Life was feeling more than a little hectic for Danny right now, more than usual. Some good things came out of it. Jack had been surprisingly okay with the idea of Danny wanting to drop out of high school and get his GED instead. If it had been Maddie, Danny knew she would have been so against the idea. But his father wasn't. Jack had asked him about college, and Danny had been completely honest.

He wasn't sure that was a route he wanted to take, and Jack seemed to understand. It was a bit awkward, and Danny started worrying if Jack had figured something else out, if he had something else on mind to talk about. Despite that, the conversation had gone well, really well. Danny promised his dad that he would at least finished the current year, and start his senior year before he came to the decision of what to do. And Jack had asked to be the one to talk to Maddie about it, and Danny was more than willing to let him deal with his mother.

That wasn't the source of Danny's current stress and anxiety. No, right now his computer was his worry. More specifically, there was a video call Danny was waiting on. A video call that can and will end any chances of a decent future if he failed it.

When Sam first called him to tell him about what she had been doing. Behind Danny's back, she used her parents name and connections to try and find something to help him with the Dalv. Co. situation. Part of Danny wanted to be mad, he hadn't asked her for the help, and he can handle things on his own. But other part of Danny was touched. His core thrumming at the realization.

Sam had actually thought of him, even without Danny prompting it whatsoever. It's not likely Danny didn't think his friends cared or thought about him. It was more like he just doesn't expect people to go out of their way for things that didn't affect them. Danny had only complained a handful of times about Maddie and her stress about him having a good internship.

Wayne Enterprises is a perfect internship on an application. It didn't matter if it was a college application or a job one, the Wayne name carried a lot of weight in the world. Now, Danny was a little hesitant about working under another billionaire. But Bruce hadn't been so bad the brief interactions that Danny had. Bruce didn't like Vlad, which meant Danny was less likely to have to deal with Vlad there.

It didn't make it any less anxiety inducing. Especially since Danny would be talking to someone new. He had called Wayne Enterprise, dropped Sam's name, and was almost instantly given a time for the interview. After he had mentioned being out of state, which didn't seem to be an issue either. It was too smooth for Danny's liking and he can only imagine this interview going horribly.

"What is your experience?"

That was the first question to hit Danny after a quick introduction. A question that felt so loaded, that Danny wasn't even sure he could answer. What experiences did he have? It was nothing he could think was worth mentioning. He didn't have any direct true work, not quite. The closest thing was his short time time as an intern at Dalv. Co.

"I spent did a bit of an internship with another tech company... but my parents are scientists and inventors. I spent most of my life tinkering and working with them on somethings. I've built a few prototypes as well, and I've edited and improved prior created inventions."

Danny felt so out of his depth as he spoke, each word felt more like a question than an actual answer. Lucius seemed like a serious man, and every word Danny said felt like he was digging a deeper hole. Like he was wasting this man's time by even trying for this internship. Danny didn't have the experience, and he's nowhere near the level of someone who should work at Wayne Enterprise. Even if it's just an intern.

"What's the first thing you've ever made that made you proud?"

Danny hadn't expected to that question. What has he made that actually made him proud? It took a moment, a moment longer than Danny would have like, for something to pop into his head. It might be a stupid thing to say, something that could easily get him knocked off the possible list of being accepted. But it was the only thing Danny could think about.

Before he could doubt himself, Danny started to talk. Recounting a simple thing he had created. It wasn't anything too special, it had been a small simple ring that detected active ectoplasm around the user. Danny had created it for Sam and Tucker, something to warn his friends about nearby ghosts if Danny wasn't around to do it. It had been such a simple design, but Danny had felt elated when it worked. When the ring had started to glow near him, when he had sealed it in an ecto-proof container and it had immediately dimmed into nothing.

It was a feeling Danny hadn't felt again, but it would be a hard one to forget. It had been so simple, but Danny was just happy to have created something that helped. It wasn't like his parents inventions, it did cause any harm to anything. It was just a detection system, something Danny thought of when the ghosts attacks were more common. More dangerous.

