Maddie did not want to do this. She never had, which was why she'd left it for so long. But after seeing the concern for her on her son's face, and how much this had bothered him, she didn't feel she had much of a choice. And it was something she really should have done already.
That didn't make it any easier.
But the way things were made her uncomfortable, and worse, made her children uncomfortable. If Jack knew and could understand what was going on, it would break his heart. When they'd first gotten the invitation to the reunion, Maddie hadn't wanted to go. But it would just be two days, and she had wanted to see how Vlad was doing.
Apparently physically, he'd gotten much better, but mentally...
She'd been uneasy about his flirting in school. It was even worse now, and while she normally liked to face things head on, with all the emotional baggage riding on the current status quo, she'd honestly just wanted to avoid it. Give her a ghost or a criminal and she'd happily take them down, but she'd never been good with emotional confrontations. At least she was better with her kids. Well, she hoped she was. It was something she'd worked on.
Shaking all of that from her head, she straightened her shoulders as she approached the white-haired man, who must have heard her coming because he turned around, scowl on his face. His expression melted into a beaming smile when he saw who it was, and she honestly did not want to be the one to wipe it off. It took every ounce of self control to not turn around and walk away right then and there.
"Maddie! What a surprise!"
"I... hope I'm not interrupting something," she said, only a little hesitant. "But I'd like to speak with you about something. In private."
"Interrupting? Of course not! I can always make time for you."
"So the business you had to do...?" she trailed off, expectantly.
"Well, I suppose I can do it after dinner."
She had her suspicions that he'd just wanted to get away from Jack, but figured she needed to let it slide, no matter how she'd almost hoped there would have been an excuse to avoid all of this.
Come on, Maddie, woman up! She told herself as Vlad gestured to a nearby open door that led into an office. Before they could get there, though, a vase tipped down the hall and fell to the floor. It didn't shatter, but it did distract both of the adults, who went over to examine it. Maddie was both grateful and frustrated with the distraction. Grateful because she still didn't want to do this. Frustrated because she really wanted to get it over with.
"Was that your ghost?" she asked, wishing she still had her scanning equipment on her. She looked back down the hall behind them, but it stood empty. She couldn't see Danny anywhere. Of course.
"Perhaps," Vlad said, eyes narrowed and tone tight as he picked the vase up and put it back on its stand. When nothing else happened, he turned back to her and smiled. "Anyway, shall we?"
They headed back to the office and went inside. Three chairs, a couple of small coffee tables between them and a desk littered with papers had been set up inside, all of the finest make. Maddie was pretty sure the furniture in this room alone would pay for her entire house and she tried not to let it overwhelm her.
Once they were situated, Vlad smiled over at her. "So, what did you wish to talk about? Know that I'm always here for you, Maddie, no matter what you're going through."
She winced. "And I appreciate that, Vlad, I really do. But... well, I... I want you to stop flirting with me, especially in front of my children and husband. That's beyond inappropriate."
Never let it be said that she wasn't blunt. She supposed she had to be after years of living with Jack, who just didn't get subtle hints. Sometimes he didn't get blatant hints either.
The white-haired man just blinked at her like he couldn't comprehend what she was saying, so she sighed. "I'm married, Vlad. Happily so. I love my husband, and that isn't going to change. I'm sorry you feel the accident got in the way of a relationship between you and me back then, but I loved Jack almost from the moment I met him. He was warm and caring and devoted and accepting of things that no one else had ever been accepting of. He has such a large heart and such huge ambitions and is actually quite intelligent when he's given a focus. He can be a bit... frustrating to be around – I suspect he might be autistic – but that happens with any couple, and I'm actually happier because our relationship has some small challenges sometimes. If we didn't have to work for it, it wouldn't be worth it."
Vlad was staring with an expression half-way between 'does not compute' and utter horror.
"You... always loved him?"
She nodded. "Yes. If you would have asked me back then, I would have likely gone on a date with you, but – and I hate to say this because I know how much it will hurt, and I'm sorry, but – I would have eventually chosen Jack. Not because you aren't a great person, but because that's how love works. He makes me happy, Vlad."
His face had begun to tighten. "What happened to his big heart after the accident?"
Maddie frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I spent two months in a coma and two more years in the hospital without a single visit."
