Vlad stood at the front door of the Fenton household, his teeth grinding, his shoulders tensed and his eyebrows knitted together over his murderous eyes. Crushed in his fist were the stems of a colorful bouquet. Vlad wanted to set the flowers ablaze.
This next step was, to delicately put it, much more difficult for Vlad to face than the last. Much more. Being nice was relatively easy for the billionaire; he had to act charming and gracious to fellow businessmen, needed to charm and flatter a few people in his days to get what he wanted. The hardest thing about it was refusing to fight Danny, despite how much fun it usually was to test the boy, push him and challenge him and see first-hand just how much the boy was growing.
But this! Vlad had outright refused when the mirror spirit had told him, shook his head and put his foot down. He couldn't. He wouldn't!
"You must," the female specter had said calmly, staring out from the bathroom mirror in Vlad's master bathroom. "The boy's trust in you will go up. You must gain his trust before you gain his love."
"Yes yes, I understand that! The boy sees me as a villain, so he'll never accept me as anything more until I show him I've changed, I get it," Vlad grumbled. "I'm willing to take away all the CCTV cameras I have located outside his home and school, disable all the bug-cams I have in his home and around town, I'm even willing to disconnect all ties with any of his ghostly enemies! But this I can NOT—"
"Vlad Masters," the spirit had interrupted and Vlad looked to the mirror mid-tirade, his breathing fast and his eyes burning with fury. "There is no other way."
The specter had ignored all Vlad's protests, refusals and tantrums, because she knew just as well as Vlad—even if he wouldn't admit it—that this was the best way to get Danny's full attention and even attempt to mend the rift Vlad had created between them these past few years.
So, for the sake of Vlad's future, the man had to let go of his past.
He rapped quickly on the wooden door a few times, praying beyond hope that no one would answer. He knew it didn't matter, that he'd just have to come back at another time and try again, but it was nice to wish.
The door opened a few moments later, and Maddie Fenton appeared, donned in her usual teal jumpsuit, the hood down.
"Vlad Masters?" she asked, her violet eyes widening slightly at the unexpected guest on her doorstep.
Vlad stared at the woman before him a moment, the woman he had loved nearly all his life, and still felt even now a small warmth spread through him. How many dreams had he had of finally gaining this woman's love? How many fantasies did he indulge of spending a nice evening, laughing and hugging the beautiful Madeleine? She had always been such a sweet, strong, smart woman, and still was. But she had chosen another, leaving Vlad feeling miserable and bitter and in so much pain.
He closed his eyes, breathing deeply, knowing that love still existed in this house for him, just from another source. A source raised by his former love and his former best friend.
Vlad sighed and opened his eyes. "I'm sorry for stopping by unannounced but there was something I needed to…discuss with you and Jack. Mind if I come in?"
Maddie looked over Vlad a moment, suspicion evident in her eyes but she nodded and stepped back. Ever since Vlad had "saved" young Danny from the Ghost King nearly a year ago, Maddie had been more receiving towards Vlad, no longer dumping tea in his lap or shooting him hateful glares. It had been nice, though of course it wasn't enough to get her to leave Jack for him.
"These are for you, by the way Maddie," Vlad said, handing her the bouquet while being able to resist his signature smirk.
"Vlad," Maddie growled in warning. "If you're starting this again after—"
"Nonsense! That's a thing of the past, Maddie. I'm merely being gracious, as you're allowing me into your house so unexpected and all." Vlad said with a wave of his hand, the picture of nonchalance. "I've been meaning to—"
"Is that Vladdie at the door?" Jack appeared from the stairwell that led to the underground lab. Vlad inwardly cringed as Jack walked over, smiling broadly, slapping a large solid hand on Vlad's back, jolting the man forward and nearly toppling him. "What brings you, V-man?"
"Vlad apparently needs to discuss something with us," Maddie said, her gaze still holding an icy challenge as she headed towards the kitchen. "Though I can't imagine what about."
