A Gem of a Date
Stretching his arms, Danny felt himself relaxed and at peace as he thought about his new friend whom he found rather attractive in appearance and personality.
"Wow… Sakura." He said to himself.
So far, the dates he had been on weren't as physically demanding as her. Marinette was fun to compete with as Ladybug, yet Sakura seemed on another level of combat. She was also nowhere near as powerful or skilled as the fighters she mentioned, much less that Sagat.
Still, the kiss she placed on him as an act of gratitude and to terrify his bully was something he found himself recalling.
He almost made it home with this big, dorky smile on his face when he noticed someone sitting at the stoop of his house. It was Tucker.
"It didn't go so well, huh?" Danny asks as he approaches Tucker.
"That obvious, huh?"
"You wouldn't be on my stoop if you were somehow getting married to her right away." Danny pointed out.
"I'm not really sure I'd want to marry this one. Her name is Karin Kanzuki." Tucker said.
"Sounds… fancy." Danny said.
"She is, she's this rich girl who lives in Japan. She's… better than Chloe, but that's not exactly a high bar to pass. She wasn't mean, but she kept reminding me of the "divide in our class". Granted, she knows martial arts, which is cool, but it made me feel… like I'd rather be around anyone else to be honest."
"Sakura didn't seem like that. That's my date by the way. She's this awesome girl who does martial arts. She even beat up Dash and his buddies when they tried to harass us." Danny said with much fondness for the young street fighter.
"Aww man… why are you getting the best ones?" Tucker asks angrily as he swung his arms up.
"Might have something to do with how… dishonest your profile sounds." Danny said.
"I WAS honest! All I did was talk about how good looking, charming and modest I am!" Tucker said.
"You gotta write it while looking at yourself, not how you want to be seen." Danny said.
"I so regret asking you to join…" Tucker grumbled.
"So… wanna come in for dinner?" Danny asks, gesturing to his door.
"Eh… not really…" Tucker said, getting up and going. "Later."
Tucker waved goodbye and left as Danny shook his head.
"Poor Tucker…"
Later
Danny had given Sakura a 9 out of 10. She was pretty, fun, tough and an amazing fighter, all the traits he'd want in a girlfriend. The fact she lived on the other side of the world made dating her rather difficult though, which is why he gave her a 9. Now, it was time to see his next date.
User Name: Bob
Age: 17?
Gender: Female (sort of)
Height: 5'10"
Weight: Indeterminate
Home Town: Beach City
Physical Description: Tall, short hair, slender
Personality: I'm pretty introverted and it took a while for me to settle down. I like to read and lay back when nothing's going on.
Likes and Interests: My friend Steven, solitude, reading, meep-morps (or art as you call them)
Type of person I wish to date: Not sure.
Danny raised an eyebrow at this.
"This person sounds… interesting." Danny said as he shrugged before deciding he'll learn who she is in the morning.
It was ready they'd meet at Floody Waters. So, he'll pack his trunks.
The next day
Danny was flying in the air, heading towards where his date will be. It was 10:45 AM, plenty of time to get to where his date was going to be.
So glad I'm early. Danny thought.
He saw the location in reach, happy to see that there weren't that many people, despite it being summer.
He landed in a secure spot and, stepping out with his duffle bag ready, took a deep breath.
"She'll be here any minute now." He said as he put the heart sticker on his chest.
With a smile, he started to make his way to the line, only to notice something out of the corner of his eye.
A group of people were staring at something in the sky, pointing up.
"Are you sure it's a ghost?" One of them asked.
"It must be…" Another said.
"Well, she is blue, not a normal color." Another one said.
Curious, Danny looked to where they were pointing, squinting his eyes a little to adjust from the brightness.
What he saw was a blue woman, with cobalt blue chin-length hair and round, royal blue eyes, wearing a backless blue halter crop top tied to a blue sash ribbon on the back of her shoulders, a flowing blue skirt and was barefooted. She seemed to be flying on a pair of wings made of water.
She hovered above the people, looking down as if searching for someone.
Danny was momentarily at a loss at how pretty she was until he snapped out of it.
"A ghost? Couldn't be… my ghost sense didn't go off. Still, I got time before she shows up." He said to himself as he went to morph.
Once he had gone ghost, Danny flew towards the blue woman, who didn't seem to be attacking. In fact, it looks like she was looking for something.
"So, this is the place?" The blue woman pondered as she looked around. "Now… I don't see anyone that matches his description."
"Uh, excuse me, pretty blue lady?" Danny Phantom asks from behind.
She gasped, turning around to see someone right behind her.
"What? Another one?!" She asks, before looking at him as if he were an enemy before noticing that he looked relatively human. "Wait… you're not a… you're some kind of human?" She asks, now sounding more curious than someone that was going to attack her.
"Uh… sort of?" Danny asks as the blue woman circled around him, puzzled. "Uh…" She looked under his arms. "Whoa!" She looked to his back. "Hey!"
"Maybe it's on your belly…" She said as she tried to feel his torso up above the belt.
"Stop it!" Danny went, phasing out of her reach.
The blue woman blinked in surprise.
"You're not a gem?" She asks.
"A… huh? Actually, never mind. Who are you and what are you doing here?" Danny asks.
"I'm a Lapis Lazuli." She responded flatly.
"Name, not birthstone." Danny said.
