2 WEEKS LATER
Dash was taking his usual afternoon nap, dreaming. Usually, his thoughts while he slept would be about football, impressing the head cheerleader, Paulina, and rubbing it in Danny's face about how he's the more popular kid—typical Dash energy. Tonight, however, was different. The aforementioned shy, innocent kid crossed his mind... more than usual. Frustratingly, Dash couldn't get him out of his head. Like, at all. When Dash started to dream, he found himself in Casper High.
"Huh... this is weird. Why am I here?" He questioned. "Hmmm... I wonder if I'm the only one..."
Dash walked around for a moment before he stopped at his locker. No one was around, which weirded him out even more. Then, as he began to unlock the door, he heard footsteps coming towards him. He froze instantly, thinking that someone was sneaking up on him to send him to detention. Just then, a voice shouted loudly.
"YOU'RE DEAD, FENTONOWSKI!"
Dash was shocked. "That was Foley's voice..." He thought as he quickly ran to Lancer's class and hid behind the wall that separated the door from the lockers and peeked out to see who was running in his direction. He blinked and rubbed his eyes as if he was still sleeping before his vision cleared. It couldn't be, right?
A visibly hurt and frightened Danny Fenton was sprinting as fast as he could. He screamed. "STAY AWAY FROM ME, TUCKER!" His legs hurt from running, but he felt like he could run another ten miles.
Dash thought he was seeing things. He wasn't. Danny Fenton, the boy who is usually quiet, shy, and anxious throughout the day, was running full speed down the hall, and halted where he would normally be harassed by the massive quarterback. That hasn't happened in weeks, though. "What the...?" Dash thought. "What is he doing?"
Danny was looking around frantically for a place to hide from Tucker, and the only place was the corner exactly where Dash was hiding. He jumped behind the wall of lockers, shut his eyes and went intangible. Dash put his hands over his mouth to stop himself from getting them both caught.
Tucker stormed into the hallway where he last saw Danny and growled angrily. "YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE, FEN-TURD!" He kept looking around, passing Lancer's class and unbeknownst to him, Dash in the process.
"Shit." Danny hyperventilated once he saw that Tucker was gone and appeared back to normal. "That was close. At least I'm-"
He looked in front of him and Dash was right there. The two screamed in unison, startled at the sight of each other.
"DASH! What- I mean, hi! I-I mean, when did... how?" Danny stuttered.
"Hey... What's going on, Fenton?" Dash asked tentatively (and a bit concerned for the kid) and raised an eyebrow.
Danny explained. "We're in some kind of vision-like dream, Dash. As you can see, you and Tucker basically switched lives. However, and this may come as a shock to you, Dash... we're dating."
Dash's mind started running like a bullet train. How was Danny his boyfriend? When did he start dating him? Wasn't Danny dating Sam and he was dating Paulina? Why was Tucker so angry at Danny? He had a lot to process and no time to do it, but asked the first thing that came in the front of his mind.
"Do you trust me?"
Danny took a deep breath. "Dash. Of course I trust you. You've been there for me more than anyone ever has."
Dash was quiet and stunned for the second time in almost a full day. He's been there for Danny more than anyone else? How could that be the case when he bullied Danny for so long? And that's not all he realized. He was dating the shyest, quietest, and most anxious kid in Casper High, who was also the town hero. The version of Danny outside of Dash's dream is scared of him, never really talking to anyone other than Sam, and hates any and all confrontation... especially if it's got ANYTHING to do with Dash. He looked intensely at Danny. Analyzing him almost. Danny was wearing his usual outfit, but there was something different about it. The quarterback widened his eyes at what Danny was wearing.
Danny was wearing HIS varsity jacket on top of his superhero outfit. Similar to the outfit he was in, it hugged him tightly in all the right spots. "He must've adjusted it to fit him," Dash thought. "He looks... really cute."
"Dash... I..." Danny slowly moved closer to Dash. The star quarterback felt his face get hotter and hotter by the second, he blushed heavily at the cute kid in front of him. Danny stopped a moment before he got any closer, which concerned Dash.
