Title: The Boy in the Bottle
Pairing: Vlad Masters/Danny Fenton (Maybe more…?)
Summary: Vlad Masters is marooned on a deserted island, that is until he finds a strange bottle. And what should be inside but a teenage boy? Alternate universe to the tune of I Dream of Jeannie.
Warning: Slash.
Rating: T

Okay. So the plan had been for me to update every three days. (Generous, I think.) However, now I apparently have a job. Oops. The good news is that mindless work will give me a chance to let my thoughts wander free and think of more things to incorporate here.

Chapter Three: Home Again, Home Again


The restful feeling in his bones let Vlad Masters know at once that he had fallen asleep. After the two days he had just experienced, something as wonderful as a good rest was able to pierce even the veil of unconsciousness. And as soon as he knew he was sleeping, he made sure to wake himself up. There would be plenty of time for relaxation later.

As with the last time he had caught himself idling by the land of Nod on his long flight, he made sure to do a test, feeling through the jacket that sat on his lap for the bottle within. Until he felt it and was positive that it had not been a dream in itself, he could not be calm.

"You want I should hold that for you?" Skulker asked from where he sat behind him, large boots propped up in the empty seat to his side.

"Thank you, no," the man replied, shaking his head courteously. "And don't act so subservient. You're my bodyguard, not a nameless butler."

"Yes, and maybe if I were good at my job, I would have been there when your plane went down." He seemed genuinely melancholic over the situation, and what should have warmed the other's heart only angered him at the thought of the man acting so out of character.

"Oh, you can stop that pity train now. I hired you for your steel nerves and lack of a conscience. I'm afraid that if you turn so affectionate on me, I will have to fire you," he scolded, resting his neck against the back of the chair. "Besides, had you been there with me, there's a chance you might have died. Then I would have to look for your replacement instead of taking a nice warm bath like I am so looking forward to right now."

"I believe we're only thirty minutes from the airfield," Skulker offered.

"Good," he commented, doing his best to keep his tired eyes from closing.

When they finally did land, Vlad noticed his personal assistant waiting on the strip, leaning against the hood of his car and holding what appeared to be a shoebox.

"Riter," he greeted the man when he climbed into the cabin of the plane. "I take it that Skulker informed you of my shoe-related misfortune." The other nodded and attempted to put socks on the man's feet before he kicked him off. "I'm quite capable of doing that myself. Skulker didn't tell you that I'd become a quadriplegic, did he?"

"No, he didn't," Riter said with a grain of humility. A little green and smoldering fire seemed to flash in his eyes at having his highly bought and salaried concern towards his boss turn into him looking stupid. "There's a clean suit in my car if you'd like to change your clothes as well."

Vlad shook his head as he pulled one of his nice new shoes on and began tying its laces. "No, there's no point. I plan on going straight home and to a bath."

"No quick trip to the hospital, for assurances sake?" he questioned.

"I know nothing is wrong with me," Vlad scoffed, tapping his shoes on the plane's floor. "Other than the fact that I'm still quite covered in sand and want to wash it off of me. Unless you called for the car, give me a ride home, Riter. I don't feel like waiting."

The man nodded briskly— in no way feeling like forcing the other to confirm his well-being— before pushing the oval frames of his glasses further up his nose. "I'll go get it started then."

Several minutes later, Vlad looked out the window of the car at the clouded Wisconsin day. He knew that he should have been more appreciative to see a sight he had almost regarded as lost forever some hours ago, but the bleak nature of the weather was only dampening his spirits. "You know, it was quite a terrible little island, but the weather was nice," he muttered offhandedly. "I sort of wish it were more sunny here."

"And it looks like you may get your wish, sir," Riter answered from the driver's seat next to him. "The clouds are parting up ahead."

"So they are," Vlad smiled, devious thoughts playing just below the surface that pulled his lips up. He petted the bottle through the material.

The first thing he did when he was inside of the fantastic castle he called his home was run up the stairs as quickly as his nearly worn out legs would carry him and dash into his private study. He then locked the door and sprinted to his desk. Though he could feel his genie's bottle quite clearly through the suit jacket, there was a paranoia that had descended upon him since the plane ride and showed no signs of leaving until he could once again set his eyes on the boy.

"Genie?" he called, sitting his coveted belonging on the stained wood of his desk. "Genie, you may come out now."

A sigh of relief fell as he watched the customary green smoke billow forth from the opening. It fell over in a small curve onto the desk, some wisps spreading out and flowing over pens and papers. When the cloud took form, Vlad saw the teen sitting casually on the desktop, right leg draped across the left with the stripes adorning his flowing pants running languidly into each other. He did notice though that there was quite an unfortunate glare on the boy's face, directed at him. "My name is not 'Genie'. I will thank you not to bring up my unfortunate lot in life by calling me that."

"You seem so coarse all of a sudden," Vlad remarked. He was hesitant to separate from the boy, but slowly managed to tear himself away and step towards his private bar for a drink. A little nip was definitely what he needed in that moment.

"I told you that I did not want to go back in that bottle and you made me," he growled. Passive aggressively he began knocking— no doubt— important documents to the floor with the flick of a finger.