"I just said it. Lapis Lazuli. Now go away, I'm looking for a specific human." She said.
Thinking she was hunting someone down, Danny reached out for her shoulder.
"I don't think so. You and I are gonna have a talk." He insisted.
In response, Danny felt a large fist hit him, sending him back several feet. He saw, to his surprise, one of the wings Lapis was using morphed into a giant fist before morphing back.
"I promised Steven I won't hurt any humans… but don't worry… I won't fight unless you provoke me. And you… provoked me." She said.
"Geez, all I did was touch your shoulder in a non-violent manner. But now… comes the violence!" Danny said.
Lapis unleashed water in the form of a giant shuriken, one that Danny froze once he grabbed an edge, breaking the ice with his knee.
"What?!" Lapis went, surprised to see this happen as the ice landed on the ground in chunks.
"Any more tricks with the water works?" Danny asks with a smile.
Lapis blinked in surprise before scowling.
"How's this?!" She asks.
She formed giant arms made of water which she used to try and grab Danny, who flew around to evade the hands, blasting ones that got too close, causing them to explode before they re-emerged and started chasing him again. Danny kept dodging as he looked at Lapis, noting her wings.
That gives me an idea. He thought as he blasted one hand, causing it to burst.
Lapis covered her face briefly before seeing Danny hovering in front of her.
"Got you!" She went.
"Did you?" Danny asks, yet did not move.
He had then got captured by the remaining water hands. Lapis smirks before flying towards the struggling Danny.
"There, caught. Now, let's deal with this so I get back to who I'm looking for." Lapis said with a nod.
Suddenly, Danny stopped struggling and smirked at her.
"Not exactly, pretty lady." He said before Lapis felt someone grab her wings. She turned her head and was surprised to see another Danny Phantom. She turned to the one she captured, who winked before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Suddenly, starting from her wings, Lapis found herself trapped in ice, surprising her. Danny slowly lowered her to the ground as the water hands she created fell back with a splash. Danny nodded in satisfaction, thinking he'd won while Lapis noticed that her hands were free.
"One last try…" She said under her breath.
"Okay… enough of this. Miss Lazuli, you're coming wi-"
Before Danny could finish, Lapis turned the puddle of water near Danny, from the giant water hands she made, into a large fist that launched him into the air. Seeing him gone, Lapis then used the water hand to grab the ice and crushed it, freeing her from her prison.
Lapis got back up and smiled victoriously. She walked towards her downed foe and smiled down on him.
"You were saying?" She asks.
Danny tried to get back up, only to fall and find himself morphing back to human form.
"Oh no…" He said, realizing he let his guard down too easily.
Before Lapis did anything, she noticed the sticker on Danny's chest.
"Wait…" Her smug attitude was replaced with surprise and shock. "You're D Fenton? You're my date?"
"... say what?" Danny asks.
Lapis then pulled away and reached into her back. Suddenly, a baseball bat appears in her hand.
"No." She said, putting it back and instead pulling out a book. "No." She said louder before repeating the process, pulling out a handheld game console that opens like a clam. "N- Oh, so that's where that was." She said absentmindedly before putting it away and finally finding what she was looking for. "Aha!"
She placed a heart sticker on her chest.
Danny stood up in shock.
"Wait… you're Bob?! Which is also oddly enough the weirdest username I've ever seen so far!" Danny exclaimed.
"That's me. Sorry…" Lapis said, looking away in regret. "I thought you were the enemy."
"I thought you were the enemy." Danny said.
"Oh… so… I guess this means this date's over?" She asks.
Danny rubbed the back of his head and took a breath.
"Well… all that excitement's gotten me… kinda sweaty. Maybe we can go in after all? If you're okay with it." Danny said.
Lapis stared silently for about five seconds.
"Okay…" She said nonchalantly.
Before Danny could comment on her response, he recalled something and opened his duffel bag, pulling out some flowers.
"And… These are for you. Thankfully, they weren't crushed in the fight." Danny said.
Lapis took the flowers and examined them, but not in the same way his past dates have. She instead examined them as if she was examining something scientific.
"I see…" She said, taking the flowers attempting to place them on her back, only to have some trouble. "Can you help me put them away? In my gem?"
"Uh… okay?" Danny went, walking around and seeing a gem on her back. "You want me to take it off?" Danny asks.
"You can't. I just need you to press the flowers into it." Lapis said.
Shrugging, Danny took the flowers and pressed them into the gem. Then, to his surprise, the gem seemed to outright absorb the flowers into itself.
"Whoa!" Danny went.
"Great, let's have this date now." Lapis said with a small smile as she walked to the water park, Danny following her with a questioned look on his face.
"Ooh! Lapis Lazuli from Steven Universe?" Deadpool asks.
"Yup. I wasn't sure at first about who would replace Jenny from My Life as a Teenage Robot. At first, I figured any girl would work. But, I figure replacing her with another girl who is inorganic would be an interesting challenge. So, how many girls would be inorganic but NOT robots?" NeoMark asks.
"That is a short list. Plus, Amethyst is too gross for humans to be around." Deadpool went.
"Right. Plus, Lapis does feel like the opposite to Jenny in many ways. She's older, not as eager to make new friends, a bit more laid back and blasé, and she can handle water better." NeoMark said.
"And speaking of older… you might wanna address the elephant in the room." Deadpool asks.
