November 14, morning

Surprisingly enough, the therapy sessions with Canary were starting to work. At least a little bit. There were still bad attempts at getting info about the boys, and their dynamics, but she pivoted to actual help as well. Enough that Phantom and Robin each agreed to give a solo session a shot, just to see what she'd try to do.

Even more surprisingly, she didn't try anything funny. On the contrary, she actually suggested just hanging out with the team without Robin. Though it did sound stupid at first, she did have a point. Always having his brother around to bounce off of and cling together was doing nothing for the team dynamic.

They were still their own person and always being together to defend another wasn't as helpful as it was at first.

Clearly they were trying, if the party and yesterday's impromptu gift research for Boxy wasn't proof enough of that. It would only be fair if they put in the same effort. When he left the room with an oddly determined look on his face, Robin declined the tradeoff of their emotional support pup. Whatever his brother was up to, the "therapy homework" he mentioned, Robin had a feeling Cujo would be more needed there. Plus it's not like he couldn't face Canary alone, he'd known her for years before any of the current issues arose.

Unfortunately for him, Phantom declined the refusal and handed over Cujo anyway. Before Robin could even object, he'd already been pushed inside with a door aimed for his face. Whatever it was, he wanted to do so alone.

So off Phantom went, pup in safe hands for the time being. It was probably for the best too, not having Cujo with him. His mission required delicate operation, not a pup with a temper of Mount Vesuvius at play. Even more so considering what his plan was. Out of everybody, Aqualad seemed to be the best option to attempt one on one time with. Well, out of those he didn't already know were on the friendlier side. Which also weren't that many but it were at least a few less to worry about.

Anyway, that led to his current predicament. Alone with Aqualad in the hangar, supervised by Bioship, they stood at an awkward distance. Phantom had asked to explain how his water manipulation worked. The idea was that there might be a chance they could translate whatever the water bearers conducted into ecto manipulation.

If Phantom were to go on more missions, it might be handy to be able to make more than just basic shiels, blasts and rays. Of course, as luck would have it, any time he tried, it was unstable as hell. If he even managed to make anything, it more often than not exploded in his face the moment he tried to move even a hair.

The fact he could do whatever with ice but not ecto itself being what kickstarted this whole mission in the first place. Ice was already a solid, making a shape wasn't too hard to imagine. Ecto's different in that it has to go from a liquid state into a solid, and back to liquid should he not want to waste the energy put into making it like he usually did when dissipating his shields.

If only he could get it to stop either taking him out with it or just dipping from existence.

Kaldur tried, oh how he did his best, but with Phantom shimming away any time he tried to step closer to demonstrate better, he could only hold back a sigh. With every failed attempt, Phantom's frustrations grew, only leading to more frustrations as it messed with his ability to focus. And with every failed attempt, Aqualad accidentally inched forward. It wasn't even on purpose, just the instinct to reach out and then stop when Phantom pulled back.

Except this time, Phantom didn't pull back on time. Trying to help contain this round's destruction, Aqualad reached out, water flowing over his skin to create a barrier. A barrier that seemed to carry a bit more of a charge than Phantom could handle from even a singular brush of their hands.

Falling back like he had been burned by the touch, Phantom's lower body was fully submerged as he scrambled away. Breath speeding up, Kaldur couldn't do anything but watch on as green pooled and disappeared from around Phantom's hands. The water around his torso softly spiderwebbed into ice with every shaking breath Phantom took. Barely a second into overthinking his next step, the choice was made for him when a very agitated hound jumped out of the ceiling.

Standing protectively over Phantom, Cujo growled at the Atlantean, urging him to back away once more. Kaldur didn't hesitate this time, backing up as calmly as he could as to not even have a particularly strong ripple of water go near Phantom in this state.

Cujo didn't move from his stance until the Atlantean was at least a few feet away. Circling his boy a few times, he shrunk down just enough to actually be able to nudge him without pushing him over. With his head shoved under Phantom's arm, nose pressed up against his chest, he breathed slowly. Visibly. The puffs of air materializing in the coldness surrounding the overwhelmed boy. Slowly it started to work. From uneven breaths to haggard but steady, Cujo's head was no longer shoved under his arm but now fully embraced as Phantom fought to keep memories at bay.

