Paranoia

word count: 5,091 because a scene decided to crawl its way in.

Paranoia 5: Realizations

Notes: It took me only about nine days to write this. I think that's a record with me. Please don't take this to mean that I'll update this quickly all the time. While I do have an ending I'm still not exactly sure how long it will take to get there. I am determined to finish this story no matter what though.

Warnings this chapter: hand job and the normal mental trauma.

---

After Danny slammed the door to his room he slid down behind it, leaning back on the wood. He tried to ignore the slight burning sensation in his eyes telling him he was about to start crying and shook his head angrily.

"Why are they so persistent? Why can't they just leave me alone!?" Danny murmured to himself, feeling hot tears run down his cheeks. He asked the question and he already knew the answer before a soft voice in his head answered for him.

'They're your friends. They want to help you.'

"It's not like they can help me. Nobody can help me. Why did this all have to happen to me?" Danny replied to himself, sniffling a bit as he wiped his cheek on one sleeve.

'You need to tell someone.' his conscience, or at least that's who he thought it was, replied, 'This is killing you. Even if it's just to let it out you need to say it.'

Danny was silent, thinking about that for a few moments, his tears drying up a bit. "Yeah, but who?" he finally whispered.

His close friends and sister were immediately thrown out of the options. He had enough to deal with in his 'personal life' as it was. His parents were shot down too. They would be home that night and he could only cringe to imagine what their reaction would be to find out what happened to him. He contemplated the idea of telling Vlad for awhile. Even though he was his 'arch enemy' he had a feeling the older man would listen to him. Also he had a better chance of defending himself than regular mortals, being a Halfa as well. He finally threw that idea out the window as well with another random excuse.

Danny went through this process of elimination for a few more people before he finally thought of Valerie. He tilted his head to the side, contemplating what might happen if he told her. She seemed like a capable person, and in the future she had looked like she could handle pretty much anything. Finally making up his mind Danny stood up and walked to his phone, picking it up with a trembling hand before dialing the numbers.

After a couple rings the phone was picked up, "Hello?"

Danny was silent for a second, almost wishing her father had picked up so he could chicken out of it, "Uh, hi, Valerie?"

"Yes?" her voice sounded confused and Danny thought she probably didn't recognize his voice.

"Hi, it's Danny." he was silent through her speech of 'oh Danny, what's up?' and when she was done he took a deep breath and steadying himself said, "Uh, I'm ok, could be better. Listen, do you think you could meet me somewhere, maybe outside the Nasty Burger in like ten minutes?"

There was silence on her end for a second, "Yeah, sure that's fine." a pause, "Danny, is something wrong?"

Danny could practically hear hear frown and decided to be semi-honest. "Uh, kinda. I'll tell you more about it later."

"Ok..." her voice sounded a bit confused now as she trailed off. "Ok. I'll see you in ten then?" she asked, sounding a bit more firm.

"Yeah, see you." Danny said and they both hung up.

Danny swallowed thickly, thinking about what he had just set himself up for.

'I really hope I just made the right decision.'

---

Sam Tucker and Jazz had moved their little party into the kitchen and were sitting around the table with pieces of paper. Tucker had insisted that they didn't need it, but Jazz had overruled him, saying that it seemed more official. It seemed kind of odd to him that it seemed as if this was being treated like a game instead of seriously trying to figure out what was wrong with his friend.

He had finally thought of a use for the paper and started listing off all the things he knew about what happened or what seemed different about Danny since he had been kidnapped. So far he had that he avoided physical contact like the plague and he seemed to be acting like someone was after him. He seemed kind of distrusting of his friends and was shutting himself off.

Thinking what Danny had said before he stormed off he frowned. At first it sounded like he was being hypothetical but the last thing he had said, 'There is nothing you can do about it!' definitely came off as ringing an alarm. He had said 'can' instead of 'could' or just saying something like 'nothing happened'. Even though that denial would have been seen through it would have been less descriptive of what he had said.

