By popular vote, I will include the scene. It's not very explicit, but I'll be changing the rating to M, just to be safe.
On another note, I see that I'm about to hit 500 reviews, which was my goal by the END of the fic. I still have two more chapters to go. I thank ALL of you who reviewed and stayed with me through this whole fic.
Unafriad
The celebration at the reception stretched beyond the Dark Realm; everywhere in the Ghost Zone there were ghosts that were rejoycing at the union of Danny Phantom and Pariah Dark, feeling the most hopeful in years (and for some, decades and even centuries) of having a better afterlife.
In the Dark Realm, the meade hall had been cleared once more for an afterparty, and unlike the Christmas party, this one was quite busy. All of the ghosts that had been in attendance last time was there, and it now included the Far Frozen, Undergrowth, Vortex, Nocturne, Clockwork, Pandora, Wulf, Amorpho, and even the Box Ghost, who was making lovey-eyes at the Lunch Lady most of the night. The Dark Castle staff was also in attendence, and everyone was having a great time.
Unlike last time, though, none of the ghosts (other than Clockwork, Fright, or Dora) seemed gather up the nerve to go talk to Danny; the young half-turned-ghost seemed too ethereal to approach. Prince Danny was shining with ghostly energy bright as a star, and all the white and ice wasnt really making him any dimmer.
But even with the unapproachability, everyone still raised their glasses to the new monarchy and toasted to their King and Prince, and the promises of a new world.
Surprisingly enough, after an hour or so of festivities, many of the ghosts presented Danny and Pariah Dark with gifts. Most of them were for Danny, naturally, but a few were for both. Among the gifts were the powers of the ghosts themselves, in pledges to use them to repair the Old Lands, something Danny found he would treasure more than anything material in days to come.
Kitty and Johnny gave Danny a scrapbook they started a few years back that included photographs of the human world, to remind Danny of happier times of his past life.
Skulker presented two rare pelts of ghostly animals that had gone extinct from the human world, one for Danny, and one for Pariah Dark.
Ember sang a beautiful bard-like song reminescent of Shalott, only giving it a happy ending, alluding to Danny and Pariah Dark's story.
The Box Ghost presented beautiful chest-like boxes for keepsakes for the both of them.
Clockwork surprised Pariah Dark with the Ghost King's own sword from life, new and polished, that had come from the past. While examining the sword, Pariah Dark commented on how he had wondered where he had lost it. To Danny, Clockwork gave a beautiful silver pocketwatch with mother-of-pearl Roman numerals and hands. The inside of the cover would give Danny personal advice 'in times of need'.
After the gifts were given, more ectohol and food was embibed all around, and the guests either trailed home one by one (or passed out from inebriation), Danny and Pariah Dark decided to turn in. Before leaving the hall, on a whim, Danny picked up the bouquet of frosted white roses and tossed it over his shoulder, where it landed into an unsuspecting Dora's arms. He left the meade hall, laughing a little at the ghost's heavily bashful expression.
Danny and Pariah Dark walked together in blissful silence to the main staircase and paused before parting to their respective wings. Pariah Dark smiled at Danny, stroking one hand over his Prince Consort's back. "You did wonderfully today," he said softly. "I truly hope you are as happy as I am."
Danny smiled, his icy aura brightening slightly. "I am," he said honestly. "I feel...at peace now. It's a really good feeling." He leaned forward and gave Pariah Dark a hug. "...Thank you."
Pariah Dark hugged back. "What for?" he asked. Danny pulled back a little, his irindescent blue eyes shining.
"For...everything," he said, shrugging a little. "For being patient with me, for taking care of me...for loving me. That's all."
Pariah Dark scoffed slightly. "'That's all', he says," he murmured to himself, shaking his head. "Daniel, if I could give back half of what you've given me, I myself would be amazed." He leaned down and kissed Danny's forehead before drawing back and turning to the east wing, giving Danny one last look of love and longing before going.
Danny stood on the stair landing between the east and west wings for a moment before walking to his room and quietly taking off his wedding clothes and putting them up neatly. When he was down to his underclothes and Crown, he flopped back on his bed to stare up at the ceiling.
It was as though the last few hours had been just a dream; waking up, viewing life through a ghostly koi pond, marrying Pariah Dark, dying...it was just too surreal to be true. He lifted his hand and stared at its snowy whiteness that had the barest trace of a bluish tinge, and knew that it really WAS true. He WAS now pure ghost, and he WAS married.