The red-head's frown deepened. "No visit? Jack told you already. He and I visited almost every day for those two months and then we were told, in no uncertain terms by the doctor, that we weren't welcome anymore." That may or may not have had a lot to do with Jack and his ability to clumsily destroy more or less anything remotely fragile – something Danny may have inherited, sadly.
The other man's face had slackened again. "You... did?"
"It was Jack's idea. I would have likely stopped by once a week or so otherwise, but Jack never missed a day. It was just something else to admire in him to me."
She sighed again, this still wasn't easy, but she was glad that they'd cleared some of that up at least. She hoped he remembered this time…
"I... see."
He sounded choked up. The woman didn't say anything, mainly because she wasn't entirely sure what she could that wouldn't make the whole situation more awkward.
"So you're saying I... never stood a chance... and never will?"
Maddie smiled sadly at him. "That's exactly what I'm saying, Vlad. Even if something happened to Jack, Heaven forbid, I can't see myself ever remarrying. I'd likely just continue on with our work and raising Jazz and Danny. That would be my focus if Jack ever..." she faded off, unable to finish that thought. The last thing she wanted for her husband was for him to become a ghost himself. She shuddered at the thought.
Then she took a calming breath and looked up at Vlad. He seemed to be staring straight ahead in shock, his eyes not focused on more or less anything, and her heart went out to him.
"Vlad, I know that you've been angry with us – with Jack, even though I maintain that I had just as much to do with the accident as him – but we are willing to do just about anything to show you that we want you back in our lives. Both Jack and I were devastated when you were suddenly not there any longer. But we were so close back then that, even after twenty years, both of us hold you in high esteem and would love to have our old friend back, if you're willing. I would love for Jazz and Danny to get to know you like we did. Jack doesn't have any brothers or sisters, and his parents travel so often I think I can count the times my children have seen them on one hand. My parents live on the other side of the country and my sister... well, she doesn't exactly like to visit. But you're family, Vlad, if you want to be, and I want my children to have an uncle they can turn to if they feel they need someone to go to. That... can't happen if you can't let the past go – let me go."
Maybe she'd been listening to Jazz a little much recently. Her daughter actually liked doing things like this with people? When it honestly hurt so much?
Silence fell thickly over the room, stifling and awkward. Maddie could tell Vlad needed a moment to process what she'd said, so she kept quiet.
Finally, he opened his mouth.
"So... if the accident had happened to, say, Jack instead of me, I still would have had no chance?"
Maddie's lips thinned. Hadn't she answered this already? No, she needed to be patient. This was obviously an unhealthy obsession he'd been holding for a while and he needed to work through it. She should be grateful he was catching on as quickly as he was, really.
"I don't know, Vlad, but probably not. And I still would have held feelings for Jack, which wouldn't have been fair to any of us. I can never give you what you want from me, Vlad. I can't say I'm not flattered that someone who isn't my husband finds me desirable after all these years, but you and I wouldn't be happy together, not in that capacity. Not both of us, so not either of us in the long run.
"Vlad, if you love me, let me go and move on. Please."
And he suddenly looked so lost that she couldn't help but reach out and take his hand in one of her own while patting it with the other, gently. He just looked down at their joined hands morosely, as if the action pained him. Before she could consider letting him go, though, he spoke.
"I... don't know if I... can."
Maddie closed her eyes and couldn't help if she slumped a little bit.
"I understand. If it's too painful to be around us, we'll leave until you're ready for us to come back. And if you never are... well, we'll hate that, but we'll respect it as well. If that's what will help you, then that's what we'll do.
"But..." she went on before he could say anything, "I also want you to know that there will always be a place for you in our home if you want. You need to respect our rules – no flirting, no degrading Jack, and, you know, nothing illegal – but if you're willing to do that... well, just think about it, alright?"
She seemed to have gotten her point across. She hoped it stuck. Now she needed to get out of this uncomfortable situation before it got worse. Still, she was glad Danny had prodded her into doing this. It was long-overdue. Maybe she'd be a little more open about such communications in the future.
xXx
Danny watched his mother walk out of the room from his hiding place behind one of the large chairs. He couldn't help but smile after her. He knew this had been difficult for her, but, as usual, she'd risen to the challenge and gotten everything across that she needed to, while still being as caring as she possibly could. People could say what they wanted about her, but he really looked up to his mother.
