Archive of Our Own ^beta

The bell rings for the end of their last period of the day, and Dash stands up, picking up his books and leaving the room with Kwan. They are mid-way through the second semester of junior year, so the school work has really started to pile up. The classes have gotten more boring as they prepared for final exams, and the hours seem to drag on and on for longer everyday. Though now, it was time for Dash's favourite activity of the day: football practice. He was team captain for the third year in a row, and genuinely enjoyed running the practices. 

A few of the other players caught up to them in the hallway, already having grabbed their duffel bags and heading to the locker rooms. They were also juniors, and Dash shared a few classes with them. Grabbing his own duffel bag from his locker, Dash shoved his books in its place and slammed it shut. Kwan, ever the socialite, was chatting away happily, discussing some of the homework. Dash tuned in, and noticed they were talking about physics.

Throughout the first nine weeks, the juniors on the football team were struggling with physics big time. So much so it was going to jeopardize their place on the team, Kwan and Dash included. Their teacher, a no-nonsense woman in her late forties, assigned them all a tutor. All-in-all, there were about nine players who desperately needed a tutor, so she put the kid with some of the best marks in the class in charge of helping them. To everyone's surprise, even their teacher's, it seemed, that kid was Danny Fenton. 

Fenton was shockingly good at physics, despite not doing too hot in pretty much every other class, including gym. Dash wasn't quite sure how anyone could fail gym, but Fenton was always one of the smallest guys in their grade, so naturally he was one of the weakest. Didn't play any sports, or take any physical fitness class unless he had to.

Fenton had been their tutor for the majority of the year, and Dash had to say that it had been paying off, he'd passed every test since the first two, and the rest of the team had similar results. He'd never thought the shrimp would be a good teacher, but the evenings after practice when the ten of them sat in the library, working through their homework. It took hours to get it down, but Fenton had been pretty patient considering he was tutoring the very people who shoved him in lockers everyday. 

Dash thinks that's about when their little truce had started. The team had agreed to chill on the wailing if he continued to help them pass physics. When Fenton wasn't snarky or sarcastic at your expense, the kid was even pretty funny. Naturally, they hadn't spent the whole time talking about physics, and the attitude that used to piss Dash off had turned rather endearing at some point. Don't ask Dash when, why, or how, he didn't know.

The rest of the school had pretty much cleared out by now, racing home or to the mall or something. Aside from the sports teams and Fenton, who just stays after school for the hour and a half that practice takes, the school is empty. Most days, they pass Fenton in the locker rooms, gym being his last class of the day. He goes and sits in the library, probably doing other homework until the players make their way there.

The door to the locker rooms was shut today, which immediately struck Dash as odd. The locker rooms were always supposed to stay open, it was a rule they had after a kid from the 50's had been stuck in there overnight once when bullies locked him in. The notion was also voiced by Kwan, who was walking by Dash's side. 

"Dude, why are the doors closed?" Kwan asked, adjusting the strap of his bag on his shoulder. The question was probably rhetorical, but Dash answered anyway.

"I dunno. They aren't supposed to be." Dash shrugged, approaching the door to see if it was locked.

"Maybe the gym kids accidentally-" one kid started, but his suggestion was cut off by a pained scream from inside the room. Dash froze, his hand inches from the handle. A series of laughs echoed after it, and some muffled speaking that Dash couldn't make out. Kwan leaned closer too, putting his ear to the door. Another cry echoed throughout the hall, this one quieter than the first. Dash furrowed his brows, leaning closer as well, hand hovering above the handle still. The voice sounded vaguely familiar.

A loud slam sounded, and Dash knew that sound anywhere. He'd been the cause of the sound many times before. 

Someone had been shoved against a locker. Another scream was heard and Dash could finally place the voice.

"Fenton...?" he breathed, hand gripping the door. Locked. He huffed in tense frustration.

"That's Fenton," he said, a little louder, still pulling on the door. Kwan tensed next to him. 

"I thought we were the only ones who picked on him before?" Kwan said, grabbing the door too, trying to pry it open with their combined strength.

