Chapter 12 – Say My Name


It's Saturday night, homework is done, dishes are washed, and other (read: normal) teenagers are out causing mayhem in Amity Park.

So what is Danny doing?

Staring at an SD Card.

He knows it's been enhanced. He knows his human eyes and ears will pick up what he says to Vlad during that assembly. What he does to him. He knows it looks bad. He knows it sounds bad.

But it can't be that bad, right?

After threatening the man earlier today to stay in town and sort out this mess with him, Danny supposes he should own up to his own cringe-worthy actions as well.

With a long sigh, Danny finally pushes the little device into his card reader and sits at his computer. Clicking play on the video program, he finally sits back with arms crossed and watches the scene unfold.

Danny's figure appears like an icy blue and green shifting blur super-imposed over the regular video footage. Tucker's genius programing hard at work to bring in thermal imaging and meshing beautifully with regular film. The small heat signatures of other bodies on the screen are present but easily ignored. Danny's heat signature is cold.

Vlad's heat signature is incredibly different to those of the students and teachers, obviously the fire-core affects him. The man's internal temperature reads as a bright yellow center and small orange edge in comparison to the collected audience (who are all freezing their asses off) as small orange centers with large purple edges.

Vlad walks on stage, looking around and frowning. Danny watches as his spectral blur slowly descends to behind Vlad's chair and speaks.

He smirks as he watches the man stiffen up and eyes dart around, 'This may not be that bad after all'.

But the more he sees, the less Danny's smirking. He zooms in on the man's face, witnesses as each time his past self invokes the spell, Vlad's eyes become a little unfocused. Danny shifts uncomfortably as he realizes the thermal reading on Vlad's body getting brighter too.

When his blur moves in front of Vlad and whispers into his ear, stroking his neck and chest, Danny feels himself blush with the boldness. Yeah, sure he was pissed and rubbing it in a bit, but did he really have to rub it in too?

He watches with a cringe as the spectral tail slides around Vlad's body and settles up on his back like some kind of nightmare backpack. Danny even remembers leaning over and blowing on the glass Vlad drank from, freezing it on purpose.

He notes Vlad's attempt to hide his frozen stiff nipples from the sea of minors and can't help his body's sympathetic reaction. He unfolds his arms and shifts again in his seat.

"I honestly trusted you, Vlad." Danny stares as the man very obviously holds in a groan, gripping the podium for dear life. That look is absolutely doing things for Danny, who cannot even deny anymore that this is getting him hard. He ignores the need to touch though, watching the guilt-ridden look on Vlad's face with interest.

He doesn't remember the look of sincerity, but to be honest, he doesn't remember much from that assembly besides being beyond livid, to the point he couldn't even manage to take a human form for a little over 12 hours.

When Vlad desperately whispers 'have mercy' Danny sucks in a sharp breath. 'Goddamn that's hot! … What the hell is wrong with me?'

He listens intently as the man takes Tucker and Sam's questions and actually answers them well, understanding the need to appease them specifically out of anyone else that day.

When Danny's spectral image caresses his ear and causes Vlad to shiver, Danny realizes he very badly wants this. No matter how unfortunate the situation is, he can't help how much he wants to do this again. To be near Vlad and make him have such a strong physical reaction because of HIM, well, Danny's pretty sure he's never been this hot or this hard in his life.

He straightens up in his chair when his personal blur leaves the screen and Vlad visibly relaxes. Danny knows he's currently setting fire to Dash's textbooks in the hallway even though it's not visible on the screen. Kind of a dick move so close to end of unit exams, but whatever, fuck him.

As his ghost form returns, Danny subconsciously leans forward to watch the finale. The blur clicks off the microphone and leans in to tug on Vlad's tie, absolutely obsessed with touching it now that he was granted access (or at least not denied at the time). "There's your mercy, Vlad."

And yes, turning off the microphone was intended as mercy, although forcing Vlad to come apart completely in front of all his peers and faculty wasn't exactly merciful. But oh my God was it sinful. Those noises, that face… Danny is touching himself before he even realizes he probably shouldn't.

It takes only a few strokes for him to follow Vlad in coming apart completely and he isn't sure he's ever had such a fast orgasm from so little touch.

Danny takes a deep breath and stands, grimacing. His dick wasn't even fully out of his pants when he busted and now there's cum all over his pants and hand and even on the bottom of his shirt. Damn, Vlad has him acting like it's his first time jerking off or something.

After a quick wardrobe change, Danny sits back down and stares at the blank screen. He pops out the SD card and decides he should probably destroy it. Say it was an accident or a ghost or one of Jack's prototypes. He nods to himself, this is the best course of action, really. No one needs to see that, ever.

He pops it back into the computer and clicks play.

Nearly a week later.

Danny paces a circuit around his room, checks his reflection in the mirror, sneers at his hair and does another lap, furiously pushing his bangs this way and that. Another lap, another sneer, this time pulling at his clothes, straightening his collar. Another lap, a glare at himself, more messing with his hair.

It's the night of the dinner with Vlad, it shouldn't be a big deal. It isn't. It is not.

Danny growls at his reflection and stomps to the bathroom, running some water to tame his cowlicks.

They've done this almost monthly for a couple years now; Vlad pretending to be nice and proper and Danny watching him distrustfully and listening for hidden meanings behind his words. He's never cared once about his appearance to the man, going so far as to even try to offend him by showing up in pajama pants once.

But this time is different, he has a plan now and he doesn't want to appear to be trying too hard. Nothing needs to be fancy or perfect. Except he's in a fancy shirt and his hair isn't nearly perfect enough.

