No actual warnings on this one, but do be advised Danny's anxiety gets worse before it gets better. Enjoy.

The Foundations We Build

Chapter 5: A Bully's Ballad

Danny had visited thrice.

Three times he'd come through the Fenton Portal and graced the castle gardens with childish laughter and excited chatter. Three times he'd sat on the grass or floated in the air and left his human troubles behind.

That was three times Dora had to lie about. So far.

She was so grateful to see Danny carefree and enjoying being in the Ghost Zone, but her heart was heavy every time he left. Vlad would come by the next morning, and they'd talk about Danny, and she'd do what she promised and hide his antics. A tiring cycle.

It was Vlad's turn today. He was coming less frequently lately, and she had a sinking feeling it wasn't for a good reason. He had showed up this afternoon though, and she intended to find out what could be going on to make Danny want to visit so often.

Plasmius didn't want to talk about Danny though. And it was getting on her nerves.

"The man's blueprints are mediocre at best, really," Vlad was saying. "Blueprint- that's a design plan. Anyway, it's shameful. My companies are supposed to be the best of the best!"

"If he's as incompetent as you say why not be rid of him? You've never troubled over such things before, no?" She replied patiently. He was helping her with these modern words but she still felt lost.

"It's Vivian," said Vlad. "She likes building things for him. And I haven't found someone as ambitious as he with designs to fill the role for her. Nor do I want an equally moronic- that's unintelligent- person in his place."

"I know what moronic means," she said, jabbing her needle into her next stitch a bit roughly.

"Right..."

She set down her project. "Have you talked to Danny about it?"

Vlad looked at her strangely. "Why would I do that?"

She shrugged. For some reason the green sky looked a bit dull today. But she gazed at it anyway, unsure if she wanted to respond.

"Daniel and I..." Vlad said slowly. "We had a disagreement a few days ago. I'm giving him space."

Dora met his eyes, seeing a passionate red dulled like her sky. So that's why he was avoiding the subject.

"Is that what he wants? Space?"

Vlad let out a breathy huff of a laugh. He dropped down onto the bench beside her, leaning back on his hands.

"If I knew what that capricious child wanted from me we wouldn't be at odds I'm the first place!" Vlad said. "Capricious is-"

"I know what it means," said Dora, eyes shutting tight for a moment. "What's going on?"

Vlad grunted as he rose again, beginning to pace.

"What's not going on?" Vlad said, sounding a tad too unhinged for Dora's liking. "He refuses to make new friends, doesn't like the woman I'm dating, constantly complains that he doesn't feel well but 'is not' sick, and won't give me even a hint as to why any of it is happening!"

Vlad tossed his hands up in surrender. "Everything I do makes him angry, upset, uncomfortable or irritable. Sometimes all of the above at once. Teenage hormones are one thing, but Daniel is special in so many other ways that I have no idea where to even start with this!"

"Perhaps with the trauma of losing his parents?" Dora said. It came out harsher than she meant to, but she found herself feeling irritable today. In a rare lax of her self control, she allowed herself to speak her mind.

"Why must you insist on so many changes when he's just gone through such a loss?" She asked pointedly. "This new boy and woman are human, yet you expect Danny to feel safe around them? Did you consider that discernment might be in order when deciding who to bring into the life of your half-ghost child?"

Vlad glared. "And who should I bring around him? Ghosts?"

Dora froze. She wasn't used to the feeling of cold, but she found herself being acquainted with it as the spat-out reply hit her ears. Vlad's eyes widened.

"I-I didn't mean-"

"Of course not," Dora interrupted. "But I believe I relate to Danny a bit now when it comes to his apprehension to bring up issues with you."

Plasmius was silent, looking at her with a measured stare she didn't back down from. The seconds stretched, until Vlad brushed imaginary dust from his shoulders and looked away.

"I get carried away," Vlad said. "I'm man enough to admit that much. But I won't hear that I half-bake my decisions when it comes to my son. Not even from her highness."

"Certainly," Dora replied curtly. "Who am I to pass judgment? You're my guest, not one of my ghost subjects."

