H50 fic: Heat, Part 5/8
Title: Heat, Chapter 5 of 8
Characters: Steve McGarrett/Danny Williams (in this chapter)
Word Count: 2510 of approximately 17K in full story
Rating: NC-17 in this chapter ;-)
Warnings: It finally gets hot; AU, no spoilers for the show
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters named in this fic; the setting is entirely of my own imagining and in no way reflects the show's premises or ideas. I make no money from my wild imaginings
Beta: the always generous siluria made time to correct and offer suggestions; any remaining mistakes are entirely my own fault
Summary: Hawaii 5-0 Rock Star AU in which Steve is a rock singer with a backing band featuring Chin, Kono and other characters you've seen on the show, and Danny is a Rolling Stone reporter writing an article on Steve
Author’s Notes: I started writing this as some time ago as either a reward for something or from a prompt at 1_million_words (I forget which). The first couple of parts have already been posted at the comm, but now it's completely written, I am finally posting it in AO3 and my own fic LJ. Unfortunately, it's going to be posted chapter by chapter over several days due to other commitments, but I promise that the story is complete and it will all be posted in due course; please bear with me
This chapter: Steve and Danny get closer in Danny's LA hotel room
This story can also be found here at AO3
Two hours later, Steve is in Danny's hotel room; it's different from the last one in Chicago, but just as nice.
"Rolling Stone must pay well," Steve notes as he crosses the room to gaze out over the city from the umpteenth floor.
Danny wanders across the room behind him and stands next to him; close but not touching. "They pay me well enough, although I suspect not as much as you make, Mr. Rock Star. You didn't come here with me just to look at the view, did you?"
Steve feels nervous; more so than he did the first time they slept together and he's not sure why. Maybe it's because he just promised Danny something he hasn't ever promised another man before; he's only ever committed himself so wholeheartedly to one other person in his life: His ex-wife Catherine. He takes a deep breath to calm his thudding heart. "No, I did not."
They turn towards each other slowly and Steve smiles, hoping his nerves aren't too obvious. Danny is grinning up at him and he reaches out a hand to play with the collar of Steve's open-necked shirt. "This looks good on you."
"Thank you," Steve answers, feeling about sixteen for a moment. "I like yours too, and the tie. But I know what would look better on you."
"What?" Danny takes the bait.
"Me."
Danny snorts and moves away, heading for the mini-bar. "You use that line a lot? Does it actually work for you?"
"Hey, I'm new at this, remember," Steve tells him.
"It's not that different from women, for the most part," Danny says. "You don't have to impress me."
"But I do," Steve insists, following him to the mini-bar, where Danny is now retrieving a couple of bottles of beer. "I don't want you to change your mind; not now."
Danny hands him one of the bottles and they both remove the tops. "Well, you may need to work on the lines then," he says, but his eyes are twinkling as he looks at Steve.
Steve swallows from the beer, relaxing at last. He heads for the couch and sits down at one end, taking another mouthful before placing the bottle on the coffee table near him. Danny sits beside him, angled slightly so they don't have to turn their necks too far to see each other's faces. He smiles again before drinking from his own bottle.
"How old is your daughter again?" Steve says for something to say, although he is interested. He hasn't got kids - isn't sure it's ever going to happen for him, in all honesty - and has no idea what it must be like to be a father.
"She's eleven," Danny reminds him. "Lives in New Jersey with her mom, but…" Danny sighs, sounding tired.
"But what?" Steve asks, sensing something painful lies behind that sigh.
"Grace is a great kid," Danny tells him. "It’s her mom. Rachel doesn’t let me see her very often. Because my job has me traveling so much and I don’t have a very regular schedule, she makes it difficult for me at every turn."
"Why would she do that?"
"I have no idea," Danny says with a sigh. "Maybe it’s the accountant in her. She’s a little… well, let’s just say she likes to keep all her ducks lined up and I don’t-"
"Sit in line like all the other ducks?"
Danny laughs. "Yeah, that sounds about right. Considering she’d shoot me first chance she got if I didn’t do everything I’m supposed to."
"The child support must be high?"
"That too, but I’m just supposed to be available when she thinks I should be, never mind what job I’m working on. I try to be there for Grace, because I miss her like you wouldn’t believe when I’m away, but Rachel always manages to find some excuse as to why I can’t see Grace when I do have extra time."