Incidentally, it also worked on Aqualad. The calmness radiated by the pup reaching him even at the distance he was at.

Softly Cujo moved once more, pressing his nose into Phantom's hand, demanding to inspect the appendage hidden inside the now once again fried glove. Slowly he tugged it off, neon scars still littering his tanned skin with an eerie glow.

Aqualad stood statuesque as he refused to interrupt the moment. Undoubtably it wasn't his place to speak, not when Cujo was still oh so diligently performing a check up of his beloved boy. Though watching Phantom's glove come off, and be confronted with those horrid scars, scars he in part caused, it made his stomach feel heavy with guilt once more. Guilt at failing to be a better leader, a better hero, a better elder.

As much as they hated to admit it, Robin and Phantom were the youngest of the team. As the subsequent eldest, keeping them safe fell to him, even beyond his role as leader. Failing that, failing them, would never be a pleasant feeling. And yet it happened as easily as dropping a cup. It definitely didn't help the fact they were desperately trying to do better, not speedrun a repeat of last week.

Only when Cujo finally settled, and Phantom's breathing properly evened out once more, did Aqualad dare open his mouth. "My apologies," he uttered barely above a whisper, "I did not mean to cause any harm."

Though the unamused hound held his glare, Phantom reacted much more kindly. "It's okay." Avoiding eye contact, he leaned onto Cujo as he mindlessly rubbed circled on the worst of the scarring on the palm of his hand. "I knew there was a chance it would happen, just hoped it didn't."

Daring a glance up, Aqualad felt the intense green from behind the mask eye him. "Your powers work on bio-chem and bio-electricity. I...don't particularly like electricity, so the risk was always there. Cujo's just better at sensing when things are too much, and he gets so overprotective at times, so I thought if he wasn't here I could hold out until I got the hand of it." His eyes fell back to his hand, the crater left behind on his palm from what Aqualad knew not to be from just last week. The same place he showed discomfort before, it couldn't be a coincidence.

Daring to chance this openness Phantom offered, he asked one thing that had been on his mind for a while. "Is that why he seems to dislike Wally so much?" Him as well, that much was clear. But ever since their first meeting, the hound has had it out for the speedster. Their impromptu game of chase in the mess hall serving to prove just how instinctual the reactions had been.

Phantom remained quiet for a while, too quiet to the point Aqualad thought he wouldn't answer, until his voice echoed over. "I think Cujo can feel the speed force. Or at least the kinetic energy inside of it. He doesn't like Flash either, but less, so it might just be that Flash has more control over the amount of energy that comes off of him compared to Wally." Cujo's discontent huff served to prove his very suspicion.

Leaving the air open for any further conversation, or checking by the disgruntled pup, Aqualad let the information sink in for a moment. Although Phantom never struck him as the overly prepared type such as Batman himself, clearly he underestimated just how much the boy did analyze and think over his actions and those around him. Even the subconscious happenings of extruding excess speed force when using superspeed. Or the risk factors in asking himself for help, knowing the Atlantean used bio-electricity.

And just like that, he went back to feeling guilty.

Guilty for failing to rise to the level of trust given to him without even noticing the struggle it must have been. He could have easily asked any other energy manipulating hero for assistance, but he chose him.

"Perhaps," with renewed determination to not fail the young boy before him, Kaldur stood strong. "If you are willing, I would like to give this another try." Offering his hand, he didn't step closer, but he didn't back down either.

Holding Cujo closer, Phantom looked between the two. "I promise, I will do everything within my ability to limit any electricity to the lowest range I can." That did seem to catch Phantom's full attention, especially the mumbled "may Cujo chew on me like a bone should I fail," he added under his breath. Much to the amusement, and distrust, of the two ghosts.

Holding his hood open, Phantom gave Cujo a leg up to crawl onto his back. With the faintest of smiles ghosting his lips, Phantom gingerly reached out to grab Aqualad's hand. Taking a few steps forward, the Atlantean helped Phantom stand once more. A rush of adrenaline flowed through his veins at the initial touch eliciting no reaction this time.

