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

[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."

[grenadesandohana]

"I don't think I gave you a lot of say in the matter," Steve said, sliding his hand up to rub the back of Danny's neck with his thumb.

[hatesparadise]

Danny rested his head against Steve for that. "Doris," he sighed.

[grenadesandohana]

"I wish I were more surprised that she helped to detonate my entire life, but--"

[hatesparadise]

"She always knows what buttons to push," Danny replied. "And a plane crash? The details... it feels like things are fading away like a dream, you know?"

[grenadesandohana]

"Yeah," Steve agreed. "It's getting fuzzy around the edges. Can't say I'm sorry."

[hatesparadise]

"You and me gotta be a team here," Danny said, looking over at him. "Made it through a lot with that mentality. I gotta think we can make it through what comes next with it too."

[grenadesandohana]

"I promise," Steve said earnestly.

[hatesparadise]

Danny tugged him into a kiss for that. "All I ask."

[grenadesandohana]

Steve kissed him back, desperately.

[hatesparadise]

"It's okay," Danny said a little breathlessly once that kiss finally broke. It took some time for that to happen, though. "I've got you."

[grenadesandohana]

Steve really needed to be had right now, and he rested his forehead against Danny's, eyes squeezed closed as he breathed.

[hatesparadise]

"C'mere," Danny murmured, tugging him gently closer, beers completely forgotten now.

[grenadesandohana]

"I don't like being a fuck-up," Steve muttered.

Even a potential fuck-up.

[hatesparadise]

"You're not a fuck-up," Danny sighed. "You made choices that were emotional. Guess what? That makes you human."

[grenadesandohana]

"Then I don't like being human," Steve muttered nonsensically.

[hatesparadise]

"Welcome to the club," Danny replied dryly.

[grenadesandohana]

"I don't want to be in this club," Steve said. "I like when you aren't disappointed in me."

[hatesparadise]

"I like when we're in sync too," Danny replied. "I think... maybe we should keep up the couples counseling thing."

[grenadesandohana]

Steve made a face. "If you think it will help."