Chapter Text
Friday
School started normally, and classes went by nonchalantly the atmosphere was dim and cold Amity was known for their attractiveness of ghosts everyone has gotten so used to catching glimpses of them but this morning felt different.
Tucker noted it with a keen eye, the A-lists were socially distant from each other which is weird in itself- Paulina and Dash looked as if they wanted to tear each other's eyes out via the constant arguments between them and Sam, well, he hasn't seen her.
She texted him in a hurry last night saying she "it's all my fault" Tucker is beyond confused at what's been going on these past few days.
He wanted to bring it up with his friends but they've been distant as well, Danny did say he's starting to warm up to her again so why is Sam suddenly acting weird!? It's all too much, really, it's like he's caught in the middle of a war and he has no idea how to solve it.
Ever since Danny and Dash started smooching behind the bleachers, he's been keeping silent about his opinions on their relationship- he still didn't trust Dash as much but Danny seemed happy and he supposes that's what was important. However, Tucker openly disliked the fact Danny was okay with being some guys' side piece—but, it looks like a certain blonde is having trouble with the main.
"Hey, Tuck..."
He flinched digging his elbow into the locker, Tucker winced and moves away to see Danny. He eyes him, the guy is half dead, bags hauling bags under his tried blue eyes he's never seen him this worn out before.
Tucker assumed it was another ghost thing as Danny had mentioned some weird—weirder shit happening, and he's been scoping the ghost zone for any suspicious activity.
"Did you and Vlad find anything?" he asks shifting his attention back over to a bickering couple, "God they've been at each other's throats all morning...you sure Paulina hasn't figured you two out...?"
Danny slowly blinked he heard the snap of his eyes and inwardly cringed, the ravenette looks at Dash and Paulina a smug smirk lining his lips then it caves. "No way, we're sneaky about it- the only persons who know are you, Kwan and Sam."
"Anyways, to answer you're question Vlad and I found Zip. The ghost zone is so damn big! That giant hole we found once it's like it keeps moving...Ugh! And that Amai ghost is no help because whoever is up to this keeps snapping their fingers and poof! She's gone." Danny dragged out each word emphasising with blown pupils and wide eyes, Tucker turned back to him and patted his shoulder.
"Dude, if there's anything you need Sam and I got you- you said whoever is doing this somehow managed to broadcast past the zone, right?"
"Mhm, guess that stupid show isn't so stupid. The ghost pulling the strings gotta be powerful."
"Talked to Clockwork? He has the answers to everything."
Danny smacked his forehead, "Why didn't I think of that!" he sighs and Tucker chuckles. "Right...I'll go after school, hey, where's Sam? Usually by now she'll be throwing glares and huffing at me."
To that Tucker shrugged he didn't know where the goth was and had a feeling she won't show until whatever it is she did is fixed, "She texted me saying she fucked up and disappeared. Hope she's okay,"
Danny hummed a small yawn passed his lips. "She's fine probably at the library?"
A sudden scream turns everyone's head, they looked over at Paulina who was in tears and throwing an accused finger at Dash.
"WE ARE OVER DASH BAXTER! DO YOU HEAR ME!"
The few persons along with the A-listers gasped murmurs expectedly so fills the halls. Paulina pushes past him covering her face she ran, and Star and some other girls went after her. Dash stood there for a minute then walked off Kwan following behind, everyone from the group disbands.
Tucker glanced at Danny who had a small smile on his face, he frowns. "Dude," he punched his shoulder gaining an "ow" — "Not cool, Paulina looked upset."
"Pfft, so? Where's Sam she'd love to see this."
"I saw."
Tucker perks up at the sound of her voice and turns immediately wrapping her arms around her slim shoulders, "Sammy!"
"Tucker don't call me that! And get off,"
He lets go and asked where she's been earning a shrug. Sam folds her arms hair falling in her face as she peeks at where Paulina took off to, "On most days I'd be happy to see the sad downfall of Paulina..."
"What's so different about today? Grew a heart?" Tucker jokes.
Sam's frown deepened and she said nothing. Her eyes past Tucker to Danny eyeing him, "Satisfied?" she asks.
Oh no
Was Tucker's thought.
"What do you mean satisfied?"
"Oh, don't play dumb Danny. You're jumping in your pants right now—now that he's on the market, don't you care a little about Paulina's feelings?"
"Uhhh no, I don't actually. If anything this is payback for the number of times she broke my heart, everyone cheats Sam-"
"Not everyone cheats and enjoys it!"
"Oh, yes clap the mighty Sam for finally standing up for what's right. When you slut shamed and constantly try to pick fuss with her where was the love then, huh?! What's your damn probably with me!"
