And be a simple kind of man

[dannowilliams]

When you live in a one-room apartment, you don't really have much space for frivolous items. Danny couldn't help but sigh a little however, when he took stock of the five boxes that were neatly packed in the front hall of his place. Somewhere in the back of his mind, the gravity of his sacrifice had always been present, but before today, he'd never

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[newkindofcop]

It's really taken the prospect of having a roommate for Steve to realize that his father's house still needs a lot of work. He's not exactly sure what kind of damage he'd been expecting when the house had been shot up by a bunch of former SEALs, but he's not about to hire a contractor and get screwed over in the process when he can do the work himself for a much lower cost.

He's outside working when Danny drives up in the Camaro, putting a fresh coat of paint around the newly installed front windows. Most of the old ones had been shot out in the stand-off a few weeks back and been leaking during every rainstorm - which, in Hawaii, was as common as breathing.

He lifts a hand to form a makeshift visor over his eyes, paint brush in hand as he watches the Camaro pull into the driveway, and then hops down from the ladder, walking over to greet Danny at the car.

"That all you got?" he asks, surprised as he casts a glance through the open window to the utter lack of boxes in the back.

[dannowilliams]

"Yeah, I know. I'm crying inside, believe me. The furniture all belonged to the apartment, and I don't think you want a TV that only gets black and white picture."

Leaning against the side of the car, Danny looks over the renovations to the house with awed appreciation. For working solo, Steve's done a hell of a job with the place thus far.

"Looks good, man. Need any help with any of it? I did roofing for a few summers while I was in the academy. I won't drill myself in the hand or nothin'." Giving his partner a grin, Danny resisted the urge to kiss him, knowing better than to do it out in the open.

[newkindofcop]

"I could probably use a hand, especially given that I'm trying to save enough money by being the work on this place myself. Am I going to have to pay you?"

He grins, squinting down at Danny's face and wiping some sweat off his forehead.

"'Cause I can only afford cheap labor."

[dannowilliams]

"Payment can be arranged at a later date. I doubt you could afford my regular rate anyway." There's a cat-ate-the-cream smirk on Danny's face as he bring the boxes up to the porch, more than a little excited to do something physical in order to get his mind off the sadness that was his earthly possessions.

Locking up the Camaro, Danny shuffled the boxes inside the house, before opening the one marked 'clothes - home' and pulling out a pair of faded jeans. Whistling softly, he headed to the bathroom to change out of his button-down, tie, and slacks, planning on keeping only the wifebeater underneath.

[newkindofcop]

Steve just shakes his head, watching Danny move each of the boxes, a few at a time, into the house, looking all too pleased with himself, and resumes painting outside the windows, making sure it matches up with the coat of white already on the house.

By the time Danny comes back out in his change of clothes, Steve whistles, low and sharp.

"Looking good, Danno," he teases.

[dannowilliams]

"Y'know, given where I'm from, most people would make fun 'a me for this outfit. Leave it to an islander to not know a thing about Gino's." Danny chuckles, adjusting the thin silver chain around his neck and tucking in the medallion before grabbing a dry brush.

"Base coat, or color?" he asks with the brush still hanging mid-air, Danny poised to pain in front of the one new window that still looked fresh from the factory.

[newkindofcop]

"And here I thought you always told me that The Sopranos wasn't true to life. It definitely inspired that clothing choice," Steve shoots back, flicking a little paint in Danny's direction.

"Still working on the base coat. It's quick-drying, though, so we should be able to get in a few coats before midday."

[dannowilliams]

Danny doesn't say a word, merely kicks Steve gently in the ass before dipping his brush in the basecoat and getting to work.

"This is a lot 'a work for one guy. Should've called me sooner. Would've gladly helped," he says after a few moments, his eyes focused on the job in front of him, Danny intent on getting a nice, even, basecoat for Steve.

[newkindofcop]

Steve shrugs, dipping the brush into the paint tray again.

"Nah, it's not a big deal. I only have a few more things to do anyway, and you shouldn't have to move into a completely trashed house."

[dannowilliams]

"If you think what sealed the deal was how nice the house was, you're seriously mistaken. Yeah, it's a great place, don't get me wrong, but I had more important reasons than that." His words are soft, meaningful as he works, Danny finishing one side of the window and moving on to the next crossbeam of wood.

[newkindofcop]

"Important like getting to sleep on a real bed, and not a fold-out couch?"

Steve appears to be focused on painting the beam in front of him, but there's a small, knowing smirk gracing his lips that betrays his seemingly innocent tone.

[dannowilliams]

"Honestly, I could sleep under a bridge and still be happy, so long as I had those I care about most around me." And it's the honest truth; were Danny the kind of guy that cared about luxury or comfort, he would've stayed in Jersey where he had a nice house, a queen-sized bed, and a fully-equipped kitchen.

"Though, I gotta admit, having my days with Grace here, will be a lot more comfortable than at the old joint."

[newkindofcop]

"Careful, Danno, you're starting to get sentimental on me," Steve teases, briefly glancing over in his partner's direction, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly as he smiles.

"She's welcome here whenever she wants."

[dannowilliams]

"You mean, she's welcome here whenever Stan lets her, which, once he finds out I'm living with you, might just be never." Danny sighs, knowing that Stan can't possibly be happy about Steve's intervention with the governor about his land dealings.

Finishing the second column, he picks up some more paint and starts in on the third. His face shows a touch of stress and Danny can't help but think of the other part of the new relationship with Steve that he's going to have a hard time with; telling Grace.

"Do you think she'll be okay with it? Grace, I mean."

[newkindofcop]

"Oh, come on. Is he really going to be petty over something like that?" Steve scoffs, making a face - not at Danny, at the whole situation. It's a crappy one to deal with in the first place, but then to have things potentially get personal on top of it - well, it's frustrating for him to have to sit back and not get involved.

"Why wouldn't she? There's the backyard, the TV. No computers, though - Dad hated those. Oh, you mean the - " He motions between the both of them with his paint brush.

"How're you going to explain that to her?"

[dannowilliams]

"I honestly have no idea. It definitely won't be soon, though. Want her to get used to the idea of me living here first. THEN I'll worry about moving on to the next big bombshell."

It's easy to see it stresses him out, and as Danny scrubs a hand over his face, he accidentally paints half his cheek with white, not realizing it because he's already sweating from the heat.