A/N: 2nd to the last chapter. This is a pretty long chapter. I hope you enjoy.
Entry X
The conversation Vlad and I had after the incident with Skulker was interesting, to say the least. To my great distress Chief had also been left running overnight and so Vlad's garage was filled with exhaust and Chief was nearly out of gas the next morning. Thankfully the engine didn't overheat and Vlad seemed rather proud of that fact.
After airing out the garage we spent the morning preparing to start the process of getting Chief ready for her fresh coats of paint. While he did this we discussed Skulker. It almost felt like a negotiation, our conversation mostly focusing on how Vlad and Skulker met and how over so many years had become some semblance of friends. I didn't hesitate to point out that while I did want Vlad to be kind to Sam and Tucker they also weren't a huge safety threat like Skulker was.
To which Vlad rebuked that Sam and Tucker had proven themselves just as dangerous in regards to helping me fight other ghosts. I just smirked at the idea Vlad would consider the pair dangerous and Vlad tried to hide his blush and distaste for admitting such a thing.
I eventually relented and promised to try and not kick the snot out of the Ghost Zone's greatest hunter the next time I saw him. Vlad thanked me and we continued on with our morning. My head ached but overall I felt alright. I was miffed that Vlad had to shave some of my hair in order to dress my wound but was mostly just thankful it hadn't been worse.
Spring Break would start in a week and honestly, I still wanted to go through with the plan I had discussed with Sam and Tucker. Little did I know Vlad was one step ahead of me and the upcoming week would be the start of a rather long and taxing adventure that I was not ready for. Our relationship would be tested and I'd suffer a great loss, but as always, Vlad would be there right by my side. We'd fight together and we would nearly die together, which at the time and still to this day, didn't bother me one ounce.
Chapter Ten
Time Bandits
Danny wiped at the sweat on his brow and looked at the spray booth which Vlad and he had expanded to better fit Chief as a whole. They had placed plastic and taped her up to such a degree that there wouldn't be any chance of spray landing where it shouldn't. At around noon, the pair had gone inside to have a light lunch of sandwiches and chips at which time Vlad brought up the idea of dinner.
"You have class this afternoon, correct?" Vlad asked as he took a bite of his sandwich.
Danny nodded as he took a chip and placed it in his mouth, "Yup, I have classes this afternoon and one in the evening. I'll be done around six. No work."
"Then, I was wondering Daniel, if you might consider joining me for dinner," Vlad said and Danny swore the man sounded nervous, his dark blue eyes focusing on his plate and not even looking at the younger man before him.
Danny's baby blues landed on Vlad and he chewed slowly as he tried to figure out why the man looked so uncertain, "Uhm, sure...here...or-"
"It would be at one of my favorite restaurants in downtown Madison, L'etoile...it's french for The Star. It's rather good, upscale but not...it's not...too upscale. Expensive but relaxed. I had hoped to discuss a few things with you, things we haven't really discussed and I think you'd like the pasta-" and Vlad was rubbing at the back of his head nervously, his eyes still not meeting Danny's and the young man smirked.
"So... you wanna go on a date? To discuss….things?"
Vlad seemed to freeze, eyes still on his plate as his cheeks erupted in red, and Danny couldn't help but look at the blush on Vlad's cheeks and smile.
"I...well...y-yes." Vlad said and Danny let out a soft chuckle, "Sure. But you're going to have to pick me up something to wear. I don't have anything but that old suit from your college reunion party and it really doesn't fit anymore."
Vlad looked incredibly relieved and smiled gently at him, "I can do that while you are at school." and the man reached out and placed his hand over Danny's, the young man pointing at him with a free hand and said in a playful yet adamant tone, "Nothing too fancy. Just a nice dress shirt, some black dress pants. I have shoes, but I don't want a jacket. Are ties required?"
"Not at all. As I said, it's fancy but it's relaxed, suits aren't required as long as you look nice. You can wear jeans if you like, just no rips please."
"It's fine, I need to get used to it anyway, for when you take me to a black-tie type joint. So, black slacks, a nice button-down, and a belt. I can get some money out and pay you back after-"
"My treat. Consider it an early birthday present." Vlad urged.
"About seven months too early for that excuse," Danny said with a smirk as he stood and took their plates to the sink. He was rinsing the crumbles from them when he felt Vlad come up behind him and places warm hands on his shoulders, "Please. I just want to do something nice for you. Let me give you this gift, please?"
Danny sighed and shook his head as his eyes rolled and he chuckled, "Fine, fruitloop. But next time I choose the restaurant and I pay."
"Deal," Vlad said kissing the top of Danny's head before wrapping arms around him and letting out a soothed sigh.
"You're ridiculous." Danny mused and Vlad chuckled, "Yes, I suppose I am."
"Love you." Danny near whispered and Vlad hugged him slightly tighter, "Love you, Daniel."
Danny spent the rest of the day in an emotional tailspin. He was mostly excited but also a little nervous. He went to his afternoon classes and somehow managed to compartmentalize his feelings for the upcoming date and focus on his classes. The hour between his earlier classes and his final evening class found him sipping a caramel latte at his favorite cafe and wondering what things Vlad might want to discuss with him.
I had hoped to discuss a few things with you, things we haven't really discussed-
Danny had played it off as if those words didn't affect him but honestly long after Vlad had said it his mind had been chewing on it and turned it over and over trying to figure out what the man had meant. Did he want to discuss their relationship? Obviously he did but what aspect of it? Their bonding? Their life span? Danny wasn't sure why Vlad would want to take him to dinner in order to discuss such sensitive things but perhaps Danny was just overthinking.
His phone went off about thirty minutes before class and Danny answered with a small sigh, "Hey, Sam. What's up?"
"Not much, just wanted to check-in. See how you are holding up. And see if you put your plan into action." And Danny could hear the wicked smile in her voice.
Danny smirked back as he headed for the building with his final class of the day and took a sip from his coffee, "Not yet. But catch this, Vlad asked me out on a date. Fancy restaurant and everything. Says he wants to discuss stuff. I think I might feel him out tonight about what he has planned over Spring Break. If he isn't going to be out of town then I will put my plans into action."
"Whoa. A date, huh...that's interesting. We talking fancy as in twelve utensils and candles with a view of the city?"
"Not sure, he said it was fancy but relaxed, even said I could wear nice jeans instead of slacks but it sounded like a really nice place so we'll see."
"What do you think he wants to discuss?"
"No clue. I'm a little nervous but he's going to pick me up after class. I'll keep you posted. Have you heard anything from Tucker recently?"
