The Impact Of It All.[Danny]

[Isabella Black]

A whole week had passed.

Isabella, slowly regained the little strength she had. Physically, the prison cell had drained her. Took all it could, and had left her frighteningly thin and fragile. With the help of Loki, she had gotten back onto recovery. The little blood her body did accept, went along way in fixing the mess Alec had created. The blood which her body didn't accept ended up thrown up on the floor. It was the result of not feeding in two months. She just couldn't handle so much human blood. Not when she was not use to it.

She didn't know when she ever would.

Looking up at the mirror displayed in front of her, Isabella could see her reflection. Ghostly white, with bruise coloured marks marring the skin beneath her eyes. There were others around her body, from the battle. The X mark still a permanent brand on her back. Everything made Isabella feel as if she were a ghoul. Or something close to a zombie. Her living style had become much like one. Alone, in morning. Like she had lost everyone instead of the two they did lose.

Lanor

Closing her eyes, Isabella looked away from the mirror. No longer able to look at the one responsible.

Evie

She was the one who could of saved them both. Little voices whispered in her mind, tormenting her. Making her relive their deaths over, and over. Like a bloody record. Reminding her of the one thing she could never change. She couldn't stop it. She could never be able too.

Grasping hold of the one book that kept her sane throughout the week, Isabella held it tightly. Believing that in practicing the art that was called Necromancy, she would find a piece of herself she had lost. All else seemed dull in compare. Still she could not shake the voices in her mind. Her constant companions.

Then a creaking was heard. As violet-rimmed red eyes looked up. Following the sound to the one door that hadn't moved since Danny had appeared. Isabella silently froze. She had not spoken to Danny at all. He would only come and go. He went back to school, while Isabella didn't. Not yet.

Still, it was unnerving. Isabella didn't know what he thought of her. If he even acknowledged her existence at all. But one thing remained the same. Danny would never forget the pain of losing Lanor. It broke Isabella's heart just seeing him as he was.

A lonely, broken man.

[Frank]

Danny walked into Isabella's room, stood at the doorway. He was silent, but that was nothing new.
He hadn't spoken to anyone since that day. He couldn't bare to speak. He hadn't the sanity for it. He was afraid of what would come out when he opened his mouth.

So silence may have been nothing new, but him being there was. Because, for as long as he hadn't spoken, he hadn't approached Isabella. He was a wreck. He didn't want to put that upon her.

It was bad enough that his nightmares were back. Every night he woke up screaming. Every night he watched Lanor burn again and again.
His screams always resounded throughout the house.
He knew she must hear him.

Also, whenever he was near Isabella, she reminded him of that day. And it was something that he couldn't bare to be reminded of. His mind already plagued him enough with such thoughts. It didn't need any provocation.

So he had kept away from her. Afraid to be a burden. Afraid to be reminded.

But some days he wished for company. Some days he cried for it. He was so entirely isolated from everyone, he had no comfort. He was alone.
He was used to being alone, true.
But this lonliness was different.
It was empty.


And now, oddly, he was at Isabella's door. He didn't know what brought him here. His legs just carried him..and he'd let them.
He knew he should go.
He would probably just hurt them both by being here.
But for some reason he stayed, looking at her with eyes full of pain and guilt and sorrow, and yet seeming oddly detached and blank.

[Isabella Black]

It was his footsteps that made Isabella come to the conclusion that he was heading toward her door. Open as it always seemed to be. Just in case Lelouch needed her, just in case she needed to stare out into the hallway. Seeking a familiar face the fill her vision. This time as she stood frozen, Isabella found herself looking at Danny. Standing at her doorway.

Silent, unmoving. Just standing and looking at her, for the first time in a week. Isabella saw what the solitude was doing to him, to them both. She could see the red around his eyes, the tell-tale signs that he had been rubbing a them. A habit a human did once they cried for long periods of time. He must of been and it must of been killing him, unable to shed tears. Only blood.

Her own heart let out loud thump. As she gripped tighter onto her book, as if it were a shield. She didn't know what he wanted, other than the company. She didn't know if he wanted to yell at her. To express his sorrow. His anger. His lose.

