What Is Love?

Chapter Eighteen

Danny Dare


I didn't sleep well that night. Horrors drifted through my dreams of tentacles, pin hole eyes, and a silhouette with blank glasses. I startled myself awake about six am and couldn't manage to settle again. After laying in bed for an hour, eyes wide and staring blankly at the ceiling, I gave up and rolled out from under my blankets.

Noah was still snoring softly from my couch when I abandoned my room for the kitchen. Careful not to bang stuff around too much and wake him, I set about making breakfast. I had just finished the pancakes and put them in the oven to keep them warm when the aroma of bacon finally penetrated his slumber.

"Danny?"

"Here," I replied to the sleepy and still slight muffled voice.

Noah shuffled over to where I was finishing up breakfast and started eyeballing the coffee. Using one hand to flip the bacon strips, I grabbed a mug and and passed it to him with a chuckle. "Help yourself."

"Don't mind if I do," he mumbled and disappeared behind the cup rim, his hair flopping lazily over the rest of his face.

"So, what's your plan for today?" I asked, placing our plates on the table and directing him to sit down across from me. He seemed slightly more lucid now with the coffee starting to take effect.

"Gonna drive home I guess, now that I know the mystery address leads here," he answered over his breakfast.

I nodded. "Let me know if you find out anything new," I said as I slid my phone across the table for him to put his number in, "And I'll do the same."

"Good idea. And if you ever need help, let me know okay? All of us - every one of us that that thing is after - we're all in this together now," he said and handed my phone back with its new contact.

I swallowed and nodded, not sure what to say in reply. I wasn't used to anyone having my back. Hell, I wasn't used to having anyone period...

Noah stood when he'd finished his breakfast, distracting me from my thoughts. "Do you mind if I use your shower before I head -" a knock on my front door interrupted him and I jumped, not anticipating the noise. "Expecting visitors?" he asked slowly.

I shook my head, even more confused than he was. "No..." Suddenly very thankful I'd already showered and dressed, I walked over to open the door. Who the hell could it be...?

I froze when the door opened and I saw who was waiting for me, not daring to believe it. "Good Morning, Miss Dare," Slen breathed, "I do hope I'm not calling on you at an unfortunate time?"

"Uhh..." I said intelligently as my brain scrambled to grab hold of coherent thought again.

Something was wrong. It was the air - there was a palpable feeling to it, almost like electricity. I could taste the static on my tongue and feel the goose bumps ripple over my skin. That's when the darkness of Slen's eyes registered with me. They were the same enraged ebony they had been when he'd got that call during our car ride. Whatever was wrong, Slen was pissed.

"Is everything okay?" I asked uncertainly.

Slen ignored the question. "May I come in?" he asked, polite as ever despite the hardness in his eyes.

My eyes went wide and I backed up to let him through the door. "Yeah, sure!" I said. Glancing over my should I saw Noah still standing by the table looking uncertain and slightly nervous. Could he feel the air too? "Hey Noah, I'd like you to meet my friend, Slen Ritter. Slen, this is Noah Maxwell," I lead the introductions.

"How do you do, Mr. Maxwell?" Slen greeted him stiffly.

Noah, smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm alright," he replied. I may not have known him long, but I could tell he was in defense mode; yes, he definitely could taste the tension.

Slen nodded. "How do you know Miss Dare, may I ask?" That struck me as odd that he would ask that, but I didn't ponder on it too long, already wondering what Noah would say.

He paused, most likely trying to come up with a cover story that wouldn't sound insane to anyone who didn't know the Slender man was real. "Um... a mutual friend introduced us."

'Oh yes, mutual 'friend' indeed,' I thought sourly, but kept my face neutral.

Slen's eyes narrowed slightly. "Interesting," he commented curtly, and then he turned to face me, pretty much turning his back on Noah. "Well, I had come to offer you company if you wanted to go out to make up for our interrupted drive, but if you are... busy, I can come back another time." the corner of his mouth down turned in what was either distaste or disinterest at the end of his offer - I couldn't tell which.

"I was just leaving actually," Noah said and Slen turned back to him, eyebrow's raised.

"Oh, I don't mean to run you out and ruin your little visit," he said with just enough ice in his voice, and yet still enough elegance to leave you unsure of his sincerity.

"No, it's fine. Danny, would you walk me to my car?" Noah asked.

"Didn't you wanna take a shower first?" I looked at him.

Noah shook his head, "I'll shower when I get home. Come on."

I smiled hesitantly at Slen. "I'll be right back," I said and followed Noah outside.

The second the door closed behind us, Noah grabbed my upper arm in a near death grip. "I don't like him Danny," he said softly.

I glanced at him in surprise over his strong reaction. "Something's up today. He's usually more polite than that," I said frowning.

