Pain suddenly exploded all throughout Phantom's body, starting in the palm of his left hand and shooting out quicker than he could register. It coiled around his core, where his heart would be in his human form. Everything was hot and cold and swirling. Somewhere in the distance was a blood curdling scream, so overstimulated that he couldn't even recognize it as his own. His form flashed between ghost and human, and the lightning shaped scars that had failed to fade on his human body glowed brightly through what many believed to be clothing. Eventually, it all began to subside slowly. Despite not needing to breathe in this form, he was heaving for relieving breaths. Once his sight straightened out, an animalistic glare was thrown the way of the one who caused such pain, fangs appearing sharper and eyes gone completely green. One Wes Wesley stood before this force of nature. "Don't ever ask a ghost how they died! Got it?!" ( I've chosen violence. ) - ✧ ˖ ˙ 「 @toyboxfriends 」 ˙ ˖ ✧
「 ☆ 」 Wes, despite all the arguably terrifying things he has come to believe— many of which are hurtfully dismissed by others as the ramblings of a madman —has never been scared by any of it. More-so intrigued on the best of days and overwhelmingly-frustrated on the worst. Latter mainly thanks to the specter in front of him. Danny Phantom acting as a catalyst for Wes's obsession fixation with the ghostly side of the paranormal, what used to be a passing aspect of his personality ( flattering a concept as it may be, Danny isn't his first foray into conspiracy ) warped into the most defining one to all his classmates... and his family.
Frankly, it doesn't seem fair. How quickly it had all escalated, the ground crumbling beneath Wes in what felt like a matter of seconds. A few hasty words, a moment or two of lost control, lost games... lost friends. If they could have ever been considered such. Still, it was better than what he's left with NOW. Danny certainly didn't help matters. Egging him on at every opportunity. Urging everyone else on. At this point, what choice does Wes have but to dig his heels in? To try and clear his reputation? To return things to some semblance of what they used to be. Before it's too late.
In this desperate determination, Wes can make... questionable decisions.
He hadn't thought asking a simple question would be one of them.
For the first time, Wes is actually scared of the predator he had been prodding... Loathe to admit that initially, his concern was FOR Danny rather than because of him. It's difficult not to be when the other is abruptly contorted and crying out in pain. As if attacked by an unknown force, coursing through the flashing form with the intention of tearing him apart molecule by molecule. Wes has never been privy to such a primal expression of pain. A cold chill crawls down his spine at such anguish, a hand unknowingly reaching out slowly... Foolishly. As though he could help.
Thankfully, Danny snaps before he can get very far. Recoiling with a yelp, breathing matches the strained pace of Danny's; heart thundering in his ears as Wes switches from shame to self-preservation within a second. Albeit, not in the most productive way. Where most might flee or at least try to appease, Wes bristles like a stray cat swiping at a snarling rabid dog. ❝ W-Well, how was I supposed to know that?! ❞ He snaps back, not making any moves toward Danny despite his aggressive tone, ❝ It's not like you're very open when it comes to how ghosts work! ❞
Or anything about what happened to Danny. ❝ I'm sort of fumbling around in the dark here! ❞ 「 ☆ 」
Metallic flavor coated the inside of Danny's mouth, accompanied by a feeling of sharp static dancing over whatever parts of his mouth still had feeling. For a moment, all he could hear was a high-pitched ringing drilling into his skull. At least, the screaming - now aware that that was in fact his own - had died out; those two together would've drove him insane. No, he wasn't there quite yet.
He was, however, extremely pissed off. At everything about this situation. At Wes for pushing too far. For pushing at all despite Danny's many warning to mind his own business. At the fact that there was any business for Wes to stick his nose in in the first place. At himself for not just ignoring Wes and all his prying. At everything.
And Wes was just digging his grave even deeper. Digging his heels in even further.
"Stop." Phantom interrupted. "Stop talking!"
Completely green eyes bore into the other, and with electricity crackling in his voice, he hissed, "Can you just think about what you're asking for a second? Why would a ghost not want to be asked about their death?"
