WARNING: FLUFF AHEAD. Like, alot, its ridiculous but maybe its not too bad...i tried not to make it too bad but in some parts...anyway just read.
Vlad stood before the mirror in his mansion's entrance hall. It was oval-shaped, trimmed in gold with a polished face that shined a perfect reflection. Vlad ran a hand over his carefully tied back hair, raised his chin and squared his shoulders as he adjusted his red cravat, and then rubbed a hand over his neatly trimmed beard. Perfect.
The mirror didn't fog over. Two solid blue eyes didn't stare back at him, only two human blue ones, full of uncertainty. No soft, controlled voice reassured him that kindness and patience or whatever was the key to making sure everything worked out. Vlad was on his own now.
"Maybe it was stupid of me to destroy that mirror," Vlad muttered, his head dropping between his shoulders as he leaned against the small table in the hallway. "I don't know what I'm doing…" Vlad shook his head and stood up straight. No self-pity. No focusing on the past. Only the present and the future. The mirror had told Vlad this would work out, that Vlad would get his heart's desire. And he would.
"You can do this," Vlad whispered to his reflection. "You're not going to mess this up, you hear? Everything will be fine." A few months ago, Vlad would have believed he could do anything. He would have believed he was in control, that he could have anything he wanted, that he deserved everything he wanted.
Now, he stood before a plain mirror, his clothes pristine and his hair neat and his heart hammering away, and he wasn't too sure how it would all play out.
But despite the uncertainty, Vlad turned away from the mirror and smiled. He couldn't wait for the weekend to start.
…
"You've got your toothbrush?"
"Yes mom."
"And you have the tickets?"
"Yeah mom."
"And you made sure to pack enough clean underwear?"
Danny groaned and blushed, waving away his mother's concerned pats. "Geez, enough mom! I'm fine! It's just for the weekend, I'll be back by Sunday night! I'm not actually going to the moon!"
Maddie chuckled and pulled her son into a tight hug. "Ooh I know Danny, I'm just being a mother. I have to nag you, especially when I'm going to miss you so much!"
Danny's face stayed a light pink as he awkwardly hugged his mom back. Being a sixteen year old boy, filled with embarrassment towards your folks and a need for rebellion, could be hard when you had parents as caring as Danny's. "I know, mom. I'll miss you too."
"And don't forget your Fenton Anti-Ghost anti-perspirent!" Jack exclaimed, tossing Danny a can of spray-on deodorant that had the word Fenton on it, a little cartoon ghost on the side, crossed out in red. "I made it so it won't give you that terrible rash anymore. Not that my little ghost boy will really need this stuff but—" Jack laughed and ruffled Danny's hair, his hand big and heavy and overly fatherly. "It's just a precaution."
Danny rolled his eyes with a smile, trying to fix his hair. "Of course dad. But ghosts won't really be a problem. No one bothers Plasmius," Danny said, smirking at the thought of someone like the Box Ghost versus Vlad.
"Yes well, even so… be careful," Maddie said once more, fixing Danny's collar and kissing his forehead. A honk was heard from outside. Maddie's lips pressed together a moment.
"That's him!" Danny said, his heart beating quickly with nerves. He shrugged on his backpack and grabbed the handle of his suitcase. "I'll see you guys Sunday!"
Parked outside was a slim black limousine. Vlad was leaning against the car as the limo's driver was exiting the front seat and heading over to grab Danny's suitcase. Danny rolled his eyes as he walked up to Vlad. "You always have to make a scene, huh? Couldn't have just rented a little car for the trip to the airport like a regular person."
"I'm worth at least five airports, sprayed in gold," Vlad said with a smirk. "I don't do regular." Vlad gave Danny a meaningful look at those words, his smirk softening some and Danny coughed, ducking his head to block his blush.
A high-pitch honking caught Danny's attention. He looked over just as a small purple car pulled up to the curb, Sam and Tucker hurrying out.
"Guys," Danny said in surprise. "I texted you last night. I'm going to be back in three days, you didn't have to come see me off."
"Yeah well, three days could turn into a mysterious three weeks when Plasmius is involved," Sam muttered, glaring pointedly at Vlad, who glared back coolly, still leaning against the car with his arms crossed. Sam looked back to Danny. "We just wanted to see you first."
"Its fine, guys, really."
"Plus," Tucker said, pulling out a small box and envelope from his backpack. "Since you'll be spending your birthday tomorrow down in Florida, we just wanted to give you your present now."
