No warnings on this one, though beware of hero complexes running wild-
The Foundations We Build
Chapter 7: Cacophony of a Tantrum Well Thrown
Being head butler to Vlad Masters was a difficult job.
Not only did the work day include dinner plans, schedule keeping and organization, but there was also security updates, wound cleaning, Ghost Zone meetings...
A lot for one ghost, but Godfrey managed. His job had been a relatively quiet one for years now in his employer's service. That is, until said employer decided to become a single father.
Everything changed with a child in the house. Things Godfrey didn't know could get messy needed to be cleaned, constantly. The library had to be restocked to include academic material suitable for high school. The food budget doubled just from keeping the boy's favorite snacks in stock.
It had been stressful. Danny and Mr. Masters had gone at each other's throats since they came home together. Godfrey felt as if every conversation he'd had with Vlad went in one super-powered ear and out the other. The boy was miserable, as was everyone else.
And then the ghostly enemy threatening their existence was vanquished, and things went from miserable to depressive. Mr. Masters was never home, Danny was always locked up in his room, and Godfrey had no way of helping the situation. Vlad listened when he wanted to, and not a moment before.
When Mr. Masters returned things changed, rapidly. He went from neglectful involvement in Danny's life to overwhelming meddling. The bonding time Godfrey so advocated for was non-existent next to the pressured expectation of Danny's acceptance of the new installments into his life. Namely, one Sterling Kline. Little beast.
But over the last couple of days, something had changed. The two half-ghosts were nigh inseparable, with Danny reminding Godfrey of a wide-eyed duckling. The butler wasn't complaining in the least, however, it was quite a confusing sight after how downhill things had seemed to be going.
As Godfrey stood before his employer, sun shining brightly in the Sunday sky, rays beaming through the window into the study, he listened intently. Vlad still stubbornly refused to address what had happened during Vivian's visit, but he tried his best to offer his advice regardless. Perhaps this time it would be heeded.
"I can't let it go this time, Godfrey," said Vlad.
He was rubbing his temples in slow circles, eyes closed as he leaned back in his desk chair. Papers were strewn about the ornate desktop, a testament to the lack of productivity his employer had this morning.
"Security was down for one day, one," he said. "The boy has barely any restrictions, yet as soon as he can he breaks the one most important rule I've established. For his safety no less!"
"Sir, I agree there must be some sort of consequence, however..." Godfrey spoke slowly, with emphasis. "You forget Danny is half ghost. If not for his superhero adventures, he would still end up in our realm eventually. It's in his nature."
Vlad leaned forward and tapped his fingers on the desk, thinking. Godfrey tried again.
"Perhaps there is a way you could use this to your benefit, sir." Vlad looked up at him immediately. Old habits. Godfrey didn't miss a beat. "He needs interaction with the Ghost Zone. Who better to help him with that than his father? Better to be in the know about what he's doing in the Ghost Zone than to wait for the next time he sneaks through and hope."
Vlad looked away and sighed. "You have a point. He's stubborn, like Maddie. He'll just go through the portal again."
It was always difficult to tell with Vlad what his course of action would be, if he proceeded with one at all. Practiced and refined in the faces of the country's elite, his poker face was legendary. Or annoying, if you asked Godfrey's opinion.
"I'll be in the Ghost Zone tonight," said Vlad, standing. "You'll tell Daniel for me, won't you?"
"Certainly," said Godfrey. Though he had a sneaking suspicion he didn't have to reply at all given Mr. Masters was halfway past him and out the doors before he spoke.
Once again, Godfrey was left wondering if anything he said ever made a difference. Vlad sure acted like it did, but Godfrey wasn't so sure.
There was no time to dwell on it, though. The carpets in the sunrooms weren't going to rotate themselves. Or the plants in the lab water their own glowing leaves.
So much to do, so little time.
Vlad was having a good day, all things considered.
Mondays were usually the start of a hazy work week that would drag on longer than you could ever prepare for. A start of the next 7 days that felt like entirely too many. But not today.
This particular Monday, Vlad had just finished a few phone calls he'd been avoiding. Two certain problems that needed taking care of were finally dealt with, and in a moment, the last one on his list would be as well.
