A/N: This one is really long. Lot's of MXM so reader beware. A lot of thoughts and thinking and going in circles but there is a little self-discovery. Only a few chapters left. I keep the posting spread out in case I decide I want to change something. Every time I post a chapter I re-read the whole story, tweaking the finished chapters that are to come next. I really found a passion for this story. It's the first time an idea I have had has ever flowed so easily from my fingers. Also, I add the A/N before I post a chapter so I can write one in response to reviews if needed or change warnings and such if there are any. I hope you are enjoying the story so far!
Entry VI
I wish I could say that after that night all my questions were answered, that I knew exactly what I wanted and everything after that night was easier. But there wouldn't be a story to tell if that were true and honestly I was much too practical for my age. Between growing up with Sam always making me think things through, having an older sister that was more like a live-in psychologist and becoming a superhero at such a young age I was the master of overthinking and trying to get certainties when none existed.
There are never any certainties in life. No person is ever one hundred percent good, nor one hundred percent evil. I had done some not so good things in my life and Vlad had on occasion dabbled in doing what's right when the bottom line risked his own well being. That being said, I knew Vlad had changed, there was no doubt in my mind as I had felt the change whenever our cores joined. He genuinely wanted to do right by me and the love he held for me was real. I could feel the doors he had created in his mind that he used to lock away his evil thoughts, his love for manipulation and lies. I knew that half the time he did such wicked things in the past was just to see if he could.
He hadn't been lying when he said the fires of his power-hungry furnace had died but there was still a glow of embers. I wanted to be sure he could keep himself on the straight and narrow and resist the temptations that he would face on a daily basis. He had done well the past three years, slowly pulling back from the evil genius he had been to become the gentle calm businessman he now was.
And deep down I knew, if he could remain the way he was, I wouldn't hesitate to see where this newfound relationship could go. But the uncertainty nagged at me, chewing slowly away at the walls that held my worries and fears at bay. Vlad had been a figure of pain, suffering, and torture in my life and while I never wrote him off completely as a bad guy only, the entire time I'd known him he never strayed far from playing the part of the villain and honestly he made it so easy for me to hate him.
The part of me that still didn't trust him was shoving me towards finding some sort of guarantee, asking the man to do something that could absolutely prove he was no longer capable of the wicked things he had done in the past.
I know now that there are no absolutes, no guarantees, and no hundred percent. Life is unpredictable and anything can happen, both good people and bad. But I was still only eighteen, and I still held within me the righteous hopeful and unrealistic belief in absolutes. My standards were too high and the friction it would cause between Vlad and I would nearly drive the man back towards the very life I wanted so desperately to keep him from.
The bath was heavenly, and we did talk...among other things. Our human bond was sealed, our hands were no longer tentative or scared. Vlad openly touched me, and I openly accepted it. That is one of my most fond memories, that damned bathtub, and Vlad ...before things went wrong...whispering into my ear as the hot water washed away the sweat from our night together and the oils made his hands slide across my body in such a sinful way.
If I could change anything, it would have been to keep my mouth shut and just enjoy the wonderful gift I had been given. Sadly, I always had to do things the hard way, you can ask Clockwork, he still thinks I am an utter idiot….
Chapter Six
Phantom Folly
Danny rested his chin on Vlad's shoulder, legs straddling the man's hips as Vlad gently pressed inside him. His body was sore, having only had about forty minutes between now and their last time. The tub was massive, set into the floor but on an elevated platform off to one side. Honestly, you could probably fit four people in this tub but Danny wasn't complaining.
Vlad said he mostly showered, only using the bathtub when his entire body needed a soak to relax stressed muscles or to alleviate his headaches. Once again the room was dim, lit only with candles and lowered ceiling lights. Vlad promised it was not his intention to make it romantic but to simply avoid the pain of the bright lights.
They had relaxed in the swirling waters of the tub, the scent of the oils very soothing and Danny's body released the last remaining shred of stress or worry. Moisture rose from the hot water and swirled in the cool air. For a while neither had said anything but after some time passed Vlad had pulled Danny over to him, turning the young man so as to be able to gently massage his shoulders.
Danny was in heaven and they spoke in hushed tones casually about nothing. Danny was the one who had initiated their current state. He had turned to the man slowly, floating easily in the water and sinking down until just his eyes remained above, looking up at Vlad through the dim light.
Their eyes met and Vlad seemed to notice what those baby blue eyes were asking. Hands had pulled Danny back to him, legs straddling and lips meeting. It only took a moment of tongues battling and hands roaming before Vlad gently pressed at Danny's entrance.
It was easier this time, as Danny's body was utterly relaxed in the heat of the tub, the oils making their skin soft and pliant while his arousal helped with the rest. Water sloshed out of the tub as Danny moved against Vlad, trying to get closer than was physically possible. Vlad held him too tight but he didn't care and he moaned and asked for more, no shame coloring his cheeks or fear clouding his mind.
Vlad stood with him at one point, turning to lay Danny on his back next to the edge of the tub as he continued to rock into him. A particularly deep thrust sent Danny over, and the noises and yells Danny gave so willingly seemed to be what sent Vlad.
After, Vlad using his thumb to wipe water from Danny's face and press his wet hair away from his forehead, the pair sat on the edge to cool off. Danny leaned against Vlad's shoulder, neither speaking as their legs remained in the bath and their eyes watched the swirling churning water below them.
"So, got any plans tomorrow?" Danny asked, continuing to lean against the man next to him who smiled softly, eyes gentle yet happy, "Hm, considering our late night, if I had a choice it would be to sleep. But considering I don't have a choice, I have a meeting with my board of directors, otherwise, no plans."
"Oh, why didn't work call me? I don't have school. Aren't I supposed to take the minutes or something?"
It would be the first instance of him doing so as the entire time he had been working for Vlad he had yet to be scheduled to take meeting minutes.
"Yes. Normally you would, but this meeting isn't to discuss the quarterly profits and losses. This meeting is being held to discuss the possible non-hostile takeover of a failing business."
"Non-hostile?" Danny asked.