"Don't be scared of me. It's okay, I won't hurt you. Not again." Dash whispered calmly. It made him feel good about himself and, even while he was dreaming, still guilty about how he treated Danny in real time.
"Dash... you've never really hurt me. You could never truly hurt me. Nothing you have ever done to me could make me feel any other way about you."
"How when I've bullied you constantly? I've made you feel like you're insignificant." Dash replied quickly. Was he feeling... guilty? Remorseful? Was he... was he self-loathing? All signs lead to it.
"But... can I tell you something?" Danny asked shyly as he was almost nose to nose with Dash.
"Anything. I'm here for you."
"I feel like... for as much as I'm a hero, no one ever saves me from the pressure of my life. At least, that was until you... saved me, Dashiel Baxter."
Dash pulled Danny into his lap, their faces now touching. The heat in both their faces built up more and more. Dash could feel Danny's breath, and he could smell the expensive cologne he wore. It was everything he wanted.
Silence.
"Uh, you don't mind if I..." Dash started before he trailed off and fell silent again, his eyes feeling heavy all of a sudden.
"I don't..." Danny smiled, his eyes closed.
Dash closed his eyes. He placed a hand on the ghost boy's face in front of him, pulled him closer, and kissed Danny for the first time. Danny's lips were so soft and Dash loved it. Danny, though he knew this was a dream, could feel himself being at ease with Dash. As for Dash, he had finally figured out what he was feeling. He wanted someone—needed someone, in fact—to be himself around, and after all this time, it was the quietest boy in the room: Daniel Fenton. Sensing the world around him take form, Dash felt a wave of relief wash over him. He broke the kiss off and looked at Danny's eyes. They sparkled blue in the hallway lights.
"If only this wasn't a dream..." Dash sighed to Danny.
"Technically, it's not... more like your conscience playing a scenario. Anyway, it doesn't have to be just a dream, Dash. Just be honest with me out there like you are with me here... and we'll see where it goes." Danny assured him.
"How do you know that?"
"I'm dreaming the same thing. I can't—"
"Stop thinking about you." Dash finished. "What if I... what if I can't be honest?" Now he was the scared one.
"When you see me, you'll know exactly what to do. Whether I come to you or you come to me. I promise." Danny gave Dash a quick kiss and held onto him. "Remember, be honest with me and we'll see how far it goes. I love you."
Dash cradled Danny as if he was a baby in his arms. "I will."
Dash stirred awake a few hours later. He checked his phone to see the time. 9:00pm. He felt something wet in his boxers. "Oh great. Just what I need." He grunted. He had a wet dream. As he walked to the bathroom to clean himself up, a voice rang in his head.
"Just be honest with me and we'll see where it goes. I love you."
"That dream was more than a dream... I can still hear his voice. Was it a vision?" Dash said to himself as he turned the shower on. "No. No, he said it was a scenario that my conscience was playing out. Hmm...maybe he's right, I should be more honest and tell the truth." Dash sighed. The water ran and it felt soothing to him. He stood in the warm jet stream and closed his eyes as his thoughts took over. "Why did I not pull them away faster? He has hated me more than ever after that incident. Dashiel Baxter, what is wrong with you? You pride yourself on being such a good person, a role model, but you continuously picked on the one kid who's been saving your life since freshman year!" He soon thought of what Danny told him in his dream. "But... but then he told you that he... loves you. You saved him from something. Maybe you did something no one else has done for him. What could it be, though? What-"
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a knock. His eyes were still closed as he remained under the heated water. It sounded like the door to his room. The voice made Dash freeze up.
"Dash, let me in. I need to talk to you."
It clicked for Dash at that moment. He turned the water off instantly and blinked. "That voice..." He mumbled to himself. "It sounds familiar. It's so... quiet and... anxious? Wait. Is that...?"
He got out of the shower and dried himself off as much as possible, then quickly got dressed in a tank top and basketball shorts. As he approached the door, he thought of who it could be. His dad? Maybe. His mom? She's never really home, but she could be today. He spoke quietly. "Who is it?"
A nervous whimper came out before the person spoke. "Uh, i-i-i-it's Danny."