Sam made a raspberry sound over the phone and then laughed, "Oh man, dudes on cloud nine. He and Angela...uh….well they-"
"Really!?" Danny asked in surprise and Sam laughed even louder, "Dude, he called me like right after. I heard Angela yelling at him in the background, he couldn't keep it to himself. But I guess it was really good."
"Well, it was his first time, I mean he doesn't really have a basis for comparison," Danny said but inside he felt happiness swell for his friend.
Sam seemed to agree but her voice sounded a little more sober as she said softly, "He's pretty serious about her. I think he thinks she is the one."
"Whoa, really?" Danny asked in surprise, stopping on the top steps just outside the main entrance to the building.
"I know it seems a bit sudden, but they've been together just a little longer than you and Vlad, so I mean...considering how quickly you and Vlad...no I didn't mean-"
"No, it's okay, I get what you are saying. I really hope it works out for him. Honestly, I'm surprised he called you first. Not to say he shouldn't have-" Danny back-peddled quickly.
"Oh, trust me, I'm just as surprised as you that he told me instead of you. But I think it's just because he knows you have a lot on your plate. I wouldn't take it personally, he's just...I think he's just excited and didn't want to bother you. Considering everything you've been dealing with."
Danny looked down at his feet, feelings of guilt and regret washing through him, "I guess I have been a little self-centered. I should text him and check-in. I haven't really been pulling my weight in the friend category."
"Hey...you know we understand, right? I mean, it isn't like we don't get it. It's been a pretty weird first year for you. All things considered."
"Yeah. I guess it has. Hey, um, I got to get to class. We should try to cam soon, the three of us. I'll let you know how things go tonight. I also got a story to tell you."
"Oh? Something fun happen?" Sam asked.
"Oh, ya know, just Skulker giving me a hairline skull fracture and Vlad nearly killing him."
"What!?"
"Like I said, a story for another time. Give Tuck a text and see when he is free."
"Hell yes I will, I wanna know what happened."
"Alright sounds good, talk to you later."
"Alright, bye."
Danny hung up and put his phone away, taking another drink from his coffee as he thought about the fact Tucker had finally lost his virginity and had so quickly fallen head-over-heels for Angela. He only hoped his friend wasn't in over his head and that the relationship worked out. Tucker had never really had a girlfriend, so he had never really gone through a break-up. Danny had no clue how Tucker would handle it.
Will it wasn't unheard of for first-time relationships to last forever, it was rarer in today's world than it used to be. He wished the best for his friend and hoped that Tucker and Angela were that ten percent but Danny also knew that if they weren't, he wanted to be there for his friend. He'd dropped the ball lately, so focused on his own life, school, and of course his relationship with Vlad that he hadn't been giving his friends enough support or attention. He needed to fix that.
He entered his classroom and sat down, waiting for class to start and thinking of his friend and his upcoming date. He noticed some of his classmates were glancing at him and Danny realized it was because his head was still wrapped.
The girl who usually sat next to him, her name being Sarah, leaned in and asked softly, "Whoa, hey Danny, what happened to your head?"
Danny smiled at her and whispered back, "A little accident while I was working on my jeep. No worries, nothing serious, just a nasty cut. I had to get a couple of small stitches. I could remove the wrappings but then you'd have to see it, figured this would be better than a hat. I look awful in hats."
And Sarah laughed lightly and focused back on the teacher, the girl giving him a wink, and Danny smirked and focused on the board. Putting all his thoughts to the back of his mind as he focused on this week's Mechanical Science notes
After class ended Danny crossed the quad to where Vlad said he would be waiting and as promised Danny noticed the fancy car of his mate sitting amongst all the cheaper student and professor owned cars. He couldn't help rolling his eyes as he noticed it was one of the few "modern" cars Vlad owned.
A rather fancy dark red Camero and Danny was about to open the door when he was stopped by the sound of someone calling his name. He turned to see his dorm mate Remy running over, "Dude, where the hell you been. I mean, it's not really my business but...I mean...you haven't been back to the dorm in days. I thought you got into trouble or something. What happened to your head! Are you okay?"
Danny looked at the young man sheepishly, "Oh, yeah. I'm fine, just a little accident while working on Chief. Sorry, dude. I uh, I was spending some time with an old friend of the family and I guess I didn't think to let you know."
Remy held up his hands and said quickly, "Ah, no, I mean like I said, it's none of my business, I'm not your mama, just was a little worried...I...wait...is this your car?" and Remy's eyes landed on the Camero and Danny rubbed at the back of his head nervously, "Oh, no. It belongs to that family friend I mentioned, he invited me out to dinner. I'll probably crash as his place tonight, so...I'll do better about letting you know and stuff-"
"Daniel? Is everything alright?" And Danny looked over to see Vlad had gotten out of the car and was staring between Danny and Remy suspiciously.
"Whoa, wait a minute...you're….you're Vlad Masters….that billionaire dude, you own like half the buildings in Madison….wait...Vlad Masters is a family friend?" Remy asked looking to Danny in shock and the young man blushed profusely, "Oh, uh...yeah, he actually is friends with my parents, they went to college together….actually this college, UW...they were dorm mates and stuff...He's been helping me get acclimated to college and helping me study...he's kind of a genius and my course load is pretty hard so-"
"So, this entire time you've just been chilling at his mansion and living it up, dude, no wonder I haven't seen you," and Remy laughed, playfully punching Danny in the shoulder, "If I had a billionaire friend I wouldn't stay in the dorms either. Shit. Sorry to keep you, have fun. Let me know if you'll be coming back to the dorms, I kind of want to have my girlfriend over, wouldn't want you walking in-"
"Got it, yeah, I will let you know. No worries."
"Ten-four, buddy. Have a good night. Chill meeting you, Mr. Masters." Remy said giving a salute to Vlad and the man smirked, "You as well, young man."
Danny watched Remy walk away for a moment before he opened the car door and got in, "So, that is your roommate?" Vlad asked.
"Yeah. His name's Remy. He's pretty cool." and Danny sighed as he let his head fall back with a thump onto the headrest.
"Daniel, are you okay?" Vlad asked, eyeing the young man carefully.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, fine just...it's the first time I've lied about our relationship I guess, didn't realize how easy it would be." Danny mused softly, his eyes looking out the front window of the car as all the college students passed by.
Vlad continued to glance at him before he said softly, "You know, it wasn't really a lie. I am a friend of your parents. And I have been helping you study...it wasn't completely dishonest."
"I know." Danny said softly, seeming to think on that a moment before he turned to look at Vlad and asked softly, "Did you get my fancy clothes?"