Sighing, he stood up and walked over to a full-length mirror to take a look at himself. He knew that he should be more shocked at how drastic a change his appearance was, but he wasnt. From the paleness of his skin to the ice-cold white fire that made up his hair, it all felt so natural to him. He felt comfortable in his own skin for the first time in four years; what was there to be shocked about?
Danny glanced over his new form for a few more minutes before finally noticing his Crown of Ice, which was glinting softly with the aura of aurora. The Far Frozen had outdone themselves with this spectacular gift, that much was for sure. He reached up and brushed his fingertips over it, feeling the gentle icy coldness swirl around his fingers like a winter breeze that sang to his ghostly core. It felt like a part of him, like Pariah Dark's Crown of Fire was a part of HIM. It was marvelous...
...And ironic, that Fire and Ice go together so well.
A small smile crept up to Danny's lips. They DID go together quite well, did they? And more than that...they loved each other. Danny felt a bluish blush tinge his cheeks; he DID love Pariah Dark. He wasnt afraid of him anymore, and he WANTED to be with him.
...Which made a part of his mind wonder why he was here, instead of with his husband tonight.
The consummation, another part retorted. Was he even ready for that? Yes, he loved Pariah Dark, but was he ready to consummate the relationship? To completely give himself over to his King? Danny heaved a heavy sigh and flopped back down onto the bed, biting his lip nervously. The initial fear of being close to anyone had all but faded away completely, but there was still that anxiety that came with taking that relationship to the next level. He loved Pariah Dark, but he didnt know if he was ready to express it. What to do, what to do...?
Danny's eyes flickered over to his bedside table, where the pocket watch Clockwork gave him rested, glinting slightly as though to tell Danny to pick it up. After a brief moment, he reached over and opened it, glancing into the inside of the cover.
At first, there was nothing there. But as Danny stared at it, focusing on his conundrum, words began to appear, letter by letter, as though being written by Clockwork himself.
Do not fear love.
Take the plunge;
He will catch you.
After the full bit of advice was written and stared at for a long while, the words faded, leaving Danny with his answer.
The question was...what was he going to do with that answer?
Danny sat alone in his room for the longest time, holding his pocket watch, before clicking it shut. It was then that he realized just how cold it was - figuratively - alone in his room without Pariah Dark, and he wondered if Pariah Dark was feeling the same way.
It only took a few more minutes of inner debate before Danny put his pocket watch back on the bedside table and stood up, grabbing the silky white robe he'd worn earlier that day and throwing it on before walking out of his room.
In the east wing, Pariah Dark was sitting alone in his bed chamber, his Crown in his hands as he contemplated it. Without Danny there with him, the green fire's glow seemed to have died down slightly, as though sensing the loneliness without its icy mate.
Pariah Dark would have loved nothing more than to have brought Danny in here with him; to have carried him into this bedroom, undress him, kiss him, touch him, and love him, bringing him pleasure beyond anything the young man could have ever dreamed of. He just wanted to hold Danny in his arms all night and tell him everything he'd kept to himself to avoid things getting awkward during the engagement.
Even if they didnt actually make love, he just wanted to have Danny with him tonight, the night of their wedding.
Pariah Dark heaved a depressed sigh and put his Crown in a special casing on the fire mantle, where it hovered in the middle without touching any of the sides, but allowed Pariah Dark to admire it when it was unneccessary to wear. He was about to go to bed and sleep off his depression when his bed chamber door was knocked upon.
This greatly confused him; who would have gone straight through his rooms to reach his bed chamber? He greatly wished it would be Danny, but why set himself up for dissappointment? Either way, he walked over to his door and opened it...
...And saw Danny standing on the other side in his icy paleness, his blue eys glowing softly.
They stood there, staring at each other for the longest time, before Pariah Dark spoke up. "...What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice not accusing, but rather, bewildered. Danny's face blushed a faint tinge of blue before answering.
"...I wanted to be here tonight," he said. "...With you." Holding his proverbial breath, he reached up and untied his robe before slipping it off of his shoulders. Pariah Dark's expression went almost comically shocked before collecting itself. The Ghost King reached forward and gently held Danny's shoulders.
