Chapter Text
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Danny sighed, exhausted. He was trying to not visibly list as he fell asleep standing. He watched as magic bounced the cat-like creature out of the chamber. When it first started attacking Danny had fallen into alertness, but panic quickly consumed as he realized he simply did not have the energy to attack and stay whole. And he had more than just himself to think about. Before Danny had to start making decisions, Mr. Crowley herded Danny behind him with a cloaked arm, in time to miss a near plume of fire.
Danny couldn’t really pay attention once the discord was out of his sight. Flashes of blue and clamor couldn’t matter to him unless it inarguably needed to. Especially when he was still so unwell. Danny felt vaguely relieved at how Mr. Crowley’s defense slipped past his need to protect. Immovable protection, meet unstoppable instinct.
Eventually the noise stopped, though Danny could hear the creature’s shouting get farther and farther away, Danny only had to turn a bit, to see the being bouncing out the door, a new bright red collar around their neck. Mr. Crowley abruptly turned to Danny, making him jolt into a more sharpened awareness. The man frowned and seemed to decide something. He gestured Danny to follow and began to walk from the chamber, surprisingly intact and mostly vacated now.
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By the time they had reached the building Mr. Crowley was leading Danny to, he was barely feeling his body as it moved. Just. So tired. If he weren’t so practiced in being completely chronically exhausted, he probably would’ve collapsed before they’d even gotten off the pathway. But now they’ve stopped, before a decrepit manor. It really didn’t look suitable for living life.
Mr. Crowley opened the door with a silver key before holding it out for Danny to take. Upon grasping the key, Mr. Crowley turned and walked inside, clearly intending for Danny to follow.
Stepping through the threshold Danny knew the building was occupied, and if not, then only very recently abandoned. The dead had been here at some point, regardless. He looked up to watch Mr. Crowley who was looking around. A few moments and Mr. Crowly raised his hands to communicate once more.
”This building should keep the elements at bay while I track down your luggage! Normally it would go to the receiving room of your dorm, however it has likely ended up in the mail room since you were not sorted.” Mr. Crowley nodded to himself and began to walk past Danny to leave, but stopped suddenly and brought a pointed finger up as if he suddenly had an idea.
Swishing his cloak, “ Try to not explore too far into the building for now. I will check it over when I return. I will bring you supper and we can discuss steps going forward, your situation is quite uncommon after all. Normally freshmen receive their student IDs tomorrow with their schedule and magical pens, but I will gather them now so you may access the school in case of an emergency. Aren’t I magnanimous?”
Danny didn’t want to send this guy on a goose chase. He definitely didn’t have any luggage. He didn’t have anything. But Mr. Crowley was gone before Danny could say a word.
•✧•
Finding a sitting room (or whatever rich people call it), Danny pulled a sheet off of one of the many leisure couches and lied down, setting the key on the coffee table in front of him. Danny was definitely not in his home dimension for sure. If he can keep his secrets he won’t have to run, at least until the baby is close to being born. Danny rested a shaky hand on his stomach, only a slight dome, not even perceivable when standing. Yet.
He hadn’t even realized what had happened at first. Dani had come to save him, against his express wishes. Now Danny figures that she was dying anyways. That the Ecto Dejecto they had stocked wasn’t enough to sustain her. Or maybe she wasn’t able to access it for some reason, maybe someone had found it or something. It’s not like she could’ve made herself more.
The GIW had confiscated all of his parents' work, the technology was gone, and Vlad never even gave Dani a chance to know how to do it herself. They had never thought everything would go so wrong, that they wouldn’t be able to endlessly supply her, while she adventured and learned how to be her own person.
It had taken him a long while to realize past his grief. But Dani really hadn’t had any option but to undertake the suicide mission to try and save him. Danny was devastated that she suffered, that she died in a lab, melting again in a horrible place instead of somewhere beautiful, on her travels, doing something she loved. But she was already destabilizing when she got to him, could barely tear enough wiring to depower his restraints, before she’d started losing control of her body.
