woke up from a dead sleep last night realizing I could make soroku flavored pitch pearl and no one could stop me
edit: you know what? I'm feral and I won't apologize. more under the cut bc this is my house
I slammed this out all at once so I apologize for the quality but I'm having EMOTIONS
so imagine. bc of the way Danny was quickly resuscitated, his ghost only barely started forming. With the excess blast of ectoplasm from the portal being created, that little whisp was given form even after Danny's soul returned to his body.
except this ghost (Phantom) slowly comes into consciousness while trapped in Danny's body. they're separate entities sharing one body, but Phantom doesn't really have a sense of self right away. he pieces together vague fragments of Danny's memory to get a basic understanding of the world, and is mostly just observing like a backseat passenger.
Phantom starts reflexively protecting Danny, his powers and instincts bleeding through when his emotions are high. Danny doesn't really transform, and his personality doesn't totally shift that much at first because Phantom’s mind isn't complex yet. but as time goes on, and Danny has tense conversations with ghosts, Phantom realizes that's what he is. he's a ghost, somehow trapped in his old body. and even now, this early on, he already feels separate. he doesn't have all the memories Danny has.
this slowly turns into horror. into rage. sorrow, mourning a life he never got and will never get to have. forever trapped behind the eyes of someone else, never able to interact with the world. Phantom's rage eventually boils over until it allows him short bursts of taking over Danny's body. it starts out small–a stray hand moving without his consent, knees locking up, ghost abilities going awry. Danny can start feeling emotions that don't belong to him. get vague impressions, almost hears a voice inside him.
and eventually, Phantom is able to fully take over. this is when Danny “transforms". at first, Danny blacks out because his consciousness isn't used to being shoved into the back seat. but eventually, he's awake for these “episodes", trapped in the back of his mind while Phantom controls his body. this only happens when ghost stuff is happening, when Phantom feels threatened enough. he's not protecting Danny, he's protecting himself. Phantom knows instinctively that if Danny dies, he dies too. he's not a normal ghost, he wouldn't be freed. he'd simply disappear.
at one point after a fight, Phantom can feel Danny struggling to take back control. and he talks to Danny for the first time, acknowledges he's there. asks how it's fair that Danny is the one that gets to exist. but Phantom is tired and weak, he slips back into the passenger seat.
over the next few days, he's able to start talking to Danny even while he's not driving. though he's not chatty, it's only when necessary. and Danny knows, can feel it across the link between them–Phantom hates him. the ghost he created is desperate to find a way to take over completely. and as time goes on, Danny realizes with horror that it might actually be possible for Phantom to do that. he grows stronger every day, can stay transformed longer, controls Danny's body with much more ease.
it's only through a chance meeting with Frostbite that Danny and Phantom fully learn what happened to them. Danny feels sympathetic towards Phantom now. this isn't a malevolent ghost, it's a person who was never given the chance to live. who's trapped. who has to watch someone else live a life they're just as deserving of.
and Phantom feels that emotion from Danny. is so shocked by it, he doesn't know how to handle it at first. it takes him a while to contemplate, to talk to other ghosts like Frostbite. until one day, Phantom realizes… he feels sympathy for Danny, too.
neither of them asked for this. both of them deserve to live. Danny didn't do anything wrong. they're both villains to each other's story. and if anything… doesn't Phantom owe his life to Danny in the first place?
Phantom takes over less often. Danny doesn't feel hatred from him anymore. anger, yes–but not aimed at him. in fact, Phantom starts controlling their body in little ways in order to protect Danny from things that aren't even dangerous. just to avoid pain that would only affect the human tethered to him.
it isn't long before they're separated, either thanks to another ghost or Danny's parents. they're thrown apart in the middle of a horrific fight, and when Danny sees Phantom's equally shocked expression, he's terrified.
this ghost that hated him for so long–at best, Phantom would leave him defenseless. at worst, surely some part of Phantom still wants to kill him for stealing away his chance for autonomy.
and yet, when fire rains down on them, Phantom risks it all to grab Danny and get them both to safety. they're still both shaken and stunned this is even happening, but Phantom is able to nervously be like shit shit shit okay stay here don't go anywhere or I can't protect you, okay?
after the fight is over and dust settles, Phantom offers Danny his hand. they stare at each other and god if this isn't the weirdest thing. like, uh, okay, what now? they decide to go see Frostbite, who confirms that they're fully separate now. they ask if there's any chance of merging again and Frostbite assures it's impossible.