'This is dumb, I'm dumb.' He sighs at himself and his ghost sense goes off at the same time. His stomach flips and his face heats. Looking up and chirping unnecessarily reveals Vlad's blood red core signature, so he quickly transforms and joins him above the roof.

And there floats Vlad, with a face full of apprehension and nausea. Danny suspects his own face mirrors those emotions and couldn't change it even if he tried, "Plasmius," he greets.

"Phantom." Vlad offers.

They look away, Vlad crossing his arms and Danny picking at not-real lint in his pristine uniform.

Danny clears his throat, "Look, let's not make this any more awkward than it needs to be."

"That is precisely the reason I came here in this form first instead of knocking at the door." Vlad gestures to the air between them, "I wanted to give you the time to put your 'game face' on."

"If only I didn't need that kind of warning in the first place." Danny mutters under his breath, rolling his eyes up to the sky. He tilts his head, "Why not just text me then?"

Vlad pauses, eyebrows jumping up in surprise at the most obvious course of action he should have taken. But then he frowns, "I don't have your number." He says slowly, quietly.

Danny mentally facepalms, "Ah right. Kinda dumb to give your nemesis your cellphone number..." he rubs his arm with a nervous chuckle and avoids looking at the man's face too much. This face has hurt him much more than Vlad's other face, yet both have played a very prominent role in the teen's dreams lately. You know the kind.

Unaware of the teen's turmoil, Vlad sighs, "Yes well, can we save the chat for after dinner? I know you have a hundred more questions for me, but I hate to be late to your parents' dinner. It would absolutely spoil my perfect attendance record so far."

Danny rolls his eyes, attempting to hide his amusement at the 'same old Vlad' routine. "Fine," he huffs, "swear to me you'll meet me up here after and I'll let you go knock on the door."

"'Let me'" Vlad scoffs good-naturedly, he didn't miss that subtle twitch in the teen's lips. "Fine, I swear it." He lifts a palm like swearing an oath, winks a red eye and then disappears in a puff of pink mist.

Danny watches as Vlad's usual car turns onto his street before remembering he's loitering. He returns to his room in time to hear his father stomp up the stairs, yelling his name.

He pokes his head out the open door just as Jack raises his hand to knock on the doorframe. They both pause in surprise.

"Yeah Dad?"

"Your mother has been hollerin' for you Dann-o, what's going on up here? You got potatoes in your ears, son?"

Danny frowns apologetically, "Sorry Dad. Smashing Pumpkins needs to be experienced at full-volume." The easiest cover Sam has come up with so far.

"Yeah, yeah. Alright." Jack agrees easily with a smile. This isn't the first time he's heard that line either. "Don't come cryin' to us when your hearing blows out before you turn 20 though."

Danny laughs, "No problem, Dad!"

"Anywho, Vladdy should be here soon so your mother sent me to get you. Come set the table, Champ." Jack palms the top of Danny's head and ruffles his hair affectionately before turning and leaving.

He misses the look of annoyance that crosses his son's face, and the furious finger-combing happening behind him.

Danny begins to set the plates while trying not to stare at the front door like a lunatic. 'Any second now.' He thinks, lining up the dishes and glasses.

Even though he's expecting it, the doorbell still makes him jump. His hands become intangible and drop the silverware with a clatter to the table. "I'll get it!" He says loudly, heart pounding. He's halfway to the entrance before his mother even reacts to any of the noise.

He swings open the door and there stands Vlad, fake smile lines softening into genuine ones as his eyes drop to Danny's. He clearly wasn't expecting the young man to answer the door for him. He grips a wine bottle without a label.

Danny grins in return, "Hello - Fruitloop." He only pauses slightly over the name change. "You made it on time."

"Naturally." Vlad huffs, "Have I ever failed to meet a timing, Little Badger?"

Danny laughs and steps back, allowing Vlad entry and taking his coat. "Never. You must be able to teleport... or something."

"Or something." Vlad chuckles quietly, gently squeezing the teen's shoulder as he slips by.

Danny snickers at the private joke while Jack deafens everyone with his enthusiastic greeting.

Moving back into the kitchen, Danny listens to his parents make small talk and catch up with Vlad as he rearranges the silverware again. He does his best to not think of the past at least 20 times he's seen Vlad's face on the footage on the SD card. How often he's gotten off watching Vlad try not to get off. And then failing. His fingers tremble and he lingers on setting the table to try and quell his flaming cheeks.

Taking a deep breath, he moves on to filling the glasses. "So, what does everyone want to drink?" he asks as he steps to the fridge.

Before anyone can answer, Vlad speaks up "If I may, I brought us a wine - a white. My housekeeper, Julia, and her husband like to bottle their own. She offered us this when she heard about our dinner plans."

"Oh, how is she?" Maddie coos, "Is her husband well? What's-his-name?"

Danny taps his foot, no one has answered his question. Adults, honestly. "Dad?" He turns to Jack, currently less invested in Vlad's story, "you want the wine?"

"Absolutely Dann-o! We need to support Roger and Julia. They are such a wonderful couple." Jack aims his words more towards Maddie and she smiles at him.

She naps her fingers, "Roger! Right!"

"Roger's garden has bloomed passed my wildest expectations." Vlad brags on the man's behalf, puffed up with pride.

Danny rolls his eyes with a small smile and starts to pour.

"He lost a hand trowel a couple years back, a silly thing easily replaced. But he was strangely attached to the damned thing. People put sentimental value in the most absurd places."

Danny nudges his mom, who is listening to the story with close attention as she doles out the fish. Danny has no idea what kind of fish it is. It's dead, its not undead and it smells good. That's all he knows. He shows her the wine bottle and she nods distractedly before once again turning to Vlad.