After a few moments of silence, Danny peeked invisibly around the side of the chair and his face immediately fell. Vlad looked… broken. It was unnerving to say the least because Vlad didn't break. He backed down sometimes, made tactical retreats, could look fearful and angry and upset, but he didn't break.
Part of Danny knew that this could lead to a very good place. Vlad could reevaluate and start his journey on rebuilding a far more healthy life.
It could also lead to a far worse place. An image of blue skin and flaming white-hair over red eyes and a superior, fanged smirk… He shuddered. He'd known Vlad had held back a lot, even back then. He hadn't been willing to admit it, even to himself, but he'd known. Would Vlad potentially be worse this time around? Would he start hating everyone in their family now? Shy away from the emotional pain and cut himself off?
He bit his lip, unsure of what to do.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, as the case may be), the decision was taken out of his hands.
"I know you're there," Vlad's voice suddenly croaked out. Along with the rawness, he sounded hard – angry, and Danny winced.
He let himself become visible in his ghost form. "Um... sorry. I guess this is a bad time for a chess match?"
"Leave."
Danny bit his lip, unsure as to whether he should go or not. It didn't feel right to just leave Vlad alone like this.
"You are undoubtedly here protecting those you've claimed from your haunt. You have my word that they have nothing to fear from me, so leave." He still looked so fragile, despite trying to hold it all together in front of someone.
The younger half-ghost shifted a bit again before setting down and walking towards the man, knowing very well that he may be taking his life into his own hands.
"You know," he said slowly, "I thought I'd found the woman I'd grow old with."
Vlad snorted. "Aren't you all of twelve years old?" he asked, bitterly.
Danny wanted to frown but struggled to let the degrading tone roll off his back as best he could as he answered, perhaps a bit dryly. "I'm actually almost thirty."
Vlad blinked and looked him up and down. "Aren't you a hybrid too?"
So, he did know. Huh. Danny put his money on Skulker. It was probably recent if he hadn't put 'Danny Fenton' and 'Phantom' together yet. He shrugged. "It's complicated. But I dated my girlfriend for almost eight years. I was positive that we'd get our happy ending because we loved each other so much. I had the ring picked out for six of those eight years, you know." And could he help it if he got a little wistful and nostalgic at the memory?
"Isn't that a little Disney-ish of you?" the older hybrid asked, tone flat.
Danny shrugged. "Probably. Doesn't mean we didn't want it."
"What happened?" Vlad asked after a short pause, looking unsure as to whether he wanted to know or not. Danny counted the fact that he asked at all as a win.
"We found out the hard way that true love… hurts. It's selfless and neither one of us wanted the other one to make debilitating sacrifices just to be together. If she'd married me, she would have had to settle down in my haunt and... I couldn't do that to her – restrict her like that. It would have been like clipping her wings and forcing her to stay grounded when she was always meant to fly." He clutched at his hazmat suit above his heart, willing his core to stop hurting as it always did when speaking about this. "Of course, I couldn't leave my haunt, even if I'd found a way to shift my obsession, it would only tie me down somewhere else or put too much pressure on me, so we were stuck between a rock and a hard place." Even the forced lighter tone didn't help. He shouldn't be surprised; in this case, it never did.
"You've been haunting Amity Park for eight years?" Vlad asked skeptically.
Danny shrugged. "Again, complicated. I remember doing so, even if no one else does."
The white-haired man frowned, but decided to move on. He must have been really out of it. Not that anyone should blame him.
"Was she part of your obsession?" he asked.
Danny snorted. "Definitely."
A thoughtful, watery expression crossed the older hybrid's face. "What did you do?"
At that, Danny smiled. "I talked it out when I found someone who would listen to me. Talking to someone is better than talking to no one, and it always will be." Well, unless they were trying to hurt you or something, but Danny was pretty sure Vlad would understand that. He really didn't want to get caught up in semantics right now.
Vlad turned away, scowl back in place.
"You know," Danny ventured after a moment of heavy silence, "the Fenton's girl, Jazz, is studying to be a paranormal psychologist. You may want to check her out. She's young and new, so you'll have to be patient with her, but she's also extremely intelligent and a great motivational speaker."
