Of course the useless fruitloop couldn't be bothered to answer a simple text. Ugh. And I'll bet he's pissed when I show up unannounced.
Danny continued walking onward, dodging melting snow piles and hiking up his backpack on his left shoulder. Not my problem that the old man can't keep up with technology. Tucking his nose deeper into his scarf, Danny sniffled and hurried his pace. He couldn't tell if he was genuinely getting sick or if his spring allergies were returning. He hadn't had any last year, so he might just be due for them. Ugh.
God my shoulder hurts.
Taking the stairs two at a time, Danny headed up to Town Hall and made his way to the back offices.
Dark wood lined the entrance hall, the ceiling was tall and arched with marble floors that reflected the golden accents sprinkled throughout. It was beautiful and intimidating. The first time he'd walked in for a 'meeting' with Vlad, he felt underdressed and out of place. Sharp cut suits were the norm around here and he'd spent the first couple visits nervously readjusting his bracelets and wiping the scuffs off his Converse. Now, it was kinda just his brand, and the people in suits smiled back at him.
Smack dab in the middle of it all was the Mayor's office, aka, home of the Fruitloop Extraordinaire. Crystallized glass lined the front wall. Danny knew it was meant to give a semblance of privacy to its occupants, but it really just made everything look wispy and soft, like ghostly shadows danced behind the glass.
"Hey, Walter," Danny greeted, leaning against the heavy wooden desk housing Vlad's assistant.
"Oh, hello Mr. Fenton!" The redhead looked as excited as ever to see him. "Mayor Masters didn't mention you coming in this early?"
"Yeah, a bit of an emergency but nothing crazy urgent, you know? I texted him but he hasn't answered yet."
"You know that man doesn't read his texts," Walter laughed. "He's been in meetings all day. He should be finishing up in a minute if you want to wait by the door." Walter smiled and went back to his computer work, shooing Danny off to stand behind him by the office doors.
Danny leaned his back against the door, waiting. Just for a minute.
Then three.
Then four.
After four and a half minutes Danny was sick of tapping his feet and playing with his phone and rubbing his shoulder and messing with his beanie and bracelets and nails and oh my gosh if he doesn't just- URGH.
A burst of frustration rang through him. Danny could feel his eyes flash green and tried to stuff it down. He repressed the urge to blast through the door, balling his hands into fists instead and tucking them into his jacket pockets. He took a deep, calming breath, shutting his eyes briefly.
Three…
Two…
One…
After spotting no eyes on him, he phased slowly out of the visible plane and allowed himself to fall backwards through the door.
The constant muffled conversation turned to audible words, the pitch and intensity indicating that the meeting wasn't going all that well for someone. Letting weightlessness catch him, Danny floated above the three occupants.
He cringed at the pristine white suits that sat opposite of Vlad.
Danny frowned. The Guys in White. What do they want now?
"Look Mayor Masters, there's a lot of nuance to this whole ghost thing and-"
"Precisely. All we're asking is that you reopen your contract with us. We can provide weaponry and security-"
"Exactly. We just don't think you quite understand all the variables that contribute-"
"Oh, I understand," Vlad's voice was cutting and smooth. "Perfectly." He stood, striking the other two into silence.
Danny smirked. Now this is entertaining.
Vlad perched his fingertips on his desk and leaned forward, the two suited strangers leaning back. They were trying not to show fear, but Vlad caught their slip. The dangerous smirk that headlined his campaign came out to play and Danny knew they were toast.
He spoke, slow and lyrical, each word weaving into the next and setting their recipients on edge.
"I understand... that the government is sticking their nose into our business. I understand that you do not think I am capable of controlling this... 'problem' on my own. I also understand that you two are just underlings to your corporate overlords and have no real authority on… well, anything. And, I understand, that going after you," he leaned in closer, and Danny could swear the two suits held their breath, "that pulling apart the fabric of your careers and your home life wouldn't stop them from sending in two more pawns next week. So, I'm going to let you leave. A gesture of mercy, with the promise that you deliver a message to your boss. Stay out of our business, and maybe, I'll make it your business when it needs to be."