"Well while he groomed the young shrubs in the back of the gardens - the privacy ones around the pool we just planted maybe 2 years ago - he came across the trowel! A shrub was growing through it! Isn't that remarkable?"

All the adults find this highly amusing and Danny sighs, fond. He tries to catch Vlad's eye but the man is not looking. The last thing he wants to do is call the man's name, for fear of incurring the spell. Especially in front of his parents. Ugh.

He clears his throat. No response. Vlad laughs and carries on about his gardener and Danny clicks his tongue in mild irritation.

"Are you going to remove it?" Maddie asks, putting the plated dishes down and moving on to stir the sauce.

"I don't think I will." Vlad responds, peeking over Maddie's shoulder to catch a smell of the meal so far. He gives a small sigh of satisfaction and smiles at her. "Madeline, my dear, you are a talented chef."

The small moment causes Danny to puff up with a possessiveness he'd rather not acknowledge. "Mr. Masters," he cuts in clearly, "are you having the wine too, then?"

Maddie laughs, "'Mr. Masters?' Why so formal, Danny?" Danny bites his tongue and says nothing, staring Vlad down as he now, finally, has his goddamned attention.

"Just call him, Vlad, son." Jack says, a heavy hand placed on Danny's shoulder. "He's been coming here for years, just relax." He looks over at his college-friend, "You don't mind, right Vladdy?"

Vlad blinks between the two before smoothing his features and smiles, "The boy can call me whatever he wants, Jack. It's never an issue for me." He catches Danny's eye, "And yes, to answer your question, I would also like the wine."

"Absolutely not!" Maddie interjects, startling the teen before he can even move. "This house is a safe space, Vlad." She waves the sauce ladle with authority. "You have to listen to people call you Mayor-this, and Sir-that all day. I want you to relax here and just be Vlad, our friend."

Vlad freezes, looking at Maddie with surprise, "You truly mean that?" His voice sounds oddly choked up, Danny thinks curiously.

"Oh sweetie, of course!" She puts down the ladle and moves to grip his arm, "How can you even ask that? It's been so long now, I assumed we were all on the same page." She turns to eye Danny critically, "I'll fix that now."

'Fuck.' Danny thinks, 'I know where this is going.' He quickly fills the final glass, "I understand Mom! Won't happen again! So sorry – ah – Fruitloop…" 'Shit, why do I have no other nicknames for him and he gets so many for me?'

Predictably, Maddie doesn't like this name-choice and demands an apology.

Vlad attempts to laugh off the whole thing. "Madeline, that really isn't necessary. I did say he could call me anyth-"

"Nonsense! Danny, apologize this instant!"

Danny places the wine bottle on the counter, facing away from everyone. He uses the moment to close his eyes and take a breath. 'Why is my family so innocent yet so, so stupid?' He turns around and says quietly and quickly, "I'm sorry."

Vlad exhales loudly and claps his hands, "Apology accep-"

"Daniel James Fenton, that was a very weak apology. At least look the man in the eye."

"Really Madeline, it's not an issue." Vlad cut in, eyes wide with worry. She's not going to make him…?

Danny lifts his chin, looks Vlad in the eye and says loudly, "I'm sorry for being too formal at a family gathering and then using an insulting nickname instead."

Vlad smiles like he's trying not to laugh as he takes in Danny's barely contained eyeroll. "Thank you Litt-"

"Vlad." Maddie says.

Vlad pauses and hums in question at Maddie.

She smiles, "No, sorry. I meant Danny," she looks at her son sternly, "use his name properly. That was perfect but you forgot to address him."

Danny groans, exasperated, "Mom! I'm not 6! What is even happening right now?"

"A lesson I missed with you when you were 6, apparently." She crosses her arms, steadfast.

Danny's mouth hangs open in absolute injustice. He looks to Vlad and the man seems to have paled. He swallows noticeably and nods imperceptibly, jaw clenched. Danny assumes this means he's readied himself.

The teen sighs, "I'm sorry… Vlad. Please forgive me." He watches Vlad's eyes briefly lose focus and the pupils dilate. It feels wrong to watch, it's so terribly intimate. But Danny can't bring himself to look away.

Vlad then blinks and smiles. "Thank you, Little Badger. Of course I do."

Maddie huffs and shakes her head, "Yes thank you hon. That wasn't so hard, now, was it?"

Danny rolls his eyes behind his mother's head and grabs the last of the food for the table. "No." He mutters, trying to calm his hammering heart. The power from that little moment felt good.

Jack gives a quick clap to Vlad's back and invites him to sit at the table. All the weird tension bleeds out of the room and supper begins in earnest.

Dinner goes surprisingly well, with no more unnecessary triggerings of the spell to make things awkward. Danny and Vlad dance around it effortlessly and keep conversation smooth and simple.

Danny finally relaxes as things move back to the topic of weaponry, and even catches himself smiling at Vlad's enthusiasm as he talks. This man was not too long ago his loudly proclaimed nemesis. And why? For what reason?

'For lots of reasons, actually.' He reminds himself, inner thoughts sounding suspiciously like his friends. 'He attacked first, all those years ago and since th-'

His thoughts are derailed by the wisp of smoke escaping his lips. He catches sight of Vlad's identical red wisp in his peripheral and has only two seconds to digest the situation before the house erupts into defensive mode.

"ALERT. ALERT. ECTO ENTITY DETECTED. ALERT. ALERT. ECTO ENTITY DETECTED."

Maddie and Jack jump up, each brandishing deadly weapons from behind the microwave and under the coffee table. Danny had no idea those weapons were there and is momentarily distracted by how impressed he is before remembering those weapons could incinerate him and Vlad both.

