Drabble Two: Lust
Really, REALLY don't like this chapter...at all. X( It's a different style then I like to use, but if I used my original, I would have bored you all with a lot of nonessential info that would have gone on for pages. Please review.
Even if you somehow removed the hours of waiting in hopeless hope for Vlad, it had been a very, very long night.
Wincing at the thin rays of sunlight insistently probing at his face through the tiny window, Danny sullenly slid the cover halfway across it, reconsidered, and then pressed his aching forehead against the cool glass.
Why hadn't he simply gone ghost and flown the distance himself? Certainly, it would take longer, but this small, overpacked bit of tin several thousand feet in the air was becoming nearly unbearable. He guessed that traveling alongside Vlad for so long-who'd insisted on traveling in nothing short of tasteful luxury-had spoiled him, somewhat.
At the thought of the older hybrid, Danny's eyes flickered, which looked astonishingly blue in contrast to the dark rings underneath them.
Another reason Danny was so thankful Vlad wasn't here? The fact that that stupid little pet name of his would now actually make sense. 'Little badger.'
Gnawing the inside of his mouth, the teen stared out over the approaching Big Apple below, his own stony, red-eyed reflection staring back at him, his skin pale and wan. Danny's fingertips unconsciously twitched towards his phone, but he stifled the impulse by shoving his hands in his jean pockets.
Which impulse it was, Danny didn't know. To either check his voicemail, or turn the phone intangible, and hurl the wretched thing as far behind him as he could manage, where he would never find it again, where it would invariably be smashed to pieces.
Either way was a lose-lose situation. What would hurt more? Hearing another one of the billionaire's pathetic excuses and empty promises, or being brushed off by the man as a simple, overemotional annoyance?
The thought made his eyes burn once again, and he bit the inside of his mouth hard, hurriedly stooping to retie his shoelaces when a stewardness bustled by. Rubbing his mouth and nose, Danny sat up once again, expression blank, but his eyes indignant daggers.
Nearly a year of the man coaxing and pleading him to accept him-for him to DATE a man the same age as his own father! And then, some of the best weeks of Danny's life, some slow and timeless, the others an absentminded blur. Life's always better knowing someone loves you-especially to the extent Vlad made Danny feel.
Or had tricked him into feeling. In the end, the selfish moron never learned a thing. The man would do whatever it took to win a prize he sought after, but once it was his, he simply treated it as one of his countless possessions-so easily stored away in some unused chamber in his mansion. A satisfactory trophy to see when you occasionally passed it by.
Danny buried his face in his hands, and tried to keep himself from making a noise.
"Damn it..."
After this cruise, what did he do? It had certainly not taken him long for him to decide to leave. Danny had forgiven Vlad for far, far worse, but this was the straw that had finally sent the camel collapsing to the ground.
It wasn't as though Danny didn't have a place to stay, of course-but what was going to happen between him and Vlad? Would Vlad be angry, and reignite their old rivalry? Would the two simply fall out of contact? Would the man want to reconcile? Or would the man do absolutely nothing?
The last thought was painful, but now, if the kid never saw the other hybrid again, it would be too soon. He'd given him his time, his dignity, his virginity, and his heart. And if the man wanted to exchange that for his work, then who was Danny to deny him?
'Probably screwing around with one of his secretaries...'
Danny thought darkly, the corners of his mouth just barely twitching in a bitter smile.
Uncomfortably leaning back in his small plastic seat, his long fingertips played with a little gold band that scattered sparkles onto the face of his snoring seatmate. The precious metal, chain, and stone were hot against his skin as the halfa turned the ring around for the umpteenth time to stare at the detailing.
It was Vlad's old college ring, set with a bloodred stone. How very Vlad. The man had given it to him six months after they began dating, and had complained that he never saw his lover wear it on his ring finger. Danny had protested that it kept sliding off, and objected Vlad's offer to have it resized. Instead, the boy had worn it on a chain around his neck, claiming that the ring was now closer to his heart. Vlad didn't argue with him after that, though he still had an irritating habit of leaving suspicious 'love bites' on his neck that were awfully hard to hide.