"But don't open it till tomorrow!" Sam interjected quickly. She and Tucker shared a look. "It's from both of us."
Danny smiled and took the gift. "Thanks guys."
Tucker and Danny touched fists and Sam threw her arms around Danny's neck. "You gonna be okay alone with him all weekend?" she whispered urgently.
"We'll see," Danny whispered back with a laugh, patting Sam's back affectionately. He glanced over her shoulder at Vlad, whose eyes were dark and angry as he glared at Sam's back. Danny smirked and shook his head, pulling away from Sam. "I'll text you."
"Make sure you do, dude!" Tucker exclaimed. A loud cough caught the trio's attention.
"If this touching little good-bye is over, Daniel and I have a flight to catch," Vlad said tightly, opening the back seat door.
"Oh lay off, it's your private jet. You tell them when takeoff is," Danny said with a laugh. He turned to his friends and rolled his eyes. "Rich boy." They laughed.
"Yes and Rich Boy is getting impatient," Vlad quipped, his eyebrows knitted together.
"Alright alright," Danny said, waving good-bye before getting into the limousine. Vlad looked to Sam and Tucker, nodding once.
"Children," he farewelled, before getting to the limousine, closing the door. The car took off.
Danny sat silently, adjusting his backpack onto the floor and looking around him. The space was huge, white and smelled sweet. The seats were warm and Danny stretched out his legs leisurely, clean white carpet under his sneakers. But despite the space, Danny felt enclosed.
Vlad sat across from him, Danny's eyes drawn to him in the confines of the car. Danny squirmed when he saw Vlad looking at him. Geez, he didn't think this would be that awkward, being alone with Vlad in a car.
"I was thinking we go to dinner once we arrive in Florida," Vlad commented mildly, leaning forward and opening the small installed cooler. He pulled out two glasses and a bottle. "There's a nice restaurant in the hotel. Soda?" Vlad lifted a cold can. Danny nodded dumbly. Vlad snapped the can open and poured the drink into one of the glasses. He handed it to Danny and then poured himself a glass from the clear bottle.
Vlad sipped his drink, eyeing Danny. Danny stared at his glass. "Daniel."
"Hm?" Danny blinked, looking to Vlad.
Vlad smirked lightly. "You don't have to look like you're being hauled away to your execution. You did invite me, you know?"
"I know, I know, I just…" Danny shook his head. He startled slightly when Vlad moved. The man stood slightly, hunching a bit and then sat down on the seat beside him. Warmth emitted from the man, his scent sharp and strong. Danny wanted to lean against the man suddenly. Instead, he avoided eye contact and sipped his drink.
"Relax, Little Badger," Vlad said quietly, his voice deep as he reached out, his fingers playing lightly in Danny's dark hair. "It's just you and me here. No need to get so nervous."
"I think I'm nervous because it's you," Danny murmured, still not looking at Vlad. He felt Vlad's hand stop moving in his hair. The large hand moved to his chin, tilting his head up. Danny unwillingly met Vlad's gaze.
Vlad leaned down, placing a soft kiss to Danny's forehead. "Relax, Danny. Nothing is expected of you. This weekend is for you, to celebrate your birthday." Vlad's hand moved from Danny's chin to his cheek, his thumb gently stroking the boy's soft skin. "You don't have to be so nervous. As cliché as it is, just be yourself." Vlad smirked.
Danny swallowed and nodded, moving his face from Vlad's touch to sip his drink. He relaxed against the car seat, realizing Vlad was right. There was no need to be so flustered and nervous. This was Vlad. He knew Vlad, he didn't have to pretend around Vlad, or try to act a certain way, especially now that they weren't enemies. Danny didn't have to put up a brave front, he didn't have to act smart or tough or brave. Danny could relax.
This made Danny smile and he closed his eyes, realizing that for the first time in years, he could truly have a vacation.
…
The flight on the private jet was nice. The two talked casually, Vlad explaining about the different airports he had stationed in different areas, Danny telling a story about the first time he went on a plane and his father had nearly caused the other passengers to panic when he had accused a stewardess of being a ghost. The conversation was easy and the two laughed frequently, both dancing carefully around each other for the first time, without trying to best the other, or manipulate the other.