"That’s rough." Steve can’t even imagine how hard it must be for Danny. For once he’s glad that Catherine’s career meant she wasn’t ready for kids yet. In all honesty he hadn’t wanted them either at that point, but he’d been disappointed nonetheless when she told him she couldn’t foresee a time when she’d be ready for them - before that he’d assumed they would eventually have a family.
"Yeah," Danny is saying, "But I’m not sure what I can do to change things without giving up my job, and I don’t want to do that. It’s the best job I’ve had, and I love it."
Steve gives him a sympathetic smile. "I don’t know what I’d do in your situation, but I imagine you’re not the sort of guy to take it lying down."
"I try not to, but…" He sighs and gives Steve a sad look, like there’s nothing to be done.
Steve’s filled with the need to make things better; to give comfort at the very least, right now, until he can help in a more practical way. "Hey," he says, shifting so he can touch Danny’s hand where it rests on the man’s thigh.
Danny’s eyes lift at the touch and he gives Steve a look he can’t quite decipher, but it’s not discouraging, and Steve leans in almost without thinking and kisses his lips softly. Before he can draw too far away, Danny puts a hand around his neck and pulls him back, deepening the kiss. Steve responds willingly, a surge of heat spreading through his entire body.
There are no more words for some time; they continue to make out like a couple of teenagers, hands and bodies shifting until they’ve virtually lying on the couch, Steve pressing down into Danny. He wants more, but after the conversation they’ve just had, and with what happened when they arrived here tonight, he doesn’t want to push.
Remembering himself, he starts to pull away, but Danny thinks differently and grabs at him. "C’mere. Where are you going?"
"You sure about this? I don’t want you to think I just came here for sex," Steve tells him, still half on top of Danny.
"I know that, you idiot," Danny says, dragging him back and kissing him again.
Steve doesn’t need to be told twice. He’s back into it and shoving clothes out of the way before Danny can say anything else. Danny’s scrabbling to dig into Steve’s clothes just as eagerly, but then suddenly he pauses, which has Steve worried for a moment.
But he shouldn’t be, because Danny’s still got his mind on the game; he’s just thinking of practicalities. "What say we move this to the bedroom? We’d be way more comfortable there."
"Good idea," Steve agrees readily. He manages to get off the couch, holding out a hand for Danny once he’s standing.
Danny doesn’t hesitate to take it, letting Steve help pull him upright. They’re back in each other’s arms, the kiss even deeper than before. Steve thinks he might burst if they don’t get naked soon, but it’s hard to let go of Danny. Somehow, between kisses and while still desperately trying to shed clothes, they make it to Danny’s bedroom.
Danny’s shirt is off and his pants unbuckled; Steve’s shirt is open, and he’s managed to get out of his jeans, when Danny pushes him backwards and he lands on Danny’s hotel bed.
"Can't wait," Danny mutters, pushing both trousers and underwear down his legs and off, and climbing onto Steve. He tugs Steve's shorts away in record time, and the surge of electricity at his touch has Steve bucking upwards, uncaring that he's still wearing his shirt.
Danny's back over him and crashing their lips together like Steve's the end of a drought - Steve thinks maybe he is, just as Danny feels to be for him- and frotting against him for all he's worth.
"Danny, Danny," Steve hears himself say, "Can we…? Please?"
He's not even sure what he's asking, but Danny seems to understand. "You betcha."
Next thing, Danny's reaching for the nightstand, dragging a drawer out and digging around inside. "Shit, where the fuck?" he asks as his searching gets more frantic. "I swear…" He shakes his head, looking down at Steve, a stricken expression on his face. "I didn't know we'd get this far; I don't have anything."
"Hey, it's cool," Steve tells him. "We'll make do. I'm good with it… as long as you are?" He wants to be safe; after all, Danny doesn't know what - or who - Steve's done before now, and in theory the reverse applies too, but Steve's fairly certain he's been the only one in some time. From what he's learned of Danny, he doubts he'd put himself at risk, and he's not about to suggest the man starts now.
Danny lets out a slow breath, like he's too far into this to make a sound decision, and for a moment, Steve thinks they should stop, though every fiber of his being is desperate to continue.
But Danny nods. "We can do this."
He's rubbing against Steve again, but it's not enough and Steve knows exactly what he's willing to risk. He flips them quickly, scrabbling backwards down Danny's body and wrapping his lips around Danny's cock before the guy can protest.
