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Disclaimer: This story takes place during the 2004-2005 school year.
Danny Fenton was a 12-year-old kid. He was a preteen and a high-schooler, too, but these labels never fit as well as the first. The freckled, raven-haired boy showed no signs of puberty, and his pale, skinny frame was shorter than average. Skipping two grades had made the problem far worse, especially around jocks. As a result, Danny favored his home life and the safe, familiar role of a growing child. Sadly, even this had its issues.
It was the first Friday of the ‘04-’05 school year in Amity Park, Illinois, and with it came one of the biggest hurdles in Danny’s young life. The bashful boy sat in a ball in the back of his mom’s car, shaking with anxiety and fear. He was dressed childishly in the soft, dark blue cotton of his favorite NASA button-up pajamas. Since he was traveling, he also wore his favorite red and white cupsole skate shoes, which featured shooting stars instead of manufacturer logos.
Danny’s bright, crystal blue eyes dimmed as they traced the faint outline of the absorbent padding hugging his midsection. Why, he wondered, was he wetting the bed after all these years? His mom had an answer, of course, complete with all the proper scientific terminology. It was a condition called secondary nocturnal enuresis, and it was his body’s response to trauma. Danny sighed and stared at his feet; this wasn’t helping.
Truthfully, Danny’s nighttime accidents were not the sole cause of his unease. In fact, the scrawny boy had grown somewhat fond of his Goodnites, which were white with dark blue sides and a dark blue, lime green, and cyan outer space design. Despite their bulk, the childish garments were surprisingly comfy and conveyed a soothing sense of security. Still, they were beyond embarrassing, which was why he never made friends and was now so darn scared.
“We're here!”
Danny was jolted back to reality by his mom’s voice and the quick deceleration that came with it. The raven-haired boy swallowed hard as they stopped before a red brick townhouse one floor taller than Fenton Works. Danny knew it as the home of a new kid at school whose extremely social mother was now mentoring his own. The two preteens had been pushed into a trial friendship, starting with the one thing that scared them most: a sleepover.
Jasmine “Jazz” Fenton, age 21, smiled softly as she stepped onto the sidewalk with her son. Jazz was a lithe, muscular young woman who towered above most people at a whopping 6’4”. She had fiery red waist-length hair, piercing aquamarine eyes, and a smattering of freckles. Despite her difficult, self-guided childhood, she was a straight-A psychology student and mature beyond her years. Like most days, she wore a black long-sleeved V-neck shirt, aquamarine pants, black flats, and an aquamarine headband.
Danny shouldered a black and red duffel bag as he stood, shaking slightly in fear. Jazz grasped his shoulders and spoke softly, doing her best to reassure him.
“Alright, Danny, I know you’re nervous, but I promise everything will be okay. You and Austin have a lot in common, so you should get along great. And if not, you can always call me, okay?”
Danny nodded and swallowed hard.
“Okay.”
Jazz smiled and pulled her son into a loose hug.
“Good. I love you, my little starshine, and I hope you have a great time.”
Danny hugged back without hesitation, his cheeks pink.
“Thanks, Mom. I love you too.”
Finally, Danny headed for the front steps, trying- and failing- to calm himself with one of his mom’s breathing techniques. The house loomed over his little frame, its shadowy facade forming a great face eager to swallow him whole. Still, the raven-haired boy pressed on, approaching a darkly stained door with two narrow, decorative windows. Shaking fearfully, he rang the bell and waited, fiddling with his hands all the while.
With a quiet creak, the door opened to reveal a skinny woman with green eyes and light, shoulder-length locks that gleamed like gold. Rosacea lightly flushed her face, and her hair was tied neatly in a ponytail. She wore a pretty red shirt with a sunflower design, light blue jeans, white sneakers, silver stud earrings, and a silver cubic zirconia wedding ring.
“Hi there! You must be Danny,” the woman beamed. She paused, her tone and expression softening. “Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Danny’s expression soured as he was reminded of his donors’ irritating obsession. On the bright side, his frustration gave him enough confidence to stop shaking.
“I-I’m fine, just nervous. I’m not really the social type.”
The woman smiled warmly as she ushered him inside and closed the door.