"Yes. Essentially instead of boxing my competition into the corner and taking his company out from under him via force and some rather sneaky paperwork, I will sit down with the companies owner and negotiate a buyout. He will be able to make recommendations on what parts of the company to keep and what parts to get rid of as well as retain most of his control over it. It will simply be owned by me now, but he will still have a hand in the pie of the company he created."
Danny glanced up at him, "Wow, that's….really nice of you to do that."
"Yes, well it seems to be the only thing I can do now. As anything else makes me feel rather…"
"Guilty?" Danny asked with a smirk.
"Sometimes I really wish I didn't have a little Danny Fenton on my shoulder whispering into my ear and telling me how awful I was."
Danny sat up straighter and sighed, "Yeah, I kind of know the feeling. For a long time whenever I would mess up or lose a fight, all I would hear is you in the back of my head, mocking me for all the things I should have done. Most of those shoulda's weren't that nice either."
It was Vlad's turn to sigh, "I can't imagine what horrible things your mind concocted for me to say."
"Just junk about showing no mercy, being ruthless and kicking your opponent when they are down. Ya know, jerky stuff. But the truth is, I know it's only me. It's my thoughts and regrets for not playing more dirty even though most of my enemies do. I guess hearing your voice instead of my own was the easiest way to cope with the fact that sometimes I just wanna-"
"Be bad?" Vlad said with a small chuckle.
"Yeah, something like that. It was easier to blame you than hold myself accountable."
Vlad looked away, a sadness in his eyes, "Hey, don't take it that way. I didn't mean to upset you-" Danny started but Vlad cut him off, "It's alright Little Badger. I'm not sad for the reason you think. I just wish I had been able to change sooner. Both my scars and yours could have been so much less if I had just ...let things go."
Danny's lips rolled together in thought before he scooted forward and dipped back into the tub, "Yeah, maybe. But honestly, even if you had managed to change sooner, it still would have been an uphill battle to win my trust. If our cores hadn't joined that night, I don't think I would have ever believed you or given you a chance. I mean, I could literally feel how much you cared about me, I could feel how much you had changed. I was a dick for a while, but I knew deep down that you were different."
Vlad eyed him curiously before sinking back into the water himself, "Oh? So, you've no fear of me returning to my old ways of evil?" he gave a soft playful smirk and Danny's small smile faded.
"Yeah, about that. I wanted to talk to you about something-" and Vlad's attention was on him, the sound of reluctance in Danny's voice catching Vlad off guard.
"What is it, Little Badger, you can talk to me about anything," Vlad assured.
Danny sighed, moving through the large tub to come up behind Vlad and wrap arms around his shoulders. They were both low in the water and Danny pressed his head next to Vlad's as he said softly, "That night I came here after Christmas break... when I-"
"Assaulted me, yes," Vlad said matter-of-factly and the word assaulted hung heavy in Danny's mind. He had apologized to the man repeatedly for it but he still felt ashamed by his actions. He'd never done anything like that before and he hoped to never do anything like that again in the future.
Danny sighed, "When I was trying to reach into your core and find those feelings, I know I accidentally found something you wanted to keep hidden."
Vlad's head turned just slightly, Danny kissed his temple gently before he said, "I know those feelings are still there, dormant but burning, Vlad. Honestly, it scares me a little. I know you've been trying really hard, both for me and yourself to be better. And truthfully, you've managed to go beyond anything I thought you'd ever be capable of. But, well-"
"You are worried that I might relapse. Return to my evil ways and turn on you." Vlad said calmly.
"Don't get mad," Danny said quickly, moving from the man's shoulders to his front and placing hands on the man's chest, "I trust you. I do. And I'm not thinking this is some evil scheme. I just, well, your lust for power, to control and dominate ...I've felt it. It's still there even if it has faded and-"
"Daniel, I can assure you, the Vlad you knew growing up is gone. I am better now, no evil plots or schemes, no trying to recruit you to the dark side. I just want to focus on my business...well...alright...I may try to recruit you, but only into my bed." and Vlad pulled him close and kissed him, hands caressing Daniel's skin and the boy hummed and moaned softly.
"One more time, before bed?" Vlad asked softly, lips caressing his ear and Danny nodded, wrapping arms around Vlad's neck and locking legs around the man's hips. All thoughts of finishing the conversation disappearing for now.
"How's the pain?" Vlad asked as his nails dug gently into Danny's backside and the boy hissed, "Not bad, a little sore is all."
"A little sore? Better fix that," Vlad teased and Danny glared playfully, "Hey, take it easy, it's my first time with a man. I need to be able to sit through my classes without wincing the whole time."
"Nonsense, you look absolutely radiant with a little wince." and Vlad pressed Danny through the water until he rested against the rim, snaking a hand between them Vlad took hold of Danny's length and worked him into a frenzy. Danny began to melt, neck resting on the edge, head back and eyes closed as the heat of the bathtub mixed with Vlad's ministrations became too much.
"It's too hot-" Danny panted and he turned away, knees on the tiled seat below the water, upper stomach and chest resting on the cool outer edge as his arms splayed out and steam rising off his body.
"Not very bright tonight, are you, Little Badger." Vlad mused from behind him and Danny sighed in sweet relief as the cool tile outside the tub pressed against his chest and face, "What?" he asked groggily but Vlad's response was to take up Danny's hips in his hands and press into Danny's entrance with his length.
"Vlad!" Danny gasped, the shock of the sudden intrusion not hurting so much as knocking him for a loop, his body jerking and squirming in shock.
"Shhh, relax. Calm down. You should know better than to turn your back on me." and though his voice was teasing and laden with affection Danny felt a small droplet of fear mix with the pleasure and slight discomfort. Vlad had breached him with one smooth push, Danny's body now used to it giving little resistance, but it had been a pure shot of pleasure mixed with a firm entry that made his head spin and his stomach jerk in shock.
He lay there breathing heavy as one of Vlad's hands ran up and over an ass cheek, moving slowly up his spine and then his neck before running into his wet hair and gripping gently. His other arm wrapped around Danny's hip and he pressed hard into him, holding his length in at the furthest most depth it could go.
Danny squirmed more as the pleasure spread through his body, "Vlad-" he gasped, knees losing purchase on the edge. Vlad shifted, raising Danny a little further out of the water so his hips were on the edge and his feet couldn't find grip below the surface of the water.
