Affections

Jack's starting to space out again. Phantom hates it when he does that. So much effort, so much trouble, and he's spacing out. But there is something of a routine to it by now, isn't there? Jack will come crashing in, blaster blazing, shots wild and ricocheting but somehow not causing injury or property damage. It's almost like it's deliberate, isn't it? But it's the same swoop and dive and duck, dodging Jack's pathetic aim and pelting the man with ectoplasmic bursts aimed with the same careful sloppiness.

This time he actually fought back. And Phantom is never one to back down from a fight. He didn't mean to actually hit him. But he had and Jack went down and Phantom spent a terrifying second wondering if he'd actually killed his own father and dear god what was he going to tell mom, I'm sorry daddy, I'm sorry but then Jack had struggled to his feet, clutching his shoulder, eyes full of surrender and hate.

So Phantom gave him what they both wanted.

If only he'd stop looking at that fucking blaster!

"Pay attention!" he demands and reaches around to *demand* that attention, hand circling Jack's erection, stroking him in synchronization to his own thrusting hips.

And Jack finally pays attention with a low groan that sends shivers down Phantom's spine. "No..." Jack moans but Phantom doesn't pay any attention to it, not when Jack's making such delicious noises and shuddering so tight around him and his cock twitches and makes a lovely mess all over Phantom's glove. Oh yes. That's good. Good because he *earned* those noises. Then it's just a growl and hiss and he's making his own mess inside of Jack.

Phantom is already searching Jack's pockets for a handkerchief when the man collapses. It's only polite. He smiles gently as he brushes dark locks of hair away from Jack's eyes and cleans up the mess. Burn wounds can be explained away. But not everything can be so easily blamed on ghost attacks.

"Honestly, Jack, must we go through this every time?" Phantom chastised. "You attack, I attack, we exchange witty banter, then I bend you over and fuck you."

"Monster."

Oh god. Oh god, to hear that from his father. He shivers at that confession of submission. At that admission of *power.* Oh yes. But "Yes," is all he says, a simple agreement followed by a not so simple question: "So why do you this?"

"To protect my boy."

"Oh really, Jack?" Phantom can't resist. He leans forward, grin alight with pleasure. "Protect him from who? Me? Or yourself?"

Jack never has an answer for that question. Phantom honestly doesn't know what he'd do if he heard one. So he lets it go and helps Jack to his feet and helps his father zip up the jumpsuit. It's getting late. And Jack's getting tired. "Go home to your family, Jack." Phantom watches him nod numbly and walk away and then Phantom takes to the air.

It takes a long time for his dad to get home.

By then, Phantom has become Danny and curled up in bed. He's almost asleep when the door cracks open and careful footsteps make their way to his bed. Danny can feel his father watching him. He barely suppresses a shiver when the blankets are tugged loose. It's another second, another terrifying second but this time some sort of crazy euphoria is surging through him instead of panic and he tenses to turn around and look up and reach for his father and

The blankets are draped over his shoulder. But his father's hands *linger* and that's reason enough for Danny to roll over and look up. "Dad?" Of course.

He's still. So very still. And Danny just wants to tell him it's okay, it's alright, please, please. But then his father nods and says, "Yeah, just go back to sleep."

Not yet. Just... not yet. Danny points at his father's wounded shoulder. Bandaged, but still seeping through. "Are you okay?"

"Just a ghost attack. Your old man'll be fine."

Danny can't hold back a frustrated yawn. "Yeah." Those little outings always tire him out.

"You know I'll always look out for you, right kiddo?" There's a desperation in his father's voice that clutches Danny's heart painfully tight.

"Yeah, Dad," Danny replies softly and reaches out and pulls his father close enough to press a kiss against his forehead. "I know."