“Well, we don’t bite, I promise. I’m Vickie, but you can call me Mrs. Kavanagh or Mrs. K. Austin’s room is upstairs, last door on the right. And please, let me know if you need anything.”
Danny nodded and gave a timid smile. It was nice to have an adult actually care for a change.
“O-Okay, thank you.”
Swallowing hard, Danny ascended the home’s U-shaped staircase, his shaky steps silenced by aging, greenish-gray carpet. On the second floor, the padded preteen followed yellow walls and white baseboards to a white door with a round, brass-colored knob. Taking a deep breath, he knocked lightly and, though not religious, prayed silently for acceptance.
A few seconds later, the door opened, and Danny felt like his brain had blue-screened. Blood rushed to his cheeks as he eyed a skinny, bashful boy about his height with the cutest dimples he had ever seen. His handsome host had short, blond hair and stormy blue eyes, the latter aided by dark gray, rectangular glasses. The preteen’s nerdiness was the proverbial cherry on top, made evident by his golden yellow The Lion King button-up pajamas.
Surprisingly, Austin looked even more anxious, a trait he would later attribute to a mild-to-moderate case of Asperger's syndrome. The blond swallowed hard as he searched for words, struggling mightily to meet his guest's gaze. His cheeks burned as he took in the most brilliant blue eyes he had ever seen; two beautiful stars he could easily get lost in. Danny was impossibly, unconventionally handsome; the perfect short, skinny cross between nerd and skater. His messy quiff, soft features, and nervous smile were simply too cute for words.
“H-Hi, I’m Austin. N-Nice to meet you.”
Danny was overwhelmed by his emotions and struggled to speak. His voice cracked once he found it, much to his increasing embarrassment.
“I-I’m Danny,” he stammered, “N-Nice to meet you, too.”
Suddenly, the newfound friends were accosted by a skinny, four-year-old girl with brown eyes and chin-length blond hair. The child wore pink Barbie pajamas with matching slippers and giggled excitedly as she approached. Danny stepped back in surprise, catching the back of his pant leg in the process. At the same time, the girl yanked on his waistband, bringing his bottoms to his knees. His worst nightmare had become reality.
“Wook, bubba! He wears diapies wike you!”
Danny did not register the girl’s words, his mind frozen in shock and horror. He stumbled as she let go, falling onto his padded rear with an embarrassing crinkle.
“LIZZIE!”
Austin exploded with anger, sending his sister scurrying back to her room. Danny was too deep in his own head to hear, his cheeks red and wet as he choked back sobs. The raven-haired boy curled into a ball, his pants falling to his ankles in the process. Humiliated, he buried his head in his knees, hiding from the world that had just crashed down around him.
Danny felt a light breeze as someone slipped past, and he wondered for a moment why no one was laughing. The babyish boy shivered as a nearby vent came to life, blasting him with ice-cold air. Just as quickly, a new warmth formed beside him, and- was that a blanket?
“S-Sorry about my sis. Her heart’s in the right place, but she’s still learning.”
Danny peeked over his knees and was momentarily stunned by his surroundings. Austin was sitting beside him, his pants discarded, revealing a white Goodnite with sky blue sides and an orange The Lion King design featuring cub Simba. The bespectacled blond had also wrapped his guest in a soft, yellow The Lion King blanket, shielding him from the chilly breeze.
“I-It’s okay,” Danny promised, fiddling with his hands, “Things turned out alright, anyway.”
Austin smiled softly, his cheeks pink.
“Yeah. Cute padding, by the way. Astrophilia looks good on you.”
Danny beamed back, his face still flush with color.
“Thanks. Yours is cute, too. Simba really suits you.”
Austin’s blush deepened, but his smile remained infectious and warm.
“Thank you. Ready to get things going?”
“Yeah, just gimme a sec.”
Danny smiled sheepishly as he slipped off his shoes, socks, and pants; it was weird undressing in front of a friend. Finally, the raven-haired boy climbed to his feet and followed his host into a modest bedroom. The space was cozy, with light brown walls, white baseboards, and the same carpet as everywhere else. Austin’s furniture was hardwood stained a reddish brown, and most pieces held some form of video game decor. There was a queen-size bed, a matching nightstand, a dresser, and a small entertainment center.