"Dorathea-"

"Is tired," she said, standing to her feet. "I'll be retiring now. Perhaps your new human woman will give you an ear to bark into. Goodbye, Sir Plasmius."

She didn't look back to see if he would watch her go. She didn't need to. Her resolution was made and she intended to keep it.

Dora would turn her focus to Danny and do the best she could to support him through whatever he was facing with Plasmius. Clearly the adult side of the issue a lost cause.

Danny would come around soon, and she'd have a fourth visit to hide. Now though, the idea didn't seem to bring her the same guilt as it had this morning.

Saturday.

For the second week in a row, Danny found himself dreading the day. The unfairness of it all made it hard to get up and moving when the morning dawned.

Godfrey stubbornly insisted he not sleep in, though, and thus he was all but dragged to join the waking world outside his too-big bedroom.

Vlad was absent for breakfast. When Danny pressed, Godfrey admitted he'd come back in a mood yesterday from the Ghost Zone. Figures. Vlad could lock himself away if he wanted to but Danny couldn't.

"You have an hour before the Klines arrive," Godfrey told him. "Then they'll be here till after lunch, so you and Sterling will have ample time to play together. If you need my help at any point you know you need only call."

"Please don't say it like that," Danny said, stabbing the egg on his plate.

"Like what?"

"Play together," he said, fingers crooked in air quotes. "I'm not five."

"Ah, of course not," said Godfrey behind him. He could practically feel the sarcastic eye roll.

Godfrey shifted his focus to getting Danny to finish his breakfast. An impossible feat as Danny's nerves were currently through the roof. He was staying tight-lipped about that though, and the older ghost was giving him hell for it.

"You like crispy bacon," Godfrey said, wrinkled hand to his temple. "Just try it already."

"I don't like it today," Danny matched his tone. "And it shouldn't matter. I finished everything else!"

Godfrey leaned down till their eyes met. Danny shifted in his seat. The butler had a way of reminding him of a grandparent. A strict, no-nonsense one. One that right now was obsessed over three stupid strips of bacon!

"You've been skipping meals and eating less lately and I won't tolerate malnourished children in my dining room." Said Godfrey. "It's a matter of pride. Now, you've sat here long enough arguing. Get to it."

"No."

The word was out before he could think about it. Godfrey's eyes widened horribly. Danny had to do better at remembering the butler had ghost powers. This anxiety thing was getting in the way of his self-preservation skills.

"No?" Godfrey scoffed. He turned on his heel and started for the double doors.

"W-Wait," Danny called out. "What are you doing?"

Godfrey faced him. "Getting your father down here. He needs to-"

"He needs to what?"

Danny slumped in his seat as the door was pulled open and Vlad's voice rang out. "What on earth is going on in here?"

"Your crazy butler is on a power trip!" Danny said. Maybe if he sounded helpless he'd win this one.

After all, he really didn't see the point in finishing now-chilled bacon he wasn't hungry for in the first place. It was unfair and he shouldn't be made to do it.

"This is the fourth breakfast this week," Godfrey said, tossing a gloved hand in the direction of Danny's plate. Vlad looked at the bacon and back at Danny.

He looked tired. The fruitloop didn't deserve to be tired, he was making Danny's life a living hell. Danny crossed his arms around his stomach.

"Do you want to tell me why you're not hungry lately?"

Danny looked up, surprised. He expected Vlad to lecture him, 'proper nutrition for crime-fighting halfas,' and all that.

"I...don't?" Said Danny hesitantly. He was in for it now. He was going to get in trouble right before Sterling got here. They'd be sitting upstairs together and Danny would be trying not to squirm in his seat the whole time. Embarrassment central.

Vlad walked to him and reached over. Danny shut his eyes.

He heard the clinking of glass and opened his eyes to see Vlad clearing his dishes.

"Take care of this, would you, Godfrey?" Said Vlad. Godfrey all but snatched the plates from him, face glowing a darker green at his cheeks.

The ghost walked out with a curt nod to Vlad, and the older halfa sighed. Danny stood up, although he wasn't sure he was quite dismissed yet. Vlad wasn't saying anything and it was unnerving.

