[Third Person Pov]
The next day, Danny lingered atop one of the city's rooftops, leaning heavily against the metal railing. His posture was slouched, shoulders rounded inward, his entire body radiating a bone-deep exhaustion that not even a full night's sleep could chase away. The wind tugged lightly at his jacket, carrying with it the distant sounds of the city.
The soft flutter of fabric reached his ears before he even looked up.
Superman descended from the sky with practiced ease, lowering himself until he hovered just a few feet in front of Danny. His cape billowed once before settling behind him as he spoke, his voice gentle but unmistakably concerned. "You should be resting, Danny…"
Danny let out a quiet breath that might have been a laugh and might have been a sigh. He didn't move from where he was leaning, only turning his head slightly toward Superman.
"Yeah, I know," he admitted, a lazy, tired smile tugging at his lips. "But it's our last day together, and I didn't really want to waste it laying in bed staring at the ceiling." He shrugged weakly. "Figured I could at least help you repair the city. I mean… I did contribute to the collateral damage one way or another."
"There's really no need for that," Superman replied with a faint grin, lowering himself to land lightly on the rooftop. "I finished repairing the city last night while you were recuperating." His expression softened as he studied Danny more closely. "Speaking of which… how are you feeling?"
Danny snorted under his breath and rested his forehead against his forearm atop the railing. "I don't think you'd appreciate my language if I told you exactly how I'm feeling right now."
That earned a quiet chuckle from Superman, who covered his mouth briefly with his fist before smiling wryly. "Somehow, I don't doubt that."
His smile faded into something warmer, more thoughtful, as he took in Danny's stubborn determination—how, even injured and drained, he still felt the need to be useful. With a small hop, Superman vaulted over the railing and leaned back against it beside him, mirroring his stance.
"How about this," he suggested. "Why don't we go over everything we did? I can tell you what you did well, and what you could improve or work on going forward."
Danny lifted his head and glanced at him, considering it for a moment before shrugging.
"I'm cool with that. Beats sitting around doing nothing." He tilted his chin toward Superman. "Go ahead."
"Alright," Superman said. "First off—try not to possess people unless you absolutely have to. I don't mean when you're saving lives or doing hero work. I mean casually… or as a prank, or a joke." His tone remained calm but firm. "You never know how someone might react to that. And Lex wasn't the best person to do it to. You may have just earned yourself a powerful enemy—and Lex Luthor isn't someone you want on that list. The fewer enemies you make, the better. That's why using your powers responsibly is so important."
Danny grimaced and muttered, "Can't really argue with that…" before burying his face back into his forearm. "And I honestly can't believe I just got the 'with great power comes great responsibility' speech from you." He groaned. "That's… unbelievably embarrassing."
Superman laughed softly again. "It's a saying people repeat for a reason," he said. "Because of the truth behind it." His expression grew more serious. "Which brings me to my second point—being careful about what you say, and who you say it to."
"Urgh…" Danny groaned, already knowing where this was headed. "This is about Technus, isn't it?"
"Yes," Superman replied without hesitation. "You immediately assumed he was aiming for world domination. Because of that assumption—and the way you voiced it—you may have pushed him further down that path." He folded his arms across his chest. "Assumptions aren't always bad. They help us prepare for the worst. But you have to be careful not to confuse assumptions with the truth unless you're absolutely certain."
"Yes, sir…" Danny replied with a small pout. It was starting to feel less like a discussion and more like a lecture.
A faint smirk touched Superman's lips at that reaction. "I know it sounds like I'm reprimanding you," he said, "but that's not my intention. In fact, there were moments where you did better than I did." He turned slightly toward Danny. "Like when you tried to lead Technus away from the city—that was good thinking. And when you kept getting back up, even after you were clearly beaten."
Superman placed a reassuring hand on Danny's shoulder. "You showed real spirit, and real potential," he continued. "You're young, and you're still learning. But from what I've seen so far, I don't doubt for a second that you'll grow into an incredible hero someday."
