Fic: Six Impossible Things, 3/6 (Steve/Danny, PG-13)
Title: Six Impossible Things
Author: mrssnape13
Warnings: Some eventual violence. Schmoop. Fluff. :)
Spoilers: None. This takes place just before the pilot episode
Word Count: This chapter: 4,693 (Story so far: 12, 098!)
Summary: Danny and Grace fall down the rabbit hole into "Wonderland," and find out they have to be heroes.
Author's Note: I'm trying to get this written and posted without too much delay, but my thesis has basically consumed my life! Many thanks to everyone who's left me their lovely comments. :)
Chapter 3: Steve
Danny could be patient when he wanted to be. He didn’t like to, but he could be.
This, though?
This waiting around and planning?
This shit was the worst.
He understood that in order to pull off a successful operation, there would have to be planning. Lots of planning, because only a fool would go into something this serious unprepared.
But it had been three weeks since he’d seen Grace, and that was killing him.
At least the letters helped. Sometimes he and Grace would hear from each other twice a day. Danny kept her letters together with a hair tie that Kono had lent him. And he kept the packet in the pocket of his shirt.
He’d been training and strategizing with Steve and Kono. Every day. Sunrise to sunset.
And in the evenings, they’d sit in front of the fire in the kitchen and talk.
He’d learned that he’d be able to defeat the JabberHesse with the White King’s sword. Of course, said sword (its name was Albion, he reminded himself) had been stolen from the White King, and three guesses where it was. Getting the sword would be difficult, but once he had it, he basically just had to hold on and swing. The sword would know what to do.
And he liked the White King-Chin. He’d asked him to call him Chin. They’d met when Danny had accompanied Kono last week on her usual visit to the castle. The guy was pretty chill, and he was kind to Kono (for some reason Steve never wanted to tag along, and Kono never pushed).
Danny’d promised to return the sword once everything was back to normal.
Chin had waved him off and just told him to look after Steve.
Danny did his best. Kono tried too. She was more family to Steve than actual apprentice; Danny could see that now. He was pretty sure she’d destroy them both in an ass-kicking contest anyway. She definitely stuck around to take care of Steve.
She came from a large family, just like Danny, and she was tough but so, so lovable. She talked to him for hours, and they never ran out of things to say to each other. She reminded Danny of his sisters. He knew it was silly, but he couldn’t help wishing that they’d all get to meet sometime.
Kono kept Steve grounded. He’d get this look sometimes, Danny had come to label it Secret Sad Face Four, where he would suddenly seem very far away. But then Kono would touch his arm or his hand, and Steve was back again, smiling at her like she was the best thing he’d ever seen.
When Danny had asked them if they were in love they’d both laughed so hard they nearly fell to the floor.
It was weird, but Danny had been relieved by that. Sometimes when he caught Steve looking at him, or when he managed to surprise Steve during their training and Steve got all Schmoop Face on him, he felt this weird fluttering in his chest. It was almost like when he’d first met Rachel, only scarier. And better, too, somehow.
But then he’d tell himself not to be stupid. This wasn’t his world, his version of reality, whatever. There was still the slight chance that none of this was even real. And besides, he might be into the occasional guy, but who said Steve was?
Danny tried really, really hard not to think about any of that stuff.
But Steve was impossible.
First of all, there was Schmoop Face. The things it did to Danny were, to be quite frank, highly embarrassing.
Second, Steve seemed to be allergic to clothes. Like, the deadly kind where you had to shank him in the thigh with an epipen if he got within six feet of cotton allergic.
And, you know, as a ninja, he was pretty built.
Plus, and this was the worst thing of all, they had to share a bed every night because there were only two and no way was Danny bunking with Kono. Chin would eviscerate him before the JabberHesse ever got the chance to.
Danny and Steve had each offered to sleep on the floor and they’d each shot the other down, saying not to be silly, that they should enjoy every small comfort possible, considering what they were facing.
So Danny had a sleeping buddy.
And many, many potentially awkward, horrible and thrilling moments.
He’d liked growing close to Steve though. They were just training thus far, but Danny felt like Steve was the best partner he’d ever had. No offense to Meka, who was a damn good partner in his own right.
But Steve and Danny clicked in all the right ways. They were able to anticipate each other’s every move, and each man knew that the other had his back.
And the bantering.
Danny felt like he could argue with Steve about anything.
He loved it.
Especially because Steve would fight right back. Most of their conversations ended in explosive hand gesturing and Kono rolling her eyes at them. With all due fondness of course.