Danny groans, not fighting anything that he's doing, so Steve props himself between Danny's legs, where he can use the friction of the bedding as he continues to suck him off. Steve's gripping those slim hips, tilting his head so Danny's cock can slide deeper inside his mouth. It's amazing to him that he's so into this considering it's the first time he's ever had another man's cock in his mouth, but he must be doing it right as Danny has his eyes closed and he's massaging Steve's head in encouragement.
"Oh God… God… Steve… I…." Danny's scrabbling in Steve's short hair trying to push him off, but Steve's fighting it, wanting to swallow despite his inexperience with the whole thing, but in the end he lets Danny push him off, and he watches his own hand from where he still lies very close to Danny's dick as he finishes the job.
Danny comes with a jolt, striping his own stomach in whiteness. Steve has never seen another guy come like that - other than himself or some porn star in a blue movie - and it's hot beyond his imagining. His own dick is throbbing with need and he can't help bucking against the bedding, desperate to come to his own conclusion. He's not quite there though, and Danny's dragging him upward and pushing him onto his back, uncaring of the stickiness on his belly as he moves so he can wrap a thick fist around Steve's dick and push him that last step over the edge.
Steve cries out when he comes, one hand bunching up the bedding, the other seeking Danny - any part of him - so he can pull him into a grateful and somewhat sloppy kiss. Both of them are somewhat uncoordinated as their spunk mingles on sweaty skin and they clutch each other, lips and tongues confirming their connection. It was all a little fast and furious, and Steve briefly wishes they'd had condoms and lube so they could repeat that first time together where they'd gone a little further, although this has still been one of the most fantastic sexual encounters he's had.
When they finally flop backwards next to each other, in need of some recovery space, he finds himself wondering if any sex is better when it's with someone you feel a lot more than just passing lust for.
He doesn't have a lot of time to think of much more as he slides into a satisfied sleep.
~//~
When he comes to, the smell of coffee from the other room has him sitting upright and gazing around to get his bearings. Danny appears in the doorway with a steaming mug in one hand, wearing only a pair of shorts.
"Hey sleepyhead," he says with a smile, "I wondered when you were going to surface. You want coffee?"
Steve's lips curve in an echoing grin. "I slept better than I have in months. Coffee sounds good."
"Cream and sugar? I ordered room service while you were still dreaming. Figured you might be hungry too - there's eggs and bacon if you want it."
"Wow," Steve says, "You buttering me up for some big news or something?"
Danny smiles awkwardly and gestures behind himself. "Come out when you're ready. I'll pour the coffee while I wait."
He disappears while Steve's working out the implications, and before he has a chance to say anything else. Steve's heart jumps; he can't help worrying that Danny's thought all this over once more, and maybe he's not as keen to continue a relationship after all. He throws the bedding off and gets out of bed, finding last night's trousers and a clean T-shirt on the chair in the room. He pulls them on quickly and goes through the door.
Danny's sitting on the balcony in the morning sun, biting into toast and looking calm enough; maybe Steve's reading too much into his silence. Perhaps he just doesn't talk much this early, and Steve caught him unawares.
"So," he gets out, trying to maintain his calm, and slides into the seat opposite to reach for the plate full of scrambled eggs, bacon and toast that Danny uncovers in front of him. "What are your plans from here?"
Danny places a full mug of fragrant coffee in front of Steve's plate and picks up another slice of toast.
"Today I have to go see my editor, and then tonight I'm flying back to Jersey. Tomorrow, I pick up Grace from her mother's and we have a whole week together."
"Oh, okay," Steve says, disappointed; he had hoped they might get some time together here in LA before either of them had to take off again. He picks up the coffee and sips carefully, studying Danny over the rim. Swallowing, he sets the mug down and picks up his cutlery, eyeing the delicious food on the plate.
"But I think…" Danny says, causing him to look up in hope, "…I have time to relax here with you for a couple of hours before I have to leave."
He's smiling broadly, like he knows how worried Steve was and he did it on purpose. Steve huffs in amusement despite himself. "You trying to worry me? Because it worked."
"Hey." Danny reaches across and squeezes Steve's wrist behind where he's holding his fork. "I don't want you to take this for granted. But I do want us to work. Believe that."
Steve's heart soars and he drops the fork, turning his hand so he and Danny are holding each other's. "I believe it," he affirms. "And I want you to know I'll give you all the space you need, but I'm not running away from this. I want it too much."
"That's all I need to hear," Danny replies.
