Another short based off the Haunted AU, and a continuation of 'Cody's Ghost'!

Decided to expand more and it ended up like this:

Third Person
As strange as it might sound, Cody had gotten used to KrakenKid following him around.

Sure, the cold flashes and trying not to react when he made a comment at him was difficult and something Cody was working on, but having him there was starting to settle in.

The mostly monochrome ghost had stuck to his word, and let him sleep during the night. Cody had no idea what he did at that time, but sometimes, when he woke up, he wasn't there. He'd come back later, phasing through the walls and acting as if nothing happened. Cody didn't ask, he wasn't sure if it was his place to.

Other than that, the only other strange thing he did was talk to other people who weren't there. Other ghosts, as Cody would later learn. Apparently, they kept him company in times of boredom, and if it kept him from distracting Cody, then Cody definitely was for it.

"You're doing it again." Pikalus' slightly irritated voice caught his attention again. Cody frowned slightly, ignoring the faces KrakenKid was making behind Professor's back.

"Doing what?"

"It's- it's like you're looking at something or someone but when I look, nothing's there." Professor checked again, groaning. "See? What could you possibly be staring at?"

"Maybe he just doesn't like looking at your crusty face and creepy, anime, glasses light flare thing." KrakenKid murmured under his breath, dark eyes almost looked like they were rolling, even without pupils.

Cody snorted slightly. Professor threw his hands into the air. "WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY BE LAUGHING AT?"

"Ooo, got you to slip up again! Three, Kraken, Zero, Cody. Better luck next time, Penguin." KrakenKid winked, then flickered the overhead light.

As Professor looked up at the lights above him, Cody murmured under his breath. "Shut up, I'll talk to you in a minute!"

"What was that?" The scientist turned back.

"I said, 'I gotta go see Sam for a minute!' Maybe more, I just need to talk to her. I'll see you later!" Cody said quickly, waving as he made a break for the exit. KrakenKid chuckled, floating behind him with a wicked grin on his face. As soon as they were in the clear, Cody lowered his voice again. "Sheesh, you're making me look bad! Can you tone it down a bit? I'd rather not look like a freak!"

"Yeah, no. I'm having fun and there's very few entertainment options when you're a ghost." KrakenKid circled him, and Cody could barely hold back the verbal shivering sound that got caught in his throat when he passed right through him once. Like getting dunked in an ice bucket! Coming from a PENGUIN, how cold is this guy?

"Can you stop? It's weird phasing right through you." Cody shook off the cold as he headed for the tunnels.

KrakenKid just clicked his tongue, as if he were deciding. "Hm. We'll see. Are we really seeing your girlfriend?"

"We're not actually dating, and yes. It's been awhile, leave me alone!"

"Never."

Cody huffed but luckily, KrakenKid was mostly silent as they entered. After looking around, he hummed slightly. "Huh... This place looks familiar..."

Cody couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes. "Yeah, it's because you invaded here. Remember? That's where we first met. You stole the gauntlet."

KrakenKid laughed, just for a moment, flickering into his usual self with purple skin and yellow eyes, but it was gone in the blink of an eye. "Ah, now it makes sense. One of my most successful achievements if I do say so myself. And, you're wrong by the way."

"Wrong?" Cody scoffed slightly. "Wrong on what?"

"It's where you first met me. That you can remember at least. It's not where I first met you."

KrakenKid had said it so casually that it took Cody a moment to process what he said before stopping dead in his tracks. He shivered as KrakenKid noticed his action too late and once again, passed through him, but answers were more important to him. "You... We knew each other before?"

"Well, duh." KrakenKid was definitely rolling his eyes, even if Cody couldn't see it. He knew that tone too well. "You didn't think I hated you that much for no reason, did you?"

Cody paused, moving forward but asked quietly. "So, what did I do to make you hate me?"

And KrakenKid didn't answer.

Cody reached the houses and caught Sam just as she was leaving. She grinned when she heard him call her name and rushed over. "Cody! Been worried about you, you've been pretty silent since... How are you? You okay?"

Cody decided not to mention what he knew she was going to say and smiled. "Yeah, recovering but doing good! I just wanted to visit before I get swamped again, work just keeps piling on."