It was almost like a car crash in his mind just happened. Dash shook his head in disbelief. Danny was ACTUALLY on the other side of the door. "How did he get here?" Dash thought as he touched the knob and held it for a moment.
"Dash, please." Danny pleaded. He sounded like he was really upset. So Dash didn't hesitate any longer. He unlocked the door and when he opened it, Danny was right there. He looked down at the ghost boy, who held his head down because he was honestly scared to even be standing in Dash's presence.
"Fenton?" Dash asked in his usual tone. "How did you get here?" His tone changed once he noticed Danny's weird behavior, though. "Hey, why do you have your head down? Did something happen to you?" For some weird reason, he could feel his blood boiling and his anger rising. "I swear, if someone else put their hands on you—"
Danny cut him off with a raised hand. "Dash. I honestly don't know how I got here. Just—just please let me in and I'll explain."
"Come in, man." Dash stepped out of the way while Danny entered his room. He pulled a sign out from behind the door and hung it on the front. It read the following:
"KEEP OUT, DANGER ZONE."
He shut the door and locked it. When he turned to Danny, his heart pounded and his voice was a whisper. "Fenton... turn and look at me."
Danny didn't move. The tears began to well up in his eyes. They threatened to break loose as he stood in Dash's room, with his back facing the quarterback. "I can't." His voice quivered. "I don't want you to see me like this."
Dash took a deep breath. He had to be vulnerable, so he did something he never did before and uttered the ghost boy's name. "Danny..."
A feeling that Danny never felt before—a very strange one—began to rise, but he remained silent. What was it? Peace? Respect? Honor? Or... something deeper?
"Please look at me." The football player said quietly.
However, that would cause his heart to shatter in pieces as Danny turned to face him and tilted his head up slowly, trying to fight back his tears, and showed Dash what he was hiding. He had a bruise on his forehead, his lip appeared to have been busted, a black eye, and his usually perfect skin had a long scratch right under said black eye.
"I got in a fight with Tucker." He said, attempting to avoid the otherwise obvious look of concern.
Dash couldn't believe it. "When?"
"Two weeks ago. I haven't seen him or Sam since."
"How...?"
"Well... he sucker punched me and gave me this bruise. I low-blowed him after and then..."
Danny and Tucker faced each other. Their friendship was crumbling right in front of them.
"Tucker, you don't want this. Sam doesn't want this. I DEFINITELY don't want this."
Tucker glared at Danny. "It's always the same with you! 'Oh look at me, I'm the hero. I save the day and get the girl of my dreams. I'm also everyone's friend, but I don't have time for you, Tuck.' I'M SICK OF IT, DANNY!"
Danny was confused. "I never put anyone over you, Tucker. What the hell is wrong with you? We've been friends for YEARS. If anything, you get more time with me than Sam AND Jazz... PUT TOGETHER!"
"You're lying."
"We were each other's first kiss, you dumbass. You've always been the main star of our friendship. I value YOU over all of my friends COMBINED."
Tucker remembered it. The excitement of learning how to kiss a girl, asking Danny, and being stunned with the results. He soon shook the thought of his past away. "I'm tired of being known as the sidekick. It's time I end THIS... and I end you."
Danny narrowed his eyes. "Tucker, be serious."
"I am." Tucker threw the first swing at Danny, who caught his hand with ease.
"Got to be quicker, buddy." Danny laughed before a slap that landed so hard it could be heard throughout Fenton Works, which prompted Jazz and Sam to run up the stairs and to Danny's room.
"What the-" The girls stood in the doorway and watched the scene unfold.
Tucker and Danny were full-on fighting. Full force punches were being thrown and every insult was fueling them to tear each other to shreds.
"Sam, you get Danny! I'll get Tucker!" Jazz shouted to Sam, who quickly ran over to Danny to pull him away from Tucker.
"Guys, break it UP!" Sam screamed. Danny stopped swinging when Sam pulled him. "Danny! Let him go!"
"Tucker, stop it!" Jazz yelled, pulling Tucker as hard as she could.
The two former friends were finally separated and breathing heavily. They looked at each other with disdain. Danny spoke first.
"It should have never got to this again, Tucker." He stated lowly.
