Phantom: He's Daft
Disclaimer: Not the big man…just a fanfic author.
Story: At age 16, Danny hasn’t gotten his ghost powers yet. Without the added stress of ghost hunting, Danny is a more serious student, in line to graduate early. However, when he finally gets his ghost power, two unexpected people know the secret this time around.
Set all over the place.
Spoilers: I’m not sure…most probably.
Warnings: Eh….
Pairings: Dash/Danny/Kwan
Phantom
Chapter One: He’s Daft
“Isabella Mia Fenton! What are you doing?” Danny hissed to his little sister, exasperated when his two year old baby sis giggled and just smeared chocolate on the carpet.
Jazz chuckled wryly at him, “Danny, don’t be so overbearing on her. It’s just a little chocolate.”
“Just a little chocolate?” Danny asked sarcastically, waving a hand over the mess.
“Alright, alright. I’ll take care of it. Go ahead and head to school. I’m sure Tucker and Sam are already waiting for you to pick them up.”
Danny huffed, “No, I’ll take care of it. And they can wait. Bella comes first.”
Jazz rolled her eyes. “You have such a sister complex.”
“No, I don’t,” Danny argued.
“Yup. It’s not the same with me, at least not like the way you are with Isabella. Besides, I have a brother complex.”
“Dan!” Isabella giggled again, reminding them of her presence.
Danny’s face melted at the sight of his little sister, “I’m here, Bella. Come on, let’s get you cleaned up in the bathroom.”
He picked Isabella up, ignoring his sniggering older sister, and walked up the stairs of Fenton Works to clean her. He’d probably have to change shirts, but oh well.
Just a few minutes later, Danny was driving to Sam’s house to pick her up in the dark gray, with a silvery shine, Saleen Heritage Mustang his eccentric “Uncle” Vlad had given him when he’d gotten his permit. It was a little too expensive in a town like Amity Park, especially when Dash Baxter drives around in an old red pickup truck and even wannabe Queen bee Paulina Sanchez didn’t drive around at all, but it was a gift. Even his parents had encouraged him to accept it, and it felt good to own a car and drive around.
Parking in front of the Manson mansion, he got out his Blackberry (another gift from Vlad) and text his two friends. Hopefully, Tucker had made the short distance to Sam’s house and he didn’t have to take another trip to the Foley residence.
A message from Sam popped up.
Parents want to see you.
Danny grimaced. Sam’s parents, while abhorred the rest of his family because they acted weird (not that the Mansons had ever met little Isabella or even knew of Jazz’s existence), really liked him. In fact, they always tried to subtly push their Gothic daughter and mild-mannered him together.
Tell them I’ll try some other time. We’re going to be late to school.
Another message popped up.
Just come up to the door and pick us up.
Danny sighed and got out of his car, walking quickly to the door. Before he’d even raised his hand to knock, the door was flung open and Jeremy and Pamela Manson threw their arms around him. He caught a glimpse of Tucker, Sam, and Sam’s grandmother Ida laughing at him just before the crushing embraces of Sam’s parents.
“Oh Daniel! It’s so nice to see you!” Pamela Manson gushed.
“Oh yes! We haven’t seen you in quite a while!” Jeremy followed his wife’s example.
“Mom, Dad. You’re killing my friend,” Sam deadpanned, but grinned when her parents jumped away from a blue Danny.
“We’re sorry, Daniel. Why don’t you come over for dinner tonight?” Pamela said easily in succession, not looking bothered by her attempt at smothering Danny. Jeremy looked more awkward than his wife.
Before Danny could say an excuse, Sam was already pushing passed her parents and dragging him and Tucker towards his car.
“Sorry, Mom, Dad. We’re going to be late to school,” Sam said uncaringly, hurriedly rushing away from her parents.
“But Danny –!”
They were too far away to hear what Pamela said next, but Sam sighed exasperatedly.
“Geez, you would think they’re the ones trying to date you with the way they’re so obsessed. Hopefully, Mom won’t fill my phone with messages insisting I bother you into coming over.”
Tucker laughed and Danny winced.
“So, nice rags, Danny,” Sam teased, like she usually does about his clothing.