Phantom asks, even if I overshadowed Danny? or stay real close? yes, it's nothing to worry about. they leave, and back in the quiet of Danny's room, they talk. Phantom isn't sure what to do. now that opportunity is in front of him, he feels paralyzed. Danny does his best to let Phantom know that… they might be separate now, but if he ever wants help or even just a friendly ear, he's here for him.
Phantom is quiet for a while. then says maybe he just needs to rest first. he'll think about it tomorrow. they're both exhausted and injured. Phantom asks quietly… if he could rest in Danny for the night.
Danny's shocked, and–really confused. Phantom blushes and is like I don't know what my haunt is yet, I don't know where to go, but I know… you're kind of my home. now that I know I can leave whenever I want, it's not something bad anymore. I miss feeling your heart next to my core, just a little bit.
and Danny is just as surprised when Phantom overshadows him, then quietly nestles into the passenger seat again. he didn't realize how he got used to feeling Phantom with him. it's a feedback loop of contentedness, and Danny sleeps easily. (they also find out while sharing a body, Danny gets to reap the benefits of Phantom's supernatural healing)
anyway that's all I got for now thank u for coming to my ted talk
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Greetings and farewell for the fic meme hehehe
sophie!! sorry for taking so long with this one!! my weekends are always a mess lol but tysm for the ask heh <3
contrary to popular belief, I do write ancients fluff too ?? it’s easier to write drama and the title DOES suggest otherwise but this fic is just like multiple times that azemet are disgustingly sappy and head over heels for one another. I have a hard time picking snippets so I cut a bit of one of the parts but still,,,,,, here, take 2k words of speculation about convocation customs and azemet.
wip roundup :)
A selfish thought, really, one that is interrupted as white robes of his colleagues approaches him by touching his shoulder and quickly entering his personal space. Emet-Selch, as a reflex, only sighs and lets the smile fall off his lips as the previous Fandaniel passes by him with a smile and waves at him as he walks down the staircase and then towards the door. Lucky him, having fulfilled his duty with so much confidence, he thinks. These thoughts are immediately voiced as another white-robbed soul approaches him.
“Never seen him this happy,” There's a soft voice speaking by his side, and he doesn't have to look up to recognize whose cheerful voice this was from. Emet's eyes fall back to the lower floor as the previous Fandaniel hugs the newer one, one last time, before walking out of the capitol by each other's side. Probably one last farewell, from one mentor to his pupil. It seemed bittersweet in Hermes' eyes, and Emet-Selch still can't understand why. “Are you still unsure?” That same voice insists.
He is. There's no way young Elidibus will understand any of his worries, or anyone else for the matter of fact — having witnessed whatever happened in Elpis, because neither does he — but he still shakes his head as he looks back at this young colleague of his. He almost seems excited at the celebration, blue eyes shining under the golden reflections around them, and it almost eases Emet-Selch's own heart.
Elidibus nods back at him, knowledgeable of his answer, and then sheepishly looks back at his hands, as if he's about to ask for something. Having picked up part of his mannerisms, Emet could even tell who this was about — as the younger's eyes seemed to get brighter and his mouth opened and closed quickly before he could figure out what to say, unlike the emissary who takes charge at their meeting every moon or so.
But then, the sound of the capital's door opening catches them off guard, only to be stopped by another hand by Emet-Selch's shoulder — and by the by, he hoped they'd stop with this habit sooner — he dares to hope, before Loghrif smirk is now on his vision, covering anything behind her by the wall her body makes linked with Mitron in some kind of hug they always seem to be tangled on. In front of the entire Convocation and without any necessity to do so. It always uncomfortably makes Emet-Selch's face twist, as he convinces himself how unprofessional he feels about all this in a vain attempt to not envision himself doing just the same.
“I'm always glad to know your efforts were wasteful, Emet-Selch.” She speaks, leaning her head above Mitron's and smiling wider. “It's always good to celebrate together, you included, believe it or not.”
Emet sighs, his hands finding his hair to push it backward in an exasperated manner, slightly pulling his mask off and scratching his temples.
“It's not a necessity. I thought we could've moved past it.” He shrugged, finally looking back at the younger of the four of them still standing close by his side. “Be that as it may, some enjoy it, so there's no need to terminate this tradition.” He nods at him, knowing that this white robbed soul loved those as much as his dearest friends does, and how that topic was exactly the one he would touch if they were not interrupted by the pair by their side
Elidibus quickly looks back at the floor, probably embarrassed for a second before he laughs it off. “We share this logic.” He speaks more formally now that they are in the presence of others. “Fortunately, Altima does a great job putting this up so quickly.”