Tapping his pencil Tucker looked at his list again, adding 'freaked out at sex-ed announcement' to the list before he stopped. His eyes widened and he looked down his list again, mentally adding Dannys little outburst and disappearance at lunch.

"Tucker, are you ok?" Sam asked, noting his unusual silence and his absence of fidgeting.

"No, I'm not ok," Tucker replied, his voice faint and Jazz and Tucker leaned forward to hear him, "I think, and I really, really hope I'm wrong about this, but I think," he lowered his voice to a whisper as if he was afraid of someone overhearing, "I think Danny was raped."

There was a long heavy silence while everyone thought about the implications.

Jazz's first instinct was to deny it, after all who wanted to be told that their sibling had been raped? Unfortunately the more she looked at how he had been acting the more it seemed it was the truth. Sam was having the same trouble to a certain extent. She had wanted to know what was wrong with her best friend, and now that she thought she knew she wished she didn't.

"Now I understand what Danny meant by that last outburst," Sam finally murmured and the others nodded. "It seems like though...what if the person is still after him? Tucker said that Danny seemed to be expecting someone and what happened when he vanished at lunch today."

"We have to save him," Jazz said and Tucker threw her a look.

"Save him how? From what? From who? And again, how?"

After a short pause Sam said, "Well, it sounds like it's from a ghost for the what part, as for who...I'm not sure. Doing that to a person doesn't really seem like anything most of the ghosts we know would do. They have more of a 'I'll blast you through a brick wall' type of mentality."

"Yeah," Jazz said frowning, "Doing something that intimate seems more like something a human would do."

"Or a half-human." Tucker said causing them both to look at him, "What if it was Vlad? He's the only other Halfa there is, and he is after your mom. Maybe he finally gave up and decided to go after Danny instead?"

The three teenagers sat, frowning. It seemed like a good theory but at the same time it seemed like something was wrong with it. Danny seemed way too high-strung for it to be Vlad stalking him.

"I think," Sam said finally, "The only way we're going to find out who did it for sure is if Danny told us, but I can't really see him doing that any time soon."

"So we just have to wait and watch him?" Tucker said helplessly and everyone sighed.

"That's what it looks like," Jazz said, and looked up in the direction of Danny's room. "I just hope he doesn't break down before we can do something."

---

Valerie had already known something was wrong when she talked to him on the phone, but seeing him standing alone in front of the Nasty Burger solidified the weird feeling she had been having since she had seen him at school.

As she got closer she started to be able to see more details. He must have taken a shower recently because his hair still seemed damp and it was falling down flat on his head instead of spiked out. Dannys skin seemed kind of pale, and even though his posture was usually slouched it seemed like he was just barely succeeding in keeping himself standing.

Finally she stopped, standing next to him, and had to suppress a gasp when he looked up to meet her gaze. His eyes, normally so clear and blue were dull and blank. Danny's eyes had a slight redness as if he had been crying as well as more than a hint of shadows telling the tale of him not sleeping.

"Oh, hey Valerie, you're early." Danny said and Valerie frowned at his tone. It sounded like he wasn't happy to see her, but just kind of resigned.

"You're earlier." she said, instead of commenting on it for now.

His mouth turned up into a sort of half-smile. "Yeah, I guess I am. Uh, do you want to walk somewhere?"

Valerie nodded and they started walking next to each other. "So you wanted to talk to me about something?" Valerie asked after a few minutes of silence and aimless wandering.

"Yeah..." Danny said, and shook his head. "Sorry, it's just kind of...hard for me to talk about."

"Should we sit down?" Valerie asked, gesturing towards a bench they were approaching. They were near the park, but not where very many people went. Danny just shrugged so she steered them over and they sat down.

Danny sighed, his eyes flickering over to one side as if he was looking for someone before he focused back on her. "Sorry, it's just, I'm not sure if I should ease into it or just say it before I loose my nerve."

