Previously on ANWOB:
"But who was that? How much danger do you think Danny is in?" Red Robin cast a worried gaze at his older.
"A ghost, maybe? I have no idea, Red. Hopefully he's fine for now, or until we can find him."
"...Bats is not gonna be happy about this," Red Robin stated obviously.
"I can honestly say that I don't give a damn what Batman thinks right now," Dick scowled. "I want my brother back."
Chapter Six:
"Let go of me!" Danny yelled as broke away from Vlad's grip, stumbling in his wake. Holding out a hand to steady himself, Danny blinked in confusion, taking in his unfamiliar surroundings. "Where did you take me?" he demanded.
"Somewhere that no one can ever find you," Vlad informed secretively, his red eyes glinting at the prospect of finally having what he desired.
"We're in Wisconsin, aren't we?" Danny stated dryly.
"Wh- Of course not!" Vlad spluttered. "Do you take me for a fool?"
"Based on past events, I would say so," Danny mumbled under his breath angrily, his eyes flashing bitterly.
"Daniel," Vlad frowned at Danny. "I would have hoped you were over that by now." It was a simple statement, but it made Danny's blood boil over in red-hot anger.
"OVER IT?" he roared, his hands going out to push Vlad back. "ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?"
"Now, now, Little Badger," Vlad frowned. "I'm not exactly thrilled about the unfortunate passing of your mother either, but at least I'm making the most out of what I do have. Which is you. Why must you insist on being so adamant about that?"
"For my whole half-ghost life, I dedicated myself to protecting innocent people from monsters- ghosts like you," Danny whispered, his throat tightening as icy tears welled up in eyes. "It doesn't matter what you intended to happen. You had intentions to kill. To kill my family! My friends!" his voice cracked and tears started to slide down his cheeks in icy rivets. "They were the ones who kept me going through my whole sucky life. I lived for them. Everyone in my life- those who you took away from me- made me who I am. I did my best to protect that. I fought tooth and nail every single second of my whole, waking life so that that wouldn't change! You know, I used to believe that, because of my ghost powers, I had a responsibility to watch over those I cared about, even if they didn't know the truth about me. Even if they hunted me to 'tear me apart, molecule-by-molecule'," he gave a sad little half-smile, snorting. "But then I realized... It wasn't because of my ghost powers. It wasn't because of some crazy accident that turned me into some kind of half-ghost freak. I protected them because I cared, and I would have continued to do so, powers or not."
"So you want to know why I refuse you? You want to know why I can never accept you as some type of mentor figure?" Danny asked rhetorically, his gaze turning hard as he looked Vlad into his gleaming eyes with ice blue steel. "What you did... It was unforgivable. You tore apart my life. When you pressed down onto that trigger with that care-free attitude of yours, it broke the very fabric of my being. That explosion took a part of me that was irreplaceable and tore it to shreds. It was my obsession, Plasmius. You broke my obsession, and, for that, I will never let you into my life. I will personally see to it that you pay," Danny promised, salty liquids no longer escaping his eyes, which were burning with a deep inner hatred.
"Daniel, I-" Vlad hesitated, reaching his hand out towards Danny.
"Forget it, Vlad," Danny said simply, shaking his head as he turned around and walked away, leaving a baffled Plasmius behind him.
"Now, where am I?" Danny mused to himself, taking in his surroundings. "The fruitloop was right about one thing; this isn't Wisconsin." Vlad had brought Danny to some type of city, with towering skyscrapers and the like. A few stragglers were walking about, but not many people could be seen, as it was currently night time. Danny was trying not to think about how shaken up he was about the whole Plasmius ordeal, but the whole situation wouldn't leave his mind. It made him want to cry all over again. He bit his lip, already feeling his eyes start to prick.
Get a hold of yourself, Danny growled out. So pathetic, Fenton. Now isn't even the right time. As he was reprimanding himself, Danny passed by a small cafe. The lights were on inside and the smell of cinnamon drifted through the air, making his stomach let out a rumble of hunger.
It smelled like heaven and made him realize just how starving he was; this morning was the last time that he had eaten. Reaching into the front pocket of his jeans, he grabbed what little money he had with him. Two dollars.
"It'll do," Danny sighed to himself, holding the bills tightly in his hand as he turned and entered the small cafe. A ding chimed above his head, the warmth of the small shop hitting him full on.
There was a surprising amount of people inside, everyone chatting amongst themselves with content smiles. A small family sat of to the side. They had two small children that were giggling like crazy, their parents looking on with amused expressions. Danny's heart clenched at the sight, but he averted his gaze, keeping his expression neutral.