Danny didn't respond right away—but the way his shoulders eased said more than words ever could.
Danny's lips curved into a soft, genuine smile as he stared down at the city below. From this height it looked calmer, steadier—patched together but still standing. The two of them gradually drifted back into conversation, talking through the battle piece by piece: what they could have done better, what mistakes were made in the heat of the moment, and what they would change if they ever found themselves facing something similar again.
What Danny appreciated most wasn't the advice itself, but the balance of it.
Superman wasn't just pointing out Danny's flaws—he was just as willing to criticize himself. He openly shared what he believed he could have handled better, the decisions he questioned in hindsight, and the habits he still worked on improving. It didn't feel like a lecture anymore. It felt like two heroes learning from one another.
"And please," Superman added at one point, shaking his head with an amused sigh, "try to tone down the jokes a little."
Both of them were already chuckling, the comment clearly prompted by something Danny had said moments earlier.
"That…" Danny replied, his voice dropping slightly as the laughter faded, "that's not something I don't think I can do." He hesitated, then continued more quietly, "There's a reason I throw out quips whenever I can… or try to make jokes, even when they're god-awful."
Superman raised an eyebrow, intrigued rather than judgmental, and nodded encouragingly for him to go on.
"Okay," Danny said after a beat, rubbing the back of his neck. "But first—promise me you won't laugh."
"Scout's honor," Superman replied immediately, lifting three fingers with exaggerated seriousness.
Danny glanced away toward the horizon, gathering his thoughts before speaking again. "Batman has always been one of my favorite heroes…"
Superman felt a snicker threaten to rise in his chest, but he swallowed it down and stayed silent, keeping his promise.
"There was a time, when I first started out, that I wanted to be just like him," Danny continued. "The kind of hero who strikes fear into people. Someone criminals are terrified of." He paused. "Part of me still feels that way, I guess… but not nearly as much as I did back then."
He shifted his weight against the railing, voice steadier now.
"When I actually started helping people—really helping them and becoming the friendly neighborhood ghost—being feared became the last thing I wanted. I don't want people to look at me and feel scared. I don't want them to hesitate or freeze just because I showed up."
Superman smiled softly as he listened, recognizing the vulnerability beneath Danny's words.
"So I joke around," Danny said, shrugging faintly. "I make dumb jokes. I act ridiculous sometimes. I want people to see that Danny Phantom isn't something they need to be afraid of. That I'm just… a ghost with a terrible sense of humor." A small smile tugged at his mouth. "But one they can count on when it really matters. Someone they won't be afraid to approach when they need help."
He fell quiet for a moment. The only sounds were the low rush of wind and the distant hum of the city far below.
"I don't care if criminals or bad guys start fearing me," Danny added finally. "Honestly, the more they fear me, the better. If it makes them think twice, then good." His voice softened. "But when it's the people you've sworn to protect…" He swallowed. "Being feared by them is both scary itself and an awful feeling."
Superman didn't speak right away. When he did, his voice was calm and sincere.
"Believe it or not, I understand exactly what you mean." He looked out at the city alongside Danny. "There are still people who are afraid of me simply because I'm an alien. Because I'm different and supernatural. Because I can do things they don't understand."
He turned slightly toward Danny, his expression open and warm.
"You're not alone in feeling that way. You and I are more alike than I first thought. A lot more alike. We're both supernatural beings trying to protect a world that's sometimes afraid of us." A small, thoughtful smile crossed his face. "Trying to be accepted and loved. Trying to figure out where we fit in spite of everything"
Danny's eyes widened as he looked at Superman, the weight of those words sinking in. The truth behind them.
And for the first time in a while—even if only for a moment—Danny didn't feel so alone in the world.
Superman placed a hand over Danny's head and ruffled his hair affectionately and reiterated, "You are not as alone as you think you are"
Danny languidly buried his face back in his forearm, and slowly his shoulders quivered and trembled.
From his chin trails of droplets converged and trickled down onto the floor and his feet.
Superman didn't say anything else and just affectionately rubbed his back.
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