REASONS TO ACCEPT

Summary: Vlad and Danny are quite enjoying the rekindling of their relationship, now they just have to deal with everyone else's reactions to it. The bond between these two hybrids will be tested as it never has been before. SEQUEL TO REASONS TO OBJECT M/M Pompous Pep!

Warnings: Uncontrollable moments of fluff(they're gonna come out), slash/dude on dude/yaoi(whatever you want to call it), also a few random OCs.

Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom and it's characters in any way, shape, or form. They are the property of Butch Hartman and Nickelodeon/Viacom.

As I said before, this story picks up right after the last chapter of Reasons to Object and I will try my best to update it every other week.

MASSIVE APOLOGIES FOR THE EXTREME DELAY ON THIS STORY! To make up for it, tonight we have a double update, so without further ado . . .


CHAPTER THREE - The Truth, Please?


The drive to the Amity Park Planetarium and Astral Observatory is relatively short, yet both ghosts elongate it by ignoring the slight tension between them. Pulling up to the entrance, Daniel moves to unclick his seat belt. However, his hand is stopped by the look focused on him. Soft blue eyes look up in surprise at the man as Vlad takes a deep breath before he begins to speak.

"Daniel, is there something you want to tell me?"

For a moment, barely measurable, Danny hesitates before the lie escapes his lips.

"No, why?"

"You were limping this morning," states Vlad, the man's words more of an accusation than an observation.

"Like I said, I slept on it wrong. That's all."

When Vlad's aristocratic fingers turn the raven-haired head to face him directly, Danny's eyes widen slightly.

"And if I were anyone else, I'd probably believe you. Don't forget who taught you how to lie so convincingly, Little Badger."

Recognizing that the man's tone leaves no room for argument, the young superhero sighs.

"Fine, a ghost took a bit more effort than usual to beat. For some reason, the number of ghost attacks are increasing lately. I've been meaning to talk to Mom and Dad about it."

Listening to the younger hybrid trail off, Vlad rolls his eyes in exasperation.

"Daniel, that doesn't excuse the fact that you hid something this important from me. You were injured, and to me, that is unacceptable."

Noticing the look in the billionaire's intense gaze, Danny leans over and kisses him on the lips. Perhaps not the best solution, but the gesture manages to dissipate the man's displeasure, at least temporarily.

"The only reason, I didn't tell you was because I knew you'd go all psycho-possessive on me." replies the dark-haired halfa once their kiss ends. "And as much as I like your psycho-possessiveness, I can take care of myself. A fact that I've proved to you countless times. Now, I will see you later tonight, okay?"

". . ."

"Vlad."

With a resigning sigh, Vlad closes his eyes. A cleansing breath later, he reopens them.

"Yes, I will see you later."

"Thank you."

Getting out of the car, Danny waves as Vlad drives off. Busy watching the luxury car merging into the morning traffic, he doesn't notice the red-haired man that has just finished locking up his bike. Unbeknownst to Danny, his co-worker happened to witness him exiting the car of the town's uber-popular mayor. Once the hybrid turns to walk into the observatory, he offers the other a friendly smile.

"Good morning, Randy."

"G'Morning. Hey . . . uh, Danny, was that who I think it was just now?"

At the question, Danny lips start to form the well-rehearsed lie, but at the last moment he decides to be honest. The assistant astronomer having a sudden urge of curiosity to see his acquaintance's reaction.

"Only if you think it's Vlad Masters."

"Wait a second, you get rides to work from Vlad Masters?! Did you win some sort of sweepstakes or something?"

Smirking at the question, Danny walks into the building as he holds the door open for the man behind him. As he expected, Randy hadn't actually taken him seriously. However, that doesn't mean that the young ghost can't still experiment with his co-worker.

"It's only one of the many perks you get for sleeping with him."

At first, Danny's seemingly-blasé statement earns a silence between the two astronomers. Then Randy starts to laugh as he slings an arm around Danny's shoulder.

"Haha, very funny Fenton. If that were true, you'd probably dress better. Now c'mon, we have a staff meeting to get to."

"Yeah, let's go."

With that, Danny follows his red-haired co-worker through the observatory. The hybrid wishing that Randy had actually taken him seriously when he spoke of the truth of his relationship with Vlad Masters. Yet at the same time, Danny wonders if anyone would take it as well if or when their relationship becomes public.

Meanwhile, back in the car that he just left, Vlad touches a button on his car radio, one that looks completely inconspicuous - until you realize that most car stereos only have one volume button. The radio station that had been crystal clear a few minutes ago, crackles into white noise. Vlad waits one moment, before clearing his throat to start the conversation.

"Skulker."

