It didn't seem to matter how long Vlad had been in space; no one on Earth had forgiven him for his ridiculous stunt and was still, still, treated as a leper everywhere he went. He understood for the most part, failing to take over the world like that had been the worst and, frankly, most ludicrous plan he'd ever tried to execute and had it been anyone else he would have been furious too. But it still hurt.

Being lost in space could make you reflect on things. Things you would have adamantly ignored otherwise. Things that might have been screaming at you from the back of your mind but you were too lost in bitterness and the thrill of power to take heed from it.

And Vlad had been floating in space for years.

But if he could've stayed in space he definitely would've, but unfortunately, while his ghost half sustained him for a very lengthy period of time it couldn't sustain him forever, else he'd become a full ghost. Which might have been preferable to the pure hatred and vitriol that was spat his way, every day. It was starting to wear him thin.

He made runs for food every other day, rummaging and collecting as much as he could. He, Vlad Masters, was dumpster diving to survive. They'd taken all of his wealth after all and he deserved nothing less, even if it hurt and further bruised his wounded pride. He'd fallen just as far as he ever could and he felt the shame deep in his bones. He regretted what he did but he didn't know what to do about it but wallow like the scum he felt he was. It was what he deserved, as he had decided in space, to be alone and hated.

So one could imagine his surprise when he found Daniel Fenton standing outside the door of his hovel, looking nervous and unsure.

Vlad paused and simply observed the boy that had once been his "enemy." He'd grown. Vlad felt oddly proud.

"Are you lost?" the question came out of his mouth unbidden but he didn't take it back.

"No," Daniel shook his head, "I don't think so, at least…" the boy, a young man now, narrowed his eyes and looked more closely at old man before him. Then his eyes lit up in recognition and Vlad held his breath in shock when Daniel gave him a small smile. "Found you, Vlad."

"You-," he didn't know what to say, "Were looking for me?"

"Yeah," Daniel said softly, "Ever since…" he trailed off and let the rest of the sentence hang in the air between them.

Vlad clung to the ratty leftovers of his suit, at a loss for words and confused beyond anything else, "Why?"

Daniel looked away, off into the distance, and grimaced. But, oddly, Vlad didn't think it was because of him. He'd seen that haunted look before. Likely in the mirror at some point. "Everyone deserves a second chance," the sentence was strained but said firmly, like he truly believed it.

"Even me?"

A resolute nod. "Even you," the boy smirked a bit and Vlad felt better somehow, "Fruitloop."

Vlad returned the smile, and opened his mouth to speak before a rattling crash caught their attention and something came hurtling towards Vlad's head along with the words "Go to hell, Masters!"

Vlad was just able to dodge thanks to the leftover reflexes of his ghost half, but the pain these encounters usually caused him seemed deeper now. Worse.

"Hey!" Daniel shouted and Vlad jumped at the sound, "Fuck off!"

"Language, Daniel," he chided before he could stop himself, shell-shocked at the young man's reaction. Out of all the people to stand up and defend him…

Daniel gave him another cheeky grin, "Aw, come on Vlad-ster, I'm an adult, I can say what I like."

Vlad scoffed but, again, he couldn't hold back from returning the smile, even if it felt cracked and lopsided from disuse.

"Besides," Daniel continued as he slung an arm over Vlad's shoulders and walked the man away from his crumbling hovel, "It's us against the world now, Vladdy."

"Us against the world?"

"Yeah," he nodded enthusiastically, "You and me, bro. We'll get you back on your feet and everything. Together. That sound alright?"

"That sounds perfect, Daniel."