There were three cash registers and three cashiers, but only two lines. The first two cashiers were both in their twenties, and they had polite smiles on their faces as they greeted the customers in a friendly manner. The third cashier, the one that everyone seemed to be avoiding, was a red-headed ginger. He seemed to be in his late teens and was leaning against the counter, his head resting on his hands. An annoyed scowl was on his face, and he was glaring grumpily at nothing in particular. Danny approached his cash register without hesitation, for time's sake, if nothing else.
"I'll have a ham sandwich," he said immediately. "Untoasted." The cashier, who Danny mentally dubbed 'Ginger' due to not having on a name tag, stopped leaning against his hand, his back straightening as he looked Danny over with a scrutinizing gaze. He raised an uninterested eyebrow.
"You're Danny Fenton, aren't you?" he asked, but it came out more as a statement. "Why the hell are you in Star City?"
"Do I know you?" Danny asked in instead, his tone layered with confusion. He ignored Ginger's previous question.
"No," Ginger rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "If you knew me, don't you think you wouldn't be hella confused right now?" Danny continued to look at him questionably, so the teen let out a sigh. "I know your adopted family," he explained impatiently.
"Oh," Danny only nodded, not sure what to make of that.
"I'ma ask you again. Why the hell are you in Star? Shouldn't you be in Gotham, prancin' around in your new mansion?"
"I don't see how that's any of your business," Danny frowned, deciding that he didn't particularly like Ginger's attitude.
"I tend to make it my business when one of my best friend's little brothers are showing their face in places they don't belong."
"Who's your friend?"
"Jason Todd."
"That- that actually explains a lot," Danny blinked, not really surprised that those two would get along.
"Yeah, whatever. Look, this is too much work for me. If you keep dancing around my question like that, I don't care enough to go out of my way to find out what's really going on. I just thought you should know that I have Todd's number right here," Ginger informed, holding his hand out towards Danny, cell phone being held in his hand loosely. He pressed a few buttons on his phone before he let Danny grab it. He could hear it ringing.
"Um, thanks," Danny said. Ginger just nodded. Danny held it up to his ear, listening as it continued ringing. He picked up on the fourth ring.
"Yo?" Jason asked his voice sounding winded as a static-like sound crumpled over the receiver.
"Jason? It's Danny," Danny said. He had to hold the phone away from his ear when a sudden course of yells blasted from Jason's end. Danny cringed, waiting until it died down.
"Are you in Star?" Jason demanded. "What the hell happened?"
"I- I'm not exactly sure," Danny half-lied, knowing how he got there but not remembering the rest. "I think I blacked out, because the last thing I remembered was waking up here," he lied. "I walked around for a bit and ended up meeting Ginger at this cafe he works at."
"Ginger?" Jason snorted, but then he let out a sudden curse, muttering, "Never mind. Stay there. We're coming to get you." He then hung up immediately, not giving Danny a chance to reply.
"Nice talkin' to you too," he muttered dryly.
"Here," Ginger said, coming up behind the counter suddenly. He held out a small, paper sandwich baggy, saying, "That'll be one-fifty."
"Keep the change," Danny said, showing his appreciation as he handed Ginger the two dollars.
"Gee, thanks," he said sarcastically, reaching out and accepting the money.
"Thanks for the phone call, but I need to go."
"What did Jason say?" Ginger asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That they're on their way," Danny informed, turning around as he started walking away. "And thanks again!" He exited the shop, bell chiming above his head once more as the cool, night air immediately started its merciless objective of ruining his already wild hair. Danny sighed, starting to walk forward when he felt two hands grab him from underneath his armpits, turning him invisible as he was lifted into the sky.
Oh my god, he groaned, recognizing the evil half-ghost's voice when he started yelling into his ear angrily.
Meanwhile, with our much hated evil pedophile (right after Danny left, before he went into the shop):
How dare that insolent brat! Vlad raved, his red eyes flaming in untamed anger as he yelled out in frustration. He hissed furiously, blue face darkening in rage. Firing a random, loose blast of concentrated ectoplasm at a nearby wall, Vlad gave another yell as a giant whole was blasted into it. He fumed, turning invisible and phasing out of the building.
Plasmius flew, following the raven-haired teen through the city, his eyes burning metaphorical holes through the back of Danny's unaware skull. When Danny turned the corner and walked into the small shop, he touched down to the floor, turning visible again. About to start walking ahead, Vlad gave a start when he felt a small tug at his cape. He growled, his hands lighting up with ectoplasm, and turned around, opening his mouth to threaten whoever it was that dared touch him.