It was a tad awkward and exciting and a huge relief, like meeting someone for the first time that immediately caught your interest, or seeing a close friend again for the first time in years. For so long these two were adversaries. For so long these two felt they knew each other, only now realizing they barely had. And for so long, their relationship had been spiraling ever downward, plummeting toward hatred and disaster, towards a point where the damage would have been too great to fix had they continued on their path. But now, they were climbing up, together, attempting to mend something near irreparable. It was possible it seemed, as they reached for something greater, as they breached that bridge. They were alike. They were connected. The feeling was strong, and though both had rejected it for so long, they raced towards each other now, eager to see what would happen next.
…
"You almost ready, Daniel?" Vlad called, zipping up his suitcase and sliding it back under his bed.
The hotel room was, of course, the Presidential suite, complete with two full sized beds, large flat screen TV, a separate living space area away from the bedroom, with a kitchenette and a grand bathroom with a tub. It was pristine and neat, everything Vlad was used to, but Danny had stared in awe when they had entered, his grin amazed, especially when he had thrown open the double glass doors to the baloney, looking out at the beautiful view of the city. Vlad had felt a swell of pride, that he could spoil Danny in this way, knowing the boy deserved every luxury after everything he'd had to deal with in his short life.
Danny had taken a short nap when they arrived, knocking out once he'd hit the plush hotel bed. Vlad had found the boy's exhaustion endearing, not waking him till 6 so they could get ready for dinner downstairs. Danny was now in the bathroom dressing while Vlad had dressed in the bedroom.
Vlad walked up to the bathroom door, rapping twice with his knuckles. "Come on, Little Badger, you're sixteen, it's not like you need to shave. It shouldn't take you half an hour to shower and put pants on."
Vlad smirked as the door opened quickly but his smile quickly fled. "I'm going to be seventeen in a few hours, firstly. And secondly, I do so shave!" Danny's indignant plea for his post-pubescent existence was lost on Vlad.
The boy was dressed in a light blue button up, black slacks and black dress shoes. A dark blue tie hung crookedly from his neck and his soft black hair was awkwardly brushed back out of his face, leaving Daniel's forehead and eyes clear in view.
Vlad swallowed, words lost to him, his face flushing slightly as he stared down at the boy. Danny glared up at Vlad, but when Vlad continued staring at him, Danny raised an eyebrow suspiciously, his shoulders lifting awkwardly. "What are you staring at, you fruitloop?"
Vlad blinked and reached up, deftly unwrapped Danny's tie and fixing it. "That explains what took you so long. You were trying to figure out how to tie a tie instead of just coming out here and asking for help," Vlad commented casually, his regular smirk hiding his initial blush.
Danny scowled as Vlad tighten the tie at his throat. "Whatever. It's been a while since I had to wear one of these, okay? I just figured this restaurant was going to be fancy and I didn't want to look like a loser next to you since you're always in a suit."
"Daniel it wouldn't matter if I wore my best Armani and a sombrero, no one would even notice me next to you tonight," Vlad said in a soft voice, his smile small as he adjusted Danny's collar. The boy looked so mature, finally out of those baggy clothes and in something much neater. The shirt and pants hugged Danny nicely, showing how much Danny had grown over the years, both in height and muscle definition, and with the boy's black hair out of his face, it allowed Danny's blue eyes to shine. Danny looked older and very handsome. Vlad lightly touched Danny's cheek. "Shall we go then, my boy?"
Danny ducked his head, ever the bashful kid, stepping around Vlad and out into the living room. He glanced back at Vlad with a light smirk. "You clean up well, Masters," Danny said teasingly, Vlad looking virtually unchanged from his usual everyday attire aside from the short red ribbon now being replaced with an actual deep red tie. "I think you'd look better with your hair loose though." Vlad looked surprised, unconsciously touching the black hair tie at the nap of his neck. Danny shrugged. "I just mean, since I've never actually seen you with your hair loose, just always tied back."
"It makes working easier, with it out of the way," Vlad muttered as he slowly pulled the tie out. His silver hair fell to his shoulders thickly. Vlad glanced away, his cheeks tinting slightly, suddenly feeling naked. "Better?" He glanced towards Danny, who stared at him a moment before blushing as well, nodding. Vlad combed a hand through his hair briefly to make sure it was unknotted. It was rare Vlad went out with his hair untied, finding it looked unprofessional and worrying his hair would tangle. But the thought that maybe Danny liked it this way sent a youthful excitement and bashfulness through Vlad. Look at me, worrying about my looks because of a teenager, Vlad scoffed to himself mildly.
Vlad smirked and nodded towards Danny. "Well then, if we're all set…"
Danny nodded and the two made their way out of the hotel room, Vlad's hand resting lightly on the small of Danny's back.