"Right… Lapis is thousands of years old. Well, first off, she appears the same size and physical age as the cool kids in Beach City. Second, as established, Amethyst is kind of gross. Plus, we got Peridot, who probably would see Danny as a science experiment. So yeah, I think when it comes to gems, Lapis wins. Besides, Gems don't really age physically." NeoMark said.
"Okay then. Well, if you think she works." Deadpool said.
"Right… now then." NeoMark said as he kicked back.
"So… how are you gonna explain the whole "Steven's Earth is actually an alternate Earth where its history was altered by the Gems coming to the planet in prehistory" thing?" Deadpool asks.
"Wait and see."
At the water park
After getting changed, Danny stepped out and noticed Lapis was standing there, waiting for him.
"Aren't you going to change?" Danny asks.
"No. This will work." Lapis said, gesturing to her appearance.
Danny inches to his left and noticed the gem on her back was still there.
"Y'know… you might wanna put that thing away. Someone might take it." Danny said, pointing to Lapis' back.
"Oh, they won't be able to. See, that's actually me." Lapis said.
"Oh, well I guess that…" Danny stopped talking as he registered what she said. "... come again?"
"That gem is me. What you see before you is actually a hard light construct that I use to interact." She said as she gestured to herself. "See?"
Danny took a moment too long to examine her, finding what he saw very fascinating and attractive.
"Yeah…" He said with a blush before shaking his head.
"I still have a sense of touch and you can still feel. Watch." Lapis said as she placed a hand on Danny's face.
Danny stiffened, feeling a soft, cold feel. It was not unlike a cold side of a pillow, yet also a sort of texture not unlike porcelain.
"Whoa…" Danny said, feeling his face get warm again.
"Yeah." Lapis said.
Danny blinked as he processed everything Lapis just told him.
"Let me get this straight...you're a...talking gem?..."He asked, looking confused.
"I suppose that for all intents and purposes...yes..." Lapis said, frowning at how he seems to be admiring her like an object.
Danny still looked like he was having trouble processing this.
"Uh...no offense but how-..."
"Long ago, Gems came to this planet to strip it of its resources and colonize it..." Lapis said in a frank tone before frowning. "Kind of trying to forget I was a part of it, now I just want to avoid trouble and bury my past..." She muttered.
Danny was silent right now before it dawned on him.
"Wait… so… you're an alien?" Danny asks.
"I am." Lapis said flatly.
After a moment to process, Danny felt himself get excited.
"Cool…" Danny went.
"I guess so?" Lapis responded before looking out to the water park. "So… what should we do first?" She asks.
She did not see the sparkle in Danny's eyes or the big smile that was forming on his face.
I'm dating an alien! This is like… fantasy number 7! Danny thought in excitement.
"Was that a reference to dating Kara in the original story?" Deadpool asks.
"Kind of." NeoMark said.
"How would that reference work? This is a different timeline and all." Deadpool pointed out.
"I'm sure FP11 would have mentioned using Supergirl as a suggestion for date 7." NeoMark said.
It had been about 2 hours.
Both Danny and Lapis had gotten to talk between a few slides and some swimming.
The two now were at the snack bar, both sitting down with their feet in the water.
"So, you have friends too. They sound nice, Sam and Tucker." Lapis said, having heard his story.
"Yeah, they are." Danny said.
"And you wish to journey to space? Strange how, despite how less advanced your race is, you share the same interest in the stars as other gems. I know I wanted to journey with them too. My powers helped with that." Lapis said, gesturing to her back to remind him of her wings.
"So… you can manipulate water?" Danny asks.
"I can. But only water. I can't control something solid like ice, which is why you freezing it did not work in my favor." Lapis admitted.
"How much water can you manipulate?" Danny asks.
"Do you recall that time that all of the Earth's oceans suddenly formed a huge tower?" Lapis asked.
"Yeah, it was like a month before I got my powers..." Danny said..
"That was me..." Lapis said.
"For real?" Danny asked.
Lapis nodded with an embarrassed look on her face.
"Yes. I was trying to get back to Homeworld as my gem was damaged at the time, preventing me from flying..." Lapis explained in a matter of fact tone of voice.
"Huh...I wondered what that thing was..." Danny said.
"But when I got home… I found things had changed. Despite the hate I had for this world, I found a few reasons to stay. I more than likely can't go home again." Lapis admitted.
"That… sounds bad. You must have a family back home." Danny said to be sympathetic.
"Not really. Gems… aren't born, we're made. Do you remember when I said I'm a Lapis Lazuli? That's not actually my name, that's what I am. That's the gem on my back, the real me." Lapis said.
Danny looked back to her back.
"Wait so… am I supposed to talk to the gem or…?" Danny asks.
"The form you're speaking to works. Granted, all Lapis Lazulis look like me, but this specific me is all my own." Lapis said proudly.
Seeing the topic getting a bit strange, Danny decided to change it,
"So...Lapis? After this, you wanna grab a bite to eat?" Danny asked.
"That won't be necessary Danny..." Lapis answered.
"So, you're not hungry right now?" Danny asked.
"Actually...I never feel hungry..." Lapis answered.
"You don't?" Danny asked, surprised to hear that.
"Yes, my body isn't organic so I don't have the same needs you humans have..." She explained.
"For real?" Danny asked.
