Disclaimer: looks under a pile of dirty clothes Well they aren't in my room so they don't belong to me... dangit.
Note: I'm not evil, I just act that way...
Chapter five - Little tiny truths.
Danny flew himself high above the clouds, searching out the Nasty Burger. His wings rippled slightly in the breeze and he found that even though the appendages were false he could feel things from them just as if they were his actual skin. The halfa teen placed a gloved hand to his chest and then looked down at it curiously. If Vlad could alter his appearance then the teen was fairly sure he should have been able to do it as well.
Taking a deep breath, Danny clasped his hands together and concentrated, trying to stop shaking in his nervousness. In his mind he could picture his phantom form as it currently was, leathery wings and all. He let his breath leave him slowly and opened his eyes, unclasping his hands as he did so and splayed his fingers. Surrounding the gloves was the same bright green as usual and Danny took in another breath and tried to think of something different to wear.
The same creepy wetness that had harkened the coming of his wings was now slipping between his fingers and the boy instinctively cupped his hands together. The slippery stuff was light green and seemed to have a light all its own. Danny brought his hands to his face and let the strange stuff wash over his features. It tingled like a good exfoliator and soothed his red cheeks. Small drops slipped down his neck to the black jumpsuit and he licked his lips, trying to think of something different than what he was wearing.
When Vlad finally caught up to the youth he stared in outright fascination. Danny's shirt now had a v-neck plunging to the middle of his chest and was light green to match his eerie eyes. His white gloves had spikes protruding around the wrist that looked almost like thorns. The younger halfa was frowning down at his bottom half however and Vlad let his eyes cast downward to see what the problem was.
"Bellbottoms?" Plasimus raised an eyebrow.
"No, they're flare jeans." Danny corrected him with a scowl.
"They're nice, what's the problem?"
Danny looked at the dark black jeans he now sported and brushed away some immaginary dirt. "It's nothing, I just wasn't expecting this."
"Well if it's any consolation, I think you look fine." Vlad very nearly purred the sentiments.
Danny's pale cheeks flushed in embaressment and Vlad passed by him with a smirk. It was sinfully easy to manipulate the younger halfa, and if Vlad had more of a sense of morality then he would have been ashamed. As it was he was quite pleased with himself for slowly testing his boundaries with the boy and wearing down his guard. If his assumptions about Danny's new boyfriend were correct then it would only aide the millionaire in his attempt to gain the child's confidence.
The young ghost hunter flapped his wings idily, keeping his eyes on the ground far beneath them to watch out for humans. There was barely anyone on the streets but that was all too normal. In such a small city most people either drove to the nearest city to get their entertainment or simply tried to find it online. More than likely people were out at restaurants or catching the early movies at the local theater. The newest movie that had been introduced was a romance and Danny hesitated as he floated over the theater. The white haired ghost boy sank slightly in the air so he could get a bit closer, not paying attention to his companion.
If he asked Dash, would the jock take him to a movie? They could always show up at different times so it wouldn't look suspicious and hide together in one of the dark corners in the very back. He wrapped his wings around himself in a protective cocoon, closing his eyes to try to shut out the world for just a short while. The evening air felt warm against his ectoplasmic body and he knew that for a normal person it had to feel cold. A shiver went up his spine despite the warmth and he could sense Vlad coming closer to him.
Not for the first time he found himself wondering if his dual body also left him with a dual nature. Why should he be trusting Vlad of all people? The older halfa hadn't done anything in the past to make himself seem trustworthy. Danny tightened his grip on himself as he floated back to Vlad, intent on staying on guard while the other was around. His wings spread out as he came closer and he narrowed his eyes slightly, marring his handsome features with what looked like more of a pout than a scowl.
Vlad frowned slightly when Danny zipped past him once more with such a sober expression. The younger halfa's eyes were dark with an inner fire and he refused to let his gaze meet Vlad's own passion filled stare. The vampiric halfa followed the one he yearned after, his wings fluttering slightly as a shiver went up his back. He had come too far to loose Danny now, he didn't care how long it took, he would have the boy as his own.
Dash glared at the seat in front of him studiously ignoring Quan, who was trying to get a conversation out of him. The blonde anxiously ran his fingers through his hair, wanting the other jock to leave before Danny showed up and got scared off. He wasn't even sure what he could tell Danny once he got to the Nasty Burger, but he was fairly sure it wouldn't happen with Quan there. He didn't notice his friend watching him, intent in his scrutiny. He had met his friend at the restaurant but Dash had been preoccupied with his own thoughts. Quan had thought that it had something to do with the newest assignment from Lancer but when he brought it up, Dash had only stared at him coldly.
"Man, did I do something to piss you off or have you just developed PMS?" Quan crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for Dash to take the bait.
The blonde jock looked up and tried to relax. It wasn't as if the other boy knew who he was waiting for. And even if he did, Quan was one of the most non-judgemental people that he knew. He lifted his eyes to meet Qwan's and rubbed the back of his neck, trying to force out the tension that was settled in his muscles.
"I'm not in the mood to talk." Dash glaced at the entrance to the Nasty Burger expecting Danny to show up at the worst possible moment.