And if she hadn’t come to him. He wouldn’t have any part of her either. He would’ve lost her completely, like everyone else.
It was hard to understand what was happening at all, when the alarms started blaring. He couldn’t keep track of time with the pain from the incisions running up his arm along his lichenburg figures. He had already been bleary from what was probably a pre-heat, and the mindnumbing screeching from the alarms didn’t help.
It was like she was suddenly just there, trying to get him out. So they could leave. He could remember her panic, as she called to him and promised him she’d save him. He remembered his dread, and tentative hope, as he directed her to the wires in the box behind the table, to depower the shield keeping his bindings phase-proof.
It wouldn't have been different if they’d had more time. She’d gotten him out, but she was already past no return and he couldn’t share enough energy with her after being periodically exhausted and starved for so long. The agony of helplessness and the sudden certainty that nothing could be done to save them. The fear and devastation in knowing that Dani would be captured or die. He was glad to have been able to see her at all, once he’d been able to look at the situation more clearly.
Especially once he’d realized that nothing in the building had expedited her death. He had nothing but her to ruminate on for the past four months. It took him too long to realize what it meant, when she was almost gone, and she offered her core to him. He still doesn’t know how it worked, if it’s normal, or specific to them. In a way, he was already her mother, at least biologically. A clone made from himself and Vlad, their child, genetically.
When he absorbed that magenta core he thought she had gifted the last of herself to him. Energy to escape. Maybe that was her intention, maybe it was all instinct. But he didn’t feel energized after taking in her core, the last of his little sister. His sister who he had loved so much but never got to truly, closely, bond with. He passed out upon absorbing it, unconscious into the rapidly evaporating puddle of her corrupt ectoplasm.
Only later, when his heat skipped, when the scientists remarked on strange inconsistent readings, when one of the grunts had made some demeaning comment about his omegan status. Did he know. And when he could sense himself after being fed enough to charge some batteries, he was able to confirm for certain. He was pregnant, and somehow, in some way, it was Dani.
It’s not that he hadn't been concerned with getting pregnant, initially. He’d been so relieved to find that his captors weren’t compatible with him. Was so disgusted to be able to know that at all. Could once again do nothing but hate being an omega in a world so cruel to his species and designation. Be begrudgingly thankful for the disgusting collar they degraded him with, despite all the pain to his scent glands from being smothered and chafed, at least he hadn't been mated. Not without removing a collar with a tracker and alarm.
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Danny didn’t know what woke him up at first. The tranquility of a dim cool room, the smell of old things, and the sound of rain. Perhaps thunder? But then he heard a bang, and a “Yeowch!” From the other room.
Danny sat up, already feeling much better after his (probably) brief rest. He stood and wandered his way out of the side room and towards the entrance. The flaming creature was back. Shaking water off of themself. The creature quickly noticed him and pointed, exclaiming, “You!”
It took Danny only a second to put together what was said, he was so relieved to be able to sort noise again. That rest on top of being in a place so rich with energy was helping him out a lot already. His healing was definitely working better than it had in a long time. He was still tired, and hurt, but better.
“Hello.” Danny greeted the creature. There isn’t much one can say in response to someone saying ‘you’ and pointing. Not that Danny is any sort of paragon of social skills. But he’s still Jazz’s brother, and she taught him to try to not assume the worst and be kind (not that he always succeeded, but at least he could tell when he wasn’t).
“Myah! You can understand me?! I thought that stupid bird man said you can’t hear.” The creature leaned back, slightly bristled. More than slightly bristled actually. Is he shivering?
Too many words, they swam in Danny’s head, but he got the gist.
“Are you cold? There’s a fireplace in there. I don’t know if it works though.” Danny gestured behind himself, to the room he came from. Belatedly realizing he didn’t respond to the question. Didn’t really understand the question enough to respond.
The flames on the creatures head flared. “You ignoring me?” He grumbled, frowning with a mouthful of teeth and angry slouch.