"Are you a vampire?" A squeaky voice asked him. He found himself staring at a little, blonde-haired girl. She had deep brown eyes, sparkling with curiosity.
"A what?" Vlad spluttered.
"A vampire," the girl repeated impatiently, starting to tap her foot. "You do know what a vampire is, don'tcha? Or are you just stupid?"
"I'll have you know that I am one of the most powerful ghosts in existence, you idiotic child! Now leave, before I unleash my wrath upon you!" The little girl made a face, skipping away from Plasmius with a carefree attitude.
"You are one cheesy vampire," she threw over her shoulder before skipping out of sight.
"I am not a vampire!" Vlad's eye twitched in annoyance. He took a deep, steadying breath, reminding himself of the specific reason why he was there. I need to get Daniel by my side, Vlad thought with conviction. No matter what lengths I must go through. He will be mine. While the evil fruitloop lost himself in his planning, minutes passed by. He eventually noticed that the door to the cafe Daniel had went into was opening, his target strolling out casually.
"You will not be getting away from me that easily, Little Badger," Vlad whispered. He turned invisible, swooping in and grabbing Danny under his arms. "How dare you!" he yelled into Danny's ear angrily. "When I said that I wanted you, I meant it, Daniel! I don't care what you want! YOU WILL BE MY SON, DANGIT!"
With that said, Vlad proceeded to teleport them away again in another swirl of purple energy.
"Oh my god!" Danny screamed out his earlier thoughts, not surprised in the least to find himself in the same room as before. Vlad flew up to him suddenly, getting in his face as he pointed an angry finger at him.
"Foolish boy," he hissed slowly. "I have no turmoil over the fact that you have deluded yourself, stupidly so, into believing that you do not need me. For the matter, I simply do not care. I want you," he repeated, "and, for that very reason, I will keep you. You will learn to be submissive with time, but I do believe that some convincing needs to be dealt at the moment." He slammed Danny against the wall, his hand curling around his throat tightly. Plasmius bombarded his neck with ectoplasmic energy, burning his throat and making Danny scream out in agony.
Vlad snarled, slamming him to floor roughly. Danny's back made harsh contact with the hard floor, his skin scraping against the concrete. He slid forward, the force of the slam making his back throb tenderly from the beginnings of a newly forming bruise.
Plasmius then lifted his foot, glowing viciously with purple energy, and slammed it into Danny's stomach, winding him and causing him to double over in pain. Danny gasped, coughing helplessly in a desperate attempt to get air back into his lungs. His ice blue eyes widened when he looked up, and purple filled his vision. Plasmius was shooting several small ecto-blasts at his body, hitting him in his face and midsection repeatedly.
"Gah!" Danny gasped, coughing as he spat blood out of his mouth, the unpleasant taste of copper taking over. He tried to pick up his head, muscles straining at the effort. A small groan escaped his mouth and his head fell to the floor, hitting it with a small thump.
Vlad simply smirked at Danny, approaching him with amusement shining in his demented eyes. He crouched down to his level, letting a build up of ectoplasm to grow in left hand. It charged, becoming a brighter purple every second, until it was almost white in color. His right hand curled into a fist around Danny's hair, grasping at it. He forcefully yanked at his raven locks, forcing Danny to look into his eyes.
"Now, Little Badger," he said softly, holding his left hand up to Danny's head threateningly. "What is it that you believe?"
"That- that you're a freaking coward," Danny spat, ignoring the painful ache spreading throughout his body. "The Plasmius Maximus is a cowardly move, Plasmius, and you know it."
"Hmm," Vlad hummed, a thoughtful frown taking over his features. "Not quite how I would put it, but we'll work on that." Danny snorted. The energy in Vlad's hand died down to a vibrant purple. He blasted Danny in the side of the head, knocking him out cold and making him go limp in his arms.
"Can this jet go any slower?" Jason complained, casually lounging against one of the plush comforters in the Wayne Family's private jet.
"We're going seven-hundred miles an hour, Jason," Tim informed. "What do you want us to do; break the sound barrier?"
"That would actually be pretty cool, so yeah," Jason replied, making Tim roll his eyes.
"I do not understand why all of us must come," Damian scowled. "I have more important matters to attend to."
"This is important, Dami," Dick chastised him, frowning. "We are flying to get our brother, who, might I remind you, was just kidnapped by some weirdo-wannabe-vampire."
"Adopted brother," Damian corrected, his death glare continuing adorn his features in typical Damian fashion. "Just because Father has decided to take him under his care, that does not mean that I have to automatically view him as a relative."
"You say that now," Jason said flippantly, rolling his eyes.
