So I tried to write a DanIan where they didn't start of as enemies/didn't hate each other from the beginning and this was the result.
This was actually started wayyyy after any of my other stories (like literally I started writing it today), but for some reason I think I'm going to finish it first. It's just flowing really well. My other stories have been sitting for months now but here I am with the first chapter of this already done and the second on the way.
This is an AU similar to the ones in my other stories. An AU where no one is related to each other. No cousins, no incest, there's no blood relations between family. Everyone is just living their lives like normal people. Hope and Arthur are alive and normal parents to normal children. Vikram and Isabel are also alive and are just rich people with rich kids.
Seeing as this is an AU, I'm going to try to integrate other characters into the world, but the main focus is just Ian and Dan soooo.
As for this chapter itself Vikram is probably really OOC due to me not knowing him as a character yet still requiring him for the plot.
Summary: In which Vikram sends Ian to live in fucktown nowhere as a punishment for something and he finds himself accidentally falling in love with a rowdy blond with no sense of direction.
Warnings: BL, Slash, Shounen-Ai, typos, author with no beta, Ian-centric, slow burn, etc.
"Ian." A low, deep voice acknowledged his entrance into the office as Vikram motioned for him to sit down.
Ian settled down in the hard chair and looked straight into his fathers eyes with cool eyes, his face a blank slate. In front of him, Vikram sat up straight and rested his entwined fingers on the table he was sitting at. The glass wall behind him darkened as the sun vanished behind a could momentarily, casting a shadow over the room.
"Son," Vikram started again, an rare and unusual expression of worry flickering across his face, "When are you planning on settle down in a relationship?"
Ian widened his eyes marginally, but a blink and it was gone. Why was his father worried about his love life? Neither of his parents seemed interested before.
"It's been ten years and you've had countless flings of either gender, but you haven't had a single relationship last more than a month. Do you plan on never getting married?"
Ian frowned. This was teetering dangerously into a personal conversation, vastly different than their normal cold and businesslike approach to speaking. He didn't know it was possible for Vikram to be worried about his children. The sun peeked out from the clouds, shining down and making his eyes glitter in an overemotional way, and Ian felt himself get uncomfortable.
"The right person just hasn't come along. I'm sure if I picked someone out I could settle with them. Surely you can't expect me to give up my ways so quickly."
Vikram sighed, wrinkles appearing between his brows and suddenly making him look his age, a weary old man. "I understand you're not willing to give up the Casanova play you've been doing since you were twelve, but you're twenty-two now and people are expecting you to settle down."
This conversation had used the word settle much to many times for Ian's liking. "What do you propose?"
"I propose you pick a single individual to try to seriously hold a romantic relationship with, and if the person lasts more than a month, then you're free to go back to your playboy-" Ian glared at the word "-ways and find a person on your own accord-"
"That's perfect, father. I'm more than willing to go out with someone for a month, even more so if I get to choose them. Who knows, maybe they'll be the one I'm looking for and I won't even have to relapse on my old ways-"
"But!" Vikram interrupted and Ian heard himself sigh irritably at this new version of his father. "If you break up with them before a month, your relationship status will be in my hand and I will pick someone for you to get married to, no questions asked."
Ian rolled his eyes, as if he'd let his father hold that much above him. He could hold a relationship for a month or more if he tried. "Any other things I should be aware of?"
"Yes." And Ian groaned. Aloud. In front of Vikram, the king of stone. But a twinkle lit up in Vikram's eyes and Ian swore he saw the edges of his eternal frown twitch upward. But alas, the miracle was not documented and no one would believe him.
"I'm sure you're annoyed, but this is our last plan and attempt at setting you up and we'll be damned if we don't milk it for all it's worth." Ian almost fell out of his chair at the primitive words emanating from his sophisticated father's mouth.
Regaining his composure, he glared at his father and willed him to continue. "While we are picking out a suitable partner for you, you are to spend two months in a remote town where no one knows you." Vikram slid him a paper and Ian picked it up, scanning it.
Things You Are To Do And Not To Do
(Ian scoffed at the ridiculous and frankly abhorrent wording of the title. This new side of his father was both amusing and depressing at the same time. Where was the refined man he looked up to as a child?)
#1 You under no circumstances, are to tell anyone who you are
#2 You can not have any casual flings, sexual or otherwise
#3 You are to cook your own meals and other household chores of your own
#4 You are to spend at least 3 hours per day outside socializing with the town's occupants
#5 You are to be inside the house by 10 PM every night.
#6 You are-
Ian stopped reading after that. Looking at his father with barely concealed rage, he simmered in anger at where his father was regarding him with a cool look. Almost snarling, he hissed "And who is going to make sure I stay within these guidelines?"
"You'll have an escort who will drop by every single day to check on you. If they get a single whiff of you breaking any rule on this paper, you'll be whisked off to another town for another two months."
"How are you so sure people won't recognize me?" Ian challenged, "It's not an exaggeration to say that everyone in this entire country will recognize my face."
At that, Vikram gave him a predatory smirk as Ian found himself actually worrying about the future. "Don't worry, we'll send you far enough so that it'd be rare for someone to know your name, let alone recognize you."
Ians mind began whirring as he desperately tried to make connections. Once he figured it out, he stopped short. "America. You're sending me to America." He prompted.
Vikram just smiled.
Ian narrowed his eyes. So that's how it was going to be. "It was nice talking to you father. Have a good day." He strode out of the room, seething. If Vikram wanted to play that game, he'd play it. He'd show his father how easy it was to hold someone for more than a month.
Going to the bar he was notoriously famous for picking up someone every day, he picked a nice, quiet girl with natural brown hair and grey eyes. Seducing her was easy enough, and the next day Ian proudly showed her off to his parents, tossing an extra look at his father that challenged "Watch me". He hated the knowing look in his eyes.
Turn out the "nice, quiet girl" was actually not nice or quiet, and was in fact really clingy and annoying. He should have gone with the nice looking chap next to her. She constantly was badgering him for gifts, something he hated in any significant other.
He dumped her within a week.
Vikram was positively beaming behind his normally cold exterior.
Fuck.
(AN: I know this a pretty short chapter, but it's just a sort of pre? chapter? Anyway, the next chapter will be longer.)