"Danny!" Jack whirls to face them, weapon barrel absentmindedly pointed at his son, who does his best to hide the cringe and subtly shift to the side. "You and Vlad get to the lab! Activate the Fenton Ghost Cage and arm yourselves with a couple of Fenton Thermoses while you're at it!"

"They aren't Fenton products anymore Sweetie, they're Dalv…" Maddie reminds him, patting his arm gently. The next second she lifts her hood and smacks on her goggles, all murderous intent and no-nonsense attitude. She cocks her weapon, shoulders it and runs out the front door.

Jack stares at his wife in obvious, disgusting love before barreling after her. Danny gestures for Vlad to follow and heads down to the lab. He flicks the power switch on for the Fenton Ghost Cage and tosses a Dalv Thermos to Vlad. They both feel the Cage activate as a prickly, static-y hum on their skin before it settles in place around the house.

Vlad runs a critical eye over the product before raising his eyebrow at Danny. The teen shrugs, "For appearances, really."

Vlad hums his agreement and leans his hip against the counter, setting the Thermos down gently. He looks around the lab with only mild concern. "And what happens now, Da-young man? You realize the Cage has us essentially trapped, don't you?"

"This isn't my first rodeo, Fruitloop." Danny sighs, sitting at the surveillance desk, firing up the monitors.

"So, what are you doing now, then, Rodeo Clown?" he asks with a smirk in his voice. Danny lets the nickname slide by turning his head to hide his grin.

After a moment Danny jolts when a hand is placed on his shoulder - the man could move so silently at times. Vlad looks over his head and they both silently watch the screens as Danny's parents run around the front yard, weapons blazing and screaming at the intruding ghosts – who just so happen to be Ember and Freakshow.

Jack seems particularly concerned when the weapons don't react to Freakshow as expected, making him bellow "What manner of ghost are you?!" at the poor man. It seems neither older Fenton has considered humans and ghosts working together and are having a hard time trying to capture this 'expert level spook.'

Danny rolls his eyes and turns to look up at Vlad, "Well, we got some time now. Seems Mom and Dad will be busy with them two for a bit." He nods towards the countertop.

Vlad gets the hint and backs off. He undoes his coat and sets it on the back of Danny's chair before popping his butt onto the counter to sit a couple feet away. Danny has seen Vlad do casual things like this more often lately, but it still unnerves him. The most high-class man he knows just sitting on the counter, jacket off, button-up shirt showing off his figure… 'Damn it, focus Danny.'

It doesn't help when Vlad crosses his arms either, showing off just how much muscle those suit jackets hide. Vlad gestures for him to begin, "Go ahead," and boy does Danny have a great idea where to start.

'No, stop that. Don't be stupid.' Danny looks back at the screens before his face gives his thoughts away, scrambling for where to begin. He watches Ember taunt the Fentons for a moment before finally reeling in his heartrate.

"Okay, well, start with them." He gestures to the screen, "Why them? Why not like, wish it with Desi - oh…"

"Yes, considering the mess we are currently in, imagine how worse off we would fair if I had asked Desiree instead."

"Fair enough, she loves to twist things."

"That she does. Even still, these two have twisted things quite a bit themselves."

Danny frowns at the screens again, "Yeah about that… why continue on with your plan when you found out they messed it up like that? What did you think was gonna happen when I was… ya know…?"

Vlad grimaces, "I thought I could handle it."

Danny gives him a flat look, "Really?"

The man actually looks a bit sheepish as he answers, turning his face away. "Well at first I thought it was one-sided. I figured I would just be slow about it, not push things too far and hopefully the feelings of trust would still develop organically." He dips his head, "However, once I realized that was not the case, I was very conflicted. On one hand, the ah, attraction," he falters, coughing a bit, "was a little concerning, sure, but I still had your attention and the spell had us actually talking without resorting to violence. It was working." Vlad looks to him searchingly, almost helplessly and Danny sighs.

"Before I even touch on that that, I have to wonder what the 'other hand' of your problem was."

Vlad seems a little worried with that statement, 'Perhaps I was too quick to assume his friendship.' he thinks, bitterly. "On the other hand, I was deeply frustrated with you having any control over me. I was concerned you would use the power against me and had hoped your 'Good-Guy' shtick would keep you from such an act." He frowns, "and I was proven wrong."

Danny ducks his head in shame, "I'm sorry for that. I was angry at the time, and sure what you did was kind of scummy, but I definitely should have had a better control over my self than that." He locks eyes with Vlad, "I know you don't have to forgive me, but I'd like to think you can learn to trust me again like that. I've never done something so… so malicious before and it honestly didn't even feel that good anyway. I'd rather be the 'Good-Guy' again."

Vlad rolls his eyes and huffs, pretending to be annoyed with Danny's answer, "And I assume I'm the 'Evil Bad Guy' in your little world, hm?" But inside Vlad is reeling from the sincere apology. He can't help but feel a blooming warmth in his chest that the teen is willing to let him stew and demand no forgiveness. 'He is too sweet. I must put a stop to this situation we are in and this madness those two insufferable brats put us through.'

Danny laughs, "Well you definitely threw us for a loop with the Scholarship Thing. Why are you doing that anyway? What do you get out of it?"

Vlad groans and leans back, staring at the ceiling of the lab, "That was supposed to be anonymous. I was not supposed to get anything out of it. I know the true value of education, especially amongst those that do not have the financial means to match their potential. You heard what I said in your class about that." Vlad looks over at the teen, "And it was meant as a small gift to you and your friends for putting up with my pushing over the years and the countless tests I ran you through. Before you left for sub-par schooling with half-assed schedules to waste your efforts working part-time."

Danny furrows his brow, "'Tests?'"