“I can’t really understand well when you talk. Are you cold?” Danny asked again. He was definitely skipping steps in the conversation, but as much improvement as he’s made, he’s still exhausted and he’s having trouble keeping track of his own thoughts, much less the words of others.
The creature seemed to be gearing up for something before a drop landed on his head. He jumped and exclaimed angrily, trudging past Danny down the hall, away from the sitting room with the fireplace. Danny looked up, and yep, definitely a leak.
Sighing Danny contemplated what he should do, he really didn’t want to go far into the manor. He wanted to go back to resting. And this guy's presence is not relaxing. Just as Danny had the thought he heard the creature scream.
The creature ran back and jumped right behind Danny’s legs. Surprised, he looked down.
“Ghosts! Ghost! There are ghosts!” The creature was frantic. If only he knew.
Danny had figured there was a good chance this place was occupied. The confirmation was nice, and hopefully these ghosts weren’t interested in fighting him.
Before then three ghosts revealed themselves/ One quite skinny, one quite round, and one just in between. Their bodies were more akin to blob ghosts - cartoonish and soft, as opposed to the typical Realms ghost. They probably weren’t strong enough to leave the building.
The round ghost began to laugh, “We haven't had visitors in forever. We’ve been itching for some new friends!”
“All the people that lived here before got scared and ran away.” The medium one continued.
The round one cut in, “We just want some new ghost buddies to play with! What do you two say?” Leaning down as all three grinned at them.
“Mya! I’m a master sorcerer! The Great Grim won’t be defeated by some stinky ghosts!” Grim threw a fireball but wasn’t even close at hitting one of the three targets. Danny turned down to look at him just to discover – he was covering his eyes. Danny’s mouth almost dropped. There was no way this guy wasn't going to burn down the building and everyone in it.
“Hey-- no-- you’ve got to aim.” Danny frantically tried to stop Grim from attacking at random.
He did stop covering his eyes, but only to blow even larger fireballs, these also missing as the ghosts taunted him.
“Stop! Disappearing! And let. Me. Hit you. That’s cheating!” Grim was getting more volatile as he grew in anger. Danny really needed Grim to listen, but he didn’t have much to go off of.
“Surely the Great Grim can aim a little to the left of the skinny one?” Danny was trying to talk over the ghostly taunting but it was hard. Thankfully Grim seemed to listen to him and Danny’s suggestion paid off. The medium ghost had been next to the skinny ghost, invisible but not intangible.
“Gyah! I hit one, I hit one! I mean, of course I hit one, I am a Master Sorcerer afterall!” Grim laughed.
“Very skilled. Now fire over there right now!” Danny directed. And true to his aim another ghost was down. Luckily nothing too fine was required, the fireballs were pretty impressive for the size of the creature they came from. The ghosts would hopefully respect the show of power and leave them alone. With one last direction the final ghost had disappeared and Danny sensed that they were alone once more.
Danny smiled down at Grim as the creature realized they had won. “Good job Master Sorcerer Grim. You saved us.”
“I did it!” Grim exclaimed, jumping a few times before jumping right into Danny’s arms. A hug from the creature allowed Danny to get hit in the face with a fresh puppy smell. And a bit of wet cat. But mostly puppy. Danny couldn’t help but to breathe in deeply as the smell relaxed something in him he hadn't even known needed relaxing.
“Goodness gracious!” The sound caused Danny to jump and whirl around. Mr. Crowley had returned. He had two bags and a folder, but nothing else. He was looking at the charred spots and water puddles all around the hall.
“There were… ghosts.” Danny went to gesture but Grim was still in his arms, and Danny wasn’t letting go until Grim wants down.
“You! The direbeast from the entrance ceremony. You’ve already been ejected from this institution once before! What are you doing, returning?” Mr. Crowley demanded.
“Taking care of your ghost problem, that’s what!” Grim stated, wiggling a bit. Taking a hint Danny leaned as far down as he could before the twinging in his chest got to be too much. It was enough for Grim, who jumped down to the ground.