Danny rolled his eyes and colored at the corniness at all. For a brief second, he considered tossing the ring outside the plane alongside his phone. Then, a voice interrupted his thoughts:
'Good morning, all passengers-it is now seven o'clock in New York State. Temperatures are currently passing at 63 degrees, with an expected high of 80. Altitude winds are...'
The cool, professional voice continued to crackle over the loudspeaker, though to the young man in isle thirteen's ears, it was just more meaningless noise:
'...we will be landing shortly, though we do ask that passengers keep their cell phones and other assorted electronics off...'
Gloomy, Danny drew his knees to his chest and hugged them, unhappy eyes piercing and gloomy.
Knowing Vlad, the man had already sent him an angry, blustering message. That, or...
Danny almost turned ghost, and shot out of the window himself as the plane at last began to descend altitude.
What would happen after this journey across the sea, he didn't know. But he hoped that it would at least clear his thoughts up a little bit.
In spite of himself, he grudgingly returned Vlad's chain and ring around his neck, slipping it underneath his shirt. He'd mail it back to the man when he got back to dry land, and a clearer idea of what he was going to do next. Right now, he felt sort of bare without it, even if it did bump a painful reminder against his skin when at last the plane landed, and he stood to disembark.
Tugging his small bag of belongings behind him, nursing a headache and the results of a sleepless night, the last thing the boy expected was for a cheer to echo through the terminal when people had begun leaking out. Starting, he nonetheless shook his head slightly, and continued on his way, expecting that it was simply for some poor-
"FEN-er, Danny!"
Upon hearing the all-too familiar voice, Danny froze, and twisted around-but not in time to see the blur of black and blue fly towards him.
However, he DID have a nice view of the stars that flashed through his eyes as Qwan knocked the wind out of him by seizing him a bearlike hug.
Or maybe his former bully was just trying to strangle him once again. Danny would have believed either. His feet were helplessly kicking at least a foot in midair.
Qwan pulled back to beam at the other boy, but suddenly flushed, and hurriedly dropped Danny like a sack of potatoes, which the gasping boy was all too thankful for as he massaged his windpipe.
The Asian's hands fluttered uncertainly to Danny's jacket, trying to wipe out the large creases now scattered on the material.
"Oooh...agh..."
While the Freshman in college tried to speak a coherant sentence, Danny stumbled back an inch, attempting to do the same.
"...Q-Qwan?" he croaked at last, staring bewilderedly at his old schoolmate.
Certainly, he remembered Qwan-it had been but months since he'd seen the Asian at graduation. But while Qwan appeared taller-did the teen ever stop growing?-he was also much toned, and his muscles, whilst still rippling, didn't look like burlap sacks stuffed in his trademark Jock jacket sleeves anymore.
Speaking of which...
Qwan had also hastily taken a few steps back, his face worried, as though he were wondering if he'd upset his former victim. He rocked back and forth on designer sandals, slanky black capris that seemed custom-made to show off the boy's legs, and a short-sleeved, baby blue polo. When had the guy worn anything but sweaty, expensive jerseys?
"Uh, hey, man. Good to see you again."
Upon getting over his shock, Danny managed a smile, though it was still somewhat fixed. But at the very least, the dumbfoundment of seeing Qwan actually looking quite so healthy (The kid had done nothing but shove food that would put a hummingbird into a diabetic coma throughout his highschool career into his mouth) distracted the young hybrid from the current misery of his existence.
"I-I-Qwan! You're...looking, uh, great! How are you doing?"
Remembering his manners, Danny extended his hand, which Qwan very eagerly took, smiling toothily. His hands were a lot sweatier then Danny remembered them to be back in the golden days when the guy used to help shove him into a locker.
"Thanks! Good...good...college's been fantastic, been helping me sort out my options and experiment 'n stuff. How about you? You're looking...good..." Qwan trailed off in a weak lie, his originally buoyant expression now turning to that of confusion.
"Actually, dude, are you okay? You look a little...iffy."
Iffy?