"Yes Daniel – ah – sorry," his agitation quickly morphing into an apologetic frown as the teen jolts, "Ahem. Yes. Tests. Did you honestly think I was trying to 'take over the world' all the time with those little schemes? They were usually ploys that affected you most of all, weren't they? And somehow you always found the way out, hmm?"

Danny sputters, "No. No way! What about the map? And-and almost burning Sam at the stake? And everything to do with Pariah Dark? Annnd all of Skulker's upgrades! He almost killed me! You almost killed me! Like all the time!"

Vlad leans forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped loosely between his legs as he dangles them over the counter, "And somehow you always found the way out, hmm?" he repeats, "I told you before that I was sparring with you. Preparing you. Haven't I made myself clear by now that I am not as easily beaten as you assumed?"

Danny just stares at him, slack-jawed, "Well yeah, but that was… a bit much, don't you think? You put me and my friends, my family in danger, like, constantly. And now it's all just pretend?"

"…Little Badger…" The smile in Vlad's voice has Danny looking up to see his giant shit-eating grin, "You honestly believed every word that I said, didn't you? Just like that? Am I really that good of an actor? Wasn't it mighty convenient when I spouted off my plans all the time?"

"… Shut up! Don't look so smug. You're really convincing when you literally break buildings and transport the town to other dimensions."

"Yes, well sometimes I actually wanted some of those fascinating artifacts and ghost technologies." Vlad allows before shrugging, "The world-ending and town-uprooting was all for your benefit. You seriously believed all that? What would I do with an Egyptian city and a giant sphynx?" He snorts and shakes his head, leaning back to chuckle to himself at the absurdity.

Danny stares at Vlad like he's going crazy, like actually crazy-crazy. "Then why?" he asks, dumbfounded. "All of that shit was so hard!"

"You need to realize our world is completely ridiculous, Little Badger." he hums. "The winners don't always deserve it, the losers get down-trodden, the nice guy doesn't get the girl unless he happens to be in a movie, and sometimes your town gets thrown in another dimension. I was teaching you how to deal with it. And you did, luckily."/

Danny stands up, suddenly agitated, "All those sleepless nights in the first year! I was a fucking zombie! My grades absolutely tanked!" he gripes angrily, pointing an aggressive finger at the man.

Vlad looks at the finger with absolutely no fuss (further irritating the teen) before asking very calmly, "Yes, and what did you do to combat your sleeplessness?"

Danny forces himself to breathe, reel in his indignation, and think the question over, "Well, we knew we couldn't stay up so late every night, we had to deal with the ghosts faster. Sleep had to become a priority, so we got better at finding their weaknesses?"

Vlad nods, "And what of your grades?"

"Well, we set up a study group everyday for at least an hour…" Danny says slowly, realization dawning.

"Yes. You learned to manage your time and juggle your responsibilities. Sure, it was hard at first but now you and your friends are quite the formidable and effective team."

"Was that a compliment?" Danny asks faintly, mind spinning through all the bullshit this man has put him through over the past few years and seeing it finally for what it was. "Maybe things were a bit too easy for a teenager… why didn't I question that, like, ever?"

"Because it feels good to be powerful, D- doesn't it?" Vlad smiles, pleased with himself all over again.

Danny doesn't answer him, thinking about that stupid Egyptian fiasco, and the way Vlad had (almost) everything under control, "Still though, that sphynx would've been a badass guard dog. And I think you would've been fine running that little desert kingdom, you literally thrive in a dictatorship environment."

Vlad hums, taking the dig good-naturedly, "It would have been less work than overshadowing voters…" he pretends to seriously think it over, dodging Danny's playful swat to the arm. "Although, in all seriousness, I may have gotten a little carried away with some of those plans… you helped me ground myself and I thank you for that, Little Badger. I don't want to always be terrible, you know. I'm partly helping you and partly curious about our world. We can so easily manipulate the Ghost Zone, I have been researching just how much we can manipulate the human world as well."

'Uh oh, he's going full-nerd again.' Danny thinks to himself, holding back a giggle as Vlad continues.

"It's absolutely fascinating! The humans don't even understand why all this crazy stuff happens to them and yet they adapt to it all so well. Even the ghosts you let in under your truce are integrating into the public. Technus is teaching! At the library! I don't even understand how anyone can listen to him talk but he somehow has students, and the library has never had better internet connection."

They both chuckle at that totally absurd situation. Vlad looks Danny over fondly before his smile dies away, finally plucking up the courage to ask something that's been slowly eating him for a few years now.

"I've been wanting to ask you about your truce with everyone. Why is it you never asked me, Little Badger?"

Danny steps close enough to grasp Vlad's shoulder and give it a little shake, "You never gave me the opportunity? How can I even consider asking you when you've been fighting me since the first day that I met you? I never thought you would actually agree, maybe laugh at me but never agree."

Vlad sighs, "You're right, of course. If you were to suddenly show up on my doorstep, I would have been far too suspicious to listen. I… I wish it wasn't so, but it's hard to step away from such an ingrained habit." He looks away, momentarily ashamed of his own trust issues.

Danny gives the shoulder a gentle squeeze and drops his hand, suddenly realizing he's standing between the man's knees. 'Perhaps now is a good time to - ?'

"Well luckily for you, that's something I can help you with," he says gently, "Maybe you can teach me a thing or two about our ghost powers and I could, I dunno …" he lightly grips Vlad's chin and faces him forwards again, smiling softly and biting his lip, "teach you how to open up a bit?"

Danny's heart hammers in his chest, he's actually pulling a move on Vlad. Vlad Masters. His cheeks are stinging, and he worries his heartbeat is loud enough for the man to hear.

But Vlad is frozen, his eyes wide open, and he seems to have short-circuited.