"Plasmius, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

At the question, Vlad narrows his eyes into a glare that he knows will manage to travel through the communication device.

"You tell me. I thought I told you to keep track of all threats that were directed towards Daniel. Especially ones from high-level ghosts."

"I have been. No one has threatened the whelp."

"Really? Then would you care to explain to me why he was limping today?"

At the words, the only sound that is heard through the device is a grinding sound. One that Vlad recognizes when the hunter is truly displeased.

" . . . I cannot."

Disappointment at this news is a bit of an understatement, however Vlad keeps his concern out of his voice. Instead he decides to amplify an emotion he is far more familiar with.

"If you are unable to perform the one task I employ you to do Skulker, perhaps I should hire a more skilled hunter."

"There is no better hunter than I, Plasmius. Make no mistake about that."

"Then, Do. Your. Job. Do not contact me until you find out who attacked Daniel."

With that curt dismissal, the inter-dimensional call ends. Tightening his grip on the steering wheel, Vlad sighs. The CEO takes a deep, cleansing breath, attempting to clear the anger in his mind and re-focus on the task ahead-namely work. However, as he pulls into the familiar parking garage of his building, a plan has already begun to form.

==THAT EVENING==

Managing to blend into the inky night sky, Danny flies high above Amity Park. The city below is hazy through the low-laying clouds as he gracefully travels the wind currents. However, the hero is paying no attention to the city lights as he dodges yet another barrage of attacks.

As per the recent norm, Danny finds himself fighting ghost after ghost as they attack as a uniform, cohesive unit. The amorphous spirits are relentless as they launch a succession of synchronized attacks. The phantom would evade one of them only to have two more pick up the slack of their comrade. However, in Danny's defense, the onslaught of ectoplasmic blasts is evaded expertly-yet it only spurns their hunt. And as with previous nights, it takes considerable effort just to destroy even one of his attackers. The effort itself depletes the phantom, slowing his reaction time and causing him to take quite a few hits. Unable to take the time to even think, Danny lets instinct take over, intent on ending this fight as effectively as possible. So, as he streamlines his attacks, the ghost hero manages to slowly deplete their numbers.

Focused on the task at hand, Danny veers left just in time as a pink blast of ectoplasm nearly grazes him. The very last of the ghosts disintegrating into nothingness. Recognizing the energy trail instantly, green eyes search the skies for the imposing form of Plasmius. However he doesn't have to look long as he deflects a second pink blast that was aimed at his chest.

"What the hell, Vlad?! You almost hit m-"

Danny's words are cut off as his tired body is trapped in the embrace of familiar, strong arms. Unconsciously, Danny relaxes into the warmth emanating from the body behind him, despite the current irritation he feels towards the man. A black gloved hand turns the hero's chin towards the caped villain.

"You're getting lazy, Daniel."

To emphasize his point, the man's hand trails down to Danny's side. Vlad presses his hand just firmly enough to cause a grimace to cross his lover's face.

"Don't think I haven't noticed these bruises of yours. They tell me all I need to know, even when you hide them from me."

Running his hands back up the slim body in his grasp, Vlad's palms soothe instead of aggravate the dull pain.

"And if I have to increase my efforts as your main adversary to get you back into shape, Danny Phantom, then so be it. I refuse to be the one to explain to your mother how her son had his ass handed to him by the latest, pathetic excuse of a ghost."

Waiting for a response, the man is surprised to receive none, not even a denial.

"Well? What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Sorry, it's just that I've never heard you actually curse before. Like, EVER."

"I only do it when I feel the need to emphasize my point, which is the only useful purpose of profanity. But let's return to the point at hand, shall we? I have been watching you tonight. And I'm disappointed to say that you have been rather predictable and uncharacteristically-boring with your attacks and evasions. In fact, your entire performance was lackluster. I can't help but think that you are missing something."

"Missing something? Like what?"

Leaning in, Vlad whispers his response into the other ghost's ear unable to hide a grin as he anticipates his lover's reaction.

"Finesse, Accuracy, Talent, . . . I haven't yet decided which is in shortest supply."

"Okay, that's it!"

The villain is far from surprised by the barrage of attacks sent his way, however he is impressed with their speed and accuracy. As the man is always pounding into the younger ghost's head, precision and accuracy are fundamentals of successful attacks. There is no point to building up one's strength if one is incapable of hitting the desired target.

Then again, Daniel's speed and agility has always been his advantage over much stronger and more experienced ghosts.

As the man ponders all of this, he skillfully avoids his counterpart's rather-inspired tactic to use short-range teleportation to increase his already impressive speed. However when a green-tinted blast manages to hit him right in the gut, he turns to his lover with a look of surprise.