"But I also let you back out again." The man poured himself a strong scotch, holding up his glass with a nod as a way of asking if the boy would like one as well. He was quite surprised when he received an acquiescent reply.

"More," the teen said after seeing the older male had only decanted him a sip. "More." Vlad watched the amount in the glass rise until he had poured his genie even more than himself.

"I think you're underestimating it," he smirked, sadistically excited to watch the expression on the boy's face when he tasted the alcohol. However, it was his surprise put on display as he watched the other down the contents in a single gulp.

"This is how you should unwind at the end of the day," the genie laughed, reclining back until he was lying down on the large desk, only his legs dangling off. "Nothing can beat that warming feeling it makes in your stomach. Right, Master?"

"No, I agree," he said, sipping at his own glass as he sat down in his chair next to the relaxing teenager. "Quite the heavy drinker, aren't you?"

"Well, before being imprisoned, I had drank a little, when my parents looked away." Despite his taking to the drink so well, it was amusing how instantaneous the red glow to the boy's cheeks sprouted up. "And after that… I think it was about all that kept me from going crazy. Once I figured out how to make wine… the hours sort of began blurring together. It certainly made time go by much quicker, as quick as two thousand years can go by anyway."

"Yes, I do suppose that's a pretty good amount of time to build up a tolerance." Vlad couldn't quell the question that arose to his mind and spread to his lips. "How old are you, my boy? Fifteen?"

Bright green eyes opened wide in outrage before narrowing in ire. "I am older than you," he spat, rearranging to lay long ways on the desk, pillowing his head with his arm as he rested on his side so he could stare at the man better. "Perhaps you forgot. I am over two thousand years old. Maybe my body has not changed, but I have more years to my age than you could even think about existing through yourself."

"Yes, of course. Do forgive me. If you don't mind my asking though, how old were you? When you were—"

"Sixteen," he replied curtly, turning over onto his back and looking to the ceiling. "I am stuck at sixteen. Thanks to the Blue Djinn."

The man hid a snort at the big tiff the other had made over his mistake of guessing wrongly by a year. Though perhaps if he would have no more physically, his foremost thought would always be to claim as many years as possible. "You know that if you truly did show your age," Vlad commented, somehow trying to make amends, "you would be worse than dust. There wouldn't be a particle of you left."

The boy didn't respond though, his eyes betraying that he was deep in thought.

"Well," the man stated all at once before clearing his throat. "How about we introduce ourselves formally? My name is Vlad Masters. I am quite an important businessman who inherited a company from a distant uncle of mine. Ever since then, I've turned a large profit with it and have branched out to numerous other businesses. And you are?"

"My name is Danny, and you already know my past, Master Masters."

"Please, only one 'master'," Vlad chuckled. "I'm not a big fan of redundancy. But your name is just Danny? Surely that must be short for something."

"It is," the teen shrugged, sitting up on the desktop again. "But I doubt you would be able to pronounce it. Your English language is lazy and slow. It has carried over into speech and destroyed any nimble movement your tongue may have had. Therefore, you may call me Danny."

It had been quite a long time since a person had as good as called Vlad an incapable idiot to his face. He had reached a point where people were too afraid of him, and rightfully so. He fumed silently for a moment, watching the boy from the corner of his eye, who watched the wind outside the glass passively. Finally, he worked through his riled state enough to say something. "I—"

"Have you given any thought to your wishes yet, Master?" the other interrupted before he had really commenced in telling him off. "Shall we begin now? They are unlimited, you are aware. I am, unfortunately, bound in my servitude until you release me. Or, I suppose, some sort of tragic accident happens to you." The man tried to ignore the subtle and calculating smirk he saw connected to that last sentence.

"I… actually put a great deal of thought into it on the way home," Vlad spoke distractedly, willing himself to work past, and pay no attention to, the genie's cheeky backhanded insults and ever so subtle threats. "Things are much different in the world today, my boy. You see, two millennia ago, a man could easily have wished for all the grandeur an avaricious heart could desire, with no repercussions. Today though, there are branches of government and law specifically designed— and with no better job to do than— to monitor should someone's fortunes change suddenly and unexpectedly. What I'm saying," he began elaborating when he saw the openly confused look on the boy, "is that there are lawmen who monitor extreme financial growth of a person. If the source of it cannot be traced, then they immediately assume the riches were obtained under the table through illegal means."

"Master," Danny sighed exhaustedly. "Tell me now. Do you have any wishes or not?"

"Oh, at this moment I would love nothing better than billions more in the bank, several mansions in various settings, and an absolute takeover of all of my rival corporations." The boy smiled, nodding his head, seemingly ready to grant them all. "However," he continued, "wishing for them would give me more trouble than they are worth. I would be investigated first thing tomorrow morning." An exasperated groan escaped the teen. "Therefore, I have decided to be patient with my wishes. (I pride myself on my patience, you know.) I will begin with small, immediate things. After that, I shall work up to wishes that force fortune in my direction. And then, eventually, I will put your powers to real tests."