They took the elevator down to the main lobby, and from there, down the long hall to the hotel's restaurant. "Oh wow," Danny breathed as they entered. "Good thing I decided to wear a tie."
Vlad chuckled as the host greeted them. "Table for Masters, please," Vlad said casually. The man checked his list and immediately blanched when he realized who stood before him.
"Oh Mr. Masters, of course! Right this way! We are so pleased to have to this evening!" The man led them through the restaurant to a small table towards the back, the lighting of the place dim. A single candle sat on the table. "Can I start you off tonight with a bottle of Dom Perignon?"
"For me, yes please. And a glass of cola for my guest." The man left and Vlad smiled over at Danny, who was looking around the restaurant, his face pinched in an uncomfortable manner. "Everything alright, Daniel?"
Danny shrugged. He ran his hands over the pristine white table cloth, fingering the wrapped silverware. "I've never even seen a place this fancy, let alone stepped into one," Danny muttered, not looking Vlad in the eye.
"Well I'm glad I could take you here then," Vlad reassured.
Danny's expression still seemed off, but when he open his mouth to speak again, a waiter returned with a glass of cola and an empty glass, a thin tall bottle nestled in his arm. "For the young gentleman," the waiter said, gracing Danny with a smile as he set the boy's drink before him. "And for Mr. Masters." The waiter smiled genially at Vlad and set the empty glass down. He popped open the bottle, pouring a small amount for Vlad to taste. When Vlad nodded that the drink was acceptable, the waiter then left the bottle and gave them their menus.
Vlad looked over the menu, already knowing what he was in the mood for. He glanced over his menu to see Danny squinting as his own. Vlad hid an amused smirk. "Having trouble, Little Badger?"
Danny glared up at Vlad and then at his menu again. After a moment, the boy sighed and put the menu down on the table. "Okay, I have no idea what any of this is."
Vlad chuckled, putting down his own menu. "I'll order for us both then. I have a vague idea of the kinds of food you like."
"Right, because you used to be a stalker," Danny teased with a smirk. "You did take away all those bug cams, right?"
"Consider them gone after this weekend," Vlad said and at Danny's appalled look, Vlad chuckled. "I'm teasing Danny. I had to get rid of those a while ago."
Danny looked skeptical but nodded, glancing down to his menu. That odd expression claimed his features once more. "What's wrong, Daniel?"
"Nothing," Danny muttered, folding the menu and silently putting it to the side.
"Something," Vlad clarified sternly. "Out with it."
"It's nothing, dad," Danny bit out in irritation.
Vlad blanched, taken aback by Danny's words. Was he trying to parent the boy again? He hadn't intended to, but perhaps it came out like that when he spoke firmly to the boy. Vlad groaned, wishing beyond hope that the age gap between them wasn't so large. Vlad couldn't act like a parent and Danny really shouldn't be acting like a stubborn brat right now. "I apologize Daniel, I didn't mean…"
"No, I'm sorry," Danny said with a sigh. "It's just that though." Vlad quirked an eyebrow in confusion, waiting for Danny to elaborate. "Its all this." Danny gestured around them. "I just feel so…inadequate around you."
Vlad's initial shock burst into laughter. Danny glared at the man before him, obviously unsure of the humor in the situation. "It's not funny, Vlad. You're a billionaire! You go to places like this all the time, while the fanciest place I've been is Sam's house! I'm not sophisticated or intelligent. I'm just…some stupid kid." Danny lifted his glass. "Drinking cola at a place like this because I'm not even twenty one yet. Geez, I'm not even seventeen yet!"
Vlad felt his stomach churn. "If…if our ages make things too uncomfortable for you Daniel…"
"Its not that they make me feel uncomfortable," Danny began, his irritation melting into frustrated embarrassment as he struggled for the right words. "I just feel so…immature around you. You're an adult, a full grown adult with success. Makes me think you're going to realize I'm too young to take seriously…"
He's worried I'm not going to be interested in him because he's too young, Vlad realized in astonishment. Yes, Vlad had initially had an issue with Danny's age when the Espil Mirror had first revealed the type of relationship it expected Vlad wanted with Danny. But now, Vlad realized Danny wasn't as young as he seemed. Or at least, didn't act as young as he was. A bubble of warmth filled Vlad when he realized Danny was afraid Vlad wouldn't be interested in him.