“You’re welcome by the way.” He grumbled, crossing his arms.
“Ah, I do seem to remember now why this dorm was initially abandoned. A mischievous ghost problem if I recall. The ghosts had scared away all the students.” Mr. Crowley brought a finger and thumb to his chin in contemplation.
“Is that to say you and Mr. Nightengale collaborated to defeat these ghosts?” He looked between Danny and Grim, his eyes settling on Grim.
Before Grim could respond, Danny cut in. “We did.”
Mr. Crowley looked to Danny in surprise, before settling. “Ah, my apologies dear. I hadn’t meant to ignore you, just take stock of the situation.” He spoke along signing, something he hadn’t been doing before. Maybe speaking to include Grim?
“Say, would the two of you be amenable to a demonstration on your ghost eradication methods?” Mr. Crowley asked, still speaking and signing.
“I think we’re tired, mayb-”
“NO.” Grim crossed his arms in an x, “I am not doing anymore! I am too wet and too hungry! And that dumb rain almost put out my ear fire. No more!”
“Perhaps for some dinner, little direbeast? If you did as you claim then surely it will only take a moment.” Crowley bargained with a curved smile, as he reached into his feathered cloak.
From his cloak he pulled a bottle, popping off the top he drank its contents. In a shimmer he had become cartoonishly ghost-like. Danny couldn’t tell if he was really a ghost or not, he felt really weird and it made Danny incredibly uncomfortable.
“Now then! Let’s see you dispel me as a ghost. Don’t you worry about striking me young direbeast, I am far too kind to be worried about you harming me.” He began to flit around the room appearing and disappearing as the three ghosts had before.
“You asked for it! You better get me some tuna after this.” Grim growled.
Seeing that Grim was about to start firing at random again, Danny was quick to direct him. One, two, three hits, and it was over. Seeing Mr. Crowley still and begin to shimmer again Danny called Grim to a halt. He was panting and seemed to be overexerted.
“Well?” Grim gasped, trying to look unaffected.
“You did amazing, Grim.” Danny praised.
“Absolutely incredible,” Crowley clapped, now fully bodied. “I have never before seen someone bend a monster to their will quite the way you have. Ah apologies,” he began to sign what he just said, but Danny cut him off.
“I can hear you, thank you, though.” Danny smiled.
“Oh! I had thought you were hard of hearing?” Crowley asked.
Grim cut in, from where he had snuck off to go digging in one of the bags by the front door, “The human said he couldn’t understand me well.”
“I see, I had figured you were just skilled in lip reading. Well it is of no great importance. I have brought dinner as promised, but I ran into some issues I was hoping you would be able to explain.” Mr. Crowley said as he strided past Danny and grabbed both bags and the folder, nudging Grim away from the bag he was rifling through with said folder.
Grim grumbled about promised food but followed Mr. Crowley as he headed into the room Danny had napped in. Mr. Crowley waved his staff and the char and puddles disappeared. Looking up, the wet spots were still there, and dripping, but it seemed to be slowing down. It reminded Danny a bit of Desiree’s wish magic.
Mr. Crowley flipped a light switch Danny hadn't even noticed as he walked through the threshold and gestured at the fireplace which lit immediately. Danny glanced at the chandeliers he hadn’t bothered acknowledging before and followed Mr. Crowley to sit across from him onto the nap couch as indicated.
“You two may begin eating, but don’t you think I’ve forgotten about your breaking and entering, direbeast.” He then began unpacking one of the bags, which seemed to hold two meals and a bunch of water bottles, though he only set out two. Setting the meals in front of Danny and Grim, who had just sat next to Danny. Far enough to argue that Grim’s close proximity was a coincidence, but near enough that Danny could tell that Grim had intentionally sat by him.