The Asian boy took a seat across from his friend and leaned on the table, feeling it bend towards him slightly as he did so. He had done this many times before in order to squirm an answer out of his friend and it never failed to work. The blonde jock hated being stared at so he would cave and spill his guts with whatever was bothering him. Normally Quan would only wait a few minutes for it to happen, but now Dash was avoiding his gaze and fidgeting to take his mind off the fact that his friend was there. The raven haired boy put his hand to his chin in thought, trying to think of something to say to bluff a response from Dash. It was unatural for there to be silence between the two, whenever they were alone they always shared things with each other even if it was just talking about nothing at all.
"If I come back later will you be in the mood to talk?" Quan asked smoothly.
"I dunno, I might not be here."
The Asian jock gave a sharp laugh at his friend's sulky mood. "Man I havn't seen you act like this since that party with..."
Dash looked up and his frame went tense from the tips of his toes to the top of his head, an angry blush starting in his cheeks. His friend sat up a bit straighter but didn't finish his sentence, knowing that if he spoke too loudly they would both be in for a world of hurt from their peers. Dash broke eye contact first and Quan slumped in his seat, his breath leaving him in a heavy sigh. After one wild night of partying with some college students and faking their own ages the pair made a pact never to mention the night, at least not where anyone could hear.
"You wanna talk about it?" Quan asked casually, reaching for a packet of sugar and absently playing with it.
"Nothin' to talk about." Dash tensed up slightly more, though he hadn't thought it possible.
"Nice ass?" His friend whispered, wanting to be as ambiguous as possible.
A leer lit Dash's features and he leaned across the table to whisper back to his friend. His bright blue eyes were alive with lust at the mentioning of, in his opinion, Danny's best feature. He brought his hands forward in a cupping motion and shook his head a little. His friend put a toothpick between his lips and avidly listened to Dash as he described the 'perfect asset'. Neither of them would ever admit to being gay but each of them knew they were curious enough to try anything once, and possibly more if it felt good.
"Such a tease only being able to look at it. You remember that night, with... you know in the spare bedroom." Dash's voice was hushed but urgent, like he couldn't tell the story fast enough.
Quan could feel his palms start to sweat and rubbed them on the sleeves of his jacket. "How could I forget, that bitch was a total slut. Always screaming for more, I get kinda hard thinkin' about it."
"You mean when your dick wasn't halfway down the bitch's throat." Dash all but growled, squirming in his seat slightly.
"It was the only way I could think of to shut him up." Quan chuckled quietly.
Dash covered his face, his shoulders shaking slightly with mirth. He wasn't sure why he had been anxious around Quan when they had already shared so much together, literally, but he was still a bit nervous about telling his friend just who the new 'bitch' was. The possesive side of him argued that if he told, Quan would want a piece of the action. While it was interesting to have a partner to pound a submissive into the mattress, Dash wanted his time with Danny to remain personal. It wasn't that he wanted a relationship with the shorter boy, but there was something a lot more private about having a fuck buddy that you had to see every day.
"Anyone I know?" Quan cracked his knuckles, glancing over at the other patrons.
"No one you'd be interested in." Dash scratched his nose and looked away elusively.
At that statement Quan raised an eyebrow in curiosity. He had never known his blonde friend to hold out on him before, but he supposed that Dash was probably nervous about his family finding out. In his own family, Quan wouldn't have to worry about coming out about his attractions to both sexes. So far as he knew, there were no gay people in his family, but both his mother and father had a few gay friends.
Dash let his gaze wander back to his friend, feeling a betraying blush starting to pinken his cheeks. He put his chin in his hand in an attempt to hide it and let his fingers brush near his temples. There was a small smile on Quan's face and Dash had the urge to punch his arm to make him stop. His heart beat quickened when he heard the sound of bells and he looked over at the door. He licked his lips when he saw Danny standing there, looking around for him in uncertainty. There was an older man standing just behind Danny like some sort of bodyguard, and he didn't look pleased to be in the fast food joint.
Dash stood up and slipped out of the booth, heading for the raven haired boy. Even before he was a foot away from his date the older man fixed him with a cold glare. The jock was used to his father looking at him like that, but there was an underlying hatred that made the blonde stop cold and want to give up on Danny then and there. Before he could turn away Danny spoke up, breaking the oppressive stare.
"Dash, I wasn't sure you'd be here." The younger boy smiled brightly.
The jock smirked and gave a shrug, as if he didn't care if anyone saw them talking. It warmed the young halfa's heart to consider that his crush might want to spend time with him. This made the flight with Vlad all the more worth it. He could prove to the older man that he was loved and then Vlad wouldn't have a reason to stay in Amity Park. When he had changed forms before getting close to the Nasty Burger, he could have sworn that Vlad was staring at him. It made a chill go up his spine when he wondered just what his nemesis was plotting.
Vlad walked close behind them and took a seat on the outside when they went back to the booth. Danny was close to the wall and across from him, Quan was looking at him in wonder and smiling ever so slightly. The shorter boy ran his finger over the table idily, not sure if he should start up a conversation with his crush. On the one hand it might make Vlad go away but on the other hand Dash might leave as well. He was on unfamiliar territory with the jock and his heart jumped every time the blonde looked over his shoulder.
