As the Hulk in Danny Phantom/DC/Young Justice

The Spring Formal transformed Casper High's gymnasium into what the decorating committee called "A Night of Enchantment," though to Samael it looked more like someone had raided a party supply store's entire stock of streamers and fairy lights.

"Looking sharp, dude," Tucker commented as Samael adjusted his tie for the hundredth time. They stood near the punch bowl, watching their classmates filter in.

"Though I still can't believe you actually agreed to come with Paulina."

"Better than her finding another magical artifact to force the issue," Samael muttered, his simple black suit chosen specifically to avoid matching anything Paulina might wear.

Jazz had helped him pick it out, insisting that the slightly looser fit would be better for... unexpected size changes.

Danny, who had somehow managed to snag a dance with Sam (though both insisted they were just friends), passed by with an encouraging grin. "At least this time we know there aren't any transformation-triggering pieces of jewelry floating around."

"Speaking of triggers," Tucker's PDA beeped softly, "heads up. Your date's making her entrance."

Paulina swept into the gym wearing an elaborate pink dress that probably cost more than the Fenton's monthly ghost-hunting budget.

Her entrance caused the usual stir among the student body, though Samael noticed she kept touching her neck as if something was missing, a gesture she'd developed since the "dragon incident" she couldn't quite remember.

"Here we go," he sighed, squaring his shoulders like he was preparing for battle rather than a school dance.

"Samael!" Paulina glided over, her dress sparkling under the party lights. "Don't you look... nice." Her slight pause made it clear she'd hoped for something more coordinated with her outfit.

"Paulina," he nodded politely, maintaining careful distance. "The gym looks... pink."

"The theme is enchantment," she corrected, reaching for his arm. "Speaking of which, I keep having the strangest dream about that day at school. You know, when everyone says there was some kind of special effects malfunction?"

"Punch?" he interrupted quickly, stepping toward the refreshment table. "I should get some punch."

Tucker, still monitoring his PDA out of habit, whispered, "Stress levels rising, but still in safe range."

"I've been telling everyone about my date with the strongest guy in school," Paulina continued, following him.

"Though you've been so mysterious lately. All those sudden disappearances, the new muscles..." She tilted her head thoughtfully. "It's like you became a different person overnight."

Samael concentrated on pouring punch without crushing the plastic cup. "Nothing mysterious about it. Just... working out."

Danny, dancing nearby with Sam, kept a watchful eye on his brother's growing tension.

"You've always been strong," Paulina mused as they moved to the music, "but lately it's different. Like that day you crushed Dash's bench press record without even trying. And those strange clothes you started wearing..."

"I like to be prepared," Samael replied carefully, taking a deliberate sip of punch to avoid further comment.

The DJ switched to a slower song, and Paulina's eyes lit up. "Oh! We have to dance to this one!"

Before he could object, she was pulling him toward the dance floor. Samael followed reluctantly, very aware of how his enhanced strength could easily hurt her if he wasn't careful.

It was ironic – she'd always tried to get his attention, and now that she had it, it came with complications she couldn't even imagine.

"You know," she said as they started swaying to the music, maintaining a respectful distance, "sometimes I have these weird flashes of memory. About that day at school. Like I was... different somehow."

Samael tensed slightly. "The special effects were pretty convincing."

"But it felt so real," she insisted. "Like I was powerful and..." she frowned, trying to catch the fleeting memory, "...green?"

Tucker's PDA beeped quietly from the sidelines as Samael's stress levels crept higher.

"Green," Samael repeated neutrally, though he could feel the familiar warmth starting to build under his skin. Rage not being the only transformation condition. "Must have been the lighting."

"Maybe," Paulina moved slightly closer, much to his discomfort. "But ever since that day, you finally agreed to come to the formal with me. After all this time of turning me down." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Why the sudden change?"

Samael carefully maintained the distance between them as they danced. "Sometimes it's easier to say yes than deal with... complications."

"Complications?" A hint of her old haughtiness crept into her voice. "Is that what you think I am?"

"No," he sighed, remembering the dragon incident all too clearly. "But this isn't what you think it is, Paulina. I'm here because it seemed like the simplest solution."