"Guys! Wait, there's a key up here." The two paused as Paul, a rather tall guy, reached up on the door ledge and pulled down a key. He handed it off to Dash, who grabbed it and immediately shoved it in the lock. He'd be lying if he wasn't a little worried. Even when he'd been the guy picking on Fenton, he'd never hurt him so bad he screamed in pain. A few punches? Sure. Shoving him in lockers? Yeah, obviously. But never enough to seriously hurt the guy. He wasn't that low.

Finally, the door unlocked and he yanked it open with a swish of air. The taunting stopped abruptly as he rounded the corner furiously. The scene in front of him made him pause.

Three freshmen on the football team were huddled around each other, all looking up at him like deer caught in headlights. Fenton was on the ground, on his front, one of the bully's shoes dug into his back. Another guy was holding down Danny's head, putting all the pressure on his neck. 

Choking him.

The rest of his friends had caught up by now, and looked on at the scene in horror. Kwan drew in a startled breath next to him, but Dash looked on, growing angrier by the second.

The guy who was standing on Danny's back also had one of his arms twisted behind him, held so tight it looked painful. Fenton was visibly shaking, looking up at the new arrivals. He and Dash locked eyes, and Dash froze again. He'd never seen Fenton look genuinely scared before, unless it was a ghost attack. Even then, this was different. His eyes were wide with fear, and he was almost crying. There were bruises across his face, one at the top of his right cheek bone which was busted and bleeding, one on his eyebrow, and one on the edge of his chin. Dash shook himself out of his trance, and slowly approached the boys. He couldn't help but glance at Fenton again, whose eyes were starting to gloss over and lose their focus. He remembered with a start that the one kid was still choking him, and his anger rose.

"WELL?" He yelled, getting closer. The kid choking him stood up and backed off, looking scared. Good, Dash thought. As soon as his neck was released, Danny gasped loudly, coughing and choking to get in air. The kid standing on his back hadn't budged, yet, and Dash looked at the other, eyeing him up and down.

The kid had a switchblade in his hand. Dash's eyes widened impossibly with fury, and he stalked closer.

"The FUCK do you think you're doing?" he bellowed, his voice echoing throughout the room. No one dared to move, to breathe, except Fenton, who was still trying to get in air. Dash barely heard Kwan approaching from behind him, more footsteps echoing through the room as the rest of the juniors realized the depth of the situation. With nine angry football players approaching them menacingly, the other two backed off, and the kid with the knife sheathed it and dropped it back into his pocket.

He glanced back down to the injured teen on the ground, and noticed too that his shirt was ripped and wrinkled at the top. Fenton was still getting his breathing under control.

"Are you gonna answer me, shitbag?" he asked, getting up in one kid's face. The kid's mouth opened and closed uselessly a few times, no sound coming out. Dash rolled his eyes. He squared up, pulling back his arm, and socked the guy right in the jaw.

He fell back from the force of the punch, and slammed right into the lockers. The other two looked at their friend and then up at him like they were about to piss themselves. Dash felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to Kwan.

"Dude, go help Danny, I think we can handle these assholes." Dash nodded reluctantly, turning back around to give the meanest glare he could muster before backing up and returning to the middle of the room.

Fenton was propped up on his elbows, taking deep breaths and rubbing his cheek, where the biggest bruise was already forming.

Dash knelt next to him, touching his shoulder gently, so he didn't startle him. It was in vain though, because he still jumped, but relaxed a bit when he noticed Dash. 

"Hey," Dash said, offering him a hand. Danny took it, and Dash grabbed his other arm to help sit him up. "You alright, Fen- Danny?" Danny looked thrown off for a moment before deciding not to mention the name change.

"Uh- yeah, I think I'm good. Thanks for the rescue though." Dash realized abruptly that he was still holding Danny's hand, and quickly let go, heat rising to his cheeks.

"No problem. How's your face?" Danny shrugged, but winced at the motion. 

"Bruised, I'm sure. How does it look?" Danny looked up at him, and Dash studied him for a moment, trying to find a way to describe it that didn't make him sound gay or like an asshole. Though it was hard not to sound gay when the guy was looking up at him and into his soul with big, bright blue eyes.