Somehow his scowl turned cool. "I don't need professional – or any – help."
Danny rolled his eyes. "Please. You just had a passion you've been chasing for two decades shot down. 'Painful' doesn't begin to describe it and historically, creatures of all kinds haven't done well with recovering from realizations and changes like that. Any person would need some help to get through the aftermath, let alone a hybrid. That's okay, you know. It doesn't make you weak or vulnerable, it just makes you human."
Pain and uncertainty flashed through Vlad's gaze before it smoothed out again. Before he could say anything, Danny decided to continue on.
"It's… difficult to change a ghostly obsession, but it is possible. And from what I've seen, I think you're strong enough to do it."
He shrugged when Vlad closed his mouth and frowned yet again. "Just, think about it, K?"
The older hybrid sighed. "Very well. Now can you leave a grieving man in peace?"
"Do you really want that?" Danny asked, cocking his head to one side. "Because a game of chess can be a good distraction..."
To his credit, Vlad actually thought about it. Then he sighed. "Thank you for the offer, but I really would like to be alone right now."
That was honestly much better than he thought he'd get.
"Okay. I'll be hanging around for a couple of days if you want."
"Just stay out of any private areas and I take little issue with that. Although, if the Fentons catch you, do not expect me to intervene."
"Fair enough. Well, feel better..." he said a little awkwardly as he floated backwards and through the door. Vlad didn't answer him. He hovered there for several minutes wondering if he'd done the right thing before he ducked into the room he'd left Mom's instrument in and returned to his human form. Then he went off in search of his mother.
xXx
Vlad never did make it down for dinner. Danny kept shooting the stairs worried looks when they all gathered to eat, but a butler came out and showed the family to a dining room – large, but smaller than Danny remembered. Said butlar informed them that Mr. Master's had a work emergency and likely wouldn't be making it to the meal.
Danny's mom looked both miserable and content, somehow, and it was all Danny could do to not just go over and give her a hug. He'd do so later, when it wouldn't draw attention.
The food was wonderful, of course, but Danny barely tasted it. No one got sick, so no poison, and once they were finished, the butler (who still hadn't introduced himself) led them to the door, asking them to call on him at any hour if they needed anything, simply by ringing the doorbell.
The next thing Danny knew, they'd all settled down for a comparatively quiet night. His father blathered on about how difficult it was to track a spirit down in a mansion that large, and if he'd been any more self aware, he may have noticed his children shooting worried looks at their mother.
Maddie, however, seemed content to cuddle close to her husband, happy to draw what comfort she could from him. And Jack, being the person he was, freely gave it. Honestly, it made Danny's heart warm. His parents could be terribly adorable. Well, for parents.
They went to sleep that night as a family, and even the snoring didn't bother Danny quite as much as it usually did.
xXx
They found out the next morning that Vlad canceled the reunion at his mansion, claiming a personal emergency. He did, however, manage to find another venue at a nearby town that quickly put together a party worthy of the money he likely paid for something that extravagant on this short of notice.
They ended up driving over an hour to get there, and the two siblings were introduced to several people they would likely never remember. Their parents had already completely embarrassed both of them not ten minutes in. Actually, Danny was surprised it took that long.
At least Harriet Chin wouldn't lose her job this time. Well, he hoped not.
He ended up talking Jazz into staying and watching their parents for a couple of hours while he flew back to Vlad's mansion to check on him. She wasn't happy about it, but he eventually wore her down and she, reluctantly, agreed.
Danny flew back to the large, castle-like mansion they'd stayed outside of just the night before, stopping at an open mart-store on the way there to pick up another cheap chess set.
Not quite an hour after he left the reunion, he stood outside the large doors in his ghost form and reached up to ring the doorbell… then he frowned and decided to just phase through the door. Vlad knew he was there (or that he should be, in any case), and he honestly doubted the man would come down to answer the door with how he likely felt.
Which also meant Danny should proceed with caution.
Not that he wouldn't when it involved Plasmius, but still.
So he flew in through the door and up the stairs to Vlad's office, where he'd seen the man last. He touched ground and took a deep breath, hoping Vlad was in this room because otherwise, finding him could be very difficult.