Austin set his guest’s bag at the foot of his bed, where the taller boy’s discarded clothes soon joined it. The brainy blond then bit his lip, fighting through his natural timidity.
“So, um… do you like video games?”
Danny nodded.
"Yeah, my favorite's Doomed. I'm a sci-fi guy."
Relief washed over Austin's face, followed shortly after by a smile.
"Me too! We'll have to play sometime. As for tonight, I've got a GameCube and an N64. Guest picks first."
Danny smiled softly as he approached the entertainment center.
“A gentleman and a cutie. I’m starting to like you.”
Austin blushed lightly but otherwise matched his guest’s expression.
“Thanks. Pick something fun, will ya?”
Danny chuckled as he thumbed through his host’s game collection.
“I’ll do my best.”
Minutes later, the two boys sat together under soft, gray cotton sheets. Austin leaned gently against his guest, their backs supported by the headboard and four propped-up pillows. For over two hours, the diapered duo bonded over Battletanx: Global Assault and NHL Hitz 2002, two of their favorite games. Eventually, they grew tired and decided to end the night with one of their favorite movies, the 2000 Disney comedy The Emperor’s New Groove.
After everything, the padded preteens were half-covered by the sheets and illuminated only by the soft glow of a Lion King night light. Austin snored softly into his guest's shoulder, his arms wrapped around the astronerd's waist. Danny smiled softly as he set aside his host's glasses and squeezed the blond gently with one arm. His whole world had changed in just a few short hours, and something wonderful and new now sat at its center.
Early the next afternoon, Danny smiled as he approached his house for a hastily arranged get-together. The raven-haired boy had long since changed into his usual street clothes, which rustled in the light breeze. His attire included red and white cupsole skate shoes, dark blue jeans, and a white, red-ringed t-shirt with a black NASA worm logo over two red and blue bars. The latter garment was covered by a red and black, short-sleeved flannel left unbuttoned.
Austin stuck to his new friend’s side, now wearing his favorite outfit: a yellow Lion King t-shirt, dark indigo jeans, an unzipped black hoodie, and some white and black sneakers with yellow laces and logos. While close, he and Danny were too nervous to hold hands as they wished to avoid unwanted attention. Still, the pair chatted warmly as they went, their cheeks a muted pink.
As the two boys stopped outside Danny’s house, his best friend, Samantha “Sam” Manson, approached from the opposite direction. Sam was a pale, 14-year-old goth and the tallest of the trio by several inches. Her blonde hair was dyed black, her blue eyes were made violet by contacts, and she wore black eyeliner and violet lipstick. Her outfit consisted of a violet crop top with a black spider on the chest, a black cropped leather jacket, a black skirt with a green crosshatch pattern, violet leggings, black combat boots with violet laces, and a black choker.
“Hey, Danny! How’d the sleepover go?”
Danny smiled as he shared a quick hug with his oldest friend.
“Hey, Sam! It went really well! Speaking of which, this is my new friend, Austin Kavanagh. Austin, this is my best friend, Samantha “Sam” Manson. We’ve known each other since we were in diapers.”
Sam smirked devilishly.
“More like since I was,” she teased, “You’re still in ‘em.”
Blood rushed to Danny’s cheeks, turning them scarlet in seconds.
“You know what I meant!”
Austin chuckled and smiled; Danny was adorable when he got all flustered. His expression faltered as he turned to Sam, fighting to overcome his natural timidity.
“I like you already, Sam. Pleased to meet you.”
Sam smiled and ruffled the blond boy’s hair.
“Likewise, small fry.”
Finally, the trio headed inside, finding the house surprisingly quiet and still. Danny grinned excitedly- he was almost never home alone- and headed toward the kitchen.
“Sweet, no one’s home! C’mon, this way!”
Austin raised a brow as he was led down a narrow staircase.
“You seem awfully excited about your basement.”
Danny chuckled as he led the way down.
“That’s ‘cause it’s actually my donors’ lab. I wanna show you one of their inventions.”
Sam casually dropped a bombshell.
“They’re ghost hunters.”
