Not So Human...

Blue light engulfed Skulker, a solid force that dragged the struggling ghost inside the thermos Danny held in his hand. As soon as light and specter disappeared behind the canister’s lip, the boy slapped the lid on and twisted it into place, a sudden silence settling over the park, though Valerie remained on the balls of her feet, blood and adrenaline still coursing through her veins and creating a loud buzzing in her ears.

Danny looked up from the thermos, met Valerie’s eyes, and she knew he still felt as high as she did on the addictive taste proceeding a ghost fight because his eyes were wide and alive, mussed hair thrown in every direction, his teeth bared in a huge grin. He looked ridiculous—adorably ridiculous—and Valerie found herself smiling just as wide, feeling just as alive. Skulker was far from the strongest ghost she had ever fought, but she still felt as if she could take on whatever came her way.

Who knew fighting beside someone she cared about could be so…exhilarating. Who knew Fenton could fight like that. But of course he could, his parents fought ghosts, developed their own technology, taught their kids how to defend themselves. She was such an idiot. She didn’t need to forget about Danny to protect him from her enemies, he could defend himself. She didn’t need to give up ghost hunting for him, they could fight together. She didn’t have to do this alone. This was…it was perfect. They could—

Except he had no idea who she was. She had been lying to him all this time. He may know how to fight, but he had told her when they were (dating?) together that all he wanted was to be normal, that he hated his parents obsession with ghosts. How would he react if he knew? How could she face him? For all he knew, she was the newest ghost hunter putting his parents to shame…

Danny opened his mouth and Valerie shook her head, stepped backwards. “I—” she deepened her voice. “Go home, kid. You shouldn’t be out this late.”

The happy expression on Fenton’s face faded and his brows started to pinch together. Valerie spun around and was about to walk off when Danny grabbed her wrist.

“Valerie.”

The Huntress froze, her spine rigid and her heart stilling its frantic beat. It’s frenzied rhythm returned as she slowly faced Danny again, her lips parted in surprise. The boy’s eyes were wide again, but his chin was down, his messy hair now half-obscuring his face.

“I…” he trailed off and lifted his other hand, palm open to the night sky. Blue light, softer than the one before, brightened the space between his fingers and wrist, growing steadily brighter. Valerie’s eyes widened as the light condensed into a rough shape that floated above his palm. Ice crystals appeared and danced towards the ground, and Valerie realized the air around them had become colder. The ice in his hand began to solidify into a diamond-shaped shard, still floating in the air.

“I have my secrets too, Val,” Danny said, smiling hesitantly.

Valerie lifted her wide eyes off the ice and stared at Danny’s face—at his glowing blue eyes. The soft light faded below them, though Fenton’s eyes still glowed a faint blue. He pulled Valerie’s wrist towards him and rolled the ice-shard off his hand and it fell onto her palm. She sucked in a breath. She could feel its chill through her suit, but also a soft tingle, like she was holding a charged battery.

She looked down at the crystal. Danny’s hand released her wrist and after a second, she closed her fingers around the shard. She met Danny’s eyes again and forced her lips to form a smile, though she was still too dazed to know what she felt. “Cheesy, Fenton,” she said in a light, breathless voice. “Very cheese.”

Danny smiled again and shrugged.

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For Polt, because art minions are more useful when happy.

Just kidding. She gives far more than she gets and she deserves a lot more, so I thought I’d draw her Gray Ghost and a mini-story behind it too (because my writing is better than my art so that makes a better gift).

(I was being so careful drawing Valerie because it’s my first time drawing her, but in the end it was Fenton who screwed with me, that butthole. *growls*)

Hope you like your present! Any oocness I blame on the caffeine. And Valerie’s character. And Fenton, because he’s always the root of things. May as well blame the universe too. Fuck you, world.

See? I don't just draw/write slash ...no, wait...