"No, it's not that. He's got a weird vibe; I don't like it," he insisted.

I pulled my arm free and glared at Noah. He didn't even know Slen! How dare he judge him? "There's nothing wrong with him," I hissed in the pale man's defense.

Noah pressed his lips together in a thin line, his eyes narrowed like he was holding his tongue. "Who is he? Your boyfriend or something?"

I fought to keep from blushing. "No."

He sighed and ran his hand over his face. "Look, I don't know who this guy is to you, but be careful with him, okay? He seemed almost hostile back there towards me, and he looked at you like you were something to eat."

I just stared at Noah. What the heck was that supposed to mean? "Alright, I'll keep that in mind," I said curtly.

Noah opened his car door and gave me one last look before climbing in. "Be careful, Danny. Call me if you ever need anything," and with that he was gone.

Slen was lounging on the couch when I came back inside. The air was much softer now and less tense, although a faint electric tingle still remained. "Are you alright?" I asked hesitantly, fiddling with my hands. I didn't believe what Noah had said - Slen had never shown the slightest bit of violence in my presence - but I couldn't deny that something was definitely off today.

"Hm? Oh, I'm fine," he said easily.

"Are you sure?" I asked, raising my brow. "I could literally feel the tension coming off of you earlier." A little awkwardly I sat down beside him on the couch, merely a few inches away from his perfection. It seemed surreal to have him here in my house, like he didn't quite fit. He should be relaxing on a throne, not on my ratty old love seat.

"Ahh, it was just that work's been getting to me. One of my... employees seems to be acting without permission to do so," he explained slowly. "Honestly, that's a big reason why I came here..."

I chuckled. "What, to relax in my wonderful company?" I joked.

A half smile flitted across Slen's face. "Yes," he said simply and I ducked my face to hide my blush.

"So..." I started uncertainly, " you said you wanted to go out and do something?"

Slen nodded. "As long as you are agreeable, certainly. Anything you want to do in particular?" he asked, suddenly focusing on his sleeve instead of looking at me. I would have given anything in that moment to know what he was thinking.

I shrugged nonchalantly, trying to shake off the butterflies. "Nowhere in particular," I said. "Heck, I'd be fine just chilling here and watching movies."

"You'd rather stay here?"

"I - I mean, if that's not what you want to do we can go out, I was just saying it would be fine," I said quickly. I bit my lip an looked down in embarrassment. Perhaps he wasn't ready for things to get so personal as that yet. Perhaps he didn't want to be alone with me. Perhaps he didn't want me to get any ideas of anything possibly happening...

"I have no problems with it. An in home movie day it is," he said with a slight smile, interrupting my increasingly depressing thoughts. Through the smile there was a slight tightness in his eyes however - a guarded and very controlled blankness like he was concentrating hard on something.

I swallowed and tried not to stare at him in slight disbelief at my own luck. Wow... he said yes. " G-great! What genre you in the mood for?" I asked.

Slen shrugged. "You can choose," he said, and then a mischievous gleam touched his eye. "Although I do have liking for horror," he grinned.

"Damn, I was gonna go for romance," I fake pouted and Slen grimaced.

"Lord no, please spare me that kind of horror," he cringed and I laughed.

"How about Cabin in the Woods? It's classified horror, but honestly I find it to be more of a comedy. It's ridiculous," I suggested.

"Sounds fine to me. I've never seen it," he said.

I hopped up of the couch, popped the disc in, and turned the lights off. Darkness is essential to scary movie watching after all... 'And setting the mood for a kiss,' the voice in the back of my mind sneered disapprovingly. I plopped back down on the couch, curling my legs up under me and resisting the urge to lean over and rest my head against Slen's shoulder.

Ten minutes into the movie I was a mess. My whole body felt like it was on vibrate mode - every fiber of me seemed like it was being pulled towards the suit clad man beside me. I could literally feel the heat coming off his body, just inches away, so tempting to touch...

'Behave Danny,' I scolded myself.

Slen meanwhile seemed totally at ease, sitting there silently watching the screen. He remained like that for most of the movie. About halfway through, though, he snorted in disgust and shook his head. "Good Lord, this movie is terrible," he said in amusement. "Zombie redneck torture family? That's quite honestly one of the stupidest things I've heard of."

I laughed softly, still resisting temptation. "Yeah, I'm just rooting for the pot head to live the whole movie. I could care less about the others and the not-scary horrors."

Slen looked over at me and cocked his head to the side. "Really?" he laughed.

I nodded. "Yep! Gotta love the poor fool - he's hilarious." Slen just chuckled and shook his head. "What?" I asked, turning to look at him. "You don't think so -?" I froze as it occurred to how close our faces where. I looked up into those dark eyes and lost all hope of controlling myself. Fuck it.

I closed my eyes and leaned forward.