"Whichever you choose is fine." Valerie said, even though she was getting kind of annoyed with his evasiveness she knew it had to be something big. She had never seen Danny act this way before and it made her uncomfortable and nervous for some reason.

He seemed to think it over for a bit before he said, "What's the worst thing that's ever happened to you?"

Valerie was a bit taken aback by that question and said, "Um, ok. I'll tell you if you promise to tell me too." after his hesitant nod she continued, "I would say that it was when my dad lost his job. I went from popular, rich, and with a ton of friends to the opposite of all that overnight. It did get a little better, but the moment I found out what had happened it felt like the world was going to end."

Danny nodded, and Valerie waited for him to give her his end of the deal.

---

'I can't do this!' Danny's panicked thoughts yelled, 'I should have never come out here, why did I have to do this?'

'I need to keep my promise though.' Danny thought and winced before opening his mouth, closing it and taking a deep breath through his nose and sighing it out through his mouth. He could see Valerie watching him with mostly hidden impatience and he couldn't help but stall a little longer.

"I'm sorry, I know that must have been pretty bad. I've had some pretty bad days too, but one recent one is close to the worst thing I can imagine. Before it I couldn't even imagine it happening to anyone else, let alone me." Danny could feel her curiosity and interest increase and he had to just say one more thing before he let it out. "Just...can you please promise me that you won't tell anyone? Not your dad, Sam, Tucker, anyone?"

"I guess so." Valerie said, willing him to continue, but he just gave her a stern look and she sighed softly before saying, "Yes, I promise not to tell a single soul."

Danny winced at her phrasing and licked his dry lips. He just had to say it, three simple words and supposedly a huge weight would be lifted off his chest. In the back of his mind he realized that after he said it there would be lots more explaining she would want done, but for now he just had to focus on actually saying it.

'Say it.'

"I was raped," Danny whispered, his voice barely audible and if Valerie hadn't been leaning forward in anticipation she probably wouldn't have heard.

Reeling back in shock Valerie put her hand over her mouth. It would have been an almost comical reaction if not for the seriousness of the confession.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! Are you ok-no, you can't be ok! When was it? Who was it? Wait, if you don't want to talk about it I'm sorry. Oh Danny-!" Valerie stopped herself from saying any more and looked over at Danny.

Danny wasn't sure what he was feeling. First he was shocked that he had managed to say it, then surprised at Valeries outburst, scared about what might happen if someone found out, slightly relieved that she had taken it 'well', and now he was almost regretting it because he supposed he wasn't going to be able to go without answering at least a couple more questions.

"It was...two days ago." Danny said, his voice still soft. "It seems like so much longer than that though. I-I don't feel like talking about who it was, but..." he trailed off.

"But what?" Valerie asked.

"I don't want to get you in trouble. You should just be careful." Danny said, his eyes averted.

By him saying that it just gave Valerie more questions, but she decided to not ask them for now. Maybe some other time when it didn't look like Danny was about to either cry or bolt.

"So, um, I take it I'm the only one you've told?" Valerie asked and Danny nodded. "Oh. Well, it's good to get things off your chest. It's also good to relax and have fun so..."

"What is it, Valerie?" Danny asked and it sounded as if he was getting annoyed.

"There's been this rumor that Dash was going to have a party soon and I was thinking maybe we could go. I'm still friends with Star, so she might be a good enough connection to get in." At Dannys dubious look she said, "Don't worry, it'll just be a good time. I'm sure that you can't get over something like what happened to you that easily, but you can't sit around stewing it over forever."

"I suppose..." Danny said and sighed, "Yeah, all right. I guess I'll go for a bit, if I do end up being able to." he said and Valerie smiled at him.

"Cool, well, if there's anything else you want to tell me about, just do it. Don't just keep it to yourself ok." Valerie wasn't very pleased by sound Danny made, almost as if he was brushing her off, "Well, I have to go. Homework and stuff." she said, stretching as she stood up.