"Says the hero of everyone's story." Tucker spat. "You just HAVE to be the savior."
Danny exploded. "I'm not always the hero! Do you think that I have shit so FUCKING easy!? NO, I DON'T. I'm always saving you and the rest of Amity Park, but who's there for me?"
The room went silent as Danny's emotions came out for all to see.
"NO ONE! Not you, not Jazz, not Sam, no one. I rely on myself, SO FUCKING MUCH, and couldn't even do that after I got hazed. Which, by the way, forced me to be depressed and suicidal. So thanks, but you DON'T GET IT. IT'S NOT-" He felt all his anger and tears come out at once. "It's not fucking easy for me... It never is or ever was. Now you understand, Tucker? I don't want the spotlight, the attention. I just want to be understood, and I thought you would be that one person for me. Turns out..." He paused. Sam held onto him tightly as if she never wanted to let go. Danny knew he had her now. He had Jazz. He just wished he had Tucker still.
"Turns out you don't want this as much as I do. I think we need space for a while, Tucker."
Tucker stopped being angry. He stopped being jealous. All his resentment and hatred evaporated. At the end of the day, Danny has saved him from so many situations. Now, he felt like the worst friend ever. "Damn... I-I didn't know that, Danny." He sighed.
"None of us did. Why didn't you ever tell me?" Jazz inquired. This is the third time she's seen Danny spaz out like this. "I could've-"
"No, Jazz. Don't say that." Danny interrupted. "I didn't tell you or Sam, or Tucker, or anyone. I wanted to try to figure it out on my own. Just... I..." He got up and tapped Sam's hands. She let go instantly. "I need to be alone. Get him out of my room, please."
The girls moved quickly and Tucker was soon out of the room and out of Danny's sight. Danny stared at the window. He dried his face and sighed heavily. "I don't want to be here."
Sam came back to Danny's room and wanted to talk to him. "Danny. We need to talk."
Without turning around, Danny spoke in a tone he never spoke in before. "Sam... right now, I want to be by myself. I don't even know if I want to be here anymore."
"Danny, don't say that. Amity Park needs you. I need you."
Danny considered what had unfolded in the last few moments. He just watched his strongest friendship explode in front of his face. He and his closest friend just had a huge fight. Worst of all, he lost the girl he loved the most in the process.
"I need someone too, Sam. That person right now... just isn't you. I just lost you."
"How did you lose me? I'm still here."
"By losing myself."
Sam realized that this was a different version of Danny. He sounded sad, broken, and in need of help. "Well, if not me, if not Jazz, and not your parents, then who?" She asked.
"Someone strong that can help me rebuild myself." Danny transformed into Danny Phantom and went intangible. "I'll be back. When, I'm not sure, but I'll be back. Don't follow me."
Danny took off through the window and flew through the sunset skies. He wasn't sure of where he was going, but he had to get away from everything and everyone, including Sam and most importantly, Tucker.
"I eventually got tired and went back home. This morning, I went on another flight before I got tired again. I must've landed here a while ago and was brought in while I was out, because I woke up on the couch." Danny finished.
"Wow... I-I'm sorry, Danny. I didn't know you had so much happen to you." Dash didn't know what to say or think. Danny had lost everything he held near and dear to him... by losing himself. "When did you... lose yourself?"
Danny turned his head. "After the hazing in the locker room, I started getting depressed. Every day, I forced myself to pretend it was all normal, pretend that I was the same Danny Fenton everyone knew and loved. Everything started slipping from me, and the fight... was the grand finale."
"Damn, Danny. That sucks."
"It's part of being human, I guess." Danny chuckled. "Anyway, thanks for listening." He walked to the door to let himself out.
"Wait." Dash stopped Danny before he could touch the doorknob.
"Huh?"
"There's a few things I want to talk to you about while you're here. Have a seat." Dash walked over to his bed and sat on it, looking at the nervous look on Danny's face. "I'm serious. Come sit."
