Danny waited until Dash fell asleep that night, curled up on one of Vlad's plush couches with an arm slung over his eyes and a blanket draped over his lap. Danny ventured to the far window, opening the latch and embracing the blast of crisp cold air that came rushing in. Blood pounded in his ears, and with that, a feeling of complete dread filled his stomach.

What am I doing...?

Danny sighed, raking a hand through his hair. He knew who Dash was, and he knew his tendencies. He'd been his bully since freshmen year; he'd been a punching bag and a target and a... crush? Was that what this was all leading to?

The window pane felt cold and wonderful against his temple, relaxing the numbing muscles that scraped against his brain. He knew Dash, and maybe that was the problem.

Stop it, Danny. You're thinking too hard about this. Dash has changed.

Danny shook his head. Had Dash really changed that much in the last few days since he'd returned from the reboot?

There was a movement behind him, and Danny turned to watch Dash reposition himself on the couch. He saw the fists that had beaten him, the arms that had held him down, and the knees that had bruised his stomach and ribs. Danny couldn't rightfully remember every beating that he'd gotten from Dash... He just remembered that they'd hurt like hell and left a ripe stinging in his gut like a hot iron. But none the less, Danny couldn't help thinking that Dash was the only one to ever truly see him. Whether it was seeing him as something he could break with his anger... or someone he could kiss in a candy shop... Dash had always seen him.

Maybe it was the lingering eyes that made Danny want something. Dash always watched him, whether in anger or an emotion that Danny himself couldn't name. Danny felt Dash watch him in the halls, in class, in gym, and when he was passing by in his car. Those eyes burned marks onto Danny's mind, and he found that he didn't mind it at all.

Maybe that's why he was concerned when he heard the yelling and the screaming at the Baxter's house that first night. Flying by on patrol, he didn't like the raised tones and the sound of breaking glass coming from the usually quiet neighborhood. Danny knew that was Dash's house, and yet he hadn't really thought about what may have happened. Now, just a little past a week later, Danny flinched as he realized he'd left Dash to his parents mercy. What if his parents were like his? What if they'd-

No. No, the Baxter's were loud and mean and greedy, but not senile.

"Danny?"

Dash had woken, and stirred on the couch as he felt the empty place beside him. His head flicked from side to side, his eyes scanning the room until they fell onto the inky haired boy. Tension left his shoulders, and the jock let out a breath as he leaned back into the couch. "Come lay with me...?"

Danny watched the rise and fall of the jocks chest, his tired eyes already drifting back to slumber. Danny half smiled, his mind numbing to the strangling thoughts flooding his nerves. This was... Nice. Someone to hold him and whisper to him... He liked having Dash hold his hand and kiss his fingers; he liked the quick flashes of blush and lip biting and uncertainty that came with this new ground. It was fascinating.

Danny layed back on the couch, pressing his forehead to the soft part of Dash's neck. Dash slipped long arms around him, and within seconds, he was out again, softly breathing hot air onto the crown of Danny's head. They layed like that, body heat burning like a furnace and hands stuck to skin. Danny felt Dash's heartbeat here, loving the sound, the feel, and the essence that it meant, laying here, close to the boy that had been just out of his reach.

How could such a regular thing like a heartbeat be destroying Danny's thoughts like this?

Danny dreamed then, slipping into a deep sleep that choked him, his mind straining and cracking as the warmth and content he'd felt while still awake vanished into a horrible nightmare.

Soooo... This was really just a whole bunch of self doubt and thinking on Danny's part... there's really nothing special here, but I actually have the next chapter already written, because I thought this one was a little too short, and I thought the next one was too long, but oh well. I'm tired and took some medicine that makes me restless and really in the mood to use comma's. xD Oh, so much more could be done with this, but I find myself really tired, so this is what I can do right now.

midnight: poor Danny having so much conflict in his head, he just better make sure voices in his head doesn't answer questions. ;) ~~ Oh you think that was bad, then be prepared xD

Silver-hearted-girl:

You never cease to amaze me! Always writing something that draws me in and never letting me go. You are a genius! Continue to amaze me please! _ ~~~Thank you so much! I really appreciate it :) I will continue to write this story, and (hopefully) amaze you further!

TearsDrippingDown: (via PM)

It won't let me review it either SO here's my review for What Doesn't Kill Him Makes Him Stronger!
I can't stop giggling! All this fluff is just kawaii! You described the scenes very well, especially that smooth move Dash made on Danny ;) I almost melted when he said that Danny was his favorite :D

haha, thank you very much! 3 lol I think they need cuteness, and I'm kinda bummed this chapter didn't keep its cuteness, and unfortunately, neither will the next one xC Thank you very very much!