"Thanks," said Danny. He couldn't tell if he'd said the right thing or not. Vlad's expression stayed the same.

"You have five minutes to change your T-shirt and jeans into a proper ensemble and be down in the foyer," Vlad said as he started for the door. He hadn't even glanced at Danny. "I won't have you looking as though I don't feed or clothe you."

"H-Hey," Danny said, looking down at himself.

Vlad didn't stop. He walked right out the door leaving Danny alone in the dining room. Jerk.

Danny grumbled as he flew up to his room and grabbed the first fancy-looking outfit he could find. Sure, he didn't want Sterling to pick on him for yet another reason, but it still hurt to have Vlad call out his look.

He tried his best to actually clean up nicely lest he get down there and not be 'presentable' enough. Danny would definitely be calling Sam later. She managed to get out of wearing fancy rich kid stuff all the time. Must be a talent, one he definitely didn't possess.

Danny popped the first button of his collar open, the only sign of rebellion he would allow himself. He caught sight of himself in the mirror and quickly phased through the floor, eager to get out of there.

"Quickly now," Vlad called as he entered the foyer.

He was used to the routine now. Stand next to Vlad, smile really big, shake hands firmly. If he did all of that, people didn't bother with him as much afterwards.

"Why all this for one of your employees?" Danny asked as he took his place.

"Because he's not an employee. Not really," said Vlad, tucking a stray strand of Danny's stubborn hair into place. "He's a collaborator. I provide him Axiom labs resources to do with as he pleases, and he provides me with state-of-the-art ghost tech. The Kline's are powerful in their own generational right besides that, but Sterling's father is exceptional at innovation. That's his passion."

"But, are you...?" Danny fought for the right words. "Are we, like, you know...?"

"Higher status?" Vlad finished. Danny nodded. "Materialistically, yes. I out own William Kline by several companies. But they're old money, and we're new. So socially he has more pull."

"Is that bad?" Asked Danny.

"Potentially," Vlad said lightly. He tugged Danny's collar together and buttoned his rebellion away. "You don't have to worry about any of that though. Neither you nor Sterling are in any position to sway our livelihoods one way or another until you take over as heirs."

Danny watched from the window as a shiny black car pulled into the driveway.

"If I take over as heir," said Danny softly. "I could be back to Fenton by then."

Vlad chuckled. "You think that would make you any less my sole successor? You've been in my will since we met."

Danny didn't have time to process. Vlad turned him toward the room's doors just as Godfrey ushered in their guests.

Mr. Kline smiled at him as he walked in and greeted Vlad. Sterling was close behind, and when they locked eyes Danny took a reflexive step toward Vlad.

"Masters, a pleasure as always," said Bill, looking happy just to be there. Vlad clasped his hand when the man reached out. "You must tell me who does your hedges. You wouldn't believe how our landscapers butchered ours last week. The missus almost keeled over."

He sounded normal. At the expo, Sterling's father had been a bit reserved, professional, perhaps. But here, he seemed like your average dad. Well, your average dad with millions in the bank and landscapers to complain about.

Bill stretched his hand out to Danny. "It's nice to see you again, Daniel."

"Likewise," he said easily. At least he tried to. The man had a death grip on his appendages as he shook them.

Vlad reached over and squeezed his shoulder, which Danny thought must be his way of saying: 'well done, you sound like a pompous prince. That's my boy!'

"Daniel," Sterling greeted, giving him a nod. Suddenly there was pressure to his shoulder, moving him forward.

"We'll see you two for lunch, alright?" Said Vlad softly by his ear. That was about as much of a 'good luck' as he was going to get, he supposed.

Danny led Sterling through the hall to the upper floors. He had no manual for what privileged kids liked to do, so he simply started for his room on autopilot.

"So, Fenton-Masters," Sterling said, all but skipping beside him. "I must admit I was surprised to receive an invitation from you. Care to explain? Didn't just miss me that much, did we?"

Danny jabbed his fingernails into his palms, hoping to distract him from the desire to roll his eyes.

"I think we got off on the wrong foot," he replied. "And it's just Danny, if you don't mind."