"At my mercy now," Vlad cooed with affection, and he continued to press hard against Danny, his length still rooted in at such a depth Danny nearly felt impaled. An arm snaked around the front of Danny's throat, the other coming up under his right arm to hug across Danny's chest, "I could stay inside you like this for hours." Vlad said softly, a kiss finding Danny's temple, "But that'd hardly be any fun for you would it."
Finally, Vlad eased out and Danny breathed a sigh of relief only to gulp down air and near choke when Vlad shoved back in. It was a white-hot pleasure, burning sweetly in his gut and humming throughout his body, but the hold Vlad had him in was so reminiscent of that night in the field. Danny had been utterly terrified by the fact Vlad had tried to break his neck and in response to this memory, Danny jerked against the man in an attempt to get away from that tight hole, "Stop-" he gasped under his breath, barely audible but Vlad heard and froze.
"Easy, does it hurt? We can stop." Vlad offered and Danny stilled himself, closing his eyes to focus on the pleasure, the feeling of Vlad inside him and how his body was begging for release. His own length was hard, pressing painfully against the tile of the tub and waiting for Vlad to brutalize his sweet spot in the most delicious way.
"N-No, I'm fine, don't stop...what's sex without a little struggle." Danny offered nervously in hopes of hiding what had just happened.
"I didn't realize you were into that sort of thing-" Vlad replied in shock, the hand that had hooked onto his shoulder releasing its hold to come and gently grip Danny's jaw and turn his head sideways, "If you want to play rough we can, but for now, let's just keep things light. I don't think we've built enough trust for that kind of thing yet, Little Badger."
Danny gave a quick nod as his face burned red and Vlad pressed a kiss to his temple before he adjusted his grip and pressed Danny to the floor. He started to rock against him hard, thrusting in over and over at an alarming rate, though his hold was more relaxed and he whispered adoring things into Danny's ear.
He was quickly lost in those murmured words of affection, relaxing completely in the man's hold as thoughts of danger fled and his body submitted to Vlad's eager strokes. It didn't take long for Danny to climb and he started panting Vlad's name, his hands coming to latch onto Vlad's arms for support, "Say it, say my name, scream it-" Vlad hissed and he gave a particularly deep shove into Danny's body and the young man spilled over, yelling Vlad's name as he dropped into ecstasy, nearly drowning in it as his body squirmed and gently moved against Vlad, the man moaning as Danny did so, the tight contractions of his muscles and his body bidding him move as the throes of passion overwhelmed him.
Though Danny had tumbled over Vlad had not and the man continued to pump into him as Danny fell limp. The pulsing of his pleasure fading as Vlad continued to thrust against him. His body jerked against the tile and though the pleasure was fading Danny closed his eyes and allowed himself to focus on Vlad, the man's nails digging into his skin, his labored breathing, his length moving in and out as the man grunted and pressed at him without pause.
He swore he could feel the moment Vlad's length stiffened, could hear the man's sudden irrational thoughts as he reached his peak and tumbled over, hugging Danny to him too tightly, saying his name in such a sweet yet mournful way, his mouth coming to Danny's shoulder and biting gently as he finished his fall and gave those weak exhausted final thrusts.
"Exquisite." Vlad sighed as he continued to lay against Daniel's back, the young man still panting lightly from his blissful fall. Vlad was still inside him, his length giving gentle jerks every few seconds as Vlad's body fully relaxed.
"I don't want to stop." Vlad whispered against his ear, "I want this, forever." and he adjusted his hold to be more tender, kissing at Danny's now marked shoulder and easing some of his weight off the young man below.
Danny sighed in contentment, wishing that he too could stay like this. While his body was spent and there was no hope of having another round when they got to the bedroom, part of Danny, perhaps the more kinky side of him, wished Vlad and he could stay like this forever. No worries, no choices, just sex, each other and this content and exhausted feeling.
Yet, his mind was starting to register the entirety of what just happened. His latent fear that had apparently not ebbed away. The playful banter and intimate conversations they had been having throughout the night seemed to fall away as Danny came to a very worrisome conclusion. No matter how far they had come, part of him somewhere deep down was still mistrusting of Vlad. Danny was still worried the man was lying and that this was some evil plot of his.
No, that's ridiculous. I know for a fact it's not, I've seen his thoughts, feelings, his overall goodness. So why, why do I have this sudden feeling of fear, why did I suddenly lose myself to that fear right in the middle of sex. It's the absolute worst time to not feel secure and yet….
Vlad slowly pushed up from him and Danny's thoughts trailed away, "Come here, Daniel." And slowly Danny pressed up from the tile and sank into the still steaming water. Vlad pulled him close before grabbing up a washrag and a bottle of body wash. He added some of the liquid onto the rag before working it into a soapy mess and said softly, "Stand up."
Danny complied, watching the man with tired eyes as Vlad and he stood in the middle of the tub. Vlad started to gently wash him with the rag, from shoulders all the way down to where the water met his upper thighs and back up. There was no embarrassment about the man cleaning Danny's more intimate areas, no worry as Vlad ran the rag up under his armpits and between his thighs or over his backside.
"Rinse off," Vlad said as he started to clean himself but Danny disobeyed, taking the rag gently and meeting the man's eyes. Something hung between them in that small space of time, some unspoken thing that Danny couldn't put his finger on. Vlad's face was neutral, with no real emotions aside from those same gentle eyes that Danny had come to know so well over the last few months. He started to wash the man slowly.
He cleaned the man as thoroughly as Vlad had cleaned him, not shying from the more intimate areas. Even though he had never touched Vlad down there he breezed over it as if it was normal. That's what Danny wanted, he wanted this to be normal. Just two lovers enjoying each other's company, bathing together and being utterly human.
"Vlad-" Danny started as he worked on gently washing the man's trim stomach and his sides, "Yes?" Vlad asked.
"What would happen if we used the Maximus regularly, would it cause long term damage to our cores?" Danny tried to ask casually, though he was sure the curiosity and worry in his voice were evident.