"You do not have to," he said softly. "I understand if you are not ready, Daniel, really I do. I wont force you to - " He was cut off when Danny leaned forward and kissed him. Pariah Dark was shocked into silence for a brief moment before he kissed back, his hold on Danny's shoulders tightening possessively. Danny reached up and hesitantly touched Pariah Dark's face with his hands, feeling the slight unevenness of the scarring under his fingertips, but other than that, he felt...warmth. And it - everything about Pariah Dark - felt good.
After a few moments of kissing, Pariah Dark pulled back, his remaining eye glowing brightly with barely-contained desire. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice slightly breathy. Danny didnt even hesitate before nodding.
"I am," he said. "...I wont lie, Pariah. I'm...anxious. Both in a good and bad way...but I WANT to be with you. I really do." He leaned forward and kissed him again quickly. "I love you."
Pariah Dark's eye glowed even brighter before he let go of Danny's shoulders to let the robe drop, and then surprised Danny by picking him up. Danny let out a short yelp of surprise, his arms instinctively curling around the Ghost King's shoulders. He gave Pariah Dark a questioning look.
"It IS customary to carry the bride into bed," he replied, his voice carrying the barest hint of humor. Danny fought to quell a blush - and failed - and let Pariah Dark carry him to the bed, which was big enough to hold two people of Pariah Dark's 12-foot size. Pariah Dark set Danny down on the bed and paused. "May I take your Crown and put it with mine?"
Danny reached up and took his Crown of Ice off, then handed it to Pariah Dark, who turned and put it next to his own on the mantle. The green fire and bluish-white aurora flickered against each other before curling around, melding slightly.
Pariah Dark turned back to Danny. "If...at any point you wish to stop..."
"I know," Danny said, leaning back on the surprisingly comfortable pillows. Pariah Dark nodded and began taking off what remained of his own wedding outfit, which pretty much consisted of leggings, a tunic, and a belt. When Pariah Dark pulled off his tunic, Danny saw that the Ghost King's body had battle scars all over, the most noticable one being a large diagonal slash across the chest, and a stab wound on the left side of his neck; the wound that had killed him.
Pariah Dark certainly did not look like he had been fifty-two when he died; decades of battle had left him with an incredibly healthy and toned physique similar to Danny's own. On his right shoulder was what looked like an ancient tattoo of a crude horned skull that looks like the outline had been done with deep knife cuts, and had ink dumped onto it before it healed.
It wasnt until Pariah Dark was nearly nude that Danny realized he was staring, and quickly blushed and shifted his gaze elsewhere. Pariah Dark noticed and smiled a little, finding Danny's embarrassed curiosity endearing. "You can look if you like," he said. "It is not something you will be seeing just once."
That only made Danny blush harder. Pariah Dark shook his head, amused, and stepped out of his leggings and walked up to the bed, reaching out to touch Danny's face and gently turn it to face his. "You do not need to be embarrassed or shy," he said softly. "Do not be afraid to look or touch what is rightfully yours."
Danny quelled down any further blushing that would probably turn his face dark blue, and turned to Pariah Dark, lifting a shaking hand to put it on the Ghost King's bare shoulder. Despite being dead, Pariah Dark's body was very warm; the same kind of warm his kisses were. It made Danny want to pull himself closer, and so he did. He leaned closer and slowly curled his arms around Pariah Dark's neck, feeling the Ghost King put a warm hand on his side, encouraging him on.
Pariah Dark moved slowly, as to avoid tensing Danny up, and gently kissed his Prince Consort's forehead, slipping his hand around to Danny's back and using it to pull Danny closer, so they were chest-to-chest. In contrast to his own warm flesh, Danny's had a chill to it. Not the usual dead sort of cold, but the sort of cold that came from an early winter. It wasnt at all unpleasant, but rather added an invigorating element to the situation.
Danny shuddered when Pariah Dark pulled him closer, but found the warmth so inviting and comforting, he didnt mind at all. He leaned his head up and kissed Pariah Dark again, for the first time really paying attention to what he was doing and adding his input. His fingers brushed along Pariah Dark's hair and down the long plait before resting on the Ghost King's back, which was also covered in scars.
While Danny was distracted with the kiss, Pariah Dark quietly crawled up onto the bed with Danny, reclining next to him and brushing his hands down Danny's back. He didnt want to move too quickly, lest he cause Danny to tense up again, so he contented with gentle touches for now. He reached up with one hand and touched at Danny's flame-like hair, which was both phantasmic and solid enough to hold.
