#vivisection reference

“But what do you think of the nails?”

Paulina splayed her fingers, showing off the long and pointy pink acrylic nails decorated with gold sparkles and rhinestones.

“They’re pretty,” said Danny.

Paulina giggled. “I still think you should join me one day. Your hands could really use some TLC after all you put them through during ghost fights.”

“Look, I’ll let you give me a manicure if you want, but no way I’m going to an actual nail salon.”

“Aw, why not? Too girly for you?”

“No, but remember that one time you took me to your hair stylist and you all ended up giving me an entire makeover including waxing?”

“I can’t help that you’re the perfect doll.”

Paulina kissed his nose. Danny rolled his eyes.

“So.” Paulina stroked the hair behind his ear. “Should we make dinner or order delivery?”

Danny checked the time on his phone. “It’s still a little early for dinner, isn’t it?”

“Mmm. Did you have something else in mind you wanted to do right now?”

“Well. I mean. I’m sure I could think of a few things.”

Paulina ran her hands under his shirt, pressing her fingertips against his skin. Danny allowed her to push him onto his back on the couch with his head on the armrest. He pulled his legs up underneath her while she straddled him.

“The nice thing about these loose shirts you wear is it’s so easy to get underneath them,” said Paulina, rubbing her palms over his chest.

Danny slipped his own hands under her shirt and ran them up her back, caressing the lovely curve of her spine. “What’s under your shirt is much more interesting, though.”

“Mmm, I’m not so sure about that.”

Paulina grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it up his chest, up and over his head and down his arms and onto the floor. She purred and pressed her palms against his pecs.

“Been working out?” she asked.

“Oh, yeah,” said Danny. “Bench pressing tons of ghosts.”

“I can tell. You’ve got the scars to show it.”

Paulina brought her lips to his chest and massaged him with kisses. Danny tilted his head back so she couldn’t see his smile fade.

He looked over at their living room window, at the bright sunlight streaming in. No darkness to hide his scars now.

Paulina’s kisses moved up to his neck. He sighed and melted underneath her, rubbing her back and pressing her into him, enjoying the feel of her lips wetting his skin.

Her hands roamed his chest again. They turned and twisted, her fingertips tracing him, her newly manicured nails raking him, scratching and tearing into him—

An operative was on top of him, pinning him down, dressed all in white, eyes concealed behind dark mirrored sunglasses. Danny could see his own face reflected in the lenses, drained and terrified.

Her nails dug into him—

—cutting him open, ripping him apart, searing his flesh, splitting his nerve endings—

—a sharpness moving down his chest—

—the operative’s knife broke him in half and laid his vulnerabilities bare for all to see, his secrets and private areas exposed for their sick enjoyment—

Danny sucked in a hard breath and jumped, backed away, pushed the operative off and away from him. He pulled his arms in to protect himself, his body trembling with quick pulses popping beneath his skin.

“Danny?”

Blood was pouring out of his chest, seeping through his fingers—

“Danny, what’s wrong?”

He had to get away, had to fly away but they shut down his powers—

“What’s going on? Danny? Talk to me, Danny.”

He fell back and off the table, his head hitting the floor with a hard thud that jolted his whole body. Sparks shot in front of his eyes as he stared up at the bright sterile lights—

No, wait, this wasn’t the lab ceiling anymore. Where was he?

Paulina’s face appeared above his, tears glistening in her eyes. “Danny, are you okay?” Her voice wobbled. “Can I touch you? Or what should I do?”

Danny blinked and looked up from where he lay on the floor, his legs hanging over the armrest of the couch.

“Danny?” Paulina knelt by his side. “Are you hurt?”

Danny lifted his head and moaned as dull pain erupted in his skull and travelled down his neck.

“Sorry,” he muttered, lying back and putting a hand to his forehead. “That was really weird.” He could feel sweat against his palm, sweat that dripped into his hair and onto the carpet. “I have no idea what just happened.”

Paulina hopped off the floor and dashed off somewhere. Danny closed his eyes and panted, resting his arm above his head. Paulina returned moments later and pressed a wet, cold cloth to his face and neck.

“I don’t know what happened either,” said Paulina as she dabbed his skin. “You just suddenly jumped and fell backwards over the armrest. You looked…” She paused, frowning. “Scared.”

Danny hummed but did not reply.

She finished wiping his face and moved down to his chest. Danny stiffened at her touch.

“Should I not do this?” asked Paulina.

“Do what?”

“Your chest. Should I not touch it right now?”

“I—” Danny looked up at her worried face. “It’s all right. Just lay the towel on top of me.”

Paulina laid the towel flat on his chest. Danny sighed contentedly at how cool it felt.

“You say you don’t know what happened,” said Paulina. “But do you know why you looked so scared?”

“Hmm. I remembered something.”

“What was it?”

Danny looked away from her.

“Something bad that happened to you?”

Danny nodded.

“Something you’ve already told me about?”

Danny nodded again.

“Can you tell me?”

“It was…” Danny swallowed. “Just that time I was being held by the Guys in White.”

“When they…?”

Danny nodded.

Paulina’s shoulders rose as she hugged her arms. “Do you want to talk about it now?”

He had been held prisoner a week. Until Vlad rescued him. He remembered the way Vlad lifted him off that table, how weak and useless he felt, how much his chest and insides burned, how much his pride hurt as he looked up at Vlad’s smirk.

“No,” he said quietly. “Not now.”

Paulina placed her hand over his, lifted it and brought it to her lips. Danny sighed at her soft touch.

“But why did you remember that just now?” Paulina passed her thumb over the back of his hand. “Was it something I did?”

Danny debated in his mind, wondering if he should tell her it was her sharp nails dragging against him, tracing over his scars, feeling so much like the operative’s scalpel violating his skin.

No. He couldn’t break her heart. He couldn’t hurt her, couldn’t allow her to feel more pain than he was feeling.

He smiled at her. “Mmm mmm. No. You didn’t do anything, babe.” He sat up on one forearm while Paulina held his other hand, the towel still clinging to his chest. “I’m not sure why that entered my head right at that moment. My mind’s just kind of broken like that sometimes.”

Paulina scooted in closer to him and placed a hand on his cheek. “You’re not broken, Danny.”

“Only because you’re very good at putting me back together.”

A tear fell from Paulina’s eye. She brought his face close to hers and placed a warm kiss on his lips.

All the pain and ache in his chest went away.