Danny winced again. Ever since Vlad changed his clothing, insisting on sending tailored-fit clothing to him to replace his old wardrobe (who knows whatever happened to his old clothing; he’d always suspected his mother and Jazz of burning them in a bonfire), Sam always sent a mocking comment about it.
Right then, Danny was dressed in a navy dress shirt and black pants, and somehow sporting Italian leather shoes (another gift from Vlad!).
“At least, he doesn’t look preppy,” Sam snickered.
“But he looks like an adult,” Tucker snarked.
“Yeah, he’s just missing a tie!”
Danny sighed and threw his hands into the air.
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They arrived just a bit early to school, with enough time to be in class before everyone else. Danny greeted Mr. Lancer, their homeroom teacher, good morning, ignoring the coughs of “Teacher’s pet” behind him from his friends.
“Ah, Danny! I just wanted to congratulate you on your latest essay. Your sister must be so proud about you following so exceedingly in her footsteps,” Mr. Lancer beamed.
Danny awkwardly smiled and said his thanks politely, before hurrying to sit in the back with his friends.
“Oh man, Danny, that never gets old!” Sam chortled.
“Yeah, smarty pants. You’re Jazz’s clone,” Tucker smirked at him.
“Mr. Foley, you should be more worried about your own grade on that essay,” Mr. Lancer admonished from out of nowhere, interrupting their ribbing of Danny.
Class started soon after that, when people began filing in and then the bell rang. And so began another year at Casper High, as juniors.
It wasn’t until English with Mr. Lancer again that Danny began to feel real dread. It was the second to last period, and it especially wasn’t looking good with Dash waiting in front of Mr. Lancer as well.
“Mr. Fenton, you’re an excellent student. I was hoping you’d fill your sister’s shoes and help tutor Mr. Baxter in his classes for the semester, or until he improves vastly in his schoolwork.”
Danny hid his grimace, “Of course, Mr. Lancer. It would be no problem.”
“Good! You can start today!”
Danny nodded tiredly and walked away, shortly joined by Dash himself as they headed to Chemistry.
“Look, Fenton, just because you’re tutoring me doesn’t mean I won’t shove you into a locker the next time I see you,” Dash sneered, but it flew over Danny’s head as he just nodded and kept walking. Dash huffed in agitation, but followed.
The class sadly went by quickly, and Dash cornered Danny again.
“I don’t have a ride today,” Dash muttered, looking at anywhere other than Danny.
“I’ll take you then,” Danny twitched. It was a good thing Tucker’s parents were picking up Tucker and Sam was going to a protest down the street from school, because he really didn’t want Dash with them.
Dash followed him to his car, the blond not saying anything once he’d seen it. Danny was relieved at that; he didn’t want to field awkward questions. Hopefully, the jock wouldn’t try demolishing his car in the near future, now that he knew what car Danny drove. Though he had a feeling Vlad would probably just purchase him another car...
“Since when did you own a H302 SC Mustang?” Dash asked stiffly.
“...Um, a family friend bought it for me,” Danny explained uncomfortably.
Dash gave a short nod, accepting the answer. And it was this kind of atmosphere that Danny had to work through the week with, as he tutored Dash.
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The animosity between Danny and Dash diminished a little, though in no way had Dash completely stopped bullying Danny. Still, a month into the school year, and the two of them were at least on cordial terms. At least, most of the time.
Dash had no idea his friend Kwan had been tutored by Danny since freshmen year.
“I was doing a little shaky and Lancer asked Fenton to help me out, you know?” Kwan revealed uncertainly.
“He could’ve told me too, or else my grades wouldn’t suck this bad,” Dash muttered.
Kwan shrugged, but brightened up a little when he saw Danny coming towards them with a scowl.
“Hey, Kwan. I have your ticket to the art gallery. You can...come too, Dash,” Danny bit out reluctantly.
“Come –” Kwan cut Dash off.
“Yeah, he’ll come too. See you later, Danny!” the Asian grinned.
Danny waved before walking away, leaving the two football players. Dash elbowed Kwan roughly.