He gently wound his fingers through the flamelike locks and gave a slight tug. Danny made a soft purring sound and leaned his head back. Pariah Dark leaned down to kiss Danny's neck, nuzzling at Danny's bare throat, feeling his consort shudder slightly, and one of Danny's hands clench into his hair and pull him closer.
Danny was trying to resist vocalizing his pleasure, but it seemed that Pariah Dark was actively trying to make him anyway; every little touch and kiss was pulling him closer into physical bliss, and making him want more.
A sudden nip if the skin on his neck made him let out a soft yelp of surprise. It didnt hurt; just the opposite, in fact. His neck was already an incredibly sensitive area, and now, Pariah Dark knew it. The Ghost King gave Danny's neck a few more nips and kisses before moving a little lower, focusing his attention on Danny's chest.
It was then that Danny couldnt keep his sounds of pleasure to himself. He buried his hands into Pariah Dark's hair and groaned when the King nipped, nuzzled and kissed at his flesh. He squirmed around in the Ghost King's hold, torn between asking Pariah Dark for more, and asking him to stop before Danny made a fool out of himself with his obvious virginity-driven embarrassment.
Pariah Dark's hand trailing lower to his left thigh made his mind up for him, and he pulled the Ghost King up for another kiss, this time putting all of his pent-up passion into it. Pariah Dark returned the kiss with enthusiasm, stroking his hand up and down from Danny's hip to just above the knee, making Danny moan into his mouth and arch into him slightly, yet still insistantly.
After a few minutes of gentle kissing and fondling, Pariah Dark pulled back to look at Danny. "Are you ready?" he asked, fully prepared to spend all night if necessary helping Danny to relax.
Danny paused for a few moments, then nodded. "Yeah," he said, the slightest of hitches in his voice. Pariah Dark nodded, and Danny tightened his arms around Pariah Dark's neck as the Ghost King gently turned them so Danny was lying underneath him. A dozen thoughts flittered through his mind, most of which consisting of questions of whether or not it would hurt, but he closed his eyes and remained calm. Pariah Dark wouldnt hurt him if he could help it, and Clockwork's watch had told him to take the plunge.
With his eyes closed, he couldnt see what Pariah Dark was doing, but he could feel; the Ghost King sat up slightly and lowered one of his hands to brush along Danny's thigh, then nudged his leg over to stroke his fingers across Danny's backside. Danny blushed, but allowed Pariah Dark to kiss him and gently slip a finger into him.
Danny's nails embedded into Pariah Dark's back, but the Ghost King didnt seem to mind in the least as he continued to kiss Danny and push his finger in deeper. Danny was actually more surprised than hurt; he would have thought it would be more painful than this. He pegged it off as being one of the perks of being a ghost, and tried to relax. It wasnt painful, but it still felt strange to him.
After a few moments, Pariah Dark added a second finger, and Danny let out a soft keen, burying his face into Pariah Dark's shoulder. This time there was a measure of discomfort, and Danny's first initial instinct was to panic. But Pariah Dark slowed his ministrations and murmured comforting words into Danny's ear, reaching up with his free hand to gently pet the back of Danny's head. Danny calmed down and relaxed, and the discomfort deminished somewhat.
Danny didnt know how long Pariah Dark spent preparing him, but he was aware that he was completely relaxed and at ease when Pariah Dark gently withdrew his fingers. It was then that Danny became aware of his desire to have something put back, and frustration throbbed slightly in his groin, making him squirm slightly with impatience.
Pariah Dark sensed Danny's need, and decided to work quickly to avoid Danny getting tensed up again. He gently parted Danny's legs and reached down to hold Danny's hips and pull them up, positioning himself at Danny's entrance. He looked down at Danny, who had reached down to hold his forearms tightly, and was looking up at him, a slight haze fogging his blue eyes.
"...Please..." was all Danny said. That was more than enough for Pariah Dark; he pushed into Danny gently, feeling his consort's nails dig into his forearms, and watching Danny lean his head back, hissing softly through his teeth. Pariah Dark leaned forward to kiss at Danny's bared throat, pushing in further and resisting the urge to pin his consort down and take him like an animal. He let out a soft growling sound from deep in his throat and pushed in all the way.