Vlad seemed to perk up a little and reached into the back seat, "Yes. Here, hopefully, it all fits and I kept it casual."
"Alright, I'll jump in the back and change. The window is tinted, should be fine."
"Very well, the restaurant isn't far so best do it quickly." Danny nodded and once again got out of the car and jumped into the back seat. He pulled his dress shoes he had brought out of his backpack and began the arduous process of changing in a moving car.
Vlad was on par with his clothing size and while a long time ago that would have creeped Danny out now it just made him smile and gave him a warm feeling in his chest.
Yeah, I've lost my mind. It's amazing how the little things that used to bother you about a person can become endearing when you fall in love with them.
By the time they reached the restaurant, Danny was ready and after Vlad parked the car Danny got out and tucked in his shirt, rolled the sleeves up to his elbow, and adjusted his pants to sit right.
Vlad had gotten him a black button-down, the fabric itself feeling much too expensive but Danny didn't ask. The belt was also black as were the slacks and overall, the appearance was casual but nice. He was comfortable and very happy he could forgo the tie and suit jacket that he often despised so much.
Vlad rounded the car, Danny seeing the man's outfit much better now that he was out of the car. He also had black slacks and a button-down, though his shirt was white, the sleeves also rolled up and for once he wasn't wearing his bolo tie or black jacket and he left the top two buttons undone.
It was about a casual as Danny had ever seen him. The night was still chili despite they were already in Marsh and Danny shivered as he realized his normal jacket would not cut it for even the most relaxed fancy restaurant.
"You look nice. I like the casual look on you." Danny said as he came to stand next to Vlad.
"Are you cold?" Vlad asked.
"Not really, my cold-core helps fight off the chill, just the breeze on my neck," Danny said and Vlad thought a moment before he pulled out his keys and popped the trunk. He dug around a moment before he hesitated, "I got this for you as well but wasn't sure if you'd want to wear it, I suppose it was fate." and Vlad pulled out a dark blue scarf from a shopping bag.
"It's cashmere, high quality, I actually got you a few accessories, a nice jacket, scarf, gloves...a vest…"
Danny moved closer to the trunk and eyed the items and when his eyes spied the vest something inside him told him to grab it. He took it out and put it on, buttoning the front and looking down at himself.
"Wow, I guess…..I like vests….who knew." Danny murmured as he realized he really liked how it fit and rested on his body, making his stomach and waist look firm and solid but narrow. He took the scarf, so soft and light, wrapping it around his neck before letting the ends dangle around the front.
"What you think? Too much?" and Danny looked up to Vlad who was staring, "No, not at all." the man said quickly, taking in Danny's appearance with eyes that screamed of approval.
"Come on, Fruitloop. Let's go, I'm starving." Danny urged.
"Oh, right. Yes, let's go." and Vlad shut the trunk, locked the car, and placed his hand on Danny's lower back, guiding his young companion across the street and towards the entrance of the restaurant.
When they entered Vlad gave his name for the reservations and the pair were led to the far side of the restaurant, Danny taking in the layout, and realizing Vlad hadn't been lying. It was a fancy restaurant but it had a much more modern feel to it, the people around him at the many tables all having that casual air, with very few suits seen but plenty of people still dressed up. They were taken to an area near the bar, with massive floor to ceiling windows and a rather beautiful view of Capital Plaza and the Capitol building itself, the dome lighted up against the night sky.
"Wow, that's cool," Danny said, looking at the building across the way and admiring the architecture.
"Yes, it's one of the reasons this restaurant made my top five. Not to mention the atmosphere." and Danny felt himself relaxing, looking at the table and noticing there were not, in fact, twenty different utensils and he laughed a little.
"What?" Vlad asked.
"Oh, nothing. Just glad to see I can use my fork for both my salad and my dinner." and Vlad chuckled as he leaned back in his seat, something caught his eye and he hummed in approval, "Ah, here comes my favorite waitress."
"Mr. Masters! So good to see you again!" and Danny froze and he recognized the voice, glancing up to see none other than Sarah, from his Mechanical Science class.
"Holy cow, hey Danny. Long time no see." the girl teased, and Danny nodded, "Yeah. I didn't know you worked here...or had a job at all, actually." Danny said.
"Oh, yeah, well...I mean it isn't like we talk much in class. Just glad to see you're still doing okay."
"You two know each other?" Vlad asked and Sarah turned her attention back to Vlad, "Oh! Sorry, Mr. Masters. Danny and I are in the same class, Mechanical Science. We literally saw each other an hour ago. So yeah, soon as I get out of class I come here and work until close." She said to Danny and the young man nodded, feeling a little nervous at seeing a classmate while out on a date.
"Ah. I see. Well, Daniel is actually a family friend of mine. I went to college with his parents, we were friends for a very long time. Now that he is going to my Alma Mater we have been spending some time together."
"Oh, I see, well that's nice. It's always good to see family." Sarah said and Vlad nodded, "Yes. Now, would I be able to trouble you for the wine menu?" and Sarah gave an apologetic face, "Oh my gosh, sorry Mr. Masters, of course. I got a little off-topic. Here you go!" and she pulled the wine list from her servers apron and handed it to him.
"No worries, my dear girl. I've just been looking forward to a nice Chardonnay. Do you have anything new?"
Sarah promptly went through their most recent updates to the list and Vlad chose one, ordering a bottle. Sarah went to get it with a smile and Danny sagged in his seat, "Damn, it seems like everyone I know is running into us today."
"So it would seem. You never mention Sarah or Remy to me, are you close with either?" Vlad asked.
"Not really. Sarah and I were partners for a group project and well, I mean, you met Remy, he's just my roommate."
"Sarah though, she's rather pretty," Vlad said casually as he continued to gaze at the menu and Danny glanced up at him with confusion, "I guess? I've never really thought about it. She's not really….my type."
Vlad glanced up at him from over his menu and Danny's eyes grew wide, "Oh hell no, do not read anything into it. She is just a classmate, I am not interested and I swear to god if you throw a tantrum because I did a class project with her I will pout all night!" Danny whispered out hurriedly.
Vlad laughed and put down his menu, "I was just playing Daniel, I've no concerns over such things. Now, do be a good boy and figure out what you want to eat."
Danny stared at the man in surprise before he shook his head and scoffed, "Man, you're such a fruitloop."
Sarah came back with the bottle shortly after and poured some both for Vlad and Danny, the young man ignored when he said he wasn't twenty-one. Sarah only giving him a wink before tucking the bottle into the ice bucket next to the table. She took Vlad's order and as she turned to Danny he sighed, "Any chance you could order for me? I don't know french, you said the pasta was good and I assume you know my allergies?"