'I can work with that.' Danny thinks to himself. He takes another step closer and fingers the tie hanging on the man's chest, giving him a soft look, "Would you… would you like that?" he gives the tie a tug, "Would you like this? Vlad?"

At his name being called and the subsequent activation of the spell, Vlad finally snaps out of his frozen state and turns intangible, darting across the room to get away as fast as possible. "That-that's-that's enough!" he's breathing heavy and looking at Danny with wild eyes.

Danny drops his hand and tries not to acknowledge the sting of rejection, no matter how expected it was. "Just hear me out a minute, I know I'm not the most desirable person on the planet but we – "

"That's not it, Da- argh!" He scrubs a hand down his face, "You-you don't understa-"

"Danny! Vlad! We're back!" Maddie hollers from the basement door, scaring both halfa's into a fighting stance. They eye each other and drop their fists sheepishly.

Vlad opens his mouth and points a shaky finger at the teen, drops it and shakes his head. He turns and heads up the stairs without another word.

Danny lets out a long breath, unsure what to do at this point but happy to have finally planted the damn seed. He had thought about this for the past week and while his friends may think he's crazy, he knows what he wants.

And right now what he wants is talking with his parents like Danny didn't just turn his world upside down.

And it's not like the man doesn't feel the same way either, Danny's been assured as much. So he's just denying this out of what? Guilt? Insecurity?

The teen smiles as he follows, grabbing the suit jacket on the way. He knows it'll take Vlad some time to get used to the idea. But maybe a little nudge in the right direction won't hurt either.

Maybe the spell will come in handy after all.

With dinner cleared away and the excitement of the intruding ghosts dying down, the Fentons and their guest retire to the living room. Vlad seems much more enthusiastic about the wine now and Danny just rolls his eyes at him.

Jack is puffed up about the 'elite new ghost' that thwarted their weaponry and begins brainstorming who and why and what Freakshow is. Danny snickers and agrees he has no idea either, bringing a small smirk from Vlad.

The man does his best to not make any eye contact with Danny whatsoever, so of course Danny does his best to make conversation with him at every available opportunity.

He even 'accidentally' calls him by his name, just one more time. Just to see. Watching with guilty fascination as Vlad coughs into his hand and shifts in his seat. He shoots Danny a filthy glare and the teen just beams and winks, unable to help himself.

It isn't long after the bottle is emptied that Vlad declares the evening late, grabbing up his coat and slipping on his shoes. Maddie and Jack offer their 'farewell's and 'until next time's and Danny waves from behind them, subtly pointing upwards behind their backs.

Vlad shakes his head no and grabs the doorhandle.

"Bye Vlad! See you again soon!" Danny calls out, eyeing him pointedly before turning away.

Vlad breathes deeply through his nose and plasters on a friendly smile to his old friends before heading to his car. The spell has him warm all over and uncomfortable in his own skin. He starts the engine muttering about teenagers and backs out of the drive.

The mutterings don't stop as he turns the corner and parks in the parking lot of a closed café. Shutting off the engine, he grips the steering wheel tightly and wills the spell's affects away from his system.

It takes many long minutes to feel more in control of himself, and it's not perfect, but he knows the most impatient of the Fentons will not take kindly to anymore dawdling.

He sighs, checks his surroundings, then transforms. The puff of pink goes unnoticed in the quiet dark.

"You are an insufferable brat."

Danny whips around to see Vlad materialize above his home for the second time that evening.

He shrugs, "Well I couldn't let you just leave." He turns and floats down to his room, expecting the man to follow.

Naturally, he does, although he doesn't have to like it. "But of course, wherever would I get the idea that saying goodbye meant I was leaving? Honestly." He snarks to hide his nervousness, shifting in his suit as he lands on the bedroom floor, and wondering just what has gotten into the teen.

Danny laughs, "Well I wasn't done talking to you yet. I couldn't just let you go after what happened in the lab."

Vlad cringes and opens his mouth to speak but Danny cuts him off.

"Just let me get this out!" He waits and when Vlad doesn't stop him, he continues on. "Look, I know you like me, and I know you were pretty bent out of shape about that fact. That's fine, I get it, I'm just some high schooler and what not. But you said it yourself, we are the same." He floats closer, imploring the man to listen for once. "It makes more sense for us to work together than to fight all the time. We could share our experiences and be super strong. And what if we really work together, ya know? I mean, isn't that the best-case scenario for us here?"

"I will not consider this just because it's convenient." Vlad cuts in, nostrils flaring, "I will not settle, nor shall you, when it comes to matters such as these." He crosses his arms, "Frankly I'm shocked by you, my boy. This is beyond humiliating and I seriously doubt - "

"Vlad. Shut up." Danny smiles, amused.

But Vlad is not amused and bares his fangs, eyes glowing, "Cease the use of the spell immediately, or I will leave. This is your only warning."

Danny holds up his hands in surrender, "Fine, fine. Look, I started off on the wrong foot. I'm sorry, Ok?" He drops his arms and floats closer still, causing Vlad to back up towards the desk. "I started with all the reasonable… reasons. But you're right, that's not any excuse to do this." He gestures between them, causing Vlad to frown.

"And what if I don't want this?" He mimics the teen's gesture with sarcasm.

"I think you do, though." Danny says with a grin, "I know you have feelings for me. Maybe even the same ones I have for you." He admits quietly, landing on the ground and stepping closer.

Vlad, feeling cornered, looks away and forces a laugh, "And where would you possibly get such a ridiculous idea?"

"Ember and Freakshow. They told me everything." He advances again, "about you breaking them out of jail," another step, "the spell you asked them for," another step, "the way they changed it."

Vlad backs away further, noting the desk directly behind him. He's speechless, who is this person and what happened to the young, timid Daniel he knows?