"I'm not sure. I've never used it for any long period of time. Honestly, I've only ever used it on you and a handful of other ghosts. Theoretically, there shouldn't be any side-effects. All it does is negate our core's natural existence, sending it into a state of suspended animation. There shouldn't be any long term effects, but I can't say for sure, why do you ask?"
Danny moved around to scrub at the man's back, moving his hair out of the way so he could have access to Vlad's upper shoulders. As he wiped the rag over Vlad's skin he noticed the muscles and the faint tan, small scars here and there as well as some vague outlines of what looked to be an ectoblast.
Just as his fingers touched it Vlad's voice broke through his musings, "Daniel?"
"Huh?"
"Why do you ask?" and Danny quickly finished washing the man down before he sat in the water and started to clean the soap off. Slowly Vlad followed suit, turning to look at him as he too cleaned his body of the soap.
"Well, it's just...I think the reason I am having such a hard time making a decision is in part because of the fact that...well….the rest of my life is a long time, Vlad. And I want to make sure...it's what I really want. Otherwise, I mean, it could end up being just as bad for you as me. So...I thought….maybe...we could continue to spend time together...get to know each other more...but we could do it….as humans. If we use the Maximus….well….we could….try dating...ya know….first?"
The man stared at him with wide eyes, seemingly surprised by Danny's thoughts on the matter before he said slowly, "So, in fact, you wish to...test the waters….as normal humans...before you make a decision regarding-"
"Look, I know it sounds really dumb. I mean, obviously, we've been getting along, obviously, I like you a lot. I mean, I'm sitting in a bathtub with you and we've just…..we had….we were….well ya know! Compatability isn't the issue, I know we are compatible. But...no matter how much I enjoy our time together...it's only be six months. Prior to that our interactions were limited to a few run-ins inside the Ghost Zone and then beating the crap out of each other a year ago. I don't want to rush this, I need….I need more time to think...but since thinking takes a while for me….and I don't want to not see you but seeing you causes problems with our cores….I just thought….if we use the Maximus...we could see each other, and spend time together and hang out while I figure out what the hell it is I want...and….how I feel about all this."
Vlad thought about it for a moment before he said in a thoughtful voice, "I suppose I could run some tests, see if the computer can calculate what damage, if any, the Maximus might do from repeated uses. There's also the matter of school and work, we can't be together all the time anyway….so I suppose if we space it out… don't zap ourself every day….I suppose there is merit to your idea."
Danny glanced up at him, "Really?"
Vlad brought a finger to his lips, tapping at them absent-mindedly as he mused, "Yes." he finally said, looking at Danny with a smile, "Indeed, let me do some tests, run some theoretical probability modules on the computer and if the risk factor is below 10 percent then I will agree to your request and we can…" but Vlad paused and looked at Danny.
The young man waited but when Vlad didn't say anything Danny offered up in confusion, "Date?"
Vlad's brow furrowed as he asked, "By date, what exactly do you mean? Dinner and movies? Seeing each other exclusively or do you mean casually? Are we to treat this as if we are a couple or just friends with the benefits?"
Danny stared at him a moment before a smile spread wide across his face and he started to laugh, "What's so funny?" Vlad asked with a glare.
"It's just friends with benefits, no the, and I don't really know. I mean, I am your personal assistant and you are a family friend. Thanks to my dad, the whole world knows it. So, I guess, if you want to go out together and do stuff we can, it wouldn't be odd to see us together. But I wouldn't expect much PDA."
"Personal digital assistance?" Vlad asked in confusion.
"Oh my god, your so old, no, public displays of affection," Danny said thinking of Tucker's little handheld device and laughing at the idea.
"Oh, right, I knew that," Vlad said, "So, then, we would have a hidden romance?"
"Uh, I guess, for now anyway. It's just…. I mean….there is a kinda large age gap...and like I said…. you're my parents' college friend. I'm just barely getting the hang of not being your enemy, I don't think I could handle the public eye judging me or my parents finding out….not yet anyway."
Danny stood and left the tub, Vlad following behind as the pair grabbed a towel each and started to dry off, "So...would we maintain this sort of relationship behind closed doors….or do you wish to stop and consider if you want to continue?" Vlad asked as Danny looked at himself in the large mirror and yawned.
He stared at Vlad's reflection as the man secured the towel around his waist and when he didn't respond Vlad looked up at him, "Daniel, it's alright if you don't. Don't feel obligated to-"
"Yeah, we... could still be... intimate." Danny said with tension and Vlad's eyes met his in the mirror, the pair staring at each other for a moment before Vlad gave a soft smile, "Come on, Little Badger, let's go to bed. It's nearly four in the morning and I have to be at the meeting by one tomorrow afternoon."
Vlad ushered him out of the bathroom gently and the pair headed towards the bed. Vlad took out a fresh pair of boxers and slid them on before discarding his towel. Danny realized all he had was his pair of boxers from the day before and cringed at putting them back on.
Vlad seemed to notice Danny's indecision and reached into his drawer grabbing a pair of gym shorts, "Here, they have a drawstring, should get you through the night."
"Thanks," Danny said sliding them on before he also tossed his towel and slid into the bed next to Vlad. A rich man's bed was far more luxurious than the cots in the dorms and Danny felt it mold to him and a heavenly feeling of silk and downy softness pressed a sigh from his mouth.
Danny lay there for a while, reflecting on the last few hours he had spent with the man next to him. Was there really a need to be so worried? Why was he still so on edge when everything seemed so perfect? He wished he knew what was really bothering him. Part of him thought it was just the fact that this whole situation that he was currently in revolved around Vlad. Danny had never seen this coming, never expected to go down this road. Danny and Vlad were now lovers and on top of that, they were dating. They weren't enemies anymore. Vlad could help him in ways Danny had only ever thought about in passing.
But he still felt like something was off. He didn't know if it was just old wounds from their previous years, the battles and wills pushing against each other so hard that now being at peace with the man next to him was just too unbelievable. But Danny knew for a fact Vlad was good, the times their cores had joined...there was just no way Vlad could have hidden an ulterior motive from Danny.
The man who was laying next to him had so many emotions that were so strong, anger, hate, aggression, love, sadness….all of them mingled together and Danny had witnessed the man's newfound patience and kindness first hand. He knew Vlad had changed, but he couldn't shake the feeling that it was all just too good to be true.