Vlad smiled. "Daniel, you may be only sixteen, but you're so much more mature than your age suggests. You've had to take on so many responsibilities over the years, so many burdens that would have crushed anyone lesser than you. You impress me daily with your forgiveness, your kindness and your strength. I've never seen you as a stupid kid, even years ago at the College Reunion when you could barely hold your own against me." Vlad chuckled, warmed by the small blush on Danny's cheeks that had formed from the praise. "I know you're not rich or used to the blue bloods lifestyle. I don't expect you to be. Remember, I wasn't born into this kind of life either. It takes time to get used to, trust me. I enjoy spoiling you though, Daniel. I'm sorry if I overwhelmed you with it. But just remember, I don't think less of you if you don't know what Sole Meunière is."
Danny smiled lightly and laughed, glancing down at his menu. "Is that what you're ordering us?"
"No, instead I was thinking you'd enjoy a Filet Mignon with Balsamic Glaze. It's basically just steak and balsamic vinegar."
"Hey, I think I've heard of that," Danny said with a smile.
Vlad smirk slightly. "Not completely clueless then, I see," he teased.
The conversation continued more naturally from there. The waiter came, took their orders and menus. Vlad listened with a smile as Danny told Vlad about school, about his ideas for college in another year, about his plans for the future. He told Vlad about how much better he was doing in math, about the way he used to train with Sam and Tucker compared to how Vlad helped him out now, about how he first got interested in astronomy. Danny went on and on about how excited he was to visit the Kennedy Center tomorrow. Vlad smiled through it all, loving how Danny's eyes would light up when he spoke of something he loved or that excited him, how the boy's face was a perfect reflection of his feelings, how he waved his hands around as he spoke. Vlad realized he could listen to this boy talk for the rest of his life.
When the food arrived, Danny dug in, humming appreciatively, nearly groaning. "Oh my god, this is amazing," Danny moaned around his fork.
"Glad I chose correctly for you," Vlad chuckled, digging into his own food.
"What did you get?" Danny asked curiously, glancing over at Vlad's plate.
"Seared Scallops. Want to try?" Danny looked at the plate skeptically. Vlad chuckled, picking some up with his fork and holding it out to the boy. Instead of taking the fork like Vlad had assumed, Danny leaned forward, his lips wrapping around the fork as he tasted the food.
"Mmm, that's good!" Danny exclaimed happily around the food, smiling as though he hadn't done something so flirty and suggestive. Maybe he hadn't even seen it that way. This kid is going to kill me! Vlad thought, his face flushed as he continued to eat with the fork Danny had just eaten from.
They ate quietly for a time, each finishing their small meals, until the waiter returned with new menus. "Anything for dessert gentlemen?"
Danny took the menu, glancing to Vlad questioningly. Vlad smiled and waved his hand. "Choose anything you like, Daniel?"
Danny flushed lightly. "It's not that, I just…I still don't know what anything on here is," Danny muttered lamely, staring at the menu as though trying to hide behind it.
"If I might make a suggestion then, young sir?" the waiter said with a kind smile. He leaned over, pointing at something on the menu. "The Dobos Trote is delicious and light. My son orders it everything he visits."
"He's not my son."
"He's not my dad!"
Vlad and Danny looked to each other as the words quickly tumbled out their mouths. Danny nervously looked back to the menu. Vlad coughed into his fist. The waiter looked back and forth between the two uncomfortable guests. "Sorry for assuming. Uncle and nephew, then?"
"No. W-well sorta but…he's actually my…kinda…uhh…" Danny stammered, gesturing lightly and then scratching his neck. Vlad could practically see the boy sinking into his chair as he stammered on.
"The Dobos Torte and Chocolate Liqueur Soufflé for me would be lovely," Vlad said with a tight smile, crisply handing his menu back to the waiter. His hard gaze, which normally sent any regular middle-class human into a tremor, had the usual desired effect on his waiter, who stuttered out an apology, nodded and took the menus. He turned on his heel and left. Vlad sighed, massage his fingers into his temple. "Sorry you had to be on the spot like that, Daniel."
"It was bound to happen eventually," Danny said with a small shrug, staring down at the empty space before him.
Vlad stared at the boy. His stammering had brought up a good question to this whole strange situation. What were he and Danny to each other? Before this whole thing, they had been enemies, naturally. Not that they really could have introduced themselves as such in their human forms. But now, after everything, where did they stand? Was this a date? Were they simply going out to eat, as what, teacher and pupil? Friends of family? Boyfriends?