Danny opened his containers to find curry, rice, and vegetables. It smelled amazing. It would be the first real food he’d had in a long time. It will probably make him sick. Danny turned to see grim struggling with the lids. He reached over to help him out. Grim’s offended noise at Danny touching his food abruptly cut out once Danny had gotten the lid off of the curry. Immediately giving up on the provided spoon and sitting on the couch to lord over the bowl and messily stuff his face. Danny was quick to get the other two lids off and pop the cap on Grim’s water bottle.
Mr. Crowley was looking at Danny contemplatively again. It seemed like the man was always solving some sort of puzzle in his mind. He caught Danny’s gaze and nodded to his food, the motion birdlike.
Danny grabbed his spoon and started on the rice, sipping bits of water between each nibble. Mr. Crowley opened the folder and in it were a few papers.
“I am hoping you will be able to tell me about from where you come. Unfortunately I couldn’t find your information in the student system, nor could I find your belongings. I found you in the school registry, so the wards do recognize and accept you as a student, however, you can’t be found in any digital registration with this institution, which also means I was unable to acquire any personal information for you.” Mr. Crowley still signed as he spoke, which really helped Danny keep better track of what he was saying. Mr. Crowley seemed more curious than anything too, like he hadn’t spent at least an hour trying to find information on someone who doesn’t exist.
Danny put the spoon down, from where he was picking at the rice.
“I’m not from here, I think I’m from really far away. I’d never heard of Night Raven College before you told me about it earlier.” Danny tried to not show his nerves. He really wanted to be honest, but when was it too much? Mr. Crowley had already accommodated Danny so much.
“Truly?” Mr. Crowley leaned forward. “And you’re sure it’s not the confusion from the timespace teleportation? There is no place in this world that has not heard of the unparalleled Night Raven Collage I’m sure!” Mr. Crowley seemed to be genuinely shocked.
This time Danny couldn’t help but squirm. “I’m not- from this world, I don’t think.” Danny was hesitant, but it’s not like he had much to lose, and it seems that Mr. Crowley really wants to know what’s going on.
“Wha-- not from this world? I suppose it’s not completely unheard of, but certainly not common! Do you have any identification? A phone perhaps? Drivers license? Or even a shoe?” Mr. Crowley was surprised, and stressed, but not as surprised as Danny thought he would be. Danny felt like he sounded crazy, in his opinion.
“I don’t, only the uniform I woke up in.” Danny tried to not show how sad the reminder that he didn’t even own any shoes made him.
Mr. Crowley seemed similarly distressed but for different reasons. “I cannot allow this to get out, a young man kidnapped by a magical artefact at my school…” He continued to mumble to himself.
“I- I don’t mind being here. I wasn’t really kidnapped, where I’m from this kind of thing happens to people all the time. And I don’t have any personal connections to where I was before…” Danny trailed off hesitantly. Little paws began to tap and slide Danny's curry away from him. Danny pushed his bowl to be next to the little glutton's now empty bowls.
Mr. Crowley looked up, his breakdown put on hold. “Normal?! Are you certain? Will someone be coming to recover you then?”
Danny looked up at Mr. Crowley and then away, “I mean, at least one guy probably could, eventually. But this is normal for us, and…” Danny trailed off frustrated. He didn’t want to beg to stay, especially not on the basis of one guy being nice to him and the comfort of being near people his age, especially when he doesn’t actually have a full grasp of the situation yet.
“I see.” Mr. Crowley seemed deep in thought, weighing this new information. After a few moments he concluded his thoughts.
“Well, in my boundless kindness I will of course allow you to continue your studies here at Night Raven College. Regardless of circumstance, you have been accepted and you will be my responsibility until you graduate, outside of expulsion and school breaks of course.” Mr. Crowley chirped, animated again.
“And you’ll need to be getting caught up on this world, so I will give you unlimited access to the library! Yes, the grand Night Raven College Library, known to be one of the largest physical collections of knowledge in the world, it’s true! Ah, truly so kind of I.” Mr. Crowley began to stand, brushing off dust.
