Chapter Text
Soft...
That’s what Danny felt underneath him. He couldn’t remember much, other than getting home after a fight from Skulker. For once getting home before curfew, getting inside and meeting his parents in the kitchen where they cooked food for him. Feeling tired as he headed to his room and once he reached his bed, everything turned dark.
Then….
He woke up being strapped to a metal table
His parents not listening that it's him, He’s Danny and not some imposter
Then something sharp piercing his skin, whispers in the background talking about something he couldn’t bother to remember
Finally something touching his core, a cold feeling erupting through his body…
His core!
Startling awake he screams, a hand to his heart where his core lies and certainly feels inside him.
That they didn’t take from him
“Daniel!”
Opening his eyes, he spots Vlad right by the door before he’s rushing over to his side. He watches as the billionaire looks over him, expecting something to be wrong.
“Vl-Vlad?” Nodding in response, he sits down at the chair stationed by Danny’s bed, glad that he is awake.
Now conscious, Danny can see how unkempt he is, the normally pristine suit is replaced with satin pajamas. His hair is flowing down, reaching below his shoulders in a rully mess. Where he usually keeps a high demeanor is replaced with a tired and worried one.
“How are you feeling” He questions with softness, Danny remembers only Jazz would give him
Danny thinks for a moment before he looks back up at Vlad
“Chest hurts… so does my core…” he rasps out before coughing, he’s offered a cup a water
“Drink slowly” and he does, the cool water giving relief to his dry throat
“As for the pain, I would not be surprised. I had to stitch your wound close, your healing factor seemed to have been negated for the time being. Your core however…” Danny looks over at him, worry bubbling in him
“Wh-what about it?” He questions
“I… it is cracked, possibly from when it was touched and the stress you were in. I have been trying to find a way to fix your core with no such luck”
When he looks back up at Danny, tears are starting to spill from his eyes.
“Daniel, are you alright? Is something the matter?”
Danny only shakes his head, he doesn’t know why but finally the events have caught up to him. He couldn’t believe that his own parents dissected him, thinking that he was not their son when he obviously was. Not only that but they had obviously made it so stressful for him to the point it cracked his core
“Th-they didn’t believe me… I-I told them that I was Danny and not not some imposter. They wouldn’t listen to me or my screams…it hurt… god it hurt so much”
He cries out before gasping, feeling warm arms wrap around his frame. They are not crushing like his fathers or forceful like his mothers; nor are they filled with love when Jazz has to calm his nightmares.
No
These are gently and protective, promising something even he feels he hasn’t felt in so long since his powers appeared
He feels safe
Returning the hug he cries; from the pain, the endless battles, or the warmth from Vlad’s core, he's not sure.
All he cares about right now is not letting the feeling go. So when he feels Vlad unwraps his arms from him, Danny only hugs him tighter.
"Please….. please don't let go…" There Vlad feels his heart break at Daniel’s simple plea and his core burns even more. To harm the ones responsible for Daniel's fragility.
He grants Daniel the plea, hugging the halfa closer to him
"I won't little badger" it's a soft whisper, for only him to hear. A more powerful meaning to it
He won't let Daniel suffer anymore
Won't let him feel pain either
Vladimir will protect him from anything and anyone that means harm
"I know you do not want to speak of this so soon but Daniel…" he looks down at him, using a free hand to pat his shoulder to make him look up at him. The teary eyes he sees, makes him regret asking the next question
"Was it your parents that harmed you?"
There is tension to the question before hiding his face in Vlad’s chest, his grip even stronger when a faint yes escapes his lips
"Oh Daniel, I promise that you are safe here under my care. I should've reached out to you sooner" Mummers the elder, running a gently hand through Danny’s unkempt hair to calm the teenager down
“Wh-what do you mean?” Now he’s confused, he had thought that Vlad was up to a scheme when he didn’t fight him anymore. Though after he was being pestered about his studies by the elder, he possibly thought that Vlad was serious in wanting to stop their banter. Now he can see that he was, worrying about him when his parents nearly wanted him dead
“I had wanted to reach out to you my boy in hopes that we could come to an agreement. After countless and pointless battles, I understood there was no possibility for me to mentor you. I wanted to start fresh with you, to earn your trust and know you better. Even if it meant tolerating that buffoon Jack”
Danny flinches at the name of his father and Vlad’s gaze softens when he notices.
