Hello, my readers! I know it's been a while, but I have been dealing with some health issues. Nothing to concerning at the moment. But I was not feeling well for a while. I won't bore you with the details; but I am doing much better. I had hoped to have a new DoaS chapter before Christmas, but I am not advanced enough with the next chapter to make that promise. So, I figured I'd at least update the drabbles. I might post one or two more before December since I have a few written out. We'll see.
This was continues the drabber series of 'Compromise'. Enjoy!
Compromise [Part 6]
It was almost two weeks before Stephanie heard from Vlad again. She couldn't lie to herself. The days had been slow and painful. She had begun to think that Vlad decided he wasn't willing to compromise. Maybe he had given up on a future together and fled again. Left… again.
But the issue around his ghost half was one of the few things she could not take 'no' for an answer. She meant what she told him the last time they spoke. He didn't get to love her only as 'Vlad Masters'. She didn't want to just be a part of his life in the areas that he felt were 'safe' or 'convenient' for him. She had spent years doing that. She had spent years walking on eggshells and staying within the box he had created for their relationship.
As much as it would hurt to lose him again, it would hurt her more to continue to only have him halfway.
Stephanie had done her best to keep occupied so the sorrow wouldn't overwhelm her; although on a few nights it had. She had cried at the unfairness of it all. It seemed no matter how much she wished it, she would never be good enough for Vlad Masters. She would always come in second…
The woman had returned home from work later than usual today. Her daughter had afterschool soccer practice; so she was alone this evening.
As she walked up to her house to unlock the door, her cell pinged.
She paused and looked at it.
It was a text. From Vlad Masters.
'Hi, Steph… Can I come over?'
Stephanie felt her heart clench and her stomach flipped. She hesitated, unsure of what to say, or if to say anything at all.
She sighed deeply before she put her phone back in her purse without a response, and finally unlocked her door.
She walked in and set her purse on a side table in the hall before she took off her heels. She put them to the side as well and continued barefoot to her kitchen.
She tensed as she heard her phone ping again, but she kept walking. She reached into her cabinet and grabbed a glass before serving herself some water.
She took a drink and heard her phone ping again. She lowered the glass on the counter and looked towards the hallway.
A part of her wanted to just answer 'yes, come over' and just forget about everything and receive him with a kiss. She loved him so much to the point she had questioned many times how healthy her feelings were for the man.
But that was just it. She didn't want to continue like this. This vicious cycle of being swept into Vlad's life and then just as easily pushed away by him had to stop.
A lump of sorrow formed in her throat, and she quickly drank more water.
She finally headed out of the kitchen and walked back to her purse. She hesitated but pulled out her phone.
'Unless you prefer I call you…?'
"Steph… Please, don't ignore me.'
The woman put the phone back in her purse, picked it up; then grabbed her shoes, and headed to her room.
What would they talk about anyways? What was he going to say? That he was sorry and that he would be better? Isn't that what he always said? But then at the first sign of trouble, he lashed out as if she was a threat to 'Plasmius'.
Why was he so intent on keeping her away from his ghostly life anyways? Just because she wasn't a black belt and a hunter like Madeline Fenton did not mean she was defenseless!
The woman's mood soured even more as that old spark of jealously gripped at her. And she quickly recalled what Vlad had said to her in the lab…
"It is you who does not get it, Stephanie! You think dealing with ghosts is like dealing with some idiot businessmen at the office! You think you can just stroll in here like you did last night and talk them down and 'control' the situation! Well, wake up, woman! You are way in over your head! You cannot reason with a ghost! All they understand is power and whoever has the most of it is who comes up on top! You do not know a thing about ghosts or how to deal with one!"
"Because you have never told me! You barely ever tell me anything related to ghosts! And the few things I know about Plasmius is because I've had to pry them out of you! Why are you so afraid of showing me?!"
"Have you not heard a word I just said?" Vlad snapped. "It's dangerous!"
"It's dangerous because you keep me in the dark! If you're so worried about a ghost hurting me or the girls, then show me how to deal with them! Or, at the least teach me how to use a blasted ghost weapon! Anything, Vlad!"
