"This feels strangely surreal." Danny smiled, hand holding his phone to his ear. His eyes flowed easily across the living room, the apartment wasn't anything spectacular in the sense. It was small, held a living room with a connected kitchen, one bathroom, and one bedroom. It was nice, it was cozy, and it was home. His home. "I never would have thought this would be where I would find myself."
"Dude, I have never been more happy in my life to hear that." Tucker laughed on the other side of the phone. "What have I always told you? Life after high school was, and is, going to be dope! Best thing we could have."
"I know know, but with my track record-"
"Fuck that, past doesn't define shit." Danny laughed softly, ears picking up the soft rustling in the background.
"Since when are you the one to quote Sam?" Danny mention, settling himself on the slightly stiff couch. Maybe it wasn't exactly what the other member of their friendship has said, but it was the basics of her message.
"Because our friendly goth can be right." Tucker mused, a pause settled for just a second before he continued. "I've got to run and pick up some grass, I'm spending the night with Cassidy so you don't have to worry about any late night high thoughts."
"Aw, what will I ever do if you don't fill me in on your latest existential crisis thought?" Danny laughed, shaking his head slightly. "I'm still waiting for you to tell me about Cassidy."
"Nope, nein, nada. I refuse to give you and Sam ammo."
"Aw come on, you tease me and Sam about our love life, it's only fair."
"Assuming I have a love life, we already know who my soulmate is."
"Ah yes, Technology."
"Excuse me, her name is Ronita and you will respect that." The dissolved into a moment of laughter. As it subsided, Danny rested his head against the back of the bed, eyes trained one the textured ceiling. He could hear the vague sound of someone moving around in the apartment above him, the building was still much quieter than the dorm rooms.
"Alright alright, well I'll let you go. I expect a sesh when you finally visit me." Danny reminded.
"Of course of course, expect me over sometime spring break!" Danny smiled, flopping his phone down the moment the call ended. A sigh left him as he settled into a comfortable silence in the empty apartment. Sam was supposed to be home soon. It was still a weird feeling for Danny, every time he referred to the new apartment as home.
There was no hesitation, no negative attachment this time. This was his home, settled with a man he cares so much for, and in a new state with a group of loving friends. A smile settled in his lips, a warm glow spread through him.
This felt better, so much better than he could have ever expected.
"This, it's really sweet." Sam smiled, motioning towards the box they just picked up from their doorstep. Pandora and Charles sent them a box of items they deemed that Danny really needed to have in his new home.
"Yea, it is. I'm honestly a little worried about what's in it." Danny laughed, pulling the box open. The first item sitting on the top immediately warmed his heart and settled a smile on his face. A note, just letting him know that everyone pitched in for this. A box of memorabilia to remind him about his home away from home. The Zone.
"What's this?" Sam asked, a soft blue heart with a smoky white center resting in his hand. Danny laughed softly at him, the smile pushing to get a little larger.
"That's from Frostbite, well that's what we call him. He's been experimenting with different types of ways to imitate ice but able to last forever." Danny explained, running a finger over the smooth surface, a soft coolness emitted from it. It was the easiest excuse versus telling Sam it was ice carved by a ghostly frost monster. "I guess he figured it out."
"It's pretty." Sam mused, placing it on the coffee table. "It oddly reminds me of you."
"Why? Cause I'm always cold?" Danny laughed, sifting through the box.
"Haha, I guess that's one way to put it." Sam replied, only pausing a second before speaking again. "You haven't told me about Frostbite have you?" Sam asked, resting back against in the couch. Danny hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"Yea, actually, I haven't. I met him on a hunt not long after you left." Danny mused, remembering how he actually met the older ghost. "I got caught by a ghosts whose preferred method of killing through snow. Frostbite kind of saved my skin."
"That's one way to start a lasting friendship." Sam smiled, watching as Danny's focus shifted suddenly.
Danny's eyes focused onto a pocket watch. The engravings on the surface mimicked the time tower, the very center was a numberless clock. "Safe to say that one's from Charles?"
"No doubt." Danny nodded, reading the engraving etched on the back. "Time will tell when this is needed."
"Something for hunting?"
"I think so, safe to say I shouldn't open it just yet." Danny passed it over to Sam, letting the other man inspecting it on his own.
"Are those daggers?" Sam asked, amusement and confusion lacing his voice. Danny followed Sam's gaze, a laugh leaving him.
"Leave it to Pandora to gift me a weapon." Danny pulled the pair out, the colors vaguely reminded him of Pandora. The blues and purples of the sheath blended seamlessly between each other. "The choose of blade is interesting though." Danny commented once he pulled on out. It was a deep black, softer black engravings resting through it.
"They sure do pick interesting gifts." Sam spoke, breaking the silent pause. Another silence settled after, only lasting for a beat.
"As excited as I am to see what's possibly left, do you want to go out and eat?" Danny asked, sliding the box closed. He noticed the surprise flashing through Sam's eyes, before the other responded.
"Yea, of course we can." Danny returned his smile. The halfling tried to push aside his home-sickness and guilt as the two got ready to head out. Part of wished he could show Sam his real family, who they really are, show him the other side of himself. The other part of him felt guilty, guilty for the box of gifts showing off how many people cared about him while Sam was estranged from his.
It felt wrong on so many levels, but it wasn't something he wanted to thinking about right now. For now, his going to enjoy his time with Sam. For as long as he can. Until his secret inevitably gets exposed.