To be able to feel the wind in his face for the first time in months was a feeling that no amount of words could describe. Breathing in deeply, and loosing the breath with a warm, relieved sigh, patrolling wasn't the only reason he wanted to get out, to get in the air again. After months of staying inside...it was easy to forget how...free it could feel, how liberating it was to have the sky all to himself once again.
And he missed it.
But he wasn't naïve to it.
How could he be when he could feel the buzz of anti-ectoplasmic energy all over Amity? His skin, cold and dead as it was, shivered with tension at the sight of the many guards that shuffled carefully, inconspicuously on the streets below. It was one thing to hear how things had changed, but to see it in action...it was a whole different ball game.
Keeping high and out of sight, for anyone else it would have been hard to take note of the little details that bustled quietly down below, but Danny was glad that his eyes were so sharp. Despite this, the halfa was still unsure of where the border of allowance for him maintaining his ghost form laid. It was risky enough just shifting, let alone closer than he needed to be (though this method wouldn't really work in the middle an attack since he'd have to actively engage it, but they had time to figure out where he could really go without setting off every alarm in town). It wasn't as if he would have have any serious issues, at least, that what he liked to have believed, though he wasn't a fool by any means. He'd at least heard that the GIW had been making an effort to outfit most of the town with their more "advanced" tech (something that he'd have to personally thank the mayor for, honestly, since this was only going to make his life harder), but the extent of it was mostly unknown to him. He didn't have to wonder what many of the white-clad people were down below, numbering few at first, but as the minutes ticked by, their presence was much more noticeable.
Scanning below, he caught wind of a few of their trucks, too, the branding of NISSIA (what he learned was the actual name of the GIW, and stood for the "National Institute of Spectral Sciences and Interdimensional Anomalies", but GIW was easier) shimmering in the low light as they patrolled below, some parked here and there, just about what he would expect from the full presence of these guys. In fact, as far as he could tell, there were more than just trucks (much like his parent's own version), but essentially portable weapons in their own right, but he could only really speculate, but that was enough. He didn't have to guess that they were pulling out the full stops, but all that elicited from him was a long, drawn sigh, born from more exhaustion and irritation than fear.
He really didn't feel like dealing with this, especially not into the foreseeable future.
"They weren't joking around when they said they were everywhere...this isn't going to be easy." He muttered under his breath, turning over the southern end as he scanned the interstate, but knew that he couldn't hang around up here forever (despite the fact that he was still having a good time; flying always cleared his mind), not that it would matter if he did.
Not only was there not much happening, but he wasn't really sure he wanted to test the waters on the tech the GIW had, so it was probably best he get on with the rest of the day. Then, as if on cue, his stomach grumbled as if to remind him of just that, and again, through a chain of coincidences, his Fenton Phone rang again, and this time, Tucker's voice answered the call.
Okay, we're here at the Nasty Burger. There's still no one here, so you can come. I'm really itching to get my hands on some meat." The teen voiced over the phone, his tone almost wistful, though Danny assumed that had to do with the prospect of eating, not that he could really disagree. He hadn't exactly been able to get a bit from Nasty Burger in a while, so this was a nice change of pace, though he feel himself hesitate. Having been out of commissions for so long, it felt nice up in the air, this freedom, this liberation, something that he had sorely missed during the months of his...absence. He almost lamented the idea of changing back, but he knew he really needed to get a bite, too...not ho mention the very real risk of getting caught.
'I could always go out flying after-school. But playing it smart is probably my best move right now...' The teen thought, closing his eyes for a breath and nodding to himself. He'd have time later to stretch his muscles; for now, he should probably just focus on school and...getting back into the swing of things.
Deciding on it, and choosing to stop his patrol for now, he answered back.
"Yeah, that does sound pretty good. But from where I am, it looks like there's a lot of agents down there, and I don't know about you guys, but I don't really like the idea of getting caught up with them on the first day of school. Know where I can land that isn't so...populated? You guys know their whole setup thing a bit better than I do..." The halfa asked as he stopped mid-flight, hovering in-place as he waited for their answer. Taking the chance to investigate where he was, he was beginning to see people here and there, moseying about the quiet streets of the morning. Seeing just the four walls of his own room made it a little weird to see people again, but it wasn't an unwelcome sight.
