Escape

leaving

The next day, Danny seemed more paranoid than usual. When asked, he explained it was as if everywhere he turned, he saw a shadow of a figure. He would see it pop up from the corner of his eyes and then it would disappear when he went to look for it. Vlad checked himself but never saw anything. Vlad figured the nightmare Danny had that night didn't help matters. The young man woke up panting and screaming. Vlad immediately held him and comforted him. Danny couldn't sleep after so they stayed up, huddled together, until the sun rise. Vlad hadn't left his side since then. Even when Danny went to shower, Vlad stayed in the bathroom with him, looking away to give Danny privacy but just giving him comfort with his presence.

Vlad didn't want Danny to leave. He all but begged for him to change his mind, but it was all in vain. Danny said he made up his mind. Vlad told him he would take Danny across the world so that they could be safe. Danny didn't want to chance it. Vlad nearly pulled the hair out of his head from the frustration of it all. Damn it, he wanted Danny with him! Why couldn't he see that Vlad was the best form of protection? Why couldn't he see that Vlad would take care of him, love him, cherish him, and make sure he is never harmed ever again? That Vlad would go on a hunt to kill those that had harmed him, just to be sure Danny felt safe and secured? If only Danny would just tell him who hurt him.

Vlad opted to keep Danny close to him. It hurt him to know this was their last day together. Danny was someone that just made a sudden appearance in his life and Vlad didn't want him to go away. There was just something about him that Vlad found unable to resist. Danny was fierce; he had been through so much, but seemed to have a heart of gold. Vlad sighed. He wanted Danny to be his. Sure, Danny was wrong, but he was anything but immature. Plus, Vlad loved a challenge. His ultimate goal would be to keep Danny safe and happy, and he would do so willingly.

Vlad watched Danny eat. The young man looked depressed. Vlad's heart tightened at the sight. Maybe Danny was reconsidering? Vlad wished that could be true, but Danny was so out of bent on leaving for Vlad's sake. Vlad nearly scoffed at the thought. No one would dare harm him and if they did, well, the consequences were severe; Vlad made sure of that. Still, it warmed him a bit to know Danny was reluctant to leave. That meant he felt some sort of attachment to Vlad, even if he tried to deny it. Well, it was either his attachment towards Vlad or his guaranteed meals and entertainment that he was reluctant to leave. Vlad liked to think it was the first.

After breakfast, Vlad placed his arm around Danny's shoulders and led him to the study so they could read comfortably together. They spent the entire day together. They read, watched movies, even played video games together. In between each activity, Vlad would try to persuade Danny to stay. No luck. Although they were enjoying themselves, there was a tension in the air they could not ignore, even though they tried to. One thing was clear: they were both miserable about Danny's decision to leave.

It was 11:49pm. Vlad watched the clock with the upmost hatred he ever felt in his entire life. In 11 minutes, the one person who ever made him feel alive, happy, anxious, and so many other emotions he couldn't even name was leaving; possibly forever! Danny promised he would come back and visit Vlad, but how could he be sure of that? That's why he put a tracking device on Danny's bag. It only made sense for Vlad to watch out for Danny in some shape or form. Vlad gave Danny at least four huge wads of cash he could live off of for a while. He would have given Danny a credit card but the boy said he didn't want to be traced.

Vlad sighed as he watched Danny finish putting his shoes on, his heart slowly breaking by the seconds. Danny glanced at the time. Vlad reluctantly followed his eyes. Five minutes. Danny walked up to Vlad and offered a small smile. Vlad tried to return it but it came off more as a grimace, which made Danny frown.

"Are you sure there's nothing I can do to change your mind?" Vlad tried again, probably for the thousandth time, placing his hands on Danny's shoulders.

"No, Vlad. It's better this way." Danny replied with a sigh. "Thanks for the map. Actually, thanks for everything. If it weren't for you, I would never have gotten better." He smiled at the older man. "And I never would have gotten that damn lock off, so, thanks."

"You're welcome, little badger." They walked towards the door. Danny opened it and looked out into the night sky. Vlad could see the longing of freedom in his face. Vlad knew he couldn't take that away from Danny, but that didn't make it hurt any less.

"Well...I guess this is it." Just as those words left Danny's mouth, the clock stroke midnight. Vlad swallowed passed the lump in his throat.

"Good bye, little badger." He pulled Danny into a tight hug, not wanting to let go. When he felt Danny pull away, it took all his will power to let go. Even then, it felt as if his heart was being torn in half.

"Good bye, Vlad." Danny smiled and then hesitated. He bit his lower lip before his eyes shone with determination and did something that surprised both Vlad and probably Danny as well.

He kissed Vlad. It was a quick kiss; a mere press of the lips that lasted only seconds before the raven haired broke away and ran. Vlad stood at the door, dumbstruck, as he watched the one person who meant something in his life run away from him. That kiss...was the best one of his life, and the most heartbreaking.

He didn't know how long he had been standing there. Danny had been out of sight for some time now. He sighed, deciding it was best to just head back in and try to distract himself, no matter how pointless the attempt would be. His castle felt empty more than ever before. As he closed the door shut, he suddenly jumped slightly when he heard a crash from the inside of his castle. With a raised brow, he went to investigate the noise, not really in the mood for anything. Another crashing noise came from his bedroom. He cautiously walked in, gasping in surprise when he saw his entire room had been trashed. Before he could do or say anything, a chilling chuckle caught his attention.

"Well, well...Vlad Masters....This is a surprise."

HEY