"So Danny, who is this?" Quan asked politely, nodding at the older man.
Vlad lifted his chin in self-importance. "I am the little badger's chaperone."
"Badger?" Dash and Quan looked at an exasperated Danny in confusion.
"Why -do- you call me that?" The raven haired boy looked up at Vlad in confusion.
"Because it suits you." Vlad answered evasively, "Now then which one of you do I have to watch out for?"
Although his tone was jovial, the hybrid's eyes were dark with annoyance. Quan glanced at Dash and then grinned as he jerked his thumb in Danny's direction.
"I wouldn't be interested, huh?"
As quick as a snake Vlad turned his eyes on Dash, the normal color of his eyes fading away and shining red for an instant before he collected himself. He reminded himself that Dash was still young and couldn't possibly satisfy Danny in the way Vlad intended. The older man knew he could fill the emptyness in Danny's very soul. Being part ghost it was only natural to seek out the companionship of other ghosts. Vlad had done it himself at first, but after finding no one that matched his intelligence or power he gave up all hope of finding someone to complete him. But in the younger halfa he found potential. Danny unknowingly carried an immense power that Vlad yearned to touch.
"So, are you going to follow us all night?" Dash scowled at Vlad, not pleased with the intrusion.
"I hope you don't intend on keeping Danny out all night long. He has a curfew." Vlad smirked slightly at the look on Dash's face. He anticipated that it would be all too easy to push the jock away from the younger halfling.
"You're embarressing me," Danny hissed from the corner of his mouth.
"I only wish to look out for your well being." Vlad put a hand to his chest innocently.
By the look on Danny's face, the older man could tell that he wasn't impressed nor was he fooled. He set an elbow on the table, ignoring the two jocks in favor of watching his future protege. The scowl remained on Danny's face but it didn't seem that he had fallen too far out of the boy's graces because he didn't move away when Vlad put a hand over his. Not wanting to push his luck, the older man removed his hand and flipped open a menu that had been left at the table and perused it.
"Speaking of your well being, are you certain you're not endangered by eating these attrocities?" Vlad grimaced as he read through the menu.
Danny rolled his eyes and took the menu from his would be tutor, not bothering to look it through before setting it aside. "I know it's been a while since you lived on a student budget, but this stuff is actually good."
"Greasy but filling." Quan agreed with a smirk.
"How charming," Vlad spoke contemptuously, gaining a kick under the table from Danny. "In any case I'm assuming that your intentions with my young charge are honorable?"
Vlad's emotionless stare sent a shudder up Quan's spine and he glanced at Dash to see if he was just as shaken. The blonde didn't appear to be phased in the least by the cold look and took the menu from where Danny had set it. The old man's attitude was rubbing his nerves raw and he wanted to shove his prissy dressing ass in the nearest irrigation ditch.
"If you're going to be with us all night then I guess you'll find out." Dash declaired hotly.
Danny blushed slightly at the attention he was getting from them both and ducked his head slightly, looking for a way to diffuse the situation quickly. Quan looked at him curiously, considering the youth and wondering just what it was that drew Dash to him. He couldn't really see it himself, Danny always seemed a little geeky for his tastes. And those parents of his were a couple of serious nutballs.
Dash looked up as the door chime at the front of the store went off once more and growled lightly, not pleased that someone might come in and see them together. Abruptly he stood and made a quick motion with his hand. Danny gave Vlad a small shove on the shoulder and the older man grudgily got out of the booth to let Danny pass him. Dash drew up the collar of his letterman jacket and started towards the door, his light blue eyes glaring at anyone who dared to look in his direction. Danny felt his hand being taken roughly just before his crush pulled them both out the door, Vlad hot on their heels.
"So where do you want to go?" Danny asked once he was able to catch his breath, half hidden from view by Dash's massive frame.
"The museum," Dash muttered with a small frown.
"The museum." Danny repeated, a bit dumbfounded.
Dash turned to set his unapproving gaze on the smaller boy and saw the raven haired one flinch under the hard scrutiny. "I can't let people see you with me, no one will look for us there."
The young halfa's heart fell when he confirmed his fear that he would only be Dash's dirty little secret. Logically he knew that his crush would have to take a long time to get used to having Danny in his life but he had hoped that Dash would have a bit more tact. His self-appointed guardian came up close behind him and set a comforting hand on his shoulder, his dark gaze speaking volumes to the hurt teen. Danny shrugged off the touch and lifted his head, falling in step slightly behind Dash.
"That's okay, there's an exhibit there I was going to check out anyways." The raven haired boy smiled brightly.
The jock caught himself before he reproached the young boy for being geeky and let Danny see a small smile. Together they headed towards the museum to enjoy the relative peace and quiet of being nearly alone.
-
Dash: Well it took you long enough!
Danny: And I'm still being angsty, give me a break, have him do something cute.
Vlad: panicing No! Have Dash be a jerk!
D & D : glare Shut it golden oldie.