"Your, uh, face is- great. I MEAN- it's uh-" Danny laughed, but it came out more like a giggle, and rubbed at his cheek, which had stopped bleeding. The sight and sound did something to Dash, and his face felt like it was on fire.

When had Fenton become cute?

Dash shook his head. That was a self-confrontation for another time. He stood up quickly, offering his arm to Danny, who took it. Dash grabbed his other, supporting him on his way up. Danny swayed in place a moment before Dash steadied him.

"Easy, Fenton. Don't you dare pass out on me." Danny rolled his eyes, and Dash realized how pale he was.

"Wow, what a gentleman you are Dash Baxter, so kind." His voice dripped of sarcasm, but it wavered a little bit, and sounded dry. As if on cue, Danny rubbed at the back on his neck, over the place where the little punk had his hands.

With a start, Dash looked down to the top of Danny's shirt, and realized that his binder was showing quite a lot. Danny's eyes followed his gaze, and he froze. Scrambling to readjust his shirt, but to no avail. the top of it was ripped a long the shoulder seam, and it wouldn't stay.

Seeing how upset Danny was getting, Dash glanced away, shrugging off his red letterman jacket, and placed it on the smaller boy's shoulders, covering the rip. He saw Danny glance up at him from the corner of his eye, and Dash was positive his face couldn't get any hotter. He practically had steam coming out of his ears, and had no doubt that his face was now beet red. When he gathered enough courage to look back down, Danny was adjusting the jacket and smiling a little.

"Thanks," he said quietly. Dash nodded, a stupid smile on his face. 

Suddenly he snapped himself out his Danny Fenton-induced trance and cleared his throat. He ran a hand through his hair, glancing back to the scene behind him. The rest of them were grouped around the three freshmen, seemingly intent on giving them every injury they gave Danny and more. Dash smirked, satisfied with their intervention. He already had a perfect punishment in mind for the three of them.

He turned back to Danny, who was fiddling with his fingers nervously. Dash slung an arm around his shoulder gently, barely putting any weight into it, and turned him around, heading for the door. Danny looked up in surprise.

"I think the nurse is gone for the day, but I have a first aid kit in my bag, we can go into her office and patch you up." He said, swooping down to place his bag on his other shoulder. He turned momentarily to the group behind them. "When you're done with them get changed, including you three, you're going to practice today too." Dash grinned evilly, before opening the door and leaving.

"Dash, you don't have to, I can get fixed up in the bathroom and wait for you guys in the library," he offered, nodding to the hallway they were passing, which led to the library. Dash shook his head.

"Like hell you are. Kwan's co-captain, he can start practice while we're gone. Besides, those three have another thing coming to them once I get to practice."

"Please don't kill them." Danny said, rolling his eyes.

"Of course not. Just some light torture, they'll be fine."

"Dash!"

Dash laughed, and Danny soon followed suit, not able to contain it. They arrived at the nurse's office, which was thankfully open still, and turned on the light. 

"Take a seat, Fenton." Danny limped over to the chair, sitting down with a wince. Dash knelt in front of the chair, leaning down to open his bag. Luckily, with how short Danny was, and how tall Dash was, it ended up perfectly, where they were about at eye level, with Dash still a little above him.

Dash eyes him, pulling out the first aid kit. Electing not to mention it, he immediately got to work. Pulling out the antiseptic and getting a cotton ball from the nurse's station, he began cleaning the cut on Danny's cheek. The only sign that it hurt was a slight wince.

"Damn, did he have a ring on or something? He got you good." Danny nodded.

"Yeah, you know how they just gave us our class rings?" Dash nodded. "Yeah, pretty sure it was one of those. Hurt like a bitch too." Dash snorted at the foul language, not expecting it from Danny.

"Y'know I've never heard you swear before," Dash mentioned, moving to just swipe over the bruise of his eyebrow to make sure it wasn't bleeding. Danny let out another light giggle.

Damn it, Dash thought, blush making another appearance, what is this guy doing to me?