Vlad shook his head at that last thought. It sounded so juvenile, so high school, calling Danny his boyfriend. It was wrong anyway, they weren't dating. And it wasn't like Vlad was even really sure Danny actual feelings for him. Yes, Danny had come to save him from the Espil Mirror, and yes, Danny had invited Vlad to come with him to Florida for his birthday but it wasn't exactly like that had been a love confession. Vlad tilted his head slightly as he regarded the boy across from him. What would Danny have seen, had he looked into the Mirror…
"I'm sorry." Vlad blinked at the soft voice.
"Hm? Sorry for what, Daniel?" Danny's eyes stayed glued to the tablecloth. Vlad narrowed his eyes and spoke before Danny could. "You have nothing to apologize for, Daniel. If anything, I do, for putting you into these…uncomfortable situations." Vlad waved his hand irritably in the general direction of the waiter's station. "This whole situation is…absurd, frankly. It's our genders and our ages. God, I'm a forty-four year old man, in love with a boy I once wanted as a son! And you're a still a teenager; a young boy who should be with a young girl your own age, not saddled with—"
"It's my decision who I should be with, who I like, and who I want to spend my time with," Danny insisted with narrowed blue eyes, his teen pride poking through in his tone. "I mean, I've never been interested in a guy before, but…well if I want to be with one, then I don't care what others think. And yeah, you're like twenty years older than me but…" Danny shrugged awkwardly. "I'll be eighteen soon, and its not like your all wrinkly or something." Vlad made a sound between a scoff and a laugh. "You don't look old, or even really act old. You're just as immature as me most times!" This time Vlad really did scoff and roll his eyes at the audacity of the boy calling him immature! "Is this the kind of thing I'd have imagined myself getting involved in a few years— hell even a few months ago? No, absolutely not, but, this is what's happening and honestly, it's not that bad." Danny looked Vlad in the eye, his gaze serious and earnest. "Its actually kind of nice, so don't beat yourself up about this. We're both trying to wrap our minds around the…craziness of all this, but we've both already established that our lives have always been crazy and abnormal and generally fucked up—" Vlad started slightly at the language coming from the teen. "—so why don't we just accept things as they are and move forward? No more worrying about age, or gender, or that past enemy thing and just…see what happens, I guess."
Vlad didn't say anything for a moment as Danny finished. Finally Vlad smirked lightly, lifting his glass and raising it towards Danny in a faint salute before sipping it. "Well said, Daniel. Perhaps you are the mature one here." Danny laughed and Vlad nodded. "Sounds like a good idea, Little Badger." Danny nodded too just as the waiter returned with their desserts.
Maybe this won't be so bad, Vlad thought mildly, his spirits light once more. This boy…how does he do this to me so easily? He makes me loose all sense and patience, yet makes me feel happier than I have in years with the simplest words or a smile. Vlad shook his head as Danny exclaimed once more with loud noise and funny expressions about how delicious the dessert was. Vlad laughed heartily, his heart and core filling with that warmth. I never want to lose this boy.
…
The pair made their way out of the restaurant, the hotel's clock chiming ten o'clock. Danny walked over to the elevator, but Vlad caught the boy's hand before he could press the button. Danny looked curiously to Vlad.
Vlad smirked down at the young teen. "I know a quicker way. And a much funnier way." He turned intangible and the contact between him and Danny caused the boy to also turn intangible.
"Why not just take the elevator?" Danny muttered, but Vlad could hear the smile and excitement leaking into his young voice.
Vlad ignored the question, his smirk still firm on his face the two floated upwards through the ceiling. "Have you ever haunted a hotel full of rich old folks, Daniel?" Vlad asked, his tone casual as he tried to hide his underlying excitement.
"Are you serious?" Danny asked. "That's wrong."
"Aw come on, you're telling me you've never wanted to make a lamp switch on and off and make some chair float and tip over before?" They continued rising.
"I mean, I've done it to Sam and Tucker and Jaz before, but usually not strangers…"
"Heroes," Vlad scoffed with a role of his eyes. "Always playing by the rules. Come on, Daniel, I'll show you how a real haunting is done."
…
The duo fazed through their hotel room door around midnight, laughing loudly as they turned tangible.
"Oh my god, did you see the girl's dad! He looked like he was about to wet himself!" Danny exclaimed between laughs as he fell on his bed, holding his side.
