I'm warning you all right now: ANGST ANGST ANGST... And some totally sweet DxS stuff. And, as I've previously stated, I work on this project when I can. I haven't had much time to work lately due to other things going on in my life, you understand.
I don't have much to say about this chapter, except I LOVE one of the things I wrote in here! The thing with the physical and mental wounds... You'll know it when you see it. I was having a major lack of writer's block when I wrote this chapter.
Enjoy... if you can.
Monster by TAA
Chapter Four: Scars Remain
Why won't somebody come and save me from this?
Danny flew through his window and flopped down onto his bed, transforming back into Danny Fenton. He breathed hard and gripped his bleeding hand. The intense pain was finally making its way to the boy's brain, and he grimaced. He felt guilty, far more guilty than he'd ever felt before.
"What was I doing? Why did I just explode like that? He was only attacking! I didn't even know his intentions!" Danny ran his unwounded hand through his raven black hair. "What am I becoming?" He sighed and shuddered as a tear ran down his cheek. He looked at his crimson-stained hand. Danny knew he should let Sam have a look at it, but he was much too ashamed to show his face around her again. Suddenly, there was a knock on his door. "Go away."
"It's me, Danny."
"Who's 'me'?"
"Sam."
"Go away, Sam."
"I'm coming in," the girl persisted. Danny just sighed and let her enter. He wasn't in the mood to argue with her at the moment. "I noticed you were wounded." Sam's voice sounded shaky, as if she was cautious about approaching the boy. Another pang of guilt seized Danny's heart. Had he really scared her that badly?
"Yeah," he managed, back still turned to Sam. He was hunched over and staring at his hand. Some of the blood had dried, but fresh crimson liquid still oozed out of the ugly gash. He felt Sam sit down next to him on the bed. His heartbeat quickened. Danny felt a little frustrated at her for not leaving him alone, but at the same time welcomed the company.
"At least the bleeding's slowed," Sam said, sighing in relief. Danny never turned to look at her. He didn't care to see the pain in her eyes. "Can I...take a look at it?" she asked, reaching out to take his hand.
"Don't touch it!" Danny snapped, jerking it away. The swift movement caused another sharp surge of pain to sear through his swollen hand. Danny flinched, and the blood pumped out a little faster.
"Sorry," Sam apologized. And, sounding sterner, she added, "But if you don't let me take a look at that, it could get infected. I don't want that to happen to you."
Danny sighed, and allowed more tears to fall from his eyes. He slowly moved his arm in Sam's direction, still avoiding her gaze. "Danny, are you...crying?" Danny didn't answer. He just let the tears fall down his face and onto his other arm.
Sam sighed and smiled lightly, even though Danny couldn't see it. She took out a wet rag and held her friend's wrist as she gently wiped the deep cut. The boy flinched on occasion, but said nothing. Next, she applied some disinfectant, followed by tightly bandaging his hand.
"Thanks, Sam," Danny mumbled half-heartedly, examining his freshly treated hand. "Now what are you really here for?"
Sam blinked in astonishment. "Are you suggesting I have some ulterior motive for being here, other than just wanting to help my best friend?" Danny was silent. Sam was about to shoot an angry response back, but she held her tongue. Danny wasn't himself lately, and Sam didn't want to leave her friend angry at her, especially now that he'd proven how dangerous his ire was becoming. She wouldn't risk it. "This is all I'm here for, and maybe to comfort you," she replied calmly.
Danny chuckled darkly. "I almost killed someone, Sam. It's not something that I'll just get over overnight," he hissed.
Sam held her breath at the sharp response. How could her words have made him angry? "Yeah, but-" she shut her mouth when she realized there was nothing to do or say that could comfort her friend. Nothing at all. The physical wound on his hand would heal, but the mental wounds of the day's events would forever be open, causing the boy more pain than he cared to bear.
"I'll be OK, Sam," Danny said, at last turning to look at her. He sounded as if he was trying his best to reassure himself as well as his friend. Sam saw it in his eyes. The boy's blue eyes were filled with remorse and sadness, bloodshot and shimmering with tears. Sam nearly cried at the sorrowful look on Danny's face. He never used to cry so much. Where was the boy bursting with confidence, or the kid who tried to make the best of any situation?
He must be so pressured by his emotions and what he's done that it's finally broken him down, Sam thought. She reached out to embrace her best friend. Danny slowly returned it, wrapping his arms around the girl tightly.
"I'll be OK," he repeated silently, sobbing. "Just so long as you're with me."
Sam felt tears come to her eyes. And there, sitting on Danny's bed, both teens cried.
DP...TT
Robin anxiously paced his room, expression hardened with concentration. It had been roughly one hour since Slade's message of return. The young hero couldn't figure out why Slad had told them he was up to something without saying what. If Robin knew Slade, he wouldn't speak to the Titans at all if he wanted his plan to stay a secret.
The boy needed more time to think it over. Was it a ploy to destroy the city? Take over the city? No, that was too classic. He must have something else in mind.
Whatever it was, Robin had confidence the team would know soon enough. That was for sure, if Robin had any say in it.
...
Slade fixed his one eyed gaze on the man standing in front him. "Most pitiful. I hear you can normally beat him up very well. What. Happened?" the masked man asked darkly.
The other man, wearing torn, black clothing and with long, silvery hair tied into a ponytail, was rubbing a huge bruise on his face. "I truthfully don't know," he said. "He was so angry I couldn't get through to him!" The man paused to cough up a clot of bloody saliva. "His power was always intensified by his emotions."
"Is that what I asked, Vlad?" Slade spat, a hint of anger in his monotone voice.
Vlad shook his head vigourously. "Of course not!" he said, smiling with all the "innocence" he could muster.
"You will go back," Slade commanded, returning to his calm demeneor, "and give Daniel the message. Do not fail me."
"I won't, Slade." Vlad morphed himself into Plasmius form and took off back towards the small town of Amity Park.
As you all probably suspected, Slade is spying on Danny. And why is Vlad working for Slade? That, readers, will be revealed in chapter 6. Not the next chapter.
How will this all turn out in the end? *snickers*
You know my policy: Review if you read, please!