He entered his bedroom and dropped into one of the bean bag chairs on the far side. It was the one Sam liked to use while they played video games, purple, and the most round. If he breathed deep enough he could smell the faint scent of her blackberry body mist lingering on it.

"What do you do for fun? Besides research my past, of course." Danny asked. Sterling huffed with arms crossed.

"I don't just go around wasting time with useless things," said Sterling. "Researching people of interest to my family is fun. That copy of Doomed you have booted up on your computer there? That's brain-rotting sludge, not 'fun'."

"Did your nannies not hug you enough growing up or something...?" Danny muttered.

"Look," Sterling pointed a manicured finger at him. "Just because you treat our status as a joke doesn't mean you get to look down on those of us that actually want to do well in this world one day. That's your problem, you act like this is a big production your taking part in, for fun, instead of your life. And it's annoying."

Danny grit his teeth hard. Yeah, maybe he felt a little superior to the kids of millionaires he felt didn't have a clue. Especially ones like Sterling that acted like jerks. He could work on that.

But why should he have to live like he was going to be a Masters forever? Why should he be forced to abandon the idea that he would ever be a Fenton again and continue on as the kid of a famous bachelor?

He didn't care about any of the material things Vlad gave him enough to be grateful for this life, it was only for the sake of all they'd been through together that Danny stuck around. Vlad hadn't betrayed him yet, and he kept him safe. That was all he needed.

"I get it, I'm not like you guys," said Danny, looking up into Sterling's angry eyes. "Neither is my adoptive father, really. But I don't think it's a joke, or that any of you are stupid for wanting to make your parents proud. I'm sorry I came off that way."

"You're so self-righteous," said Sterling, shaking his head. He walked to Danny's desk. "And I'm going to prove it to you."

He took the chess set from the desk and brought it over, sitting down opposite Danny.

"I win this," Sterling began, setting up the pieces. "And you have to answer one inquiry of mine. No lying or loopholes allowed."

Danny hummed in thought. What could Sterling possibly ask to try and rattle him?

Still, this was probably a bad idea. To bad he wasn't afraid of those.

"Fine," said Danny. "But if I win you have to give me a chance. A genuine, clean slate chance to be friends."

"Deal."

Danny had been playing chess for all of a week. He picked it up quickly enough, with Vlad's help, but he'd still have to be careful here. He had a sneaking feeling chess didn't fall into the category of 'brain-rotting sludge Sterling avoided'.

"White or black?" Asked Sterling. Danny looked around till he caught his reflection in the window. Blue eyes stared back at him. He turned back to Sterling's honeyed-chocolate ones.

"White," Danny answered.

They both made their moves with thoughtful calculation, taking their time and analyzing the board. Sterling liked to look up at Danny right before he moved his piece, an attempt to get him on edge.

Danny didn't give in, though. He racked his brain for every crumb of advice Vlad had given him, hoping that something had stuck enough for him to pull this off.

After a while, Danny lost track of what he thought Sterling's strategy was. He wrapped his arms around his middle, fingers dancing at his sides. Sterling made his move, an easy decision by the quickness he showed, and Danny scanned the board.

He was so close to checkmate, but Sterling had his queen trapped. If only one piece of his moved...

Danny turned his hand invisible, before slowly pulling it out from where it was tucked around him. With his visible hand he pinched a random piece of his with his fingers, pretending to contemplate.

Sterling watched his piece, as Danny gently prodded at the rook blocking his queen with the other hand.

People didn't see what they didn't expect to see. Danny had learned early on after receiving his powers that if his sleeve was visible, no one would think to check if his hand was at the end of it. Or if he had all of his fingers. Plain sight was the best way to hide.

"Don't move," Sterling said suddenly. Danny froze.

"Do you feel that?" Asked Sterling. "The temperature just dropped."

'Crud.'

"You sure?" Said Danny, pulling away from the board. "Maybe the air just kicked on..."

"No way," said Sterling. "I care about what my dad does for a living, remember? I know what it feels like when there's a ghost around. Axiom experiments are thorough."

"Axiom...expiraments on ghosts?" Danny shook his head, hand turning visible. Focus, Masters. "Vlad and- I mean, our dads must be testing ghost tech. If it's powerful enough we might feel it from here."