"Why could I not have had a pigheaded master?" the teen huffed, mumbling to himself. "Instead, I am cursed with one who thinks too much and is perhaps a little disturbed."

"You can stop your insults right now," Vlad growled, thrumming his fingers along the desk. "And, yes, I can hear you. I'm two feet away. Now, genie—"

"Danny!"

"I wish that there was a nice warm tub of water awaiting me in the main bathroom down the hall. It has the biggest bath and I'm in the mood for a nice soak."

"Done," he said, after blinking his eyes with a slight nod. In truth, he felt his powers being rather wasted but said nothing as it was far less exhausting on him.

"Good," the man said, pushing back his chair and stepping to his feet. "I won't be gone for long. I don't care what you do, but don't leave the castle. Better yet, maybe you had best stay in your bottle so that no one will see you."

"I will not!" Danny objected, jumping to his feet in indignation.

"Have it your way then," Vlad shrugged, walking around his desk. "For now, simply stay out of trouble while I bathe. Perhaps when I return, we'll work on your obedience."

"Enjoy your bath," the teen muttered with a roll of his eyes, knowing at once that any 'obedience training' he may receive was going to be a waste of time. He belonged to the man only in body and magic.

The water was warm and inviting, just hot enough that its surface was covered in a thin layer of steam. There was a perfumed scent to the air as Vlad had decided to indulge in bath salts to do away with the extra layer of grime he felt on himself. His head was leaned against the high wall of the tub with a rolled up towel around his neck for cushion. With the sensation of the bath and the optimistic thought of things to come from having a genie, he could not help the contented smile that stole away onto his face. His life was about to become very, very good.

He grabbed a washcloth from the edge and pulled it through the water, soaking it, before draping the cloth over his tired face. It had not been a second or two of his doing that when he heard a pattering noise. Against his better judgment, he ignored it, assuming the sound to be a maid walking by outside the bathroom door.

In fact, he was so relaxed and so averse to the nice mood ending that he disregarded several more quiet sounds until, eventually, he heard a faint little splash and felt its ripples brush against him. Tearing the rag from his face in surprise, he looked up to see Danny standing in the bath, midway through the process of sitting down in the other end while making obvious the fact that it was not a tan but his natural skin color that darkened his lean form.

"What are you doing?" Vlad asked outrageously, crossing his legs that had been spread out comfortably.

"Obviously I am taking a bath, Master," the boy responded as he finally sat, creating several more undulating wrinkles in the water's surface.

"Oh," the man realized suddenly, shaking his head. "No, I understand what's going on here. I know that public baths were probably a normal and expected thing where you're from, but here we bathe alone." The genie glanced at him in a somewhat lazy curiosity before shrugging it off, grabbing a bar of soap. He clearly had no plans of leaving. "Get out! Get out! You can bathe later. Or in another room. I have several baths. Just get out."

Danny glared at him angrily, fingers curling around the soap. "This conserves water, Master. Anything else would be wasteful."

Vlad hated the fact that what the boy said made sense. It would make his point almost impossible to get across. "Look… Danny," he said, using the other's name to garner his attention, "I have plenty of money. Enough for millions upon millions of baths. So it is not important that we take one together."

"So you are wasteful?" The way it was said made the man feel terribly judged, as if he had just been thoroughly sized up. "You know that being wasteful like that means you are not grateful for what you have."

"Surely you don't want to share a bath though," he retorted, trying his best to win the boy with kindness and understanding. Honestly, he was a little rusty on that front. "You must have been horribly embarrassed as a teenager who had to bathe with other people. I'm sure of it."

"That— that is not the point," the teen mumbled, abashed. "Perhaps you bathe alone and waste this precious water, but I will not. Therefore, when I bathe, I will do so with you."

When the teen had finished and it came time for the man's rebuttal, he let the words die before they had even began. There was a set look in the other's eyes. He would not be leaving. However, Vlad did not want to leave either. If not only for the fact that he was there first, then because he sincerely did not want to stand up naked in front of the boy. "I will allow it this one time," he sighed, feeling quite uncomfortable with settling on the matter. Though really, it shouldn't have felt too odd. When he'd had the bathroom remodeled, he had splurged for a grand tub that could fit probably five people without them even touching. "I don't normally take a bath, you know. I typically use the shower. So you can forget the idea of bathing with me now."

"What is a shower?" the boy asked.

"It's… where the water comes out of a spout in the wall above your head, like a small, contained waterfall, you could say."

Danny nodded his head, thinking on what it must look like. After a moment, he said, "Then I shall take showers with you, to conserve the shower water."

"You most certainly will not!" he objected indignantly. "That's even more awkward."

The subject was argued about back and forth for several minutes, the master threatening his genie that he would use a wish if it came to it. By the time the teen conceded that he would not encroach on the other's shower time, the serene mood of Vlad's bath had been completely and irrefutably lost. He supposed that his future prosperity with the genie's power was not to be coming to him without its price.


I'm just going to go ahead and stop people who are happy (or upset?) that things are progressing between them so fast. Trust me. My little plot is a lot more drawn out than this. You'll have to wait a long time for a relationship. But, in the meantime, what's a shared bath between a man and his genie? I mean honestly?