Then again, Danny has always had the rather seductive ability to surprise Vlad when he least expects it. At that thought, a slow grin forms on the man's face, revealing a glimpse of the vampiric ghost's fangs.

"You are going to regret that, Little Badger."

"Pet names, already?" questions Danny as he amasses more green spectral energy in his hands. "I must have done something that you liked."

After a good hour or so flinging the full range of their attacks at each other, Danny uses the last of his energy to charge his adversary. A gasp of surprise leaves the Vlad's lips as the hero tackles him to a nearby rooftop. When they land, Danny finds himself straddling the man victoriously.

"Now," starts the hero between pants, "You were saying something about me being lazy?"

Vlad says nothing as his smirk widens into a self-satisfied grin. His burning red eyes holding amusement.

"What're you so happy about?" demands the ghost sitting atop of him.

"You, proving me wrong . . . as well as your current position."

Realizing the rather suggestive arrangement of their bodies, Danny can't stop his lips from mimicking the man's smirk. Large hands make themselves at home stroking along the young man's spandex-clad thighs. The hero's own hands begin their exploration of the well-defined chest he is sitting upon.

"Well, I have to admit that I like this position, too."

Before the conversation begins to head down an all-too-familiar, yet enjoyable, path, Vlad's expression becomes serious.

"Daniel, you need to stay on your toes. I can not emphasize that enough. There are ghosts and other threats out there that want nothing more than to do you harm. The only advantage you can have over all of them is your training and discipline," explains the man before raising a hand to cup the hero's cheek. "After all, you won't always have the advantage of being irresistible to all of your adversaries."

At the compliment, a smile graces Danny's face before his eyes become serious as well.

"Yeah, I know. But you know me, I have to learn things the hard way."

"Hmm, that I do."

"Thank you for having my back, Vladdie," Danny murmurs as he nuzzles into hand lazily stroking along his cheek. "I guess I'm still not used to having another ghost to help me when I need it."

"Daniel, I am more than happy to give my assistance, you only have to ask. No matter how strong I know that you are, you are but one person."

Leaning down, the phantom indulges Plasmius with a kiss. Danny's hands roam over the firm chest, his fingers digging into the white fabric of the villain's tunic. Meanwhile, Vlad's large hands ghost over the subtle musculature of the young hero, enjoying the shiver that only his touches produce. A groan escapes the man's mouth as Danny leaves his lips and starts to trail kisses down the blue skin of the elder ghost's throat. When the phantom finds the particularly-sensitive spot at the juncture of Vlad's throat, the man remembers that the two are in public.

"We should continue this elsewhere."

"What's wrong? Embarrassed that some one might see the mighty Plasmius at the mercy of Danny Phantom?" asks Danny as he continues his rather-distracting ministrations.

"Never. I happen to quite enjoy indulging the dominant sides of your personality. It makes our escapades all the more arousing."

To accentuate his point, the black-gloved hands pull the lithe body closer. They then slide sensually along Danny's spine, making the hero felinely arch his back.

"Your place or mine, Plasmius?"

"About that, Little Badger. . ."

At the tone, Danny pulls back immediately. His green eyes losing their glaze of lust as they glare into red ones. However, despite the impressive glare aimed at him, Vlad remains annoyingly calm.

"Vlad, What. Did. You. Do?"

"Nothing that wasn't going to happen eventually."

At the response, Danny releases a sigh as he leans back into Vlad's chest.

"I'm afraid to ask now."

"All I did was expedite the expiration on the lease of your apartment. The rest was relatively harmless after that."

Catching on to the man's words, or lack of them to be more precise, the hero sighs.

"You already moved me into you mansion already, didn't you? That's probably the only reason why you didn't interrupt my patrol earlier, isn't it?"

The vampiric villain remains silent at both questions, simply observing the ghost perched in his lap.

"Well?"

Recognizing the tone of impatience, Vlad simply tips Danny's chin up towards him. Admiring the glow of the green eyes at close range, he smiles languidly.

"Little Badger, have I ever told you how much I love how well you know me?"

The man's question earns him an eye roll along with a smirk that Danny can't quite keep off his face.

"Take me home already, Fruit Loop."


TO BE CONTINUED . . .


Last chapter I promised a chat between Maddie and Vlad, never fear it has been deferred to Chapter 4. It just made more sense(to me) to focus this chapter on Vlad and Danny and, despite their intentions, the things the two halfas keep from each other.

As always, feel free to leave a comment, constructive criticism, or just say hi!

Later days,

RENKA

P.S. For those of you interested, Nijicon(East Coast yaoi convention) has official dates and location. Please visit the website for details:

www nijicon com - (just put periods where the gaps are)