Sterling raised an eyebrow. "I suppose, though I'm not sure why they wouldn't do it at the labs."

"They could be in dad's lab," Danny said quickly.

Sterling's eyebrows jumped up. Uh oh. Danny held his hands up, waving them frantically.

"I mean, headed to the lab. Axiom," Danny said, laughing forcefully. "You know, 'cause that would be nuts having a high-tech ghost lab in our basement-"

"There's a ghost lab in your basement?" Sterling said loudly. Danny held a finger to his lips. The other boy frowned.

"Sterling, listen," Danny said. "I'm really not supposed to tell people, so you can't ever talk about it. Please. Just forget I said anything."

"Very well," Sterling agreed. "But on one condition. Forfeit the game. I was going to win anyway."

Danny sighed, eyes trailing the checkered pattern of the board. He didn't want to give in. Vlad would kill him if he knew he'd just blurted out the location of his secret lab, though, and that was worse than losing a chess match. Danny looked back up at Sterling and nodded.

"Now then," said Sterling. He leaned forward, elbows on his crossed legs. He dropped his chin into his hands. "I want my answers, Cinderella. Why did Vlad Masters, a professional bachelor, suddenly decide to adopt a Casper High loser and make him his heir?"

Danny pressed his lips together. A glance at the clock told him they still had half an hour before Godfrey whisked them off to lunch. How on earth was he getting out of this?

"I said no lying," Sterling reminded him. Danny sighed.

"It's really not that exciting," he said. "My real parents went to college with Vlad. There was an accident in the labs where they studied ghosts, and they hadn't talked since. Fast forward some 20 years, they reconnect, and Vlad finds out that their son- me, had a similar accident. So he...offered to take me in, help me deal with it. Be the parent I needed, I guess."

"That makes no sense," Sterling deadpanned. "He took you in because you're kindred spirits? You're telling me that's all?"

"That's all, I swear," Danny said earnestly. "There's nothing special about me. Vlad felt bad for me, that's it."

Sterling let out at short laugh, looking away with a shake of his head. Danny softened his stare.

"I know I'm not the kind of kid you think deserves what Vlad's given me," he said. "And I agree. But I think we have more in common than you think. If you give it a chance, you might not hate getting to know me. Would that be so bad?"

Sterling shoved the chess pieces into their case and stood up.

"Yes, it would." He said as he set the case back down on the desk.

Danny stood up, his frustration showing in his tightened muscles. He felt stiff.

"What did I do to you, anyway?" He asked Sterling, approaching him. "You can't honestly think I'm a threat to everything your family has built, can you? We're just teenagers! I might be able to help you."

"No, we're not!" Sterling snapped at him.

"Whatever responsibility we'll both have when we're older is going to come whether we're prepared or not." Said Danny. "Don't you want to be a regular kid for a while before then? Spend the time you have before adulthood doing things that are actually worthwhile? Make memories?"

"Oh for the love of- spare me already," Sterling whined. "I don't know how Masters hasn't gotten tired of you. The novelty will wear off eventually, I assure you. And what will you do when he boots you back to the gutter you came from, with all your infinite wisdom?"

Sterling leaned back against the window behind them. The sun was perfectly overhead, shining brightly through the glass. Danny kept his chin high.

"You said it yourself, I'm a Casper High loser. A nobody. I'm not afraid to go back to that."

Danny leaned in close. He put one hand behind him, at the small of his back, and let ice accumulate on his fingertips. Not enough energy to make it snow, but just enough that frost began to creep along the edges of the window panes. He watched Sterling shudder as the room got cold.

"You, though," Danny wondered aloud. "If Vlad takes over as the most powerful man this side of the country, what will you do? What future do you have without daddy's coattails to chauffeur you there?"

"You sound like him," Sterling said suddenly, smiling. Danny gasped and went rigid. No. No.

In a flash, Sterling had his free arm in a death grip. He swung them around and pushed Danny against the window. Sterling had his wrist up as high as it would go against the tall, chilled glass, using his height to make Danny unbalanced on his toes as his arm was pulled upwards.