Some seemed to be doing some shopping, others tentatively walking about the streets, appearing to have no destination in mind. Rearing in the background of his thoughts, he remembered how much he missed doing that with Sam and Tucker, spending listless evenings and early mornings just hanging out, and hell, even Valerie and Jazz on the rare occasion that they would hang out with them before...everything that had happened.
Maybe they could do the same thing again.
It was a minute of Sam and Tucker talking amongst themselves before they got back to Danny, with Sam speaking this time.
"Well, looks like things are getting a bit busier around here, and Tucker's PDA is picking up a lot more residual energy from the Anti-endoplasmic tech, so landing here is a no-go, but..." Sam started, and Danny felt his hopes for breakfast begin to dwindle.
'Let's hope it isn't too far away. I'd like to make it before school...' He thought to himself before Sam continued to speak, tone still grim.
"...but you'd probably be fine over by the edges of town. You know the north-side, at the border of the Winchester Woods. Looks like the readings are a little lower over there, so you could probably get by changing over there and just...walking over? Might not make breakfast, though..." She exclaimed, and he could feel her giving him a stern look over the phone, as if to scold him.
Yeah, probably saw that one coming.
However, his stomach protested again, and he wasn't sure about them, but eating breakfast at school (and the food in general) was pretty much a no-go.
The stuff was inedible at best, and at worst, and no pun intended, literally killed people...okay, so maybe not literally, but the point still stood.
It was gross; that was all that needed to be said.
And Danny wasn't sure he wanted to start off his day with bad breakfast and a stomach ache.
"Uh...think you could get me somewhere a little closer? Preferably where it won't take me all morning to get across town?" The teen asked hesitantly, hoping it would be a yes, but he couldn't be that lucky.
"Uh, no. Would love to, but can't on account of a million agents and, oh, I forgot, the proximity triggers everywhere in town. Tucker and I can sort of make out that they're everywhere, but until we all scout them out, we can't be sure where they are. But you know, this wouldn't have been a problem if you had just skipped the patrol. But no, you just had to, didn't you?" She chided him, and though he hated to admit it, she was right. He had been up here for a while, far longer than he'd intended to be. Sure, he'd left at 06:15, but having been out here for at least twenty minutes, circling town, he was sure that he wouldn't have enough time to get a bite to eat.
Not that it was anyone's fault but his own.
Checking his other phone, he blanched at the time.
It was 06:37, and by the time he made the Nasty Burger, it would be time for school already.
Fuck.
"Ah, uh...sorry, guys. Sort of got...a little carried away up here. It's just...it's been a long time since I've been out, you know? It just...just felt good. My bad...but don't wait. You guys can eat; I'll just wait until we leave for lunch to get something;; it's no big deal" Danny apologized, feeling, honestly, really bad about it. It had really slipped his mind that he'd been out as long as he had, but despite this, he wasn't entirely convinced that he wanted them to wait for him. They shouldn't not get to eat because he took forever.
But Sam cut in, scoffing.
"Seriously? You think we're going to leave you out? We'll pick something up for you and wait outside of Casper so we can eat it together. Just a warning, though; your food might get a little cold. You know, because it'll take you a while to get here, but we'll wait." She started, and Tucker seconded that, the teen's voice well-meaning, but coy.
"That, or I'll eat your share, so you better haul ass to get over here." He chuckled, but quickly, Sam chimed in, voice a bit annoyed but mostly towards Tucker.
"No, he won't. We're going to hold your food and wait for you, aren't we, Tuck?" Danny could hear her say, and through the shuffling in the background, the halfa could hear Tucker sputter uncomfortably, stammering in a rush to get what he needed to say out.
"Yeah, yeah! Fine, I was just kidding - OW!" He shouted, and after another moment of shuffling, then Sam was back.
He could hear her smiling through the phone.
"I already know you want...a breakfast sandwich? Don't toast the biscuit, extra eggs, and char the sausage a bit?" She voiced as if reading it off a script, without so much as a stutter or any amount of hesitation. It didn't surprise him that she knew him really well; there weren't many that were as observant as her.