The final problem did worry him a bit. Daniel had been on a good-behavior streak lately, sticking by his side all weekend and giving Vlad every opportunity to spend time together. It was almost suffocating at times, but Vlad would be the last to complain.
It was worth it, especially knowing he'd had to do nothing but let Daniel set the pace to begin repairing the trust Vlad had broken. The boy's anxiety had gone down tremendously, slow at first, but gradually Vlad saw less and less of those pesky stress reactions from before. Daniel was getting better at communicating what he wanted in the moment, and Vlad was doing his best to be a better listener when he did.
Things were better. Not good, not yet, but improving. Now he had to ruin it a bit. He'd waited long enough- gave the teen a break. It was time to pay the piper, at last.
It was early, Daniel didn't have to leave for school for another hour. Plenty of time, Vlad thought.
Godfrey interrupted his thoughts, opening the study door after a singular knock. He gave the boy beside him a gentle smile before nudging him in.
Daniel looked like a zombie walking in and sinking into the short couch by the window. He dropped his backpack by his feet and narrowed his eyes at Vlad.
"This better be good. I like my sleep, old man."
Vlad breathed out a soft chuckle. He closed his laptop and removed it from the desk, giving Daniel his full attention.
"I broke things off with Vivian," said Vlad. Daniel quickly began to look more alert.
"But..." Daniel's eyebrows furrowed. "Didn't you like her? It wasn't my fault, was it? Because of what I said?"
Vlad shook his head. He leaned back into the plush, dark brown stained leather easily, gaze moving to the window.
"It was mutual," he said. "I admired her for her intelligence and experience in her field. But that was all, really. She didn't have a much different opinion of me, either. Though she says you are welcome at the children's home for Soccer Saturday as often as you want."
Daniel was frowning, but still there were no signs of panic. Good. Vlad paid extra attention to the boy's breathing, to the tenseness of his shoulders, if he was grinding his teeth or not. No anxiety would get the jump on him this time.
"I also wanted to let you know I cut ties with William Kline," Vlad said after a moment. Daniel's frown deepened.
"I didn't need that; I can handle Sterling."
Vlad almost laughed. As if he honestly thought his half ghost son was in any actual danger from a human child.
"You shouldn't have to," said Vlad. "Not anymore."
"But what about the power they have?" Asked Daniel. "Sterling deserves to be taken down a peg, but won't his dad come after you?"
Vlad shrugged. "Nothing a little overshadowing won't fix."
Daniel's eyes narrowed at him. Not quite the scary eyes, but still stern.
"You said you wouldn't do that anymore- that underhanded stuff." He said. Vlad raised an eyebrow warningly, but Daniel ignored it. "I don't like it."
"Underhanded?" Vlad let the word hang in the air for a bit. When he spoke it was even, clear and even a bit innocent. "Like sneaking through my portal?"
Daniel had the decency to blush. He crossed his arms defensively, doing his best to maintain Vlad's eye contact.
"Since you want to talk morals," said the elder. "It took me a bit, but I figured out how you'd managed to sneak off to the Ghost Zone. I must say, I'm impressed. I had thought you were visiting the Fenton residence out of nostalgia, not willful disobedience."
"How did you- how did you know? That I was at FentonWorks?" Daniel asked quietly. Vlad tilted his head.
"With as much trouble as you get in, you think I wouldn't have ways of tracking your whereabouts?"
Vlad smirked at the bug-eyed look on the boy's face. He didn't tell him it was as simple as a bug on his phone, which Daniel carried everywhere. Let him think it was magic, for all Vlad cared. Perhaps he'd think twice next time before being defiant.
"Really, it wasn't hard to guess how you were getting home so quickly from being 'out with Samantha and Tucker'," he raised his hands in air quotes. "You're lucky I caught you when I did. That I had my security disabled for Vivian's visit. That you hadn't come up with any more genius ideas after sneaking through. That-"
Daniel's lower lip wobbled, and Vlad stopped in his verbal tracks. He had to remind himself Daniel had been good the last couple days. Insufferably clingy perhaps- resembling a newly hatched duckling even, but a well-behaved one at least. Why was it so hard for Vlad to be gentle?
It was times like this he almost wished Daniel took after Jack more; took things more easily on the chin. Wished he made Vlad feel a little less inescapably like the villain.