The man scoffed. "That is the most absurd thing you have ever asked me! What, next? You want me to turn you and the girls into my little ghost fighting squad? Call you all 'Team Plasmius'? Wouldn't that just be delightfully quaint!"
Stephanie threw her purse on her bed and dropped her shoes on the ground with a huff. Of course, he would say that! It is easier to just drop the 'it's dangerous' card than to admit he simply didn't think her strong enough to handle the ghostly side of his life!
And, of course, it was too inconvenient to show or teach her anything about it!
She slipped on some comfortable shoes and did not bother to change out of her dress suit. She was too annoyed. It was stuffy in the house. She needed some air.
She headed back out and went out to her porch. She then went straight to the bar at the far end of the terrace and grabbed the first red wine she found. She sat on the stool as she poured herself a glass.
She frowned at the glass before taking a sip. She then placed it down with a sigh and looked out at her large pool.
"You said not to show up unannounced again…"
Stephanie tensed but was not surprised at the disembodied but familiar voice around her.
She turned her focus back to her wine and took a longer drink. It tasted as bitter as she felt. And yet… as she set her glass down, she just muttered without much emotion, "I didn't say you could come over."
"Technically, I have not. I'm outside your house, actually… But if you allow me to come in…?"
"I don't know if I want you to come in…," she answered soberly. She was tired of fighting, of being disappointed. She was so tired of it.
"Then, let me take you elsewhere."
Stephanie scoffed and some of her bitterness leaked out this time. "Are you really asking me out on a date? Of all things you could say…"
She shook her head and took another drink of her wine. She didn't even taste it at this point. She was just drinking it because it gave her something else to focus on.
"Not a date," the voice echoed back.
She briefly wondered how he did that. It was obviously a ghost thing; but how could he project his voice outward and not be physically present?
Wow… she was really desperate to avoid acknowledging her overwhelmed emotions if she was thinking about his ghost powers of all things right now…
"Just a stroll," he continued. "It's nice out."
Stephanie finally focused back on the unseen man when she realized he was still insisting to 'go out'.
"I'm too tired to walk," she muttered back, hoping at this point he would just go away.
"We do not need to walk."
Stephanie blinked at that; and then her eyebrows creased. She had not expected that response. Did he mean to go out by car then? But you could not exactly enjoy a 'nice night out' driving in a car. And… she couldn't recall Vlad ever driving a motorcycle, although he did own one or two…
The woman looked around in some attempt to 'spot' the invisible half-ghost. "What do you mean?" she questioned, genuinely curious.
"I can show you, if you allow me in…," he answered, his voice teasing this time.
He knew he caught her attention at last.
Stephanie sighed deeply. She stared at her empty surroundings for another moment before she turned back to the bar.
"Fine," she relented before she took another sip of her wine.
She hated her own curiosity sometimes…
Almost instantly Vlad Plasmius materialized on the other side of the bar.
Stephanie slightly tensed. It was still disconcerting to see someone as intimidating as Vlad's ghost half just appear out of thin air…
He smiled back at her, his fangs gleaming in the dim lighting of the patio.
"Hello, my dear…"
"I thought you said you were not inside my house…?" she questioned suspiciously. Had he been invisible this whole time?
"I was not…"
"So, I should not assume you were just invisible and following me around this whole time?"
Plasmius smirked. "Very tempting, but no… You asked me not to come back unannounced… So, I wrote you, and then waited outside your house. By the door, if you want me to be specific… Then, I just teleported once you allowed me in."
"And the …voice thing?"
Vlad's smirk melded into a hesitant frown. "I just… It's an ability. Ghost can project their voice up to a couple miles out… And I can also project my essence outside my physical body to… observe… things. It's useful, actually… Safer…"
"Hmm…," she answered. She wanted to ask more, but she was well aware he wasn't here to tell her all about his ghostly abilities. He hated talking about it with her anyways… And clearly, he was already getting uncomfortable.
"Should we go then?" he suddenly prompted as he phased through the bar so he was now standing next to her.
She had not missed how he remained in ghost form. He usually didn't stay as Plasmius around her for too long; so that was a curiosity in itself.