Vlad cleared his throat and give him a slight glare before ordering on Danny's behalf and Sarah went off to put in both their order for appetizers and their main entrees.
Taking a drink from his wine glass Vlad smirked at Danny and said softly, "You don't have to drink it. I am sure Sarah was simply trying to be nice. Considering you're underage, she probably thought she was doing you a favor. We can get you a soda if-"
"It's fine. It's not like I haven't tried wine before. Mom used to let me takes small sips of her on occasion when I was younger. I just...never been much into the idea of drinking. Considering I used to fight ghosts all the time, being drunk wasn't a top priority."
"Yes, that was a wise decision on your part. As was focusing more on your studies in your later years of high school. Tell me, how are your grades now? You told me you aced that test this morning, are the rest of your classes going well?"
Danny finally took a sip of the wine and felt his cheeks burn from the rich sweet flavor, deciding he really liked it and so took a slightly bigger drink.
"Yeah. So far so good, everything is going smoothly. I'm sitting in the A's for every class. Honestly, I don't think I would have made it this far without your help. So thanks for that. Having a tutor has made all the difference."
Vlad nodded, "I can imagine. I do think you would have been fine without me, you would have just had to apply yourself even harder, triple-checking your work. I've no doubt you would have still succeeded if I wasn't here."
"Well, that makes one of us. Still, I do appreciate the help." Danny said and he reached across the table and placed his hand on top of Vlad's, the man smiling softly at him before clearing his throat and pulling his hand away subtly.
"Oh, right, sorry," Danny said, a massive blush hitting his face as he looked away.
"It's alright. Please don't take it as-"
"Oh, don't worry, I know damn well I need to be more careful." Danny nodded as he glanced around and was glad to see no one had noticed, "So, what were the things you wanted to discuss?" Danny asked as he eyed Sarah from across the room and watched her beeline over with a tray full of their appetizers.
As the young woman laid out the plates of steaming goodies Vlad spoke casually, "Ah yes, well I was hoping to speak with you about your future. Your plans for after college, if you have any laid yet, and if you might be interested in helping me in the future with a new program I might be starting."
Sarah finished up and asked if they needed anything else, she was dismissed by Vlad politely, and as soon as she was gone Danny dug in, "Really?"
"That is one of a few items I wish to speak to you about. But we can start there."
"Alright, well honestly, as I am just a freshman, I have no plans as of yet. Aside from possibly working for Nasa if I can get my foot in the door. I was thinking of checking to see if they have any summer intern programs and thought about starting there, maybe my junior and senior year."
"Very good idea, but until then...well...I was thinking about what you said the other day, about not being good enough for Nasa, and while I do not agree with that, and think you are fully capable of doing anything you set your mind to, I would like to offer up an alternative."
Danny wiped his mouth with a napkin before grabbing a piece of bread and covering it in butter, "What's that?"
"I was thinking of expanding Vladco and Dalv Groups' space programs, and I think it could be a very good place for you to start. How'd you like to spend freshman and sophomore summer working to help me renovate and reinvest in our space programs and work on getting a new series of satellites up in orbit?"
Danny stared at the man in shock, butterknife froze mid slather of butter, eyes wide as he stared at the man and breathed out, "Are you messing with me?"
"No. Honestly, even before you and I...became friends...I had been considering gutting and renovating the space programs inside my company, wanting to reinvest and improve upon them. I think we could have a private sector of space study, as well as improve communications and-"
"Y-Yes…..YES!" Danny said a little louder, nearly standing as he leaned forward and licked his lips, "Yes, I will help, do it, all of it. We can start as soon as summer vacation hits, focus on satellite positions that would best service space exploration and communication, do you have a telescope, could we get a big one? I can help design it-"
Vlad chuckled at Danny's excitement and placed a hand on the young man's shoulder, gently pressing him back into his seat, "Calm yourself, Daniel. We can talk about all of the specifics over our next dinner, I hope we have many to come."
"Yeah, right, okay, the next dinner….tomorrow? Maybe tomorrow?" Danny asked and Vlad laughed a little harder, "Perhaps, for now, focus on this dinner. We still have more to discuss."
"R-Right, yeah, sorry...I guess I got a little excited-" and Danny noticed his hands were shaking. He cleared his throat and went back to buttering his bread, feeling rather embarrassed at his sudden outburst but more than a little excited about the prospect of spending the next two summers focusing on creating a new space program with Vlad.
"I can see that. I apologize for getting you so worked up. Will you be alright?"
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine, just...what else did you want to discuss?" and Danny took another small sip of his wine before he had a bite of his bread.
"Well, there are a few things. The first one is, well….do you have plans over spring break?" Vlad asked.
Danny looked up at him and swallowed as he felt his brain short a little, "Actually, I was going to ask you the same thing." Danny said.
"Oh?" Vlad inquired and a rather sneaky and pleased looked came over his face. Danny's eyes narrowed and he said with slight annoyance, "Vlad, during last month….while we weren't talking...you didn't spy on me did you?" and Danny's tone was that of a parent admonishing a young child and Vlad crossed his arms as he leaned back in his chair and gave a rather amused grin, "Now Daniel, I'd never do such a thing."
"Oh man, your sarcasm is so obvious!" Danny hissed as he leaned forward and glared daggers.
"Well then, I'd best be careful to keep my sarcasm in check. Tell me, what did you want to discuss with me about your upcoming spring break?" Vlad asked.
Danny continued to glare but gave a smirk as he took a few calamari from the bowl and dipped them in a rather delicious sauce before popping them into his mouth.
"Man, you're really going to be a handful aren't you." Danny said with a smirk and Vlad rolled his eyes, "No more than you are going to be. Now, did you wish to do something over spring break or-"
"Well, even though you won't admit it and I think you already know my plans I guess I will ask anyway. Are you going to be out of town over break, do you have any business meetings or anything?" Danny asked.
Vlad finally started to eat, munching on the calamari, bread, and fancy oysters which Danny had so far steered clear of.
"As of yet, I have no plans, business or otherwise. I figured you would want to try and get Chief finished, that way you could finally drive her over the summer." Vlad said and Danny nodded.
"Yeah, I suppose I do, but I did have an idea-"
"Oh? It wouldn't involve your little friends would it?" Vlad asked lightly.
Danny sighed and gave a light chuckle, "You did spy on me. I knew. Yes, okay fine. So much for the surprise. I want to invite Sam, Tucker, mom and dad, and Jas over for a few days. I wanted to surprise you and see the look of shock on your face but since you cheated and spied on me I suppose I'll just put it out there."