"Bein' mean, cheesehead," said the younger, his tone light but nonetheless accusatory. Vlad's features relaxed a bit and he turned in his swivel chair to the side. He crooked a tired finger at Daniel.
When the hero reached him, Vlad pulled him the rest of the way until their knees touched. Vlad's pulse thudded loudly in his ears as he steeled himself for what he was about to say. What he hadto say.
"I need you safe," Vlad said. "To ensure that, we need to be on the same page. No sneaking around; no hidden intentions."
"But I-"
Vlad squeezed his arm gently. "Listen. It doesn't matter where are why you were in the Ghost Zone, it matters that I had that rule in place- for your safety no less- and you broke it anyway. For that, I think it's only fair you be grounded this week. You are to be in this house immediately after the bell rings today."
Daniel's eyebrows scrunched together. "But you can't ground me- what if a ghost attacks?"
"Not your problem," Vlad said simply. Daniel's mouth dropped open. Vlad took a deep breath. And here we go...
"You. Can't. Ground me. My parents and friends aren't enough to take down every ghost that comes through!" Daniel said slowly. Vlad just shook his head.
They had done just fine whilst the boy was in hiding, hadn't they? He hardened his heart as Daniel looked at him pleadingly. This argument was coming from obsession and his need to be helpful, not the city's actual welfare. At least, not for a singular week's worth of ghosts.
Vlad was sure of that, yet it still pulled at his shriveled heartstrings anyway. He knew Daniel would be upset, but he'd thought quite a bit on his decision, and he wasn't wavering. Not this time.
"Do the other thing instead," Daniel told him desperately. "The, you know, over your lap. I'd prefer that!"
"You're not ghost hunting this week, and that's final." Vlad said, softer than he'd meant to, but still firm enough to make Daniel's shoulders drop significantly. "Now, we need to talk about-"
"No!" Interrupted the younger, head shaking frantically. "You're not doing this to me. I wouldn't have even gone through the Fenton portal if you hadn't locked yours up in the first place. This isn't fair!"
Vlad blinked hard as Daniel's sneaker came down loudly on the wooden floorboard. He'd just stamped his foot at him, like an angry rabbit. This was getting out of hand.
He would honestly prefer to just haul the unruly brat over his knee and call it a day, but he had to prove a point. He'd decided on physical punishments during their alliance with the knowledge that eventually, Daniel would be back to patrolling the streets. He needed punishments that were quick and effective, without having to confine the kid to his bedroom for days. But this was different. Sneaking out warranted the restriction in Vlad's eyes.
"Daniel, enough," Vlad ordered. The younger ripped his arms out of his grip.
"Why?!" He cried. Vlad put a finger to his temple as Daniel yelled, voice pitching higher and higher.
"I was good all weekend. I did everything you asked," Daniel's breath was hitching, but not out of fear, just anger. Still, Vlad watched it closely, stormy blues trained on the rise and fall of his scrunched-up shoulders as Daniel ranted at him.
"I'm not grounded. I'm not."
Vlad startled from his patient, leaned-back position when the door to his study all but flew open. His butler, wielding a feather duster, sternly looked upon the two.
"Mother of tantrums, young sir!" Godfrey said to Daniel, pointing his duster at him and then flicking it towards the door. "I can hear you down the hall. All this wailing- what on earth is going on?"
Daniel turned to the head butler. His arm came out gesturing accordingly at Vlad. "Tell him he can't ground me, Godfrey. I have a whole city depending on me!"
Godfrey looked at Vlad, who simply shrugged his shoulders at him. When the ghost started to look proud instead of confused, Daniel resorted back to his incessant arguing.
"This is nuts, what if people get hurt because I'm not there?" Said Daniel. Vlad sighed and peeled himself out of his chair.
"Your responsibilities end at going to school and getting home until the week is up," he said. "You are not responsible for Amity's welfare. Actually, that's my job. Which I need to go to now that this conversation is going nowhere."
Daniel hurried to stop him, grabbing his arm tightly. Vlad halted.
"I'm sorry, okay?" Said the boy, looking up at him with watery eyes. "I should've talked to you instead of sneaking out. I won't do it again. I'm really sorry. Dad, please."
