Summary: Danny tries to escape some of the usual holiday cheer going on through his place of work.
Characters: Danny and Dash
Written: December 2013

Snowman

Danny pushed open the door leading out onto the roof and pulled his coat tighter around him as the blast of chilly air hit him, though the cold didn't bother him much. All part of being a half ghost, he supposed. He simply felt the need for some fresh air after being stuck indoors all day with the festive merriment going on throughout the building as they neared their holiday break. He had gotten over his whole anger toward the Christmas season years ago, but he still hit funks where everyone being cheery and merry with the holiday spirit became overwhelming to him and he needed to distance himself from it for a while.

Danny sighed as he crunched through the snow on the rooftop. Thoughts from long ago about a different future sneaking into the forefront of his mind yet again. He tried not to think about what happened then, but around Christmas, the memories refused to be ignored. He knew Clockwork only showed him that future where he turned evil as a warning, and since then, Danny did his best not to stray down a path that might lead to him becoming Dan.

He paused before he reached the edge of the rooftop and blinked several times when he saw the other man already standing there. He hesitated, tossing a glance back toward the door leading back inside where everyone would still be in a festive mood, which he was trying to avoid for the moment. Then he walked over and leaned on the stone wall with enough space between them so that it wouldn't be awkward.

"Did you come out here to get away from all the celebrating going on?" Danny asked, casting a brief look toward the man to his side.

"Something like that," Dash mumbled, not even taking his gaze away from what he was working on. He gathered some snow into his hands, shaping it into a ball.

Danny frowned as he noticed another ball of snow already sitting upon the stone wall. "Planning on throwing some snowballs at people as they leave or something?"

Dash snorted then tore his gaze away from his work. "You really think I'm still that immature?"

Danny shrugged. "I'd probably do it. But mostly at Gellerman. That guy is pretty irritating."

Dash laughed. "Yeah, that guy annoys pretty much everyone." He placed the snowball on top of the other.

Until he saw them stacked like that, Danny didn't realize the second one was somewhat smaller than the first one. "A snowman?" he asked, watching as Dash gathered up some more of the snow covering the top of the stone wall to start shaping a third snowball.

Dash kept his focus on his work, but his cheeks turned a few shades darker. "I know it's silly, but my brother and I would always make this giant snowman out front at our parents' house. Even when he was off at college, he came back during Christmas break and we'd make one when it snowed. But," he shrugged his broad shoulders as he placed the head of the snowman onto its body, "he's not going to make it home this year. It feels a bit weird. It's a family tradition with us, and now it feels like those traditions are disappearing. My parents were even saying they were thinking of going on a cruise for Christmas this year. It's going to be pretty lonely this year."

"I thought you were dating that one girl. What was her name? Erin?"

Dash shook his head. "We broke up last week. She decided we should 'see other people,' which I'm guessing means she already was."

"Sorry about that. That really sucks." Danny frowned as he leaned on the stone wall. He and Dash had never really gotten along in high school, and they butted heads often during work. He glanced over at Dash then to the snowman at which the former jock kept staring. "Well, my family usually has this big dinner on Christmas eve. If," he shrugged as he turned his gaze away with an awkward feeling, "you want to join us."

"I might be lonely this year, but I don't know that I'll be that lonely." Dash was silent for several moments before adding, "But thanks, Fenton," which brought a small smile to Danny's face.

Dragonsrule18: Who knows? XD The Ghost Writer must have done something pretty bad. Dash and Kwan have been good friends since they were babies~ D:

Linzerj: Thanks! =D