"MY PROBLEM IS YOU BEING WITH HIM!"
Sam yells stomping her feet, Tucker is instantly at her side after hearing a few mumbles trying to keep her quiet. "Sam—"
"Why can't you see that I still love you, Danny?! It hurts so much to see you with him and not me! You are a selfish, inconsiderate jerk! You and Dash do deserve each other..." she thankfully whispered the last part then walked off.
Tucker calls for her earning nothing but a huff. "Danny-"
"Whatever, Sam! UGH!" Danny storms off Tucker saw the flash of green before he did so, the tech nerd sighed head falling and his glasses fell. Just when he thought things for them were getting better, his little friend group, he didn't care about Dash or Danny- and whatever Sam has going on. He just wanted his friends back.
The bell rings another sigh recalling he had Biology first thing, Tucker looks between where they stormed off and pouts. "Losing both sucks..." he gets his books and is about to head to class when a hand cold hand grazed his neck, his eyes widened when a sudden cold wash over him causing flacks of goosebumps to raise on his skin.
He looks back only to see a short pale green face with bloodshot eyes floating mid-air, Tucker being Tucker he jumps back in a defensive stance but the ghost didn't attack.
She looks around then back at him, "You're Tucker, right?"
"...uh...yeah?" His stance eased when he saw a small smile appear on her face.
"Great! Now," she raised her small hands and her smile widened Tucker isn't stupid...that's for damn sure, he steps back exclaiming he needed to leave but the ghost's smile only got wider. Snap, the sound of her fingers clasping together and then the faint sound of Tucker's books falling to the ground.
Tucker had vanished and so did that little ghost.
Danny goes to look for Dash
Dash didn't show up for class and he can't help but feel enclosed, was he throwing a pity party? Having second thoughts about their relationship? Danny anxiously taps at his desk, he's so tired that he couldn't think straight he needed to find Dash.
He raised his hand, "Yes Fenton?"
"Bathroom..." not only is he tired but something felt odd, well flying for hours and hours through an empty green space of nothingness does that to you- the teacher sighed and allowed him a pass, Danny swiftly jumps from his seat gathering his bag not planning on returning to her boring lesson.
He heads to the library erasing any unwanted thoughts from his mind, he wanted to make sure Dash is okay.
Danny enters and went to the back sighing in relief when he saw Dash nonchalantly sitting there drawing in his book, "Dash...hey," he greets taking a seat by him. "You okay?"
Dash eyed him and chuckled then looked back at his work, "Should ask you the same. You look like shit."
"Haha, very funny. I saw what happened..."
"And lemme guess you're here to make sure I haven't changed my mind about you?"
Danny shies away a blush reaching his pale cheeks. "Am I that obvious?"
Dash must have noticed the worry and moved closer blonde brows furrowed together but his overall demeanour was soft, "Don't worry my mind is still made up. I've been waiting for her to say those words for years now."
"Oh," his blush got deeper. "That's...nice."
Dash chuckled. "You're such a dork, sure it's kinda suspicious she out of nowhere broke things off but—you don't think she..." he gestured between them, "Knows right?"
"No way, Paulina shares half a brain cell with Star- besides Tucker wouldn't say anything and Kwan too, and as much as Sam hates me now she isn't that horrible." except for her odd behaviour earlier.
Danny hums, "She said she still likes me..."
"Uh-duh, damn Danny I didn't know you were that slow."
"Hey! Well, whatever, it was just surprising is all. Either way, Sam isn't the one to do something like that."
Their small reassurance made both smile, Paulina probably did have the same thought in mind that Dash was cheating on her thus leading to the breakup. She had no proof, lacks any evidence to prove he's been smooching around with Danny so what's there to worry about?
Danny shifts closer and placed his head on Dash's shoulder sighing softly at the warmth, another reason why he hated the zone it's because of how frigid it is. Cold and lifeless, at times he felt bad for ghosts—felt bad for himself, he hates the cold, but being this close to someone he has a connection with heated his half-dead heart.
"I hate physical contact in public,"
"Mhm. You better get used to it, Baxter."
Dash glanced down at him, "You tired?"
"Very much so..." Danny's eyes slowly closed reopening again he yawns. "Be my pillow, you're surprisingly soft considering the muscles." he slips from his shoulder down to his lap, "Don't get any ideas.."
"Sure, whatever you say. Did you stay up last night watching that show?"
Danny stayed silent his lips parted and he sighed, "Something like that...just be quiet you're so warm."