Lapis nodded.
"Yes, and before you ask. No, I also don't need to use the bathroom either..."She said.
"I...see..." Danny said, not sure what else to say.
"And I'm also not capable of breeding, in case you were wondering." Lapis said.
Danny felt his face go warm.
"I never thought that!" He went.
"It's fine. I've read enough of your romance novels to see the signs of attraction from you." Lapis said with a small smile.
"Okay… so… changing the topic slightly… if gems don't reproduce, do you date?" Danny asks.
"I know some find romantic interest. However, this might be a surprise to you… there is technically no such thing as a male gem." Lapis explained.
"Really?" Danny asks.
"Indeed. We are an inorganic race. Technically, I have no gender, but our appearance is female so we go with female pronouns." Lapis explained.
Danny was mentally processing what he heard before he recalled something.
"You said there's technically no such thing as a male gem." Danny pointed out.
"My friend, Steven, is the only human/gem hybrid in existence." Lapis explained.
"You just said your body isn't even real, it's made of light or something. You don't need to eat or use the bathroom, so how did his mom have a kid?" Danny asks.
"To be honest, I'm not sure. Only one gem has ever even been able to give birth. Don't ask me how, because I still can't figure out how that happened for the life of me..." Lapis said.
"I see...uh...interesting..." Danny said, not sure how else to respond to that.
That's when Lapis heard the sounds of Danny's stomach grumbling.
"Looks like your stomach decided it was time to eat." Lapis said.
"Yeah… my body has limits that yours doesn't." Danny jokingly said, earning a small laugh from Lapis. "Is it okay if I grab something?"
"Sure, I'll go with you." Lapis said as she got up, much to his surprise.
"You sure?" Danny asks.
"Positive." Lapis said.
Minutes later
Danny walked with a hotdog that he was almost finished with as Lapis had a chocolate and vanilla swirl in a cone she was licking.
"So, if you don't eat, what exactly happens to that if you don't digest?" Danny asks.
"Truthfully? I think it just dissolves. That or it passes through me. It's like digestion without actual digestion. I don't really eat that much." Lapis said.
"I'm guessing you had to explain this to your other dates?" Danny asks as he finished his hotdog and threw the wrapper away.
"Some, not all. I will be honest, there were a few I was rather unimpressed with. One named Jonesy from Canada attempted very unpleasant actions to impress me. One named David from Beverly Hills was better but kind of boring." Lapis explained.
"Sounds hard to find a boyfriend so far, huh?" Danny asks.
"Actually…" Lapis said, suddenly stopping.
"Yeah?" Danny asks.
"I'm not even looking for a romantic partner, male or female." She explained.
Danny blinked, as an idea formed in his mind.
"Uh...Lapis? Can I ask you something?" Danny asked.
"Go ahead..." Lapis said.
"I mean...please don't take this the wrong way but...you said you're... you know... a gem that technically has no gender, and you just admitted you're not looking for love. What made you wanna try blind dating anyway?" Danny asked, trying not to offend her.
Lapis heard this and nodded.
"I suppose you have a right to know. Truth be told, this wasn't my idea. Steven, the hybrid I told you about, he thought this was a good chance for me to get out of my shell… and realized too late when his human friends explained to him it's a dating service..." Lapis explained.
"I...see..." Danny said, not sure what else to say.
"Don't take this the wrong way. So far, you've been the nicest boy I've met." Lapis said.
"Well… it helps that I am not turned away by how you fight." Danny explained.
"You found me impressive in a fight?" Lapis asks, a little surprised.
"You could say that." Danny said with a small smile.
Lapis smiled back at Danny. Their moment was ruined when someone spotted them.
"Well, well, well! It's Fen-toenail again!" Dash's obnoxious voice was heard.
Danny groaned.
"Not again..." He muttered.
He saw Dash approached with the A-list. He and Kwan were in trunks while Paulina and Star were in one-piece suits.
"Are they friends of yours?" Lapis asks.
"Not even close. What do you want, Dash?" Danny asked.
Dash quickly looked around before he then grinned with victory.
"I see that monster girlfriend of yours isn't around anymore. You know what that means?" Dash said as he pounded a fist into his hand.
Danny frowned and rolled his eyes.
"First off, Sakura isn't my girlfriend but that doesn't mean you can call her a monster. Second, to answer your question: That you and your friends are gonna leave us alone and actually do something constructive during the summer?" Danny snarked.
"Errr, wrong, loser!" Dash said, imitating a buzzer sound.
"Why are you talking to him so rudely?" Lapis asks Dash, who grinned at her. "And why are you looking at me like that?"
"Sup, Babe?" Dash went.
"No, it's Bob… I mean, Lapis." Lapis said.
Paulina noticed Lapis being a different color and sent her a critical look.
"Nice body point. What did you do, jump into a pile of crushed blueberries?" She mocked.
"Excuse me?" Lapis said, offended.
"Look, whatever it is you want, can you… go somewhere else?" Danny asks.
"Make me, loser!" Dash said, pushing him.
Danny glared at him, only to notice Lapis standing closer to him, looking lost.
"Why aren't you fighting back? You're clearly stronger than these fools, right?" Lapis asked.
Danny realizes he hasn't told her yet about his secret identity. He was so caught up with getting to know her that he forgot to tell her.
"I can't right now..." Danny whispered.