Vlad and Jack followed but Vlad paused before entering the kitchen as a certain young teen appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Vlad!" Danny exclaimed, his face turning from surprise to irritation in a millisecond. "What are you doing here?" Danny descended the stairs, Vlad quickly taking note of the boy's attire; his usual white and red T-shirt, and baggy jeans. Vlad hated the clothes, wishing the boy dressed a little better instead of looking like some sloppy teenager. The boy only had white socks on his feet, telling the man that the boy was obviously in for the night, which seemed strange since it was Friday, and Vlad assumed teens always had some sort of plans for Friday nights. Well that worked in Vlad's favor anyway, knowing Danny wasn't going to be going anywhere.
The answer to Vlad's curiosity of Danny's lack of social-life was answered as he saw two more teens appear at the top of the stairs. Ah, his friends are over. Perfect. Vlad thought dryly with a grimace, looking back down to the boy.
His eyes traveled over the young face, seeing more of his father in his features than his mother. The dark hair and his height… When had Danny suddenly reached his chin? The boy used to barely reach his shoulders not too long ago. Would the boy reach his father's monstrous height of 6'5 someday? Vlad seriously hoped not, he quite enjoyed being able to tower over him. Danny was very slight though, thin like his mother, almost delicate. His eyes were a similar light color, soft and kind, though of course that kindness was never pointed at Vlad.
"I'm merely here to talk with your parents," Vlad said with a tilted smile.
"Right, and by that you mean flirt with my mom and insult my dad," Danny said with a roll of his eyes, crossing his arms in front of him. "What's this really about?"
Before Vlad could speak, or even decide what to say to the boy, Maddie came back over and said, "Danny, you and your friend stay upstairs; adults are talking."
Danny looked shocked for a moment, probably not having heard those words since he was about ten. Then he looked slightly annoyed but flashed Vlad a smirk. "Alright mom," he said and rushed upstairs, whispering to his friends who had waited patiently for him.
Vlad shook his head. Vlad knew Danny was going to use his ghost powers to turn him and his friends invisible to ease-drop on the conversation. Danny knew that Vlad knew this. But what Danny probably didn't know, was that Vlad was counting on Danny hearing this conversation in secret.
Vlad followed Maddie back into the kitchen, where he saw she had put the flowers into a small vase and set it on the counter. He smiled briefly and then cleared his throat, preparing for the un-preparable.
"So what's up, Vladdie? Need a new chairperson on the board down at city hall?" Jack asked, that familiar large grin on his face. "I've been thinking that this town needs a new Ghost-Hunting Committee, really get the citizens involved and I figured—"
Vlad held up a hand, his patience already wearing thin. "No Jack, that's not what I've come to talk about. There's been something I've been meaning to tell you two for…a while now and—"
Vlad thought he saw a flash of something in the corner of the kitchen, behind Jack and Maddie. Vlad paled slightly, knowing Danny was indeed there and listening. His mouth went dry and a hot embarrassment flooded through him, despite knowing Danny was supposed to hear this. But now that it was about to happen…
"There's…well, I've been wanting to say that I'm sorry," Vlad choked out, coughing into his fist before making eye contact with the Fentons. They both looked equally surprised. One because she never assumed Vlad was capable of apologizing, and the other because he couldn't fathom what Vlad would need to apologize for. He could only imagine young Daniel's face.
Vlad let them have a moment of shock, to process the statement before he continued. "I'm sorry for…" Vlad trailed off, his nerve suddenly lost. He stared at Jack, the man he hated more than anyone else, and Maddie, the woman he loves—loved—for most of his life…he couldn't do it!
"I'm sorry for…not being around as often as I ought. I mean, I'm no longer leaving across the country so I should be visiting my favorite family right? Mayoral duties have been holding me up, but I promise! I'm going to be around more often, to spend quality time. Like the old days," Vlad finished with a sickly sweet smile.
"That'd be great Vladdie, we'd love to have you around more!" Jack exclaimed, slapping Vlad on the back again. Vlad knew he'd have bruises later and ground his teeth to keep for killing the man right now.
"Of course," Maddie said, more hesitantly, obvious unsure how to feel about the situation.
