had hoped, Daniel readily accepted the embrace. Phantom stood stock still as he tried to control his emotions in Plasmius' arms.
Vlad found himself wanting nothing more than the ability to freeze time at that moment. How grateful he would be to spend as much time as he wanted cheering up the boy, without a care in the world.
But there was time for that later. If all went well, there'd be more than enough, in fact.
"I'll bring her back to you," said Vlad, "I swear it."
After a long moment, Daniel pulled away. His mouth opened and closed comically for a brief minute as he seemed to search for a response.
"I need to leave you now," Vlad said, smirking at the fish-like face Daniel was making. He ruffled the boy's snowy hair and turned, cape whipping about behind him.
"Vlad," Daniel finally choked out.
The halfa turned and once again red met green.
"You're not bad at it you know," Phantom said. Plasmius raised an eyebrow. "Being a second dad I mean. I just wanted to say it...that I didn't hate it. Hate you."
It was Vlad's turn to sputter like a fool. Of course, of all times for the boy to get sentimental he had to choose now. Now, when he couldn't even pause to soak in the moment. Figures.
"Quite generous of you," he finally replied. He held up an admonishing finger, "Don't think this will change my mind about you staying, however."
Danny huffed indignantly. "I meant it!"
As the younger glared him down Vlad gave his hair one last toss and flew towards the portal.
"I know," he said as the doors pulled open with a soft 'whirrr'.
In a flash, he'd left his laboratory, and his son, behind. As the green, swirling expanse of the Ghost Zone greeted him, Vlad pulled out his specially-made thermos.
Now, finally, he'd have everything he wanted. With a thermos to house both this dangerous ghost and it's captive, he'd fulfill his dreams of the perfect life, the perfect family.
Daniel would be his, truly and wholly his. No more scheming, no more lying, just the woman he loved, and the son he always wanted.
All he had to do, was lure out an old friend. Save Maddie...
And make Jack take her place.