Vlad refused to admit to spying on Danny during his month away but Danny figured either he had or the man had picked up on his plan when he had opened himself to Vlad during their argument in his office.
Either way, the cat was out of the bag and so Vlad and Danny spent the next half hour making plans for having his family and friends come to visit during the break. Their food had come during the middle of this conversation and Sarah had quickly cleared away their near-empty appetizers to make room for their food. Small but delicious meals sat before them and as they finished their conversation about Spring Break Vlad finally brought up something that made Danny pause.
"Daniel...about your parents-" but he trailed off. Danny didn't need the man to finish though as he set down his fork and wiped at his mouth with the napkin.
"I don't know." Danny said in a rather sulky voice, "I've thought about it ever since this started, I mean, on and off anyway. We can't tell them right now, at least, I don't want to. I'd like to be a little bit older...might make them more comfortable. Honestly, though, I've no clue how my parents feel about homosexuality, or how they would feel about their son being one. Let alone being one with their old college friend. So...I really...I don't know."
Vlad digested this before glancing around and leaning in, speaking softly as he met Danny's eyes, "I can tell you this for sure. Your parents are not homophobic. They actually had...well...I suppose I should say we had a few gay friends in college. Of course, back in the 80's it still wasn't necessarily something people were open about, and so...well...we kept their secret. Do you remember Harriet Chin, from the reunion?"
"Yeah," Danny said.
"Lesbian." Vlad said, "Though nowadays, it's much safer, she's been married to her wife for about eight years now. I can assure you having a gay son wouldn't bother them."
"Well, that's good to know. I mean, at least I know they could accept that. But...what about you and me?" Danny asked.
"I don't know. I think Maddie would try and kill me and your father would be in denial for a while before he also eventually tried to kill me. But...well...I do have a proposal."
Danny took another drink from his wine glass, motioning for Vlad to pour him a little more, "What's your proposal?"
"Well, I suggest….we tell them the truth about our ghost halves." and Danny nearly dropped his glass, Vlad gripped his own hand around Danny's to keep him from dropping it and causing attention from being pulled towards them.
"I, uh, what? Why? When?" Danny asked in shock.
"Calm yourself, Daniel. I don't mean right now. But I do think it would be better for them to know that truth before they know about our...uh...mating. It may help them come to terms with our relationship down the road if they were to ever find out. As far as I am concerned we don't even need to tell them that we are together, but letting them know we are half ghost would explain why we would be spending so much time together in the future."
Danny thought about that and realized what Vlad was implying, "You mean to use the fact that we are both half-ghost as the excuse as to why we would be spending so much time together."
"Yes. And honestly, it's not a lie. We could forgo telling them about our core bonding and the fact that we became mates. That fact that we are the only two half ghosts in existence would be enough to make them understand our want to be together. Not to mention, both of our accidents were in some way or another caused by them." and Vlad said the last part under his breath and with annoyance but Danny really couldn't hold it against him.
"So maybe...in a few years, maybe after I graduate college? We could sit them down...and we could...tell them the truth. But...you do realize if you tell them you are Plasmius mom and dad would realize you're the Wisconsin ghost? I mean, you've fought them a number of times, and you were pretty nasty."
Vlad nodded as he cut at his small portion of steak, "I realize this. That way, in the next few years, I would try to repair some of the damage I have done. Try to remember how to be their friends again and actually do it. It's been so long since...well it's been a long time since I've had friends...I don't even know if I remember how to...well it doesn't matter. The point is, I intend to make up for all my mistakes and hopefully, by the time we reveal the truth to them, I will have rebuilt some semblance of trust."
"Only to have that trust shredded by the fact you've lied to them for so long." Danny countered.
Vlad seemed to deflate a little at that logic but nodded, "Yes, I suppose it would. But Daniel this is the best course of action I can think of. Once you graduate college, if Nasa doesn't work out you can work for me, continue to help with our own space program, and if you and I take the step to let your parents know the truth about our ghost halves…" Vlad paused a moment before sighing heavily and rubbing fingers at his brow, "the truth is, Daniel, they will know something is going on eventually when you stop aging, especially because I am not aging either. So, if you don't want to, you would really never have to tell them the truth."
Danny sighed, "So they'd die...never knowing that you and I… that we found love." Danny felt a twinge of sadness and regret at the thought and Vlad could see how much the idea hurt him. The question Vlad had was if that hurt would eventually out way his fear of rejection.
They continued to talk over and hash out some of the details of their relationship as well as Danny's future and how their relationship might need to be perceived for the foreseeable future.
Vlad very carefully tested out the waters of how hidden Danny wanted to keep their relationship and what things they could and could not do. Trips and vacations were okay, but they had to be careful of how they presented themselves in public as Vlad was a celebrity of sorts and he never knew when cameras or reporters might be lurking.
Danny wanted to continue working for Vlad but it was a no brainer that at work they would absolutely have to behave though that was so much easier than a normal day out together as Vlad very rarely came to the office save for meetings.
Danny did tell Vlad that Sam and Tucker knew what was going on, and while Vlad was not surprised Danny had cracked and told them, the man asked that Danny not share too many of their intimate moments or give too many details.
It was near the end of their date while Danny was finishing his dessert and sipping on his wine that Vlad brought up his last order of business, and it honestly took Danny by surprise.
"Daniel, there is one last thing I was hoping to discuss with you before we head home."
"Sure thing, V-man, sup?" And Vlad winced a little at both the nickname and how tipsy Danny was.
"I do hope you are still sober enough to have this discussion."
"Yeah, I'm good, little blurry-eyed but just barely touching the "I'm drunk" line. Still totally coherent. Sorry, sweetness." And that pet name slipped so easily off Danny's tongue Vlad couldn't help but smirk rather smugly.
"Alright. Well, you mentioned a few days ago that you knew the Spirit of Time, that he was sort of a mentor to you."
"Who? Do you mean Clockwork? Yeah, I've known him since I was like 14. He's pretty damn cool." And Danny gave the slightest of hiccups but remained upright with eyes open.
"Well, you see, I have a request...more like a favor...and was hoping you might be willing to show me how to get to his lair. I haven't ever been able to find it and I would like to-"
"Why? Why do you wanna see Clock-hiccup-Work?"
"Wells, honestly it's one of a personal nature. I do hope you understand and would not ask me to-"
"Hmm, nope," Danny said good-naturedly with a rather affectionate smile at Vlad, "You gotta tell me what the secret is or I can't take you."
Vlad gave Danny a rather surprised look before he sighed and said in a rather careful tone, "Several years ago I may have...acquired something that didn't belong to me and since then I've been in a bit of hot water from those I took said item from. I'd very much like to be able to return to them what I took so that any bad blood that may remain might be...neutralized."