"I just feel as though I haven't been a good friend to you lately, to either to you or your children," Vlad said mock-sincerely, shooting a smirk in the corner of the room where he knew Danny was listening. "All these years apart; I want to be a part of the family now, really connect like I should have so long ago. I isolated myself for so long, neglected calling and even now that we reside in the same city I still have acted so rudely. Can you ever forgive me?"
"There's nothing to forgive, Vlad," Jack said with a sincere smile. "You know you're always welcome in the Fenton home. Why don't you stay for dinner?"
Vlad paused briefly. He hadn't intended to stay, but maybe he might as well. It would be a good opportunity to see Danny more, be "nice" again and gain brownie points. "Sounds lovely!"
"Great! I'm making my special meatloaf tonight!" Jack exclaimed and Vlad rolled his eyes. As the Fentons got busy in the kitchen—Maddie grumbling about a sudden guest at dinner and Jack buzzing about his best friend's stay—Vlad noticed a shift in the corner, Danny probably leaving the room. Vlad smirked.
"I'm going to go to the bathroom for a moment," Vlad excused himself, leaving and heading upstairs. As he reached the top step, Danny appeared, arms folded and a scowl on his face. Sam and Tucker stood behind him once again, the classic back-up to the teen with a hero-complex.
"What the hell was all that about?" Danny demanded. "What are you planning now?"
"I told you Daniel, I'm not planning a thing this time," Vlad said with a shrug. "I'm simply—"
"Being nice, yeah yeah, you tried that before. I'm not buying it."
"Well then, maybe it's not just simply being nice," Vlad said quietly, his dark blue eyes locked with Danny's lighter ones.
The boy opened his mouth to comment but was interrupted by, "Danny! Come down here and help me set the table!"
Danny sighed and glared at a smirking Vlad. "Coming mom!" The teens hurried down the stairs, Danny shoving Vlad with his shoulder and the other two merely glaring.
Vlad shook his head and continued to the bathroom. He locked the door and sighed. He stood there for a moment, back against the door and mind racing. Now what?
The room grew cooler suddenly, and the air turned misty, a white fog blurring everything. Vlad breathed out in surprise at the sudden drop in temperature, a puff of white mist escaping his lips, reminding him of Daniel's "ghost sense". It seemed appropriate as Vlad glanced at the mirror on the opposite wall.
"You didn't do what you were supposed to do." Vlad heard the whispered voice clearly in the small bathroom and walked over to the mirror above the sink, where two solid blue eyes staring out at him. The face was as passive as always but her tone held a hint of irritation, it seemed.
"I apologized. That was the next step," Vlad argued, putting both hands on the edge of the sink as he stared at the mirror guardian.
"No. You were to apologize for the wrongs you caused the Fentons. All the wrongs, even the ones they know nothing of."
Vlad gritted his teeth and ground out, "I couldn't. I couldn't look that oaf in the face and apologize for still hating him, for lying and taunting him behind his back. I couldn't tell him I'd flirted with his wife and tried to steal her, that I'm still in love—was in love with her! I couldn't apologize for putting Maddie in a comprising position!"
"Why? Why can't you let go of your hateful feelings, the past feelings of these two that have been dragging you down?"
"They are all I have!" Vlad hissed, wanting to yell but forcing his voice to be quiet. "These feelings I have, of rage and revenge and love for Maddie, they are all I've held onto since the accident! For twenty years it's all I've thought about, all I've planned for and dreamed of! I can't…I can't let go of it all."
"You need to," the spirit said, her voice calm but firm. "You need to let go of the past Vlad Masters, or you will never get your ideal future."
Vlad scoffed and looked away. Could he do it? Could he release all that he'd held onto all this time? Twenty years…
He shook his head. No. The past was all he had! What would he be without his past and his feelings? "I can't…"
"The child needs to know that you care enough, that you're not the same man he met years ago. His first impression of you was a man out to kill his father and marry his mother. That image needs to change."
