This chapter has actually been done for about a week. I held off on posting because this is the first of a two-part chunk, and I couldn't decide if I wanted to post this bit alone, or wait until I wrote the second bit too. So the good news is, I'm already partway through chapter 29 and know pretty much the exact direction I want to take it. But it probably will be a long-ish chapter, so I don't have a time estimate for y'all lmao

"...Alright, where the heck is he?"

It was Friday afternoon, and class had been out for a couple hours now. Tests had transpired, and homework was minimal, meaning that Danny and Wes were free to spar like they had originally planned.

Except that Wes had practice, of course, which always took around an hour. He should have been at the training grounds by now. Did something hold him up? Danny knew that Wes hadn't been too keen on the idea of sparring. "I swear if he flaked on me…"

Just when he was starting to worry that something had happened, his ghost sense went off, a blast of cold air escaping his lips. "Finally, there you are-" Danny turned around, only to get a face full of black and orange sneaker. The blow sent him reeling back, arms windmilling as he found his footing. "...Not a bad kick, but that was a really cheap attack."

"You did say surprise attacks were allowed," Wes replied with a cheeky grin. He didn't let up on the attack, capitalizing on his element of surprise by once again rushing in close. But Danny was ready this time, and was able to sidestep the charge. Even so, he had forgotten how quick Wes could be on his feet, the young Halfa turning on a dime and grabbing at his arm. "One…"

But a simple grab like that was hardly enough to detain Danny. Taking that first second to transform, he then dissolved, his smoky form slipping out from Wes's fingers before reforming up close, where Danny then struck him in the sternum hard enough to send him to the ground.

Winded by the blow, Wes didn't immediately get up, which gave Danny time to hold him down. But the more experienced Halfa wasn't able to begin his count, for Wes had begun glowing in that strange way he did right before a discharge, the blue light beneath his skin backlighting his features. Knowing he was in for a potentially nasty shock if he held on, Danny let go, darting a foot or so back to ensure he was out of reach of any wayward sparks.

Wes was quick to get back to his feet, jumping up so that he could kick out with both heels. Danny easily jerked out of range, an amused smirk on his face as he returned with a swipe of his own. "What happened to not wanting to spar?" he teased.

Wes leaned away from the punch, and ducked under the next. "It isn't like we're actually trying to hurt each other," he replied, flashing his sharp teeth in an eager grin. And that was all the warning Danny got before Wes dodged another oncoming attack, using the opening to get in close and sink those teeth straight into Danny's forearm.

Danny yelped, frantically shaking his arm until Wes was dislodged. Surprisingly, his fangs hadn't punctured the suit, but it sure had hurt. "Ha, I bet that stings!" Wes joked, already swooping in for another attack.

"Oh, I'll show you sting," Danny sneered, fingers flexing and curling as they were enveloped in swimming green energy. Wes gasped, but he was too close to dodge the punch that lodged itself in his gut, the small ectoblast that followed launching him back several feet before knocking him down.

Danny hovered warily, unsure of how hurt Wes actually was. The blast had been incredibly weak, but even so, he had no idea how Wes would fare against such an attack. "...Uh. You good?"

Wes groaned, curling up on the dirty ground. He sounded hurt. Danny frayed his lip, drifting even closer. "...Wes…?"

There was a sudden bright flash, and Danny cried out, reeling back and covering his eyes. Wes jumped to his feet with a mischievous grin, leaping for his victim and barreling him over. "I've got you now!"

"Oh, you're fighting dirty, huh?" Danny grumbled as he blinked the stars away, not caring that Wes had already started counting. He simply phased through the ground, leaving Wes grasping at nothing. Danny reappeared behind him, flashing a dangerous smile of his own. "You're not the only one who can fight dirty."

Wes turned around, only to be buffeted by Danny's icy cold breath. Patches of frost began spreading across his clothes, threatening to freeze him in place. If that happened, it was over. He summoned his tail, belly almost scraping the ground as he slithered away from the freezing gust. Danny switched tactics, instead firing a laser barrage, but Wes was always one step ahead, narrowly dodging every beam before it could strike.

Without breaking stride, Wes looked over his shoulder, holding his hand up in an L against his forehead as he spat a wet raspberry. "What's the matter, need me to stay still for you?"

Wes thought he was smart, huh? Looked like he needed a reminder that he wasn't unstoppable. Danny would show him where being cocky got him. He ceased firing, instead crossing his arms with a smirk.

It didn't take long for Wes to realize he wasn't in immediate danger. He slowed down, tilting his head in confusion. "...Huh?"