“What the heck was that about?! And I don’t do art galleries!”
Kwan rolled his eyes, “Chill, man. It’ll add some class to you. Besides, there’s more to life than football, you know.”
“But art?!”
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“I didn’t know Fenturd was a freakin’ artist,” Dash muttered when he found out the art gallery was for the loser’s art.
Kwan nodded absentmindedly, staring at a fairytale piece that looked vaguely with a likeness to Paulina. Except the Hispanic girl was dressed in a flimsy golden dress that went up to her knees, her body beginning to stretch upward in midair against the backdrop of the night sky, as her face was directed in the same direction, one arm outstretched and her index fingertip barely touching Polaris. She had glittery fairy wings on her back and a wistful expression on her face.
Kwan guessed that Danny had taken inspiration as usual.
They both caught sight of Danny talking to several people about a painting behind him, that Kwan could vaguely see depicted someone who looked like Tucker, looking out of a skyline window with a lonely look, and a mahogany desk filled with all sorts of technology. It was set next to a headshot of Sam, with the dark background and a thick snake coiling around her neck and clasped hands that went above her head. Danny was talking rapidly and when they walked closer, they realized he was speaking Japanese.
Danny saw them and smiled at the Japanese business men in front of him, speaking a little more before they left and Danny walked towards them.
“Kwan...and Dash,” Danny added as an afterthought. “I see you made it. How was the ride over here?” he said politely.
Kwan snorted, “Fine. Now shut up about that and give me my tour of your gallery. I wanna see what other art you’ve done since the last one.”
Danny smiled genuinely, but they were interrupted by the arrival of a older man with graying hair and a smug look on his face, completed with an expensive Armani suit and familiar Italian leather shoes.
“I do hope you’ll include me in that tour, Daniel,” he said smoothly.
Danny’s eyes widened, “Uncle Vlad?”
Kwan and Dash coughed and Danny turned red. “Uh, Guys...this is Vlad Masters, friend of my parents. Uncle Vlad, this is Kwan and Dash, um, friends from school.”
Vlad smiled thinly, his pale lips looking unnatural. “It’s...my pleasure. Now, Daniel. That tour?”
“R-right. If you’ll follow me?” Danny said right away, looking used to immediately going along with Vlad’s wishes.
Dash was still mouthing out ‘Vlad Masters’ in disbelief.
They went around, and both jocks were gazing at various paintings that held resemblances to some of their classmates. One actually had Dash standing in the Coliseum, facing the blurred faces of the crowd, his football helmet looking gilded with gold, a sword in one hand and a football in the other. One either side of him were lions, standing on their hind legs, ready to pounce on him.
Star even had a painting. She was dressed in a red medieval dress, her blond hair curled and cascading down, longer than it was in real life, as it was splayed over the forest ground and had leaves dimpled around. She had a melancholy look on her face as she looked out the painting, a starlet circlet around her forehead, and a thorny yellow rose in her dainty hands, pricking the skin and blood spilling in small rivulets.
There was Kwan’s portrait, but it was different from the others. It held a significant meaning to it, as it was divided into five parts. It was because Danny and he had held a conversation, some time ago about what real ethnicity Kwan was. He was just Asian, everyone assumed. But Danny had actually asked what race.
“Everyone generally puts you in the Asian category. But what exactly are you?” Danny asked, pushing aside the history text for a second.
Kwan blinked in surprise, pushing away his book as well.
“Huh, no one’s actually asked me that. Well, I’m...Korean,” he answered.
Danny nodded, “I might’ve figured that. Your name fits in with the usual Korean names. Doesn’t sound much like Japanese or Chinese, but it could’ve been Vietnamese maybe.”
Kwan smiled, “Yeah, maybe.”
It was nice to know Danny cared to know.
The paint was split in five, with the upper left corner of him in a Japanese setting, wearing a samurai outfit and holding a katana defensively. The upper right corner was him in a Chinese setting, wearing a Hanfu silk robe and using a writing brush to write something. The lower left corner was Kwan in a Vietnamese setting, wearing an ao gấm and solemnly watching a funeral procession outside a window. And then there was the lower right corner in a Filipino setting, wearing a Barong Tagalog all-over pechera.