Danny sat in the middle of the bed with Dash. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
Dash took a deep breath and looked Danny in his eyes. "First, I had a dream last night. You were in it, weirdly enough. It was an alternate timeline, or... my conscious playing a scenario... but anyway, you told me that I saved you from something, that you and I were dating, and that it didn't have to be a dream. Just-"
"Be honest with me and we'll see where it goes." Danny interjected. "You had the same..."
"Dream as me. You weren't scared of me, didn't run from me, or even flinch. It hit me that I should've been a better person in real time."
Danny listened intently to Dash's explanation of the dream. Somehow, someway, their minds were connected last night. It was very surreal to him that his bully, or ex-bully, was being vulnerable and understanding.
"I sat with you in my arms, and when we locked eyes..." Dash trailed off. He noticed Danny staring at him. "Uh, what?"
"Huh? Oh, uh..." Danny caught himself and blushed slightly. "Can I wear your jacket? I'm a little cold..." He was lying… a little bit.
Dash hesitated a moment before handing Danny his jacket. "Sure. I think you may have to alter the sleeves so you can really fit it."
"T-Thanks." Danny smiled as he put on the jacket. "What else happened in the dream?"
"We locked eyes and when we did, your eyes shined. You looked so happy in that one moment." The vulnerable side of Dash, which was usually locked away, started to show. "Then, we kissed."
Danny turned his head slightly. "We... We did?" He didn't remember this part. He must've woken up. Damn.
"Yeah. We did." Vulnerability was coming naturally to Dash, which shocked him. "Danny, do you... do you trust me?"
Something clicked in Danny's head. As much as he loved his relationship with Sam when they were together, he always knew they wouldn't get far. Dash, on the other hand, was unlocking something in him. Yes, they have a history—a very turbulent one at that—but Dash being more honest, accountable, and understanding was what Danny found the greatest about him. In his own way, Dash was showing Danny love the only way he probably knew how, but learning how to be more open from Danny is what led to this moment right here.
"Dash, listen." Danny started as Dash looked him in the eyes. "You and I have a very complicated history. You bullied me for years, humiliated me repeatedly any chance you got, and watched me be hazed. On the other hand, you being honest and holding yourself accountable for your actions is what I value in you now. I do trust you, more than I think I should in this moment, but that scares me."
"Why?"
"I..." Danny looked away, as if he was hiding something.
Dash tapped Danny on the shoulder. "Hey. What's wrong?"
Danny's voice got unsteady. "I feel alone, Dash. I lost my friends, the girl I loved, and myself. What if I'm not good enough for anyone else?"
"Don't say that. Amity Park would be destroyed without you. The whole world would be destroyed without you. Remember the Disasteroid? You stopped it from crushing Earth, Danny. You're a hero to everyone."
"That's just it though, Dash." Danny sighed. "I'm a hero to a lot of people, but I don't have a hero. I save everyone, but no one saves me."
Dash reached his hand to Danny, who flinched and had a look on his face that made Dash immediately beat himself up mentally. "Hey, you okay?"
Danny relaxed and began to move close to Dash. "Yeah, I-I'm fine. Just... just had a flashback." He felt a chill run down his spine, then he winced in pain as he clutched his ribs.
"Danny, what's wrong? You can't tell me you're fine now."
He pulled his shirt up and revealed the wounds to Dash. "Results of being hazed and the fight with Tucker."
"Why didn't you—"
"I was scared to say anything. Had I told my parents, they would've immediately thought it was you and we wouldn't be here right now." He interjected quickly, pulling his shirt back down. "Plus, I think you're the only person I want to remotely be around."
Never in a million years did Dash, or Danny for that matter, think that would ever be said between the two of them. They had been enemies for so long, always at odds, but now? Now, they seemed to be closer than ever. Weird what a fight will do to two people who never saw eye to eye.
Dash reached his hand out again. "You want to move closer? If you feel comfortable?"
Danny was hesitant. He was anxious. His thoughts were running at an alarmingly high speed. There was a heavy thunder in his heart. He thought that this could be a false sense of security he was being placed in, that if he was to make one wrong move, the lion would pounce on his prey and eat him alive. Then... he thought about what could be positive in this. Dash was opening up to him, being honest, and showing that he truly changed. What could go wrong with trusting him now? "Yeah." He said, grabbing the extended hand softly.