Danny blinked.
"Never better. Flight was good."
Qwan was still staring at him, making him feel slightly uncomfortable, for whatever reason.
"You sure, dude? Your eyes are all red."
Traitors! Danny shook his head, glad that his voice was still hoarse.
"Nah. The flight actually WAS a little rocky...and all the engines were going at once where I was sitting. I actually didn't get much sleep last night, actually."
Qwan's puzzled expression turned to that of sympathy.
"Oh. Well, in that case, why don't we grab breakfast and a nap while we wait for the others to show up? My treat. Well, uh, the breakfast part, actually," Qwan offered, not seeming to realize his own lame joke.
While sleep sounded heavenly, Danny didn't think he could stomach anything right now, though he should have been starving. He actually didn't eat any of the dinner last night that was now rotting in the disposal.
Let it rot.
Danny smiled faintly, but shook his head.
"Nah, Qwan...I'm good. Besides, aren't Sam and the others supposed to be coming-hey!"
But Qwan had already seized Danny's travel bag, and with herculean strength, hoisted it onto his shoulder, making several passerby hurrying back in forth in the terminal cast him strange looks, but the boy didn't seem to notice. Danny attempted to seize his bag back, but just as the kid had done in Elementary school, Qwan just held it over his head, out of a hopping Danny's reach.
"No way, man. At least let me carry this."
Danny stifled something between a laugh and a groan.
"You do know that has wheels, right? I can carry it, so-ermph-give it back!"
Qwan just shrugged, and, seizing his own travel bag and tucking it under his arm, he then tugged a stunned Danny down a nearby esculator. He really had a vicelike grip.
Bewildered, Danny discreetly phased his arm free, although the Asian turned to give him a surprised stare, bending his head to give his now empty hand a confused look.
But then, he started chuckling, ignoring Danny's disapproving stare.
"Dude. Relax. It's okay. I don't mind."
"But-"
Qwan uncomfortably turned around to face forwards again as the esculator steps ended. Effortlessly, he started marching across the polished floors, with strides that had Danny nearly running to keep up.
"Fenton, just let me do this, okay? I'm not gonna pretend I'm a genius like your friend Folley who can do better favors then this. I owe you, and you owe me this."
Qwan cast Danny an annoyed look as the two turned a corner.
"Dash and I gave you eight years of hell, Fenton. Just be a man and let me carry this. And let me shovel down a few dozen eggs and muffins down your gullet while we're at it-I think you've lost about a third of your weight since I last saw you this month."
This Month?
Hadn't it been somewhere around thirty to forty weeks?
But he could consider that later. Danny had never believed in aliens prior to this moment, but now wondered if there was any possibility in Qwan's being replaced by some bizarre, hideous, somehow better looking and friendlier replica. Mouth dropping open, Danny stuttered for a moment.
"I-but-you-"
But Qwan wanted to hear nothing of it. Exasperated, and now, just a little bit amused, the boy allowed himself to be tugged into a nearby cafe by Qwan-replica, his hand slipping out of his pocket once more.
Maybe it was simply the influence of wealthier and golden little bad boy Dash that had made Qwan into such an unbearable cretin at school. Otherwise, the results were quite surprising; Qwan was actually a very insecure, but also a very diplomatic and sensitive boy, all things considering. Sam, Tucker, Dani, and Valerie, it transpired, were still at a local hotel, getting ready for the Cruise Ship's departure. But Qwan had volunteered to meet Danny at the Airport-three hours early.
Danny had just been taking a feeble sip of coffee, but had starting to cough violently, and Qwan had had to punch him a few times on the back. Though Qwan had tried to be gentle, Danny suspected that he left bruises the size of peaches in his wake.
"I-ow!-sorry-you-what?"
Looking again like an awkward schoolboy, Qwan raised and lowered his shoulders, looking sheepish.
"I, uh, well, yeah. Don't worry-I had a book to read. Sam was going to come, too, but I woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep. So I just left a note on the table and went to go find myself a seat."