"Simple?" She actually looked hurt for a moment. "I'm never simple. I'm-"

"The most popular girl in school," he finished. "I know. But that's not... it's not what I'm looking for."

The song ended, and Samael stepped back, feeling the warmth of potential transformation receding slightly. "Look, I agreed to come. To dance. But that's all this is."

Tucker's PDA showed his stress levels finally decreasing, though his friend still watched cautiously from the punch bowl.

Paulina's perfectly made-up face cycled through several emotions before settling on something between confusion and frustration. "You know, most guys would kill for this chance."

"I'm not most guys," Samael replied, the irony of that statement not lost on him.

"Clearly," she huffed, but then her expression softened slightly. "That's probably why I kept asking. You're the only one who ever just... said no."

Before Samael could respond, Dash's voice cut through the music. "Yo, Fenton! Stop hogging the spotlight!" The quarterback had clearly been into the punch, which Tucker suspected someone had spiked.

"Not now, Dash," Samael warned, feeling his temperature rising again.

"Or what?" Dash stumbled slightly. "You'll bench press me too? Come on, show everyone how strong you really are!"

Danny appeared beside them, trying to defuse the situation. "Hey, maybe we should all get some air?"

"Stay out of this, Fenton!" Dash pushed Danny aside, and Samael felt his control slip dangerously.

"Don't," he growled, his voice dropping deeper, "touch my brother."

The tension in the air was palpable as Dash swayed unsteadily, still glaring at Samael. Several students had formed a circle around them, sensing the brewing confrontation.

"Back off, Dash," Samael managed through clenched teeth, his hands curling into fists at his sides. The familiar warmth pulsed beneath his skin, demanding release.

Paulina stepped between them, her pink dress rustling. "Dash, you're embarrassing yourself. And me."

"But he-" Dash started, then seemed to notice everyone watching. Even not completely himself, he recognized the shift in social dynamics. "Whatever. Just... whatever."

As Dash stumbled away, Samael felt his anger slowly receding. Danny gave him a subtle thumbs up from where he stood with Sam.

"That was... different," Paulina observed, studying Samael's face. "Usually you just ignore him completely."

"Things change," he replied, rolling his shoulders to release the lingering tension.

"Yes," she agreed, a calculating look in her eyes. "They do. Like how your eyes seemed to flash green just now."

Samael froze. "The lighting-"

"You keep saying that," Paulina cut him off. "But I'm not as shallow as everyone thinks. Something happened that day with the 'special effects.' Something that changed both of us."

The tension in the air shifted as Paulina studied him with newfound intensity. Samael maintained his composure, though he could feel Tucker's concerned gaze from across the room.

"Maybe," he said carefully, "some things are better left unexamined."

"Like how your brother disappears randomly during ghost attacks? Or how you seem stronger when you're angry?" Paulina stepped closer, lowering her voice. "I might act shallow, Samael, but I notice things."

Before he could respond, the gym lights flickered ominously. Danny, who had been dancing with Sam, suddenly tensed – his ghost sense going off. Samael felt the familiar heat in his chest at the same moment.

"Speaking of ghost attacks," he muttered, already scanning for exits. The last thing they needed was a spectral interruption at the formal.

"See?" Paulina grabbed his arm. "There it is again. That look you get, like you're about to-"

A familiar laugh cut through the music. "BEWARE, FOR I AM THE BOX GHOST! AND I HAVE COME TO CRASH YOUR SOCIAL GATHERING WITH THE POWER OF CARDBOARD AND BUBBLE WRAP!"

The students scattered, screaming – except for Paulina, who maintained her grip on Samael's arm.

"We should really get to safety," he tried, feeling the transformation urge building as the Box Ghost started pelting students with empty punch boxes.

"No," Paulina's eyes narrowed. "I want answers."

Samael felt his anger rise, not from Paulina's grip on his arm, but from her entitled attitude. Even now, with chaos erupting around them, she expected everything to revolve around her desires.

"Answers?" he said, his voice carrying an edge that made her loosen her grip slightly. "That's your problem, Paulina. You think you deserve everything just because you want it."