Danny gave Vlad a rather unimpressed half-lidded stare as he placed his chin on an upturned hand and said lazily, "So you stole something from someone and Clockwork took it from you to keep it from being used for whatever nefarious plot you had going on at the time." And the young man said it so matter-of-factly that Vlad couldn't help feeling a little annoyed.
"For your information, I didn't have a nefarious purpose or plan or plot. The item I took was more for educational purposes. I didn't actually plan to do anything but study it." And Vlad felt himself get defensive as he crossed his arms over his chest and turned to the side, not wanting to look at his young companion.
"Uh-huh, sure. Well, I suppose I can take you to Clockwork...but only on two conditions."
And the young man sat up, holding up two fingers as he smiled softly.
Vlad hesitated before turning back and saying softly, "Very well, and they are?"
"One, you gotta tell me what the item was. And two Clockwork has to approve of me bringing you." Danny said resolutely, crossing his own arms and leaning back in his chair.
Vlad studied him a moment before saying with suspicion, "And how exactly are you going to ask him? It isn't like the Spirit of Time has a cellphone."
Danny took the last swig of his wine and said pleasantly, "Get another bottle of this to go and I will show you."
Vlad stared a moment before a chuckle escaped from him and the older man shook his head with amusement.
The pair had paid for their meal, Vlad leaving Sarah a very nice tip, and as they headed for the car Danny was humming softly in a happy tone.
"You seem rather cheerful, was the food to your liking?"
"The food was great and so was the company but that's not why I'm happy." Danny said as the pair came to stand behind Vlad's car."
"What pray tell has you in such good spirits then?" Vlad asked as he popped the trunk and tucked the unopened bottle of wine inside.
"I guess it's cause I have a chance to finally do something for you. Never thought I would, considering you're a billionaire. I mean, what does someone like me ever get for someone like you? It's nice to be able to help you for a change."
Vlad was taken aback by the admission but Danny simply tucked his hands in his pockets and began to stroll away from the car and towards campus.
"Daniel? Where are you going?" Vlad called, shutting the trunk and hurrying after his youthful companion.
"I told you I have a way to call Clockwork. Come on, old man, try to keep up!" And Danny looked around quickly before he suddenly transformed into Phantom and took off into the sky.
"Daniel! Wait!" Vlad called softly before he too looked around and then transformed, shooting off into the sky and catching up with Danny. As they flew Danny laughed playfully, coming to glide below Vlad on his back, moving closer Danny leaned up and gave Vlad a peck on the lips before giggling a little more and shooting off.
Vlad was truly confused by Danny's playful behavior only to realize Danny was probably still feeling a light buzz from the multiple glasses of wine he had.
"Come on! Let's fly for a bit!" Danny called over his shoulder, "If you catch me, I'll give you a surprise!"
Vlad suddenly felt a wave of amusement roll through him while his heart beat a little faster at the prospect of such a game.
"Let's have some fun, Fruitloop!" Danny called as he took off at an alarming speed and Vlad smiled wickedly before kicking up his own speed and Pershing Danny with much enthusiasm.
The pair raced around the outskirts of Madison before Danny turned invisible and descending into the alleyways and streets of the city, Vlad able to follow due to his ability to sense Danny's emotions.
Danny felt the bond between them pulsing, the shots of adrenaline they were feeling amplifying their ability to sense the other and as the paid weaved and dodged through the city of Madison a sort of intoxicating thrill was swelling up inside them and Vlad heard Danny's mischievous laugh echoing on the wind.
Danny took a hard right and shot out over the farmlands, the city lights falling away and he became visible again only to look over his shoulder to see Vlad was gone.
With a rather confused hum, he turned around and slowed down, looking for the blue-skinned halfa but unable to find him.
He came to a dead stop when he realized he couldn't feel the man's core either and panic began to set in.
"Vlad!" He called out and he waited a few seconds before he went to call again only to catch the sound of something moving quickly from the air above him.
He looked up just in time to see Vlad right before the man plowed into him and the pair went falling to the ground. Vlad managed to turn them and seconds before they hit the older man slowed their decent and set Danny on the ground.
"Hey! No fair! You hid your core from me!" Danny protested as he wrapped his arms around the man and rested his head on Vlad's chest.
"Yes, well, I told you I wasn't evil anymore but in a game of cat and mouse I'm not above a little good-natured cheating." Vlad teased.
"You scared me, I thought something happened to you." Danny admonished and Vlad seemed genuinely surprised by that.
He tentatively placed a hand on Danny's back and said softly, "you don't need to worry about that. Nothing is going to-"
"You said at dinner you had stolen something a long time ago and that you want to try to make things right. That means whoever you pissed off must be pretty threatening even to you if you want to try and fix it. Don't play games like that, okay? Not until you get your stuff sorted with the jerks that wanna hurt you. Okay?"
Danny looked up towards Vlad's face and saw a sort of confused yet worried look, "You don't get it do you. I'm concerned for you. This is what it's like having someone who cares for you, you get in trouble when you do something reckless and get held accountable for your actions. No more disappearing until this stuff is sorted."
Vlad took a shaky breath before wrapping Danny up in his arms and holding him close. "I'm sorry I scared you, I suppose I'm not used to having someone else concerned for my well being. I will try to be more conscious of my actions in the future."
Danny squeezed him a little tighter and sighed before saying softly, "Come on, Fruitloop, let's go call Clockwork." And Danny floated up into the air, Vlad reluctant to let him go and so took the young man's hand and together they flew to Danny's dorm.
The pair had turned invisible upon arrival and Danny had popped his head through the wall to make sure Remy wasn't inside or spending time with his girlfriend, something he had no desire to witness.
Once he established the dorm was empty the pair entered and Danny hit the lights. He crossed to the tiny closet and opened it, digging around for the medallion he used to call Clockwork.
As he searched Vlad perused the room, smiling fondly at the memories he had. Danny found the medallion quickly and as he turned to Vlad he caught sight of the nude magazine Remy had jokingly got him on his eighteenth birthday and reached out to shove the corner more firmly under his mattress.
At least someone is getting use out of that thing. He mused with humor before standing and crossing to Vlad, the soft smile in the man's face giving Danny pause.
"What's funny?" He asked as he came to stand next to the man.
"Hm? Oh, nothing I suppose. Just memories of sharing such a small space with your father. He was a rather large man even in college and it was often rather difficult to fit us both comfortably."
Danny chuckled at the image such a thing evoked before holding out the medallion and showing Vlad.