“We can get the rest of your situation figured out tomorrow then. For now, I have a change of clothes, toiletries, and water in the bags. You should be able to get light throughout the building, it is safe to traverse as long as you mind your step. No need to worry about the wiring as it’s all powered by a magic stone array. Though do be careful about overstressing that old thing. I will have it recharged or replaced eventually. And while I have turned on the water, do not drink it for now. If you run out of water there is a well a ways behind the building.” Mr. Crowley nodded to himself and then turned to Grim, who was overstuffed and starting to doze under the table.
“Now for you,” he motioned Grim. “Come along direbeast. I have upheld all owed to you and it’s time you get off my property.” Danny felt a zing of panic run through him, he didn’t want the unclaimed puppy to leave.
Grim, of a similar mind, immediately awoke from his near sleeping state. “Gyah! I can’t leave! I’m the Greatest Magician to ever live! There is nowhere else someone as great as me can go! And if you kick me out I’ll just come right back.” He was now standing fully, defensively. His words were boasting, but Danny felt it was more desperate than anything.
“I cannot simply allow some riff raff ceremony crasher enter such a fine establishment.” Mr. Crowley huffed.
“Would it be possible for Grim to stay with me?” Danny was anxious, he really didn’t want to part with Grim. Danny would get Grim’s puppy pheromones and Grim would get to be at the school, a win win for them both. Grim’s head jolted to look up at Danny.
Mr. Crowley seemed surprised by Danny once more, but at least seemed to give it more thought than when Grim asked the first time. “You would ask for an allowance for a direbeast, a monster? At my school? Well, I suppose I cannot refuse such a plea. But as he stays with you, he will also be your responsibility, your school stipend will not cover his expenses.” Mr. Crowley tutted before continuing, “And! To make up for the disaster he caused, he will be required to clean Main Street before your student orientation tomorrow.” Mr. Crowley nodded to himself.
Danny looked at Grim, who was still staring at Danny with big eyes, “That sounds fair to me.”
“Good, now that that’s out of the way, I will be off. Someone will drop off previsions in the morning. Goodnight Mr. Nightingale.”
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After finishing the rice and a few bites of vegetables (the rest going to Grim’s endless infernal stomach) Danny grabbed the bags Mr. Crowley had left behind. It was time to explore. Time to find a place to bathe. That’s what he needed. He looked down at Grim, who had been surprisingly silent for such a rambunctious creature.
“I’m going to find a bathroom, if you want to come.” Danny offered. Grim huffed, but seemed fine to follow him. Danny was going to let whatever Grim’s problem was rest, for now. Maybe he’s just tired. Danny can definitely relate.
Turning lights on and off as they go for Grim, the two wandered around peeking into rooms. The building was surprisingly undamaged compared to what Danny would’ve expected. No pests, no wet rotting, no mold (at least none he could see or smell). The entire building seemed pretty structurally sound, at least to his standards.
It was something to think on later, but it seemed that all of the damage was superficial. Aside from the roof. The leaks Mr. Crowley fixed were bad, and Danny doubted whatever he did was permanent. Unless there was some unforeseen consequence to such a great and probably complex feat, it had to be a bandaid.
Up what was probably once a very fancy staircase and on the second floor, Danny found a lenin closet among the bedrooms, almost in the middle of the hall. So far it had been mostly empty rooms aside from covered furniture. A few empty closets, and two absolutely packed with junk. But finally Danny found something usable to him now.
Touching the towels and blankets, they were again in surprisingly good shape. Not disintegrating, not mothbitten, just old. He grabbed a towel, and after a bit more consideration grabbed a second. He also took a few washcloths. He would be back to grab the blankets as soon as he settled on a place to sleep.
Opening the door to the room directly across from the closet, and the actual most center room in the hall, Danny found a master bedroom. Larger than the other rooms had been, and better furnished. His eyes caught two doors on the inside of the room, one next to the other.
The first one was a closet, a very large closet. Large enough to fit more clothes than Danny had ever owned. But Danny wasn’t looking for that. The second door was as he was hoping for. A bathroom. An also large very bathroom.