The Box Ghost's mayhem provided a chaotic backdrop to their confrontation, but Samael kept his focus on making his point.

"You wanted me to take you to the formal, so you kept pushing. You wanted to know why I changed, so you demand answers. Has it ever occurred to you that some things aren't about you?"

"But I-" she started, looking genuinely taken aback by his directness.

"No," he cut her off, feeling the warmth of transformation but channeling it into his words instead.

"You don't get to know everything just because you're Paulina. Some secrets aren't yours to demand, and some answers aren't yours to have."

A flying punch bowl nearly hit them, forcing Samael to pull Paulina out of the way despite his frustration with her.

"Now," he said firmly, "get to safety. And stop trying to make everything about satisfying your curiosity."

The chaos of the Box Ghost's attack swirled around them, but the tension between Samael and Paulina created its own kind of storm.

"But after everything," she persisted, "the way you protected me during that... incident I can't quite remember-"

"Because it was the right thing to do," he cut her off, his voice carrying the weight of controlled anger. "Not because you were special. Not because you were the most popular girl in school. Simply because someone needed help."

A cardboard box flew past their heads. In the background, Danny had managed to slip away to deal with the Box Ghost, but Samael kept his focus on making Paulina understand.

"You want to know why I finally said yes to this dance?" He gestured between them.

"Because sometimes picking your battles means avoiding unnecessary ones. But that doesn't mean you get to demand explanations for things that aren't yours to know."

The warmth under his skin pulsed with each word, but for once, it felt like the anger was working for him rather than against him.

"I'm trying to understand-" she started.

"No," he interrupted firmly. "You're trying to satisfy your curiosity. There's a difference. Now," he nodded toward the gym exit where other students were fleeing, "Again, get to safety. Some mysteries aren't meant to be solved."

Paulina stood there for a moment, her perfect prom dress now slightly disheveled from dodging flying boxes. For once, she seemed at a loss for words.

"FEAR THE CORRUGATED FURY OF MY CARDBOARD REVENGE!" The Box Ghost's voice echoed through the gym as Danny (now in ghost form) chased him near the ceiling.

"But-" Paulina tried one last time.

"Go," Samael's voice left no room for argument. The warmth of transformation simmered beneath his skin, but his words remained measured. "Some people have secrets for good reasons, Paulina. Respect that."

She finally turned toward the exit, but paused. "You know, you're the first person who's ever really told me no. Not just about the dance, but... everything."

"Maybe that's something worth thinking about," he replied, already scanning for a place to transform if needed.

As she finally joined the exodus of students, Sam appeared beside Samael. "That was... surprisingly mature."

"Yeah, well," he managed a slight smile despite the chaos, "turns out anger management isn't just about not turning green."

Above them, Danny's voice rang out: "Seriously? You crashed a formal dance just because no one invited you?"

"THE BOX GHOST REQUIRES NO INVITATION! ONLY PROPERLY PACKAGED VENGEANCE!"

"Tucker," Samael called to his friend who was still monitoring his PDA, "how's the gym's structural integrity?"

"Well, considering the Box Ghost's 'properly packaged vengeance' is mostly empty cardboard..." Tucker checked his readings, "We should be fine if you need to... you know."

"THE BOX GHOST TAKES OFFENSE AT YOUR DISMISSAL OF CARDBOARD'S POWER!" A barrage of empty punch boxes rained down on them.

Sam ducked behind an overturned refreshment table. "Any time you want to help your brother, feel free!"

Samael scanned the now-empty gym. With the other students gone and only their core group remaining, he could finally let go of his careful control.

"Hey, Box Ghost!" he called out, feeling the familiar warmth building. "Ever wonder what happens when someone gets really angry about their formal being interrupted?"

"THE BOX GHOST FEARS NO-" He paused, finally noticing Samael's growing transformation. "OH. IT'S THE ANGRY ONE. AGAIN."

Danny, still chasing the ghost near the ceiling, grinned. "Should've checked the guest list, buddy."

"BEWARE?" The Box Ghost's usual battle cry came out more like a question as Samael's massive green form burst through his formal wear.