So far so good as one would say.

Taking a steading breath, he held the connection between their fingertips. Just enough for his idea to work. Looking at the boy, a silent 'trust me' flowed between their gaze. Giving Cujo a reassuring scratch before nodding, Phantom mirrored Aqualad's stance.

"If I understand it correctly," Aqualad spoke calmly, like he was just speaking to nothingness, "you are made of ectoplasm as much as we are of water." Phantom's little nod was easily felt through their fingers as Cujo jostled on his shoulder. "Feel your energy in your body, how it binds tissue together into a whole." Slowly he let water creep up Phantom's legs.

Encircling him like a watery hug, putting just enough pressure to make the ghost aware of his own body. "Feel the outline of your body, where yours ends and Cujo's begins." The pup did not appreciate being named, but remained silent for the most part. "Let it flow through you in the way it wants to, do not fight or force it to change its current, follow and guide it to where you want it to go."

The longer they went on, the more of Phantom's body grew covered by a thin layer of water. Keeping an eye on it, Aqualad noted a pale green tint to it as Phantom focused to chase after the feeling of the water. Starting of sluggishly, it picked up a steady pace following his guidance.

"Think of what you want to create in the same way you feel your body. Its shape, every ridge and valley, every curve and straight line. Envision it." Waiting for Phantom's hesitant nod, he continued, guiding the water's pressure towards their connected hand. "Feel it pool in your palm and start to take shape."

As ironic as it was, the very mention of hands and palms made him keenly aware of just how...textured Phantom's scars really were. Though barely grazing the pit on his palm, it felt a lot more rough than the surrounding skin, unlike his own scars that smoothed over long ago.

Trying to keep his focus on the exercise, Aqualad focused in on his control over the water surrounding Phantom. As much as the boy struggled at first, with just a little hands on guidance he seemed to pick up the new method rather quickly. Nearly keeping pace with the pressure the water provided, he let the ecto within it set the first move towards taking any shape.

Of course he didn't expect the shape to be a throwing knife of sorts, but it wasn't his to judge. So long as it didn't self-destruct he was already more than happy given how close to it he was standing.

It didn't seem like he had anything to fear, however. Slowly he pulled the water away, crossing their hands and back to the bay below as the knife started to take shape. Not even Cujo pouted at him anymore as it clearly seemed to have worked.

Aqualad remained silent, letting Phantom feel for himself when it felt ready. While it wasn't the most detailed, nor sharpest, knife in his arsenal, it was the first construct that didn't instantly dipped from existence when Phantom opened his eyes. He didn't need x-ray vision to see the sparkles form in the ghost's eyes as he looked at his own creation.

With a precautionary step backwards, he gestured for Phantom to test it out.

Cautiously he gripped the handle, starting with a small turn in his hand before poking and prodding the air around him. Enthusiasm flowed off of him in waves and within seconds, so did the shrapnel that once was his beloved knife.

Even so, his excitement didn't waver as it was the first real progress he had.

On the contrary, it only skyrocketed when they finally noticed the set of eyes that had been watching them from a distance.

Sitting on a swing made by bioship sat Robin, leaning against the tendrils keeping him seated as he observed the chaos unfolding in the water. Neither Aqualad nor Phantom had noticed his arrival, and it was hard to tell if Cujo knew and didn't care or was just as surprised as them.

"Cujo freaked out and your system short-circuited again." Robin's expression remained unreadable for the Atlantean only partially in water, mirroring his exact feeling. He'd known Robin for a few years now, grown accustomed to his moods and how easily he slipped into a mini version of Batman. The only thing he never understood was why that mood came out, as it didn't seem to have a patterns like other surface dwelling emotions did.

Perhaps this was just another thing he had yet to quite learn.

Perhaps this was just a Robin thing, and only those truly close to him would know how to read him like a book. Exactly like Phantom seemed to do as he lit up the moment he saw the bird perched up there.

