[Hawaii Five-0] Down to the Sea
Title: Down to the Sea
Author:
kitsune_tsuki
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Pre-slash, Steve/Danny
Word Count: ~ 1,640
Disclaimer: In no way, shape, or form do these characters belong to me.
Summary: Danny doesn't know what it is, but when something wakes him in the middle of the night he's already reaching for his gun before his brain catches up.
Notes: Sequel to On Any Given Day, which can be found at my LJ, my DW Journal, and my IJ.
Danny doesn't know what it is, but when something wakes him in the middle of the night he's already reaching for his gun before his brain catches up.
"Jesus, this place is a dump," a vaguely familiar voice says as the lights come on, drawing his attention to the figure standing a few feet away, her hand still on the light-switch. "You let your kid come here?"
Danny groans and drops back down, covering his face with his arm when he recognizes his visitor. He knows now why his Gift didn't wake him. She feels like Steve, that same not-quite hum at the back of his mind that he's gotten used to, that his brain has apparently decided to equate with safe.
"Hey," Danny protests, knuckling sleep from his eyes as he sits up and scowls at her. He knows his apartment is crap, but it's still his home. "You try living off my pay and see if you can do better."
Mary crosses her arms and gives him an unimpressed look. "My heart bleeds for you."
Danny could ask her what she's doing in his apartment in the middle of the night, but he has a pretty good idea why she's there. "How did you even get in here?" he feels compelled to ask, knowing he probably doesn't want to know.
Mary raises an eyebrow at him, and yeah. Yeah. She's a McGarrett, which is explanation enough, really.
He shakes his head and stumbles out of bed to take a shower. "Make yourself at home," he says, even though she's halfway to his tiny kitchen.
====
====
Mary's sitting at his crappy little kitchen table, two mugs of coffee in front of her when he comes out of the bedroom. She looks tired, drawn.
"Thanks," he says, taking the mug she pushes at him. He waits, but she just looks away, absently turning the mug in her hands around. Watching her, Danny has to wonder if this thing about not talking is just another family trait, and if it is, it's no wonder the McGarretts are so fucked up as a whole.
"You ever use it against him, I'll kill you," Mary says, low and serious when she turns her head to look at him. He recognizes the look in her eyes as being pure Steve, no, McGarrett.
It's the same kind of fierce protectiveness and determination to keep what's hers safe he's seen on Steve's face so many times before. Danny knows she's not so much threatening him on Steve's behalf as she's promising him if he fucks up, if he does anything to Steve because of what he is, she'll be the one coming after him. And that, more than anything, tells him everything he needs to know about her.
"Yeah," he tells her, feeling the corner of his mouth pull up into a smile. It's a relief to know Steve has someone who isn't part of the team, someone like her in his life looking out for him. "I know."
====
====
It's been weeks since the incident at Steve's where Grace met her new best friend in what has to be one of the most terrifying ways ever, and Steve is still shit at hiding his seal skin.
Danny's given him the benefit of the doubt because they've had a heavy caseload full of gunrunners and drug-dealers and all manner of scumbags Steve loves to bring down using high-explosives and an actual boat chase. And in all honestly, Danny thinks that last was mostly due to Steve wanting to mix things up, lest he get bored with the usual heart-stopping race down twisting mountain roads that aren't actually roads.
The point is, Danny doesn't know if Steve is actually mentally challenged or if he's just a special kind of stupid, but he's driving Danny crazy with his complete inability to find a good hiding place for his seal skin. Grace had found it last, stuffed in the back of a closet in the spare bedroom.
Mary's late-night visit is what finally spurs Danny into taking action for Steve's own good. And sure, maybe it's not the best solution to rely on something from Danny's world to keep Steve safe, but he doesn't know what else he can do. He shows up at Steve's place unannounced and shoves the damn thing at Steve when he answers the door.
"...It's a safe," Steve says. Slowly, like he doesn't think Danny will understand.
Like Danny didn't spend who knows how many hours navigating the horrors of the internet and dealing with assholes who couldn't be bothered to use spell check or actual words instead of netspeak in their product reviews. Like Danny didn't do his best to find one that might, conceivably, survive a typical day in the life of one Steven J. McGarrett.