Austin raised a brow but was otherwise unfazed. He noted that his friends had serious parental issues, hence their unusual vocabulary.
“O…kay. That’s weird but not unheard of.” He paused, gawking as they entered a messy lab with various white and green devices strewn about. “This, on the other hand…”
“...is a disaster area,” Sam finished, “Watch your step, and keep your hands to yourself.”
Austin nodded, mimicking a pencil as he followed his friends through the metaphorical minefield. Curiosity settled on his face for the second time in as many minutes.
“Why do you even care about this stuff? I figured you’d hate ghosts.”
Danny shrugged as they rounded a corner.
“Eh, I used to, but mom talked me out of it. Besides, it’s hard not to be interested in this!”
Austin gasped as his friend gestured to a massive, dormant machine built into the back wall.
“Holy crap… what is that?”
Danny smiled as he stepped behind a screen and pulled on a white jumpsuit that resembled a space suit. It was a custom Fenton design meant for labwork and combat, so it featured light armor and an ecto-proof coating. The suit was slim but surprisingly not quite skintight, with sturdy boots and extra padding around the shoulders, elbows, and knees. Its design featured a black neck area, two black stripes on each arm, long black gloves, a black belt supported by white belt loops, two sturdy front pockets with black edges, and tall black boots. The belt's metal buckle was red with a black border, and the suit had thick, red stitching throughout.
“That is what I wanted to show you. It’s called the Fenton Portal. It’s supposed to be a gateway to the ghost dimension.”
Sam nodded, looking concerned but otherwise uninterested.
“Yeah, but it doesn’t work, and they can’t figure out why.” She paused, tearing the image of a man’s face off Danny’s suit. “I’m sorry, you’re not walking around with that on your chest.”
Danny raised a brow as his goth friend replaced the sticker with an eerie, black D.
“And what’s this supposed to be?”
Sam smiled proudly.
“A custom logo for your suit. It looks way cooler now.”
Danny shrugged and pressed on. She was right, after all.
“Okay, thanks.”
Austin raised a brow, speaking up before his friend could continue.
“Hey, wait a sec, how do you have a custom ghost-fighting suit if you and your donors don’t get along?”
Danny sighed and rolled his eyes.
“A few months ago, my donors started showing off the portal, and I made the mistake of expressing interest. Suddenly, I was their new assistant, the heir to the family business, and that meant a custom jumpsuit. Then the portal didn’t work, blame fell on me, and I was back to being a little mistake who can’t do anything right.”
Austin frowned, feeling bad for his friend and thankful for his own parents.
“I’m so sorry, Danny.” He cracked a half-smile. “It is a sick suit, though.”
Danny smiled back, his cheeks pink.
“Thanks. Now, back to why we’re here…”
Finally, Danny approached the portal to explain its function, only to trip on a loose cable a few inches in front of it. His friends winced as he fell onto all fours, landing inside the machine with a metallic thud. Austin spoke worriedly as his heart raced.
“Whoa! Are you okay, Danny?”
The taller boy nodded as he climbed to his feet.
“Yeah, the only thing wounded is my priiiiiiiiiide!”
Danny screamed in agony as his steadying hand accidentally pressed a poorly placed 'on' button. The portal instantly whirred to life, engulfing him in an enormous blast of ectoplasm and electricity. After several agonizing seconds, the portal stabilized, allowing him to stagger free of its influence. Austin quickly caught his crush, only to gasp as the taller boy fell through his hands to the cold, metal floor below.
Everything about Danny had changed, save for the tone of his skin. His hair and eyebrows were snowy white, and his eyes glowed an eerie green. Each freckle was a little white star, matching the soft aura that enveloped his body. Lastly, his jumpsuit’s colors had flipped, giving him a sleek, black-and-white look with glowing green stitching.
Austin dropped to his knees and gathered the taller boy in his lap, tears threatening to fall at any second. Danny lifted his hands and stared at them as they briefly vanished. A look of shock and horror spread across his face, his voice cracking as he cried out.
“No! God, please, no! I-I can’t be a ghost! I-I can’t be…”
Austin pulled his crush close, trying desperately to comfort the keening boy. What could he say, though, that would soothe the pain of death? Danny squeezed his eyes shut and hugged back. He was too young to die and had so much to live for. More than anything, he wanted to explore his new feelings and learn more about the beautiful, brainy blond that had stolen his heart.