But the best part was the picture in the middle. He was wearing a Hakch'angui, in his backyard. His backyard had a Korean styled garden that Danny had loved once he’d seen it. Kwan was in it, reading a book peacefully. Of the four that people that he was, the one in the middle was who he really is.
“What an excellent piece, Daniel! How much is this one selling for?” Vlad pointed to the one Kwan had been wistfully thinking about.
Danny blushed, “Ah, sorry, Uncle Vlad. This one’s not for sale. I’m giving it to a friend. But you can have any of the other ones!”
“Oh well,” Vlad sighed, glancing disappointedly at Kwan as if the painting was going to him. Yeah right. Danny was probably giving it to some art collector friend of his. “Well, what about the blonde one? The princess? How much is that one?”
Danny shook his head, “It’s a gift, Uncle Vlad. You don’t have to pay for it.”
“I insist, my boy! Your paintings are worth a grand! You’re giving one away already, I couldn’t bare to take another without you profiting.”
“It’s okay! Really. I don’t mind. I want to give it to you.”
Vlad finally accepted. Kwan cut in, “What did you name the more popular ones?”
“I named the fairy star one Wistful, the gladiator one Conflict, this one Mirrors, the snake Sentence, the modern office Solitude, and the blonde princess Princess Satellite.”
Kwan could guess at the titles, but Danny would probably be clearer to him, so he shrugged and thought he’d probably end up asking Danny about them like he usually did.
“Dan-Dan!” a little voice squealed, and the group turned to see a little girl bolting towards Danny. Danny’s eyes softened towards her, and even Vlad seemed less colder seeing her, though it was obvious Danny was still his favorite.
“Bella,” Danny smiled softly, bending down to pick her up and then swing her in a small circle.
“I’m tired,” she pouted, yawning cutely to the effect.
“‘Kay, baby girl. Dan’ll take you home,” Danny gave her an eskimo kiss.
“Very well, I’ll handle things from here,” Vlad said promtply.
“Are you sure? I mean, I can just close up early –”
“Nonsense,” Vlad waved his hand. “I can take care of it. You wouldn’t want to disappoint your fans and discourage potential buyers after all. Not that they wouldn’t be desperate, loyal, or any less fascinated with your incredible works of art. People are drawn to them irrevocably, Daniel. I must say, I’m very impressed.”
Danny laughed it off, smiling shyly. “Thanks then. Um, do you guys need a ride home?”
“Dash needs to go somewhere, so since I came with him, I’ll need a ride,” Kwan informed him.
Danny nodded, “Let’s go then.”
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As Danny drove the Saleen Mustang to Kwan’s home, the Asian jock played with Isabella in the back.
“How have you been doing, Isabella?” Kwan grinnedd after tickling her for the fifth time.
“BB fine!” she beamed after she stopped wheezing.
Everyone called her Isabella or BB. Only Danny ever called her Bella, and she didn’t let anyone else call her that.
“Well I’m glad BB’s fine. You coming to the game this Friday?”
“Dan goes, BB goes,” she smiled.
“Well, you’ll just have to convince your older brother to go then, right?” Kwan whispered conspiratorially to her.
She giggled and high-fived him.
“Don’t corrupt my baby sis,” Danny rolled his eyes.
Kwan shrugged, “I’m doing no such thing.”
Danny actually snorted, but before Kwan could say anything, they’d already reached his house. Kwan thanked him and got out, giving a small kiss to Isabella’s forehead.
“Thanks for the ride, Danny. I’ll see you in school tomorrow.”
“Kwan, wait!”
He turned around, “What’s up?”
Surprisingly, Danny was pulling out a familiar painting from his truck.
“Danny, you didn’t,” he whispered, staring in awe.
Danny grinned, “Of course. I wanted to give it to you. Take it, Kwan. I won’t take it back.”
Kwan took it reverently, giving Danny a heartfelt smile. He waved goodbye to the adorable siblings and then set off to his room, thinking he might get around to fixing it up and organizing it to make it classy to match the painting.
After all, there was more to him than football.