Loghrif laughs again, her hands finding Elidibus and ruffling his hair before speaking something back with a hint of tease at Emet-Selch, following this habit of hers. However, as soon as her hands go in front of him, Emet-Selch’s eyes widen instantly as he hears a familiar laugh echoing through the halls. It's not as loud as Loghrif, but the tone of it makes his attention shift immediately from the pair to the crowd that extends through the building. It wasn't loud enough for him to catch it well, but he knew he was right in recognizing her even if he was deafening for an instant — and in this instant now, he was a little too impatient to look at it carefully. It compels him to look for her soul, rather than the mess of white hair like he usually does, and he finds her in a second.
Standing on the left side of the main hallways, already surrounded by another's soul he didn't care to recognize at the moment, he finally focused back on his vision and found her face already looking up at him. By some miracle, she was already using her mask without him having to warn her about it, but the angle of her head, followed by a tilting to the side, and the smile growing wider shows him that he had already been spotted by her before he could do so. He was outsmarted, as she loved to say, and he stood there frozen for a second before the group by her side excused themselves away, and she nodded back at them, eyes quickly returning to him.
The world doesn't stop, as much as it feels like it does, but Azem doesn’t move from her place either. She crosses her arms, looking up at him, smiles turning into a teasing smirk as she watches him, knowing at how his mind uncomfortably goes through a million thoughts. The world doesn't stop because in her gaze Azem instantly seems to pull him to a different universe, away from the people around him, where there can be just the both of them. He grounds himself by putting his hand above Elidibus' shoulder, only to go after that feeling by himself.
“I trust you don't mind me leaving if you excuse me,” he says, not realizing he just cut off Mitron's mid sentence before walking off from between both women and going directly downwards the stairs. He doesn't notice how the pair looks back at Elidibus confused, and neither how amused the younger one looks before he's far away into pulling himself between the crowd and towards her.
He can hear her laugh again, and he isn't sure how, but he does, as he jogs his way and then, suddenly, feels a damn hand on his shoulder again. He had to hold a curse back before he stared at the owner of such a firm grasp over him.
“Do you have a moment?” He doesn't, but Lahabrea is the one asking, so he feels obliged to stop on his tracks.
“Working in the middle of our celebration, Lahabrea?” He asks back, his voice slightly sarcastic, masking how he truly feels like excusing himself from this conversation.
“You mind?” Now, at this exact instant, he really does.
“Not in the slightest,” he lies, checking one last time as he notices her soul moving away from her previous spot. He sighs in defeat and indulges in the conversation for a moment.
“I have been meaning to talk to you about... my particular work, back in Elpis.” He started, somewhat unsure on how to explain, which seemed strange considering he was doing so in such a crowded place. “Not today nor here, but if you're free sometime this week, I'd like to take your time.”
Emet-Selch was free this week about ten minutes ago, not so much anymore, but he'd have to deal with it himself. He would do it, of course, because with how anxious Lahabrea seemed about this, it was important. Before he nods in agreement, he starts again.
“Just, I would ask for your discretion about it — especially with her. She probably knows more than I'm willing to share, things I would rather if you didn't know.” Lahabrea confesses, almost amused, but nothing visible about it on his face. Makes Emet-Selch confused for a moment until his eyes go past him, “speaking of which.”
And then, a warm hand not only touching but holding onto his shoulder, with a gentle and still firm grasp, squeezes him above his robe.
“Gentleman,” it's sarcastic and still sweet with the soft tone that's somewhat unlike how this familiar voice usually carries. It still warms his entire self. “Would you mind if I stealth him for a moment, Speaker.”
Lahabrea chuckles out a scoff, tapping Emet-Selch's arms before nodding. “Sometime this week, yes?”
“With how pressing it seems, I'll return to you tomorrow.” He speaks, trying to mask any excitement. How embarrassing.
“Of course,” Lahabrea speaks back, not buying his acts at all, and nodding back at Azem. “See you.”
He's out of sight in an instant, and just when he sighs and starts with “Are you making a habit of this? Interrupting others-” her arm is linked with his and pulling him away through the crowd. He spills a curse or two through the way, though Azem only chuckles in response to it.