"As if you have accepted him as a brother already, Todd," Damian said, giving Jason a slightly incredulous glance.
"In a loving, older-brother perspective? Not really," Jason snorted. "But Danny is apart of the family by default, I guess. Doesn't mean I have to fawn over him, or whatever kind of crap older brothers are supposed to do."
"C'mon, guys," Dick sighed. "Danny is apart of this family. He officially became our brother once he stepped foot into that mansion, whether any of you like it or not. I'd like to think that we're a tight-knit family, believe it or not. A family that he is now apart of, so I would appreciate it if he was treated that way."
"You're too accepting for your own good, Dickiebird," Jason said dryly. "But imagine where we would be without that. I'll try, Grayson. Just don't expect any promises from me."
"Thanks, Little Wing," Dick said cheerily, knowing that it would be the best he would get out of the second Robin. Damian sunk low in his seat when his brother turned an expectant gaze on him.
"My actions are..." Damian paused, searching for the right words to use, "less than hostile..."
"Good enough," Dick mused. "I know Timmy's fine with playing the get-along-with-our-new-brother game. I'm so proud of you guys," he beamed.
"Hurray for not killing the new kid," Jason cheered sarcastically, waving his finger in the air.
"Here here!" Tim agreed.
"Idiots," Damian muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes.
"But there is one thing that bugs me," Dick frowned. "Who did kidnap Danny in the first place, and why?"
"Danny lied to me on the phone," Jason noted. "He said that he doesn't remember anything besides waking up in Star, but the kidnapper randomly dropping him off on the streets doesn't exactly seem likely."
"You think he got away himself?" Tim mused quietly.
"Look, all I know is that he somehow found his way to Roy. All we do now is wait," Jason replied, propping his feet up against Tim's chair comfortably.
I'm proud to say that this is, by far, the longest chapter I've written. YAY! xD Also, I have a poll on my profile about this story if you wanna look at it, but I think I already know what I'm leaning towards.
I think that's it... THANKS FOR READING! I think next chapter is special too, so let this hold you over until then. Ciao!
RR:
Poohbearmorris: *Gasps* ME TOO! ANGSTY IS THE BESTY! (I know that didn't make sense...)
jaguarspot: Which will be explained, but, basically, Vlad knew that he was Gotham, and then Danny went ahead an unleashed a ghostly wail into the clear night sky... Vlad does indeed need to look out, because the next chapter is coming up quick ;D
Good Witch of Babble: That's a very well-thought out theory. And it's very interesting ;D The JL should appear sometime in the near future.
Grava: Vlad should be scared anyway xD
Guest of honor: No Spanish, please... Happy? xD
Some Weird Chick: And you're reading anyway? O.o Hehe, thanks xD. Dick is Dick, so he was actually the only one that did outright call him brother.
IWasNeverReal: OOOH YEAAH xD ;D
Ninuhuju: I... I don't think so...? I DON'T KNOW! xD Ohmygod, I KNOW xD That will be SO fun to work with :D
KodiakWolfe13: That's what makes it fun.
ARE YOU USING ECTORANIUM BULLETS? YOU NEED TO USE ECTORANIUM BULLETS xD
Yay! xD
akizaki14: You... you think so? Thanks xD
Ciestess84: Yeah, you're gonna love the next chapter, then ;D
scheffelman: Sounds like success.
Skymuse: THAT SOUNDS SO SUCKY! How did you live? O.o
tigergirl1723: Dani will bring the chaos! xD Go to the poll ;D Scheffelman sounds just about done, so HERE YOU GO! *Slams Vlad at your feet* Ya, enjoy! ;D
Guest: Yup, pretty much xD
animegal1357: DUDE! I REMEMBER YOU!
Kitsune's Den: Bats is driving the jet, but we'll see ;D SOON. Be patient xD
16ckelmen: Vlad is a very annoying fruitloop ;D Dick is Dick! THEY ARE ACCEPTING YOUR THOUGHTS OF TORTURE. Absorbing it like a sponge. Aggression shall be unleashed! Enchanting... NO ONE'S EVER CALLED ME THAT BEFORE! xD
Appa: Everyone does... ;D Holograms, and I would just like you to know that you gave me a very evil idea with that. YOU NEED TO SHRED THE POSTER! xD xD
THEBOXGHOST113: HAHA, thanks, I guess xD (But seriously, thanks! ;D)
natashawagner122: I would apologize, but I'm not really sorry because I love cliffhangers :D
Guest: I UPDATED, I UPDATED! O.o
letskilloctavian: OHMYGLOB, YES!