"See you at school." Danny said and waved to Valerie as she walked off.

'I guess that wasn't so bad,' Danny thought, 'I still don't know why I agreed to the stupid party, but maybe I'll be lucky and they won't let me come. Either way I should probably get home soon.'

---

Danny got home and immediately went to his room. Sam and Tucker had already left a little while ago. He felt like some peace and quiet before his mom and dad got home.

Getting on his computer he tried to play his game, but he kept thinking of things and it would distract him. Looking at the clock he sighed, thinking his parents would probably be home soon. He didn't really mind that much, even though he lived in the same house it didn't seem like he saw them that much anyway, but at the same time he hoped they wouldn't be back for a few more days.

Sitting on his bed and leaning against his headboard Danny started to zone out. His sleep lately had been anything but restful, and now he was almost scared to fall asleep. He hoped he would get over that soon. Dannys eyes drifted shut for a few moments before snapping open as he felt a dip in the side of his bed.

When he saw Dark sitting there he unconsciously scooted backward, trying not to remember what happened last time Dark had him cornered on a bed.

---

Dark chuckled as Danny looked at him warily. He knew he had surprised the boy, that he had tried to make up 'rules' for his little game. Dark supposed there were a few rules, but they were never constant, changing depending upon the situation of the encounter.

When he didn't move toward Danny to restrain him immediately the boy looked slightly confused and Dark smiled about what a good job he was doing. Finally Danny opened his mouth to speak.

"What are you doing here?"

"Why should I not be here? It is my room after all." Dark said, shrugging. Honestly he didn't think of this place as his 'home' any more, but it was fun to torment Danny even more with the reminders that he was what he would have become if not for Clockworks interference.

Danny paled a bit, and scooted back, now practically flat against the head of his bed. "But you already saw me once today, and it's not your room any more. Not your world. You said you wouldn't..."

Danny trailed off as Dark began to laugh. He was right, Danny was making up his own rules. Some of which seemed to be 'only once a day' and 'not in my house.'

"Danny, Danny, Danny, you know how much trouble you get in when you presume things," Dark smirked, moving forward to stroke a hand down the side of the younger males face, "I never said I would only see you once a day. I also never said that you were safe in your house. What I said was 'you're safe for now', meaning it could change at a moments notice, or without any at all."

---

Flinching at the touch Danny looked away though he knew Dark didn't like it. He couldn't help himself, he didn't want to look at him even though that impulse usually made things worse for him.

His mind was racing, his thoughts going faster than normal while he tried to think of something to do. Jazz was still home, he knew. Maybe he could call for her, but no, that would mean putting her in danger. Last time Dark had only knocked her out but that was before all this happened. He didn't need her alive any longer. Dannys parents were also supposed to be home soon and they had a habit of barging into his room, and they might actually have some ghost-hunting equipment. He wasn't sure if it would do much good though.

"What are you thinking?" Dark asked, grabbing him by the chin and forcing him to look back at him.

"Nothing," Danny said, brushing aside the absurd thoughts, "What are you going to do with me? I'm sure you didn't just appear to have a conversation about despair." he finished, his voice dripping sarcasm.

"You're right, I didn't." Dark said, moving closer so their faces were just inches apart. "I was thinking that maybe you could have a few lessons. You are quite good for a beginner but I'm sure you could be better. Also," Dark moved his hand down to Dannys crotch, making him flinch away and whimper, "it seems I've been a bit lacking in giving you something back."

"I don't want anything back," Danny said quickly, "I mean, I don't want you here in the first place. I don't 'give' you things, you take them and like this you wouldn't be giving it to me you'd be forcing-"

Danny's panicked ramble was cut off as Dark pressed his lips to his roughly, forcing his mouth open to admit his tongue. Danny whimpered and tried to move his head away but Dark was still restricting him. When Dark finally drew back Danny was flushed and panting, and when Dark released his chin he looked down and to the side, not wanting to see the other mans face.