"Are we driving?" she asked, still confused about that.
His smile returned and his eyes gleamed mischievously this time. "Now how would we enjoy such a nice evening in a car…?"
He then extended his hand and floated up just enough to get her to finally realize what he meant.
Stephanie's eyes instantly widened in disbelief. "Wait… Are you serious? Flying?!"
"I realized I have never taken you before. It is quite the experience…"
Her mouth opened slightly before she stuttered, "V-Vlad…I'm not sure if…"
He tilted his head slightly, and asked warmly, "Why not? Do you not trust me to keep you safe?"
Stephanie stared from his eyes to his extended hand. This... This was definitely unexpected.
Her curiosity really was going to be the death of her.
She finally stood and gingerly grabbed his hand. She couldn't help but notice how warm he was… Had he ever even touched her in ghost form? If he had, it had been brief, because she could not remember any specific time.
He floated forward, and she would have stepped back if he did not gently pull her towards him by wrapping a hand around her waist.
"You do not need to be afraid," he reassured her with a small smile. "I promise. I won't let go."
But all she could do was stare back, completely tense.
He gently stroked her cheek with the thumb of his other hand as a brief distraction.
"Vlad?"
"Breathe, Steph," he answered before a strange tingle ran from his hold and then all through her body.
She didn't even notice her body and his turning transparent.
Instead, she gasped when right after, he hoisted her off her feet.
"W-Wait! Vlad!"
But it was too late.
All she could do was squeeze her eyes closed and instinctively wrap her arms around his neck, gripping him for dear life, as weightlessness overtook her.
It felt like falling even when they were going up.
The feeling lasted for only seconds, and then… nothing.
She felt weightless again but in a different sense. It was a completely new experience she could not compare to anything else. But if she could think of anything, it was like the law of gravity had somehow vanished from the earth. Maybe this is how it felt to walk on the moon…
"Open your eyes. It's alright, my dear…"
She hesitated but opened her eyes all the same. And immediately looked down.
They were hovering high above her house.
"Oh my…," She choked on her words as she gripped onto him like a cat clinging to a tree limb to avoid falling into a lake below.
"Is it too much?" Vlad asked, suddenly worried.
She was shaking.
"I can bring us back down, if you want."
Stephanie quickly looked at him, and her own eyes locked on those pools of red that somehow still conveyed emotion. She suddenly became very aware of his hands.
And… how they were the only thing keeping her from plummeting to her death.
She took a few more shaky breaths before looking away and daring to glance back down.
She had never been afraid of heights. But there was something terrifying at finding yourself just hovering around nothingness.
Humans did not fly….
But Vlad wasn't all human.
"I… I can't believe you… you do this on a daily basis…"
Plasmius chuckled. "Well, not really daily. I'm not as enthused about flying as Daniel is. It's just… another mode of transportation to me. A convenient one."
"I remember you use to be afraid of heights. You absolutely hated roller-coaster!" she continued, staring at him in disbelief.
Vlad lightly shrugged. "Truthfully, I still hate rollercoasters… And as for heights… No one is truly afraid of heights; but rather, of the risk of falling… It's hard to hold onto such fear after gaining the very ability of defying gravity."
"I suppose," Stephanie muttered staring back down before finally looking up. It was dusk so the sky was lit with warm hues of red and orange.
"Where are we going?" she suddenly asked, looking back at him with a small amazed smile.
Vlad smiled back before he flew them higher; her grip tightened on him again; but he ignored it this time and took off towards his intended destination. He did not fly as quick as he would have on his own. After all, he was not trying to scare her.
It didn't take long for Stephanie to lessen his grip on him. The air at this height felt crisp yet refreshing. And while they were not going too fast when she looked out ahead in the direction they were flying, her eyes stung a bit from the wind speed. But it was not so unpleasant she could not enjoy the view. And my, was it some view!
Wisconsin's wide pastures and lush forests had never looked so spectacular! It was an endless view of nature. And yet speckled around were homes and farms. So much life, and Stephanie wondered about each one. Sometimes with how often her own life got in the way, it was easy to forget the countless of other human beings that existed and how each had their own walk of life.