Maybe he needed some more time to himself. He could see if Vlad would let him borrow the Maximus and Danny could zap himself for a few days while simultaneously staying in town and away from Vlad. It wasn't a bad idea and Danny didn't think Vlad would mind as long as Danny didn't abuse the use of the Maximus. He would ask the man tomorrow before he went to work.
An arm suddenly came around him and pulled Danny more towards the center of the bed, Vlad wrapping his body close and pressing his face into Danny's neck, "Good night." the man said softly, giving a kiss to Danny's bare shoulder and Danny smiled softly, "Night, Vlad."
The pair drifted off peacefully, cuddled together in the center of the massive bed and Danny for a moment forgot all his worries.
The next morning Danny woke up and looked at the clock with groggy eyes, it was nearly noon. After a moment he realized he didn't sense someone next to him and turned to see Vlad was gone. Sitting up he looked around the room and noticed the bathroom door was cracked and the light was on. Suddenly the shower turned on and Danny smirked.
He got out of bed and as he stood he felt a twinge from his backside, "Damn." he winced out, realizing that he and Vlad definitely overdid it last night, literally. He didn't spare a thought for the discomfort as coffee sounded like a far better thought and so he headed down through the house towards the kitchen.
It took him about ten minutes to find everything he needed to start the coffee maker and once that was going he took a moment to get his barrings and went about making a simple breakfast. Vlad had to be at his meeting at one and it was already past twelve. He decided on scrambled eggs with toast and by the time it was done Vlad had found him in the kitchen.
"Daniel, I'm about to leave-" but Vlad stopped halfway in the kitchen, seeing two plates with food and two mugs of steaming coffee. Danny was mid pour of cream before he took a spoon to the sugar bowl.
"Didn't know if you like cream and sugar so I just left yours black." Vlad just continued to stare, looking between the food, coffee, and Danny with an unreadable expression.
Danny cocked his head and asked in confusion, "Everything okay? Don't like eggs?"
The man finally approached, his movement slow as he continued to take it all in before he placed a hand on the island where breakfast was waiting and he said softly, "No, it's...wonderful. Thank you, Daniel." the man said before he picked up his coffee cup and took a small sip.
Danny continued to watch him carefully as he took a sip from his own mug, Vlad picked up a fork before scooping up some eggs but stopped halfway between his mouth and the plate.
Danny was already well into eating before he noticed Vlad's hesitance and he joked, "I didn't poison it if that's what you're worried about."
Vlad smiled a little before he said softly, "This is really nice." and then he popped the fork into his mouth and chewed the eggs before swallowing.
"It's just coffee and eggs, Vlad. I would have made bacon too but you don't really have the time to wait for it. Your meeting is at one, right?"
Vlad took another bite before he said, "Yes, but that's not what I meant. It's nice not to wake up alone. To have someone to….share….the morning with….to have breakfast with." he mused softly before he took another bite and then took a gulp of his coffee.
Danny mused on that, continuing to eat and sip at his coffee as he thought about the fact that this might be the first time in Vlad's life that someone he cared for had actually made him breakfast. He took his now empty plate and put it in the sink. He noticed a travel mug next to the sink and took off the lid and glanced inside.
The mug was clean and so he poured some fresh coffee into it and screwed the lid back on, "It's almost twelve-thirty, you better get going." and Danny handed Vlad the mug of coffee and took his now empty plate and fork to the sink.
"Damn, very well, I will see you tonight, Little Badger. That is, will I see you tonight?" Vlad asked as he looked at the young man before him and Danny thought about it. He didn't have homework and he didn't have work so really he had no reason not to. There wasn't enough time to talk to Vlad about taking the Maximus and spending a few days away so he might as well wait until tonight. Perhaps over dinner.
"Sure, wanna work on Chief for a little bit if you aren't too tired?"
Vlad nodded, "Of course. I will see you then. We can have dinner." and Vlad walked over to him and gave him a quick kiss before he turned and headed out of the kitchen.
The action was so domestic, so simple a thing that Danny was a little shocked by it. Vlad had stopped in the doorway, looking over his shoulder he said softly, "Is that alright?" it had been so quiet, such a soft tone but Danny could hear the man's worry underneath and though it had caught Danny off guard he managed a small smile and said, "Yes, now go to work, or you will be late." and Vlad nodded as he left.
Then Danny was alone and the quiet started to sink in. He stood in the kitchen by himself, unsure of what to do. He knew he could leave the house, come back later when Vlad was home but something stopped him.
Well, you wanted to get to know the man better. Spend a day in his shoes. In this massive house...by yourself… Vlad's done it for as long as you've known him. It can't be that bad.
Danny was wrong.
He spent the first hour walking from every room on the bottom floor to every room on the top floor. Poking his head in through every door, looking at every item. Well, not every item. But he made sure to scan every room thoroughly. Eventually, the silence of the large castle-like home started to get to him so he pulled out his phone and played some music as he explored. The man had everything a person could want, anything a person could need. But even with the music playing loudly from his pocket, the hollowness of it all, the sheer emptiness was unnerving.
After awhile Danny started to feel a little creeped out, the music was playing but he could still hear the emptiness around him. He knew he was alone, but somehow even though the mansion was empty, it felt so oppressive, so….cold.
Doesn't he have servants? I haven't seen one since I started coming over nearly three months ago. He really is in this house all alone. Well, except for the Dairy King but I doubt he has the most riveting conversations to share. Vlad's lived like this for years, nearly all his life...I wonder what his life was like before all this….before the accident that changed him. Did he have a family? I wonder if I could find an album or some kind of information that would-
Danny nearly jumped out of his skin when his phone went off, standing in a near-empty hallway on the far backside of the second floor he felt spooked and isolated. He glanced at the screen and realized it was Sam.
He breathed a sigh of relief and answered quickly.
"Hey, Sam," Danny said.
"Hey, Danny. I just wanted to call and see how things were going. I didn't have anything going on today and Luke had to work so I just wanted to see….ya know, how things were going with...stuff."
Danny smirked, "You can say Vlad, Sam. You don't have to tiptoe around it, I know how utterly weird and kind of creepy it is."
