Page 46 of Bad Daddy

“Yeah,” Danny said. He licked his lips. “All negative. So there's nothing–nothing left of him on me. I don't–” I don't have to worry anymore.

“I’d say that's great news, not just good,” Haru said, giving Danny's hand a squeeze. “And I'm proud of you for going. Stuff like that can be really hard.”

“Thanks,” Danny whispered. “I'm… I'm proud of me too.”

***

Two weeks after spring break was over, Danny packed up his stuff after his astronomy lab, opened the door to leave the classroom, and turned right back around to bolt back inside, heart pounding. He got a couple of looks from his classmates, but Danny was too busy getting as far away from the door as possible to care.

He hadn’t heard a peep from Clint in nearly a month. Danny had almost stopped flinching every time his phone went off. He’d become lax and lazy and so, so stupid to not keep looking over his shoulder. Clint knew Danny's class schedule, so really it was only a matter of time before he would send someone to come looking.

He supposed he should consider himself lucky that it was Ernie out there, and not Clint himself. Either way, Danny didn't know what to do. Panic was overtaking him. Ernie couldn't just drag Danny to a waiting car, and Danny wasn’t about to go quietly.

But just the thought of Clint trying to get him was enough to make it hard to breathe.

“Mr. Edwards, is there a problem?”

Danny’s eyes snapped to Crystal, standing a few feet in front of him. She had been a lot less frosty toward him since Danny had aced the midterm. A part of Danny wondered if she’d thought that he was using his dyslexia as an excuse for easier work. He didn't care–refused to care–but it was nice that she wasn't, like, openly hostile anymore.

Now she actually looked kind of concerned. He must really look like shit.

“I–” Danny bit down on the I’m fine. He wasn't, he really wasn’t, and while what he really wanted to do was just hope that Ernie would magically go away so Danny could go back to Haru’s, the latter couldn't happen without the former, and he could absolutely see Ernie waiting around until the lights clicked off, growling under his breath the whole time.

Danny needed someone in his corner and Crystal was the only one here. She was a good TA, all things considered. Fair. Made sure that it wasn't the same three loudest people getting their questions answered.

His brain scrambled for the fastest explanation that kept the spilling of too many messy secrets and feelings to a minimum. “My ex’s—” he stumbled to say it “—he’s waiting outside. I don’t—I can’t—”

Crystal’s eyes sharpened. “Danny, are you in danger?”

Danny bit his lip, unable to meet her eyes.

“Alright,” Crystal said evenly, pulling out her phone. “I’m calling campus security. What does he look like?”

Danny looked at her for a moment too long before he rattled out an approximate description, which Crystal repeated to the person on the phone. She smiled at him after she hung up, even though it was tight. Kind of like she was trying to comfort him but knew she wasn't the best person for the job. “Campus security will escort him off the premises and then someone will be returning to escort you to your car.”

“That’s okay,” Danny said quickly. He had already caused enough trouble. “I bus home anyway.”

“Is there someone you could call to pick you up?” Crystal asked carefully.

Haru came to mind immediately. But it was ten o’clock on a Wednesday night, and Danny had already spent the last several weeks convincing Haru that he didn’t need to go out of his way to pick Danny up from class. Haru worked hard and often got home late as it was. He didn't need to worry about going out again. Danny shook his head.

Crystal’s lips pursed. “I am offering you a ride home,” she said, and her expression added that while Danny could say no, she strongly advised against it.

“I’m staying in Park Heights,” Danny said instead of arguing. Park Heights was twenty minutes from Campus.

“What a coincidence,” Crystal said. “I’m going in exactly that direction.”

***

Crystal gave Danny her number before she dropped him off, as well as the number to campus security. Danny punched them both into his phone, feeling awkward but oddly grateful. He thanked her again and got out. Early into April meant that there was a little bit of breeze in the air, but it was still comfortable even with how late it was. Peaceful.

He unlocked Haru’s front door and took off his shoes once inside. He headed to the couch to decompress for a minute, slinging his backpack off his shoulder and onto the floor, sighing as he flopped down.

“Danny,” Haru’s voice came a moment later, sounding pleased but confused. “You’re home early.”

Oh. Yeah, if Danny had taken the bus, he still would have been at least fifteen minutes out. The wonders of having your own car. He hummed, eyes closed, and felt the couch dip. Then Haru’s warm hands started carding through his hair. It was so nice. Haru had been touching him more lately. Carefully, as if worried Danny might spook, but Danny welcomed every offering. Haru’s hands on him made something pleasant fizzle down Danny’s spine.

Sometimes he’d glance up and just catch Haru watching him, with the softest expression on his face. As if Haru was the one who couldn’t believe Danny was real.

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