Short Little Danny/drunk!Nicholas
Title: There Are Many Different Words For Sloshed
Author: me! Stage_master
Rating: fluffy PG
Pairing: DB/NA
Word Count: 952
Feedback: Is forcibly loved
Disclaimer: Me no own-y, me no know-y
A/N: brought about by a lovely little prompt set by
morganfairy here
“I can’t believe you tackled a sheep!”
Nicholas ducks his head a bit, trying to hide the shy little smiling teasing his lips.
“Yes, well. I certainly wasn’t packing any sheep dogs at the time.”
Danny grins and slurps the foam head off his pint. The pub is fairly raucous, being one of the first Friday nights in which the newly owned and restored establishment has been opened to the public. Thanks to the Chief and Sergeant, Sanford citizens are now able to drive down Parham Road without putting a dent in not only their automobiles but the livestock population.
“You incapacitate the herd leader and the rest of the animals will not have any idea what to do. They follow and trust the head ewe.”
“Kinda like we follow you, yeah?” Danny winks at Nicholas across the table and finishes his third drink of the night. He laughs a little at the red blush brightening on his mate’s cheek, but whether it’s from the alcohol or the compliment he’s not quite sure. And he’s certain Nick will deny it anyway.
Later that evening finds them both considerably less sober, with the older man a tad worse off. Nicholas rises and pauses for a moment, the frothy lightheadedness from the beer making the wood under his feet bob and sway. Danny starts to stand up as well, sensing a spill, but Nick waves him off and staggers to the bar with their empty mugs in hand. The new owner is a likable fellow by the name of Barry, older, with a plump daughter who works at the bookshop a couple doors down. He eyes the sloppy movements of the blonde officer with humor, knowing that Nicholas will always have someone to drag him home in the form of the likable Danny Butterman.
“One more before turning in, Chief Inspector?”
Nicholas nods and tries to look less happy than he really is. He pays for the round and brings both pints back to the sticky table, managing to stumble only once and saving any spills by curling the drinks into his chest.
“Think this should be the last, Nicky. Don’t think you’re too used to getting this lagged up all at once.”
Nicholas tries to give Danny a condescending look, but it turns out a little fish-eyed and Danny chuckles into his beer. Nick smiles brightly and laughs along, enjoying Danny looking happy. Really, just enjoying being with Danny at all after that could have happened. He shakes his head at the darker turn of his thoughts and tunes in to what his partner in justice is saying.
“So really, it couldn’t have happened the way she said. How could a rat open a bloody door anyway? The nutella was right where is was supposed to be. Hey, almost done there Nick?”
Nicholas shakes his head, resigned to the fact that sometimes Danny really doesn’t know what he is talking about. Tipping the glass back and up he finishes the sudsy residue from his lager and places it on the table, squinting at it’s surprising emptiness before he feels Danny grab him gently under the arm and hoist him up.
“Come on, then. I think the mug will be fine without ya for the night. Night, Barry!” he calls towards the bar as one of Nicholas’ arms comes around and rests comfortably across his shoulders. Danny returns the support with an arm around the waist and they thread their way through mostly empty tables and out onto the cobblestone street, weaving pleasantly. Nicholas is feeling weightless and wonderful, tethered only by the warm and solid weight of Danny pressed against him, armpit to hip. Without really realizing what he is doing he starts to lean more heavily on his mate, pleased (and maybe a little aroused) by the fact that Danny takes the extra weight with ease.
“Almost to my place. Wanna crash there Nick?”
The older officer turns and buries his nose in Danny’s hair, breathing deeply and humming. Danny takes this as a yes.
Twisting his head a little away from the ticking breath, he chuckles as Nicholas whines softly in his throat and tries to slump closer. He fumbles his keys out of his jeans pocket and opens the door to his comfortably cluttered flat.
“Never knew you were so clingy cocked.” Danny grins and tries to deposit Nicholas onto his battered sofa, intending on getting a bucket to prop next to his inebriated Chief. Instead Nick moves closer, breathing into his ear and wrapping long arms around his neck.
“Thanks for taking me home Danny.” he murmurs, burrowing into the heat that has risen between them.
The younger man laughs nervously and pats Nicholas on the back, once again attempting to pry the man off when he feels a warm wetness lapping at his neck. His hands stop dead at the sides of Nick’s waist and he takes a deep breath.
“… Nick?”
“You’re so wonderful Danny.” And his face is held between long-fingered hands and kissed.
Danny stops breathing.
So does Nicholas. And then he slumps forward and passes out.
*~*
The next morning Nicholas coughs out the bite of couch cushion in his mouth and groans, his head already getting a jumpstart on what promises to be a record-breaking hangover. When he turns over and sees Danny watching him from the doorway, everything floods black from last night and he closes his eyes and waits for the end of their friendship. Danny coughs into his fist and waits for Nicholas to look back up at him. When he does he just shrugs and smiles softly.
“Want some breakfast?”
Nicholas chest loosens and he nods. They’re still intact.