Danny is close enough to touch, and he reaches out to do so, saying "They even told me about your confusion, how your thoughts were going in an unexpected direction."

Vlad grabs his wrist in a tight grip, "Daniel, stop this."

Danny smiles, feeling the warm tingles in his skull and finally, finally, welcoming the feeling. "That's the spirit. Say my name again, Vlad."

The man shudders and drops the hand like it's burning him. He feels heat pool in his face and his pants, his body lighting up and betraying him from Danny's insistent use of the spell.

"Stop, please. Don't come any closer." His voice is faint, his pulse is rabbit-quick and he refuses to make eye-contact. "This isn't right, please. I'm the same age as your father for crying out loud."

Danny, totally ignoring him, steps closer, backing him fully into the desk, "Yeah, I am a little freaked out about all this too. But it helps that you are freaking out just as badly. That just makes me more confident in doing this" he lifts a hand to Vlad's face, slowly, as if approaching a wild animal.

It goes to show how far gone the man is when he not only doesn't phase away from Danny but allows the touch on his cheek. Vlad will fully die before admitting how nice it feels.

Danny continues, "We obviously both want This, and yes, I'm absolutely terrified about whatever This is but at least you're terrified too. It makes it easier to just let go."

"You just repeated yourself! And that point doesn't make matters better! I don't think this is a good idea at all. Just wait a minute-"

"No. I'm tired of hiding from this. It feels good to give in," he leans in, "so give in Vlad. Please?" He closes his eyes and presses his lips to Vlad's.

The man gasps from the spell, the contact, the everything. In a moment of weakness and utter indulgence, he allows the kiss. It's a perfect combination of brain-pleasure mixed with body-pleasure that is too intoxicating to ignore.

Danny hums into the kiss and presses his body against Vlad's, grabbing the back of his cape and pulling him in closer.

Vlad groans and slowly extricates himself before he loses his mind completely. He rests his forehead on Danny's, "What are you doing to me?" he pants.

Danny gives a quick laugh, "Don't act like this is so unexpected. You're the one that made the spell after all. And said something about being 'able to handle it?'" he teases.

"You know damned well this is not what I meant." Vlad insists.

Danny pulls back to look at him more clearly, "Do you regret this?"

'No. Yes. How am I supposed to answer that?'

"I should."

"So, you don't."

"…I thought you were one of the 'Good Guys?'"

Danny fingers at the black hairs on Vlad's nape, "Aren't I?"

"Right now you're less like the goody two-shoed brat I know and more like an evil temptress from legend."

Danny smirks, tilting his head, "Oh, am I tempting you, Vlad?"

They both feel how the spell answers for him, making the man keen lowly and press his rock-hard length against the warm thigh currently wedged between his own. He drops his head in Danny's neck and growls warningly, "Daniel."

Danny shudders and Vlad realizes his mistake. Again. He doesn't mean to do this, he's just not thinking clearly. The brat is using the spell against him - exactly as he feared he would - and yet he can't seem to summon any reasons to care.

"Again." Danny breathes, gripping Vlad's hip with his other hand.

"This is not a good idea Little Badger." Vlad manages a shaky breath, "It's just the spell. Please, you'll only regret – "

"Shhh-sh-sh-sh. No." Danny whispers, "Trust me, this isn't the spell. I… I want this, and I know you do too. Just… just trust me on this, alright?"

Vlad leans back to warily look into Danny's eyes, seeing a sincerity and gentleness that the teen should not yet possess. He wants to believe so, so badly.

Goddamn it, he wants this despite everything, doesn't he?

Finally, slowly, he nods. Letting out a deep breath, he leans in and closes the distance between their lips again. Sealing his decision with a kiss. He can't keep fighting Danny off, or the spell, or his own blasted mind.

He's going to Hell anyway, might as well enjoy the ride.

"Say my name again. Please."

"…Daniel."

Danny gasps, feeling the heat finally change direction to match his thundering heart in his pulse. "Again."

Vlad smiles against the teen's lips, "Greedy little thing, aren't you?" He puts his lips to Danny's ear and whispers, "Daniel."

"Fuck… Vlad." Danny's voice cracks and he grinds harder into the man, holding on for dear life as the spell crashes into him.

Vlad feels his pupils dilate and his body flush all over. He grabs the teen by the shoulders and pushes him towards the bed, following him down as Danny goes willingly.

He all but attacks Danny, mouth on his neck, sucking harsh kisses into his skin while manhandling him to allow Vlad to settle between his legs. The next time they press their hips together, Danny whines and writhes, prompting Vlad to pin his wrists to the mattress and leer over him.

"Is this what you wanted, Daniel?"

Danny tosses his head back and moans lowly, barely mindful of his parents downstairs in the house. He opens his eyes and sees Vlad over him, pinning him, sneering at him and it does things for him. Absolutely, but…

"I have a better idea, Vlad." Danny quickly takes advantage of the man's vulnerability as the spell attacks him and flips them over. As Vlad falls back into the bed with a huff and Danny settles not-so-gently directly over his hips, Vlad stutters between a breath and a gasp. The death-grip he has on Danny's shoulders is perfect.

Now when he looks and sees Vlad beneath him, hair a mess, face aflush and waiting for his next move with bated breath, Danny feels it. This. This is what he wanted. What he's been craving since he first watched that recorded footage.

"Fuck you're gorgeous like this, Vlad."

The man moans loudly, causing Danny to swear and cover his mouth for him, giddy with power at finally having Vlad at his mercy.

He leans in close and whispers in his ear, "Can I touch you? Please?"