"And it will," Vlad said decisively, standing up straight and putting his hands in his pockets. "I'll change how he sees me, don't you worry?" Vlad smirked and walked back to the door, putting a hand to the knob. "I don't need to apologize the Fentons, I simply need to show Danny in my own way that things are different now. That I'm a new man." He chuckled, clearly picturing the images he saw in the Espil Mirror, relishing in the new future he was to gain. He opened the door and the fog cleared, the image of the guardian spirit fading away. "I will make Danny love me no matter what, without letting go of my past."
…
Dinner was relatively civil, in Vlad's opinion. There was lots of nasty looks, double-meanings and snide remarks, as well as at least a dozen peas flung across the table by a spoon, but nothing that could seriously dampen Vlad's relatively good mood.
"So Daniel, you're a junior this year, correct?" Vlad said, taking a sip of his drink as Danny gave a faint shrug. "Looking at colleges yet?"
"We're hoping he chooses our old alma mater!" Jack exclaimed, casting a proud smile at his son. "Imagine that; the three of them going to college together just like us!" Tucker, Sam and Danny seemed to shrink away into their seats, avoiding Mr. Fenton's gaze. Apparently being compared to their friend's parents and arch-enemy was "uncool".
"Well if young Daniel wanted to go to University of Wisconsin, he'd be more than welcome to stay with me in my castle. I still own it, though I currently live in Amity Park. It would save on housing costs and all that," Vlad said, folding his hands in front of him and sending the boy a smirk. "It would give us time to spend together to really…get to know each other, now that Daniel is growing into such a fine young man."
"No thanks, I doubt you get good reception in that big lonely house of yours. And I'm severely allergic to cats," Danny said, standing from the table. "I'm done eating." Sam and Tucker followed the boy into the living room, Vlad's eyes watching them.
Vlad stood with Maddie and Jack, helping to clear the table. He offered to help wash dishes with Maddie as Jack went to the attic to find some of his old college gear to parade around in.
The two of them were quiet as they washed the plates and cups, Vlad glancing at her every now and then. This was the first time in a long time that he was this close to her, alone, without her glaring at him. Vlad found himself smiling, sliding slightly closer, wanting to bump his arm against hers lightly, maybe jest a bit to get her to smile back, like she used to…
No! Vlad shook his head, straightening up and stepping away slightly as he scrubbed a sudsy cup. Maddie isn't the goal anymore…but she's all I've thought of for twenty years…Daniel is the new goal! He's the one that's going to accept me one day!
Vlad glanced towards the living room, where Danny was sitting on the couch next to Sam, Tucker sitting at their feet. Sam was leaning towards Danny, whispering in his ear, something that made Danny laugh and shove her playfully. Vlad's eyes narrowed and he heard a loud crash followed by a surprised scream.
"Mom!" Danny called, hurrying over just as Vlad glanced to Maddie in concern.
"Vlad, the cup! What happened?" Maddie exclaimed, a hand to her mouth. Vlad looked down, just noticing he'd crushed the glass cup in his hand. Blood seeped from between his fingers, flowing thickly into the sink, tainting the soap bubbles a dark pink.
"Butter biscuits," Vlad muttered, dropping the glass into the sink and gripping his wrist.
Maddie steered Vlad to a chair and said, "I'll get the first aid kit. Don't move."
Vlad watched as Maddie left and then looked down at his palm, bloody and full of glass. It hurt like hell now, but at the time he'd been focused on other things. He was surprised he even got as mad as he did, but the scene…it had brought up passed feelings and similar times, when he'd witnessed his best friend flirting with the woman he loved. Now he had a chance with someone else, someone like him and some…goth human girl wanted to get in the way!
Danny stood before Vlad. "What happened, V-man? Got upset cuz my mom told you she wasn't interest in bitter old men whose only friend is a cat?"
Vlad rolled his eyes as he turned his hand intangible, the small shards of glass falling silently to the floor. When Vlad's hand returned to a solid form, his skin prickled uncomfortably. He sighed. "Just a slip of concentration is all. No need to worry on my account." He sent Danny a weary smile, but Danny merely scoffed.