"Well, I don't often. This felt like an appropriate time," Danny said, making eye contact with Dash. The jock faltered for a minute, caught up in the gaze. He smiled awkwardly, leaning back to see if there were any more bruises.

"Ah, missed one," he mumbled to himself, lifting up Danny's chin to get to the bruise on his jaw. The brunet let it happen, wincing as Dash cleaned the area in case it started bleeding. "Sorry.." he said quietly in response to the wince.

"'s okay."

Once he was sure the bruise wasn't bleeding, Dash grabbed Danny's chin gently this time, guiding his head back down. Dash realized just how close their faces were at the same time Danny did, it seemed.

Neither of them backed up.

Dash's hand glided across to hold Danny's cheek. Danny let him, hand going to rest on Dash's arm. Now or never, Baxter. Dash leaned forward, maybe a little too fast, catching Danny in a kiss. Danny rolled with it immediately, kissing back. 

Dash dropped the cotton ball in his hand in favour of holding the other side of Danny's face, carefully avoiding the bruises. Danny leaned in further, his hand sliding to Dash's chest before wrapping around his neck. They broke apart for air, before going right back into another kiss.

He reached up to card his fingers through Danny's unruly black hair before resting it at the back of his head. The smaller boy sighed into the kiss, clearly enjoying that. Dash smiled against Danny's lips, and continued to run his hands through Danny's hair. 

Eventually, the kiss had to end, and the two parted again for air. They panted, quiet for a few moments.

Then Danny started his giggling again. Dash didn't know how much more of this his heart was able to take.

"What?" Dash asked, though it was broken off by a laugh from himself as well. 

"Sorry, sorry!" Danny said, his laughs slowing, "just never thought I'd see Dash Baxter this up close before," he finished, smoothing a hand over Dash's slicked back hair.

Dash is pretty sure his brain stopped working. He couldn't find anything to say back. Here he is, and Danny Fenton has officially shorted out his train of thought. It didn't help that Danny was also still practically drowning in Dash's letterman jacket. The sight made blood rush to Dash's face, which clearly contributed to the blocking of his brain's fuctioning as well.

Danny, seeing his struggle, hesitated, wondering if he said something wrong. His smile slipped for a moment, but before he could ask what was wrong, Dash leaned forward again, kissing him hard. Danny made a noise of surprise, but ultimately melted into it. Dash wrapped an arm around Danny's waist, the other holding the unblemished side of his face gently. Danny's arms tightened around his neck, and Dash pulled him closer, onto the edge of the seat.

The kiss lasted a few more seconds before parting for air. Danny brought a hand to his mouth, panting.

"Holy shit," Danny breathed, and the pair couldn't help but crack up. Dash pulled him in again, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

--------------------------

"You three! Get your asses over here!" Dash yelled, pointing at the freshman from earlier. Practice had just ended, but he wasn't done with these shits yet. "Go run another 10 laps and then meet me by the bleachers. And no slacking off or you'll be running more." They nodded, nervous, and took off on their laps. Kwan walked up next to him, water bottle in hand and a devious smirk on his face.

"So you and Fenton, huh Dash?" All the blood in Dash's body rushed to his face as he glanced over at the brunet in question, who was sitting on the bleachers, waiting for practice to be over.

"Shut up, Kwan," Dash grunted, shoving the boy's shoulder. Kwan lost his balance, laughing at his friend. 

Once the freshman finished their laps, and everyone else had changed and showered, they all huddled around to listen to Dash's punishment. Getting ready to head to the library for tutoring, Danny slung his bag over his shoulder before going up and standing at Dash's side. The freshmen stared at him with nasty glares.

"You better wipe that look off your faces or you're running another 10 laps," Dash threatened. They snapped up to look at him, and turned their glares to the ground. "Now," he said, crossing his arms, "I think the least you could do is apologize, and then we'll get to the rest of it." Dash gestured to Danny, who shifted in place, eyeing the freshman warily.