~//~
Chapter 6
Characters: Steve McGarrett/Danny Williams (in this chapter)
Word Count: 2510 of approximately 17K in full story
Rating: NC-17 in this chapter ;-)
Warnings: It finally gets hot; AU, no spoilers for the show
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters named in this fic; the setting is entirely of my own imagining and in no way reflects the show's premises or ideas. I make no money from my wild imaginings
Beta: the always generous siluria made time to correct and offer suggestions; any remaining mistakes are entirely my own fault
Summary: Hawaii 5-0 Rock Star AU in which Steve is a rock singer with a backing band featuring Chin, Kono and other characters you've seen on the show, and Danny is a Rolling Stone reporter writing an article on Steve
Author’s Notes: I started writing this as some time ago as either a reward for something or from a prompt at 1_million_words (I forget which). The first couple of parts have already been posted at the comm, but now it's completely written, I am finally posting it in AO3 and my own fic LJ. Unfortunately, it's going to be posted chapter by chapter over several days due to other commitments, but I promise that the story is complete and it will all be posted in due course; please bear with me
This chapter: Steve and Danny get closer in Danny's LA hotel room
This story can also be found here at AO3
Two hours later, Steve is in Danny's hotel room; it's different from the last one in Chicago, but just as nice.
"Rolling Stone must pay well," Steve notes as he crosses the room to gaze out over the city from the umpteenth floor.
Danny wanders across the room behind him and stands next to him; close but not touching. "They pay me well enough, although I suspect not as much as you make, Mr. Rock Star. You didn't come here with me just to look at the view, did you?"
Steve feels nervous; more so than he did the first time they slept together and he's not sure why. Maybe it's because he just promised Danny something he hasn't ever promised another man before; he's only ever committed himself so wholeheartedly to one other person in his life: His ex-wife Catherine. He takes a deep breath to calm his thudding heart. "No, I did not."
They turn towards each other slowly and Steve smiles, hoping his nerves aren't too obvious. Danny is grinning up at him and he reaches out a hand to play with the collar of Steve's open-necked shirt. "This looks good on you."
"Thank you," Steve answers, feeling about sixteen for a moment. "I like yours too, and the tie. But I know what would look better on you."
"What?" Danny takes the bait.
"Me."
Danny snorts and moves away, heading for the mini-bar. "You use that line a lot? Does it actually work for you?"
"Hey, I'm new at this, remember," Steve tells him.
"It's not that different from women, for the most part," Danny says. "You don't have to impress me."
"But I do," Steve insists, following him to the mini-bar, where Danny is now retrieving a couple of bottles of beer. "I don't want you to change your mind; not now."
Danny hands him one of the bottles and they both remove the tops. "Well, you may need to work on the lines then," he says, but his eyes are twinkling as he looks at Steve.
Steve swallows from the beer, relaxing at last. He heads for the couch and sits down at one end, taking another mouthful before placing the bottle on the coffee table near him. Danny sits beside him, angled slightly so they don't have to turn their necks too far to see each other's faces. He smiles again before drinking from his own bottle.
"How old is your daughter again?" Steve says for something to say, although he is interested. He hasn't got kids - isn't sure it's ever going to happen for him, in all honesty - and has no idea what it must be like to be a father.
"She's eleven," Danny reminds him. "Lives in New Jersey with her mom, but…" Danny sighs, sounding tired.
"But what?" Steve asks, sensing something painful lies behind that sigh.
"Grace is a great kid," Danny tells him. "It’s her mom. Rachel doesn’t let me see her very often. Because my job has me traveling so much and I don’t have a very regular schedule, she makes it difficult for me at every turn."
"Why would she do that?"
"I have no idea," Danny says with a sigh. "Maybe it’s the accountant in her. She’s a little… well, let’s just say she likes to keep all her ducks lined up and I don’t-"
"Sit in line like all the other ducks?"
Danny laughs. "Yeah, that sounds about right. Considering she’d shoot me first chance she got if I didn’t do everything I’m supposed to."
"The child support must be high?"
"That too, but I’m just supposed to be available when she thinks I should be, never mind what job I’m working on. I try to be there for Grace, because I miss her like you wouldn’t believe when I’m away, but Rachel always manages to find some excuse as to why I can’t see Grace when I do have extra time."