"Kind of? It's beyond kind of….I mean, no I didn't mean-" hearing Sam trip over her words and back-peddle was so strange Danny almost thought it couldn't possibly be his outspoken and often abrasive friend he was talking to.
"Sam! Relax. It's not like you to be so anxious about saying the wrong thing. I know what this looks like, and I know both you and Tucker are really uncomfortable with it. For now, will you please just say what you want to say when you mean to say it? It would mean a lot to me if you would maintain the blunt, honest and forthright personality I am used to and not pussyfoot around the issues. Honestly….I could use your bluntness right about now. It might help me think more clearly about the issues at hand."
There was a long pause before Sam said, "You sure, I mean, you're right, I'm not the type to pussyfoot, but...the things I want to say…"
"Trust me, a little bit of Sam Manson tough love could be really helpful right now." Danny offered.
Sam sighed and said really quickly, as if she was trying to restrain herself but couldn't, "I think this entire thing is insane, I think you're crazy for even humoring it. I think he brainwashed you, or hypnotized you or replaced you with a clone or made a wish deal with Desiree. I want to come see you, talk to you face to face, run tests, take blood samples. I want to shoot Vlad now and ask questions later because this whole thing is so unbelievable that I don't trust it, I don't trust your judgment of the situation, which in and of itself is also insane because, for the most part, your judgment is usually sound. I don't trust him and I definitely don't trust him with your heart or for having the best intentions towards you and I don't trust the entire situation! It's just….it's wrong….on so many levels. And no, I don't mean the fact he is a guy and you are a guy, I mean he is your enemy, WAS your enemy and he's a lot older and he used to be in love with your mom and wanted to kill your dad and tried to kill you so many times, manipulated you….he…. hurt you….over and over…...and I was always the one who had to patch you up after he took his anger out on you. It's like you're willingly running into an abusive relationship….and you just don't care….about anything….even yourself."
Danny had walked from the hall he was in to the top of the staircase and sat down, allowing his friend to say everything that was on her mind and listening carefully to everything she said, truly hearing all her concerns, her discomfort and her rejection of the whole thing. It didn't offend him, it didn't upset him or piss him off, all it did was confirm his own fears, the things he himself couldn't seem to put a finger on.
Sam Manson had always been able to do that, she could always make him see beyond the end of his nose, even when he didn't want to. Her view was something he treasured because of her view….well….Sam's view on matters such as these…. was invaluable.
Danny sighed and leaned against the stair rail, "You're right. The whole thing is insane. But I'd really like to talk to you about it. Do you have time for an old friend?"
The relief in her voice was evident as she said, "No, but I have time for my best friend. Talk to me, Danny. I want to know what's going on. Tell me everything, and since Tucker isn't here….don't hold anything back….anything."
Danny shook his head and smiled, "Hold on to your seat, it's a long story."
Danny told her the whole story again, but this time, he left absolutely nothing out. He didn't give a play by play but he did share far more than he had when Tucker had been on the line. He told her about the sex, the kissing, the conversations. He told her about laughing until his sides ached, their now intimate knowledge of each other, how absolutely incredible and potent Vlad's feelings of love were. It was a relief beyond compare, a total free fall into the honest truths that he had wanted to share for so long. He had just finished telling Sam about his conversation with Vlad from the night before and that's when Danny finally started to speak the truths he had been denying himself.
"It's been just over five months Sam, and I've had sex with him in both my ghost and my human form. I've given him everything of me and he's given me everything of himself. I know him, I've felt the very depths of his feelings for me. I know for a fact he isn't evil anymore, I know I am safe because I feel safe and I have felt how much he truly cares for me and my happiness. But...for some reason….I'm still reluctant to commit. I'm scared of something...and I don't know if it's something inside of me….or something inside of him. So...now we are dating...but...only because we can use the Maximus and keep our cores dormant. I still feel drawn to him, I want to be with him. I've never felt so….so…"
"Complete?" Sam said softly and Danny thought about that word, thought about what it meant and he sighed into the phone, "Yeah. It's corny, really mushy-gushy romantic bull shit, but...I do. I feel complete."
"So why are you still scared to commit. That's the question?"
"Yeah, the one I've been asking myself since I found out about what was really going on with our cores. This perfect thing is laid out before me on a silver plater, everything I could hope for. Love, support, a half-ghost partner who can understand all of me….so why am I refusing to just accept it and have some kind of wonderful happy ending?"
Sam made a noise that closely resembled a raspberry and chuckled, "Because, knucklehead. I'm really glad to finally get the full story, in all it's sordid, forbidden love, dirty details but the fact remains...it's Vlad. You trust him on the surface, this new Vlad that he had presented to you….and the intimate stuff, well it came hard and fast. It's a lot to handle. But what you won't admit to yourself is...well...as much as you do trust him... You remember what he was like before...and though it may hurt your pride...the old Vlad….you're still terrified of him."
"What? Terrified? I was never terrified of Vlad." Danny rebuked with annoyance.
"Oh yes, you were. You may not have shown it when you fought him, you may not have admitted it even to yourself, but I remember you waking up sweating and totally out of it. I remember you dreading every time you knew you'd have to fight him. I remember the nightmares, the way you'd shake but try to hide it after you had to take him down or stop one of his stupid evil plans. You are the hero Danny but that doesn't mean you weren't afraid of the villain. On top of that, if you fuse your core with his...it could be forever. If he goes back to how he was….you'd be stuck with him and you'd be stuck with all his anger."
Danny felt his stomach grow cold at the thought, utterly shocked by the revelation Sam had just brought to him. He didn't say anything, too stunned to speak.
Sam took his silence as a means to continue, "Look, before I ever get on board with any of this I want to see you, and...regrettably, I want to meet this new and improved Vlad. I also think that at some point down the road you need to talk to Jazz and tell her everything. She will be able to help you work through this better than I can."
"God, not Jazz."
"Yes, Jazz. Ya know, your sister the Brain Surgeon with the minor in extensive therapy? She can help you wrestle all these complicated emotions you are feeling. I'm not saying right now but definitely the sooner the better. Jazz can help, and you and I both know she won't judge."