It was one of the more thoughtful, creepy sort of things Vlad occasionally did, though he usually just hired someone to go in his stead. Taking his thoughts out of dangerous territories, Danny thanked the passing busboy for setting down a tray of food (One small one that Qwan forced on him; three large for Qwan), and turned back to the boy still smiling anxiously back at him, feeling nervous.
"So! Well, how have...how have you been? How has College life been treating you?"
Sam had warned Danny in their Sophmore year after Sam's (Very brief) time spent with one of the school's better athletes and social circle members, that the kid was a talker. And for right now, the teen just wanted to listen-listen for as long as Qwan could blither on, just so long as he didn't have to personally say much. He'd never been good at lying, either.
Qwan didn't disappoint him. For the next half hour, Danny just leaned back in his seat, food for the most part untouched, disbelief etched out in every line of his face, as if chiseled in by Michelangelo.
Either Qwan was taking him for quite the ride, or Danny had to return to his replica conspiracy again.
It was strange enough to hear Qwan talk of poetry classes and of someday saving the whales-even stranger for Danny to hear him happily chirp on about his new social life:
"Dad wants me to go on with the football program-says that he's never been prouder in his life. Coach says that I need to piledrive more focus into my defense on the field, because I do have the ideal body of a pro player."
Qwan's chest rose, and then fell slightly as he reached inside the breadbasket for his fourth blueberry muffin.
"But I really like my badminton and cooking courses, though my Dad doesn't really know about either of them. Truth of the matter is, Mom's been paying for them in secret. I don't think Dad would like it too much if he knew what else I'd been doing-he got mad enough when I joined a philosophy club in the first semester. He says that he and my mom have been investing their time and money in a future athlete, and that what he calls 'Girls' Classes' are really just..."
Qwan went on, and Danny, who'd been about to interrupt to say that he wanted to make a quick call, paused, and continued to listen, feeling a bead of sympathy opening up for the boy who used to back-hand him against the lockers. Qwan certainly didn't believe he had a say in his own study, which while seemed just a little bit sad to Danny, he could certainly commiserate on a topic or two.
Danny's phone stayed off, for good, or for ill. The inbox was already full.
At last, at last, the two stood up from their table, and hurried outside to await the waiting taxis. Of course, Qwan insisted on shoving Danny's luggage in, and tried to help Danny into one of the vehicles. Now, Danny had no idea why he'd regarded the bully as anything other then endearingly annoying.
Of course, Sam had flown at him for a hug (Qwan had started to clear his throat after a few seconds), and Tucker, Danielle, and Valerie had fallen suit. Valerie had remained fit as ever, despite the fact that she no longer hunted specters in Amity Park. She'd given Danny a friendly peck on the forehead, which made the teen hope that the tips of his ears weren't as red as they felt.
With little time to spare, they arrived at the dock where the enormous cruise ship was looming, like a minature Taj Mahal floating majestically and serenely out in the middle of the waters. Boarding was relatively easy, and soon enough, Qwan had his arm lightly around Danny's shoulders as the five waved out to the throngs below who'd come to see their loved ones off in a shower of confetti.
Then, as soon as Qwan had turned to wave energetically towards his parents, Danny at last flicked open his cell, hands shaking slightly.
He didn't care. He didn't. He couldn't. But he still had to know.
A message answered him as soon as he dialed in:
"Daniel. I'm sorry. I don't know what to do, but if you insist on being childish, then I'll simply just-"
The message cut off. Then-Beep! Another one.
"-wish you would pick up the phone, and stop this-"
Beep!
"-whatever you want, Daniel. I'm sure I'll see you very soon."
Beep!
"VERY soon. You know that I lo-"
Beep!
For a moment, Danny just stood there. He could have yelled and torn at his hair in sheer frustration. Being a sentimental baby, he could have cried.
At the very least, he wanted to smile.
But instead, he listened to the phone start to ring again, and, without any further ado, he chucked his ringing cell phone straight into the choppy waves of the sea.
As the ship slowly began to pull away, Danny turned his back on the waves, and left his vaguely surprised friends behind as he left for his room, fingering his ring.