"That’s rough." Steve can’t even imagine how hard it must be for Danny. For once he’s glad that Catherine’s career meant she wasn’t ready for kids yet. In all honesty he hadn’t wanted them either at that point, but he’d been disappointed nonetheless when she told him she couldn’t foresee a time when she’d be ready for them - before that he’d assumed they would eventually have a family.
"Yeah," Danny is saying, "But I’m not sure what I can do to change things without giving up my job, and I don’t want to do that. It’s the best job I’ve had, and I love it."
Steve gives him a sympathetic smile. "I don’t know what I’d do in your situation, but I imagine you’re not the sort of guy to take it lying down."
"I try not to, but…" He sighs and gives Steve a sad look, like there’s nothing to be done.
Steve’s filled with the need to make things better; to give comfort at the very least, right now, until he can help in a more practical way. "Hey," he says, shifting so he can touch Danny’s hand where it rests on the man’s thigh.
Danny’s eyes lift at the touch and he gives Steve a look he can’t quite decipher, but it’s not discouraging, and Steve leans in almost without thinking and kisses his lips softly. Before he can draw too far away, Danny puts a hand around his neck and pulls him back, deepening the kiss. Steve responds willingly, a surge of heat spreading through his entire body.
There are no more words for some time; they continue to make out like a couple of teenagers, hands and bodies shifting until they’ve virtually lying on the couch, Steve pressing down into Danny. He wants more, but after the conversation they’ve just had, and with what happened when they arrived here tonight, he doesn’t want to push.
Remembering himself, he starts to pull away, but Danny thinks differently and grabs at him. "C’mere. Where are you going?"
"You sure about this? I don’t want you to think I just came here for sex," Steve tells him, still half on top of Danny.
"I know that, you idiot," Danny says, dragging him back and kissing him again.
Steve doesn’t need to be told twice. He’s back into it and shoving clothes out of the way before Danny can say anything else. Danny’s scrabbling to dig into Steve’s clothes just as eagerly, but then suddenly he pauses, which has Steve worried for a moment.
But he shouldn’t be, because Danny’s still got his mind on the game; he’s just thinking of practicalities. "What say we move this to the bedroom? We’d be way more comfortable there."
"Good idea," Steve agrees readily. He manages to get off the couch, holding out a hand for Danny once he’s standing.
Danny doesn’t hesitate to take it, letting Steve help pull him upright. They’re back in each other’s arms, the kiss even deeper than before. Steve thinks he might burst if they don’t get naked soon, but it’s hard to let go of Danny. Somehow, between kisses and while still desperately trying to shed clothes, they make it to Danny’s bedroom.
Danny’s shirt is off and his pants unbuckled; Steve’s shirt is open, and he’s managed to get out of his jeans, when Danny pushes him backwards and he lands on Danny’s hotel bed.
"Can't wait," Danny mutters, pushing both trousers and underwear down his legs and off, and climbing onto Steve. He tugs Steve's shorts away in record time, and the surge of electricity at his touch has Steve bucking upwards, uncaring that he's still wearing his shirt.
Danny's back over him and crashing their lips together like Steve's the end of a drought - Steve thinks maybe he is, just as Danny feels to be for him- and frotting against him for all he's worth.
"Danny, Danny," Steve hears himself say, "Can we…? Please?"
He's not even sure what he's asking, but Danny seems to understand. "You betcha."
Next thing, Danny's reaching for the nightstand, dragging a drawer out and digging around inside. "Shit, where the fuck?" he asks as his searching gets more frantic. "I swear…" He shakes his head, looking down at Steve, a stricken expression on his face. "I didn't know we'd get this far; I don't have anything."
"Hey, it's cool," Steve tells him. "We'll make do. I'm good with it… as long as you are?" He wants to be safe; after all, Danny doesn't know what - or who - Steve's done before now, and in theory the reverse applies too, but Steve's fairly certain he's been the only one in some time. From what he's learned of Danny, he doubts he'd put himself at risk, and he's not about to suggest the man starts now.
Danny lets out a slow breath, like he's too far into this to make a sound decision, and for a moment, Steve thinks they should stop, though every fiber of his being is desperate to continue.
But Danny nods. "We can do this."
He's rubbing against Steve again, but it's not enough and Steve knows exactly what he's willing to risk. He flips them quickly, scrabbling backwards down Danny's body and wrapping his lips around Danny's cock before the guy can protest.