"What do you mean?" Lapis asked.
Before Danny could answer her, Dash pushed him to the ground.
"Forget him, babe. Stick with a real man." Dash said.
"Excuse me! But I am with him today! That, and you are very rude and terrible." Lapis said.
"Pfft… that's cause you haven't gotten to know me yet." Dash said.
"She just said she's not interested!" Danny said, getting back up and standing in front of Lapis protectively.
"Nobody asked you, loser!" Dash said, pushing him aside once more and approaching Lapis. "So, what do you say, babe?"
Lapis glared him angrily in the eye and pushed him back.
"First off… My name is not babe. I answer to Lapis Lazuli. And second, you will show my new friend respect or else!" She demanded.
"Pfft… or else what? You gonna splash me with water?"
As Dash laughed mockingly, Lapis smiled.
"If you insist…"
With a flick of her hand, water from a nearby pool released a stream that knocked Dash off the ground, much to his and his friends' shock.
"Oh no…" Danny said.
Lapis then raised her arm, causing a large amount of water to rise up above her before she made it form into a fist.
"If you won't apologize… I advise you to get out of my sight." Lapis warned.
Dash screamed in a high-pitched voice..
"Fenton's attracted another monster chick! Out of my way!" Dash screamed as he ran past his friends.
"Dash, don't you dare leave me behind! Get back here!" Paulina screamed as they tried to get away from Lapis as well.
Lapis gave a satisfied scoff as she returned the water to its source. It was now the two noticed all eyes were on them.
Realizing that people saw Lapis used her powers, Danny tried to think fast.
"Uh...uh...how do you all like the amazing Lapis Lazuli water show, folks? It's a work in progress but darn it, do these expensive effects really look realistic enough?!" Danny lied, playing it off like it was all an act..
Everyone was silent before they applauded, seeming to buy it.
"The giant fist was a nice touch..." One male patron said before continuing to applaud.
I can't believe they bought that. Then again, when you live in a haunted town, not much else is unbelievable… He thought.
"Huh? Water show?" Lapis asks before Danny took her by the wrist and pulled her with him.
Once they were behind one of the restrooms, Danny felt it was safe to talk.
"Lapis, what the heck were you thinking?" Danny asked after making sure no one could hear them.
"That I thought you were going to hold my hand, but you went for the wrist so it's not that quick in a relationship..." Lapis answered casually.
"Not that. I meant what happened with Dash." Danny said.
"I don't know why you are mad. They were acting disgracefully and I just got rid of them. What's wrong with that?" Lapis asked.
"Ugh… I was so busy getting to know you, having a good time with you, that I totally forgot to tell you… I have a secret identity." Danny said.
"Secret… identity?" Lapis asks.
"It means no one but a select few knows about…" He looked around to reaffirm it was safe. "... my powers."
"Really? Everyone in Beach City knows about us Gems, and of Steven." Lapis said.
"Well, this isn't Beach City. I live a low profile and want to keep it that way." Danny said.
"Really? You don't want people like Dutch-"
"Dash."
"Whatever, you don't want that moron to not bother you like that?" Lapis asks.
"Lapis...look...No one knows about my powers. I have a secret identity and I would really appreciate it if you keep this just between us...' Danny said.
Lapis thought about it and nodded.
"Well, it's not like I have any reason to tell anyone. Alright, if it's that important to you... I won't tell anyone about your powers..." Lapis said.
Danny smiled.
"Thank you..."He said sincerely.
"Did you mean what you said? That you were having a good time with me?" Lapis asks.
"Yeah." Danny said.
"Even after we met?" Lapis asks.
"Well… let's just say I have a soft spot for girls who aren't afraid to fight." Danny said with a small shrug.
Lapis blinked in surprise before the sound of a whistle was blown. The two turned to see it was a security guard.
"You two!" The guard said, coming for them.
Danny flinched as Lapis remained unmoved. Danny tried to do the talking, knowing he can't exactly tell the man his date is a genderless space rock that looks female.
"Uh, what's the problem, sir?" Danny asks
"There was a disturbance reported by four teenagers. One of them said a girl with blue skin made water somehow assault him. Eyewitnesses claim it was a water show, one we clearly aren't practicing. So… what do you have to say for yourselves?" He said.
Somehow, I knew the water show thing wouldn't have worked. Of course they'd have noticed us and confirmed how it wasn't true. Danny thought.
"Well?" The guard asks.
Lapis rolled her eyes.
"If you must know-"
"It was me. I… pulled a prank. Lapis here is innocent." Danny lied.
Lapis took notice of this.
He's covering for me? That older human is going to punish him, yet he's willing to go this far for someone he barely knows. She thought.
The guards heard this and frowned.
"You're coming with me, young man." The guard said, taking Danny by the wrist.
"Yes sir…" Danny said.
Before he could figure out a way around this, water wrapped around the guard's leg, causing him to trip.
"WHAT THE HECK?!" The guard yelled, only to see that the two were gone now.
He made a break for it, only for Danny and Lapis, holding hands for a moment, turn visible once he was gone.
"You helped me?" Danny asks.
"Couldn't let you take the fall. So, I made him do it." Lapis said with a smile.
Danny smiled back before noticing where the water came from.
"Wait… that's the bathroom. Did you-"
"Don't think about it. Let's just run." Lapis said.
