Updating late today rather than early tomorrow due to work. Enjoy!
~CWA
(p.s. waffles cure everything)
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
A week later
Danny Fenton
The next few days at the lab are a lot easier on everyone, I like to think. It's easily a weight lifted off my shoulders with Tadashi and I being back on good terms. If anything, I like to think we got a bit closer after our small fight. Though I still remember when we came back to the lab the day after we made up, our arms lazily thrown around each other as we laughed at something. I think we gave everyone a heart attack and I know that I saw a few stray bills passing hands signaling that the betting ring Fred had wasn't a small one.
I laugh a bit at the memory, causing A.D. to give me a curious glance from his place behind the counter. It's a good thing that he's made it clear he prefers either them/they or he/him pronouns because it's hard to use they/them all the time and I'd hate to slip up and offend him. I wave my hand at him, giving him a signal that I'm fine causing him to roll his eyes with an amused grin on his face. With that taken care of, I turn my attention to those in front of me.
I did promise Fred that I'd teach him more about ghosts and ghost hunting. But why just limit it to him? Tadashi made it clear that he's not going to let Hiro learn alone so the two of them are here inside of Neutral Gym with us. So here I am teaching a dork, a comic-book enthusiastic nerd, and a genius how to hunt ghosts at a gym. What an ideal situation. I did invite GoGo- if anything so she can help me teach them a lesson- but she made it clear that she's not interested in learning how to fight ghosts because it's hard enough fighting people. Still, I see her watching us from the other side of the gym as she works out.
Just as I've instructed them, they're all wearing comfortable working clothes that won't get them too hot or restrict movement. But they whisper to themselves a bit- I catch most of the conversation with my heightened hearing, but the whispering causes A.D. to shrink into the book he's reading as if he's scared that they're all talking about him. For a moment, I think about cutting the lesson short and heading over there just to make sure he's okay. But a quick nod from GoGo lets me know that she's got it covered.
There's only a few other people at the gym- GoGo and A.D. included- since it's not even seven o'clock yet. Most aren't paying attention to what I'm doing- though a few of the more muscled guys look over every once in a while in mild curiosity before returning to their business.
"Alright, listen up," I whistle to get their attention away from whatever whispered conversation that they're having, "Today, I'm gonna teach you how to fight. Tadashi step forward and take a stance."
Tadashi eyes me hesitantly before stepping forward, unsure what to do. He puts his hands up into fists, but already I'm clicking my tongue at him,
"Keep your thumb out of your fist- you'll break it if you try to punch someone."
"-I still don't get how we can punch a ghost," Fred piques up from the sidelines, "I mean, they are ghosts."
I click my tongue a bit more,
"Not really. I mean, yeah they can go through things, turn invisible and sorts of other stuff- but they are solid a good portion of the time. So if you manage to sneak up them, it's likely you'll get a hit in. Plus, I have Fenton anti-ghost cuffs you can wear which are basically gloves with hard knuckles made for hand to hand combat with a ghost. But you can't use those if you don't know how to hit first. Plus you have to be in good physical condition to even manage against any sort of fight- ghost or otherwise."
"Damn right," A.D. calls out from behind the counter, "But you seem pretty muscular, so I doubt you have to work out that much, Danny."
He grins a bit goofy, but it falls once GoGo hits him upside the head for the comment. Though I can see the uneasy expressions being exchanged between Hiro and Fred from the comment as they worriedly look to Tadashi and I for our reaction.
"Stop flirting with him, dipshit," GoGo comments.
"Just a causal comment, not a flirt," A.D. corrects, "I could do a lot worse than just say that, believe me."
He winks at me enough to make me blush slightly as he laughs. From the corner of my eyes, I see Tadashi tense slightly as his hands form tight, strangling fists at his sides. I eye him hesitantly, unsure as to what caused his sudden surge of anger.
"No doubt," Tadashi replies coldly, "But you seem to not be in good shape yourself. Especially for a gym owner- or is that just a lie you tell people?"
His cold, harsh comment causes me to look at him with surprise. Even Fred and Hiro seem uneasy and uncomfortable with Tadashi's hostility. GoGo raises an eyebrow and I see her take a step forward, ready to defend A.D., but he just waves her off as a signal that he'll take care of it himself. With an ease that shouldn't be normal in heels, he flips over the table and heads straight toward Tadashi and I with a grace that only comes from training.
To be honest, since he's always behind the counter, I never noticed the faint muscular tone in his arms and shoulders. He's still very lean, even small compared to Tadashi and even smaller compared to the other men in the gym. Even with his heels on, he's an inch or two shorter than Tadashi, but that doesn't stop him from getting right into Tadashi's face with no fear.