"You say you don't like it but your body," Dark squeezed Danny's crotch again, "tells me otherwise."

"Just because my body seems to like it doesn't mean I like it." Danny muttered, "I never consented to anything and just because my body reacts in some stupid way doesn't mean I do."

Dark just laughed, brushing off his comment as he did with everything else, "Of course you think like that, but one day I know you'll be begging me to fuck you."

Danny was about to protest loudly on that point but when he opened his mouth what came out instead of a stream of profanities was a moan as Dark reached into his pants and grabbed his half-hard member. He immediately blushed at the condescending smirk Dark gave him, closing his mouth, and tried to distract himself from what was happening.

He knew it wouldn't work very well when Dark began to slowly stroke him sending small waves of pleasure through his body. Danny bit his lip, not wanting his betraying body to have it's way completely.

Dark moved Danny down the bed a bit so the boy was lying flat. He unzipped Dannys pants the rest of the way and pulled them and his boxers down on his hips, exposing him. He smirked at Danny's protest, cutting it off with another rough kiss while still stroking him maddeningly slow.The teen was fully hard now and Dark moved a hand up his shirt, pushing it up to expose his stomach.

The scratches were almost gone and Dark mentally sighed. A pity. Oh well, he supposed he would just have to give him another mark.

Moving down he began to lick and suck at the exposed flesh before nipping him causing Danny to flinch and cry out before he could stop himself. Dark smiled at bit him again, this time an actual bite to which Danny whimpered loudly and without thinking moved a hand down to try and push him away.

Dark shook his head, releasing the flesh from his teeth leaving a nice bloody oval mark, and grabbed the hand, moving his body back up so his face was at a level with Danny's. "You know that wasn't a very good idea," he murmured against the shaking boys lips, "I'm tempted now to take you right here, regardless of if dear Mother and Father return home," Danny's eyes widened at the prospect, "It's quite unfortunate that I have things to do."

Danny's eyes widened more, almost impossibly wide, as he thought about what kind of 'things' an evil, mad, ghost from the future would have to do. He missed the last thing Dark said, muttered really, and then would have missed everything after that in any case as the ghost picked up the pace.

Dark looked down at Danny, the boy was panting and flushed, obviously trying and failing to control his 'rebellious' body. Dark liked that fine. Stroking Danny firmly and roughly he finally heard the sounds he wanted to emerge from the teen. Moans and whimpers of pleasure had Dark grinning like the madman he was. For a second he contemplated actually stopping to see if Danny would actually beg for it now, but then he remembered what he had to do and with a mental scowl continued his chosen course of action.

'Shit, this bastard is going to make me come,' Danny thought, disgusted with himself and the whole situation.

After a few more moments Danny finally arched with a cry and came over Darks hand. He came down panting and shaking, trying to get over the side effects of orgasm before Dark could do anything else to him in his semi-helpless state.

"Very good," Dark murmured against Danny's lips, kissing him again and taking advantage of Danny's already open mouth by putting his tongue down his throat while ravaging his mouth.

Finally getting his strength mostly back Danny shoved at Dark, who laughed at him but got up anyway. Danny remembered that he said he supposedly had things to do (besides him, Danny thought with a shudder), and wouldn't take time for a punishment.

"Leave me alone," Danny spat, trying to fix his clothes and already thinking about taking another shower. He was taking a lot more than he used to, he realized with another scowl.

"As you wish, but you know I'll be back," Dark smirked and with a condescending bow walked through his wall to the outside and vanished.

Danny contained a scream of frustration and helplessness as he gathered things to go take a shower. He didn't want to greet his parents when they got home looking like that.

---

Jazz heard the shower running and sighed. She thought she knew what had happened to Danny and it was horrifying. She didn't want to think about it though she knew she should be trying to find a way to help him, but like Tucker had said they had no clue about anything.