"I got what we need. Let's go, don't want Remy walking in to find a pair of ghosts making an otherworldy phone call." Danny Rose from the floor and phased through the wall out of the room, poke ng his head back in to spy Vlad still standing in the space and looking around.
"Vlad? You coming?"
The man slowly turned to look at him and sighed, a certain air of sadness around him as he nodded and followed Danny out.
"You look sad...you….feel sad. Is everything okay?" Danny asked as they flew leisurely through the sky back towards Vlad's car.
"Yes. Just...memories."
They landed carefully next to Vlad's car as they transformed back into their human forms and Vlad unlocked the vehicle.
"Of mom?" Danny asked as he got in the passenger side and buckled up, holding the medallion firmly in his hand as he glanced at his partner.
"No actually, of your father. Jack and I...well, I suppose it doesn't matter." And Vlad didn't seem interested in talking more about it and while Danny was curious he could feel Vlad's emotions and decided now was not the time to push.
It had never really occured to Danny how much it would hurt Vlad to think of his mother and father now that he had moved on from his rage and let so many things go. But it was there, Danny could feel Vlad's guilt, shame and regret nestled in the back of his mind as the they drove back to the castle on the outskirts of Madison.
It wasn't until they reached the mansion and went inside that Vlad spoke again. Vlad had grabbed the wine and Danny's accessories bag and followed the younger man inside.
They went through to the main living room and as Danny held up the medallion he asked Vlad softly, "So what was the item you took?"
Vlad hesitated before saying with regret, "Any ancient ghostly book. I thought at the time it might hold the answers I was looking for at the time."
"Answers for what?"
"It doesn't really matter. But I'll say one of the things I was searching for was about my lack of aging. I thought the book I took would have answers."
Danny nodded, realizing now that part of him wanted to look at this book too if it meant it might explain how to counteract the aging process for them or lack of aging process as was the case for the pair of half-ghost hald-humans.
Still, Danny had made a promise so now wasn't the time to dwell on it. Danny held up the medallion and gave it a flick of the wrist, waiting for Clockwork's face to appear. After a moment Clockwork's face appeared but instead of the usual sarcastic greeting and signature knowing smirk Danny was greeted by the hazy image of Clockwork fading in and out and the Spirit of time calling out, "Daniel! Report to the clocktower now! I need your help!"
And suddenly Clockwork's image sputtered out of sight and Danny gripped the medallion and shook it, "What? No! Clockwork? Hey, are you there! Clockwork!" Danny yelled before shoving the medallion into his pocket and grabbing Vlad's hand, "That's going to have to do as far as permission goes, come on!" and Danny started beelining towards Vlad's lab dragging the older man behind him.
Vlad protesting as they went, "Daniel, Daniel wait! What are you doing!?" Vlad asked.
"What do you think I am doing! Clockwork told me to report to the clocktower, he needs our help!"
"And you would just blindly fly into a battle with an unknown enemy on behalf of this time spirit?"
Danny stopped halfway down the stairs to Vlad's lab, having shoved the older man's hand onto the identifying pad to gain access quickly.
"Yes! Now come on!"
"Daniel, do you realize how reckless that is? You don't even know who could be attacking him let alone-"
"It doesn't matter, Vlad! He is my friend, I can't just not do anything when he needs my help!" Danny said releasing Vlad's hand and continuing down the stairs.
Once in the lab, he gave his passcode to access the portal and as soon as it opened he transformed and prepared to jump through only to be stopped by Vlad's hand on his wrist, "I am not suggesting you ignore his calls for help, but I am suggesting you take a moment to think things through! Come up with a plan, Daniel! You can't just barge into a fight you know nothing about!"
"There isn't time!" Danny yelled out suddenly, "I can't wait and plan and hope he will still be alright and alive by the time I get there! Now, let go!" and Danny tried to pull away but Vlad held firm.
"I am not suggesting you let him die either, what I am suggesting is you go in with your eyes open! Now, will you wait and listen to me for a second you stubborn foolish boy!"
Danny went to rebuke but after turning to finally look at Vlad he saw the worry and determination in the man's eyes and forced himself to wait.
"Alright, fine. What do you recommend." Danny said with a huff.
"Thank you. Now, come on, we can discuss it on the way. Going headlong into battle is never wise, I want you to tell me the layout of the interior as well as the exterior of this Clocktower, that should allow us to approach the situation with more caution without compromising ourselves or your friend."
Danny sighed and then nodded, Vlad transforming into Plasmius and the pair jumping through the portal.
They approached the Clocktower cautiously, Danny from above and Vlad from below. The island was smoking, the tower itself looking to have crumbled in on itself as more smoke rose from the remains and the entire building looked like it had been ravaged by an army.
There were no signs of the attackers and once Vlad gave him the cue Danny quietly and carefully flew in, keeping himself low tot he ground as he flew while also keeping an eye out for any traps or remaining attackers.
He reached the main room without any issues and noticed almost all of the portals were destroyed, debris, and what appeared to be large ectoblast scorches on the walls.
"Clockwork!" Danny called out frantically as he searched through the piles of fallen stone and wooden support beams.
"Clockwork are you there?" Danny called out again before realizing the coast was clear and he looked up through the crumbling wreck of the clocktower, "Vlad! It's clear!"
Seconds later Vlad teleported in and the pair continued to look for Clockwork in the damaged building. After several more times of Danny calling out a dull voice echoed back, "Over here, Daniel." and the pair approached the corner. Laying under a wooden support beam and a pair of broken portals was Clockwork.
"Shit." Danny hissed as he took hold of Clockwork's arms, "Vlad, turn it intangible." Danny said and the man placed his hand on the pile of rubble and Danny was able to easily pull Clockwork free.
"What the hell happened?" Danny asked, kneeling down next to his long time mentor and watching as the spirit of time continued to change through the various ages but at a much slower rate.
"The clocktower was raided. There were too many and I wasn't prepared, there wasn't any evidence of such a thing occurring in the timeline. Daniel, it's an anomaly, somehow, the persons responsible shielded themselves from my eye…" Clockwork coughed, a nasty sound coming from his chest as he did so and Danny looked up to Vlad in desperation.
The older halfa knelt down as well, placing his hand on Clockwork's chest and closing his eyes, staying this way for a moment before he said softly, "Daniel, his core...it's damaged."
"W-What? H-how? How could his core, who could do that? I mean, it's Clockwork, he's the spirit of time, ancient and powerful, there's no way-"
"Even God's fall to their own hubris, Daniel. You would do well to remember that, cocky as you are." Clockwork admonished with what could only be described as an affectionate smirk.