But his state made her yearn to hug him. Hold him close, so that neither felt so alone anymore. Isabella didn't know what was worse, having him here and not knowing what to do, or having him hidden away in his room, unable to talk to him.

Which ever it was, Isabella opened her lips. Saying the name she felt was taboo, just as Lanor's and Evie's names seemed to be.

"Danny?" Isabella's sweet voice was just above a whisper. Uncertain in what way she should approach him being here.

[Frank]

He studied Isabella. Listened to her loud heartbeat.
The steady thump provided some sort of comfort. But it also caused pain.

He let out a long breath.

If he had the sanity to notice such things, he would have realised just how bad Isabella looked. How unwell she seemed.

It wasn't self-absorbtion that stopped him from recognising such things. It was just general lack of thought, lack of attention. He couldn't concentrate on anything. He didn't notice even the most obvious changes.
He didn't even realise how bad he looked.

He wanted to say something to her. To reply. To let her know that yes, he was here and,no he wasn't mad. And she shouldn't be afraid or worried.
But words escaped him, and he could not speak. Instead he simply hung his head in response to her words.

[Isabella Black]

Isabella swallowed any other sound from leaving her mouth. The pain inside her was burning out. Crying out for Danny to say something, anything. She couldn't cope with the silence, it was devouring her already questionable sanity. It was this desire that lead Isabella to drop the book she had, had with her all week. Letting it fall, as she stepped forward. Closer to Danny than she felt she should be.

The breath he let out told her she was not imagining this. He was here, he just wasn't saying anything. Was this his way of torturing her? Making her suffer his state, while he continued to just stand. Make her watch him slowly die?

Then slowly, Isabella lifted her hand. Almost transfixed as she let her delicate fingers grip hold of Danny's chin. Lifting it up. Wanting to gaze upon his forest green eyes, with her own violet-red. Wanting to have that connection with Danny, like before. And as much as she didn't want to do this, Isabella let her eyes shine with nothing but understanding, kindness. Knowing she was hiding away the agony, the pain.

She could already see Danny's agony. Feel it. She just wanted to be there for him, even if she had to bury her own pain. Danny deserved as much.

[Frank]

Danny gasped quietly as she lifted his chin. The contact was so unexpected. The surprise was evident on his features. Meeting her eyes, his surprise only grew.
He couldn't understand what was shown in Isabella's eyes. He didn't know what to think of it.

Not knowing what to do, he just stood there, looking into her eyes. He repayed her horribly for the kindness, he knew. His eyes reflected back to her everything that passed through his mind, everything that he felt.
Later, when he escaped this semi-concious state, he would wish that he too could hide the things in his eyes. That he too could pretend the pain didn't exist for a while so he could comfort her.

Now though, Danny was useless.

A chain reaction. A little spark.
It set off in his brain.
The situation went from Isabella, with her hand on his chin,
to Danny with his arms around her, holding her close to him.
It happened so suddenly, the movement, that he would be surprised if he didn't startle her.

Although he was much taller than her, he managed to rest his head on her shoulder, his lanky body hunched over. He was seeking out the comfort that he so desperately needed. The comfort he had gone so long without.

And still, he never spoke.

[Isabella Black]

His eyes showed her everything, like an open book. She didn't think she'd ever forget them, the longer they stood there. In her room, as if everything was put on hold while they shared each others company. Just looking.

The unexpected movement almost scared Isabella. She did not expect to find his arms around her, embracing her. Not this soon. It caused something to wither away, and take in the embrace. Quietly, Isabella placed a hand onto Danny's head, the other going around him. Holding him securely.

Then she found herself humming, then words formed, shifting into a melody. It was soft, melodic, and soulful. Yet sad, so sad. It was beautiful. Isabella's voice was flawless, a tenor of silk intertwined with each and every line. A sad lullaby, that brought forth a kind of peace. A feeling of home, of belonging. Of a long forgotten happiness.