With a groan Jazz started to lean down on the table but was startled upright as the door slammed open.

"Jazz, my sweet daughter! Come see Dad, he missed you!" her fathers booming voice echoed through the small entry hall.

With another sigh, this one slightly indulgent, and a smile she went to go see her parents. She froze for a second when she saw Vlad walk in with them but recovered quickly. She didn't want them to think anything was wrong.

"Hi Mom, Dad...Vlad." She said, and let curiosity leak into her voice at the last name and her mom picked up on it.

"Jazz honey, how are you?" She gushed and in the brief silence before she was going to explain Jazz heard the shower shut off and knew Danny would be down soon. "Vlad is here for a visit. He came to the convention too and your father just couldn't resist the chance to hang out with his old college buddy." Maddie shook her head with a chuckle.

"I hope I'm not intruding," Vlad said with a smile and Jazz forced herself not to frown at him.

"Maybe you should ask Danny," Jazz muttered but nobody heard.

Jack suddenly looked around, as if realizing someone was missing, "Jazz, where is your brother? I had thought that he would have come down to see me as soon as we got here."

"I'm here, I was just in the shower."

Everyone turned to look at him and Maddie and Jack both broke out into smiles, and after a minute Vlad did too though it was a bit less enthusiastic as if he had noticed something was off with the boy. Jazz noticed that his hair was spiked like it usually was and he must have taken a few extra moments to put it that way. She was sure he only did it because he didn't want their parents to worry or get suspicious.

"Danny, my baby! How were you while we were away?" gushed Maddie, squeezing her son into a hug that Danny flinched minutely to and forced himself to return.

"I was fine, mom, I'm not a kid any more." he grumbled, pushing away in what seemed like an average 'this is not a manly thing to do' teenage moment.

Maddie chuckled softly, conceding the point. "Yes, well we were just explaining to Jazz that Vlad was going to be staying with us for a few days."

"Where is he staying?" Danny asked, raising an eyebrow. He figured the options were the RV, the lab, or the living room. He hoped those were the only options he really didn't need another crazy ghost (even if Vlad was only half) staying with him.

"I was thinking maybe we could pull out another mattress and he could stay in your room," Maddie said and Danny mentally winced, wondering if he could refuse.

Still trying to think of something Danny tried to stall, or give someone, namely Jazz, a chance to say something. "Oh."

True to form Jazz started to protest on Dannys behalf. "But mom, Danny is a teenager! He needs his own room, it's part of their development!"

"It will only be for a few days," Maddie said firmly and Jack just looked back and forth and nodded gamely.

"Whatever," Danny sighed and walked out, into the kitchen. He didn't think he would be getting very much privacy for awhile.

---

"Sorry if I'm intruding, I tried to convince Maddie I was fine with a hotel but Jack insisted I stay here as his guest."

"It's fine," Danny said, though a tinge of annoyance made its way into his voice, "It's not like you'll be in here other than sleeping, right?" he asked and Vlad nodded.

"Of course. Though, Daniel, I was wondering. Has anything happened, you seem different somehow." Vlad said, putting his hands together and tilting his head slightly.

Danny turned sharply to look at him hard for a moment before turning away.

"I'm fine."

Dark scowled up at the mirror showing what was happening in Dannys world. He didn't like this development one bit. He had his suspicions that part of how he felt about Danny was a thing he had picked up from Vlad. Vlad was a slight narcissist himself and Dark suspected that he also had an unhealthy 'interest' in his younger self that had merged with his mentality as well.

He didn't want anyone else touching his property, and if the older man did anything to his younger self he wouldn't hesitate (not like he ever did) to kill him.

A cough meant to catch his attention drew his eyes off the screen and to the ghost floating next to him.

"What is it?" Dark growled, glaring at the ghost.

Clockworks mouth pulled in what might have been called a smile and said, "Now now, there's no need to rush. Though we have a lot to discuss at length right now we have all the time in the world."

---

End Chapter Five