Verdant: (adj.) the bright colour of green grass.

Characters: Danny, Sam

Genre: Friendship, General fluffiness

Rating: K+

Summary: It was the fierce anger that caused the change. She watched as his eyes easily slid from blue to bright green.

"God, I swear all she wears is black. What an emo!"

"I know, it makes me depressed just to look at her."

Sam grit her teeth together as she listened to Paulina and Star gossiping about her down the hall. Focusing on getting books into her bag before leaving school, she rolled her eyes and ignored their laughter as it echoed around the small space.

It was always the same taunts, trying to get a rise out of her, goad her into reacting. Juvenile really. Sam couldn't help but grin at some of the insults they came up with, whether it was about her clothes, make-up, independence and nonconforming ways or even her supposed 'relationship' with Danny.

She was pragmatic and unafraid to stand up for herself when needed, but on something as silly as her clothing? She heard all the insults before anyway; their callous behaviour wasn't anything to get into a tizzy about.

Just as Sam had finished acquiring the right books, Danny slid up beside her, looking positively flushed.

Facing him, she raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, Danny, you alright?"

He nodded, "Yeah. Lancer cornered me before I could leave and asked of my whereabouts the past few classes."

Sam tilted her head to the side. "Then why are you so-

-flushed? Ahh, the answer I gave him wasn't one of my shining moments, rather embarrassing."

"I'm not going to ask."

"Thanks," he replied, "I'd rather if you didn't. So all set to go?"

She zipped her bag shut and quickly closed her locker, "All set."

Smiling, the pair made their way down the hall, but not before a voice called out from behind them.

"Hey, emo! You and your boy-toy shouldn't ruin our happiness with all your doom and gloom."

"Take your empty heart and depression somewhere else!"

Loud laughter was heard as Sam and Danny stopped in the middle of the hallway. Rage was boiling beneath the surface of the two, unexpectedly, not from the girl the insults were thrown at.

Sam sighed and whispered to her companion, "I really wish they would stop with the goth and emo stereotypes. Just because I wear a lot of black doesn't mean I can't be happy. Kinda ironic really, considering 'emo' is short for emotional. Ugh, how unoriginally boring."

Unaware of the irritation flowing from Danny, she continued, "Anyway, let's get going. It's not worth our time to respond. Danny? Hey, Danny?"

One glance at his face and she could tell he was utterly pissed. It was the fierce anger that caused the change, Sam watched as his eyes easily slid from blue to bright green. His lips pulled into a tight line, fists balled up next to his sides.

Her own eyes widened and she placed a hand on his shoulder, "Danny you need to calm down." When the consoling didn't work, she tried humor instead.

"Hey, you got your greenies lit up there," Sam commented with a grin, pointing to her own violet eyes.

That seemed to do the trick as Danny shook his head, eyes flicking back to their normal cerulean colour. Noticing the grin on her face, he smiled bashfully, aware of the hand still gripping his arm.

He took a deep breath and ignored the tingling leaving his hands, the increased heartbeat. Instead he raised his own hand and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Sorry 'bout that. I hate it when they do that to you Sam. It just makes me so angry…"

"It's alright Danny, I know you're protective, but I'm used to it by now. They shouldn't joke about depression though; it's a serious mental affliction."

"Mm, you're right," he agreed as she squeezed his arm in acceptance and let go. "Ugh, I can't believe I used to like her," Danny said moments later as they continued down the hall. He even shivered for good measure.

Sam's voice was laced with disbelief, "Used to?"

His face was alight with a smile and his eyes flashed in mischievousness as opposed to anger this time, "Apparently I'm your, boy-toy now."