Danny set the towels down on the toilet lid, and the bags on the floor. He wandered to the large clawfoot tub and started at figuring out how the knobs worked. The water came after a few moments and Danny decided to let it run for a bit before he would plug the tub. Going through the bag with toiletries, Danny found shampoo, conditioner, a bar of soap, a toothbrush, floss, and toothpaste.
It was a relief that Danny hadn’t even thought about. He didn’t really get cavities or buildup, any matter left in his teeth after eating would eventually be eaten away at by traces of ectoplasm (even if he didn’t direct it there), but the idea of being able to clean himself so thoroughly was very attractive.
He also found a black jumpsuit, a grey shirt with a shell on it’s crest, and a pair of basketball shorts. He also found a plastic bag marked with an S containing a pair of boxers and socks.
Dumping the clothes on the lid with the towels. He adjusted the water to a temperature he liked (heated water!) and used the ball chain attached to the plug to get it in without having to bend over too much. He looked around and found Grim, who was still watching him and silently judging from the doorway.
Danny raised an eyebrow. “I’m going to take a bath, do you want me to get some blankets for you before I do? Or do you want to take a bath too? You’re covered in dirt and curry.”
Grim bristled. “I don’t need a bath! Just get me my blankets, henchhuman.”
“Alright, if you’re sure. I guess we don’t have any ways to dry you if you do get wet.” Danny nodded, but his attention was still on the crusted food on Grim’s face. Also did he call Danny his henchhuman? Danny wasn’t sure what else Grim could’ve said, but his brain really wasn’t working.
Danny left and returned with sheets and as many blankets as he could carry in one trip. It would be enough. He dumped them on the edge of the large canopy bed. He should've removed the sheet protecting it before putting the blankets on top of it. Too late now. He pulled it off and dumped it on the floor, out of the way.
The mattress underneath was yellowed with age, but was in really good condition otherwise. Danny wasn’t sure he’d be able to sleep in a bed, but he wasn’t going to not try. People sleep on beds, and Danny is a people.
Danny looked contemplatively at Grim, who was trying to not show that he was nodding off. He looked back at the mattress and the sheets he was going to have to put down. He sighed. Mr. Crowley did say that he would be responsible for Grim. Danny didn’t want to assume Grim had less autonomy than he does, but offering wouldn’t hurt.
“Did you want to sleep in the bed? I can set you up a bed in one of the other rooms, if you’d like your own.” Danny asked.
“I will sleep where I want.” Grim replied, barely conscious. He continued after a moment, “I’ve never slept in a bed before.” He murmured, barely audible.
Danny nodded, “It’s been a while for me too.” He said as he walked by to check on the water, turning it off even though it was only slightly more than halfway. The crust was still bothering him, he really didn’t want crust where he was sleeping.
“How about you wash your paws and wipe your face, before you get into bed?” Danny asked, hoping Grim will agree.
When Grim only squinted in response, Danny added, “I can do it for you, if you’re too tired. It would be quick.”
“Fine.” Grim grumbled, ”But no bath.”
Danny smiled and nodded, “No bath.” He affirmed as he grabbed the washcloths.
Running water from the sink until it was warm, Danny dampened one of the cloths and wrung it out until it was only slightly dripping. He kneeled down in front of Grim carefully. He gently took his nearest front paw, carefully wiping away dust and dirt. He then wiped Grim’s back paws, while he helped keep the small being stable. Grim was probably only being so agreeable because he was so tired, but Danny couldn’t feel too bad for taking advantage of it.
Finally all that was left was his face. Danny dropped the now dirty washcloth onto the edge of the sink and wetted a new one. He then carefully wiped crusted curry out of Grim’s fur. He even managed to get some on his chest, somehow. He must’ve put his whole face in the bowl at some point.
Grim had given up on staying awake at this point. Softly snoring and laying against Danny’s knees. He didn’t want to disturb the slumbering creature, but Danny couldn’t hold the position much longer and he still needed to make the bed and bathe himself.