Once Danny started to talk, it was like the ice had broken. The tension in the interview seemed to drop drastically, and Danny found himself rambling more than anything. Lucius asked some questions, sure, but he had just let Danny talk. A few times Danny felt like he should stop, he'd look at the man in his computer. Lucius was actively listening, watching Danny in a way that didn't come off negative.

And so, Danny found himself still talking.

The Zone had become Danny's safe space in a sense. When it wasn't revolved around the politics and struggle of being king, Danny loves the Zone. His own personal haunt had appeared among the floating rocks when Danny had officially been crowned king, it was almost like the Zone had accepted him. A simple Astronomy Tower, smaller than the average, but just the right size for just Danny.

Sometimes when the living world became too much for Danny, he'd retreat into the Zone. Settle down on the couch by the window, and just unwind to the sight of the green and purple scenery around him. Often times, Danny would doze off. Catching some much needed rest where he could, but it was never planned. His body forcing him more than anything. Other times, Danny would have an unexpected visitor.

"Hey dipstick... you alright?"

Danny's eyes landed on Johnny, a bit surprised to see the ghost. Johnny 13 wasn't an often visitor, and when he visited there was always a reason. Danny automatically scanned the area for Shadow, catching no sight of the other ghost anywhere. Danny had instantly responded saying he was fine, he really needed people to stop asking him that. He never thought the news would reach the Zone, but these days Danny couldn't be surprised.

"No, I mean... like, you feel alright? Physically? You don't feel right, man." Johnny's response only confused Danny even more, his mind racing for what Johnny could be talking about. Danny was in his ghost form, he was Phantom right now, any issues with his heart shouldn't be able to be picked up. He essentially had no heart right now, not a beating one anyways.

Danny hadn't even gotten the chance to respond before the motorcyclist was step into his space. Pressing a hand against Danny's chest. The initial contact felt normal, but after a second Danny felt a strange feeling wash over him, pulling a sharp gasp from the halfa. At the same time, Johnny made a less than positive noise, ripping his hand away from Danny before gripping the teen's wrist.

It happened so fast. One moment Danny was in his own haunt, and the next he was in the Clock Tower. Johnny had ignored every question Danny tried to ask, telling him that there wasn't time, and this was too important to waste time on explanations. In all honesty, Danny felt like Johnny just didn't want to have this conversation with him.

"You were right. He's all yours."

Nope, not happening. Danny didn't care what Clockwork had said, and he wasn't about to spend time agonizing on something that wasn't a big deal. There was far too much to do, and Danny was fine. Sure, sometimes his chest did hurt and he felt like he was going to collapse. But that barely happened. He only passed out once, and the thing that happened at Sam's place was just a panic attack.

That's it, that's all it was. Besides, a little crack couldn't be that big of a deal, right? If his core really was damaged, it'll just heal. Like Clockwork had said, Danny just needed to reinforce his obsession. Danny was certain his obsession was protecting his town, his home, his people. So, he just had fix things at home. If his supposedly weak heart was due to a crack to his core, which happened when he fought with Maddie, than all he had to do was fix things with her.

Danny could do that. He'll call his mother, and apologize. Tell her how sorry he was, and how he knew he crossed a line. That Jack and Jazz had jumped the gun by kicking her out. It wasn't a big deal, it was just a slap. It was nothing compared to all the other injuries Danny had sustained since the accident. Danny had literally died! A slap shouldn't be this big of a deal. He was just being dramatic, his core was being dramatic.

"Dad... when is mom coming back?" Danny felt like a kid disturbing his parents while they were sleeping. The moment the question left his mouth, Danny regretted it. He instantly saw the way his father's shoulders had tensed as Jack set aside the item he had been tinkering with. Danny felt like it's been ages since he step back down into the lab, and the air felt so different than he was used to.