"Dude!" Phantom giddily flew over to Robin, smile stretched wide even though Aqualad couldn't see it anymore. "Did you see my cool knife? I made a cool knife!" Phantom practically bounced as he fell into step with Robin as they walked down Bioship-made steps towards actual land. "Do you wanna see?" The child like pride and joy at his, albeit faulty, creation was nothing short of utterly heartwarming.

Stoick look breaking into a soft smile, Robin's mildly frighting mini-Batman look faded into his regular happy self. "Is it gonna explode again?" He teased as if he didn't just look like he could have done anything should he not have liked what he walked in on. Carefully he checked over Phantom's bare hand, making sure he didn't have any injuries before hiding said arm between their capes.

Not that Phantom seemed to care one bit. "Probably." He shrugged, already heading out again.

"Then I'm good." Robin turned to Aqualad before they disappeared over the edge of the platform. A simple thank you was signed in silence, as simple as Robin seemingly knowing Atlantean sign language.

"How about just a small knife?"

"How about you don't try to speedrun afterlife for the both of us?"

Though they were already well on their way back properly inside, Aqualad heard one distinct yell echo back to him. "Thank, Kal!" Shock joined the swirl of emotions waging war inside the Atlantean's mind. As if he had the time for it when Bioship warned of the approaching start of their combat training.

Just how long had they been practicing?

Clearly long enough for everybody to finish their sessions and for the planned breather to pass by without a second thought. How had time slipped from his mind so easily? And just how long had Robin actually been watching? Bioship, too, now that he was thinking about it.

Actually, he'd rather not think about it. Thinking only raised more questions he wasn't sure if he wanted the answers to.

Leaving the confusing comfort of the bay waters, Aqualad trudged back to prepare for training. Well, more training on top of helping Phantom out for who knows how long.

Nope, not going there.

Where he was going, however, was the training hall. Of course, with all his accidental procrastination he managed to arrive as last. Receiving a few odd looks at the uncharacteristic tardiness, he brushed them off with a polite smile and a nod.

Looking between his team members, he looked for two familiar figures. Checking about as subtly as he knew how to, he felt relief wash over him at Phantom's now replaced glove. Scars back to protected obscurity where the boy preferred to have them if Robin's reaction was anything to go by.

Reactions he kept perfectly schooled now that others were there to bare witness. Yet another thing that unsettled him so. Someone so young yet so calculated about how others perceived him. No child should be put in a situation where such precision is required and trained for. At least not without a guardian present.

But that very well may be too much of himself coming to the forefront of this choices regarding those two.

"Alright, seems like everybody is here." Black Canary's voice snapped him out of the wandering path his mind had taken once more. Shame threatened to bubble up as he once again had lost track of where his mind had wandered. Even with it simply being training, he should have been taking it seriously. Train to better take up the burdens others shouldn't have to carry had he been more competent.

"If there are no more questions, partner up and get ready."

Of course his mind had jumped the chance to wander during the explanation of today's training. Hopefully he could manage with Superboy or M'gann's assistance as neither quite jumped at the change to pair up.

Though even that thought wasn't allowed to fully commit as Phantom's sudden coughing fit nearly made him sick. Hunched over and gaping for air that wasn't exiting as nearly solid mist, Phantom didn't seem to be enjoying whatever this power was.

"Damn it, now? Seriously?" Phantom groaned, rubbing his now sore throat. "I don't care who you are, you better be ready to eat my shoe because that's what my throat feels like right now." The rather sudden reappearance of his ghost sense so strongly making its way out feeling like anything but nostalgic bliss. He barely even remembered it hurting this bad beyond the first few times or large quantities of ghosts.

Maybe he should mention that to Frostbite, actually. Who knew what kind of lingering damage this little rampage had really caused. Still, he was sure Frostbite could forgive a bit more excessive power use when it seemed like whoever set it off this time deserved more than what Boxy got.

All too soon his instincts were proven right as he heard an ever familiar charging buzz wriggle into his head. As if the universe hadn't thrown him so many challenges right after the other already, now this on top of it all? He had to be cursed, there was no other way.

Preparing for a battle fought a hundred times over, he wasn't even surprised when the words finally spilled into the room.

"There you are, welp."