The GIW agents looked one another in the eye a moment, before turning back and sheepishly nodding their agreement.
"Until we become a 'hazard' to society outside ourselves- which has yet to happen in nearly two years of attacks- I think we can call this handled."
Danny was covering his mouth, containing his laughter as they scurried away, ants under a magnifying glass. Or fleeing from the boot come to squash them.
Before he could even remove his hand or turn visible, Vlad's eyes met his, shocking him into visibility.
"Wha- What?" Danny flailed out his arms, stopping his sudden fall before he could hit the ground.
Vlad let out a huff of amusement that quickly turned to annoyance.
"Why are you here Daniel?"
"I texted you. How'd you know where I was?"
"You weren't doing anything to shield your presence," he replied, and Danny instantly felt the shameful rush of cool ectoplasmic blood pooling in his cheeks. Vlad sat down, leaning back to rub a hand over his eyes and sigh, "Honestly boy, it's like you've learned nothing."
Danny settled onto the floor and took in the shape of Vlad. He looked so… old. Like his years were finally catching up with him. He was also exhausted, fatigue pulling at the lines of his face, with weathered, but well-manicured, hands rubbing circles into his temples.
Danny spoke, gently and apologetically, "Well, we have training in like… an hour, so maybe you could show me again."
Vlad stared down at his hands, running his nails back and forth across his palms. Stillness encompassed them.
He sighed, "You would have been better off sending me an email, to get my attention. Send an email if you need something urgently."
The boy replied, "Oh yeah? Noted." There was a smile in his voice when he asked, "Do you threaten everyone that walks in here?"
Scowling, Vlad glanced upwards, then did a double take as he assessed Danny's form.
"You're bleeding Daniel."
"Of course I am," Danny glanced down. Splotches of red were beginning to seep through his jacket, probably exacerbated by using his powers in his human form. He'd been focused on training his body these last few weeks working with his mom and classmates. So he'd gotten noticeably stronger and quicker in his human form. On the other hand, his training with Vlad mostly consisted of powers training while in his ghost form, so he never really trained his powers in human form. Each time he did required conscious effort and could become strenuous if he was already weak or injured.
Groaning, he replied, "I really liked this jacket." Note to self: More practice in human form.
"Did you even try to heal it?"
Danny winced.
They'd practiced healing the week prior. Vlad had demonstrated by channeling ectoplasm into his hand and holding it over the wound. It kind of reminded Danny of Avatar the Last Airbender to be honest. It actually helped him to think of it that way.
"No. In my defense, I'm not very good at it yet, and also, I completely forgot."
Vlad sighed once more, pushing himself to stand. He smoothed his vest, straightened his tie, and tucked a loose strand of hair behind his ear, all the while eyeing Danny from head-to-toe.
Danny didn't like when he got like this. When he could feel the man picking apart his every flaw. When his inexperience was scrutinized by Vlad. His overwhelming knowledge threatened to drown Danny sometimes, information constantly being poured over him and then scooped up and inspected by Vlad. He appreciated their newfound comradery and trust, but it was hard to brush off the feeling that Vlad thought he was superior and also right all the time.
Vlad didn't have to go any further into this topic of conversation, they both knew he was right, and he held eye contact with Danny unflinchingly.
Patiently.
He quirked an eyebrow at the boy, challenging, and smiled lightly when Danny finally looked away.
Bristling under his mentor's gaze, Danny tugged his scarf up and over his shoulder, covering the growing stain. His eyes settled on his shoes.
Vlad definitely thought he was right all the time.
Their entire relationship was still a balancing act. Vlad struggling to overcome his past and Danny struggling to grow up, to accept flawed people and to accept learning and being wrong.