"I'm... I'm not sure, Danny-boy. She'll come back when she's ready."

Something about Jack's tone made Danny felt even worse. His chest felt a little tighter now, but Danny wasn't going to focus on that. It wasn't important, instead he focused on his breathing. He couldn't have another breakdown, he couldn't. Right now, Danny just needed to fix the mess that he had caused. It didn't matter how, but he needed to.

"I'm not mad at her. I don't want mom to stay away because of me..."

That had instantly gotten a reaction of Danny, Jack spinning around like he had just been shocked. Danny had just blinked when his father was standing in front of him, large hands gently grasping Danny's shoulders. The tightness didn't go away, but it was overshadowed by a thrum Danny felt deep in his chest. He could feel emotions starting to flow from the point of contact, and Danny couldn't help hating this ability in the moment.

"It's not because of you, Danny. I need you to understand that. Your mother didn't leave because of you, she did because of herself. Maddie..." Jack paused, seemingly searching for the right words to say. Danny didn't full believe his dad's words. If Maddie had left for herself, than why did she leave after Danny had been hit? She hadn't even come into his room to check on him. The last time Danny saw Maddie was when the fight happened. "She just needs some time to think, okay? She'll come back. Your mother would never leave her family forever."

Danny couldn't think of anything to say. Jack's concern and care was radiating through his shoulders, and Danny's core was threatening to sing at the feeling. After finding out about his newfound ability to purr, Danny really didn't want to accidentally do that right now. So instead, Danny simply swallowed and nodded in response. Jack felt like he was telling the truth, and really when had his dad ever really lie to him?

It was just hard for Danny to really believe it. He wanted to speak to Maddie, despite the idea sparking his nerves. This was his mother, he had no reason to be so worried about fixing things with her. The moment of tension and reassurance passed almost as quickly as it came. Jack backing away, and seeming almost as unsure as Danny felt.

"How about we go on a trip? Just you and me. If you're going to get your GED, than missing a few weeks won't be a big deal. Right? We can go anywhere you want."

That wasn't something Danny expected. He couldn't really remember the last time him and Jack had done something that was just the two of them. Something that wasn't just a short time frame. Jack was offering a trip, a few weeks of one. Maybe Jack was just trying to distract from the glaringly obvious absence in the home, or maybe he did want to spend time with Danny.

"Actually, I, uhm... I got accepted for an internship at Wayne Enterprises. I was going to do the work long distance, but..." The idea of going to Gotham so close to when Vlad was going to go himself, did unsettle Danny a bit. Except Danny wouldn't be with Vlad. He'd be working in a different company, and he'd be with Jack. The idea of going with some of his support system there was something that did ease a lot of Danny's concern about going anywhere near Gotham. But before Danny could even continue, Jack at jumped in.

"Wayne Enterprise! Danny, that's amazing! It's even better than Dalv. Co." Jack was ecstatic, his face broken out into a familiar grin. Danny really should have expected Jack's excitement, but he hadn't expected Jack to brush Vlad's own company to the side like that. It was like all idea of Danny working with Vlad immediately went out the window. "Gotham it is! I'll get it started, handle your school. We're going to Jersey!"

Jack continued to ramble on about his own excitement of going to Gotham with his son, going on about all the sights he wanted to take Danny to see. He hadn't realize how much about Gotham, or New Jersey as whole, that his dad knew about. Danny couldn't help his own excitement bubbling in his chest, Jack was always so infectious like that.

In that moment, it was like all tension, pain, and stress just seemed to vanish. Danny felt good for the first time since Batman's exit from Amity Park. Danny was going to Gotham with his dad. They were going to spend time together, relax. Danny pointedly tried to ignore the voice in the back of his head telling him that he'll be closer to Batman. That there was a chance that Danny could see the cape crusader once again.

And for a moment, Danny wasn't even thinking about the stress of things going on in his own family.