Vlad nods so enthusiastically that Danny almost laughs, but he doesn't want the man to take it the wrong way. So he leans back and bites one of the fingertips on his gloves, removing them swiftly one after the other. Danny brings his hands to Vlad's face, feeling his facial hair with a run of his thumb before quickly grabbing up the man's wrists and pinning them above his head. He lowers himself down for a slow, dirty kiss. Enjoying the ever so slight scratch of fangs and Vlad's small whimpers.

As he kisses, Danny uses his free hand to work open Vlad's white ghost suit. It takes more concentration than he realizes and his kiss becomes sloppy.

"Just phase the damned thing off!" Vlad demands. It would have been more impressive if he wasn't panting or blushing so hard, but Danny doesn't seem to mind.

"Now who's greedy, hmm?" Danny teases, phasing his hand underneath the shirt and stroking up the man's chest. Damn, he is solid. 'Does he work out all the time or what? How is his body real?' "Am I really allowed to touch you like this?" he asks in awe.

Vlad barely contains an eyeroll, "I didn't descend into depravity with you this far to suddenly stop you now, Daniel. If – "

He hisses as Danny suddenly sucks in a sharp breath and his exploratory touch turns into hard nails scratching down Vlad's chest.

"S-sorry. Mmph, the spell… F-fuck."

Vlad reels, "Again, do it again." He gasps raggedly, pupils dilating. 'That felt so intense! So… incredible!' "Please Daniel, again!"

Danny rakes his nails down Vlad's chest again, phasing the man's gloves off even as his eyes roll back in his head. How can this feel so good? Sex never felt this good before. Is it the spell? Or is it because its with Vlad? Shit, they aren't even fucking yet and he's ready to bust.

"Touch me." He commands, letting go of Vlad's wrists to rip his own ghost suit away. Vlad rests a firm grip on both of his hips, digging into the dip in Danny's hipbones and feeling himself twitch in response.

Danny shudders, naked finally and reaching to help Vlad get there too. Vlad occupies himself with running his hands all over the teen's body, feeling each of the lean muscles, the dip in his collarbone, the small trail of glowing, white hair to his groin, "You're perfect," he murmurs, mesmerized. He brushes his hands down Danny's body, following the hair before gently running a finger over his shaft.

Danny whines and finally removes Vlad's pants, suddenly finding himself sitting flush against Vlad with not a stitch of clothing between them. They both moan at the skin-to-skin contact.

"Christ, your body is so hot." The teen breathes out shakily, "Will you burn me like this?"

Vlad hums, running his fingers down Danny's dick to cup at his balls, rolling them in his palm. He marvels at the teen's hushed whimper, assuming his grip isn't too hot after all, and begins stroking him with a loose grip.

Danny realizes this will all be over too soon if he doesn't do something and fast. He leans down to kiss Vlad, letting all his dirty moans bleed into the man's mouth. At the same time he grabs Vlad's dick and copies the pace that has been set.

Vlad feels his endurance escape him, and even though it's most likely the spell's doing, he can not allow himself to cum before the teen above him. He swats Danny's hand away and takes them both in his palm. He's unable to close his fist but it still feels too damned good. He uses his other hand to push and pull Danny's hips, wordlessly guiding him to start fucking into his fist.

Danny goes willingly, putting his fingers in Vlad's black hair (like he's been wanting to do for a while now) and gripping him tight. Vlad moans, fuck, he loves that. That's not helping his case here.

He uses a firmer grip, growling and stroking all the way up the shafts, thumbing the head of Danny's dick to tease him before sliding back down again to repeat. His other hand continues to fondle the teen's balls, gently pulling and massaging them as they draw higher and higher.

But then he gets an idea. "Daniel," he whispers, "Oh Daniel, Daniel, Daniel. So good for me, that's it darling, just let go."

Danny can't take it anymore, the spell, Vlad under him, his finger rubbing the back of his balls to bluntly circle and press on his rim, everything, utterly steamrolls him. His eyes roll and his toes curl and his hips jerk erratically as he starts calling Vlad's name in faint, gasping breaths, the most he can manage.

Vlad, not expecting Danny to chant his name over and over as he cums, helplessly falls apart without warning. The spell wrings him out again and again, forcing him to endure the most intense orgasm he's ever experienced. The waves crash into him continuously, causing his mouth to hang slack in the onslaught, waiting for Danny to have mercy.

After, they pant together, tingling. Both gasp as Vlad gently removes his hand from their cocks, the excessive use of the spell keeping them wound up and very sensitive.

"Wow." Danny breathes, flopping over on his side to watch Vlad's reaction. Will he regret this after all?

Vlad wipes his hand and stomach down with some tissues from a conveniently placed tissue box before rolling back to face Danny. They stare at each other a moment, calming their hearts and waiting for the other's possible freak-out and rejection.

When nothing is said for a moment, Vlad clears his throat and rolls onto his back as well. "Well, I have to admit, this is not where I expected things to go this evening." He side-eyes Danny's doubtful look and quickly adds, "Not a completely unwelcome surprise, mind you."

Danny sits up, "Are you sure about that? That was… barely consensual. I… I get it if you feel violated or used or something." He looks away, chewing his lip with a frown.

"Hey, don't do that to yourself Little Badger," Vlad leans over and turns Danny's face back to him, pushing a sweaty lock of hair out of his eyes. "You are not wrong, I may have developed some feelings for you along the way." He won't admit to more, he's not ready for that kind of truth to be spoken. "If I didn't truly want to take things further this evening, I would've been long gone."

"You promise?"

"Promise." he smiles.

'But will you regret this, Little Badger?'


A/N: Guess who's back!

Hey listen, this is my first time doing any sort of sexual scene,

let me know if I went too fast or you're happy or the descriptions were too bleh.

Really, I need the support here people lol