He knocked softly on the door and waited, thinking of other places he could find Vlad. The kitchen, maybe? Or the man's private rooms? He had no idea where those were, though. The Secret Lab, perhaps? Yeah, that was straight down, more or less and—
He cut off as a noise came from inside.
"What?"
Danny took that as permission to open the door, so he peeked inside carefully. The room was dark but he could see the outline of a man in a chair facing the window, with the moonlight streaming through it.
"What do you want?"
Suddenly, Danny was very glad he'd come. He smiled and held up his hand. "Just like yesterday: a game of chess?"
Silence. Nothing spoken for so long that Danny wasn't sure Vlad would answer. He wasn't quite sure what he'd do in that situation.
"Oh, very well," came the resigned voice. "Flip on the light, will you?"
"I also brought chocolate."
Another pause as Danny reached over to flick the light-switch and the light came on. Vlad groaned and cringed. He looked terrible – like he hadn't eaten or slept since the night before. There was a glass on the small table off to one side; a glass and several empty bottles. Oh, that was not good.
"Chocolate?" Vlad croaked.
Distraction mode initiated. Danny shrugged and put a smile on his face as he held up a bag he'd gotten while at the store. "Chocolate. It… doesn't solve anything, but it tends to make every situation better."
Vlad snorted. "Unless you're a dog. Chocolate is poison to them." Funny, he didn't sound extremely drunk. Danny had been able to get drunk in the future, but it had taken a lot, and usually something at least laced with ectoplasm.
"But what a way to go," Danny replied to Vlad, then bit his lip when he realized what he'd said. He really needed to work on his gallows humor.
Vlad seemed somewhat amused (or at least not offended) by it if the quirk of his eyebrow said anything. Then he gestured to the desk in front of him, scooting several papers to one side in a messy pile Danny would never have expected from his former arch nemesis. Vlad had been all straight lines and piles and neat organization. At least in public. And Danny was sure this was his 'public' private office – or the one he worked in when he had business partners and other people he wanted to impress over.
Danny set the bag of chocolate on the desk and then set the new chess set down.
Vlad quirked an eyebrow. "This isn't your set."
"I forgot my other one, so I bought this."
"In your other form?"
Danny shot him a deadpan look. "Perhaps." So that Vlad could search the video feed from the local stores? Yeah, no.
He probably would anyway. Vlad was nothing if not thorough.
Well, when he wasn't arrogant.
They quickly set up the chess set, with Danny ending up as white. Vlad had likely done that on purpose. One could tell a lot about a person with their opening chess move. Danny sighed and went for the easy gambit of moving the pawn in front of his king out. A nice, flexible strategy.
"I'm surprised you're here instead of watching your wards," Vlad said, studying the board, despite the fact that they'd only made one move.
Danny wasn't sure if he'd call his family his wards, but he also didn't want to say that to Vlad, so he just shrugged.
"I have someone watching them."
Vlad looked up and studied Danny far more than he did the board. "Hmm," was all he said to that. Then he went to move a piece. "Well, you no longer have to fear anything from me. I will not be pursuing the Fentons from here on."
Danny's brain screeched to a halt, his hand half-way between moving his bishop, his hand hovering above one of the squares. Taking a slow, quiet breath, he set the piece down, double-checked the board, and then released it.
"Not at all?"
"No," Vlad responded, a hand on his chin as he looked the board over. "I will likely cut off contact."
Well, he hadn't expected that.
"Are you sure that's… wise?"
Vlad moved a pawn. "Some things are just too painful," he said softly.
Danny couldn't argue with that.
His gaze fell on Vlad's pieces, trying to figure out what the man was planning from here on out.
"What will you do now, then?"
Vlad suddenly looked so tired as his eyes fell on Danny. "I'm not entirely sure. I'm still attracted to money and power, of course, but most of that was always to prove to Maddie that I'm the better man – the better husband." He sighed. "My obsession hasn't actually changed as of right now."
"Even for ghosts – especially for ghosts – change happens slowly," Danny said, finally deciding on moving a knight. "Expecting something to just disappear overnight is unrealistic and unhealthy to say the least."
"Hmm. I suppose you're right."