Emet-Selch lets himself be taken away, pulled by Azem running like a child until she enters one of the smaller rooms by the side of the great halls and lets go of his hands. He lets himself fall back and close the door behind him, leaning back at it while watching as she turns around back at him and smiles, a few fulms away from him now, the distance finally closing by her own body slowly going towards him.
“Impressive how much enjoyment you take in being so...” He speaks, trying to sound as he did seconds ago until she finally gets to him, pulling her body the closest she can get while resting both hands by the side of his mask — to which his hands quickly find her wrists, holding her gaze. “reckless.” He finishes his sentences.
Holding her arm in place doesn't stop her hands from pulling his mask out, he realizes. Azem’s left hand is holding it by his shoulder now while the other rests by the side of his face, her thumb caressing his cheeks and his eyes as soon as he lets his eyelids fall shut. It stops on his temple, and his eyes open up to her smile a lot closer to his.
“You do seem to enjoy it as well, so why wouldn't I?” She whispers quietly, and Emet just hums in back for a moment, noticing how her hand keeps playing with his mask and poking his shoulder non stop. This, he realizes, this he doesn't mind.
“Point taken.” It's clearly enough an end of conversation for her to nod back just quickly before leaving a light peck over his lips.
And then another down his jaw, close to his neck, before grinning back her way up to rest their foreheads together when he groans in annoyance. Azem laughs, nudging the tip of her nose by his chin so her mask could fall back — and though she still kept holding his, her black one falls on the floor — which causes Emet-Selch to sigh and take his free hand and hold her chin so she could stare back at him. She looks like a child, cheeky smile over her lips and mischievous reflecting into her eyes. How done he is, for anyone else now except for her — for this smile, this glimpse over her eyes and that burning soul. His hold tighter slightly, and her smile grows wider while he pulls her lips to his.
“I'm afraid you have forgotten your obligations as an amaurotine, dearest.” He whispers above her lips, and Azem brushes hers above his.
“Bold words for someone not following the protocols either,” she giggles, his hold eases slightly to hold her jaw now.
“It was against my will.” His voice is unreadable for anyone, except for her. Azem could clearly hear the stiffness he forces out, formality out of nowhere, and his eyes fixated on her own — self-control at its finest. Effortlessly tough, contrasting with the way his other hand found her waist.
“And since when do you, Emet-Selch, allow yourself to be coerced like this?” She asks back, and he almost rolls his eyes because — clearly, by the smile above her lips and the way her eyes shine with proudness where his eyes fell over — Azem knew the answer and the reasons why those exceptions were made in the first place, and for who.
“I'm not boosting your ego.” He answers, sounding annoyingly charming.
“Aw, come now!” She laughs, pulling her weight down while her hands hang around his neck now. Emet groans by surprise, and she brings their faces closer. “I deserve that much. A welcome back gift, even — seeing you didn't prepare anything else to greet me with.”
He huffs now, pulling her closer while he exchanges their places so he can cage her against the door — hand still on her face while his right one supported his weight on the door so he wouldn't crush her, not that she ever minded, he knew. “Now, aren't we ungrateful,” he scoffs quietly, trying still to push back the smile that creeps over his lips. “I let myself be dragged by the convocation hallways, away from serious matters that should be discussed. You take my mask off, mock my title while doing so, and here I still am. Being so patient with you.”
“You did allow it yourself, Emet-Selch.” She speaks his name quieter and a lot slower back at him.
The truth is out and, just then, Emet realizes that if he dared to talk back to her now he would end up boosting her ego, after all, there’s just so much he can try to mask; not that she bought any of it.
With the frown gracing his features now, Azem realizes he's running low on banter. He doesn't speak back, but his eyes fall back over her lips, and his hand caresses her cheekbone before his thumb falls from her chin to rest above her throat — his hold is a lot softer now, just as his eyes. Still, the certainty was visible. There's not a discussion to be won, but he still lost, and when this happens, he finds very little patience to do anything else.
So, to put him out of his misery, Azem pulls both hands down his hair and rests them above his chest. “Hades,” she calls softly. He doesn't hum as a reply, nor does his eyes leave her lips, but his grip tightens and loses it in response. “Take me home, will you?”
He doesn't answer either, but now anyone who'd seen could see his prompt reply — how the dark clouds engulfed both of them until there was not a single trace they'd been there save for the dark mask forgotten on the floor.
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