Danny wasn’t sure he’d be able to lift Grim from the ground, but decided to give it a try anyways. It was a struggle, and the movement exacerbated his chest. He should’ve stopped the moment he started getting warning pinging but he was almost standing with them both and it wouldn’t hurt more once he was properly stood. And even if it did, Grim was sleeping so peacefully. Danny resolved himself to the pain.
Just a few steps and Danny set grim down on one of the blankets. He got to work on putting down the sheet, didn’t have much need for the pillowcases since he left the pillows in the closet, but they could contribute to his nest. He made the best nest he’d had since the times back when Jazz made nests for him after he’d freshly presented at 11 (they were always wrong and lumpy, but they were made with so much love).
Placing Grim in the nest proper, he immediately curled up. Danny smiled tiredly. He needed to get clean and then go to bed. The lure of his nest was great. Even greater was the temptation of soft pup smell in a nest just waiting for him to defend.
Danny sighed and headed to the bathroom. He took off his clothes and very carefully didn’t look at himself. Dropping one towel on the ground to create a mat, then the second towel on top. He gathered his soaps and washcloth, and stepped into the water. Only a bit warm after a 20 minute detour, but the luxury of it all still made his stomach clench as he carefully lowered himself. Grabbing the last washcloth and the bar soap, he got to work.
First his body, carefully rinsing any open wounds, but doing his best to keep soap out. Then his hair, longer than he’d ever preferred, he lathered with shampoo. The water quickly ran gray, and Danny rinsed himself before draining it.
He filled the water once more, and started again. This time shampooing twice more, before conditioning. He took special attention to getting the dirt and blood out from under his nails, and washed in every nook and cranny. Finally clean enough Danny leaned back to relax. He hated the feel of his scars through the washcloth. Hated how aware he was of every blemish.
He knew it was because his body was so stressed, but he was glad the exhaustion could stave off the breakdown for now. Now that Danny was out, he’d have to take inventory of what was done to him and what he had left. He was also going to have to somehow get much gentler soap for his more intimate scaring very soon, or he’d have problems. The weekly hose off he got outside of special occasions didn’t get rid of most of his natural body oils, and as nice as finally being clean was, his thinner skin was much less protected when it didn’t have that layer of oil grime. If he could get regular infections, he probably wouldn't have made it the first month.
He didn’t want to but he knew he had to look at his chest. He had been cut open so many times his body barely bothered with properly closing. He had staples, keeping him whole. They were normal medical staples, but they were treated or charged with something keeping them from falling out if Danny were to go intangible, or melting, if he focused a high enough concentration of ectoplasm to the incision. A concern that he’d get the energy to use either ability and kill himself maybe.
The water cooled faster than what was natural, the cold also relaxing. But if Danny didn’t get up now, he’d fall asleep. It would be lame to die from drowning in a bathtub after everything he’d survived. Assuming he actually could die, which he wasn’t too sure about. He’d been through a lot.
He drained the water and stood, immediately lowering himself to kneel on the towel he had set down before. Carefully toweling off, he finally got the nerve to look at his chest. Covering as much of himself as he could with the towel before peeking.
An irritated pink, more red in some places, where he’d pulled the skin. Danny let out a quiet sigh. It was healing, but not deeply. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do, not sure what he even could do, aside from leave it alone, and hope his healing eventually realizes something’s wrong.
Danny grabbed the clothes from the toilet seat and began to dress as best he could while sitting. He pulled the toothbrush, floss, and toothpaste to himself after, and brushed his teeth, not bothering to wet it. Finally when he had to spit, he helped himself up to the sink. Setting the dental supplies to the side and rinsing his mouth. He dropped the now used floss into one of the bags, and left the bathroom, turning the light off behind him.
Danny carefully crawled into the nest, mindful of Grim. He pulled up a blanket to the side, rested his head on the edge of the nest, and finally fell asleep.
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