Vlad felt his resolve start to crack. Where Daniel had the energy to fight him so intensely at such early hours, he had no idea. Maybe this wasn't the right call.
Godfrey caught his attention from behind Daniel, waving his duster at him. The butler mouthed to Vlad while the younger between them rambled out apologies.
'Don't you fall for that,' Godfrey said inaudibly as his hands went to his hips.
The mayor nodded, cleared his throat and knelt to his ward's height. He could still see the anger and defiance resting behind the teary façade and knew Godfrey was right. Vlad Masters, nearly bested by doe eyes and a couple of squeezed-out tears. Unbelievable.
"I'm not changing my mind," said Vlad. "I chose this punishment because I need to get through to you, and clearly I chose correctly. Now if you'd just listen for a moment, we can continue with the rest of this conversation."
Of course, continuing on was wishful thinking on Vlad's part. Daniel glared at him, eyes flickering between green and blue in exasperated anger. Vlad's arms crept close to the boy, just in case he bolted in ghost form at the last second.
He didn't though, just stared at Vlad for a tense moment. His hands balled up into fists at his sides as he finally snapped.
"I hate you. You're nothing but a mean, lonely, jerk!
Godfrey gasped dramatically behind them, coming forward perhaps to grab Daniel, but Vlad was faster, drawing the boy closer till their noses almost smacked into each other.
"What did you say?" His voice was devoid of any emotion. Just pitched dangerously low and slow as poison honey. Both the other occupants in the room froze immediately. Daniel stammered at him, eyes gone regretfully wide.
"Th-that you're a-"
"No," Vlad shook him once. "What did you say?"
The tears spilled over and down the other halfa's cheeks. "I didn't mean it..."
Vlad shook his head. "Say it anyway."
"...I hate you," Daniel hiccuped. Vlad let out a huff of a laugh and scooped him up in a quick motion. Daniel's arms flailed about before grabbing onto his shoulders for stability.
His body felt white hot, angry, but he forced himself not to show it. He wasn't losing it this time. This time Vlad would prove he could handle a little teenage drama.
"Call the school," Vlad ordered Godfrey. "He's not going today. Make something up for all I care."
With that, he pushed past the butler and kicked the study door shut behind him; the only show of frustration he'd allow himself. Once they were in the hallway, Daniel seemed to get his bearings again. He shoved at Vlad's chest just enough to be an annoyance.
"Put me down! I said I was sorry, you can't do this!" He exclaimed. Vlad just stared straight ahead and kept walking.
"Be upset all you want," was all he replied.
Daniel took the green light literally. Vlad said nothing else as he yelled, kicked and cried all the way to their private rooms.
Through it all, his worked-up boy never phased nor fought his way completely out of Vlad's hold. He was fully capable if he truly wanted to, and Vlad would let him if he did. But he had a sneaking suspicion Daniel's super-sized pride simply wouldn't allow himself to be comforted without at least the appearance of a fight, no matter how much he needed it.
Another one of Jack's failures. And perhaps Maddie's, as he was coming to realize with the recent loss of his long-time crush. He'd had rose tinted lenses on for far too long.
He'd anticipated an argument when he decided to interfere in the younger's superhero business, but nothing like this. This reaction wasn't healthy, and needed dealt with. There was no way he was letting Daniel go to school in his current state, either.
Vlad hissed as Daniel managed to yank his hair tie out. The yelling had stopped though, and he didn't seem angry now. Just overwhelmed, as Vlad suspected. In a backwards way, the arms wrapped around his neck and fingers pulling through his hair seemed self-soothing.
He plopped the bundle of teenage angst onto his bed as soon as they reached Vlad's rooms, prying his fingers from the older's silvery locks. The death grip the child possessed needed to be studied, expeditiously. After securing a spare tie into place again Vlad pointed a finger at the boy.
"Sit still and calm down."
Daniel immediately crossed his arms and glared. The fight was gone, but not the fire in his eyes.
"I am calm," he declared.
Vlad ignored him, content to sink into the expensive leather recliner by the window on the far side of the room and work on his phone. He'd have to send out numerous emails now, and rework his schedule for the week to accommodate his sudden day off.
It was only Monday.
He let out the tiniest bit of hot energy through the room, not enough to set off Daniel's ghost sense, but enough perhaps to help him calm down. Twas a gamble, but Vlad thought it couldn't hurt to try.