"Yeah, yeah I know. It's just...I didn't want to mention anything to my family until...well...I guess I hadn't even really thought about my family yet. It hasn't gotten that far."
"Did you ask Vlad about the whole long life thing?"
"Oh, no, I guess I forgot, a lot was going on last night."
"Don't you mean there was a lot of getting off last night?" Sam said teasingly and Danny blushed horribly red but laughed lightly, "Ya know, I think I liked it better when you were tiptoeing."
"Too late for that. Can't take it back. You now get one hundred and ten percent of the full Sam Manson experience."
Danny chuckled, "Wouldn't have it any other way."
"Just take care, alright? Keep in touch and don't forget you are there for school. Vlad doesn't have to become your number one priority just because you're sleeping with him. He's important to you, I get that now, but just….take it a day at a time, alright hotshot?"
"Yeah. No worries, I won't forget what my priorities are. And Sam….thanks….for….well, everything. Thanks for being you and just….thanks."
"No worries Danny. You got me, and Tucker, no matter what."
"Bye," Danny said and when the phone call ended Danny leaned back against the baluster and closed his eyes, thinking about what had just been said.
So, somewhere, deep down, I am still scared of him. Scared he will turn on me, hurt me, if I am connected to him permanently….there wouldn't be a way for me to ever get away from him if he were to go back to his old ways. It's the most simple trap, but it doesn't feel like one….but I can't ignore our history. I have to make sure….I have to be one hundred percent on this….I have to make sure Vlad isn't a bad guy anymore.
Suddenly an idea came to him and he stood and headed for the car Vlad had continued to let Danny borrow. He left the mansion and went back to his dorm.
When Danny arrived he was happy to see his roommate was gone. He went to his tiny closet and dug through all his stuff until he found the time medallion Clockwork had given him. He held it up, gave the cool metal a flick of the wrist and when it stopped spinning an image of Clockwork appeared on the surface.
"Daniel, so good to see you again." Clockwork said and Danny smiled, "Hey. Look, I know your busy and time doesn't revolve around me but I just have one question and hopefully, I won't have to bug you again for a long time."
"Very well, ask." Clockwork said.
"I just want to know, is there a way to...has any ghost ever...if Vlad and I were to join our cores would there be a way to undo it? Ya know, in case things didn't work out?"
"Why do you want to know?" Clockwork asked as he raised a brow.
"Oh, just cause, I was curious-"
"Daniel-" Clockwork admonished and Danny stared at him a moment before he heaved a huge sigh and said with a pinched tone, "Because I really like him but I am really scared of fusing my core with his because he might go back to being evil or this could all be a trick and if it is or he goes all crazy messed up Fruitloop on me...he's... he's… he's scary alright? He's hurt me a lot, he can do a lot of damage. He could kill me….I mean, I'd put up a fight but when it comes down to it...he told me he had been holding back. I finally thought I was getting good enough to stand toe to toe with him and he admitted to holding back. Then he nearly snapped my neck….and...I'll just say it...my ego be damned, I am terrified of the man he used to be. And I don't think I could survive him if he went all wicked crazy again. Our cores would be fused, and I don't even know what that means in the grand scheme of ghostly co-existence! I need to know there is a way out if things go bad."
"There is always a way out of a bad situation for those willing to fight for it." Clockwork said cryptically.
"What the hell does that mean?"
"It means, just as humans can divorce and separate, so too, can ghosts. But you must understand something. The divorce of humans is widely superficial, all paperwork and legality. For ghosts to separate after joining their cores….it can be done….but not without severe pain...both physical and emotional. When you join cores, you're merging your very essence. Untangling it and pulling apart, well, it can be very tricky."
"But it can be done," Danny said, silently urging the ghost to confirm his thoughts.
"Yes. It can be done. But Daniel, you have nothing to fear of Vlad. He is not the demon you remember, he has changed."
Danny stared at the time spirit and was about to ask him to elaborate when suddenly he heard the dorm room door start to open, "Gotta go! Thanks, Clockwork." he whispered hurriedly before he stuffed the medallion in his pocket and stood up to turn and see his roommate enter, "Hey, Remy, uh, sup?"
"Whoa, dude, I thought you were dead, where you been? Shacking up with your girl?" the young man asked.
"Uh, yeah, actually, exactly. In fact, I am going back... now…. to shack up, uh, with my girlfriend! Talk to you later!" And Danny zipped out the door before his roommate could ask any more questions.
The rest of the day found Danny driving the country roads, music playing and his mind wondering over the possibilities, over his feelings and over what Clockwork had said.
He is not the demon you remember, he has changed. Did Clockwork really know that for sure? Had he looked into the future? Or was he aware of something Danny wasn't?
I can't keep bothering Clockwork, every time I have some unsolvable problem I always turn to him. I need to focus and figure this out on my own. I am an adult, I can do this. It's not Clockwork's job to hold my hand, especially in regards to my love life. No, I can do this on my own. I will just take his last comment as a good omen.
The sky had been a thick gray all day and near three o'clock it started to snow. He headed back to Vlad's but once he got there instead of going inside he decided to wander the grounds. He zipped up his coat and pulled his scarf tighter around his neck, yanking his cap down further over his head as he walked.
The snow came down in slow thick flakes, the silence of the snowy afternoon his only companion. He viewed the grounds, stopping at dead but perfectly edged gardens, looked at the trees, noticed a rather large hedge maze, a tennis court, covered pool, basketball court and a really nice patio area with a hot tub and fully built outdoor kitchen.
I used to think he had all this stuff just because he could, but after spending a few hours in that house alone...I'd want a bunch of stuff to keep me busy too. Why have a house like that if you don't have someone to share it with? Why have any of this stuff? Were you so fixated on trying to impress and win over my mother that you never even tried to date or start a family with someone else? How could anyone fixate on someone else like that, how could he have gone so utterly insane...how is he so sane now…..how could he survive in such isolation with any form of sanity intact?
Danny had walked the massive grounds, knowing that in spring this place would be a thing of beauty. His mind continued to hash out his thoughts and feelings on the matter at hand as his nose grew colder and his toes started to become numb. Still, he didn't want to go inside. The oppressive silence, the emptiness, all of it just made his insides churn with dismay. He was near what he assumed was the furthest end of the property when his core gave a little hum.