Started 8/20/08 –Completed 8/21/08
Story: At age 16, Danny hasn’t gotten his ghost powers yet. Without the added stress of ghost hunting, Danny is a more serious student, in line to graduate early. However, when he finally gets his ghost power, two unexpected people know the secret this time around.
Set all over the place.
Spoilers: I’m not sure…most probably.
Warnings: Eh….
Pairings: Dash/Danny/Kwan
Phantom
Chapter One: He’s Daft
“Isabella Mia Fenton! What are you doing?” Danny hissed to his little sister, exasperated when his two year old baby sis giggled and just smeared chocolate on the carpet.
Jazz chuckled wryly at him, “Danny, don’t be so overbearing on her. It’s just a little chocolate.”
“Just a little chocolate?” Danny asked sarcastically, waving a hand over the mess.
“Alright, alright. I’ll take care of it. Go ahead and head to school. I’m sure Tucker and Sam are already waiting for you to pick them up.”
Danny huffed, “No, I’ll take care of it. And they can wait. Bella comes first.”
Jazz rolled her eyes. “You have such a sister complex.”
“No, I don’t,” Danny argued.
“Yup. It’s not the same with me, at least not like the way you are with Isabella. Besides, I have a brother complex.”
“Dan!” Isabella giggled again, reminding them of her presence.
Danny’s face melted at the sight of his little sister, “I’m here, Bella. Come on, let’s get you cleaned up in the bathroom.”
He picked Isabella up, ignoring his sniggering older sister, and walked up the stairs of Fenton Works to clean her. He’d probably have to change shirts, but oh well.
Just a few minutes later, Danny was driving to Sam’s house to pick her up in the dark gray, with a silvery shine, Saleen Heritage Mustang his eccentric “Uncle” Vlad had given him when he’d gotten his permit. It was a little too expensive in a town like Amity Park, especially when Dash Baxter drives around in an old red pickup truck and even wannabe Queen bee Paulina Sanchez didn’t drive around at all, but it was a gift. Even his parents had encouraged him to accept it, and it felt good to own a car and drive around.
Parking in front of the Manson mansion, he got out his Blackberry (another gift from Vlad) and text his two friends. Hopefully, Tucker had made the short distance to Sam’s house and he didn’t have to take another trip to the Foley residence.
A message from Sam popped up.
Parents want to see you.
Danny grimaced. Sam’s parents, while abhorred the rest of his family because they acted weird (not that the Mansons had ever met little Isabella or even knew of Jazz’s existence), really liked him. In fact, they always tried to subtly push their Gothic daughter and mild-mannered him together.
Tell them I’ll try some other time. We’re going to be late to school.
Another message popped up.
Just come up to the door and pick us up.
Danny sighed and got out of his car, walking quickly to the door. Before he’d even raised his hand to knock, the door was flung open and Jeremy and Pamela Manson threw their arms around him. He caught a glimpse of Tucker, Sam, and Sam’s grandmother Ida laughing at him just before the crushing embraces of Sam’s parents.
“Oh Daniel! It’s so nice to see you!” Pamela Manson gushed.
“Oh yes! We haven’t seen you in quite a while!” Jeremy followed his wife’s example.
“Mom, Dad. You’re killing my friend,” Sam deadpanned, but grinned when her parents jumped away from a blue Danny.
“We’re sorry, Daniel. Why don’t you come over for dinner tonight?” Pamela said easily in succession, not looking bothered by her attempt at smothering Danny. Jeremy looked more awkward than his wife.
Before Danny could say an excuse, Sam was already pushing passed her parents and dragging him and Tucker towards his car.
“Sorry, Mom, Dad. We’re going to be late to school,” Sam said uncaringly, hurriedly rushing away from her parents.
“But Danny –!”
They were too far away to hear what Pamela said next, but Sam sighed exasperatedly.
“Geez, you would think they’re the ones trying to date you with the way they’re so obsessed. Hopefully, Mom won’t fill my phone with messages insisting I bother you into coming over.”
Tucker laughed and Danny winced.
“So, nice rags, Danny,” Sam teased, like she usually does about his clothing.