That could come later.
He'd pleaded exhaustion, but his friends had insistently tugged him out for an afternoon at the indoor arcade, outdoor pool, and spa. Evening had broke, and dinner had already passed, but now, the group wanted to go to a dance being held on the Outdoor Ballroom on the Main Galla.
Trying to conceal his horror at the idea of dozens of elderly couples gently swaying to old love songs, Danny had grinned, somewhat nervously as he shook his head, feeling Sam's violet eyes on him. Obviously, the goth knew that something was wrong-very wrong-but none of them even knew that he was in a relationship with a middle-aged, half phantasmic billionaire.
Or had been.
"Nah...I'm...I'm good, thanks. I think I'm going to bed early, actually."
Expecting the hordes of groans and protests, Danny raised his hands. If it had been anyone but the man he'd been stupid enough to be taken in by, this wouldn't have been a problem. At all. But all Danny wanted was a little alone time. ASAP.
"I'm sorry to be such a buzzkill, but I've been feeling kind of yuck lately-I'll be just fine in the morning. If I go now, I think I might just pass out on the dance floor."
Understanding, at least, had flickered in Sam, Tucker, and Dani's eyes. Or at least, as much as they understood that 'yuck' generally meant 'overtly exhausted from ghost hunting.'
Or, in this case, 'overtly heartsick and desperate to forget that a certain creep had ever existed.' Whichever one worked.
Qwan had stood up from the Captain's Table.
"C'mon, Danny-can't you just stay for a little while?"
"I'm...I'm really tired," Danny said truthfully, uncomfortably moving his gaze away from the concerned Asian's stare. "I think I might have a bug, or, um, I-"
Suddenly, Qwan's puzzled face lit up with understanding.
"Oh. Have you not ever been on a boat before? Feeling a little seasick?"
To be painfully honest, Danny HAD been on a boat before-Vlad's yacht. That occasion, Vlad had had his phone glued to his ear, too.
Feeling a sick lurch in his stomach, Danny nodded. He'd never been a good liar, but it was mostly truth, anyway-and from the way Qwan's eyebrows raised, he obviously believed him.
"We're going back to the room," Qwan called out over his shoulder as he tugged Danny out of the candelabra-laden chamber, viewing four frozen faces in response. "You ladies-and, er, Tucker-have fun. We'll be fine."
Somehow, Danny was left feeling a little bit more ill then before.
Qwan really HAD managed to get a good deal on this place. The intricately beaded lanterns looked Victorian-and they certainly looked expensive. But it's a little hard to admire decor when your nerves are threatening to eat a hole through your stomach walls.
The Jock turned back to Danny, satisfaction melting off his face once again.
"Hey, man, are you alright? Guess Travel in general doesn't agree with you, huh?"
Uncertain, he made to stretch an arm around Danny, though Danny uneasily sidestepped him, holding his stomach.
Great. Heartsick, and now a bit of that mango shrimp from dinner wanted to come knocking to say hello. Perfect way to start off a holiday.
Qwan suddenly seized his wrist, making the bewildered teen blanch somewhat, especially as a large hand clapped to his face. Immediately, Danny's cheeks colored, but the older boy in front of him didn't seem to notice the teen's discomfort.
"You're not feverish, or anything..." he said reluctantly, at last lowering his own slightly sweaty palm. "But you're changing colors like a traffic light, Danny."
He motioned his head down the hallway, expression hopeful.
"Maybe we oughta get you something from the Medical Wing. There's always one on here, y'know-I used to get lotsa bumps and scrapes when I'd run around on one of these boats as a kid."
Danny smiled-this time sincerely.
"Thanks. But maybe later. Right now, I don't think I can stomach much. Just give me an hour or two, and maybe I can get an aspirin or something."
Qwan still looked unconvinced, but he'd agreed, and the two began to head off towards their suite once again.
Eager to break through the uncomfortable silence, Danny had asked the inevitable question:
"So, how are you and Star doing? I heard you were still at Notre Dame, and she's still at St. Mary's across the street?"