Smiling, he turned towards the tree line further in the distance, far past the Salem Community, the larger, more luxurious mobile homes easy to see in the distance, but instead, behind even those, to the distant tree line to open to blackened woods. With them in sight, he turned his attention to his Fenton Phone and the two on the other end. He smiled, nodding even though he knew they wouldn't be able to tell he had.
Force of habit, he supposed.
"You know me too well. But you forgot - " The halfa was stopped mid-sentence, Sam cutting in again.
"And an orange juice, but hold the pulp. You hate the feeling of stuff floating in your juice. Anything else?" She finished with a sense of finality, and again, he could feel it, the way her lips upturned over the phone.
He loved that about her.
She never hesitated. And funnily enough, her confidence was proven, time and time again.
Tucker hated it, but Danny couldn't get enough of it.
"Never mind, then. See you guys in...twenty? I hope...love you, Sam." Danny added at the end tentatively, and softly, as if it were just the two of them, Sam replied.
"Love you, too. Now, hurry up. I'm starving, and we'd have beaten you to the school by the time you get further into town, and I don't know how long I can keep Tucker out of your stuff, so get a move on." The teen stated before Tucker jumped in, and he could feel him smiling, too, just from the tone of his voice.
"Yeah! It's been forever since we've all been together in one place. It's killing me...and she's killing me, so please make this quick..." Tucker added desperately, eliciting a small chuckle from Danny.
Yeah, he probably did want to get over there, and fast, too; the last thing he needed was Sam spilling Tucker's blood, and on such a beautiful morning, too.
"Okay, okay, on my way to Winchester now. Bye." Danny said finally, and the other two returned it, each clicking off at the same time. Alone now, Danny increased his pace, pushing on to the further reaches of town, to the forest beyond.
- (Same time, elsewhere) -
The warm scents of cooking food, that clatter and clang of dishes and utensils, the call of orders, the familiarity of it all...it was comforting that, at the very least, it seemed, some things didn't change...not in the way that was easily perceived, that is. Entering the Nasty Burger, Sam eyed the other patrons briefly, and by her own metrics, she was genuinely surprised to see others in so early, though she knew she probably shouldn't have been. Over the last few months, she and Tucker had noticed an influx of people out and about again, different from the vacant streets that was common during the summer. She couldn't blame them, not when the situation at the time was so…tense.
But she'd be lying if she didn't think it felt nicer to see them, the few patrons amongst them dining, chatting…laughing. It was a far-cry from the stilted expressions, the grim visages that painted the faces of the people of Amity. Stepping up to the counter, they waited for a cashier to come by to take their order, and in the midst of this, Tucker turned to Sam, voice a bit elevated.
He sounded as though he was anticipating something.
"Think Valerie will be here?" He asked, glancing quickly around the room in search of someone, or rather, a certain someone, not that she needed to guess who it would be. Tucker was never usually transparent about his..."interest" in Valerie, the former whipping around almost frantically to see if she was here. Looking at the overhead clock just above the counter where they stood, Sam knew that this was about the time that the girl would have been in, quickly shouting orders and calls to the others on her shift, but gazing quietly about the room, she didn't see her anywhere, either.
Which was strange enough on its own, but not enough to cause concern.
"I mean, maybe? But you know she's been...busy, Tuck. She'll probably be in soon. If not, she'll be at school, I guess. Besides, it wasn't like you were going to ask her this morning." She added in slyly, giving the boy pause.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean. I would have, I was totally going to - " He started defensively, but Sam just scoffed, leaning against the counter as she gave him a knowing, skeptical look.
"Really? After an entire summer of saying that, then backing out every single time, today just happens to be the day that you finally ask her out? I'd pay to see that." Sam added, looking away for a moment to see if anyone was going to take their order.
It was getting late.
But Tucker didn't seem to care too much about their breakfast as he held a hand to his chest, mocking an expression of hurt with a gasp.