That… may have been the scariest thing Danny had ever heard Vlad say… and the best. Not because Danny was right, but because Vlad admitted he was wrong. This was either leaps and bounds forward, or leaps and bounds back. Danny really hoped it was the former.
"I just… feel so empty, right now," the white-haired man said, voice even quieter than before. "I'm positive if I were simply a ghost, I would fade away."
Oh… ouch. That sounded like some pretty severe depression. Triggered depression, but depression nonetheless.
"Then it's a good thing you're not," Danny said, moving his queen back. It would open his bishop up and give him some options.
"Is it?" Vlad asked softly.
Danny looked up to see the man's blank stare. It was his turn, but he didn't seem to be seeing the chessboard, despite looking right at it.
"I don't even know where to start in figuring out what to do next," the older half-ghost admitted.
The time-traveler frowned and put his elbows on the desk on either side of the chessboard and rested his head on his hands, studying the other man intently. He could offer advice, he could even give examples to start a brainstorming process… but somehow, he didn't think that would work for Vlad right now.
If Vlad were his patient (not that he'd had any in the future, but still), he'd likely look for the deeper meaning here and address that.
Well, in for a penny and all that.
"Why?"
Vlad looked up, thankfully coming back to Earth from wherever he'd been. "Why do I not know what to do next?" he asked, puzzled and a little annoyed.
Danny shook his head. "Why were you so determined to woo Mrs. Fenton? Back in college, or now. Is she the forbidden fruit that you find desirable? Do you just want companionship and she happened to fit your criteria at the time so you became fixated? What about her attracts you to her?"
The billionaire frowned at Danny's question. "A better question is what doesn't attract me to her. She's perfect. Beautiful, brilliant, strong physically and mentally… there is nothing wrong with that woman. Why wouldn't I want that?"
Attraction to perceived perfection, Danny mentally noted. Why am I not surprised.
"According to her children – and yes, I have spoken to them – she can be so focused she forgets little things around her and is known to overlook circumstances or even people if they will cause too much of a problem for her to deal with at the moment. Sometimes to a point of neglect, and while she often regrets it later, it is still a point she has to work on. She has extreme ideas and expects others to live up to them, getting frustrated when they don't and just as extreme biases—"
Vlad's expression cooled as he interrupted, "If you're talking about her attitude towards ghosts, she has reasons!"
Danny nodded calmly. "I'm sure she does, but that doesn't stop the fact that she is still biased and while stubbornness can be a positive trait, it can also be extremely detrimental, especially to relationships.
"Now," he continued before Vlad could interrupt again, "I'm not saying that she's a horrible person. Far from it. She has some very admirable qualities. But you've placed her on a pedestal that few people could live up to. That isn't healthy for you or her or anyone else involved. Placing people you know personally on pedestals only ends in disappointment for all parties involved and ultimately the breakdown of the relationship. If you're lucky, you both realize it and simply go your separate ways, but usually it ends in nasty mental and emotional battles while each person tries to take as much as they can, often just to hurt the other person, leaving both parties in far worse straights than where they started.
"You can think you're the exception to the rule, if you want, but I've never come across such a case where that way of thinking didn't end up proving the rule in the end. At least not when it comes to relationships."
Vlad just stared at Danny as if seeing him for the first time, brow furrowed, but face otherwise unreadable.
Finally he asked, "Come across many cases, have you 'Ghost Child'?"
Well, that confirmed the 'Skulker' connection… again.
Danny shrugged. "You might be surprised. But I have taken classes on human psychology and how it works. I also have had first, second and third hand experience when it comes to 'pedestal relationships'." Alright, he didn't even know if that last one was a term, but he was pretty sure there was a terminology for that. He just couldn't remember… he hoped that was just his memory degrading normally and not an effect of the time travel.
"Oh?" Vlad asked, leaning forward. "Pray, tell your first-hand experience."
The younger ghost frowned. Vlad was using this as a distraction. He also wanted to get more information, which – in and of itself – made Danny wary… but he also needed to establish a position of trust here if he wanted Vlad to listen to him at all. Besides, he didn't see a problem if he remained vague.