Seeing it all from above was aweing and…. powerful. She had never felt any smaller yet more fortunate at the same time. Only a handful of people before her got to experience this perspective.
"You are quiet. Are you alright?" Vlad suddenly asked.
Stephanie nodded. "This… It's amazing… to get to view the world like this… Its…beautiful."
Plasmius glanced down at her and smiled warmly. "It is beautiful. I… should have shared it sooner with you."
Stephanie immediately looked at him with a bit of surprise.
"You are right, Steph," he continued soberly as he focused his eyes on the horizon. "I have kept you away from this side of me for so long that I do not seem to know how to do anything else. Even now… sharing this with you… It feels foreign. Almost… taboo."
"Yes, because you made it so," she answered seriously, forgetting all about her surroundings. "Your ghostly life… and the Fentons… were always off limit topics between us… remember?"
The man didn't answer right away. Of course, he remembered. There were a number of reasons why he had kept Stephanie at a distance for so many years, especially relating to his ghost half. But his reasons all stemmed from a single truth…
"I did not like you seeing me like this… I did not want to risk you truly knowing what I had become… what I had done… And what I am still capable of," he finally said forebodingly. "I am afraid to let you see me… To see Plasmius…"
"You have changed."
But he shook his head. "My motivations have changed. My focus and drive, perhaps." He looked at her. "Vlad Masters has changed. But ghosts do not change, Stephanie. I told you, all they understand is power and who has more of it."
"You talk is if you were not just as much human. Are you telling me Masters and Plasmius are two separate entities…?"
"No… But sometimes it feels like it, especially as of late…," he replied with a sigh.
He glanced at her and was not surprised to see a confused frown on her face.
He focused back on their destination and noted they were almost there.
"I want nothing more than to understand…," Stephanie admitted after they had fallen silent. "But I can't do that if you don't help me… If you don't let me try…"
"And I now want you to understand, too, Steph… I just have never had to explain what I am to anyone before… I am not even sure if it's possible to put into words…"
"Try."
Plasmius hesitated another moment before he said, "I am a person with two different lives… I have a single mind that sometimes wants two different things… I have a single body that craves and needs separate things. On most days, I balance both sides of me well… I have learned to… But then when external factors upset that balance… I have to chose…"
"Chose…?" she asked, unsure.
Vlad suddenly veered to the right, and Stephanie quickly looked out to see where they were going. The desire to ask what destination he had in mind surfaced once more, but before she could ask he spoke again.
"My 'focus' as Plasmius has always been power. At times it was because of greed, but most times because of necessity. The truth is…my need for power—the root of that… obsession—is a survival mechanism. Ever since I lost my family, I have felt powerless; helpless. And when my accident happened, what remained of my life just slipped from my hands. I had no control. Nowhere to go and no one to turn to—or that's how it felt. So, when I eventually realized the power I had been given, I vowed then I would not allow my life to be dictated by fate or chance any longer… And Plasmius became that vow…"
The older hybrid paused before he soberly continued, "I have survived all these years by making sure Plasmius was all but invincible. Nothing could touch me. I became powerful. I made my own destiny. Who I am as a ghost has kept me safe for all these years. Safe…but alone."
He stared sadly back at her as he confessed. "All I ever wanted was love… But being alone with the price I paid to be powerful as Plasmius. To be untouchable as Masters…"
"Those conflicting desires… ," Stephanie muttered as she realized what Vlad was telling her. "You chose power."
"I do not want to be alone anymore, Steph," he suddenly said desperately. "But… how do I survive in this world—my world—without power…?"
But Vlad sadly spoke again before she could reply. "I'm sorry for all I said. You did not deserve my anger or frustration. But what happened with Skulker… I cannot say I feel any differently at the thought of you getting involved with my ghostly life… The truth is I am still unsure of where to go from here… I do not know how to… share Plasmius with you. Or if… It is right to do so. What if you get hurt? By me or someone else? What if I… show you.. and you become afraid of me? …I couldn't bear that…"
Stephanie's eyebrows drew in. "Why do you think I would be afraid of you?"