"I wasn't - I wasn't backing out! I was just...waiting for the right moment. You can't rush these things, you know?" He assured her, though it seemed to be mostly for himself, and at that expression, Sam softened a bit, placing a knowing hand on his shoulder, though her coy look didn't leave. She knew the feeling, the hesitation...hell, when Danny finally popped the question, if she wanted to be his...girlfriend, she could hardly believe it.
In fact, it was so unbelievable, she immediately thought that he was joking, or that perhaps she was dreaming...maybe both. She wasn't sure.
But it didn't matter. If she'd been scared, if she'd hesitated, then they would have never gotten together, and really, she couldn't think of any other world, any other timeline, than this one, where she could be with Danny. But drawn from her own thoughts, she just didn't want one of her closest friends to wait on something like that.
After last year...after everything that's happened...it was easier to realize now, more than ever, that chances came and went, and life was fleeting.
So it was best to make the most of it while you could.
"Look, I get it. I was nervous, too, but...just don't make her wait. If I remember correctly, she seemed pretty into you, too. Just go for it. You've got this...but maybe not this morning. Seems like she's not here." Sam exclaimed, noticing her continued absence, even as, at last, a cashier came from the back, looking quite frazzled, though, taking another glance around, there weren't that many people in the Nasty Burger, so it wasn't exactly busy or anything.
Probably just having a rough morning.
But at her words, Tucker seemed to consider them, relaxing a bit before he nodded at her, giving her a small smile.
"Yeah...you're right...I just...don't want to mess this up, but...I think having an entire summer to think about how to do this is more than enough time, right?" He asked, though he was met with a grin.
"Oh, yeah, sure. That's plenty of time, or, I guess you could give it the fall and winter, too. You know, so you can really be sure. I'm sure she'd be cool with waiting a few more months." She added, rolling her eyes at him, then turning to the girl that had since come to the counter, who, at the time, had been rushing to fix her hair before plastering on a forced smile, pointing her dull, grey eyes at them as she spoke.
"Welcome to the Nasty Burger! What can I get you?" She asked, and Sam was first to speak, noticing that Tucker was still preoccupied with his search to even notice that she was even there. Turning from the frantic teen, she smiled, and spoke, deciding to start with herself since she would be getting the least amount of food; Nasty Burger wasn't exactly known for their super inclusive vegan options, so she would keep it simple.
"Hey! I was wondering if I could have the Mini Veggie Platter? Oh, and add some tater tots, please. That's the first order." She asked, and the girl nodded, taking out a small notepad, and scribbling along its margins quickly, then she looked up again, gesturing for Sam to continue. The teen figured that she would start with Danny's next, since she knew his well enough.
"Then could I have the Breakfast Bite? But don't toast the biscuit. Oh, and could you add extra eggs, and make sure the sausage is fried a bit more, like, char it, but not too much? You know? And an orange juice, please! No pulp." She asked, giving the girl a knowing look (she hated getting super specific with order since it always felt like a bother), but the cashier simply nodded, acknowledging Sam with a patient look before turning to Tucker, but Sam was quick to call her attention back, shaking her head helplessly.
"Ah, yeah, you're not gonna get through to him. I'll order for him. He'll have what he always does; the Super Meaty platter...extra bacon...extra sausage...oh, and hold the waffles. Just with the eggs. And...I think that's it." She stopped, giving the cashier time to work through their order. When she read it back to Sam, she nodded approvingly, making certain that she'd gotten it all correct. At the end of it, she was told the price.
"Okay, that will be...$15.72! Will that be cash, credit, or debit?" She asked, and Sam was already pulling out her wallet, taking from its folds a sleek, blue card, and she turned her head, facing the girl as she spoke.
"Oh, it'll be debit." She answered, and she was guided over to the pin pad, made the transaction, and shortly thereafter, their order was made.
"Okay. Your order should be ready in about ten minutes! Thank you for choosing the Nasty Burger!" The cashier exclaimed at last, and shuffled quickly away, parting just as Sam had turned away, though she was forced to pull Tucker away, who'd nearly thrown himself over the counter to look into the distant kitchen, still in search of Valerie, though, thankfully, he seemed to be putting his search on hold, shaking his head slowly as he was shaken from his stupor, though he'd only just noticed that he was being strung along to a table nearby.