"I don't lie," A.D. spits out with a venom I didn't think he was capable of, "I may cheat. I may be a little bit of a whore and may or may not have hooked up with Danny at one point-"
That comment makes Tadashi turn redder than a tomato as I nervously pull at the collar of my shirt. He looks back and forth between A.D. and I with a fire burning in his eyes. He looks like he's about to scream. I can hear Hiro mutter a small oh snap under his breath behind his hand. Even Fred is trying to cover up his own laughter behind his hand. A.D. pays no mind to Tadashi's hatred-filled glares as he continues.
"-Hell, I may even have a small smoking or drinking problem, but I do not lie. And I thought you were cool, Tadashi, when you first came in to get Danny. Cool enough that I haven't made any passes at Danny because I respected you- flirting is my nature, so even if I did respect you, those comments won't stop. But right now, you've managed to do the one thing that no one else has. You've pissed me off."
He glares slightly at Tadashi before his attention goes to me. He doesn't even falter as he turns in those disastrous heels. There's a hard, determination in his eyes. I can see GoGo giving him this not again look before she shakes her head slightly. I can't help but gulp under his intense gaze though. A.D. just gestures for me to get into a stance,
"Come on, I don't have all day. I may not look like much, but I can hold my own and I'm going to prove it to that fucker over there."
"So you want to spar with me," I ask skeptically, but A.D. just nods.
"You look like the only one who could keep up with me, to be honest. So get ready- GoGo, you're the referee."
GoGo gives a simple, yeah sure whatever as she gets a bit closer to us to monitor the spar. With a simple wave of her hand, A.D. and I both get into a stance. I know I'll have to tone it down for this spar, but there's a fierce gleam in A.D.'s eyes that let me know that there's no way he's going to be going easy on me. He's dead serious about sparring with me to prove that he is a fit as a fiddle and can own a gym.
The few men in the gym are looking at us curiously, but the second they see A.D.'s serious expression they back off with a oh shit expression so apparently they aren't as oblivious to A.D.'s skills as the rest of us. Judging from GoGo's earlier expression of not again, I can only suspect that this isn't the first time A.D.'s done this. His stance is professional enough to make me believe that he can hold his own in a fight so with a small nod, I correct my stance and get ready for our spar.
"And go," GoGo mutters lazily, waving her hand in a go ahead sign.
Adrian goes for me instantly. His eyes are calculating and sharp, his movements quick and precise. But I manage to dodge him without the use of any of my powers and before I know it, we're in a dance around the gym trying to hit each other. I manage to dodge most of his hits and even catch his foot or fist a few times- he manages to flip out of the holds easily enough. But I have to admit, even though I'm holding back a considerate amount, he's doing enough to impress me. Not to mention that he's doing it all in heels.
With a small hmm, I decide to stop the spar quickly. With one quick movement, I catch him in a headlock, causing him to hiss.
"...Mercy," A.D. finally speaks up begrudgingly, "….I surrender."
Pleased, I let him go and we congratulate each other with a firm handshake with smiles on our faces. From the look in his eyes, I apparently impressed him just as much as he impressed me. Though I can't say the same for the others. Fred looks confused. Hiro is gaping at us. Tadashi…. Is even redder than before as he crosses his arms with a huff. He won't even look at me, causing my gut to twist with guilt. To my surprise, GoGo is openly grinning.
"That was a good spar," I say simply to A.D., "Where did you learn to do that?"
"I could ask you the same thing," A.D. nudges me lightly, "It's the first time in years someone's beaten me. I knew you could hold your own, but I didn't expect that. While you were holding back no less… And I'm a national champ, for your information," he shakes his head, "So it's not exactly easy to best me when I have several first place medals, titles, and trophies from competitions."
A national champion? I suppose that makes sense. It takes practice and determination to do some of the stuff that he did- and pull it off so gracefully and naturally. His lean, slightly feminine, form makes it easy to dodge opponents therefore giving him an advantage. Not to mention a lot of people must underestimate him making it that much easier for him to pull the wool over their eyes. But I am slightly surprised that he holds a championship title.
"Way to be modest," GoGo snorts, causing A.D. to make a face at her.
With GoGo taking care of A.D., I turn my attention to Tadashi with a small smile. He's still refusing to look at me and I don't really blame him. To learn that A.D. and I did sleep together must not be easy to take in.
"I think that's enough excitement for today," I offer lightly, "That spar's making me pretty hungry… What do you think, 'Dashi? Waffles sound good? Or should we hit up that newer Italian place downtown?"
A.D. lights up at the mention of food, but GoGo smacks him upside the head to keep him quiet since my question is directed to Tadashi. Hiro smiles a bit and Fred's obviously thrilled with the idea of going to go eat. It takes a second, but Tadashi finally does look at me. His eyes are sad, but he manages to give me a small, hopeful smile.
"...Waffles sound pretty good right about now."