"Sorry, Fenton," one started, pointing to his two friends, "they dragged me into it." His friends glared at him with dangerous glints in their eyes. Danny raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms at the lame excuse. The other two nodded lamely, quiet, meaningless apologies tumbling out.

"Wow, that was shit," Danny stated bluntly. Kwan snorted behind him, and a few of the other players snickered. "I mean, really, are you that proud of your shitty personalities that you can't even swallow your pride and give a half-genuine apology?" By now the snickers behind him were full-on laughs, and a few covered their mouths. Dash smirked, crossing his arms as the freshman's face and ears burned red. With either shame, embarrassment or anger, or maybe a mixture, Dash wasn't sure, but it was hilarious.

Danny glanced down at a keychain on one of the kid's bags, which had the Danny Phantom logo across it. Oooo. Fans. Danny thought humourlessly. Wonder what they'd think if they found out they just beat the living shit out of their idol.

"A fan of Phantom, are we?" he asked, a bored expression on his face. The kid with the tag looked up to meet his eyes. Danny smiled wickedly. "What do you think he'd say if he knew one of his fans was a piece of shit like you? Personally, I think he'd be pretty disappointed." Just for kicks, he let his eyes flash green, grinning more when the kid's angry expression was wiped and replaced with horror.

"What the hell!" he said, backing up. Danny schooled his expression to one of confusion. The guy's friends glanced back at him, confusion also written on their faces. He pointed to Danny, still backing up. "Dude! You guys didn't see that?!" he practically yelled, gaping at his friends.

"No?" one said, raising his eyebrows. The guy sputtered, glancing between Danny and his buddies.

"The fuck? His eyes turned green! I swear to god his eyes-"

"Where do you think you're going?" Dash said, stepping forward. "And don't be such a little bitch, his eyes are blue, you idiot." Dash gestured to Danny's eyes, which were back to being bright blue. Danny, just for shits and giggles, looked even more confused, looking at the frightened guy.

"I don't know what you're on man, my eyes have always been blue. People's eyes don't just turn green," Danny said, voice monotone. The kid sputtered, trying to defend himself, but with twelve people looking at him like he was crazy, he just gave up, inching forwards, but never taking his eyes off of Danny.

"Anyways," Dash started, looking annoyed, "due to the fact that the three of you decided it was a fantastic idea to corner Fenton, beat him up, choke him, and get the bright idea to pull a goddamn knife on him, I think I have grounds enough to not only kick you three from the team without even involving the coach, and to get all three of you expelled."

Danny's eyes forgotten, the freshman looked at Dash, shock written over their faces.

"But Captain- it wasn't that bad! Just last year you were-" one of the started, before his friend slapped a hand over his mouth. Dash looked ready to explode.

"Not that bad? Not that bad! You could have killed him! The MOST I ever did was shove him in a locker. You suffocated him!" Danny placed a hand on Dash's shoulder, and Dash took a deep breath. Out of Dash's view, Kwan glanced at another player and wiggled his eyebrows. The guy snickered.

"There's no negotiation. You three are off the team. The only reason I'm not taking this to Principal Ishiyama and to Lancer is because this guy doesn't want to go through the trouble," he said, placing a hand on Danny's head. "And you are damn lucky too because this is deep shit. I don't think I need to remind you that he's also an upperclassman, which makes it look a whole lot worse to the staff. So go get your shit from the locker room and scram." They scurried away, the kid who Danny had showed his 'scary eyes' to leading away and practically running. Danny chuckled, watching them.

Dash scoffed, before turning back to the rest of the team. "It's getting kinda late, do you still wanna study?" A bunch of unenthusiastic murmurs were heard, and Danny snorted. Dash slung an arm around his shoulders, still not putting much weight into it, and chuckled along with him.

"I don't think anyone's up to hammering the average acceleration formula in 20 minutes. The test isn't until next week anyhow," Danny shrugged. 

"Ooo what if we just hung out at Nasty Burger for a little while," one suggested, "I'm starving," A series of cheers rang out, along with a few hungry groans.

"Nasty Burger it is," Dash said, slinging his bag over his shoulder and leading the way out of the field, Danny at his side.