Note: The story behind this one is more complicated. It's based on two conversations with ectoblood on tumblr. The first was about a clone asking Danny to kill him and the second was a question. They asked: Would a Danny clone feel imperfect because he doesn't share the same interests and dream as the original?

Daniel knows he was imperfect. It's obvious; Father made that abundantly clear. The boy knows he was cloned from someone named Danny. And the older half ghost made it clear; he looked just like Danny and had all his powers. But that wasn't enough. Father wants a better version of this Danny, someone who is a loving and obedient son but also with the personality and interests of the original. Perfect son, Father says, holding up this idealized version of the clone. He is to be the perfect son.

Father tries to force him in that direction. Daniel is a clone so of course, he likes space and video games and horror movies if his original. Daniel wants to be a good son, a perfect son. He really does. And he tries. He tries everything that Father offers him. And Daniel finds he likes some things that Danny does and doesn't like other things. The clone also finds he has some of his own interests and dreams. He would rather watch birds in the garden than the stars. He's rather draw than play video games. And horror movies...they scar him. He'd rather watch musicals.

Father notices the difference and the man does not like it. He's deeply dissatisfied because how dare his 'perfect son' not meet all of his expectations. His ideals that no one, not a clone or even the original Danny, could ever meet.

Soon he's always yelling at Daniel for some reason.

"Say yes sir, when you address me!"

"I… yes, Father. Sir."

"I told you to clean the kitchen an hour ago. Why is it not done?!"

"I...I apologize, sir. I'll...I'll do that right now."

"You call that an ecto energy attack? Pathetic!"

"Allow...allow me to try again. I will do better, please."

He's not obedient enough or powerful enough. He's ungrateful, too quiet, too timid.

"Why do you never use the telescope I bought you?!"

"I...I have been busy with my studies. But..Tonight. Father, sir."

Daniel never geeks out about space. The clone actually likes reading and birdwatching and hiking. He's quieter and more thoughtful than his original.

All this burns in Vlad's mind, his anger rising. How dare his perfect son behave like this? He was to be a perfect copy, in body and mind, yet perfectly loyal to his maker.

And for Daniel, all he wants is to make his Father happy. Maybe Father will be happy with him if he acts more like the person that Father wants him to be. So he tries to make himself like the things that Danny does and pretends to enjoy Danny's interests. But he's miserable, because space and horror movies don't make him happy like reading in the garden and watching the birds does. He tries to be more outgoing and outspoken but that's just not him. And Vlad can see that the clone is just putting on an act, trying to be more like Danny but failing (because he's not Danny!).

So Vlad gets increasingly angry and dissatisfied because his 'perfect' son isn't perfect. Vlad yells at him because he's wrong, broken, a mistake, imperfect.

"Why should I even bother to keep a mistake like you around?"

"I… Father. Please. I'll do better."

"Be silent."

"Father?"

"Never call me that again! Nothing as broken and imperfect as you deserves the privilege of calling me that. I am your Master, boy."

"But-"

"I AM YOUR MASTER."

"Yes… yes sir, Master."

And Daniel believes him because Vlad is his Father, no, his Master and his Master has to be correct. If he was just more like Danny, then the man would love him. But he can't be more like Danny. He's not Danny and he'll never be, no matter how hard he tries.

Vlad gave up on him, in his insanity thinking he just needs to try again. But he keeps the clone because he could be useful. Daniel isn't Vlad's son. He is tool. The man stops even trying to show him affection, increasingly having him run dangerous errands and be a lab rat for the older halfa. Vlad throws himself into making the next clone

"This one will work. It has too."

"F- Master. Please, I'm hungry. Maybe I have some...some food."

And the clone increasingly spirals into hopelessness and depression.

"Stop crying. You're negatively affecting the data."

"F..father. Please. St...stop."

"I told you not to call me that."

A cry of pain as Vlad digs the knife in deeper.

"Oh please. It barely even hurts."

Weakened from hunger, thirst, and injury, Daniel escapes one day when Master is away. He...he is a failure. He...he is weak, he is horrid for begging Master to stop, for leaving now. But...he can't...he can't do this anymore. There is...there is only one way for the pain to end.

He arrives at a familiar building, one he's seen through Master's cameras. He rings the door bell and the front door opens to a familiar boy.

"Please. Please kill me."

Danny refuses, of course. So Daniel tries to force his hand, attacking him. But Danny still refuses to hurt him, only defending himself so he can capture the other boy. Danny manages to get him in a thermos and soon after releases him in the ghost containment unit in the basement. He hates doing it but needs to talk to the other boy where the clone can't hurt himself or anyone else. Danny manages to get some information from the near inconsolable boy.

"He keeps… he keeps hurting me."

'Who?"

"M...master."

Eyes wide. "Vlad! Of course. Of course he cloned me again."

Despite being stable and trying to be a good son, the clone's still not what Vlad wants. He's tried so hard to be what the older half-ghost wants but the man is still obsessed with having the 'perfect' son. And feeling like a failure and that his life is worthless, the clone wants to die and hopes that his original would have mercy enough to take him out of his misery.

After the speech, Danny is heartbroken watching the other boy weep. He feels helpless, not knowing what to do. He joins the other boy inside the unit, trying to comfort him. The clone still begs Danny to end him but the other halfa refuses.

"Why won't you just do it?!"

"I will not hurt you. I don't care how much you beg me or if you attack me again, I. will. not. hurt. you."

"Please. I'm no one. I'm worthless. I can't do this."

"You're not worthless. I promise. You're not."

"But I am. I AM."

Danny grabs the other boy's face. "Look at me. You are not worthless. You aren't no one."

"But-"

Danny cuts him off. "You're family." The clone's mouth snaps. "I don't care that we just met, or that you tried to hurt me. I made up my mind. You're my family, no matter what. And I am going to find a way to help you. Vlad will never hurt you again."

The other boy looks dumbstruck but Danny can tell he was listening. Just after Danny let go of his face, the clone fell forward, collapsing in Danny's arms. He still wept but Danny thinks this clone did hear him. And he meant what he said. The boy he was hugging was family and Danny would always do everything in his power to help his family. Even if he wasn't sure how to right now.