Seeing Double

Cuddle Buddy: A Flashback

Phantom was like a puppy. An invisible, handsy puppy. Danny could feel his presence intermittently throughout the week.

He no longer jumped or shouted if an invisible hand was suddenly on his shoulder, fingers trailing down his arm or tangling in his hair.

Hell, he wasn't even surprised whenever Phantom went ahead and sat himself on Danny's lap. He could be in class or at the mall, in the cafeteria or the gymnasium bleachers and he'd feel the cold elastic of Phantom's jumpsuit.

If he had to guess the ghost weighed about as much as a small dog- though he was twice the size. And he'd cling on like a koala.

"Get off," Danny whispered.

"Get what?" Sam said.

Phantom nuzzled his face into Danny's neck. His cold breath made Danny shiver.

"Uh, c-can I get... a taste of that taco, Tuck?"

They still didn't know how weird Phantom had begun acting. Phantom had agreed to tone in down in front of them.

And if this is toned down what the hell would he be like without restraint?

"Dude, you hate chorizo," Tucker said.

Phantom's hair was tickling his nose. Danny blinked at the table, and tried not to react to it.

Or to react to the way Phantom's hands were rubbing rhythmic circles on his back.

"Danny?"

"Sorry. I forgot I hate chorizo," Danny said. "Wait, what's chorizo?"

"Innocent dead pigs!" Sam said, glaring at Tucker's plate.

"It's like a spicy Mexican pork... thing," Tucker said, rolling his eyes at Sam. "I dunno man, but you're both missing out. It's delish!"

Something was wrapping around Danny's leg.

Something was wrapping around his leg.

What the hell.

Danny stood. "I have to go to the bathroom!"

He tried to subtly dislodge Phantom's arms as he ran, but they wouldn't budge.

When he got to the bathroom he kicked the stall doors open. Empty. All of them.

"Phantom!"

The ghost appeared and Danny stared at his right leg, where a wispy black tail was coiled three times over.

"You have a tail!"

Phantom finally loosened his hold on Danny's torso and leaned back to blink at him. "Huh?"

Danny shook his leg out. "Get it off my leg! Get it off!"

Phantom released him entirely and flew to the mirror to examine himself. "Whoa, I really do have a tail."

"You didn't notice?"

Phantom shook his head, still frowning at his reflection. As they both continued to stare, the tail split into two and Phantom's boots re-appeared with a pop.

Danny shuddered. "That was..."

"Weird," Phantom supplied. "Yup, that was weird."

He glared at his reflection, slowly floating towards the ceiling like an untethered balloon.

Danny grabbed his ankle and pulled him down, unintentionally bringing the ghost's attention back to himself.

Phantom ruffled his hair. "Didn't mean to freak you out, Fenton." He laughed. "From now on I'll keep my tail to myself?"