If he’d had Grace by his side and he wasn’t facing the same possible fate as the Colonel’s Extra Crispy Chicken, Danny knew he’d much prefer this version of Oahu to the one he’d left behind a few weeks before.
. . .
Kono went off on her usual visit to Chin, but Danny elected to stay behind with Steve this time. Kamekona went with Kono anyway, so she was safe. And Danny wanted Steve to have some company. He got too quiet, sitting by himself in the evenings.
Danny cooked dinner this time. Steve and Kono kept a small vegetable garden out back, and Danny did his best to recreate his mom’s famous minestrone. All things and freaky vegetables considered, it had come out pretty damn good.
Steve polished off his third bowl and sat back with a contented sigh.
“Danny that was the best thing I’ve ever eaten.”
Danny ducked his head. He could feel his face turning red. Stupid, stupid crush.
“Thanks babe,” Danny said. He ran a hand through his hair and looked back up at Steve. “It’s because my mom’s the best cook ever. I can give you the recipe if you want.”
“I’d like that.”
Oh man.
There it was again.
Schmoop Face.
Steve stood up to gather the dishes, patting Danny on the shoulder as he went.
As Steve washed everything up, Danny stoked the fire and pulled their chairs a little closer to it. The last few nights had been chilly. He put the old kettle on the hob, getting Steve’s tea ready for him.
Steve finished the wash and took a seat next to Danny, accepting his mug with silent thanks. They’d established a nice little routine: Steve would drink his tea, and Danny would recap the letter or letters he’d received from Grace that day.
Right on cue, Steve asked:
“So what’s new with the princess?”
“Well, you know how she has the entire staff wrapped around her little finger.”
Steve nodded.
Danny chuckled.
“Well, now she’s got Tommy, one of the footmen, sneaking her malassadas after Cath calls lights out. Apparently, Cath only allows ‘healthy foods’ and Tommy owes Grace for the time she wiped the floor with him at Five Card Draw.”
Steve laughed.
“Yeah Danno, she’s definitely your kid.”
And that was the other thing: he loved it when Steve called him Danno. Sure, he pretended to hate it sometimes, just to keep Steve on his toes, but he really loved it.
Danny patted the shirt pocket where he kept Grace’s letters. When they got home, this was definitely a habit he wanted them to keep up.
“I love it when you make that face,” Steve said.
The confession startled them both.
Steve’s face was really, really red. Danny was pretty sure he was doing a great impression of a tomato himself.
“Sorry Danny. It’s just that, whenever you talk about Grace, your whole face lights up, and your eyes crinkle in the best way. You look so happy.”
And now Secret Sad Face Four was back.
Danny put a hand on Steve’s knee.
“You miss your family.”
It wasn’t a question, but Steve nodded.
Steve finished his tea and put the cup down on the table.
“The JabberHesse killed my parents.”
Steve took Danny’s hand from his knee and held on to it. Danny gave his fingers a squeeze, inviting Steve to go on.
“It was right after he arrived in Oahu. I was coming home from the palace. Chin had given me leave from training so I could help my family pack up and get further across the border.”
Steve was facing Danny, but his eyes were far away.
“The JabberHesse had already infected the Queen. My father was one of her chief officers, but he was going to leave the Service for my mother. She was Chin’s Grand Sorceress, and she was needed at the palace. The Red Kingdom was doomed, but my mother’s spells would be enough to protect Chin’s lands until you got here.
I don’t know how, but the creature caught wind of what we were doing. I wasn’t home five minutes before it attacked. My parents shut my sister and me up in the house with one of mom’s spells and went out to fight.”
Steve’s hand was trembling in Danny’s.
“They barely made it out the door,” Steve’s voice was so soft that Danny could barely hear him over the sound of the fire. “Mary and I saw the whole thing.”
Danny squeezed Steve’s hand again.
“I’m so sorry babe. I can’t even imagine how awful that was.”
By now, Steve had moved on to Sad Face Nine. Danny wished that there was something he could do.
For once, he didn’t really have anything to say. He snaked an arm across the back of Steve’s chair and rested his head against Steve’s shoulder.
There was a slight hitch in Steve’s breath and he let his head fall against Danny’s. They watched the fire for awhile, Danny hoping the simple physical contact was giving Steve some measure of comfort and Steve reveling in the feel of Danny resting against him.
Finally, Danny just had to ask:
“Steve… your sister?”
“Well, that’s another mess in itself. She’s alive, if that’s what you mean, and mostly well, but we haven’t spoken in eight years.”
“Jesus. I’m sorry.”