"When I first became a hybrid, a couple of girls found out about my ghost form and decided they were in love. I could do no wrong in their eyes. That kind of pressure… I can tell you from personal experience, weighs very heavily. It started to wear me down. Especially because, one girl in particular knew my human form as well and wouldn't give my human self the time of day if." Danny sighed and leaned back, allowing himself to get lost in his memories for a moment. "There is no way that could have worked out, no matter how much we may have wanted it – not without serious therapy in any case. She just… didn't know the real me, and didn't want to. I could never have been who I truly am around her."
Vlad had finally gotten around to moving his chess piece and pointed out his own pawn move to Danny who nodded and went back to studying the board.
"I would never expect her to be something she isn't," Vlad said.
Danny just shook his head, eyes never leaving the chessboard. If he moved his king-side rook…
"If you expect her to give up on her husband and family at all, then you already do."
Silence.
Danny decided to forgo trying to get his rook out for now and moved one of his knights instead, putting Vlad's black-square bishop in danger.
"You sound like you know her personally," Vlad commented a little too nonchalantly for Danny to not look up sharply. He went over his last statement and mentally kicked himself, while forcing his face to remain just as nonchalant.
"I thought it was obvious. She doesn't exactly make a secret of it."
Vlad continued to study the younger half-ghost for several more seconds. "Indeed," was all he finally said and it rang warning bells in Danny's mind. His words could have been taken as an insult, and in the mood the other man was in, Danny would have expected him to take it that way.
"In any case," Danny went on, trying to get back on track, "the relationships that work out best tend to be those couples who are aware of each other's faults and want to help them get better, but tend to love them for those faults too. Ignoring faults and problems only lets them grow larger…" he looked back down at the board and sighed, "like I ignored the problem of you not moving your queen."
A smirk appeared on the older man's face. Then it disappeared as the implications hit home. He looked down at the board before him as if it had betrayed him. Then he deflated, slumping back against his chair.
"It doesn't really matter now, does it." He didn't say it like a question.
Danny finally decided to get his rooks into play and moved the pawn in front of his queen-side rook forward. It would get taken with another pawn, but that was fine. Indeed, Vlad took his pawn and Danny took that one in turn with his rook.
Vlad looked over the board from his slumped position and Danny decided that enough was enough.
"Of course it matters," he said. "For better or worse, you were in a relationship – one sided though it may have been – and thus you can learn from it. You can extract all sorts of information about yourself, your tastes, your tendencies, issues that may arise if you're willing to be honest with yourself. And you, of all people, know how important knowledge is."
The other man stared at Danny with a blank face that was almost worse than the despondency that had been there before. Almost.
Then he leaned forward and moved his bishop.
"Check."
Danny frowned at the board and castled with his king-side rook.
"Predictable," Vlad said.
Danny shrugged. "Not always a bad thing."
"What would you… suggest then?" Vlad said, eyes on the pieces.
Danny blinked. Suggest about what? Not the game… Maddie? No, he knew the answer to that. To his question of what he should do next? Yeah, that sounded about right.
"Well, decide if another person – in an intimate or potentially intimate setting – in your life would help. Many problems don't tend to go away when someone gets into a relationship, they actually tend to double in intensity. On the bright side, it addresses loneliness and can help motivate you to become a better person if you allow it and it's healthy. If you think a relationship would be good for you, start looking around. You don't have to be in something committed at first, but that is a good goal to keep in mind for later. Get used to dating again – because, let me tell you, that is not easy, but is very worth it. Learn to enjoy yourself and be yourself in other's company. If you don't like who you are around them, then change that in every aspect of your life. If they bring out the worst in you, then find other people."
He paused for a moment, looking up into Vlad's blue eyes. "I guess the most important thing is to decide who you want to be. Who do you want to be in regards to other people? Who do you want to look back at yourself from the mirror at night? A man who has left nothing but negativity in his wake, or a man who actively wants to leave positivity? And what do you desire most? Love? Or more power and control? Did getting all the money and power and control that you sought after ultimately give you what you wanted?"
He shrugged. "That's only the very tip of the iceberg, but it might be a good place to start.
Vlad didn't answer, so Danny added on one final thought. "Oh, and keep in mind that change is scary – very scary – but necessary if you want to find what will truly make you happy."