The fine print claims the safe is rated for extreme temperatures at both ends of the scale as well as a whole slew of conditions no normal, sane person should ever expect to find themselves in, and yet, Danny knows that won't be enough because he bought it for Steve.
"Yes. Well done, Commander," Danny says. He's possibly annoyed at Steve for putting him in this position. "Excellent work. We'll make a real detective out of you in no time." Danny smiles, but it feels more like a grimace. "Now put your damn pelt in there and hide it someplace where a grade school student can't find it, okay?" he says, and pushes past Steve because he needs a beer.
Danny knows it's not a pelt - that it's actually kind of insulting to keep calling it that with the way Steve yells back at him, "It's not a fucking pelt, you asshole!”, and smirks as he hears Steve stomping off to wherever the hell he's hidden his damn seal skin this time.
====
====
Danny's annoyance and frustration with Steve has faded to the usual comfortable level of mild exasperation by the time Steve finds him on the lana'i. Danny raises an eyebrow at him, and Steve makes a face as he slowly allows himself to relax.
"Thanks," Steve says, stiff and awkward.
Danny snorts, shooting him a look. "Did you actually use the damn thing?"
Steve just smiles, not looking at Danny.
Danny sighs, tipping his head back and closing his eyes. "Mary came to see me," he says, knowing he has Steve's full attention. "Told me she'd kill me if I used it against you."
There's a moment of stunned silence, and then, "She what?"
Danny opens his eyes and looks at Steve, who sounds genuinely surprised. Almost as though it never occurred to him that he might not be the only dangerous one in the family, or that anyone, even Mary, would do something like that for him. "She's your sister," Danny says, trying not to let it show just how much it makes him want to hit something because Steve is having trouble processing this one, simple thing. "She worries."
Steve ducks his head and mutters something Danny doesn't quite catch, but he can take an educated guess given the way Steve reacted when she first showed up. Blood's thicker than water, but it doesn't mean there aren't problems.
"Hey. Hey, shut up and appreciate the sentiment, asshole," Danny says.
Steve shuts up, but only for a minute. "Danny, you know - "
"Again, shut up."
There are countless myths and legends surrounding what Steve and Mary are, and none of them end with a happily ever after.
Steve's looking at him like he's trying to figure out how to say it. To tell Danny that one day Steve's going to be gone, back to the fucking sea and nothing Danny can do, short of holding him against his will can make him stay. (And, seriously. Fuck Steve for even thinking Danny could do that, or that Mary or Chin or Kono wouldn't do something about it if he tried. )
Danny knows Steve. He knows that huge, frightening brain of his is coming up with every single possible way this could go wrong, could blow up in his face and turn into the biggest clusterfuck the world has ever seen. He knows Steve is trying to think of all the reasons it's a bad idea, the worst one anyone has ever thought up.
Ordinarily Danny would be right there with him. It's stupid, insanely so. It's stupid and reckless and will probably get one or both of them killed because the world's a fucked up place and Steve never fucking thinks, but.
"I know what I'm getting myself into here, okay?" Danny says, doing his best to make sure Steve understands what he's saying. "I mean, sure, I'm going to have to make allowances for your love of high-grade explosives and other assorted things no person in their right mind would express any kind of fondness for, but really, McGarrett. Trust me to know that much, okay?"
"Fine, okay," Steve says, more to placate Danny than out of actual agreement.
Danny shakes his head as he relaxes in his lounge chair. "Christ, you're a stubborn bastard." He knows this thing between them isn't quite settled, but they're making headway, and considering this is Steve, that's saying something.
"Mmm," Steve says, sounding a little tired from dealing with inconvenient things like feelings, as he stretches out in his own lounge chair. "Worth it, though."
Steve doesn't sound as confident as he should, and Danny can feel Steve sneaking looks at him, little darting glances like they're what, back in high school or something, and God. That's just so Steve Danny can't help but smile.
"Yeah, you keep right on thinking that, princess," Danny says, and reaches out to bump Steve's hand with his because the bastard just might have a point there. “You keep thinking that.”
