Danny and Vlad flew in relative silence after the green blur following the scent of the blue hairband.
"I'm glad to see that my motivation last night was enough to get Phantom back," Vlad remarked with a soft chuckle. Danny scowled.
"Not even close Vlad. All you did was force me to change in a life or death situation. I have changed since being rescued from the Guys in White you know," Danny retorted.
"Yes, but nonetheless I did help you little badger," Vlad pointed out.
"In your own twisted way, I suppose. But that's the most you're getting from me," Danny conceded. Vlad smirked. It was the closest he was going to get to a thank you and they both knew it.
"By the way, your new little friends know my name is Vlad and that I was the one to clone you. But if they learn any more-" Vlad began.
"Vlad, stop with the threat. I can't stop them from investigating. Robin isn't going to keep what they've learnt about you from his mentor. And you know that Batman can put Masters to Plasmius. So, you can't blame me if you get figured out. I'm not going to tell but that's the most I can say. Besides, it's not like I owe you my life or anything," Danny interrupted with a glare. Vlad scowled.
"Daniel, I couldn't get involved when you got captured by the Guys in White," Vlad retorted. Danny shook his head and scowled at the blur that was Cujo.
They flew in silence again. They couldn't even take in the sights due to their speedy flight. Everything was blurred and they needed to be ready to dodge if something appeared.
"So, your new friends. Justice League sidekicks and strays?" Vlad assumed.
"Covert team assembled by Batman containing new young heroes. It's a stepping stone to getting into the Justice League if you must know," Danny corrected. Vlad nodded.
"I assume you joined what with your infuriating hero complex. Is that why Luthor and the Light have taken an interest in you?" Vlad asked. Danny shook his head.
"Just in protection. Not that you care. I haven't lied to you Vlad," Danny answered.
"I see. You do realise that my offer to take you in as my own and teach you is still available. I can teach you so much Daniel," Vlad offered.
"You can stop there Vlad. I'm not interested. I've done fine by myself until now. I will never become your evil apprentice or whatever," Danny interjected.
"I am not a villain!" Vlad shouted. Danny rolled his eyes.
"Listen here you little rat! I offered to protect your loved ones. I did as you asked me to do. I warned you! I don't want to see you dead!" Vlad growled. Danny glanced at the older halfa.
"You could have fooled me," Danny muttered. Vlad shook his head.
"You made me the villain Daniel. You and your idiot father! If it wasn't for that oaf, I would have married your mother, graduated from college and be human! Your father is to blame. He took everything from me! And can't you see that he took just as much from you?! It was his bumbling that resulted in both of us!" Vlad raged.
Danny shook his head.
"You're wrong Vlad. Dad wasn't the blame for my accident. And even if you had never had your accident, mom would still have married dad," Danny replied. He had never blamed his parents. The portal, yes. His own stupidity, tons. Sam, only once. But never his parents. At the end of the day, he chose to step into that portal. He was responsible for his accident. And Danny had seen that maybe Jack was more to blame for Vlad's accident than he had been for Danny's. But Vlad had been the one to put his face right up to a potentially dangerous machine.
One moment doesn't define someone for their entire lives. True, cheating on the CATs had supposedly created his dark alternate future self, but that was only one choice he made on that path. He used his powers to steal the test. He chose to look at the answers and cheat. He then chose to ask Vlad to get rid of his ghost half. Then his ghost half split Vlad's halves and merged the ghost halves. So as much as Vlad wanted to blame Jack for his misfortunes, Danny didn't believe it was his father's fault.
"Do you hear yourself Daniel?! Of course your father was to blame. What kind of parent leaves a dangerous machine like that accessible to children?!" Vlad pointed out.
"So now you're blaming my mom too? Because they worked together for years to build that portal," Danny reminded the older halfa. Vlad blinked before realising what he had said.
"Besides, Vlad. If it weren't for your accident, you wouldn't have your ghost powers. And I was under the impression that you liked being able to use your powers against others. Overshadowing business partners, stealing using intangibility and invisibility, or what about using your powers to dominate over other ghosts?" Danny retorted. Vlad frowned but couldn't come up with an argument for that.
"So you can't say that dad is to blame for where you are today. If you're that desperate for company get a cat," Danny concluded. Vlad scowled.
"I will not get a cat Daniel!" Vlad hissed, ignoring the fact that he did in fact have a cat. Danny smirked.
"If you say so cheese head," Danny replied.
"Oh, real mature Daniel. Resorting to name calling. I think you're forgetting why we're chasing that mutt," Vlad reminded Danny.
"No I haven't forgotten Vlad. I just like to try and keep things light. Running around getting stressed doesn't help anyone. Cracking a few jokes helps to relieve the tension," Danny replied.
Vlad glanced at Danny before sighing.
"I'm sure they're fine Daniel. Luthor won't risk hurting them until he has you in case it provokes you. As long as you keep the situation calm, your loved ones will be safe," Vlad assured Danny. Danny gave a stiff nod.
"Maybe, but I won't relax until they're safe at home," Danny retorted.
Hmm, could that be the sound of halfas bonding? Gasp!
Maybe a little bit of a filler but I thought it was still a good chapter to show Vlad and Danny's relationship. Even if it's a little screwy.
Until the next chapter.