Danny's nails had drawn ectoplasm in his arms by this point; Danny was needlessly panting from habitual urge to breathe, and was groaning with both pain and pleasure. Pariah Dark moved his hands to either side of Danny's body and kissed Danny again, catching one of his sharp teeth on the young Prince's lips.
Danny didnt seem to care, and kissed back, letting go of Pariah Dark's arms to put his own arms around the King's neck. The pain was lessening as the baser instinct to mate overtook him. He shifted his hips upward, trying to create some friction between them, and Pariah Dark responded with a sharp thrust of his hips, making Danny yelp sharply into the King's mouth.
Pariah Dark took Danny's insistance as a sign he was ready, and gently - but enthusiastically - began moving in slow but hard motions. Each thrust wraught a hard-won cry from Danny's throat; a cry of pleasure and need and want and love and more, please, more.
And Pariah Dark gave him more. Anything Danny wanted, Danny got; if Danny needed Pariah Dark to slow down or be more gentle, Pariah Dark would force himself to comply. If Danny wanted him to move faster, or touch him or kiss him, he would gladly do so. His admirable self-restraint and willingness to comply was rewarded when Danny began to pant his name over and over again; the same name that had once been his curse and his bane sounding like a prayer of love desire coming from his Prince.
Danny was finding it difficult to process everything he was feeling; his emotional and physical feelings were clashing so quickly he descern one from the other. All of it melded into love and pleasure, two things he could feel figuratively and physically, and it was almost too much for him to handle all at once.
"Pariah...!" he breathed, his voice hitching sharply. "...Pariah, please...!" He didnt even really know what he was begging for, only that he HAD to have it. Pariah Dark looked down at Danny, his eye glowing darkly with barely-contained lust, and nodded with understanding. He sat up on his knees, pulling Danny's lower half with him, and trailed a hand down Danny's body from chest to abdomen, and gently grabbed Danny's member, making the Prince arch hard with a loud yelp.
Pariah Dark thrusted into Danny faster, stroking him in time with his movements and watching his Prince's reactions. Danny was arched up, his hands clenching into his flamelike hair, and he was groaning Pariah Dark's name in a way that made the Ghost King's aura flare with excitement. He began moving more erratically, abandoning any finesse, growling out rough words in his native language to Danny.
Danny writhed around on the bed, his fingers clenching into his head and pricks of tears freezing in the corners of his eyes from frustration. He wanted to cum so badly it hurt; his aura strengthened and flared and his needless breath came out in ice vapor. A tense coil in his core was tightening and building, waiting for the moment when Danny would lose his mind before it would release; but Danny wanted it to release right NOW...
A sudden, sharp tug in his core made him shriek with pain, pleasure, shock, and relief all at the same time, as his aura flared and whisped with Pariah Dark's own aura, which had simultaniously flared. Danny went blind for a brief moment from the sudden surge of sensation, and then his aura began to slowly die down, and he came back to reality to find Pariah Dark leaning over him, his Kingly aura still strong and pulsating powerfully.
Danny lifted a trembling hand to touch Pariah Dark's face before leaning up to kiss him. The King clutched at him possessively as he kissed back dominantly, his forcefulness slowly ebbing as he came down from his high, until he was placing gentle pecks on Danny's lips. Danny stroked Pariah Dark's shoulders, his shaking having stopped and now leaving him with a immense sense of satisfaction and pleasure.
After a long while of gentle caresses and kisses to cool down, Pariah Dark gently withdrew from Danny's body and laid down next to him, pulling him close. "Are you alright?" he asked. Danny glanced up, arching a brow in a 'are you even kidding me' kind of way.
"...Definately alright," he replied. He leaned his head on Pariah Dark's shoulder. "...It was...I cant even describe it, Pariah...that was..."
"...Sacred," the Ghost King managed to finish, stroking Danny's flickering flame hair.
"...Yeah," Danny said after a moment of thinking for a better adjective and finding none. "...It was." He sighed, his aura dimming from exhaustion, and felt Pariah Dark pull a thick fur blanket over him.
"Sleep," Pariah Dark said. "I will be here."
Though it was a bit of a sappy thing to say, Danny couldnt help but feel that much more comforted to hear it. He closed his eyes and snuggled closer to Pariah Dark, being lulled off to sleep with the sound of the crackling fire, and the feeling of warmth and love from his husband lying with him through the whole night.
Um...I hope that was up to snuff for all of you! *nervous cough* Yeah.