"He also thinks you're cute and totally wants to date you." KrakenKid said loudly. Cody's face burned but he laughed and smiled to hide it. KrakenKid grinned proudly, but paused for a moment. Wait... No way, did she just give me a look?

Sam nodded along, keeping the same grin on as before. "I get that, work's been hectic for me too. You busy?"

Cody huffed. "Yeah. Council meetings today. A drag but I gotta go to them."

"Aww, too bad. And I was gonna be free after work around 8PM." KrakenKid blinked again, wearing she just gave him another look. But that wasn't possible, not in the slightest.

Shaking out of it, KrakenKid whistled lowly. "Looks like no date night for you, huh, Penguin?"

Cody gritted his teeth but just shook his head. "I'll still be in meetings then. I'll catch up with you soon though! Bye, Sam!" Cody turned, heading out.

KrakenKid started to do the same when something caught his wrist. Much warmer than him, and to his surprise, solid. He nearly yelped, words catching in his throat as he whipped around.

The mermaid- Sam- was holding onto him and definitely looking him right in the eye. His tongue couldn't seem to form words, especially when he hand moved up to put a finger by her mouth. "Come see me later." She mumbled. "We need to talk."

She released him, allowing him to follow Cody, but confusion stayed firmly in his mind as he left.

————

Sam was waiting when KrakenKid escaped to meet up with her. She sat on the couch, passively petting the large dragon that was half on the couch, and half off of it, much too big to fit on it.

It was strange to have someone besides Cody make direct eye contact with him. It almost made him feel uncomfortable, but a part of him couldn't help but rejoice that someone else could hear him.

She gestured towards the couch across from her, which KrakenKid promptly hovered right above, looking at her strangely. "You can see me?" He whispered, keeping his voice level.

Sam nodded. "Always been able to see ghost. What surprises me, is that Cody can see you. Is he your unfinished business?" KrakenKid nodded, making her eyes narrow. "And you're the reason I heard he passed out a while ago?"

KrakenKid gave a nervous smile but nodded. Now that someone else knew, he suddenly felt in danger. She could touch him. Could she potentially kill a ghost? Make him nothing? Breath caught in his throat just thinking about it, but he shoved it down. "Just you, or the other too?"

"Both of us can see them. We got it from our mother." Sam responded, leaning back in the cushions. "See, hear, even touch ghosts. All our lives. It's kinda a creepy power so we keep it a secret. We've gotten used to ignoring them or hiding how we communicate to them. Whatever it takes. My turn, are you planning on doing anything extreme to Cody?"

KrakenKid blinked. "Hm. Already did but other than that... I might get lonely if I do. Why do you sound like you're trying to help?"

"Because I am." Sam put it bluntly. "Enemy or not, I help the dead. Now, is there anything I can do for you? The less emotional you are, the easier it will be on Cody. Any other unfinished business?"

KrakenKid paused for a long while. At first, he planned on telling her Cody wasn't much of a cake walk either, or that he could take care of himself. But his mind wandered, his eyes slowly met with the ground. A thought invaded his mind, and before he knew it, he spoke.

"I have a son-!" KrakenKid tried to stop himself but it was already too late. He could see the sympathy in her eyes as she leaned forward, nodding to go on. It spilled out. "He's still alive, he can't hear me but I visit him often. I just-... I'm worried about him. He's not sleeping well. Can you-..?"

"How old?" Sam asked immediately.

"Krakens have different biologies, we age much slower so he's technically a baby, but also kinda a teenager if he were a human."

Sam nodded slowly. "Selena can help then. Better for a teen to talk to a teen. I'll do what I can."

KrakenKid nodded, letting out a long sigh. "...Thank you. I... Thank you. I'll try to tone it down with the Penguin. Just a bit. No promises."

The aqua mermaid stood, offering a hand. "I'll take what I can get. I'll do my best, Kraken. But please, go easy on him. Cody's emotional. Chances are, he's taking this a lot harder than you think. Maybe worse than you."

The Tide Changer shook his head, huffing. "Doubtful."

"You'd be surprised. Cody's very good at hiding his emotions behind work and other distractions. Just, consider it."

Sam left him with that. Cody found KrakenKid unusually quiet the rest of the day.

**************
I had to give the sisters a little love, so, plot device powers~

Anyways, I hope you liked this! Be sure to comment what you think, it fuels me greatly! G'bye!

—JustAnAtlantisWriter

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