Everything has gone wrong.
So wrong.
So incredibly fucked in the face with a rusty crowbar levels of wrong.
Danny can't even begin to think how or when things started going wrong. He just knows that he screwed up somewhere. Somehow.
It has to be his fault.
It's always his fault.
Dan's laughter echoes in his ear.
He winces, shaking.
Even that was better than this.
Red and green drips from no longer white gloves onto cold tile.
Cacophonous noise washes around but Danny stares at the way the two colors pool and puddle between his knees.
There's a click and the whirring of an ecto gun building charge.
He almost misses it.
He doesn't miss the black boot stepping into his line of sight.
Letting out a gust of a breath, he looks up.
His core thumps painfully as he glances down the barrel of the gun.
Past that into the hardened gaze of the one person he thought he could always rely on.
"I'm sorry," he whispers.
"Me too," she says.
Danny closes his eyes.
She pulls the trigger.
The expected pain doesn't come. Just cold darkness.
The cacophony of sound washes away into the ticking of a clock.
Tick.
Tock.
Tick.
Tock.
A deep resounding beat that reverberates in his bones.
Tick.
Tock.
Tick.
Tock.
A cool hand presses against his forehead, covering his eyes.
"Daniel," Clockwork says in a voice made of groaning gears and absolute wretchedness.
A sob escapes Danny's throat, just as broken.
"I've given you one last chance," Clockwork says.
"No," Danny gasps. "Please, no."
"I'm sorry I couldn't do more," Clockwork continues.
Danny blindly reaches to grasp onto his hand.
"I don't-no," he pleads.
"Make it count, my child," there are tears in his voice.
Danny chokes on a sob.
A press of a kiss to the top of the head.
"Please," is the barest whisper against hair.
He squeezes the hand and let's go.
The sound of the clock speeds up into a buzz.
"Goodbye, my child."
"I love you."
Danny is pushed back.
He falls.
The buzz grows louder.
Flashes of heat and cold passes.
Swirling lights and sounds.
Screams.
Green.
Laughter.
Blue.
A startled shout.
Yellow.
Familiar whispers of love.
Purple.
Quiet promises.
Orange.
It all fades into quiet darkness. Warm, soft, gentle darkness.
The buzz has slowed to a full th-thmp th-thmp that reverberates and soothes his core.
For the first time in years, he feels safe.
Truly safe.
It doesn't last though. Of course not. That would be too kind.
Too merciful.
He doesn't deserve it.
The th-thmp th-thmp quickens into a staccato tempo first.
The intense pressure of being squeezed almost painfully next.
It builds.
And builds.
And builds.
Until it's suddenly gone. Replaced by so much more of everything.
It's too loud.
Too bright.
Too cold.
Everything hurts.
He cries.
Something smooth and soft wraps around him just before having something so warm and soft press against his cheek.
The soft th-thmp th-thmp returns in his ear.
Soft murmuring filled with so much love pulls him from his tears.
Big, watery blue-green eyes blink up into indigo framed by soft brown hair.
"Oh my sweet baby boy," she whispers, "my beautiful baby, it's okay."
He tries to reach up to touch.
This can't be real.
It has to be a dream.
Flashes of memory - of gray stone with fresh dirt, of rain and black clothes - flit by.
A too big hand catches his and gives a tiny squeeze. He squeezes back.
Hazmat orange moves, catching his gaze.
"What a grip," is the half boom, evidently trying to be quiet, gentle. "Just like his old man, your gonna do us Fenton's proud."
"Jack," she chides with laughter.
"Look at him, he's the spittin' image of me, but he has your eyes, Mads," Jack gushes. "So smart, he'll be as smart as you, I bet."
"And loving and caring as his father," Maddie snuggles him tighter to her chest. "Right Daniel?"
Danny looks back up into his mom's face, bottom lip wobbling.
"Oh sweet baby, what's wrong?" She gives him a light bounce.
Danny simply buries his head into her chest and sobs.
It's real.
They're real.
It's not an illusion.
Clockwork did the impossible.
He was given another chance.
A chance to start over. From the very beginning.
To make things right.
To fix his mistakes.
To fix everything.
He has to.
Part 2 for this! Instead of making this into a ridiculously long post, it's under the cut.
Part 3!
Lmk if you want to be tagged for the next update. Also this is all on ao3 under the same name, Rewind.
Part 4 is up!
Thank you @bibliophilea for helping me with this chapter 💜💜💜
Part 5!
Part 6!
Part 7!
Part 8!