He hadn't moved his other hand from behind him, afraid the ice would be seen. His palm pressed against the window, preventing his body from slamming against it as Sterling shoved his heavy hand against Danny's chest.

"I take it back," Sterling said, looking down at him with amusement twinkling in his narrowed eyes. "You're not a loser, or a nobody. You're worse than that."

"You're a coward disguised as a self-sacrificing martyr. A hypocrite. You want to help me? You can't even help yourself!"

Danny pulled against Sterling's hold. Reminding himself to be gentle, gentle, gentle. Stay in control. But Sterling just kept shoving him back into the window.

"I saw the way you looked when we walked in. And when you realized you were losing our match." Sterling told him. "You're riddled with insecurity. Anxiety radiates off of you like a biohazard. Why would I listen to anything you say?"

Danny felt the glass beneath his hand crack as Sterling pushed his body weight against him. His breath sped up.

"At least I'm not a spoiled, stupid, and stubborn bully!"

Sterling shoved his fist into Danny's chest and he caught the force of it into his hand behind him. The glass beneath it gave out and he hissed as it shattered, slicing him. He ripped his wrist from Sterling's grip and dropped, cradling his right hand that was quickly being coating red.

"Young sirs?" A voice called, as the door opened and Godfrey appeared, looking distraught. "Everything alright? It's lunch time and I'm hearing yelling-"

Godfrey caught sight of Danny and charged over. He knelt down and took his wounded hand carefully.

"What happened?" Godfrey asked angrily. Sterling stepped forward.

"I, well, it was-"

"I was clumsy," Danny said quickly, cutting him off. He spoke through gritted teeth, voice low in his too-tight throat. "We were messing around, and I tripped. I caught myself on the window, and uh, turns out I shouldn't do that."

Godfrey frowned. He pulled the kerchief from his jacket and held it to Danny's bleeding palm. The teen sucked in a breath, and he could see Sterling wince beside him out of the corner of his eye.

"We'll need to go to the infirmary to get this glass out," said Godfrey. The butler turned to Sterling. "Someone will escort you downstairs to your father. Wait in the hall for now, please."

Sterling was gone in what seemed like a blur. He had the decency to look guilty, at least. But if Danny could tell, that meant Godfrey could, too.

"You're telling me this was an accident?" Godfrey said, eyes shining as he assessed the damage with his sight powers.

"Don't tell him," Danny pleaded, dodging the inquiry.

Godfrey gave him an incredulous look. "You expect me to hide this from Mr. Masters? You'll be lucky if you only need a couple of stitches!"

"No," Danny said. His eyes were getting misty. "I just don't want him to make a big deal of it. I really, really don't. You can stitch me up, right? Just until then; the Kline's will be gone by then."

Godfrey settled a disapproving stare on him, but helped Danny up and out of the room without further argument. He spared no time getting them down to the sterile, white medical room and settled Danny as comfortably as he could sitting on a hospital bed.

The adrenaline was starting to leave Danny's body, leaving him out of breath and clenching his jaw as Godfrey pulled shard after shard from his palm. He didn't dare look at the damage until Godfrey had cleaned off all the red staining his fingers.

When he looked, he immediately wished he hadn't. Godfrey got up and discarded his jacket nearby before he began to roll up his sleeves.

"Your father made pain pills that will work for you," said the ghost, pulling a small bottle from a nearby cabinet. "But we don't have time to wait for them to kick in. I need to close that gash you've got as soon as possible."

No drugs. Great. This day couldn't get any worse.

"Just do it. I've been through worse pain than human needlepoint." Danny told him. Still, his uninjured hand kneaded at his abdomen nervously.

"Do your best to keep still then," Godfrey said. He took Danny's hand in his own, and the boy forced himself to take a deep breath.

Daniel wasn't at lunch.

Vlad never thought he'd feel so irritated over a simple fact. No, he was borderline livid.

He'd given the child a pass just that morning! And the maid who'd brought down Sterling had the audacity to say she wasn't sure what was going on. No one had answers for him except Godfrey apparently, who had given Daniel leave to skip, and the blasted ghost wasn't answering his summons.

