Sharpsburg, Maryland, Saturday, November 6, 2021

[grenadesandohana]

Right, so it was autumn on the East Coast and the proper date activity was hiking in the leaves or whatever, right? It turned out Google searching "hiking in the leaves or whatever, Maryland" hadn't gotten Steve very far, but he had fallen into a Wiki hole about Civil War battlefields (shut up, it happens) and he had a great idea.

Which was why he was driving their rental Jeep up the highway, heading for Sharpsburg.

"Look, Danno, leaves!"

And "Antietam National Battlefield" signs. Ignore those, Danny. This was very romantic.

If you were Steve.

Comments

[hatesparadise]

"I've seen leaves before, Steven," Danny said, totally noticing the signs. With those keen investigative skills of his.

[grenadesandohana]

"But it's autumn and we have to go look at them," Steve said. "It's an East Coast rule or something."

[hatesparadise]

"You been getting date ideas from a women's magazine or something?" Well, the leaves. Not the Civil War battlegrounds thing.

[grenadesandohana]

Yep.

"Of course not," Steve scoffed.

[hatesparadise]

"Lou?" Because this also felt like a Lou suggestion.

[grenadesandohana]

"...maybe," Steve said, smiling. "He blamed Renee."

[hatesparadise]

"Well, Renee has good taste at least," Danny said, tromping along after him to what was undoubtedly going to be nerdy as hell. Because that was Steve deep down under all that SEAL machismo.

[grenadesandohana]

"See? Look at all the leaves and deep cover available around here," Steve said, nerding out already. "The battle was fought here in September, so they had to contend with wet leaves and stuff under their boots."

[hatesparadise]

"You gonna point out the troop movements while we walk?" Danny asked, adjusting his scarf to keep nice and warm for this.

[grenadesandohana]

"If you don't want me to, I won't," Steve said, smiling.

[hatesparadise]

"Oh, is it just that simple?" Danny asked with a teasing grin that said he didn't want Steve to keep quiet, he just wanted to bicker.

[grenadesandohana]

"Well, there's some cool stuff that you probably don't know, but it'll be your loss," Steve teased back.

[hatesparadise]

Danny hummed and bumped his shoulder into Steve's arm as a sort of affectionate bit of touching that was perfectly reasonable for two guys out in public. "Well, get started, Professor Steve."

[grenadesandohana]

Oh, Steve was absolutely going to get his military nerd on here, Danny. "Okay, we have to start over here," he began. "This battle was extremely spread out and lasted several days--" he said, and then gave a very detailed summary of Antietam that he just knew off the top of his head.

[hatesparadise]

"You're not one of those people who dress up for this, right?" Danny asked after listening to the entire, actually kind of interesting, lecture.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve snorted. "I do not dress up for this," he said. "I dress up only under direct order."

[hatesparadise]

"The flannel is cute, though." Oh, you knew he had to comment on it. "Haven't seen you in a button up in a long while."

[grenadesandohana]

"It's cold," Steve complained.

[hatesparadise]

"We can turn the heat up back at the apartment." Oh, how gracious of Danny.

[grenadesandohana]

"After we finish walking around," Steve said. "And get something hot to drink. And a burger."

[hatesparadise]

"Maybe they've got apple cider or something." Preferably spiked.

[grenadesandohana]

"That sounds good," Steve said. "After we're done here, we can see if there's anywhere to eat in town."

The town of 700 people.

[hatesparadise]

"Think there's a place open that's not just a Sheetz?" Danny asked dryly.

[grenadesandohana]

Out came the phone, then Steve sniggering. "Want Captain Bender's Tavern or Nutters ice cream place?"

C'mon, Sharpsburg. You're making it too easy.

[hatesparadise]

"Oh, well, why not both? Really go all out."