Vlad's back. Danny thought though he didn't turn to go great him. The Maximus's effects had worn off so no doubt Vlad would be able to find him. Danny had thought about reaching out earlier out of habit but had pulled back at the last second. He didn't want to start the cycle all over again.
He continued to stand in the snow, admiring the now thoroughly covered landscape and the natural silence that was much more comfortable than the staleness of inside.
"Daniel? What are you doing out here?" came that all too familiar voice and he felt his core grow with more energy. He tried to school his emotions, keep his core under control as Vlad grew closer and the energy started to vibrate inside of him.
"Daniel, what on Earth-" Vlad started but Danny turned to him and interrupted, "Stop. Not too close. My core's being a little hyperactive." he watched the man come to a stop and waited. Vlad said nothing and so Danny sighed, turning to look back out over the grounds.
Vlad was wearing a long black coat and had a deep red scarf around his neck. In the fading light of the day, surrounded by falling snow and the grays and whites of winter Vlad looked perfect, like a guy out of one of those feel-good Christmas movies that Danny hated but his sister loved.
Danny glanced back around, his eyes studied Vlad's face, an older but handsome one. White hair, blue eyes, and flawless skin, yet Danny could see his age, hidden and tired somewhere behind his worried expression.
He is a lot older. It doesn't really bother me, but… so many years more than me, having lived through so much, his experience and wisdom, it's daunting to think about. I'll be nineteen in October. I'm just a child compared to him. It's...unnerving. At least I know he doesn't see me that way, one of the pluses about our cores is that I can hear and see his thoughts and memories. Even when we first became enemies, even though he called me a child, treated me like one, he saw me more as a threat than some weak little kid. He never admitted it, but after that first year...he saw me as nothing but an adversary, all thoughts of my age...they just stopped. He was so cold...so….thoughtless of the truth…..so….merciless… to a child.
Danny's eyes fell from the man's face to his shoes, buried in the snow and soaking wet, "How long have you been out here Daniel?" Vlad asked.
Braving another glance at him Danny said softly, "Since around three-thirty."
"Dear boy, it's half-past five now, you mean to tell me you've been standing out in this blizzard for two hours? You must be freezing." Vlad said.
"Just my nose and toes, cold-core, remember?" he said with a small smirk, "That is true, but still no excuse. Come, let's go inside." and Vlad moved closer, coming to stand next to him and Danny swore he could almost hear his core begging to connect with the man in front of him.
"I don't know why, the Maximus was set to dull our cores for seven hours, but my core didn't bother me this morning. It's only seeming to act up now."
Vlad placed a delicate hand on Danny's shoulders, "More than likely because this morning you weren't thinking about it and our cores came back to their full power while we were still together. The feeling of it must have faded over the day. When I came back they sensed each other and started to proactively seek the other out. I felt it too, as soon as I pulled in the drive."
"Why can't anything ever just be simple." Danny mused as his eyes turned from Vlad to get one final look out over the grounds, the sprawling white hills beyond and out into the gray mist of falling snow and fog.
"Life is never easy. You must rise above the obstacles, Daniel. They are placed there so that you may learn from them and grow stronger." Vlad offered gently. He moved to stand behind Danny, wrapping arms around as he leaned down a little and pressed his lips to Danny's ear, "Only when we struggle can we understand what wonderful things life has in store for us, only when we face the bad can we learn to see how much good there is. It's not a curse to have to fight, it's actually a gift."
Danny finally gave in a little, leaning into the man's warm embrace and listening to his soft voice and wise words, "Is that sort of thinking how you survived so long on your own?"
Vlad was silent for a long while before he kissed the shell of Danny's ear gently and said, "No. It's a new philosophy I've come to understand in just the last few years. Before that….there was only hate and anger pushing me. A wicked resentment that was unfair to hold onto. I was...broken. But, I've worked hard to fix myself. I hope you see that Daniel, I did it for me, but also for you. Even if this had never happened between us, I wanted to become the man I knew you wished I was. And, I did it. Positivity in the wake of anguish, it can be a very powerful thing."
"Love is too," Danny said softly, holding out a hand and watching as the thick flakes landed on his skin and started to melt. After a moment he carefully drew energy from his core and made in the palm of his hand a beautiful ice flake, the thing spinning and shinning though there was no sun.
"And beauty," Vlad said. The man held out his hand next to Danny's, the black leather of his glove a stark contrast against all the white. A soft spark occurred and in his own palm sat a small ball of snapping electricity, the colors ranging from blue to red, pink and green, yellow and purple as it slowly popped and fizzled against the snowflakes.
"I love you, Daniel. That will never change, even if you can't stay, know my love will never fade." Vlad cooed gently.
Danny closed his eyes, let those words resonate in his mind as he allowed his heart to hear what the man was saying and allowed himself to accept it. He knew what he wanted to say, the words already on his tongue and in his mind as he felt his emotions swell a little. How he wished in this moment that their cores were still under the spell of the Maximus, that way, when he said what he said next, he could have been sure he meant it.
He turned in Vlad's arms, his crystal creation falling from his hand as he said so softly, "I love you too." and as their lips met, he knew he'd regret saying it, that he shouldn't have, but in that moment out in the snowy landscape, with Vlad so close and his core humming with such sweet delight, he swore he felt it and the moment had felt….right….the words felt….true….honest and sincere.
Vlad kissed him gently, so tenderly as the depths of true winter took hold around them and their cores swelled with energy and heat.
"Do you mean it, Daniel?" Vlad whispered as he pulled away, pressing his lips to Danny's forehead and closing his eyes, "Say you mean it, even if you don't, I just want to hear you say you do." Vlad begged so gently, arms still holding Danny tight and Danny said softly, "I mean it, Vlad. I don't understand it, but I mean it."
"Come, let's go get warmed up and start dinner." Vlad purred out as he kept an arm wrapped around Danny and they began a leisurely walk back inside.
A/N: Phew, that was a long one to write. R&R and I hope you enjoyed it! I need you to know I am changing a small section of the next chapter. Should be posted soon this story only has a bit left to post but I want to adjust something in the next one.