[Frank]

Danny was shaking. It took him a few minutes to realise it. He hadn't known how much he needed this.
The longer he spent in her arms, the less alone he felt.
It was as if somebody had torn holes in the blanket that was covering his mind. It wasn't much, but it was a glint of light. It was something

His chest heaved, and somehow he managed to drag her closer. This was his wordless apology to her. After all, he had done this. He had done this to both of them.
He knew better than to get too close to people. And then he had gone and done the stupidest thing he could have... he'd fallen in love.
How stupid.
But he'd left Lanor. It had hurt them both, but he had left him in a safe place. He'd come here. He'd made a friend. Another stupid decision.
And he'd let Lanor come to him. And he'd opened up to both of them.
His fears had always been justified.
It was never paranioa or exaggeration.
It was gut-wrenching reality.

If had never had become so close to Isabella, if he had never let Lanor come here, then none of this would ever have happened.
This is what happens when Danny Weaver makes friends.
People die.

Isabella's soothing voice sooftly pried him from his train of thought.
It washed over him.
It calmed him.
He gradually stopped shaking, and his mind returned to blankness as he stood in her embrace.

[Isabella Black]

The song ended slowly. Her eyes, in the time she had started singing to the time she stopped, had closed. The lullaby soothing her, just as Danny's embrace had. And she kept them closed. She flickered them open only when the arms around her tightened. Gently, Isabella started to comb her fingers through his dark hair. Out of habit than anything else. Kept from the day's Lelouch use to need comforting from his nightmares. She was pleased Danny had stopped shaking. She didn't know how long she could be in his company, without ending up crying.

Now the silence seemed to be a comfortable one, as she breathed slowly out. Realistically knowing she didn't have too, but the small beating of her heart made her. Reminding her to act like a human. Even though she wasn't around any.

Without any more words forming from her lips, Isabella let herself become totally absorbed by the hug. One that was way over due. One that she never wanted to break, in fear of losing Danny.

[Frank]

Eventually Danny uncurled his arms from around Isabella and straightened up to his full height.
Immediately he missed the comfort that the embrace had provided, but he forced himself not to tremble and latch back onto her as if he were a child. He was afraid that if he spent any longer in her arms, he wouldn't be able to let go.

Despite what his attatchment to her had done to them both, he couldn't break it quite as easily as he wished he could. He loved her too much. And now, after everything that had happened, he needed her.
Without her he would surely break. Break more than he already was broken, if it were at all possible.
He had already thought about leaving. He planned to go once he knew she was safe. Once he knew that Alec wasn't coming back. Once he was sure, he would go after Alec himself. Seek revenge for the pain he had caused to all of them.

He stepped back from Isabella, creating a comfortable distance between them. He raised a hand, swept his hair back from his face as he chewed on his lip.

[Isabella Black]

Isabella let her arms drop beside her, dangling like useless parts of her body. Already finding it difficult to hide the disappointment from the lack of touch. But she could see Danny was finding it even harder. His composer showing Isabella how he felt, giving it away. It was not only that, Danny seemed to always fail at truly hiding his feelings when they were strong. Isabella could read him, much like someone who held their heart on their shoulder.

Once he had stepped back, Isabella took the time to collect her book from the ground. Providing even more distance between them. It was strange, she could become so friendly towards someone, but when they needed comfort she was at a lost. All she could do was be there. And she would always be, for Danny.

"You know I'm here right, Danny? For whatever you need?" Isabella knew he knew it. As her voice seemed to fade into the room, from the lack of noise. She just wanted to make sure, and she was becoming more unsure everyday he didn't speak. Isabella just felt miserable about it, but if he was out of his room, interacting with her. Surely this was a good thing?

Isabella could only hope so. She didn't know what else to do.

[Frank]

Danny watched Isabella carefully, his eyes never leaving her. If things were different, he would have smiled at her, to reassure her, to let her know things would be ok.
But things weren't different, they were the way they were. He couldn't reassure her of anything, he was the one who needed reassuring. And he didn't know if things were going to be ok.

He met her eyes when she spoke. A slight nod. It was the only answer he gave her.
A silent thanks was written in his eyes.

Then, moving slowly, as if a sudden movment might startle her away, Danny reached to cup her cheek gently in his cool palm. He held his hand there for a moment, savouring the contact.

He turned his back on her as he pulled his hand away. Still with those slow deliberate movements, he walked out the door and back to his own room.
His door closed with a snap behind him.

Never once did he mutter a word. Never once did he look back.