Stupid Vlad. Stupid healing powers. How am I supposed to remember all of this? It's not possible. I get a new power like every week and I'm doing extra training and volunteering and school and-
The sound of rustling pulled Danny from his thoughts. He glanced up, resisting the urge to stumble back a step at Vlad's sudden appearance. He had his coat slung over his shoulder and was looking down at Danny with an expression he couldn't quite comprehend.
Something like pity, but...
"Let's go Daniel."
They headed out in silence, Walter thanking Danny for getting Vlad out of the office early, genuinely happy that his boss was getting some time away from work.
Vlad led the way to his car.
It was snowing, just a little, and Danny could feel his core reaching out, embracing the weather. Danny focused on the frost forming on his fingertips as they walked. He traced a gentle line up his wrist, guiding the intricate pattern over his hand and beneath his sleeve.
He'd only left the warehouse 15 minutes ago, but even the process of climbing into the car was painful. Tingling bursts of pain raced across his collarbone anytime he jostled it now, so he let the cold of his core spread, let it drift up and over his shoulder with a brush of his fingers and the smallest push of power. Thankfully, the thin layer of frost he placed did its part in numbing sensation.
Danny let his fingers drift to the glass as they passed FentonWorks. He caught sight of Tucker's beanie amongst the crowd of teenagers lining the front steps. He was telling some joke that had Sam bent over laughing and Valerie stifling a chuckle. The others looked on with faint amusement and Danny felt a twinge of jealousy. The window frosted over slowly, sprawling branches of ice that creeped from his touch and painted a crystalline portrait.
He'd thought he'd gotten over this.
Did they even notice I was gone?
Danny had gotten more used to it over the past year and half, adjusted to the feeling of being left behind, of fading into the background of his own life. But it was still hard. He'd spent so long out of the loop, so long running around dealing with ghosts when he should have been socializing or studying or sleeping or just being 14.
Being 15.
And now, 16 was creeping up on him, looming over him and Danny wasn't ready to give up being a kid yet. Hadn't gotten to enjoy himself. Would never get to give himself, not fully, to just being a teenager.
"So... Danny," Vlad said.
The boy in question cut his eyes over to Vlad, instantly thrown by the use of his nickname. The man was drumming his fingers across the steering wheel and looking decidedly… awkward.
Oh god, did he notice me sitting here looking depressed? Ugh he could probably 'sense' it. Why does he even care? He's part of the reason I struggled for so long.
"How are classes going?"
Danny squinted, before turning fully from the glass to face him.
"What is this?" he asked, instantly suspicious.
"What is what?"
Danny gestured at Vlad as a whole, "This. Your entire vibe. That question."
"I'm just asking. I want to know how you're doing."
Danny scoffed and settled back in his seat, watching snow settle on the windshield. "We don't need to do this."
"Do what?"
A sharp scowl crossed Danny's face and he turned his eyes back to the obscured side window. "Do what, he says."
"Okay. We don't have to do... that. How's about I tell you something instead?"
Danny rolled his eyes across the ceiling, casting a long glance at Vlad, "You just wanna hear yourself talk."
Vlad smothered his smirk with a small frown. "Anyways-" Danny rolled his eyes again, "I heard something that may be of interest to you. From your parents."
Danny paused his eye rolling to consider the words.
"... Go on."
"Your parents- well, your father- was telling me about an old business partner of his. Someone he's starting to work with again. You might know him..."
He paused and Danny waited. And then asked, "Might know who?"
"Oh, you know," Vlad drawled, taking his time to pull the car through the gates and stop in the driveway. "That other rich guy. Tony Stark"
Danny perked up, leaning up from his persistent slouch with wide-eyed excitement.
"Are you being serious right now?"
"Dead serious," Vlad replied, and they held eye contact for a moment before Vlad smiled.
Danny burst out laughing, giggly excitement nipping at his lips, and felt the creeping veil of sadness lift for a moment.
Tony Stark. This puts me one degree of separation from the Avengers holy crap.