At the same time, Sam recovered from shock and moved to join the embrace, only to falter when a white ring appeared around her ghostly friend. This eerie apparition split into two copies, each passing over half of Danny’s body as he returned to his original, living form.
“D-Danny, you’re alive!”
Danny’s eyes shot open as he and his crush gasped in unison. Finally, Austin found his voice.
“Oh, thank God!”
The boys shared a tighter, warmer squeeze, tears flowing freely down their faces. Sam quickly joined the hug, her own cheeks growing wet. The three friends stayed this way for a long while, slowly processing the traumatic, life-altering event that was Danny’s half-death.
Eventually, the trio pried themselves apart and headed to Danny’s room to avoid trouble. The three friends spent the rest of the day hugging and watching movies, trying to regain some sense of normalcy. Despite their shared trauma and unease, they swore one thing would always hold true: nothing could keep them apart.
Danny groaned as he came to, his body stiff against a sturdy metal table. Green, ghostproof straps held him in place, and a rolling tray of surgical instruments sat to one side. He squinted under the bright, white lights and gasped as his paternal donor walked out of the shadows.
Jack Fenton was a towering, obese man with blue eyes and short black hair that was graying on the sides. As always, he wore a Day-Glo orange jumpsuit with a black neck area, belt, boots, and gloves. This custom Fenton Works creation included an orange hood with black circles over the ears and black goggles with teal lenses. On this rare occasion, the hood was up, and a disposable face mask covered Jack’s wide, excited grin.
“Finally, we get to tear one of you spooks apart molecule-by-molecule!”
As if on cue, Danny’s maternal donor stepped into the light. Madeleine “Maddie” Fenton was a curvy, attractive woman with chin-length auburn hair and piercing gray-blue eyes. Like always, she wore a light blue jumpsuit similar to Jack’s, albeit with elbow-length gloves, a hip pouch, and eerie red lenses. Like her husband, Maddie’s hood was up and she wore a mask, though the former was a fairly common sight. With a focused, almost angry expression, she picked up a pair of surgical scissors and passed them to her husband.
“Focus, Jack! We can’t waste this opportunity!”
Danny gasped as his suit was cut away, revealing his bare, bony chest. His crazy donors were vivisecting him! The young half-ghost wanted more than anything to resist, to fight against his restraints, but his body refused to move. All he could do was watch as Maddie seized a scalpel and started a textbook Y-incision.
Pain washed over Danny as he was cut open, his entire body aching at once. Something in his chest shook frantically, like a small, scared animal quivering in its burrow. Ectoplasm flowed strangely down his abdomen, soaking his crotch and pooling on the table below. His pulse raced like a spooked horse as Jack and Maddie neared a strange vital organ he didn’t recognize. For a moment, his true, final death seemed at hand.
Danny shot up with a start, his breathing heavy and his body covered in sweat. He grabbed at his chest, which was pounding but intact under his pajamas. Realizing it was all a nightmare, the young half-ghost threw off his covers and hung his head at the sight of a soaked Goodnite and a small, yellow puddle. Nothing felt certain now; anything and everything could be ripped away in seconds. It was too much for anyone, much less a child, to handle.
Ragged, shaky sobs grieved the life that had ended with the push of a poorly placed button. And yet, Danny pressed on, snot and tears flowing as he cleaned up his latest accident. The Fentons were heavy sleepers, so no one noticed when the youngest hauled his soiled things downstairs and started the washer. Ironically, the babyish boy dried up in the shower, as the cleaning up provided some modicum of relief.
Back in his room, Danny donned a dark blue, white-ringed Star Trek tee and a fresh Goodnite. Finally, nervously, he returned to bed, blushing as a crinkle came from his rear. His favorite Starfleet sheets beckoned, but he couldn’t bring himself to lie down, especially on his back. Questions swirled in his head, filling him with uncertainty and dread.