Danny winced again. Ever since Vlad changed his clothing, insisting on sending tailored-fit clothing to him to replace his old wardrobe (who knows whatever happened to his old clothing; he’d always suspected his mother and Jazz of burning them in a bonfire), Sam always sent a mocking comment about it.
Right then, Danny was dressed in a navy dress shirt and black pants, and somehow sporting Italian leather shoes (another gift from Vlad!).
“At least, he doesn’t look preppy,” Sam snickered.
“But he looks like an adult,” Tucker snarked.
“Yeah, he’s just missing a tie!”
Danny sighed and threw his hands into the air.
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They arrived just a bit early to school, with enough time to be in class before everyone else. Danny greeted Mr. Lancer, their homeroom teacher, good morning, ignoring the coughs of “Teacher’s pet” behind him from his friends.
“Ah, Danny! I just wanted to congratulate you on your latest essay. Your sister must be so proud about you following so exceedingly in her footsteps,” Mr. Lancer beamed.
Danny awkwardly smiled and said his thanks politely, before hurrying to sit in the back with his friends.
“Oh man, Danny, that never gets old!” Sam chortled.
“Yeah, smarty pants. You’re Jazz’s clone,” Tucker smirked at him.
“Mr. Foley, you should be more worried about your own grade on that essay,” Mr. Lancer admonished from out of nowhere, interrupting their ribbing of Danny.
Class started soon after that, when people began filing in and then the bell rang. And so began another year at Casper High, as juniors.
It wasn’t until English with Mr. Lancer again that Danny began to feel real dread. It was the second to last period, and it especially wasn’t looking good with Dash waiting in front of Mr. Lancer as well.
“Mr. Fenton, you’re an excellent student. I was hoping you’d fill your sister’s shoes and help tutor Mr. Baxter in his classes for the semester, or until he improves vastly in his schoolwork.”
Danny hid his grimace, “Of course, Mr. Lancer. It would be no problem.”
“Good! You can start today!”
Danny nodded tiredly and walked away, shortly joined by Dash himself as they headed to Chemistry.
“Look, Fenton, just because you’re tutoring me doesn’t mean I won’t shove you into a locker the next time I see you,” Dash sneered, but it flew over Danny’s head as he just nodded and kept walking. Dash huffed in agitation, but followed.
The class sadly went by quickly, and Dash cornered Danny again.
“I don’t have a ride today,” Dash muttered, looking at anywhere other than Danny.
“I’ll take you then,” Danny twitched. It was a good thing Tucker’s parents were picking up Tucker and Sam was going to a protest down the street from school, because he really didn’t want Dash with them.
Dash followed him to his car, the blond not saying anything once he’d seen it. Danny was relieved at that; he didn’t want to field awkward questions. Hopefully, the jock wouldn’t try demolishing his car in the near future, now that he knew what car Danny drove. Though he had a feeling Vlad would probably just purchase him another car...
“Since when did you own a H302 SC Mustang?” Dash asked stiffly.
“...Um, a family friend bought it for me,” Danny explained uncomfortably.
Dash gave a short nod, accepting the answer. And it was this kind of atmosphere that Danny had to work through the week with, as he tutored Dash.
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The animosity between Danny and Dash diminished a little, though in no way had Dash completely stopped bullying Danny. Still, a month into the school year, and the two of them were at least on cordial terms. At least, most of the time.
Dash had no idea his friend Kwan had been tutored by Danny since freshmen year.
“I was doing a little shaky and Lancer asked Fenton to help me out, you know?” Kwan revealed uncertainly.
“He could’ve told me too, or else my grades wouldn’t suck this bad,” Dash muttered.
Kwan shrugged, but brightened up a little when he saw Danny coming towards them with a scowl.
“Hey, Kwan. I have your ticket to the art gallery. You can...come too, Dash,” Danny bit out reluctantly.
“Come –” Kwan cut Dash off.
“Yeah, he’ll come too. See you later, Danny!” the Asian grinned.
Danny waved before walking away, leaving the two football players. Dash elbowed Kwan roughly.
“What the heck was that about?! And I don’t do art galleries!”