Danny groans, not fighting anything that he's doing, so Steve props himself between Danny's legs, where he can use the friction of the bedding as he continues to suck him off. Steve's gripping those slim hips, tilting his head so Danny's cock can slide deeper inside his mouth. It's amazing to him that he's so into this considering it's the first time he's ever had another man's cock in his mouth, but he must be doing it right as Danny has his eyes closed and he's massaging Steve's head in encouragement.
"Oh God… God… Steve… I…." Danny's scrabbling in Steve's short hair trying to push him off, but Steve's fighting it, wanting to swallow despite his inexperience with the whole thing, but in the end he lets Danny push him off, and he watches his own hand from where he still lies very close to Danny's dick as he finishes the job.
Danny comes with a jolt, striping his own stomach in whiteness. Steve has never seen another guy come like that - other than himself or some porn star in a blue movie - and it's hot beyond his imagining. His own dick is throbbing with need and he can't help bucking against the bedding, desperate to come to his own conclusion. He's not quite there though, and Danny's dragging him upward and pushing him onto his back, uncaring of the stickiness on his belly as he moves so he can wrap a thick fist around Steve's dick and push him that last step over the edge.
Steve cries out when he comes, one hand bunching up the bedding, the other seeking Danny - any part of him - so he can pull him into a grateful and somewhat sloppy kiss. Both of them are somewhat uncoordinated as their spunk mingles on sweaty skin and they clutch each other, lips and tongues confirming their connection. It was all a little fast and furious, and Steve briefly wishes they'd had condoms and lube so they could repeat that first time together where they'd gone a little further, although this has still been one of the most fantastic sexual encounters he's had.
When they finally flop backwards next to each other, in need of some recovery space, he finds himself wondering if any sex is better when it's with someone you feel a lot more than just passing lust for.
He doesn't have a lot of time to think of much more as he slides into a satisfied sleep.
~//~
When he comes to, the smell of coffee from the other room has him sitting upright and gazing around to get his bearings. Danny appears in the doorway with a steaming mug in one hand, wearing only a pair of shorts.
"Hey sleepyhead," he says with a smile, "I wondered when you were going to surface. You want coffee?"
Steve's lips curve in an echoing grin. "I slept better than I have in months. Coffee sounds good."
"Cream and sugar? I ordered room service while you were still dreaming. Figured you might be hungry too - there's eggs and bacon if you want it."
"Wow," Steve says, "You buttering me up for some big news or something?"
Danny smiles awkwardly and gestures behind himself. "Come out when you're ready. I'll pour the coffee while I wait."
He disappears while Steve's working out the implications, and before he has a chance to say anything else. Steve's heart jumps; he can't help worrying that Danny's thought all this over once more, and maybe he's not as keen to continue a relationship after all. He throws the bedding off and gets out of bed, finding last night's trousers and a clean T-shirt on the chair in the room. He pulls them on quickly and goes through the door.
Danny's sitting on the balcony in the morning sun, biting into toast and looking calm enough; maybe Steve's reading too much into his silence. Perhaps he just doesn't talk much this early, and Steve caught him unawares.
"So," he gets out, trying to maintain his calm, and slides into the seat opposite to reach for the plate full of scrambled eggs, bacon and toast that Danny uncovers in front of him. "What are your plans from here?"
Danny places a full mug of fragrant coffee in front of Steve's plate and picks up another slice of toast.
"Today I have to go see my editor, and then tonight I'm flying back to Jersey. Tomorrow, I pick up Grace from her mother's and we have a whole week together."
"Oh, okay," Steve says, disappointed; he had hoped they might get some time together here in LA before either of them had to take off again. He picks up the coffee and sips carefully, studying Danny over the rim. Swallowing, he sets the mug down and picks up his cutlery, eyeing the delicious food on the plate.
"But I think…" Danny says, causing him to look up in hope, "…I have time to relax here with you for a couple of hours before I have to leave."
He's smiling broadly, like he knows how worried Steve was and he did it on purpose. Steve huffs in amusement despite himself. "You trying to worry me? Because it worked."
"Hey." Danny reaches across and squeezes Steve's wrist behind where he's holding his fork. "I don't want you to take this for granted. But I do want us to work. Believe that."
Steve's heart soars and he drops the fork, turning his hand so he and Danny are holding each other's. "I believe it," he affirms. "And I want you to know I'll give you all the space you need, but I'm not running away from this. I want it too much."
"That's all I need to hear," Danny replies.
~//~
Chapter 6