She reached up and Vlad slightly tensed when she pressed her hand against his cheek.
"Do you think if I was afraid of you like this, I would trust you to bring me out here right now? You literally have my life in your hands… and I am not afraid."
Stephanie lowered her hand as she trailed it down his neck and stopped at the center of his chest.
She could feel his power here. A warm buzz. It was pulsing, and she wondered why. What it meant.
"Silly man… There's nothing you could tell me or show me at this point that would make me fear you… My only fear is that your own fear might just be stronger than your love for me… What scares you more Vlad? The idea that I would reject or fear you if I know Plasmius? Or…that I walk away for good because you refuse to let me know him?"
The man did not reply, and instead grabbed the hand on his chest and lowered it. Her touch was making his core jolt inside him.
He didn't need the extra confusion or stimulus right now.
Stephanie sighed tiredly at his lack of response.
"Vlad… I know I don't know much about ghosts, but…"
"It is not that," he cut her off gently.
But he did not say anymore as he finally spotted their destination ahead.
Stephanie also took notice of a water tower just ahead. The tower was surrounded by horse and cow pastures.
Vlad flew them down; and as his feet touched the ground, he lowered Stephanie to her own feet but held her against him. He told himself he wasn't letting go simply because he didn't want to risk her slipping from this height.
He studied her troubled face. She did look tired. And stressed. But then again, he probably did, too. It had been a long two weeks for him, too. All he had been able to think about was this woman. He missed her. But he now understood this situation was unfair to her. He needed to make a choice.
They both did.
"I would rather lose you and know you are safe than risk hurting you… directly or indirectly…" he muttered sadly. He traced her face with his gloved hand as he continued, "I will always be Plasmius… I will always have enemies, especially now with my allegiance with Daniel. Is it fair to put you and Annabelle in the middle of so much possible danger? If I did… how do I justify it? How could I even dare say that I love you?"
"There is always danger around us, Vlad," Stephanie answered. "In your life, there's just a different kind. Are we supposed to live in fear because of 'what ifs'? How can you say you love me yet be too afraid to take risks for us?"
Vlad just sighed as he moved his hand from her face. He still held her other hand but he stared out at the setting sun.
It was a beautiful view. And the reason he had brought them here. Shame their heavy discussion did not let them enjoy it now...
"Did you know, as alike as Daniel and I are, we are still so very different…," he eventually said. "Now that I see things in a different light, I realized that even if Maddie and Jack had not hurt me as they did, I would have still pushed them away… Just like I pushed you away… My own hate and bitterness might have kept me alone; but… maybe I still would have chosen a life of solitude all the same…."
He paused again before he said, "When I first met Daniel, I wondered how he had chosen so differently than me… In the face of his own transformation, he clung to his friends, and eventually his family. He kept them close, knowing that doing so would keep his loved ones in constant danger; knowing their own lives would be changed forever because of what he is. I never understood his decision. And to this day I wonder… Does that make him… stronger than I am, Steph? Or maybe… He doesn't know any better…"
"Or maybe it just makes him human, Vlad," Stephanie replied with a sad smile. "Neither of you can change what you are. So, why does that mean you have to condemn yourself to life of solitude? Maybe Daniel simply let his loved ones decide if they wanted to stay or not. Maybe you should do the same. I understand your feeling of helplessness over the years has made you… well, obsessed with power and control; but not everything can be your choice, Vlad Masters. I asked you once, and I will ask you again… What if I chose for us? Why not let me?"
Vlad didn't answer and just stared back soberly. He then glanced out at the view before he hesitantly said, "If I let you choose… I want to be fair to you… You need to know exactly what you are choosing… "
"What do you mean?"
Vlad hesitated again. "I am going to share with you something that I have not even shared with Daniel. It is true that I worry about the threats my enemies could pose on anyone close to me… And it is true my need for power can sometimes lead me astray…But that's not all of it. The danger I worry about more… What I fear you knowing… It lies within me. What I am—What Daniel and I are—it contradicts our humanity. There is a certain darkness that exists within our ghost half. Not in the human sense of being 'evil', but rather, in the sense of baser instincts going against what is considered 'human' or perhaps even morally acceptable."
