Chapter 7: RESOURCEFUL
Vlad had health, wisdom and wealth beyond commond people's craziest dreams. He was the true 'human' encarnation of a Phoenix, having risen from that lugubrious hospital bed stronger than ever. He had built a name, an empire, from the ashes of his previous self, without anyones help, and took pleasure in watching the strugle of others from above. He had done everything in his power so to never have to feel as powerless as he felt in those years after the accident ever again. And here he was, tearing from the inside while watching his little badger suffer. All the money and power in the world useless, because what Daniel needed right now was a friendly ear, a warm hug, calming words, and Vlad Masters was no friend (not from a long time ago), his touch was not welcome, his words would always arouse suspicion in the ears of Daniel.
"I could contact Samantha and Mr. Foley" Molten lava would surely come out smoothlier from his mouth.
Danny was in front of a mountain of delicious plates. From sweet to salty, everything you could think for a breakfast was there, and then some more. Unfortunately, his stomach was still in knots and refused to take anything solid.
"What? Oh, no. That camp is the big deal for them, even moved the date of the wedding so they coud make it their honey moon, you know? Plus, when Sam find out that I lied to her about my graduation, she'll kill me, haha" The laugh didn't reach his voice.
Vlad couldn't understand him. Didn't he feel betrayed? Hasn't he been in love with that obnoxious girl? 'Why do you keep putting everybody else's well being before yours?' But the question Vlad really wanted to ask was another. Of course it bothered him his little badger having such a long list of people he wanted to protect. It was a charge too heavy, to anybody. However, what hurt him the most was not having a place on that list. 'Why do the people I love never love me back?' It went without saying that that question will never left his lips, it sounded pathetic enough inside his mind.
"And it's nothing really. You were right... Hello, Earth calling Vlad! I said you were right. Are you really gonna let this opportunity pass? Not even an I told you so?" Danny was focusing all his attention in Vlad, as if trying to resolve an ancient puzzle. It was a new sensation to Vlad, being at the center of his little badger's scrutizing glance, not in the hope to find a weakness or a way to take him down, but to understand him. He didn't let himself soak in that glance and the 'what ifs' that it entailed for long though. A little bit of inocent dreaming kept him moving through the day, but loosing himself in an illution would end him.
"I´m not a child Daniel" Vlad sounded harsh, however Danny saw sadness and not anger in his eyes. "I din't brought you here to mock you, neither to be treated like a fool. Or are you gonna tell me you came here last night becouse you missed my bed too much?" Vlad aced in sounding sarcastic and not hopeful.
Danny hunched over himself and when he spoke, it was barely a whisper "They welcomed me back and forgave me for lying to them for years and... and I freaked out and flee... I made her cry Vlad, I made mom cry, I-" By the end Danny was a sobbing mess and couldn't talk anymore.
Before he could even realise he was moving, Vlad was already beside Danny, prying his hands from his wet face. "Stop Daniel! Look at me" Danny's eyes were puffy and red rimmed when he looked up at him from wet lashes that were clamped together. Vlad took Danny's chin with his left hand and tilted his head up, taking a napkin with his right hand and wipping his face clean. "Whatever it is your overworked brain is thinking right now, stop." Danny was quiet and looked a little desconderted by Vlad's touch, but not disgusted 'Good' "Now, I want you to take a deep breath, hold it, that's right...now let it go"
Danny did as commanded. It felt strange. The Danny from high school would have disobeyed Vlad, just for principle. But he really needed a breath 'just a little. It's not as if he doesn't have lots of blackmail material already. I'll just, just for a while. Yeah, stop thinking, just for a while, stop worrying, just for a while'. It felt good to have someone else making the decisions. If anything went wrong would be all Vlad's fault 'Ha, serves you right fruitloop'
Danny was pliant in his hand, his eyes attentive, although...glassy 'Cheese logs!' "Rest your back in the chair Daniel" Danny did.
"Relax your body Daniel" Danny did.
"Close your eyes" Danny did.
'kiss me' The brief thought made him recoile.
Vlad mouth was painfully dry. He'd never used his hipnotic powers in people, at least not in the ones who matter. But having seen his little badger in that state and having felt so useless must have unconsciously triggered it. Vlad Masters didn't cope well with useless. So here he was, his little badger like putty in his hands, breath even, face peaceful (and almost smiling?). It was wrong, it was 'so easy, so shamefully tempting. Just name it, and he'll do it and you'll learn how it feels to truly despice yourself'.
Vlad huffed soundly and broke the hipnosis, bracing himself for the worst. He didn't even turn into his ghost half to recibe the blow. He deserved the full force of it and was waiting for it.
"Thank you" Danny's sweet words sounded like an alien riddle to Vlad's ears for a moment there. He definitely wasn´t waiting for that.
Danny almost cackled at Vlad's stupefacted face 'Oh! Came on!'
"I'm not a child either, Vlad! I know how to be grateful, now tuck that face away." Danny spoke lightly.
'Didn't he realise what just happened? For God's sake Daniel, all those years of being in inminent peril didn't gift you with even an ounce of self preservation instinct?!' That was the time when a moral person would have explained Danny what had just taken place between them. Fortunatly for Vlad, he had never been accused of being moral (or a person).
"Why Daniel, I just didn't hear you quite right before. Would you repeat yourself?" Vlad said, far too smugly for Danny's taste.
"No way! I'm leaving fruitloop" Danny said while storming off.
Vlad could easely recognize a facade when he saw one, and Danny's was for far one of the worst he had seen in a that he could blame the boy. He had never seen Danny so emotionally strained, so fragile, and wasn't untrustworthy, epithet of Vlad. The sensible thing was to take some distance, and yet the knowledge wasn't enough to make the rejection burn less.
"And where exactly are you going Daniel?" All smugness gone from his voice.
Danny stopped. He needed some time, wasn't ready to meet his family again, didn't have faith in not messing it up again. He needed space, but the idea of being alone was dreadful.
"You can take the first room on your left, up the stairs. I won't bother you there." Vlad said, focus zeroed on the tense stance of Daniel from behind. Danny didn't move.
"If you need anything, just ask me" Danny deflate a little and hope was surely hard to kill, because Vlad could feel it kicking back to life with full force.
"A cellphone charger" Danny croaked out without looking back in Vlad's direction and headed up the stairs.
"Of course" Vlad whispered. He didn't care if his little badger had listened or if he had left thinking he had have the last word.
I'm wondering, for those who are liking the story so far: Are you native speakers? Or just have learned english some time in your lifes and can't really tell if I'm writing nonsense here and there?
PS: you could be awesome in english even if it's not your mother language. It wasn't my intention to be mean.