Vlad texted his assistant, let him know to handle the morning meeting. Daniel called his name, and he ignored it. It had been two minutes.
He sent an email to Axiom, needing the reports from last week sent digitally to look over. Daniel called him again, whining this time, and he ignored him. Five minutes.
He read the unnecessarily long text from Casper's principal, wishing Danny a get well on his 'sick day'. A satin pillow landed with a plush thud by his feet and he kicked it away. He set a reminder to work on the boy's aim in training tonight. Ten minutes.
Vivian had put in her two-week notice, according to his staffing manager. Unfortunate. He had liked her work. Several more pillows, and 14 minutes total. Vlad looked up after a quiet moment, and saw Daniel was splayed out on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Clean up your mess please," Vlad called out before returning to his phone. "Then we'll talk."
Daniel shuffled about, half-heartedly tossing everything back from whence he'd chucked it. When he'd finished, he brought himself over to the velvet chaise lounge seat by Vlad and dropped into it, rubbing the last bits of evidence of his outburst from his face.
Vlad pocketed his phone and breathed out long through his nose. He turned to his ward.
"You have a long weekend from school coming up," he said. "We're spending it in the Ghost Zone. Friday, Saturday and Sunday."
Daniel blink at him. "Huh? I thought..."
"Keeping you out of the Ghost Zone entirely was a mistake." Vlad admitted. "But I don't want you going in alone unless absolutely necessary, either. So we'll go together, starting now. Well, after your week is up."
Vlad leaned forward as Daniel watched him closely. "One more thing. For your safety, I want you to stay clear of FentonWorks."
"Don't," Daniel said, dropping his head to the armrest he leaned against.
"You're just a ghost to them, you're not their son. They'll hurt you given the chance." Vlad reminded him. "No more Fenton portal, promise me."
Daniel rolled his head back to stare at him. It was a low blow and Vlad knew it, but if there was a good reason to keep Daniel away from the Fentons he was going to take it no matter what.
"Fine," Daniel said through gritted teeth.
Vlad breathed a sigh of relief quietly. He did have a suspicion that the teen was just picking his battles, but for now he would not be the one to look a gift horse in the mouth. A win was a win.
"Where are we going?" Daniel asked. Vlad raised an eyebrow. "In the Ghost Zone...?"
"Ah. Dorathea's," said Vlad. "She's been pestering me to see you."
Daniel shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Odd, but he carried on.
"About your ghost hunting," Vlad said carefully. The other met his eyes. "After earlier, I need some assurances before I let you go back to 'hero-ing' at the end of this week."
"Assurances?" Daniel repeated. Vlad nodded. He held up his fingers.
"First, you will not go too far. Won't put yourself in situations you can't get out of- ones I can't save you from." Vlad explained. "Second, you will keep me in the know. I don't like finding out during quarterly reports that the Box Ghost finds you seemingly during every Algebra class. And third..."
Daniel's eyes didn't leave his. "Third, this desperate need you feel to carry all of Amity's lives on your shoulders, that obsessive drive to save those around you- I want you to work on it. Before it wastes you. Starting with this week off."
Daniel said nothing for a while, just shifted his gaze to the floor. Vlad gave him some space, standing and going to observe the gardens from his window.
"I like being Phantom. Helping people," said Daniel quietly behind him.
"I never said you shouldn't, little badger."
The silence stretched. He honestly didn't have a problem with the vigilante galavanting Daniel insisted upon. But it was something Vlad couldn't control, something dangerous that put him on edge in more ways than one. Daniel had been allowed to run amok for too long. Perhaps even he could see that now. Vlad wouldn't hold his breath, though.
"Fine, then, I agree." Said the younger.
"Glad to hear it, son."
Vlad watched the morning light grow brighter as the sun rose past the treetops behind the mansion. Again, it was only Monday.
"There's a visible comet tonight, you know," said Vlad.
"Atlas, from the southwest," Daniel told him. Vlad turned and smiled.
"Atlas, then." The older carded a hand through the dark hair of his ward, idly thinking he needed a haircut before he started looking too much like a young Vlad. How mortified the boy would be.