He looked at her seriously. "The only thing that keeps us from losing ourselves to our ghost half's tendencies is our humanity," he continued. "But the truth is we cannot completely escape those needs. And what a ghost needs equates to a ghost's obsession. Daniel loves his family, naturally. But the truth is, his need to keep them close—sometimes unhealthily so—is in part because of his ghost half. You see… It is in a ghost's nature to become …possessive."
"What are you saying, Vlad?" Stephanie asked, troubled. "That you and Daniel are dangerous to others just because of what you both are? ...You think Plasmius would hurt me?"
"Not intentionally…," Vlad answered seriously before he suddenly grabbed her other hand and pulled her closer.
Stephanie somewhat startled at that, especially when his grip tightened just slightly around her arms. It didn't hurt, but it caught her attention.
"I have been thinking about everything you said the last time we talked in your office… And you are right, except that… You said you had already made your choice. And it was my turn to choose what I wanted…"
One of his hands slowly slid up her arm, to her shoulder, and touched her just above her clavicle. The whole time, he just watched his hand, clearly thinking about something he was not outwardly saying…
"You think you have chosen… You think you want me to let you choose for me… But perhaps you should reconsider that choice and request. You see, you were wrong when you said that I didn't know what I wanted… Oh, I know what I want. I know what I need… But are you sure you truly know what you are asking for? If I let you get close to my ghost side, you should know there is no turning back."
He finally locked his eyes to hers. And for the first time in her life, Stephanie realized how ghostly Vlad looked. Even as Plasmius she had always been able to see his humanity reflected in his eyes… Right now, it was just Plasmius glowing brightly in his eyes. And there was a chill in the air that drastically clashed with his warm touch.
She involuntarily shivered.
"I won't let you go," Plasmius assured her, his voice echoing in her ears. "Ever again…. Do you understand what I am saying, Stephanie…?"
The hand that was against her clavicle moved down to grab her other hand, and he suddenly placed it on his chest. His eyes darkened as his core seemed to pulse inside him. It was an interesting reaction; but it cemented his need for her even further…
"You have my heart… But if you also want my core, you will never be rid of me. I won't stop until I have you. Until you are also all mine."
Stephanie didn't answer at first as she just stared at her hand against the man's chest; as she focused on that raw… dangerous power just below the surface…
Of course, she wanted Vlad. But she had never thought about it in the perspective he was presenting. He was a ghost… So, it made sense that while he loved her in the human sense, in the ghost sense he would want to possess her. He would need her to the point of obsession…
Human wise, that sounded like a red flag. That was the type of thing you should run away from in a normal relationship.
But this wasn't a normal relationship. Vlad was not normal. She knew that. Even when he had control and did not show it all the time. And maybe that was the truth in all this. That is why he was afraid. He feared if she knew his ghost half's tendencies, it would scare her away as she realized how far from human he could be…
"I love you, Steph," he suddenly told her now that she seemed to finally realize what he had been trying to protect her from. "I do. More than I thought myself capable of ever loving anyone. It is why I cannot give you what you ask, unless you were first aware of what you are asking for. But I also understand now that I cannot ask you to continue a relationship with a part of me. Just like I would want all of you, I understand you want the same."
"Do you think Plasmius' possessive and obsessive nature would ever be stronger than your love for me?" Stephanie asked quietly, looking up at his red eyes.
"No… because I would still love you as Plasmius," he assured her.
Stephanie lowered her gaze. She hesitated before she said, "Would he love me more than he loved Maddie?"
Vlad tensed this time.
She quickly looked back at him, and sadly added, "Plasmius was obsessed with her at one point. You were convinced you loved her. What makes me any different?"
"This…," he answered right away and pressed her hand closer against his core again.
Stephanie watched as the red glow hidden beneath their hands and his clothing brightened; and the warm buzz almost became electrifying.