"GHOST INTERRUPT DANCE!" Samael roared, his size filling a significant portion of the gym. "SAMAEL NOT LIKE INTERRUPTIONS!"

"NOW BOX GHOST LEARN WHY SAMAEL HATE PARTY CRASHERS!" His massive green fist swatted away a wave of cardboard boxes like they were confetti.

"THE BOX GHOST SUDDENLY REMEMBERS AN IMPORTANT PACKAGING APPOINTMENT!" The spectral nuisance tried to flee through the ceiling, but Danny cut him off.

"Not so fast!" Danny produced the Fenton Thermos. "I think it's time to wrap up this party."

"WRAP UP?" The Box Ghost brightened momentarily. "AHA! YOU ADMIT THE POWER OF PROPER PACKAGING-"

"GHOST TALK TOO MUCH!" Samael's massive hand plucked the Box Ghost from the air. "GHOST RUIN FORMAL!"

Tucker, still monitoring from a safe distance, called out, "Uh, guys? I'm picking up more ecto-signatures heading this way. Probably your parents investigating the chaos."

"Great," Danny sighed, uncapping the thermos. "Mom and Dad are going to love explaining this to the school board."

"WAIT!" The Box Ghost struggled in Samael's grip. "THE BOX GHOST DEMANDS A PROPER SEND-OFF!"

"SAMAEL GIVE PROPER GOODBYE!" He wound up like a pitcher and hurled the Box Ghost straight into Danny's waiting thermos beam.

"BEWAAAaaaare..." The ghost's cry faded as he was sucked into containment.

Sam emerged from behind the refreshment table, surveying the cardboard-covered gym. "Well, at least nothing expensive got destroyed this time."

As Samael returned to his human form, the sound of the Fenton RV's sirens grew closer. Danny quickly transformed back just as Jazz burst through the gym doors.

"Mom and Dad are two minutes out," she announced, already assessing the damage. "I've got a cover story about the drama club practicing special effects, but we need to clean up these boxes."

"On it!" Danny went ghost again briefly to speed-gather the scattered cardboard while Sam and Tucker collected what remained of the decorations.

"Some formal," Samael muttered, picking up his torn jacket from where his transformation had left it. "At least Paulina finally got the message."

"Speaking of messages," Jazz handed him a spare shirt from her emergency kit, "that was some pretty impressive emotional regulation back there. Using words instead of... other methods."

"Yeah, well," he managed a tired smile, "turns out sometimes the strongest thing you can do is just say no."

The gym doors burst open as Jack and Maddie Fenton charged in, weapons ready. "WHERE'S THE GHOST?"

"False alarm!" Jazz called out cheerfully. "Just some drama club special effects! Right, Sam?"

"Oh, definitely," Sam played along, holding up some streamers. "We were practicing for... uh... a very avant-garde interpretation of 'Phantom of the Opera.'"

"With boxes?" Maddie asked skeptically.

"Modern theater," Tucker shrugged. "Very experimental."

Jack looked disappointed but quickly brightened. "Well, as long as we're here, who wants to hear about my new ghost-detecting dance moves?"

"NO!" all five teenagers shouted simultaneously.

Thankfully, no one had truly seen the Box Ghost, otherwise this would be very awakward later.

As their parents launched into an explanation of ecto-rhythms anyway, Samael caught Danny's eye and they shared a knowing look. Another crisis averted, another secret kept, another night of being not-so-normal teenagers in Amity Park.

"Next time," Samael said quietly to his brother, "maybe we just skip the formal and go ghost hunting instead."

"Deal," Danny agreed. "Though you might want to explain that to Paulina."

"I think," Samael watched as their father demonstrated what he called the 'anti-ghost groove', "she finally understands some dances aren't meant to be."

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(Author note: Just to clarify again, Samael's anger is like a fuse that begins to expand like a wild forest fire. The slightest anger just creates more anger.

Samael as the Hulk now, is the embodiment of the One Below All's rage. He is his own individual and the One Below All has no control over him, but that is what he is.

Just wanted to clarify.

Though he still needs to come into a lot of his strength, since this is nothing.

Well, I hope to see you all later,

Bye!)