Dash pulled Danny close to his side. "Look, you're an amazing person. You're really cool, funny, and... a sweet kid. Everyone loves you at Casper High, much like the world loves you. I don't think this place would be the same if you weren't here. I know I wasn't the nicest to you for a long time—probably the meanest—but, if it makes you feel any better, I value you and I wouldn't trade you for anyone else in this world."
Danny looked at Dash. He could tell that Dash was being honest, being truthful, and vulnerable. When Danny was at his lowest before now, he pushed everyone away because he wanted to fix it on his own. That wasn't an option now. He was a broken, lost soul and needed someone to help him build himself up. It wasn't Sam, it wasn't Paulina, and it definitely wasn't Tucker. Jazz and his parents were not a choice either... for OBVIOUS reasons. "Really?" He raised an eyebrow.
Dash sincerely smiled for the first time at Danny. "Of course, Danny. You're special." He felt the same way in his dream when Danny was close to him. He began to sweat, and his heart began to race. The shy ghost boy blushed heavily and locked eyes at Dash, who was also blushing. Danny felt his heart race as well at his thoughts. This was happening to him, and he didn't want it to stop.
The hunter watches the prey... waiting for that moment.
Danny leaned closer to Dash. The air grew hotter and the tension grew thicker. This exact situation happened in the dream. Danny felt Dash touch his face with his hand. With every passing second, the hunter waits for his prey to be unaware of what's coming. Dash ran a thumb over the scar on Danny's face, which was rough compared to the rest of the smooth, soft skin. He then took a finger and lifted Danny's head.
And then...
"Danny..."
They were mere centimeters away from each other.
"Yeah...?"
He closed his eyes and prepared himself for what could potentially come.
He strikes.
Dash closed his eyes as well, and not caring about what happened next, kissed Danny for the first time. Danny was calm and melted into the tender kiss. Dash broke it and looked at Danny, who opened his eyes. The two sat in silence. They both processed what just happened. Neither expected what happened next.
Danny kissed Dash again and climbed onto his lap. This time, he added a little force and started to make out with Dash. Dash put his hands on Danny's waists and held him in place. He feigned giving Danny a chance at dominance, but their tongues fought and Dash was in control. They soon flipped positions, with Danny under Dash. The two couldn't stop themselves.
"Man... Danny is so fucking cute. If he keeps this up, we're gonna end up fucking, and I just got out the shower! At least if we do, we can shower together." Dash thought to himself as he and Danny continued to intensely make out with each other.
"Oh my gosh... Dash is so dominant. I can't stop- OH SHIT." Danny felt a hand slide up his shirt as he moaned into the kiss. "He's got his hands all over me... I've never thought I would end up here with him, but FUCK. I love this."
Dash's hands roamed Danny's body. Danny had his arms locked around Dash's neck, pulling him closer. He wrapped his legs around Dash's waist and slid his arm down to Dash's shorts. He grabbed a hold of something that made Dash jump.
"Watch it! Don't do that…" Dash whispered as Danny's moans of pleasure were muffled by the kiss.
"Sorry, Dash… I can't stop myself." Danny moaned lustfully as he began to stroke Dash slowly, making sure that he let Dash know that he was in control..
"Heh… You don't want to play this game. I'm warning you." Dash smirked again.
Danny took it as a challenge. "And if I do?"
Dash snaked his hand from under the back of Danny's shirt and slid it to the front. He glided his fingers down until he reached Danny's own length in his jeans. Danny soon realized that he was at Dash's mercy. He really wanted this to happen. Forget everything that happened today and finally have sex for the first time? Sounds like a plan.
"Mmmm..." Danny whined. "D-Dash..."
Dash began to ground his hips into Danny, eliciting lustful sounds from the otherwise shy and quiet ghost boy. It seemed like this was what Dash wanted, and honestly, so did Danny. Yes, he came with the intentions of both getting away from home and everything that just happened earlier. He came here with the intention... of smoothing things over with Dash. There was no WAY he could've imagined that this would be the way things would end up.
BUT HEY, here they are. Very interesting how things turn out... (Talk about loving hard.)
