Depths

36. Exposed

Fun fact: Phantom will not change when he touches bodily fluids. Things like tears, semen, saliva, or sweat will not affect him.

...

Getting Danielle back into the ocean was the hard part, and Danny, Sam, and Tucker knew it as soon as they realized Phantom could not touch the sea water for more reasons than one. He would be unable to help or risk Hades killing him if the waves so much as grazed his toe.

Phantom parked in a spot where nobody would see them as long as they were quiet and careful. It was night-time, so even if someone did see, they wouldn't be able to know exactly what they were doing- or what they were helping.

Even though the mermaid had not shown any hostility, the teenagers still had no trust in her, and they had gotten a chain to attach to Tucker's belt just in case Danielle decided she was hungry after returning to the water. It was currently hooked onto his pants and tied securely around his waist, and Phantom was holding onto the other end with Sam and Danny as Tucker carried the female siren. He was scared, but he knew that Danny would have passed out from fright if he had been given the task, and neither boy would allow Sam to do it, so he took one for the team.

Dragging Tucker down and feasting on him didn't seem to be her intention, because as soon as the teenager released her, she started to swim off, the only indication that she was grateful being the wave of goodbye she gave them meters away.

When Tucker made it back to the van safely, they all breathed a sigh of relief and piled into the vehicle. Danny was in the front this time and Sam and Tucker were in the back. None of them had the energy to talk much, but small conversation was made along the long drive home.

Phantom was quiet though, unable to do much other than focus on the road and glance over at his boyfriend every few minutes.

Danny looked so happy. Healthy.

Which assassin would it be? The next one? The one after that?

Exactly how long did Danny have? Days? Weeks?

Unanswered questions burned every nerve, twisted every molecule. Every inch of his body was crying out with worry.

He would not lose Danny.

Phantom turned his head and saw that the raven was resting his head on the window, clearly exhausted after forcing himself awake and alert for hours now. It had to be around 2 in the morning and they were all ready for bed.

The merman couldn't even think about sleep. His human, the boy who had drilled a hole and made a warm home in his cold heart, had no future.

The reality of the situation hit Phantom. Danny was in grave danger.

What could he do about it?

If he left Danny and just never came back, would Hades still go after him? Hades wanted him to live in anguish and regret, possibly torture if things went his way.

Phantom shook his head, it was no good; Hades wouldn't just stop trying to kill Danny if he left his side for good. Hades probably already knows that killing Danny is the best way to break him, so he would take his soul anyway just to make life on land hell.

He would have to stay and keep fighting then, but with Danielle's revelation, it was obvious that wouldn't always work.

What if next time an assassin comes, he isn't there to protect him?

... Well, it's official then, he isn't letting Danny out of his sight for any reason.

The sound of a phone ringing interrupted Phantom's internal monologue and the rest of the van's peaceful quiet, and Danny opened tired and watery eyes to pick out his phone from his back pocket.