"I think he did. The little girl looked more excited than scared. I'm sure she's watched Casper the Friendly Ghost enough times to think spectral activity is fun," Vlad said as his laughs died down. It'd been so long since he'd pulled jokes like this. He had done it often when he'd first gained some control on his powers many years ago, still being an immature twenty year old at the time. But since Danny could do everything that he could, Vlad had thought it'd be fun messing around like this. Vlad figured Danny had pulled pranks before, but obviously only on his friends since he was a good kid, as well as Danny only being able to pull these jokes on his friends, never with his friends. This was something he and Danny could only do together. Vlad loved it.
"That was hilarious," Danny breathed, his laughs finally settling down. "But we can not do that again. It was beyond mean. Sam will have an aneurysm when I tell her about this."
Vlad's nice mood fell slightly at the name. He scowled as he began to undo the tie around his neck. "Yes well, you could always not tell the little worry-wart."
"She means well. She helps keep me in line," Danny said, his tone soft as he spoke fondly of his friend. Vlad's mood turned grayer and grayer. "Way too many times I've tried to use my powers against other who didn't really deserve it, or for my own personal gain. She always keeps me grounded."
"She holds you back, it seems," Vlad muttered. "Probably just jealous of what you can do, and so tries to stifle your fun."
"You've really got a problem with Sam, don't you?" Danny said after a moment. Vlad had his back turned to Danny as he faced his own bed, pulling off his suit jacket and undoing the buttons of his cuffs.
"No problem at all," Vlad said stiffly.
"Oh my god, you so do," Danny said with a laugh.
Vlad glared over his shoulder at the boy was lying on his own bed, his arms behind his head and a smirk on his lips. "Oh I so do not. And I fail to see what's so funny."
"You are!" Danny exclaimed, turning onto his side to look at Vlad, leaning his head against his palm with his arm propped up on his elbow. "You're jealous of Sam, still! After everything!"
Vlad looked away with a deep scowl, his face humiliatingly red from irritation and embarrassment as Danny lay there, laughing at him.
"Vlad, she's my best friend. And I'm not going to lie to you; I did like her for a while." Vlad's eyes blazed red and he felt his hands fizzling with heated pink energy. "But!" Danny began hastily when he apparently noticed Vlad's anger. "Not anymore! That was like, freshman year! And in my defense, I literally had a crush on anything that smelled like a flower and smiled at me. I was fourteen!"
Vlad didn't look at Danny, his anger not completely assuaged as he silently seethed. Vlad vaguely wondered if they made a rose-scented men's cologne. Vlad blushed miserably at the pathetic thought, shutting his eyes.
"Hey." Vlad didn't look over his shoulder or turn around. "I don't like Sam anymore. We work perfectly as friends, I'm not going to ruin that."
"Just as we worked perfectly as enemies. And we now work decently as…whatever this is," Vlad said roughly with a flip of his hand. "What if this is ruined?"
"I don't think it will be," Danny replied. "And a way for whatever this is to not get ruined, is trust. I need you to trust that Sam isn't a threat. Yes, she knows nearly everything about me. Yes, I'm very comfortable around Sam. And yes, I'm going to talk about her sometimes, because again, she's my best friend! I hang out with Tucker just as much, you gonna be jealous of him too?"
"Probably," Vlad said lightly with a shrug, finally turning to face the boy who now sat up, kneeling on the bed towards Vlad. "But honestly, I'd be jealous if my cat sat on your lap too long."
Danny laughed and shook his head. "You really are a fruitloop."
"Does that bother you?"
Danny smiled and shook his head. "Not as much as it probably should. I mean…" Danny blushed lightly, scratching his cheek. "It's actually kind of nice."
Vlad was surprised by the confession. He smirked softly, crossing the small space between their beds. He leaned over, his hands on either side of Danny as he balanced over the seated teen. "Oh? My intense jealousy and possessiveness is nice?"
Danny blushed darker, looking up at Vlad through his black bangs, which had fallen back over his forehead from lying on the bed. "Well…it's always nice to feel wanted. Especially when most people are calling you a freak, or a loser."
Vlad's eyes darkened dangerously in an instant. "Has someone said that to you?"
Danny shrugged. "High school kids can be mean."
"You're bullied…" Vlad whispered. Vlad had known that. He'd seen the jocks; he'd seen the footage from his CCTV cameras. Back then, he hadn't paid much attention. He'd been irritated mostly that Danny wasn't using his powers against the bullies, but for the most part Vlad had overlooked it as normal high school dynamics. Now, Vlad felt a burning rage inside him at the thought of some block head hurting his Danny, or of some preppy Prima Dona calling him names, of kids shoving him down or laughing at him, or making Danny think of himself as less or as undesirable.
