he's not [that] bad / magdan

episode 10

the walk back home was anything but quiet, as soon as dan got over magnus' little name calling he pretty much talked magnus' ear off (figuratively speaking)

all throught the night dan would just go on and on about anything and everything and the walk seemed longer than just a few miles because of it. magnus was forced to listen in nodding to everything he said and when dan would look away the other would grit his teeth in pure annoyance

"so how's the ao been treating you?" dan asked finally letting the other speak

"fine i guess" magnus shrugged "shun seems okay, we had a conversation in the bathroom of all places"

"really?" dan chuckled looking up at him "whatchu guys talk about?"

"oh you know.. stuff" magnus replied looking back

"that's good to hear, shun's not really one to open up so quickly to people, especially to someone like you"

"yeah, he said me joining was a surprise or whatever" the dark haired boy said "speaking of, your other friends don't really like me all too well"

"oh, wynton and lia? yeah, i don't blame them" dan said with a shrug and his eyes back to the path in front of him "they're stuck in the belief that you're an awful person, i've already tried to explain what i see in you but.. i think it's just better if they just see for themselves"

"you shouldn't worry too much about it" dan added after a brief pause in their speech "wynton's pretty friendly so i'm sure you two'll be buds before you know it, with enough affection lightning is gunna like you too and lia... well.." dan stopped for a moment not sure how to express about his haos brawling friend without sounding mean

"she's a whole different story?" magnus finished

"exactly!" dan laughed "she can be tough to get through but with enough patience she'll grow to liking you. i should know, back in grade school she always picked on wynton and i for being weird" he chuckled, remembering their strange little venture back in the day "but man! you shoulda seen how determined she was to help out on our old stunt videos, after that she wouldn't stop following us around!"

they finally made it to dan's home after a couple minutes of walking. dan walks in front of magnus and turns to him

"well, thanks for bringing me home." the red wearing boy said scratching the back of his head "i'll see you tommarow!"

"sure thing, but before you go.." magnus took in a soft breath "there's something i need to tell you"

".. okay" dan smiled "what's up?"

magnus put the pizza box down next to his feet. and looked back at dan, clenching both his hands and his gaze going back to the floor

"i just wanted to thank you for letting me join your friend group" magnus said "it really does mean a lot dan"

"aw, you're welcome magnus" dan giggled finding magnus' shyness cute "you know i always saw you as a friend"

"but that's not all, i also wanted to apologize for all i've done.." that statement came as a surprise and as much as magnus hated making himself look so vulnerable, only he knew it was all part of an act "i've brought so much trouble to you and your friends, it's crazy you still trust me enough to take me in" the teen said

"it's okay," daniel's aquablue eyes gleam with happiness, taking a step closer to the other with a hand on his own chest "what you've done was never your fault magnus" kouzo added

magnus smiled looking back at dan, the things the younger felt only made him look pathetic. which reminded him... "can i hug you?" magnus asked

"ha, sure" dan laughed and spread his arms "bring it in"

without hesitation magnus brought the boy into a warm embrace, his arms wrapping around his back and his chin resting on his head

dan feels his face heat up with blush, he's hugged his friends many times but being in magnus' arms was different than any ol hug from say shun or wynton. this was special, it made him smile and hug back, the beating of magnus' heart calming him when he rested his ear up on his chest

magnus also smiled but not because he found the moment sweet but because he knew getting through the ao would be easier if he kept toying with dan's heart like this

the hug only lasted about 4 minutes before dan's father opened the door

"dan, is that you?" he called out

dan pulled away and looked at the doorway where his father stood holding the doorknob

"ah, yeah!" dan yelled back

"well get in here! it's waaay past your curfew young man"

"sorry! i'll be there in a minute, dad" he turned back to the older brawler "thanks again for bringing me home magnus" dan said with a smile

"anytime kouzo. now quit staring you're dad's waiting"

dan laughed and hurried inside, magnus boarding his nillious once he was gone and he flew home