"I don't think she's coming in today. That's weird; she never misses work..." He started, his voice laced with concern, though he was doing his best to conceal it as the two of them were seated at a small table, just a few feet from the serving counter. Checking her phone, Sam sighed at the time.
'06:45...that shouldn't be too late. Just...hurry up, Danny...' She thought, mind turning over worriedly at his absence. She knew he could take care of himself, she knew he was the Danny Phantom, but...that didn't mean that he wasn't capable of getting in trouble, and that definitely didn't mean that he could just evade the GIW, especially with them out, everywhere...all of the time. Looking beyond Tucker, her violet eyes caught the brightening sky beyond, tracing the skyline for any trace of him, though she knew it was a fruitless effort. Flying willy-nilly in town wasn't really an option anymore, so it wasn't likely that he'd be there, but...she was just so used to looking up and seeing him there...it was weird knowing that things would be so...different from now on.
Looking from the windows, she turned back to the table, but she hadn't noticed that Tucker had been looking at her, his face softened with a knowing look, and she was equally surprised (and perhaps a bit startled) when he spoke up, jumping just a bit at the intrusion of his voice.
"You know, he's gonna be fine. Worrying doesn't look good on you." He started, and Sam sighed, fiddling with the edge of her sleeve, words lost on her tongue.
She knew that worrying about him wouldn't exactly do anything; it wasn't as if she could fly out there and force him to come to the Nasty Burger any faster, but part of her wish that she could. At least then, she'd have some semblance of control over this situation; the thought of waiting and not knowing...was worse than anything else.
"I mean...I know, but...I just want to make sure he's really going to be fine. I mean, I know he's going to be, but - " Tucker cut in, hardly giving her the chance to finish, though it wasn't in a rude way. It was as if she could hear her thoughts, her words, before she even said them.
"Having him here right now would be so much better, right? Like, just knowing that he could be caught, even if he isn't going to be...that's what you mean? Like...he was before?" Tucker said simply, dull, teal eyes disclosing just what he'd meant, the two silent as the words passed over her. She wasn't sure she'd had it put so...plainly before; it wasn't as though there were many people to talk to about this sort of thing...save for Jazz and Val. But even they were more prone to beating around the bush with it, so hearing it said so...bluntly...it really put things into perspective. Nodding, unable to speak, she leaned back in her chair, looking away from Tucker. The former didn't say much either for a minute, the two tuned into their own thoughts as time passed beyond the windows of the restaurants. It was a few minutes later that he mustered the thoughts to speak, his voice low, soft.
"You know, I think of that all the time. Like, if I don't have Val right here, sitting right beside me, knowing where she is all the time...then she's not here at all. That...maybe she's already gone." He admitted, wiping quickly at his eyes, though Sam didn't mention it, giving him a moment to collect himself before he spoke again.
"Back then, I thought...I thought maybe...she was. Not having power o-or tech that could really help...I couldn't do...anything. Maybe that's why I'm hesitating so much, you know? Do I have the right to ask her out when...when I couldn't even do anything then?" Tucker whispered, a small, humorless smile wrenched on his face as he looked to Sam, and she didn't have to hear his thoughts to know that...she'd felt the same way.
That they'd had largely the same thoughts.
That they'd largely done the same thing, all those months ago.
Nothing.
They'd done...nothing.
And nearly lost everything because of it.
Chuckling quietly, though it wasn't really a joyful sound, he looked out the same window, in a similar way that she had just a few minutes prior.
"Maybe I don't...but...I think someone told me that I should try, anyway." He started, giving Sam a bemused look that she couldn't help but smile at.
She hated when they used her own advice against her.
"Besides, who knows how long we have? Can't waste it feeling bad for myself...and you can't waste it worrying about him. We got out, we...made it, for better or worse. That should be enough, right. We should make the most of it...especially knowing that not...everyone could." He ended softly, gripping her hand gently, and she returned the gesture, nodding with silently at him, and though her heart wasn't eased...she knew he was right. There was no reason, at least not one she knew or understood, that told them that they were entitled to being the ones that made it.