10 minutes later
After getting his stuff at the locker room, Danny turned himself and Lapis invisible and intangible to escape the guards and consequences.
"Well… I now found a new ride more breathtaking than the Vomit Vortex, Running from the Guard." Danny said.
Lapis looked to the ground in disappointment.
"I'm really sorry, Danny. I almost got you in trouble."
"Don't sweat it. This isn't the first time Dash ruined my fun here… or almost get kicked out." Danny said.
"It's not?" She asks.
"Nope." Danny responded.
Lapis blinked in surprise before she asked what was on her mind.
"So… why did you cover for me?" Lapis asks.
"Because… you're my date." Danny explained plainly.
"Really? The other humans I met weren't as… noble. If this is your attempt to get my interest, it's at least the most refreshing one." Lapis said.
"Well… I won't lie. By human standards… you're very pretty. But that's not it. Because… you're my friend now. And whether anything happens between us, I'm not gonna let a friend of mine get in trouble thanks to Dash provoking her." Danny said.
Lapis blinked at this, processing all of what she heard and questioned it before she recalled their situation.
"But… we can't go back." Lapis said.
"Right… well… good thing we can fly?" Danny suggested.
Hearing that caused Lapis to raise her head and smile.
"Hmm, it sure is." She responded before she created wings of water.
Above Amity Park
Danny flew in the air with Lapis at his side. The two of them had spent some time admiring the sight of the city from far above.
"Beautiful…" Lapis admitted.
"Yeah… it is…" Danny said, his eyes admiring her and not the city or the mountains around it.
The sight of her smile as the light shone on her made him blush a little, the blue becoming eye-catching from the yellow light.
Very beautiful… Danny thought.
"I didn't think your world had a lot of beautiful things to it… I spent so much time trapped in a mirror for thousands of years." Lapis admitted.
Danny nodded absentmindedly before his smile dropped as he processed what she just said.
"That's… kind of some interesting information you threw in there just now." Danny said. "And I thought Jazz shoving me in the thermos was bad."
"Like not telling me you have a secret identity so soon… guess I'm just that beautiful, huh?" Lapis jokingly asks.
"Heheh… you got me." Danny admitted with a slight blush before scratching the side of his head. "So… I gotta ask… why Bob?"
"Oh… I misunderstood something Steven once told me, making me think he was calling me Bob." Lapis admitted.
"Oh… well, y'know, I think Lapis is a fine name, though you might consider something like Lois instead if you pose as a human." Danny said.
"Sure, I guess so." Lapis said.
Suddenly, as she was distracted by their conversation, Danny flew in a large, white cloud. Lapis stopped as she saw her date disappear in the fluffy water condensation.
"This oughta be fun…" He said with a snicker under his breath.
"Danny?" Lapis called as she flew closer to the cloud.
"Boo!" Danny went, going out of a cloud and getting some of it on his face.
Lapis laughed a little.
"Funny." She said.
"Thank you." Danny said.
"Not bad... but check this out." Lapis said as she used water hands to mold a cloud.
It took the appearance of herself making a face with the words next to it saying "BOO!".
Both of them laughed.
"I guess since clouds are water, you can control it too." Danny said as they stopped laughing.
"Yeah, it's a little tricky, but as long as there's water, I can control it so long as it's not solid." Lapis said.
"How about this?" Danny said before he fired a blue ray at a cloud. Lapis watched before snow suddenly fell on them, floating gently, with a snowflake landing on her nose before it melted.
"Okay, that's impressive, I will admit that." Lapis said as she looked at the snow around them.
She remembered something from watching something she noticed on television from one of her dates. It was something that she wanted to recreate.
So, concentrating, she gathered a lot of the clouds, including the cloud Danny fired, and put them below the two. Danny then watched as Lapis stood on the cloud and started skating across it.
"Woah…" Danny said as he slowly stood on the cloud, feeling like he was standing on snow. He looked at Lapis, who danced across the clouds, a smile on her face.
I'm on a date with a gemstone from space that takes the form of a blue hot girl. What's next? Another superhero? A fairy? A magical girl? Danny thought as he admired Lapis.
Lapis suddenly grabbed his hand and pulled him alongside the clouds, the two skating together. He smiled as he followed her lead, the two almost looking like dancing on the clouds.
It soon went from skating to them flying through the clouds with a small game of tag, laughing along the way. All the while, they goofed around with the clouds, making them form different shapes.
"You're such a child…" Lapis joked.
"Says the girl who used toilet water to save my butt." Danny pointed out.
"Touché." Lapis responded.
Once the two had their fun, they flew off the clouds and continued flying back in the city. Suddenly, something they saw made them lose their happy feeling, a familiar blond jock hitting on an older girl, who looked impatient.
"There's Dash." Danny said.
"Ugh... that guy. His attitude is the reason we got kicked out. Let's get a little payback." Lapis said with a mischievous smile.
"As long as no one is hurt... save for his pride." Danny said.
Dash, meanwhile, was doing his best to impress the older girl.
"Yeah, I'm pretty mature for my age. You and I would be great together, Michelle. I'm star quarterback, king of the school, not mention I-"
A loud fart was heard coming from behind Dash, causing him and Michelle to become startled.
"Ugh!" Michelle went, stepping away. "Mature?! Yeah right."
"What?! No! That wasn't me!" Dash stated, turning his back. "Who did that?!"