"The sunroom Dora liked has the best view," said Daniel. "Faces southwest."
"I see," said Vlad. "Perhaps you and I can sleep in a bit more this morning and then have a proper breakfast? Then you can tell me how I'm supposed to watch this visible comet tonight from the sunroom, hm? I bought you those telescopes for reasons other than collecting dust."
"You don't need a telescope, it's visible," the boy sassed.
"Daniel," Vlad warned.
"Okay, nap-time, I'm going," Daniel rolled his eyes but shuffled off the couch lazily anyway. He paused. "You know I didn't mean it, right?"
"Mean what?" Asked Vlad.
"That...I hate you," Daniel shifted on his feet, eyes downcast. Vlad chuckled.
"I don't think you have the nerves to hate anyone, my boy," Vlad said simply. Daniel looked up at him.
"I hate Ivix though, for my parents' memories. I can't forgive that."
Vlad's stomach lurched. "Right, of course. That's understandable, Daniel."
He hated how his voice sounded. Unsure. Guilty.
"But I didn't mean it earlier, to you," Daniel told him. Vlad tapped his arm.
"I know. I'm not upset," said Vlad. "Go on now, go rest."
When Daniel was out of sight Vlad all but dropped back into his seat. He rubbed at his chest and he stared at the door, torn.
He was doing the right thing, wasn't he? Maddie and Jack could never have gotten to where he was with Daniel. The accountability, the safety precautions, the trust. This was working, right?
Why did it eat at him so badly every time he said their titles? His 'parents'.When they were never truly such things in the first place!
Vlad was better. Daniel didn't need them. It didn't matter how much it consumed him inside to keep him away from them.
He was doing the right thing. And if he wasn't, he'd know in time.
It was only Monday, after all.
Deep in a mansion similar to Vlad Masters', a father and son were caught in an argument equally as combative as the halfa's.
William Kline sat opposite his son in their sitting room, eyes locked on his troublesome nuisance of an offspring. He'd long since sent his mother away, who's only interest was to coddle and protect their child.
The phone call with Masters had been a humiliating affair. Right on the heels of his embarrassment at the expo. One blunder, he could suffer through. Unlike Masters, he wasn't so proud. But two?
That new blood needed to be put in place. Masters had reigned as the shiny new toy for the media and high society for far too many seasons now. His pompous flaunting of wealth was enough to quickly gain the attention of even his closest friends and now he was in constant competition with a bachelor hell-bent on making a name for himself.
No more. A doormat, Will Kline was not. His wrath would be felt for the unceremonious firing Vlad had just dealt him.
"Tell me about the boy," Will demanded. Sterling's eyes shifted as he shrugged and searched for a response.
"I keep trying to tell you, father," he said. "They're not normal. Danny- Daniel, whatever- he's a weirdo, and I refuse to apologize for defending myself against him!"
Kline kept his gaze hardened. The conversation on the way home from Masters' mansion had gone similarly. Daniel was strange, he wasn't deserving of his status, he was a waste of Sterling's time. But there must be something.
"Think, idiot boy," Kline snapped. "Everything we've built hinges on our social resources out-supplying the Masters. You heard something, saw something. And I want to know what."
"But I didn't! I just, well..." Sterling looked to the side. "He said...something about a lab. In their basement. One he wasn't supposed to talk about. But like I said, father, they're just strange!"
A laboratory? One that his son was forbidden from revealing?
Now that sounded like something.
"You're going back there," Will declared, pointing a long finger at Sterling's turned-up nose. "To apologize. And to make amends."
"But Daniel, father he's-"
"Not to them," Will pushed on. "Amends to me. For this loss of powerful connection to Masters. Do you know what this will cost us? Cost our status?"
Sterling sobered, staring at his father with straightening shoulders. Will crossed his arms.
"You're going back, and you're finding out what's going on in that mansion. Find nothing useful, and I'll cut you off as soon as you turn eighteen. You may want to start looking at community colleges."
Sterling's mouth dropped open, but he clamped it shut quickly and nodded. Will shoo'd him away and the brat scurried off.
If there was anything he knew about the new Masters heir, it was that he wasn't anything like his father. He was kind, he was permissive, he was forgiving.
He was weak. And that would be their downfall.
Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed. Sparkle on~
-P