"Daniel," Vlad said softly, swallowing down his rage. He put his knee on the bed so he could lift his hands to Danny's face. He ran his thumb lightly over the boy's cheek as he held Danny's face delicately. "I love you. I don't want anything those idiots say to hurt you, because you're so much greater than them. You're kindness is perhaps too generous, not only forgiving someone like me, but for pardoning people like them. I never want you to believe you're less than them, or that's you're unwanted. I know its been a hard time in high school, but I need you to believe me."
Danny's red face was too cute, especially as smiled in embarrassment. "I know Vlad. I don't really care what they think anymore but…thank you."
Vlad stroked the soft skin under his thumb, leaning forward. He paused just breaths from Danny's lips. A small push and they would touch. Vlad could almost feel him, his body aching to kiss the precious boy senseless. Danny's breath hitched slightly and he shut his eyes quickly, his lips tightening. Vlad's heart stuttered in rejection and he pulled away, his hands dropping from Danny's face.
"It's late. Let's go to bed, Daniel." Danny opened his eyes quickly and stared as Vlad got off the bed and moved towards his own, a strange expression on the boy's face that Vlad couldn't read. "We've got a big day planned tomorrow, Little Badger. We need you bright eyed and bushy tailed for the Space Center!"
Vlad unbuttoned the top notch at his neck before turning around with a smile. Danny still sat motionless on his bed, starting slightly when Vlad placed a hand on Danny's head, petting him affectionately. "Happy birthday, Daniel."
Danny glanced to the clock on the nightstand between their beds. "Oh! It's past midnight."
"Very perceptive, my boy," Vlad smirked, moving towards his suitcase and grabbing his nightclothes. "Seventeen now and still just as smart."
Danny scowled, scooching to the edge of the bed to grab his own pajamas from his bags. Vlad headed towards the bathroom.
"Thanks, Vlad." Vlad paused in the doorway, glancing towards the boy who smiled over at him. The sight took Vlad's breath away. All he could do was nod and enter the bathroom, not even completely sure what the boy was thanking him for.
Silently changing, Vlad glanced towards the mirror, half expecting the guardian spirit to appear and praise him. Or reprimand him. He wasn't sure how well he was doing in all of this. Well if that smile was any indication, I'm assuming I'm doing things right. Vlad thought with a grin on his own face. The grin faltered slightly when he thought about just minutes before, when he had been about to kiss Danny.
The boy still seemed a bit uncomfortable with that. He had seemed scared, closing his eyes as though flinching away.
Vlad groaned as he gathered his day clothes in his arms. I'm getting so many different signals from the boy, I don't know what to do!
Exiting the bathroom, Vlad saw Danny already in pajamas, lying under the blankets, knocked out. Vlad chuckled silently. This boy can fall asleep in a wink.
Folding his clothes neatly and putting them back in his suitcase, Vlad walked over to the nightstand. He gazed at Danny a moment, reaching out to lightly touch the boy's soft hair. Like before, when Danny had accidentally slept over Vlad's home during the boy's powers malfunction, Danny sighed softly, his head moving into Vlad's touch.
"Good night, Daniel," Vlad whispered, clicking off the lamp and moving under the covers of his own bed.
So was the fluff aweful? Tolerable? Totally out of character, perhaps but i can't help write fluff after a lot of angst! . its my weakness. The next chapter has fluff, yes, but itll be good, don't worry! x3 They've got to have some nice times before more angst and difficulties!
So, i have no idea the kinds of things that fancy resturants serve, cause I'm a peasant but all the foods are real and "fancy" according to Google xD the kind of champagne here may have been borrowed from the fault in our stars ;) (sorrynotsorry)
Anyway, hope you enjoyed, SO much more to come for the next chapter which shall be up this week, i promise! my laptop's charger broke so unfortunately its been kind of a struggle finishing the chapters but the next one is almost done so no worries! ^^
Please favorite and follow if you like the story, and review if you can with any questions, comments, your opinions or if i have any fatal flaws in the grammar and what not xD
THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR STICKING WITH ME, BEING SO PATIENT, FOR ALL THE FOLLOWS AND FAVORITES I'VE BEEN GETTING, YOU GUYS ARE JUST SO AMAZING!