He saw no one around, which is because the one who made that sound was invisible thanks to her date. She also used water manipulation to splash a small amount on Dash's crotch.
Dash shook his head and went back to hitting on Michelle, who made a face."
"Ughk!" She went.
"What?" Dash asks as she points to his crotch.
"So much for maturity." She said as she walked off.
Dash then saw for himself, to his horror, there was a wet stain on his pants.
"Wait! No! Stop!" Dash then sniffed the air. "That ain't pee! Come back!"
"I am not smelling you!" Michelle said as she continued to walk away.
"Come on! Please!" Dash went in a cry as he noticed eyes were on him from passersby, laughing at him.
As he walked away, holding his hands in front of his groin to avoid embarrassment, the ones who caused it were now on a rooftop, laughing together.
"Did you see the look on his face? Maybe now he'll think twice of playing rough in a water park." Danny said as he wiped a tear off his eye.
"That was great. Very amusing. And we managed to kill two birds with one stone since I think we did that girl he was hitting on a favor." Lapis says. "Hopefully, he'll learn to behave. If not, you can always humiliate him again."
"Y'know… my friend Sam thinks I shouldn't use my powers like that." Danny said.
"No offense to your friend, but that's dumb. Dutch thinks he ca-"
"Dash." Danny corrected her.
"Dash thinks he can do what he wants and it's clear your words would do nothing. It's not like you plan to actually harm him. Though, to be frank, he could use a black eye…" Lapis said disdainfully.
"I'll prank him, but I won't hurt him. I won't stoop down to his level." Danny said.
"My friend Steven is the pacifist who desires for people to get along, but I'm more willing to make it clear to someone there's a line they shouldn't even consider crossing." Lapis said.
"True, some people don't learn unless you use force." Danny admits.
"Some people need to understand that they cannot go about harassing people." Lapis said, looking around. "And speaking of understanding… I've been meaning to ask some things I learned from my dates."
"What's that?" Danny asked.
"Why is Florida not an archipelago? Why do people not call Delmarva by that name and instead say it's three states instead of one? Why is Keystone state called Pennsylvania? Why is Kansas not the entertainment capital and what's Hollywood? Where did the other 11 states come from? Why does currency look different here? Also, what are Christmas and Halloween?" Lapis asks.
Danny was silent, processing all of her questions.
"Uh… where did you say you're from?" Danny asks.
"Homeworld."
"No, I mean on Earth."
"Oh… Beach City." Lapis said.
Danny pondered, trying to recall where he heard that name.
"Beach City… Beach City… wait a minute… I know that place." Danny said.
"You do?" Lapis asks.
"Yeah… in 1987, a guy named Dewey led an exploration team to some small islands in Delmarva region. I read that he met some strange, colorful people that did some insane things, like breaking mountains with a punch or pulling spears out of their heads. And then there were the terrifying monsters and odd ruins that seemed alive. When the US heard about that, they did everything they could to close off the islands where Dewey explored, and when they were barred by the US, they made a Micronation to become self-dependent, and one of the islands had a place called Beach City. For whatever reason, the people in charge decide to just form their own form of government, currency and stuff. Inside, it's kind of some weird rule to talk like the world is different or something." Danny said.
"Micronation?" Lapis asks.
"In other words… you're in a part of the world that's kind of closed off from the rest. So, stuff like snake coins and calling Greenland "Blueland" is just… weird stuff headed by whoever is in charge of the place." Danny said.
"I see…" Lapis said, processing this information.
After that, the two decided to spend the remainder of their time flying.
Danny took her to his favorite spot, on a hill with a single tree with a great view of the town. The two ended up sitting under the tree, looking at the town, enjoying the peace.
"This was actually a pretty good date, to be honest." Lapis said as she rested her head on her knees. "The best one I have had."
"Yeah, definitely." Danny said before looking at Lapis. "…You know, after spending time with you…I like you…You're cool, funny, and fun. I know there are things I don't know about you, but I'd like to learn more about you."
Lapis smiled a bit before a sad look appeared on her face.
"…I'm sorry, Danny." Lapis said as she looked at Danny. "I don't know about romantic feelings, much less if I can have any."
"What do you mean?" Danny asks.
"You're… a great guy. But, like I said, I didn't enter this to find a romantic partner. Romance is… not something I'm looking for right now." Lapis said.
"Oh… right…" Danny said as looked away, feeling a little sad about that.
"But… I like spending time with you, if I'm honest." She said, making him perk a little as she looked at the sky. "I've met a lot of people, both gems and humans, and a lot of them made me uncomfortable before I got to know them, but you're the first one that didn't make me uncomfortable, aside from Steven. And your interest in me…doesn't bother me. In fact, I don't mind since you're at least nice to me even after how we met in a fight."
"Really?" Danny asks.
She then looked straight into his eyes, causing him to blush slightly as she inched closer to him.
"I don't mind going out with you, if you choose me, and maybe I'll learn about romance with you." She said with a smile, something Danny returned.
"And if we don't end up together, I would be happy to be friends with you, Lapis." Danny said, making Lapis nod happily.
"I'd like that." She said.
That's when, to Danny's surprise, one arm of water appeared and pulled him closer to Lapis, who decided to let him indulge in his clear attraction to her as his face turned slightly red.