They just happened to be the lucky ones.
That was it...that was all...and that was enough.
"No...no, you're right. I just...get caught in my head sometimes, that's all. Can't seem to get out of it sometimes..." She admitted. Tucker laughed, rubbing his head sheepishly with his opposite hand.
"Yeah? I can definitely relate...but you don't have to be by yourself in there. We've got each other; Danny, Jazz, Val...me...we're here for each other, okay?" He assured her, and without a moment wasted, she nodded, the veil from her eyes lifting as a sense of hope and relief filled her.
They...they had each other.
And they would be okay.
They would be...okay.
Just then, a waiter presented them with their orders, placing them upon the table in tied bags.
"Here's your order! Sorry for the wait, things are a bit...crazy back there." He chuckled nervously, parting shortly afterward, leaving the two of them, but not without Sam and Tucker thanking him before he left. Though, their interest was piqued at his words, but they wouldn't have the chance to really ask him since he'd already rushed back to the kitchen, a fair bit of commotion rearing from the back. From the shouting to the clanging, both Sam and Tucker shrugged, turning their attention to the door as they stood from their table and pushed their chairs in, making an effort to walk towards to the door of the restaurant. Whatever was going on back there, it was none of their concern; besides, they had places to be, and, upon exiting the Nasty Burger, the two, in the earnest silence between them, began to make the short journey to Casper High.
- (Same time, Elsewhere) -
Keeping high above Amity at least gave him an awesome view of town, and that included that dark woods that laid beyond, the ones that Sam and Tucker mentioned, leading to the North-Western edges of the city and to the areas that, admittedly, he didn't really know that well. Of course, he knew enough about Plum Tree Grove, the large, mobile home community that laid far, far below him, but even up here, he spotted the manicured paths between each of the homes, and the delicate siding of each abode that, honestly, looked really well-kept. Looking beyond it, he could see, further out, the smoke of the local powerplant, plastered somewhere further out in the woods, not too far from the sewage plant, though he figured it probably wasn't necessary to land that far out...
'Now, where can I land that won't cause the whole force of the GIW to come down on me...' Scanning the area adjacent to Plum Tree, he could see the hospital nearby, but he figured there would be too much activity...too much that he couldn't really get away with shifting without having agents down his back. Danny couldn't imagine that they would skimp out on such a place, especially not a hospital where there would be patients and stuff...besides, he could practically feel the buzz of anti-ecto energy down below as he passed over it.
'Not there...what about...' Looking about, he spotted the old television station, and he noticed that the pull of anti-ecto wasn't as strong there. He didn't know exactly why it was that it wasn't, but he guessed that not enough people passed through that store for it to warrant needing security against ghosts...at least, not as much as a hospital would need. Or...that's the story that he was going with; he couldn't be sure, but he figured it didn't matter.
Just as long as he was far enough away to keep the alarms from going off, that was all that counted.
He'd been focused enough in thought that he'd almost missed his Fenton Phone going off in his ear, and tapping the side of it, he wasn't surprised to greet both Sam and Tucker's voices.
"Hey, guys. I'm just on the outskirts of town. About to land near the television station, right there on the edge of the woods. Shouldn't be too many agents or whatever there, right?" He asked, despite not seeing many of them, but there wasn't a way to be sure, and at the question, Tucker perked up on the other end. After a moment, Danny slowed to a crawl, giving him time to check his PDA (which is what he assumed the other was doing), and when he finally spoke, his suspicion was confirmed.
"Uh...yeah! Yeah, that should be good; try getting right on the edge of the woods, just to be sure. It's...06:52 now, so if you haul ass, you should make it before school starts...probably." Tucker added in post, but Sam was a bit more certain, paying little mind to the former's comments to inject some of her own.
"Don't worry, it'll be fine. And yes, we'll for you before we eat. We'll be in-front of the school, so just meet us there." She ended, and though she couldn't see him, Danny nodded, smiling to him.
It was finally time to see them...after all of this time. He just had to make it there, and there was nothing in Amity or this entire world that could keep him from them.
And making his way to the ground, he feel his heart race with anticipation at finally meeting again, a summer too long.