MCA #0, Monday, August 1

[grenadesandohana]

Steve hadn't been avoiding the apartment...much.

Okay, he had been and it was a deeply terrible instinct given whatever that weekend had been that had involved being yelled at for ditching out and roaming the globe for a decade, but he just couldn't seem to face Danny yet.

But it was time for his evening run, and he hadn't made it last that much longer than usual. Danny knew where he was.

Probably.

He doubled back to grab a six pack of beer in town as an apology, then headed finally home.

"Danno?" he called, opening the door.

Comments

[hatesparadise]

If it helped, Danny was also muddling his way through things from the weekend. Mostly by checking in on a very annoyed Grace who only tolerated it after a facetime session.

"Lanai, babe," Danny called.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve poked his head out and gave Danny a quick smile. "I bought beer. Gonna go grab a shower and then I'll be right out."

Because he was currently very gross and sweaty. Maryland was stupid in August.

[hatesparadise]

"I'll time ya," he replied, turning to face Steve. It was very, very nice to not see that scraggly beard on him. Or the look in his eyes.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve's eyes shone at him. "Five minutes or less."

[hatesparadise]

"Get going," Danny said, knowing they'd have to have a talk once he was back. And hoping it would go well.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve returned in four minutes flat, trying to hide the nerves on his face. "Hey."

[hatesparadise]

"Hey," Danny said, offering over a hand for him to take.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve pressed his lips together, then took the offered hand. "Feel like I owe you a pre-emptive apology."

[hatesparadise]

"If that fixed things, I'd accept it," Danny replied dryly. "But you haven't done anything yet."

He winced at using 'yet' there.

"You know what I mean."

[grenadesandohana]

"I think I do," Steve said, settling in next to him.

[hatesparadise]

"I'd rather what happened there... not happen for us. Personally." Hence why he was holding Steve's hand tightly.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve squeezed back. "Me either," he said softly.

[hatesparadise]

"We're gonna fight. That's part of being together," Danny said. "Especially with me."

He yelled as his love language.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve nodded. "Most of the time I know you don't mean it," he said. "You really meant it this weekend."

[hatesparadise]

"It involved my kids." And he could say it plural without wincing now.

[grenadesandohana]

"I really did think I was protecting all of you," Steve said softly.

[hatesparadise]

"If your parents told you that, how would you have reacted?" Danny asked dryly.

[grenadesandohana]

"Not great," Steve said after a long, thoughtful pause.

[hatesparadise]

"You're part of our lives, Steven," Danny said, sounding maybe a little frustrated. "You leaving doesn't fix things, it throws it all into disarray."

[grenadesandohana]

"Oh," Steve said softly, squeezing Danny's fingers. "I'm not used to that."

[hatesparadise]

"I know you're not, I just... I hoped you'd get to learn it in time," Danny admitted.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve sighed, reaching for a beer. "It's hard to get it to sink in."

[hatesparadise]

"Give me one of those too," Danny said, only letting go of Steve's hand for a drink.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve silently handed him a beer with a tiny smile.

[hatesparadise]

"I don't like the idea of you leaving like that," Danny said, leaning heavily into Steve's side. "Or me lettin' you leave like that."