It was late now and Danny and Lapis were above the mountains. It was nearing the end of their date and it was time for her to return home.
"So...that was..." Lapis said, not sure what else to say.
"Fun..." Danny answered, smiling slightly.
Lapis turned away, blushing a bit.
"I guess so..." She said, still not making eye contact with him despite the smile forming on her face.
Danny smiled at that.
I gotta admit...that reaction is kinda cute... He thought.
"I had a great time, Lapis..." Danny said.
Lapis made eye contact and gave in with a shrug.
"Yeah...I...I guess I did too..." She admitted.
"You guessed? Talk about mixed signals..." Danny joked.
"Funny… still… if you ever come to the county that, as you put it, doesn't quite understand the outside world, come find me. Or at least find Steven, his house is under a giant statue of a woman, can't miss it." Lapis said.
"Got it." Danny said as he waved to her.
Lapis nodded and slowly turned to go.
However, that's when an arm came out of her back, pulling Danny into her as she turned to face him.
Now his face was inches from hers as she smiled happily at him, making his face turn red.
"Uh… hi there." He said sheepishly.
"You thought I was about to kiss you, didn't you?" Lapis asks.
"No! Uh… maybe?" Danny answered her.
"Dirty boy." Lapis jokingly scolded him.
"You're like the second date who's called me that, after thinking she was going to do that." Danny said.
Lapis laughed a little, snorting slightly.
"It's funny… I've never met a human or Gem who acts like you do around me, not even Steven. I think it's because he sees all Gems like family and his heart is set on some human friend of his that he called Connie. Still… I actually look forward to seeing you around." Lapis said before, to Danny's surprise, she hugged him.
With her eyes closed, her mouth in a smile, and her chin on the top of his head, Lapis didn't see the smile slowly forming on Danny's face as she hugged her back.
"Well… I'm glad you at least like being around me." Danny said jokingly, making Lapis laugh before they parted.
"Well… bye." Lapis said before flying away.
"Bye!" Danny went, watching as she flew out of sight.
With a smile and a nod, Danny flew home.
New chapter with thanks to Flower Princess11 and TheWhiteTitan.
I am hoping my explanation for how Steven Universe could fit in this world works. If not, well... we're not really here for world building, just to see who Danny dates or ends up with.
So, I may as well say this now... next chapter? A returning character.
Guest, amit . avrashmi, cybirddude, Whotoonhouse75, tomahawkESP, and Soggy Fysher Woods: Thanks for the suggestions.
Invader Johnny: And he gets scared off again.
RonaldM40196867: Probably not. Dunno. Power of friendship. Because... Massive. Because video game characters were something I wanted. Because I wanted them. Maybe.
pokemon fan 1991: No, girls from Sakura's school.
danifan3000: 1. Sorry, but I don't have time to see spin-offs of this. 2. Well, the original game was released in 2015.
Jebest4781: We shall see.
djin: Thanks.
Symbolic Joker: Yeah, sorry... giving them leeway as I'm a gamer. Not sure if Wreck-It-Ralph would exist here, that or Ken had a game made about his adventures. Yup, had to comment on that pronounciation. Might be weak, but I figure if Supergirl is the most famous teenage heroine form comics, Sakura is this to video games. Also, the Doctor being in BatGuy01's story is because he asked Deadpool to use the Continuity Gem to make him a character and not an in-universe fictional one like I have. I will think of using Ever After High. My bad, forgot. She might use it but doesn't have it yet. I'm more Danny and Hsien-ko. Yeah, MK's girls are too old, but even if I de-age Cassie or Frost, not sure if Danny's okay with dating girls who rip spines out. Hope you like this one.
guilhermafinamori: I will consider them. Also, yes... I did say next chapter is a returning character.
Luiz4200: He sure did. Also, I'll think about it.
Dan the bluewold: Akane?
ScarecrowReaper: Thank you.
IrishKatana: I am considering a story about them, I have considered it even before this story.
Whotoonhouse75: To answer your separate questions. No, not forgotten. Also, technically Static is not a Teen Titans character. Meaning, he has his own series, so it would work.
JDF Legacier Morphicon: Glad you liked it. Not sure if I'll keep Antonio as her date. Also, no, his date in the original was Jenny and I decided to use Lapis instead. Also, it's Street FIGHTER, singular.
Leonardo: Well, Gems are kind of robots, as said by Rebecca Sugar. Also, not yet.
61394: I'll bring up Marvel characters later.
Bob the mammoth: True, but Earthworm Jim is an in-universe character, not an existing character. He was brought to life by a wish and not had adventures that were real in-universe, so I don't think it counts. They did?
FC Tiraspol Fan: We got an alien, that count?
FrostHunter: Whoa!
NiteOwl18: I would love to add Mina Ashido or Anne Boonchuy. Casagrandes and DC Super Hero Girls were from AFTER the original story, so I'm afraid they're not gonna make it. Also, again, Street FIGHTER, not Fighters.
Guest 2: Cool.
White Pantera: Not even close to who appeared. To answer: Not sure, his kind of insufferable when it comes to his genius to the point of the "best" version of the Omnitrix is actually the least practical, maybe The Lion King and Tarzan.
Fantom and CrimsonStarBlade: Wait and see.
RIP Raul Julia: Because she's a minor. Also, I never saw ANY of those movies.
Guests 3 and 4: Nope.