“Right now, all I care about is for you to recover. No matter how long it takes Daniel”
“Thanks fruitloop…”
Vlad only smiles, patting his head as he stands from the bed and helps Danny lay back down. The teen a little calmer than before, knowing that he is ok.
“Of course Daniel, now how about you get some more rest? We will speak more in the morning. I am down the hall in case you need anything else, don’t hesitate to scream for me alright Little Badger”
“Ok… yeah”
“And don’t fret about your parents finding you here, the shield is up and interferes with any of their gadgets” He exclaims, which does make Danny feel better.
He was worried about them finding the trail of ectoplasm that was being left behind and leading them here. At least now they’ll have to search all over Amity for him, not even thinking of checking at Vlad’s place.
With a small breath of relief he lets darkness succumb him into slumber.
When he awakes, it's to a sliver of light shining through the curtains and the small creak of the bedroom door opening. Turning his head towards the door, he is met with Vlad in navy blue pants and a plain white t-shirt with his hair up in a simple ponytail.
“Morning Daniel, I do hope you are feeling better after a good rest”
Danny steadily and slowly gets up into a sitting position, wincing at his chest. He’s grateful when Vlad assists him, easing the pain a bit.
“There’s still some pain around my chest… but I do feel a little better”
“That is good my boy, I did come in when you were asleep to change your bandages. Your healing factor as well seemed to have kicked in and it has healed most of the injury”
Danny can only hum, looking up at the ceiling then looking at Vlad. Who seems to want to ask him something but he's contemptuous of doing so.
“You ok fruitloop?” a small sigh is the response
“I wanted to ask what you will want to do now Daniel. Returning back to your home is not an option and neither are your friends. I suspect that would be the first place Jack and Madeline would search for you”
He’s right and the ghost zone is not an option, especially since there are various ghosts that would surely attack him. Other than the Far Frozen where Frostbite lives though he can’t stay there as his human half needs to survive as well. The only place he can think of is….
No! He doesn’t want to burden Vlad, yet he remembers when the elder halfa told him he would be there if he needed anything. Even if they had a bad history, right now he doesn’t see that. He sees someone willing to help him after the only other place he has known is no longer welcoming.
“Is… Is it alright if I stay with you? You did say you wanted a truce and to know me better”
Vlad only gives him a soft smile
“I’d be honored Daniel, now I suggest you call Jasmine. She has been worried sick about you”
At the mention of his sister, Danny stresses. He completely forgot to message her when he got back home and then what had happened with his parents, it had skipped his mind.
“Do not fret, I did inform her you were with me but decided that you would explain the rest”
Upon being handed a phone, he quickly takes it. Noticing it's his, the halfa looks at Vlad with a questioning look.
“You had it with you Daniel, I just ensured it was in good condition” is all he receives from the elder
There are various missed calls and texts from Jazz, calming his racing heart down, he calls her number and gently places it to his ear
“ DANNY! Are you alright! When you didn’t text me I got worried and called mom. She didn’t want to explain anything to me. Though judging by her voice and tone, I suspected something was up. Then when I called Vlad and he told me that you were there, I knew. Danny I’m sorry I wasn’t there to stop them…”
“No Jazz… It wasn’t your fault, it was mine for not noticing that something was up with them. It was too late when I did….”
There’s a tired sigh from his sister, her voice softening to when she’s trying to soothe him
“I’m on my way back Danny and the first thing I’m doing is speaking to them. I don’t care what they are going to say. I am ending this, just stay with Vlad until then ok? He seemed really worried when I spoke with him”
“The old fruitloop really is changing but yea I’ll stay with him… can’t really move right now anyway.”
“You’ll have to catch me up when I get there. Even if I have somewhat of an idea. Take care little brother, love you”
“Love you too Jazz… bye”
Staring at his phone; a smile graces his lips, Jazz was always worrying about him. More when she found out that he was Phantom and he’s grateful for it. She would always take their parents' attention from him when an invention locked on him. Saying it was faulty or needed more work to be done.
He couldn’t ask for a better sister