"I do not what it means…," Vlad muttered softly. "I have never had my core react to anyone like this… But it makes me want to hold you closer… It swells my love for you to the point that I…can't stand it. I love you. Only you. And if you decide to leave, it will not change how I feel. It will not change that both my heart and core belong to you."
Stephanie didn't answer and just continued to focus on the warm power below her fingertips. She also didn't know what it meant except she wanted more of it… it allured her. It made her want to grab this man closer and… never let go.
She wondered if ghost obsessions were contagious… If Plasmius wanted to possess her, then… maybe he already had. Maybe he somehow had overshadowed her will and was now luring her in so she could never escape… Vlad was right… She should be afraid. And yet… her pulses raised with excitement at the idea… After all, if she belonged to Plasmius… wouldn't that means he also belonged to her?
The most powerful mortal being on this earth… right at her fingertips.
She couldn't say 'no' even if she wanted to.
And she definitely did not want to.
Stephanie finally looked up at those red awaiting eyes, and using her other hand, she cupped his face. She almost smiled when his cheeks flushed with pink energy.
Plasmius… shy. The irony...
She wanted to kiss him; but she could feel the man was tense. She would have to take it slow, it seemed. As he had said, he didn't know how to let someone in as Plasmius. He had spent all his life keeping people away…
So, instead, she pressed closer and rested the side of her face against his chest.
"I will stay… That's my choice. You can have me in whatever way you need Vlad… as long as you let me do the same."
Plasmius let out a shaky sigh before wrapping his arms around the woman. She felt smaller, more delicate than she did when he held her in his human form.
"I will give you whatever you want," he promised her.
"I want to know more about you, your powers, about everything ghostly."
"As long as you trust me to keep you and the girls safe… What you all did with Skulker… Do not put me in a position like that again, Steph. I need you trust me when I ask you to stay away."
"We love you. We didn't want to see you get hurt."
"And I would die if any of you got hurt."
Stephanie looked up at him and saw he looked afraid.
"Okay… I will trust you when you ask me to stay away; but… you need to teach me to protect myself, the girls, and you against ghostly enemies. You have unique threats as you said, and I don't play damsel in distress if I can help it."
Plasmius chuckled this time. "Oh… if you became anywhere near as formidable as you are in the business world, we might not even need Plasmius."
Stephanie smirked back. "I'm sure we can find Plasmius a new occupation."
The way she said that had Vlad blushing.
But then he huffed. "Alright… I'll teach you how to use ghost weapons… Just in case. Anything else?"
"That we do this at least once a week," Stephanie answered with a growing smile. "And each time, you tell me something new."
Plasmius raised a hand and placed it against her cheek. "I can do that…"
Stephanie pulled closer, begging him with her eyes to kiss her.
Instead, he reached down and kissed her forehead. "In time…," he compromised before he wrapped his hand back around her waist and lifted her up.
"Where are we going now? Not back home already?" she asked with a pout.
"Let me show you my favorite spot in the forest behind my estate… There's a waterfall. You'll love it."
"I think I already do," she answered as she nestled closer to him.
The older hybrid blushed again; but with a smile, he flew them off towards their destination.
Awww warm fluffy feels... But I had been wanting to write this piece mostly because of Vlad's explanation of his ghost half and how his ghostly instincts affects his humanity. I've always wondered how their ghost half's needs affect Vlad and Danny. Danny probably doesn't really notice it too much yet because of his age and lack of experience, but Vlad... whose had his powers for over 20 years... He would have noticed the effects of Plasmius by now. I like the idea of exploring not just the exciting part of their powers, but the negative aspects of it... And wouldn't it make sense that if a ghost's nature is to be obsessive and possessive, it would bleed into their humanity? And at times conflict? And at times... they would just give into it. The difference with Danny and Vlad is that Vlad is mature enough to be aware of when it happens, why it happens.
If it wasn't clear, Vlad's desire to keep Stephanie away is not just because of his dangerous life and enemies but because he knows how obsessive and possessive he can get. Imagine how obsessed he became with Maddie [which Stephanie mentions]. How much more would he become if the person reprociated his feelings?
Good thing for them his and Stephanie's relationship has not always been completely healthy. And it somehow works for them. lol