#derpychemist

It didn’t seem to matter how long Vlad had been in space; noone on Earth had forgiven him for his ridiculous stunt and was still, still, treated as a leper everywhere hewent. He understood for the most part, failing to take over the world like thathad been the worst and, frankly, most ludicrous plan he’d ever tried to executeand had it been anyone else he would have been furious too. But it still hurt.

Being lost in space could make you reflect on things. Thingsyou would have adamantly ignored otherwise. Things that might have beenscreaming at you from the back of your mind but you were too lost in bitternessand the thrill of power to take heed from it.

And Vlad had been floating in space for years.

But if he could’ve stayed in space he definitely would’ve,but unfortunately, while his ghost half sustained him for a very lengthy period of time it couldn’tsustain him forever, else he’d become a full ghost. Which might have beenpreferable to the pure hatred and vitriol that was spat his way, every day. Itwas starting to wear him thin.

He made runs for food every other day, rummaging andcollecting as much as he could. He, Vlad Masters, was dumpster diving tosurvive. They’d taken all of his wealthafter all and he deserved nothing less, even if it hurt and further bruised hiswounded pride. He’d fallen just as far as he ever could and he felt the shamedeep in his bones. He regretted what he did but he didn’t know what to do aboutit but wallow like the scum he felt he was. It was what he deserved, as he haddecided in space, to be alone and hated.

So one could imagine his surprise when he found DanielFenton standing outside the door of his hovel, looking nervous and unsure.

Vlad paused and simply observed the boy that had once beenhis “enemy.” He’d grown. Vlad felt oddly proud.

“Are you lost?” the question came out of his mouth unbiddenbut he didn’t take it back.

“No,” Daniel shook his head, “I don’t think so, at least…”the boy, a young man now, narrowed his eyes and looked more closely at old manbefore him. Then his eyes lit up in recognition and Vlad held his breath in shockwhen Daniel gave him a small smile. “Found you, Vlad.”

“You-,” he didn’t know what to say, “Were looking for me?”

“Yeah,” Daniel said softly, “Ever since…” he trailed off andlet the rest of the sentence hang in the air between them.

Vlad clung to the ratty leftovers of his suit, at a loss forwords and confused beyond anything else, “Why?”

Daniel looked away, off into the distance, and grimaced.But, oddly, Vlad didn’t think it was because of him. He’d seen that hauntedlook before. Likely in the mirror at some point. “Everyone deserves a secondchance,” the sentence was strained but said firmly, like he truly believed it.

“Even me?”

A resolute nod. “Even you,” the boy smirked a bit and Vladfelt better somehow, “Fruitloop.”

Vlad returned the smile, and opened his mouth to speakbefore a rattling crash caught their attention and something came hurtlingtowards Vlad’s head along with the words “Go to hell, Masters!”

Vlad was just able to dodge thanks to the leftover reflexesof his ghost half, but the pain these encounters usually caused him seemeddeeper now. Worse.

“Hey!” Daniel shouted and Vlad jumped at the sound, “Fuckoff!”

“Language, Daniel,” he chided before he could stop himself,shell-shocked at the young man’s reaction. Out of all the people to stand upand defend him…

Daniel gave him another cheeky grin, “Aw, come on Vlad-ster,I’m an adult, I can say what I like.”

Vlad scoffed but, again, he couldn’t hold back fromreturning the smile, even if it felt cracked and lopsided from disuse.

“Besides,” Daniel continued as he slung an arm over Vlad’sshoulders and walked the man away from his crumbling hovel, “It’s us againstthe world now, Vladdy.”

“Us against the world?”

“Yeah,” he nodded enthusiastically, “You and me, bro. We’llget you back on your feet and everything. Together. That sound alright?”