"No one's worrying Vlad, trust us. We think it's fitting actually, a small bit of karma from all the terrible things you've done to Danny," Sam said, crossing her arms and narrowing her violet eyes.
Vlad glared at the little goth girl, finding her snide voice particularly annoying. "Like what Daniel and I do is any concern of yours," Vlad said venomously.
"Actually, it is," Sam said back with equal heat.
"Danny is our best friend. Not that you'd understand the term," Tucker said, standing protectively by Danny. "What happens to him is our concern and his enemies are our enemies."
"And we're not convinced for a second that any of this 'nice guy' act is legit," Danny said finally, just as Maddie returned with the first aid kit.
"I'll do it, mom," Danny said, taking the box from her.
"Don't be silly, Danny. You don't know how to patch up an injury, I'll be done in a second—"
"I want to help. Besides we need to clean up the glass before dad gets back down and freaks out, right?" Danny asked.
Vlad glanced to the sink and then down to his cut up hand, knowing Jack would dote on him and ask a million questions if they didn't clean up soon. "The boy is right, Maddie. The children shouldn't be cleaning broken glass, and Daniel is old enough to start learning proper care techniques. I'll assist him."
Maddie nodded and went to carefully clean the glass from the sink and off the floor as Danny pulled a chair in front of Vlad, sitting down to face the injured man.
"Though I'm sure you've learned some medical skills from cleaning up cuts and bruises from your heroic ghostly adventures, hm, Daniel?" Vlad said with a smirk as Danny grabbed the bottle of peroxide and uncapped it.
"Yeah," the boy agreed pleasantly, pouring the alcoholic liquid directly onto Vlad's cut up hand. Vlad nearly screamed, swallowing it in time as he jerked back, biting his lip from the excruciating burn. "Cuts and bruises mostly caused by you."
Vlad glared at Danny, his hurt hand shaking slightly, but managed a weak smirk. Control yourself. Be kind, bite your tongue, don't scare him off! "You flatter me," the man murmured as Danny grabbed the bandages and starting wrapping Vlad's hand. The teen actually did a decent job, making Vlad wonder if the boy had actually spent nights bandaging wounds after their fights. The thought didn't make Vlad smile like it might have at one point.
"Thank you, Daniel, you did very well actually," Vlad said, careful not to flex or clench his hand so as not to disturb his cuts or the bandages as he inspected the boy's handiwork.
"Yeah yeah, I just didn't want my mom near you more than necessary," Danny said with a glare. "Whatever you're planning, keep her and my father out of it."
"My concerns are not for them anymore, Daniel. I can assure you of that," Vlad said, standing. He had enough of Danny's bitter mood. He was getting tired, tired of trying to be nice. The itch to throw the boy down, to drag him out into the street and make him shut up was getting too strong.
Vlad turned to Maddie, who was just tossing away the remainder of the glass. "Thank you for a lovely dinner Maddie. I'm sorry for the glass as well, I'll more than compensate for it."
"No need, Vlad, really," Maddie said quickly.
"Well, then tell Jack I'm sorry for leaving so abruptly, but I really need to get going," Vlad said, heading to the front door before Maddie could question him or stop him, but she wasn't likely to do the latter.
"And goodnight Daniel, I hope to see you soon," Vlad said with a light chuckle. "Thanks for bandaging up my hand." He ruffled Daniel's dark hair with his uninjured hand, much to the displeasure of the teen. Vlad left the house before anything else could happen, not sure if he had accomplished a single thing that night.
So sorry for such a late update! I promise to do better. The next chapter should be up tomorrow, and if not, then the day after for sure! Thank you all so much for the reviews, they've really helped me and made my day :)
As you can see, Vlad is going through some conflicting emotions right now, but i mean come on, the guy is complicated bloke! I promised more "romance" will start eventually, this story is a bit of a slow burn, so bare with me! xD it will come, I promise!
Please favorite or follow if you're enjoying, and leave a small (or big) comment telling me what you like, don't like, any questions, or even if there are some blaring grammatical error that I should fix! Thank you all so much for reading, have a great week! Hope your thanksgiving was great! ^^ I'm thankful for all of you!