"Wow," Danny said, taking notice of a slight twinge in his right ankle as he climbed out of the car. "Why? Wait, since when are you guys talking?"
"For a while, it was that the oaf called me to blather on about something or another. I've only recently started contributing anything in return."
"Awww, are you friends again?"
Vlad flashed a fang filled scowl at the boy, muttering to himself as he led the way into his home. They came quickly to his lab, smaller than his one back in Wisconsin, and hastily constructed beneath the Mayor's house earlier this year. Vlad was still renovating it, but thankfully that meant no 'mildly-less-creepy' hologram of Maddie had made its way over. Danny was glad that Vlad had toned down the original version, but he was even more glad that a copy hadn't appeared here. Maybe it meant Vlad was finally moving on.
"Your portal's blinking," Danny said as he passed it. He flopped onto one of the workbenches, melting further onto the table than usual as Vlad tossed his jacket aside and rolled up his sleeves.
"Of course it is." The man moved swiftly around the room, pulling a first aid kit from a drawer and placing it on the table in front of the boy.
Danny dragged himself up slowly and began removing items from the container. "What else did he tell you about Iron Man?" he asked. He laid out a needle, some Fenton brand fishing wire, gauze, and tape before laying his head onto his arms to rest, lethargic after a taxing day.
"Iron Man?" Vlad asked in return, typing a quick combination into the side of the portal that popped open a panel. "Oh. Let me guess. You've got a little crush?"
"Umm, of course I do. He's hot."
Vlad stopped abruptly, squirting at the cables in his hands before turning bewildered eyes to Danny.
"What- He's 3 times your age."
"...Okay?" They stared at each other a moment, before Danny smirked. "Oh come on. I have eyeballs. He's kinda hot. Besides, Mom already told me about all the professors you both had crushes on in college and they were definitely too old for either of you."
Vlad averted his eyes quickly, back to messing with the cables he'd pulled out. "I don't know why she would lie to you like that Daniel."
Danny giggled and then said, "Eh, it's mostly a hero worship thing I've got going."
"Of course it is." The blinking lights above the panel froze red, and Vlad fiddled with the wires and buttons for a moment longer.
"Hey now, Vladdie, it's not Tony's fault you spoiled your first impression." Danny pulled himself up, removing his layers and hiking his shirt up and over one shoulder. "You could've been like, my cool, rich, mentor-slash-uncle. But instead you entered your villain arc."
There was a final decisive beep from the portal and the panel was shut firmly. Vlad came over to inspect Danny's collarbone, angling him toward the light for a moment and leaning in for a better view. "My… 'villain arc' started long before you."
"Yeah, well, hopefully it's over now."
"Yes," Vlad said, his voice dropping to nearly a whisper, "Hopefully."
They both froze, holding eye contact at that. Just for a moment, as all the emotions of betrayal rolled over Danny.
When Vlad let a smile slip, Danny's was quick to follow.
"Oh my, wow!" Danny laughed deeply, nearly collapsing on the table as he grasped his chest. "You had me for a second there."
Vlad smiled serenely as he pulled scissors from the first aid kit and placed them alongside what Danny had already removed.
"Right? When you said– just now… when you were joking-"
Vlad sat beside him, reaching immediately to thread the needle and trim the wire to length with a Snip!
"Joking about what, dear boy?"
Danny's smile twitched as he drifted further from mirth and closer to fear. The man continued on, preparing saline, pulling Danny's arm over onto a towel, and generally settling in to continue their process.
It was only the faint, fluttering feeling of amusement that Danny snatched from Vlad during the first saline soaked gauze swipe that let him relax and realize the man had just played him for a complete and utter fool.
It was both disturbing and impressive.
...,,,,,,,,,,,...,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
updated: 6/10/22
new from "Iron Man?" to "...hero worship thing Ive got going.". also like two random lines here and there
its getting closer yall. a new chapter. i can taste it,,,