But just when he thought maybe he had a chance to get close, a second Phantom leapt from the ground beneath him, giving him an uppercut with enough force to send him sailing upwards. He didn't have time to recover, as the duplicate was right behind him, spinning him around to land another blow to the cheek. Wes simply couldn't retaliate. Having almost no hand-to-hand experience, it was all he could do to protect his head from the relentless onslaught.

While he was occupied with blocking the duplicate's attacks, the real Danny came up behind him, grabbing his shoulders and forcing him down. Wes tried to kick out, but the clone grabbed his legs, holding them firmly in place. A quick shock was little deterrent, the charge being simply redirected back to him. The original Danny grinned, shoving back harder against Wes's shoulders as he began his count. "...One… Two…"

But despite his predicament, Wes was smiling, not at all perturbed by his imminent loss. And soon it became clear why. His tail formed in an instant, slipping out of the duplicate's hands. And then Wes's body sank through the ground, and he offered a smug little wave with the tips of his fingers before submerging completely.

Or, almost completely. The tail remained above ground, wrapping around the clone's torso and yanking him harshly against the earth. Having not been aware of the appendage having this level of dexterity, the clone could do little except take the blow, dizzying him before he dispersed completely.

Danny made a grab for the tail, but it slipped underground before he had the chance, following its owner. He barely had time to react before Wes reared up behind him, only able to turn around before he was being grappled. The two rolled along the ground, flashes of black and orange and white and sloppy punches as they tried to overpower one another.

When they finally rolled to a stop, Wes was on top, hands braced against Danny's shoulders. When Danny made to throw another punch, Wes instead grabbed his wrists, forcing his full weight against them. Danny attempted to kick him off, but that long tail encircled both of his legs, tightening until they were firmly pressed together. He couldn't move his arms, and he couldn't move his legs. There wasn't even an opening to phase himself through. He was effectively bound.

Danny looked up at Wes, taking in his expression. Despite his prior hesitancy to spar, he now wore a broad grin, and was clearly savoring his victory. His eyes were large and wild, chest gently heaving with exhilaration and tiny sparks twinkling along his skin. His hair, normally neatly swept, hung almost limply, framing his oval face as he loomed. His cheeks and ears shone with blue light, electricity threatening to breach, lending itself to a surprisingly intimidating display.

Wes, for his part, hadn't even thought to start the count, taking in Danny in his entirety. The way his hair splayed out against the ground, iridescent white locks shifting in a way that didn't quite match the gentle breeze brushing against them. The way his chest rose and fell, the way his fingers gently curled, offering only the smallest of token resistances against his captor. His large, doelike eyes, the faint sky blue flecks visible through the vibrant green this close. The lightest smattering of freckles across his nose that Wes didn't even know he had, barely visible against tanned skin. Short breaths through lightly parted lips, coming out in faint, icy blue puffs.

This was dangerous territory. Very, very dangerous. But Wes wasn't thinking about that. Between his persistent exhilaration, the high of capturing Danny, and that absolutely transfixed expression on his face, it never even crossed Wes's mind to worry.

Which is why he chose right then to plant a chaste kiss right on those teasing lips, hurried and sloppy. Noses bumped and teeth knocked together, but Wes persisted. Danny gasped on contact, shoving Wes back with surprising force.

And then Wes broke away, suddenly upright a good four feet away. His cheeks were flushed green, but the rest of his face had gone utterly pale, eyes wider than Danny had ever seen them. His freckles were vibrantly purple, and becoming even more so by the second, the color slowly seeping into his very aura. "...I'm… I-I…"

Danny sat up, looking at Wes with an expression of pure astonishment. The increasingly intense shades of purple went unnoticed, Danny being far too perplexed by the sudden kiss. "...Why did you do that?"

But Wes was slowly backing away, gently shaking his head. "I-I-I'm sorry, I didn't… I-I wasn't…" His breath came shorter and faster, his hands coming up to grip the fabric of his jersey. Danny got to his feet, and Wes whimpered. He tried to back up further, but he soon ran into a tree, effectively halting him.

This behavior did not go unnoticed. Danny stalked closer, concerned by the way Wes seemed to shrink back. "...Wes?"

And then there were tears. Wes's eyes glistened with green-clear fluid that wouldn't shed, his fear so potent that the very air trembled with it. Danny was almost directly in front of him, reaching out in what was intended as a form of reassurance. Wes jerked away with a gasp as if struck, and then the entire clearing lit up a solid, blinding violet, forcing Danny to retract his arm to cover his eyes.

And when he was finally able to lower it, Wes was gone.

I promised gay, but I never said it was gonna be happy ):D

And yes, you're all gonna have to wait for the next chapter to see if/how this gets resolved mwahahahahaha