Qwan actually stopped walking so quickly that Danny nearly rammed into him. Looking up, and rubbing his nose, Danny nonetheless flinched at the expression now on his schoolmate's face.
"Star?" Qwan asked, in a strange voice, proceeding to walk again, albeit much more slowly. "I don't know, actually...she and I...kinda broke up a couple months ago."
"That's awful! I'm sorry. I-"
Qwan cast Danny a kind smile, but shook his head.
"Nah. Don't be. It was inevitable. I'm on my own at college-I can't be the same guy she hung out with in High School: Second Best Upper Class. It's not me, y'know."
Qwan paused, looking miserable, before blurting out:
"I can't pretend I'm...something I'm not, y'know? Star might have been fine with that, but it was unfair to both of us. Star's pretty, but I...well, don't like her that way. Not sure if I ever did."
Danny slowly lay a hand on Qwan's shoulder as the boy suddenly became very interested in a nearby ming vase.
"Still sorry, Qwan. I thi-I know that much hurts. But it sounds like you did it for the right reasons."
Qwan managed a crooked attempt at a smile.
"Thanks, dude. And that actually comes off to something I wanted to ask you."
The two finally reached the suite door, but Qwan had turned to Danny, shoulder nonchalantly blocking the entrance. Everything was still-most passengers were topside tonight, enjoying the festivities. Danny could hear the continuous tick-tock of a grandfather clock somewhere in another room in the silence.
Qwan opened his mouth, shut it, and then opened it again.
"You see...I heard some things about you in college...just a, uh, uh, note from a little bird..."
Danny shivered all of a sudden. Had it just gotten colder in here? Maybe the maintenance staff just switched on the AC. He should have guessed it would have been so powerful on one of these fancy-pants-
"That you, um, might have been seeing someone, but no one was certain..."
It was really, really cold in here. Couldn't Qwan feel it? The boy was still wringing his large hands together, biting his lip. Somewhere, Danny felt a sense of foreboding slowly begin to creep over him, though he wasn't sure why.
"Thing is, I never got to tell you something while I was in High School. Thing is, I bullied you because I hoped that it'd...make things easier. My Dad already made his feelings felt on how he'd feel on...MY feelings...if they were...the wrong sort."
Danny could almost see his breath as Qwan stepped closer, uncomfortably aware that he could feel the guy breathing on him. His heart rate picked up as Qwan continued:
"But my parents aren't here right now, and even if my Dad hates me for this, even if my Mom's upset that I take up a different major, I have to make my own mistakes, you know? But I don't...really feel that telling you the truth."
Danny stared at him, uncomprehendingly, but his eyes enormous. Qwan took a look at them before exhaling, closing his eyes, and beginning to speak.
"Danny. The truth is is that I really like-"
But wrenching through the door, an intangible hand seized Danny by the scruff of his shirt, and all but tore him intangibly through the frame when Qwan finished speaking, leaving the upset and astonished boy alone in the hall.
"Ooof!"
Danny landed on the richly carpeted floor, gasping as he rolled onto his knees, dazedly peering around as he stumbled to his feet, readying himself into battle position.
But something from the darkness of the grandiose, unlit bedroom seized him, and pushed him sprawling back onto the floor. A pair of lips all but smashed themselves onto Danny's while a cool, gloved hand immediately snaked its way up his shirt.
Adrenaline still pumping through his veins, Danny nonetheless heard a growl from somewhere above him, and his blue eyes flickered in a panic in the darkness.
Something or someone ignored his flailing protests, and dragged the boy to the bed, now crushing him against something hard. And Danny thought Qwan had a metric grip...
A flash of scarlet. Danny looked up in astonishment, effortlessly phasing into his ghost form to make emerald flames burst into life in his gloved palm.
But all thoughts stopped dead when the face of his ex-lover loomed into his vision, expression torn between fury, relief, and...
Whatever it was, it was frightening. Danny flickered back, wincing as his captor's fingertips tightened painfully around his wrists, not allowing him to break the intense staredown that he was so obviously winning.
"V-Vlad?"