Kwan rolled his eyes, “Chill, man. It’ll add some class to you. Besides, there’s more to life than football, you know.”
“But art?!”
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“I didn’t know Fenturd was a freakin’ artist,” Dash muttered when he found out the art gallery was for the loser’s art.
Kwan nodded absentmindedly, staring at a fairytale piece that looked vaguely with a likeness to Paulina. Except the Hispanic girl was dressed in a flimsy golden dress that went up to her knees, her body beginning to stretch upward in midair against the backdrop of the night sky, as her face was directed in the same direction, one arm outstretched and her index fingertip barely touching Polaris. She had glittery fairy wings on her back and a wistful expression on her face.
Kwan guessed that Danny had taken inspiration as usual.
They both caught sight of Danny talking to several people about a painting behind him, that Kwan could vaguely see depicted someone who looked like Tucker, looking out of a skyline window with a lonely look, and a mahogany desk filled with all sorts of technology. It was set next to a headshot of Sam, with the dark background and a thick snake coiling around her neck and clasped hands that went above her head. Danny was talking rapidly and when they walked closer, they realized he was speaking Japanese.
Danny saw them and smiled at the Japanese business men in front of him, speaking a little more before they left and Danny walked towards them.
“Kwan...and Dash,” Danny added as an afterthought. “I see you made it. How was the ride over here?” he said politely.
Kwan snorted, “Fine. Now shut up about that and give me my tour of your gallery. I wanna see what other art you’ve done since the last one.”
Danny smiled genuinely, but they were interrupted by the arrival of a older man with graying hair and a smug look on his face, completed with an expensive Armani suit and familiar Italian leather shoes.
“I do hope you’ll include me in that tour, Daniel,” he said smoothly.
Danny’s eyes widened, “Uncle Vlad?”
Kwan and Dash coughed and Danny turned red. “Uh, Guys...this is Vlad Masters, friend of my parents. Uncle Vlad, this is Kwan and Dash, um, friends from school.”
Vlad smiled thinly, his pale lips looking unnatural. “It’s...my pleasure. Now, Daniel. That tour?”
“R-right. If you’ll follow me?” Danny said right away, looking used to immediately going along with Vlad’s wishes.
Dash was still mouthing out ‘Vlad Masters’ in disbelief.
They went around, and both jocks were gazing at various paintings that held resemblances to some of their classmates. One actually had Dash standing in the Coliseum, facing the blurred faces of the crowd, his football helmet looking gilded with gold, a sword in one hand and a football in the other. One either side of him were lions, standing on their hind legs, ready to pounce on him.
Star even had a painting. She was dressed in a red medieval dress, her blond hair curled and cascading down, longer than it was in real life, as it was splayed over the forest ground and had leaves dimpled around. She had a melancholy look on her face as she looked out the painting, a starlet circlet around her forehead, and a thorny yellow rose in her dainty hands, pricking the skin and blood spilling in small rivulets.
There was Kwan’s portrait, but it was different from the others. It held a significant meaning to it, as it was divided into five parts. It was because Danny and he had held a conversation, some time ago about what real ethnicity Kwan was. He was just Asian, everyone assumed. But Danny had actually asked what race.
“Everyone generally puts you in the Asian category. But what exactly are you?” Danny asked, pushing aside the history text for a second.
Kwan blinked in surprise, pushing away his book as well.
“Huh, no one’s actually asked me that. Well, I’m...Korean,” he answered.
Danny nodded, “I might’ve figured that. Your name fits in with the usual Korean names. Doesn’t sound much like Japanese or Chinese, but it could’ve been Vietnamese maybe.”
Kwan smiled, “Yeah, maybe.”
It was nice to know Danny cared to know.
The paint was split in five, with the upper left corner of him in a Japanese setting, wearing a samurai outfit and holding a katana defensively. The upper right corner was him in a Chinese setting, wearing a Hanfu silk robe and using a writing brush to write something. The lower left corner was Kwan in a Vietnamese setting, wearing an ao gấm and solemnly watching a funeral procession outside a window. And then there was the lower right corner in a Filipino setting, wearing a Barong Tagalog all-over pechera.