Kline had been a bore, as usual. They'd talk business, then William had to tell him about his recent hunting trip. How badly he wanted Vlad to go on the next one. What sport he was missing out on.

The halfa couldn't care less. This drivel is what Vivian was convinced was innovation incarnate? He wanted to keel over with how tired he was. Simply from hearing the man's voice.

His design ideas weren't bad, really. But Vlad still hadn't found someone that could rival FentonWorks. Jack's craftsmanship was mediocre at best, but Maddie's designs were simply unmatched. Frustratingly one-of-a-kind.

Vlad had wanted so badly to take a breather and have the boys talk about their afternoon at lunch. Only, Daniel was absent, and Sterling just kept saying that everything was fine.

If one more person lied to him today, Vlad thought he might truly lose it. One way or another these people would see he wasn't some gullible fool.

As soon as the Kline's disappeared from his driveway Vlad was storming up to the boy's room. His cleaning crew were coming in and out as he approached, looking worriedly at each other after catching his expression.

"What's all this?" Vlad demanded to the employee by the door.

"The window sir," he said, gesturing inside. "Just cleaning up for the repairs to be done."

Vlad blinked hard. What?

"Where's the boy?" He said finally. The man shook his head.

"Disappeared with Mr. Godfrey a while ago. Not sure where." He said.

Vlad whirled around and all but stomped off. They wanted to play hide and seek? Fine, so be it.

Daniel wasn't in ghost form, that he could tell, but he could sense his senile, clean-freak of a butler below.

He phased through the floor and walked in the direction the could feel his butler in. At first he didn't notice, his anger was too great.

But eventually Vlad glanced at his surroundings, realizing the only thing in this wing significant to Daniel was the music room and the infirmary.

'Please be in here,' came Vlad's silent plea as he pulled open the music room's doors.

Empty, as he'd feared. He pushed onward to the end of the hall. Sure enough, the signal was stronger there.

Vlad's heart nearly stopped when he walked in and spotted Daniel in front of Godfrey on a bed. Godfrey was talking to him in a low, gentle voice as he wrapped the boy's hand.

"All finished," Godfrey was whispering. "Those pills will kick in any minute and you won't feel a thing. There now, dry that face."

"What happened?" Vlad said, approaching carefully.

Daniel's head dipped down as soon as their eyes met, but it was just long enough for Vlad to catch the watery, red, state of them. Godfrey cleared his throat and stood up.

"These instruments need to be cleaned now," said his butler, dismissing himself. "You know how I hate biochemical contamination."

Vlad didn't respond. He reached for the younger, who was scrubbing at his face with his sleeves. Vlad tugged his chin up, halting him.

"What. Happened." He demanded. Still soft, but stern. Daniel shrugged.

"Nothing. I tripped." He said, voice wobbly.

"Nothing or you tripped?"

"Vlad."

"No," the man stepped back, staring at the tight bindings on his wards hand. "Not this time. This time you're talking. Out with it."

Daniel's arms tucked themselves around his stomach. He appeared to fight for words. Vlad prayed the boy would actually listen. For once just tell the truth and let Vlad help.

"Are you afraid I'll be upset?" Asked Vlad after a minute.

"Maybe?" Said Daniel, unsure of himself. "I really did just trip though. We were messing around and I wasn't paying attention, that's all."

"That's all?" Vlad repeated. "Why would I be upset by that?"

Daniel shrugged again. That infernal movement that made Vlad want to glue his shoulders in place. He rubbed at his temple.

The only thing that makes sense here is a boys' roughhousing gone bad. But Daniel wasn't like most boys, whom were content to settle their differences with a bruise or broken nose.

He wasn't like Jack, a fact that elated Vlad at first. The boy had his mother's heart, courageous but nonetheless bleeding. Kind.

It had made things difficult when it came to communicating. Vlad was out of his element. Daniel didn't even care for sports. He wanted to talk things out, open his heart up and lay it bare. The last thing he'd do is punch first.

Daniel would, however, protect himself. Or those he cared about. To top it off, he could've sworn he'd felt a slight rise of ectoenergy nearby while the boys were upstairs. He'd assumed it was Godfrey. Maybe he shouldn't have.