"Oh, oh hell no! That's no happening. Vlad, can we get him back to your lab? Get him in some kind of animated suspension? Anything to slow it down until we can figure out-"
"Daniel….enough. I will be fine. I shall be reborn in the future. You can find me then. Heaven knows you still have much to learn from me. For now, you must focus on stopping those that have broken the laws of the Ghost Zone. I am a neutral party, the law prohibits attacks on the ancients, especially those of us who remain neutral."
"I...I can't just leave you like this….I can't…"
"You must, and there is not enough time to-"
"No! You're the Spirit of Time, come on, can't you just stop time and-"
"Daniel, there are times to fight and there are times to run. It is time to run. I am fading and so I cannot maintain the clocktower or the island, it will explode and fade from existence until I return. You must focus on this task I give you. Find the items they took, and return them to the rightful owners."
Danny felt the tears flooding from his eyes, his chest heaving as he watched Clockwork's form start to fade out, Clockwork coughing before the clocktower seemed to shake and more debris fell.
"Alright, shh shh, it's okay, I...I will, I promise. Now tell me, Clockwork what...what did they take?" Danny asked, trying to keep his breathing even though he felt like he might dissolve into sobs at any moment. A warm hand on his back soothed him slightly as he looked up to see Vlad staring down upon them with a somber face.
"Daniel, Vlad can help you. Trust him, he is not...he is not the demon he was. You can trust him, completely. Never doubt him, he will see you through to the end. You must trust him."
Danny took Clockwork's hand and nodded, "I know. You told me, I will I promise. Now, what did they take? Who was it?"
Clockwork looked to Vlad then and the man winced, "You know who. She took the book, if you wish to amend for your sins of the past you must trust Daniel to lead you towards the correct future. She took it to get to you. But...Daniel-" Clockwork stopped for a moment, closing his eyes and wincing before he said, "She took the thermos as well."
Danny's eyes went wide, a soft, "No." falling from his lips as he leaned closer, "No, please tell me this is a joke, one last joke before you fade away, this can't be-"
"Daniel, if you trust Vlad and he, in turn, trusts you, all will be fine and everything will be as it should be."
"What? No! You're not supposed to die! That thermos was NEVER supposed to leave here! None of this was supposed to happen!" Danny urged and after a second his hand fell empty and Clockwork faded, "Find the items taken, return them to their rightful owners, trust each other. I will see you in the future Daniel, seek your guidance from your mate until I return to finish your training."
And then the Spirit of Time faded to mist, seemingly blowing out a nearby window, and as Danny yelled his name the clocktower began to shake and Danny was suddenly grabbed and pulled up and out of the structure before it collapsed and seemingly self-destructed.
"NO!" Danny yelled, making the motion to zoom back down to the wreckage and search it, though Vlad grabbed him and yanked him back.
It took about a minute or so for Danny to wear himself out before he hung limply in the man's arms and simply stared at the empty space where the Clocktower used to be. He sniffed and continued to cry tears as he wiped at his nose and sighed.
"Damn it." he said softly as he finally turned and pressed his face into Vlad's chest, "Who was it? Who took the book, Vlad?" Danny asked into Vlad's tunic and the man seemed to swallow nervously as he said softly, "Her name's Earnestra. She's...she's a very bad ghost. A lasting offshoot of Periha Dark and a ghost not to be trifled with."
"You trifled with her, didn't you-" Danny said in a deadpan and Vlad scoffed, "No, she asked me to be her king and help her take over both the Ghost Zone and the human realm and I turned her down. Honestly, at this point, she is just nursing a broken ego and unwilling to accept my refusal."
"Why on earth did you refuse? It sounds like it would have been everything you wanted." Danny said, pulling away so he could look up at Vlad with curiosity, "Well, truth be told I was already interested in a young man with a stubborn and surly attitude who liked to insult me by calling me a breakfast cereal."
Danny stilled as he realized Vlad wasn't joking and said softly, "You...you turned her down….all that power, the chance to rule...for me?"
Vlad smiled so softly, a tenderness to it that Danny had grown all too familiar with, "Yes. And I would do it again in a heartbeat, Daniel." and then Vlad leaned down and kissed Danny softly, holding him close as he did only to feel Danny turn his head away and give a soft cry of, "Clockwork."
Vlad seemed to stiffen before he asked softly, "Daniel, were you and he...was he...important to you...like...I am?" Vlad had chosen his words carefully and Danny knew it but he smiled up at the man through his tears and said softly before giving Vlad a kiss, "No. Just a friend. But a dear one. He saved my life multiple times and that of my friends...he also let me spy on you when you were in college….dude...even in the '80s mullets weren't okay."
Vlad looked at him with wide eyes before giving a rather unimpressed humph, "When he gets reaffirmed I am going to kill him again." Vlad said and Danny pulled away a little and asked in shock, "Reaffirmed? What's that?"
"Honestly Daniel, weren't you listening. Clockwork said he would be back in the future. He's an ancient spirit and the protector of time. He's going to be reaffirmed, it's kind of like the ghostly equivalent of reincarnation. Accept he will be reincarnated into his previous self. Your friend may be gone now, but he will be back."
"That's...That's good to know. Actually, it's great to know. That means I can focus on tracking down Earnestra and getting back both the book and that damn Thermos."
"Yes, about that, Daniel, why is the Thermos important? Last I checked they were meant for storing food...soup and coffee?"
Danny swallowed and felt the dread swarm him as he realized he was going to need to tell Vlad the truth because on the off chance the Thermos got opened Vlad needed to know what would be in store for them.
"Alright. I will make you a deal. You get me to Earnestra and I will tell you on the way."
"Actually, I have a feeling it would be best we return to the mansion," Vlad said as his eyes started to look around them in a rather suspicious way.
"What? No, Clockwork said-"
"I know what he said, but if this really was Earnestra then I have a feeling she took those items in order to Blackmail both you and me into compliance. She will have a message delivered to my home. She won't act until she knows we know until we come to her to retrieve them. This is nothing more than a calculated move in the game of chess, she's putting her pieces into play. We need to wait, so I suggest we go home, rest, eat, and tell each other the truths that we have not shared."
"Wow, sounds like she would have been a perfect wife for you," Danny said with a snort.
"Nonsense, I prefer my mates short and obnoxious," Vlad said as he started to head back towards his portal.
"Hey! You jerk! Wait for a second, what haven't you shared with me? Come back here! Vlad!" The pair left unaware of watching eyes in the distance.
A/N: Hey guys! Expect the next chapter this weekend or next week! I hope you enjoyed! Sorry if I missed any editing!