he's not [that] bad / magdan

episode 1

the mission was an underlying failure. so much effort put into the previous night only to come out empty handed.

magnus jumped from the gate through the maze, landing in a forest area and knowing dan and co followed his tail as he could almost make out their steps in the portal opening.

and as he took nillious from his cloak ready to launch him and get out of there, his suspicions proved accurate.

"magnus, wait!" it was dan, he jumped out from the gate and instead of landing on his feet he fell face first into the leaf covered ground as magnus turned, rolling his eyes at his stupidity.

"what do you want dan kouzo?" magnus growled. "can't you see im about to leave?"

dan raised his face from the ground, getting himself back up meeting eyes with magnus "i know, that's why i put in so much in effort in catching up." he chuckled, it proved so with his ragged breath that calmed down when his expression dropped to one of pity when the other didn't say much but click his tounge to his teeth. "listen, im sorry we couldn't get to the corecell. peruvian was just trying to protect us."

magnus scoffed. he believed that stupid golden bird was just blocking him from his goal but alas, the dumb kid he knew dan kouzo to be wouldn't get that through his thick skull.

"is that all?" magnus asked. "you just wanted to apologise for something that means nothing? a simple sorry won't get me what i want."

"i know, but you see... that's not all, i have something i wanted to ask you."

"ok, what is it?"
dan got close to magnus as the other took a step back, he took his gloved hands into his own leaving him confused and forcing him to look down at his gaze.

"magnus, you're not a bad person. i know there's some good in you, i've seen it! you're not like the rest of the exit, you're unique." he said.

as dan began to form what would later be a serious question, lia wynton shun and lightning finally made it out. meeting sight of what went on.

"... right.." magnus mumbled,

"i know this might seem a little left field but magnus... would you like to join the awesome ones?"

utter shock hit the four friends behind dan, shun gasped, wynton let out a "whaaaat?" lightning whimpered and lia yelled "what?! dan, are you crazy?!"

"maybe i am but, i think he'd be a great addition." dan chuckled expecting reactions like those. he turned back to magnus who quickly let go of his hands after he said that. dan nudged his shoulder "so, whatta ya say, wanna be part of the crew?"

magnus laughed. he was typically serious but this was the funniest thing he's heard all day so.. he couldn't help himself!
"you've got to be joking, right?" but when no one laughed, he concluded that this infact was not a joke.
"oh god, you're being serious."

"you don't have to answer now but promise me you'll think about it." dan said. "i care for you magnus, i can see us being good friends." he turned to his pals who were too shocked to say anything "all five of us, right guys?..."

"oh no, absolutely not!" lia squacked. she walked up to dan and grabbed his wrist. she forced a fake smile and looked up at magnus "excuse me for a sec" she said before dragging her friend back to the rest of the group.

"look dan, i get you're the weird one of the group but this is the craziest thing you've ever done!" the blue haired girl whisper-yelled. "magnus? are you kidding me? letting a dog join would make more sense, no offensive lightning."

the pooch whined at that.

"but.."

"no buts dan!" wynton was now chiming in his opinion. "that guy is pure evil, remember that time he almost killed you? or that time he tricked you into giving him your bakugan? or what about now, the dude literally robbed from benton, destroyed his lab and you think he's a good contender for the crew?! i think not."

that left daniel quiet. he did do all those things. but deep in his heart he knew magnus was good, maybe the exit was behind all that, or maybe the boy had his reasons for doing all that.

a hand on his shoulder stopped his thoughts, it was shun "i get what you're trying to do dan, in fact i admire your kindness but we can't have magnus join for reasons i think are kind of obvious."

"... you just don't get it." dan sighed. about to express how he felt about magnus' morality, the talk of the afternoon had already brought his own concerns to the table.

"your bickering won't bring you anywhere," magnus said. "i heard everything and besides, it doesn't matter because im not interested."

"but you'll think about it, right?" dan asked.

"what is there to think about, dan kouzo? i've expressed this time and time again." he clenched his fists, stepping closer. "i don't like you, in fact i despise you and your little group of friends. so you think me joining will put me in a better place?" he scoffed. "pl-ease i'd rather work for myself than to see you everyday."

"hey, not cool!" wynton growled "you take that back right now!"

"or, what?" magnus chuckled.

"you don't actually mean all that." dan said. putting a stop to a possible argument.

magnus tisked. "you're pathetic, dan, so pathetic."

wynton was about to throw hands to defend his friend but both lia and shun stopped him when he began to turn to leave.

"so, is that a maybe?" dan joked.

"no." the other replied not even turning around. "and don't even think about finding me to change my mind. i've made my desicion."

and that was it.
that's how dan kouzo asked magnus to join the ao and before he could add on anything more, magnus brought out his nillious and boarded him once he grew in size.

the wind left the five covering their faces and when he was off in the distance, dan watched him.

"what the heck was that?" lia asked.

"i don't know," dan shrugged happily. "i just think.. maybe he's not that bad."

wynton leaned over to lia, "after everything he's said and done?" he whispered.

the girl shook her head. "i think he's lost his mind." she whispered back.