"As clumsy as you are, I find tripping into a window extremely difficult to believe." Said Vlad.

Daniel locked eyes with him, peering up with what he could only guess as puppy eyes. Nope, not today.

"You're telling me the spoiled heir to the Kline empire didn't say anything at all to upset you?" Vlad said slowly. "Nothing at all that might make you want to react?"

"React-? I didn't attack him, Vlad, jeez!" Daniel exclaimed.

"Right, you just hit a window with enough force to break it by tripping over the rug."

"See? This is why I don't wanna talk to you," Daniel said scowling. He hopped off the table, careful of his right hand. "I'm not some wild animal. Not everything I do comes back to my ghost side. Sometimes I just trip, okay?"

He was messing this up. Again. Vlad swallowed hard. Get rid of the ego, he thought to himself over and over. That's not what his kid needs right now.

"Wait," Vlad grabbed Daniel by the shoulders. The boy was glaring, but the obvious signs of his earlier crying made it look more like a pout. Red cheeks and all.

"You don't have to tell me what happened," he told Daniel. He searched his brain for the right words. When he spoke it was as measured and clear as his mayoral speeches.

"Just listen. I'm not sure why you don't trust me all of the sudden; I thought we were past that by now. But you must understand that you can tell me anything, and I only want you to so that I can help, right?"

"It's not that," Daniel said, gaze flitting about. Anywhere but looking at Vlad. "I trust you, just not everyone else. I don't know..."

Vlad squeezed, the gentle pressure just enough to drag Daniel's eyes to his. Light blue on dark.

"You mean Vivian, don't you?" Asked Vlad. "You don't trust her?"

"I said I don't know," Daniel's breath was shallow, hitching. Babying be damned, he wasn't about to let his younger counterpart dissolve into tears for a second time today.

"Okay, okay," Vlad said, pulling Daniel in.

Only, the boy jerked back, pulling away. Vlad stood still, letting him. He didn't pull out of his grip entirely, but wasn't giving the man the option to comfort him.

Daniel had never rejected a hug. Not once. He had assumed the teen was touch-starved after being so willing to let himself be embraced the first time, months ago. They had barely been allies then.

Did this have to do with the hiccuping he was doing now while breathing? Or, maybe he was just being careful of his injury? He'd never know, since the boy insisted on this foolish oath of silence!

Vlad forced himself not to feel hurt over it. It didn't bother him. It didn't.

"Let's get you lunch." He said. "You haven't eaten, and I didn't get much down myself listening to William talk about skinning boars in Tuscany."

"I don't want to," said Daniel. "I want to go to my room. Please."

"Your bedroom is full of repairmen at the moment. Just come-"

"Yours, then." Daniel argued.

He wasn't winning this one. Anyone could see that clear as day. He'd have to tell Godfrey once again Daniel's lunch would go uneaten; a conversation he simply loved having.

"Very well, go on," Vlad said, nodding to the door. Daniel walked in long strides, clearing the room and Vlad's field of vision in seconds.

Vlad brought his hands to his forehead, rubbing harshly.

What was he doing wrong?

This was supposed to be his victory, Daniel as a Masters, Fentons out of the way...life was supposed to be good. Somehow he'd even managed to make his ghost queen advisor mad at him. How had he messed up so badly?

Was he truly just not cut out for this? For fatherhood? For Daniel? Did he make the wrong choice trying to restore the maternal side of the teen's upbringing with Vivian?

He'd been close to something, there. Daniel wouldn't admit it but he could sense it: Vivian had been a sore subject.

Fine. He'd prove she was trustworthy, and that would be that. Maybe that's not all of what Daniel's current state was a result of, but Vlad could at least do that. Soothe both of their doubts that this person was a good choice.

Resolved, Vlad left, heading to the lab. It was a mess, and it would need to be pristine for his plans to work.

It felt good to have a plan. Like old times. And like old times, Daniel wouldn't know what hit him with this one. Just how he liked it.

Controlled.

Thank you for your kind reviews and continued reads. Stay safe and sparkle on,

-P