The two young adults—quite lovestruck with each other—finally broke their session and looked at each other, trying to regain their breath.
"Fuck. You're a really... really good kisser, Dash." Danny said breathlessly.
"So are... so are you, baby." Dash covered his mouth when he realized what he said. Danny just laughed and pulled his hand down.
"My first nickname. It's cute..." Danny laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He was so drained from the last number of days. However, he felt much better now that he finally put an end to the drama with him and Dash. "So, what now?"
"I'm not sure... what do you think?"
"Well..." Danny sighed contently. "I don't know. I mean, I don't want to be home right now, I don't want to deal with Sam or Tucker, and... I'd rather be here with you."
This made Dash smile, but he couldn't help but think of how Danny was so... comfortable. He let his thoughts take over.
"I... need to be honest, Danny."
"Hmm?"
"When you were attacked, I remember... I remember snapping out of whatever I was in and stormed in the locker room. The guys were all over you, and as much as I didn't like you then, I knew you didn't deserve it. I said something to one of them before I was knocked out after being hit from behind. When I came to, I just saw you... lying there. I started to practically vomit my heart out because I didn't do anything to save you and it was hard to hear you screaming. Danny, I'm really sorry I didn't stop them. I'm really sorry I didn't say anything after it happened. Do you forgive me?"
Danny kept his eyes on Dash, who was looking down. Something Dash always tried to hide from everyone, including himself, is admitting when he's wrong. However, for as much as he used to dislike the boy next to him, Dash would kill anyone for him, and that made Danny feel special. Dash may have been a bully to him in the past, but Danny could see him being more honest and open, just like he was in the dream.
"Hey. Look at me." Dash looked up and Danny's calm baby blue eyes told the story. "It happened, Dash. I can't stay mad at you permanently. I... I was wrong when I said you didn't do anything to at least try to stop them. Plus, after what we just did, that should've said it all."
For a moment, time stood still.
"True. I just-"
"Don't want to rush it? That's okay. I don't want to rush it either." Danny said as he tugged on Dash's arm so he could stay focused on him. "Regardless of how much you and I didn't like each other, I still gave you a chance to get it right because that's the kind of person I am, and because I knew you would. What happened to me isn't your fault. It never was your fault. You were just manipulated into being a part of it."
It all clicked for Dash. His rough exterior was gone. No more did he want to humiliate Danny, which he had done for years. He found himself falling into the 'enemies to lovers' trope that he had seen in so many movies and shows. Never thought it would happen to him, right? If he hadn't been so mean to Danny all these years, they could've been friends. Close friends. True friends. And it all set in for Danny, too. The world he once knew, with Sam and Tucker vs. the world, was shattered. Sam hasn't been on his mind for weeks, Tucker was a dead man to him, and he was a shell of his former self. It just took for him to stumble into Dash's arms to feel like himself again.
"Danny..."
"Yeah, Dash?"
"This might be a little too soon to ask, but... do you want to be, uh, more than friends?"
Danny blushed. He hasn't been in a relationship in six months, and honestly wasn't sure if he was ready. Mentally, that is. With everything that has happened in the last two weeks, and really the last half-year, Danny didn't want to rush into something that required him to be 100%.
"Dash, I... can I be honest?" Danny felt his heart pound. He had to make the right decision.
"Sure."
"I want to say yes, Dash. I really do. I-I'm just... scared. I don't want to get hurt by another boy that I trust. I don't want to be betrayed again."
Dash held Danny close to him. "I can assure you, I'll never hurt you again. I already watched my team hurt you, and I already hurt you more than ever by not stopping them. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. I never want you to feel like I will hurt you again, Danny."
"You promise?"
Dash just smiled and kissed Danny on the forehead. "I promise. If you want to, you can stay here for the night."
"That sounds good." Danny yawned as he curled up under Dash and fell asleep.
"Sweet dreams, Fenton." Dash sighed happily as he drifted to sleep.
A/N: Did Dash just give Danny a bit of insight as to what he did the day of the hazing? And more importantly, is he telling the truth? We'll see... (DOUBLR CHAPTER UPLOAD)