Chapter 12: Unwelcoming?
It was a couple hours later when Dan woke to Drago's calling.
"Dan. Dan. Daniel. Heeeeeeyyyyyy Daniel. DAN!" Drago called gently at first and then went for the rough awakening.
"AH! What?" Dan shouted leaping off the couch in fear that maybe the bad guys had caught up with him only to find Marucho being thrown backwards by him accidently, "Oh sorry, dude."
Marucho gave a quick rub to his own backside before he took the offered claw Dan had.
He smiled cheerily as he announced, "I got everyone I could. At least the one who could make it here quick, but unfortunately Runo stopped by and is waiting with the others."
Dan couldn't help, but return his friend's smile and sighed at the fact that Runo was there.
"Ah dang it….Well she would've come to some kind of conclusion anyway." Dan admitted before taking a deep breath, "Now let's get this all over with."
Marucho nodded and led Dan to the room they all would gather in for a mass meeting. Dan lingered outside of the room while Marucho went in to calm them all down. So far the ones those had gathered and were supposed to have been there was Jake, Julie, Shun, Kato too, but he was just there as Marucho's personal butler. Spectra and Gus had gathered in the room too, but gave no news of what was up with Dan even when Runo tried pressuring them.
"Hey guys?" Marucho called to them and the chatter was instantly silence along with Runo perking up, her eyes were wide with curiosity, "Can I have your attention please. I have some news for you about Dan. He's back home and will explain everything, but just a little caution to you all. He's kind of changed, appearance wise so try to refrain from…..well, just accept that he still is Dan."
Everyone's eyes followed Marucho as he went to the door and opened it just a crack and whispered to whoever was standing behind it.
"It's okay." Marucho coaxed, "It's now or later…You ready now?...okay."
Marucho tugged at something and then stepped back to let Dan come in and make everyone gasp. Runo felt her jaw drop, but she instantly shut it. Dan kept his eyes to the ground as he walked over to where Marucho had originally been standing and sighed heavily. His tail swayed a bit and accidently knocked over a chair making him flinch. He could feel them all studying him as he bent down and returned the chair to its correct position. He finally lifted his gaze and looked at them all calmly he received some nods, but when he looked to Spectra he spoke.
"So you care to explain yourself?" Spectra asked tired of all the silence and waiting.
Dan took a deep breath and told them all what he had been through and all the events he endured, at some points Drago had to take his turn to explain, but after forty minutes of explaining he was done. He glanced over at Runo who had her face cast downwards and was looking away. Dan didn't want to stick around for everyone to debate about what to do about their new enemy. He looked a Marucho and walked up to him while the others were distracted.
"I hope you don't mind if I go crash for a while." Dan asked wanting to get away from it all.
"Sure go ahead." Marucho instantly replied, "We'll wake your if we need you."
"Thanks." Dan murmured before he left the room and Runo snapped her head up seeing that he was gone.
"I wonder what he must be going through right now." She thought to herself as she stared on after him.
Marucho now took charge and the Brawlers gathered closer together. Now crunch time would begin and Runo made no move to join in. They were all talking with Spectra and Gus, trying to fill in any gaps they could as Marucho mapped out the events Dan told them of. She continued to look longingly at the doorway and then she had a thought. Runo turned back to the others busier than bees and then to the door. They wouldn't notice her slipping away, but if they did and they ask she would simply state that she had to make use of the restroom. She got to her feet and made her way to the door and wandered the vast headquarters in search of the brunette.
"What's wrong Daniel?" Drago inquired as they returned to the hang out room.
"I'm still kind of tired is all. Besides we both need the rest." Dan replied as he laid back down as he had been laying before, "Night, Drago."
"Ah yes, good night Dan." Said Drago and soon he became silent leaving Dan to having a quiet mind.
He wasn't actually tired, but his body felt like it was so he allowed himself to relax and closed his eyes hoping that would actually get him to fall asleep, but he couldn't at least not all the way. He was still aware of his surrounding even if he couldn't see them and his tail flicked a little bit as if it was trying to lull him to sleep. His wings were strewn in awkward, but comfortable positions. He let out a gentle sigh every so often. It was so peaceful here, which was quite a contrast from where he had slept.
Suddenly he felt something soft and warm being thrown on top of him and assumed it was just Kato throwing a blanket on him, but he hardly needed it due to Drago's inner fire keeping him warm. He kept his eyes closed and waited for Kato to leave, but a moment later after the blanket had been adjust so it covered all of him he felt a soft finger stroke his cheek. He instantly knew that finger didn't belong to Kato, but it was Runo's finger. She moved from caressing his cheek to stroking his hair though she stopped as soon as she felt the grime and grease. He listened to her wipe her hand on her pants and inwardly chuckled. She returned her fingers to stroking his cheek making him very soothed and sleepy. He heard her lips part to say something, but she stopped herself and continued on with the motion of her hand.
He was glad that she wasn't trying to wake him and make him spill everything. It felt nice to have her near calming him even though she could be a livewire and drive him up the wall. This was a rare moment that one could wish for it to last, but alas it would never become a granted wish.
