Normally Danny had their space, a personal bubble that close friends weren't allowed to cross. But as they searched the college website for the forensics team schedule, they didn't mind Natasha and Cammy hovering over their shoulder to stare at the screen. After revising several search terms, a link to a calendar popped up for Danny to click on.
"The next debate is near Emerson College at the Marriott. It's in a hotel?" Danny asked, finding it odd.
"It's probably a conference room. I wonder if Kara will be staying in the same hotel." Natasha said.
"She will be, and it will be the best suite in the goddamn place." Cammy said with a roll of her eyes.
"We still need to think of how we're going to sabotage her clothes before her debate." Danny said, the whole idea was keeping them up at night. They still hadn't quite cracked it.
Sighing, Natasha leaned back in her seat. "Well we need to get in the hotel without being noticed. I'm sure we could easily snag some staff uniforms so we can act like we're cleaning the room. I just don't know if we can hold onto those clothes long enough to sabotage the stitching."
"How long did it take you wreck one of Madison's outfits?" Cammy asked.
"A decent amount of time, but who knows if we'll have that much with Kara?" Danny said. Their eyes shifted away from the screen and when they looked back, they saw a headline that almost had them jumping out of their seat. "What the fuck?"
It read, "President resigning over sex scandal" and was in the top of the webpage, indicating it was a new development.
Cammy and Natasha also noticed it and waited for Danny to click on the link before reading the headline, "President Holmes has agreed to step down from her position in light of an audio recording that was released in which Holmes and a staff member of the university are engaged in sexual acts in her office. Vice President Mary DelaForge will be stepping in her place. "
"Holy shit." Natasha said, looking to Danny in concern, "How did she even get recorded?"
'Who would you think?" Cammy said in a bitter tone, "Kara's mom probably. She's been gunning for that job for years, I guess she found just the right evidence to come in."
That Cammy was chiming in on the expertise of recording someone's intimate acts didn't help Danny's mood, but they were too busy distracted by anxiety to let anger take over.
"She was the only one who was vouching for my re-enrollment...fuck." They knew they weren't alone and tried to put the lid on their rage, but it boiled too soon for Danny to ignore the impulse. The desk shook as Danny's fist came crashing down, making Cammy and Natasha jump out of their seats. "FUCK!"
Natasha and Cammy shared glances as they watched Danny bury their head on the desk. Natasha was the first to reach out and rub Danny's back in a slow manner, but Cammy was the first to break the silence. "God Kara's mom is such a fucking bitch, she just couldn't get over the President's business."
"What do you mean 'business'?" Natasha asked.
Scratching her neck, Cammy let out a deep sigh as she began, "Miss Holmes doesn't have a husband...and that bothered Kara's mom. You know she's like this fundamental Christian right? Well Delaforge had it in her head that Ms Holmes is a lesbian and started investigating into her private life. She found that Holmes was associated with these gay and lesbian organizations and felt that that was enough evidence. I guess her hate just overcame her to the point where she had to go after Holmes."
The words didn't help, all Danny knew was that Ashley was gone and now their academic future was gone as well. "...what the fuck was all this for?" they whispered, voice cracking as they swallowed to avoid crying.
Natasha and Cammy looked at each other again, both of them finding it hard to answer. From Natasha's perspective, in the initial stage this seemed like a way to get back at an organization that was protected by the institution and since it was clear Danny and Ashley were students, they had to do something to defend themselves. What was the point now that both of them were not going back and Ashley seemed like a distant memory?
""Danny, what else were you supposed to do at that time? let them get away with bullying you? But honestly, that institution was shit anyway. there are so many better schools out there that are LGBTQ friendly and have a better environment. You can still transfer"
Danny's head rose to look at Natasha, wiping their eyes, "Yeah where will a school accept me when i have a public indecency suspension on my record?"
"If students guilty of rape are able to find a new school to transfer to then I don't think they are as stringent against someone who had circumstances beyond their control force them into involuntary indecent exposure."
It was really poor comfort in Danny's current situation but then Natasha said, "Look, just know that right now, you have everybody here willing to be there for you. Mistress Victoria won't let you go out on your own without some support."
Danny's breathing relaxed, their perceived catastrophe seeming less likely but no less upsetting. "Thanks Natasha. I think I might need some alone time though if that's ok."
nodding, Natasha turned to head out the door, leaving Cammy standing in the room about to follow but then something pulled her back towards Danny, having her stand just behind their seat., "...Danny, I know I haven't given you any reason to like me let alone trust me. I don't expect this to make you feel better but...in a way...what you did opened my eyes to how shitty that sorority was."
Danny's body language froze, head still buried under their arms but they didn't struggle to cry. That they hadn't lashed out at Cammy gave her the confidence to continue. "I was a fucking idiot, but I was scared when I was a freshman and I just wanted to be protected. Kara's sorority offered that and it wasn't until they humiliated me that I realize how unprotected I was and how many people I hurt in the process. I..know that's stupid of me to say...but I guess you have my thanks."
Cammy saw Danny's clenched fist and expected them to stand face-to-face with her to give her a long deserved piece of their mind. instead they heard a soft, partially muffled, "Thanks" emitting from Danny's head being buried. Rather than add on, Cammy nodded and left Danny alone to ponder their next steps, both for their revenge and their life in general.
When Cammy entered the hallway, Natasha was waiting down by the edge of the steps. She waited for Cammy to join her before asking, "Did they say anything?"
Cammy shook her head, "I can't say that I blame them. I'd be pissed too. ugh, Fuck Kara and her mom. I almost want to continue with getting back at her even if Danny doesn't want to."
Raising an eyebrow, Natasha gave Cammy a side glance. "You know, if Danny doesn't, we could still do it. It's not like I don't have my own reasons for wanting to humiliate Kara."
"Good because I really don't like the idea of her walking away from this scott free." Cammy folded her arms.
"how would you do it? You've technically been doing it for years." Natasha said in a monotone voice, covering her own resentment towards her past with Cammy.