Danny wondered how his mom would react if he revealed his powers. Would she still love him, or would his nightmare become reality? The shaken, young specter rubbed his eyes, fighting to stay awake. Suddenly, his bed was the table, its sentient straps closing in, so he scrambled to the floor in a panic. The vision faded instantly, and with it, his last hope for a good night’s sleep. What had he done to deserve such suffering?
CHIRP!
A Star Trek: The Next Generation combadge had never sounded so beautiful. Danny grabbed his phone, recognizing his custom notification sound, and curled into a ball on the carpet. Flipping the small device open, he found an unexpected text from his new friend.
Hey, u ok? I know ur goin thru a lot rn.
Danny smiled weakly as his heart fluttered.
Bad nightmare. 2 scared 2 sleep.
Austin responded with surprising speed.
That sucks. :(
Would a hug help?
Blood rushed to Danny’s cheeks, and he felt a strange pull to his crush.
1000x yes. U offering?
Austin’s final message sent his ghostly friend scrambling.
Yes. Get ur cute butt over here so I can comfort u.
Danny quickly transformed and darted off towards the Kavanagh residence. Flight was still a foreign sensation, but the aspiring astronaut took to it like a fish to water. With it came a feeling of total, unparalleled freedom as he swooped gracefully about like gravity was merely an option. Unfortunately, he had to pair the power with intangibility as a mild storm loomed overhead.
The pint-sized preteen shuddered as lightning arced around him, forcing flashbacks to the moment of his half-death. Were he in human form, his heart would have raced with fear and anxiety, his palms sweaty and his mouth dry. Instead, he felt a fearful quivering in his chest and a growing weakness. Finally, running on angst and adrenaline, he phased into his crush's room and collapsed on the thick, comfy bed.
“Danny!”
Austin spoke in a whisper, but it felt like a worried scream. The brainy blond pulled his crush close, frowning as the beleaguered boy reverted to his living form out of exhaustion. This tight, loving hug soothed the ghost organ in Danny’s chest, calming him instantly.
“Hey…” he mumbled, fighting to stay awake, “Nice Simba shirt.”
Austin blushed lightly but otherwise ignored the comment.
“Don’t scare me like that again,” he begged, “Are you okay? You look exhausted.”
"I'm fine," Danny lied, refusing to burden his crush. He pulled back slightly, revealing a stuffed sleeping Simba that Austin had squished between them in haste. "You sleep with a plushie?"
Austin’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
“Only during storms. They scare me, but Simba helps me feel safe.”
Surprisingly, Danny seemed curious, desperate even.
“I wish I had something like that…”
Austin eyed his crush closely, setting the plush aside.
“Danny, what was your nightmare about?” The black-haired boy stiffened, stared at his feet, and said nothing. Austin squeezed him gently. “Danny, please, let me help.”
Danny sighed, giving a tired, defeated look.
"I was strapped to a surgical table surrounded by darkness," he started, swallowing hard, "Jack and Maddie knew about my ghost half, and they… vivisected me."
Austin gasped and pulled his friend into a tight hug.
“Oh, Danny… I am so sorry.” He frowned, rubbing the taller boy’s back. “I promise I will always be here for you. Darkseid himself couldn't keep me away.”
Danny smiled weakly and squeezed back, resting his head on the blond boy’s shoulder.
“Thank you,” he murmured, “Dork.”
Austin blushed but smiled nonetheless.
“Guilty as charged.” He paused, raising a brow. “Are you… purring?”
Danny felt his cheeks burn with warmth. He smiled cheekily, though his crush couldn't see it.
“Yeah. What can I say? You warm my cold, dead heart.”
Blood rushed to Austin’s cheeks as he snapped back.
“Your heart is alive and beating, you goofball.”
Danny pulled back for a moment and stuck out his tongue.
“Sue me,” he joked, “Besides, I meant my ghost heart, or whatever it’s called. I think it does that when I’m happy and safe.”
Austin smiled and pecked the taller boy’s cheek before pulling him close again.
"You just keep getting cuter.” He paused, pulling the raven-haired boy down onto one side. "Now, please, get some sleep."
Danny was still hesitant, but he was also tired, and he felt safe in his crush's arms. With a weary smile, he closed his eyes and murmured one last quip.
"I'll sleep when I'm dead."
A light chuckle was his lullaby.