Dash rolled his eyes but kept his comment to himself not wanting to disturb Danny's nap.
He jolts awake sweat beating down his face and neck, Danny's breath hitch in his throat causing him to wheeze and cough. A sudden burst of adrenaline kicks in and he transforms into a phantom, he isn't at school, he isn't with Dash.
Danny quickly jumps to his feet green eyes scanning the darkness, "Where am I...?" his words sound slurred and his body felt lifeless, breathing heavies as he tries to piece any sense of what's happening together. Danny covered his mouth saliva overflowing and he gags, he knows this feeling, "I'm in the zone..."
But where in the zone, currently where he's standing had no green blobs floating around or no green anything! It's all pitch black, "Hello..?" he calls out of course gaining no response.
Danny hesitates to move, "Hello!" a little louder yet his voice is meek.
"...Danny? Danny!"
That voice.
He jumps to his feet floating midair he calls out again this time by name, "Tucker!?" the person calls his name again and he's sure that's his friend, wasting no more time he rushed off into the darkness where he came from. Danny flies through what felt like curtains and ended up in light, his eyes adjust and he inspects the area.
He's beyond bewildered, looking back to where he came to see a sealed-off wall, he looks up noticing a giant gap where the light came.
"What the fuck is going on,"
"Danny!"
He recalls Tucker and circles the perimeter, Danny spots a small figure in the distance knowing it's a ghost he puts on his mean face and flies over demanding his friend.
A small ghost with dark green hair, she wasn't green like a normal ghost instead she had pale skin. Her head was down but Danny assumed from her dress that she had to be a very old ghost.
"Who are you? Where is my friend?" Danny gets closer, "Don't make me ask twice."
The ghost looks up giving a clear look on her face.
"You're ... Danny? Right?"
Not a surprise she knew who he was.
Danny glares, "Answer my question! Where is Tucker!"
She smiles big and then snapped her finger. Out of nowhere, Tucker appears in her arms, she playfully squished the frightened boy's face and laughs. “Oh yes! He’s a screamer, hehe, but don’t worry I haven't hurt him…yet anyways.”
Danny snarled he was about to attack when she poofs and he went right through her, I keep forgetting we can do that!
“Enough games! Who are you?”
“Ho-oh,” her eyes gleams and she squished Tucker’s face harder excitedly kicking her feet like a child, well, she is. “No one has ever asked for my name before! Haha, but, I can’t seem to remember. Alas, I’ve been dead for more than 200 years! Haha..!”
Danny cringes backwards and so did Tucker, the fear still present in his eyes.
“You’re the ghost that’s been doing the kidnappings, huh? Why?”
A mischievous glint in her eyes and a crooked smile certainly wasn’t an answer so asking again Danny made sure his voice is stern almost like Vlad’s. The ghost giggles, “Playtime dummy! You see, beginning a ghost sucks. All you do is float around, scare a couple of humans and repeat! So, I decided to create these fun games everyone can play!”
“You mean forced to play,” Danny glares.
She scoffed floating around with Tucker attached to her hip, “Tomato apple, whatever! C‘mom Phantom you don’t care about these ghost’s enough to medal in my playtime,” her hair suddenly caught flames as her voice grew deep and distorted. Tucker wiggled muffled screams echoed slightly off these hallow walls this made her grip tighten harshly around his head, “So,” she floats higher the clear outline of an evil grin curving her face.
Danny was stuck to watch as she moves higher and higher with Tucker dangling dangerously from her hip. He swallowed.
“Why don’t you, forget everything about me and this entire situation? You wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to anyone you care about, Danny. Right?”
“…”
She giggles. “Right! Let’s get back to how it’s supposed to be, I can have my playtime and you can get back to not caring about these stupid ghosts. Do we have a deal?”
“…Vlad will stop you himself,”
Her laugh booms not sounding so childlike or young but an old raspy dried-up laugh, “Oh. That guy? Let him try, so do we have a deal?”
From afar he can see her nails digging into Tucker’s flesh the dark-skinned boy getting more anxious than before, Danny gnawed at his bottom lip fists curled at his side. His eyes flashed a bright green before ultimately agreeing.
“Hehe! I knew you were smart!” she smiles, “Just watch from the comfort of your home like before, here,” her smile widened and she lets go of Tucker laughing like a madwoman.
Danny acted quickly leaping into the air and catching the slim boy with ease.
“Bye-bye Danny! Tune in for the next episode!” leaving behind athe squeaky giggle that stains the air with anxiety and fear.
“I think I shit myself more than once this time,” Tucker mumbles as the scene closes on Danny’s strained expression.