But the best part was the picture in the middle. He was wearing a Hakch'angui, in his backyard. His backyard had a Korean styled garden that Danny had loved once he’d seen it. Kwan was in it, reading a book peacefully. Of the four that people that he was, the one in the middle was who he really is.
“What an excellent piece, Daniel! How much is this one selling for?” Vlad pointed to the one Kwan had been wistfully thinking about.
Danny blushed, “Ah, sorry, Uncle Vlad. This one’s not for sale. I’m giving it to a friend. But you can have any of the other ones!”
“Oh well,” Vlad sighed, glancing disappointedly at Kwan as if the painting was going to him. Yeah right. Danny was probably giving it to some art collector friend of his. “Well, what about the blonde one? The princess? How much is that one?”
Danny shook his head, “It’s a gift, Uncle Vlad. You don’t have to pay for it.”
“I insist, my boy! Your paintings are worth a grand! You’re giving one away already, I couldn’t bare to take another without you profiting.”
“It’s okay! Really. I don’t mind. I want to give it to you.”
Vlad finally accepted. Kwan cut in, “What did you name the more popular ones?”
“I named the fairy star one Wistful, the gladiator one Conflict, this one Mirrors, the snake Sentence, the modern office Solitude, and the blonde princess Princess Satellite.”
Kwan could guess at the titles, but Danny would probably be clearer to him, so he shrugged and thought he’d probably end up asking Danny about them like he usually did.
“Dan-Dan!” a little voice squealed, and the group turned to see a little girl bolting towards Danny. Danny’s eyes softened towards her, and even Vlad seemed less colder seeing her, though it was obvious Danny was still his favorite.
“Bella,” Danny smiled softly, bending down to pick her up and then swing her in a small circle.
“I’m tired,” she pouted, yawning cutely to the effect.
“‘Kay, baby girl. Dan’ll take you home,” Danny gave her an eskimo kiss.
“Very well, I’ll handle things from here,” Vlad said promtply.
“Are you sure? I mean, I can just close up early –”
“Nonsense,” Vlad waved his hand. “I can take care of it. You wouldn’t want to disappoint your fans and discourage potential buyers after all. Not that they wouldn’t be desperate, loyal, or any less fascinated with your incredible works of art. People are drawn to them irrevocably, Daniel. I must say, I’m very impressed.”
Danny laughed it off, smiling shyly. “Thanks then. Um, do you guys need a ride home?”
“Dash needs to go somewhere, so since I came with him, I’ll need a ride,” Kwan informed him.
Danny nodded, “Let’s go then.”
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As Danny drove the Saleen Mustang to Kwan’s home, the Asian jock played with Isabella in the back.
“How have you been doing, Isabella?” Kwan grinnedd after tickling her for the fifth time.
“BB fine!” she beamed after she stopped wheezing.
Everyone called her Isabella or BB. Only Danny ever called her Bella, and she didn’t let anyone else call her that.
“Well I’m glad BB’s fine. You coming to the game this Friday?”
“Dan goes, BB goes,” she smiled.
“Well, you’ll just have to convince your older brother to go then, right?” Kwan whispered conspiratorially to her.
She giggled and high-fived him.
“Don’t corrupt my baby sis,” Danny rolled his eyes.
Kwan shrugged, “I’m doing no such thing.”
Danny actually snorted, but before Kwan could say anything, they’d already reached his house. Kwan thanked him and got out, giving a small kiss to Isabella’s forehead.
“Thanks for the ride, Danny. I’ll see you in school tomorrow.”
“Kwan, wait!”
He turned around, “What’s up?”
Surprisingly, Danny was pulling out a familiar painting from his truck.
“Danny, you didn’t,” he whispered, staring in awe.
Danny grinned, “Of course. I wanted to give it to you. Take it, Kwan. I won’t take it back.”
Kwan took it reverently, giving Danny a heartfelt smile. He waved goodbye to the adorable siblings and then set off to his room, thinking he might get around to fixing it up and organizing it to make it classy to match the painting.
After all, there was more to him than football.
Started 8/20/08 –Completed 8/21/08