More silence before the billionaire scoffed, but Danny could tell there wasn't much vitriol behind it. "I suppose that only doing good things will make me happy? Is that your ultimate message?" He moved his rook. "Checkmate."
Danny shrugged and shook his head. "I think that's way too vague and you have to get into the definition of 'good' vs. 'bad'. I like protecting people so that they can make their own choices. The mindset I have has its issues and there are some definite downsides, but there are also some definite up-sides and those make it worth it to me. Some people can't handle that kind of pressure, though, and it would never make them happy. At least, not the way I do it. But I have found the people who focus on positive and constructive things tend to be happier." He shrugged again. "Either way, it's up to you."
Then he sighed and knocked his king over.
"Good game."
"Hmm."
Vlad was staring off into space, looking thoughtful. Funny, Danny had never known the man to not gloat over a win in some way… maybe he'd gotten through to him?
Well, one could hope.
"Care for another?" Danny asked, reaching to reset the board.
A hesitation, then, "No. Thank you."
The white-haired teen looked over Vlad, studying him carefully. Then he shrugged and began to put the game away.
"Alright."
More silence as he packed the pieces and then the board up.
"Would you like me to stay?" he asked. "I have the rest of the night off." Well, not really, but it wouldn't do to let Vlad know that. He'd find a way to make it up to Jazz later.
Vlad's eyes, staring off into the distance for a while now, focused on Danny again. He opened his mouth to respond, but then slowly closed it, focus intensifying.
"You have nothing to gain," he finally said.
The younger hybrid shrugged. "Nothing immediate or monetary. But when it comes to future implications, you might be surprised."
Vlad frowned. "I am not going to acknowledge a debt of any kind."
Danny snorted, then shook his head. "No, no. Nothing like that. It's just, in the future, when we meet, I'd like to be on good terms. I believe in karma. A little bit of effort on my part tends to go a long way towards helping everyone in the future."
It was the older half-ghost's turn to snort. "Life isn't that simple."
A smile found it's way onto Danny's face. "No. That's why I said 'tends'. It doesn't always. But if you base your actions off of the exceptions instead of the rule, you'll be able to do nothing but complain about how life has robbed you. Like I said, people who think they're the exception tend to prove the rule, after all."
"Hmm. Perhaps," he conceded hesitantly.
"Hey, if you need anything, send a message. I don't currently have a phone, but hopefully that will change soon. Just make sure any ghosts you send won't do any damage, please. I do reserve the right to arrest anyone causing a disturbance in my haunt."
Vlad's smile was small, but there as he leaned forward, so Danny decided to take it as a win. "Fair enough. Now why not leave my haunt and go look after your foolish family of ghost hunters."
Did that mean he'd figured it out? Well, he didn't say anything else, simply staring expectantly at his guest. After a moment, Danny grinned, saluted, and stood to walk out. Before he could close the door behind him, though, he paused and looked back over his shoulder.
"You know," he said softly, "even if it isn't in the capacity you originally wanted, it's still okay to let someone care for you. And it's okay to care for someone. Those tend to be the most meaningful relationships in life anyway."
He waited for Vlad to nod in acknowledgment before he finally stepped into the hall and shut the door.
Well, one way or another, that would be an enormous change on the timeline. Part of him couldn't help but be worried. He'd just given away a good deal of his advantage… but part of him couldn't help but be excited to see where this new timeline went.
He always had been a glutton for punishment.
After taking a deep breath (that he didn't need), he turned and began to fly through the roof, carrying his game in his hand, determined to get back to the party asap.
xXx
AN: Whew! *wipes forehead* After that utter BEAST of a chapter...
Yeah, this took two months to get up. Not because I didn't have it written, but because other things have come up. I didn't get my comic done in time, but will post the last three episodes in August for anyone who is interested.
I have been sucked back into Final Fantasy with the new game that I put off getting until the end of the contest. Bwahahahaha! I am finished! Expect lots of new FFVII fics. *ahem*
Also, for those of you who said they'd like a discord, I finally have one up! It's just getting started, but I plan on discussing future ideas, notes and alternate scenes, discussing ideas that may or may not ever get written... so if you're interested, please stop by! discord (period) gg (slash) ezzFnGJ (without spaces) aka Obi's Den of Geek and Writerings