“After our parents’ death, she went to complete my mother’s work and I threw myself into my training more than ever. For the first year or so, we saw each other whenever we could. The kingdom was in chaos though. The Red Kingdom was being slowly drained of life, and Chin was doing everything he could to protect his people from meeting the same fate.
When I finished my training, I came back here, to watch the border and to wait. I asked Mary Ann to come with me, she refused, and we… we had a huge fight. I don’t really want to go too into detail, but it was bad enough that we haven’t said a word to each other since. At first I was so angry, because she had said I was a fool, coming here to wait for you. I… I called her a coward.”
Steve’s eyes were far away again and his jaw was set so hard Danny feared for his dental health.
“Now, I just miss her. We used to be so close, but then we said so many ugly things to each other. She must hate me.”
Oh Steve.
“She’s your sister. She doesn’t hate you. She’s probably missing you too Steve.”
Steve looked like he didn’t dare hope Danny was right.
And then something clicked in Danny’s head.
“Hang on. You… you’ve been waiting for me? For eight years?”
Steve shrugged.
“I knew you’d come. Eventually.”
“But… Steve, man you didn’t even know me. How could you have just put your life on hold like that? You could’ve killed this thing yourself already! You’d have your life back! Your family…”
Steve was shaking his head, looking at Danny like he was a kid who had just said something silly. Unicorns and glitter silly.
“But I couldn’t have. It’s got to be you. I’m not pure of heart, Danny.”
Danny started to protest, but Steve held up his hand, cutting him off.
“I’m not. Not like you. I grew up hearing stories about you, Danno. How there were dark days to come, but how a hero from a far away land was going to help us.
My mother used to tell me about you. She’d tell me the story every night, how there was a girl you loved so much that you crossed a world for her. How you were what a man should aspire to be: honest, and loyal, and brave. But the biggest thing was the love. She used to say that if everyone had a heart like yours and carried around the love that you do, then there wouldn’t be any dark days to come at all.”
Danny was so red he was sure his head was going to explode. Or maybe this big heart of his that everyone kept talking about. Great. He didn’t have a big heart. It was probably just enlarged. Someone should tell these people they needed to update their cardiovascular studies.
“So I waited. I knew you were coming. I sort of hoped…”
“What Steve?”
“I hoped that when I met you, I could learn to be more like you. More like the man I should have been. I’ve made so many mistakes, and for so long I’ve been fueled by such anger and hate. Danny, when this is all over, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ve pushed so many people away. I won’t have a life waiting for me.”
Okay. Danny was derailing this pity train right now. He was not playing Mr. Conductor to Steve’s Thomas the Sad Engine.
“Listen up Steve. And listen good,” Danny said, jabbing a finger into Steve’s chest. “There will be something for you.”
Steve opened his mouth to protest, but Danny silenced him by slicing a hand through the air.
“Do you love anybody Steve?”
Steve did a fantastic impression of a panicked guppy.
“Huh?”
“Do you love anyone? Have you experienced love in your life?”
“I… yeah. Yeah, I’ve had people I loved. People I still love.”
“List them. I want names.”
When Steve continued to gape at him, Danny reached out and closed Steve’s mouth for him.
“Look, my Ma’s always said: ‘where you invest your love, you invest your life.’ So, you’ve got love, you’ve got a life babe. Now, list please.”
Steve was looking less like a guppy now. He was actually smiling a little.
“My mom and dad.”
“That’s a given, seeing as they appear to have been very brave and good people.”
“My… my sister.”
“Of course, babe.”
“Chin. He taught me everything I know.”
“He asks about you all the time, man.”
Steve was full on smiling now.
“Kamekona.”
“Yeah. He’s freaky, but likeable. I can see it.”
“Kono. So, so much.”
“She is a goddess and we are the luckiest bastards who ever lived, getting to spend so much time with her.”
“You.”
“I… me? You love me?”
“Oh my God. Danny, who wouldn’t?”
Schmoop Face was back in full force. Danny was pretty sure he was grinning like a doofus himself.
“I love you too. Goof.”
He took Steve in his arms and held on tight. Steve settled into his grip and clung to him.
“And I’ll tell you something else,” Danny whispered into Steve’s ear. “Every single person you just mentioned loves you. Fiercely. So you do have a life waiting for you babe. And it looks like it’s going to be a pretty damn good one.”
More than anything, Danny wanted to kiss him. But not tonight, because that wasn’t what Steve needed. And Danny wasn’t one to take advantage of the emotionally vulnerable. Tonight, they would wait for Kono to come home, everyone would go to bed, and Danny would pretend to hate being the little spoon when really it was becoming his favorite way to sleep.
Chapter 3b