Posted at http://kitsune-tsuki.dreamwidth.org/333821.html. | You can reply here or there. |
Author:
kitsune_tsuki
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Pre-slash, Steve/Danny
Word Count: ~ 1,640
Disclaimer: In no way, shape, or form do these characters belong to me.
Summary: Danny doesn't know what it is, but when something wakes him in the middle of the night he's already reaching for his gun before his brain catches up.
Notes: Sequel to On Any Given Day, which can be found at my LJ, my DW Journal, and my IJ.
Danny doesn't know what it is, but when something wakes him in the middle of the night he's already reaching for his gun before his brain catches up.
"Jesus, this place is a dump," a vaguely familiar voice says as the lights come on, drawing his attention to the figure standing a few feet away, her hand still on the light-switch. "You let your kid come here?"
Danny groans and drops back down, covering his face with his arm when he recognizes his visitor. He knows now why his Gift didn't wake him. She feels like Steve, that same not-quite hum at the back of his mind that he's gotten used to, that his brain has apparently decided to equate with safe.
"Hey," Danny protests, knuckling sleep from his eyes as he sits up and scowls at her. He knows his apartment is crap, but it's still his home. "You try living off my pay and see if you can do better."
Mary crosses her arms and gives him an unimpressed look. "My heart bleeds for you."
Danny could ask her what she's doing in his apartment in the middle of the night, but he has a pretty good idea why she's there. "How did you even get in here?" he feels compelled to ask, knowing he probably doesn't want to know.
Mary raises an eyebrow at him, and yeah. Yeah. She's a McGarrett, which is explanation enough, really.
He shakes his head and stumbles out of bed to take a shower. "Make yourself at home," he says, even though she's halfway to his tiny kitchen.
====
====
Mary's sitting at his crappy little kitchen table, two mugs of coffee in front of her when he comes out of the bedroom. She looks tired, drawn.
"Thanks," he says, taking the mug she pushes at him. He waits, but she just looks away, absently turning the mug in her hands around. Watching her, Danny has to wonder if this thing about not talking is just another family trait, and if it is, it's no wonder the McGarretts are so fucked up as a whole.
"You ever use it against him, I'll kill you," Mary says, low and serious when she turns her head to look at him. He recognizes the look in her eyes as being pure Steve, no, McGarrett.
It's the same kind of fierce protectiveness and determination to keep what's hers safe he's seen on Steve's face so many times before. Danny knows she's not so much threatening him on Steve's behalf as she's promising him if he fucks up, if he does anything to Steve because of what he is, she'll be the one coming after him. And that, more than anything, tells him everything he needs to know about her.
"Yeah," he tells her, feeling the corner of his mouth pull up into a smile. It's a relief to know Steve has someone who isn't part of the team, someone like her in his life looking out for him. "I know."
====
====
It's been weeks since the incident at Steve's where Grace met her new best friend in what has to be one of the most terrifying ways ever, and Steve is still shit at hiding his seal skin.
Danny's given him the benefit of the doubt because they've had a heavy caseload full of gunrunners and drug-dealers and all manner of scumbags Steve loves to bring down using high-explosives and an actual boat chase. And in all honestly, Danny thinks that last was mostly due to Steve wanting to mix things up, lest he get bored with the usual heart-stopping race down twisting mountain roads that aren't actually roads.
The point is, Danny doesn't know if Steve is actually mentally challenged or if he's just a special kind of stupid, but he's driving Danny crazy with his complete inability to find a good hiding place for his seal skin. Grace had found it last, stuffed in the back of a closet in the spare bedroom.
Mary's late-night visit is what finally spurs Danny into taking action for Steve's own good. And sure, maybe it's not the best solution to rely on something from Danny's world to keep Steve safe, but he doesn't know what else he can do. He shows up at Steve's place unannounced and shoves the damn thing at Steve when he answers the door.
"...It's a safe," Steve says. Slowly, like he doesn't think Danny will understand.
Like Danny didn't spend who knows how many hours navigating the horrors of the internet and dealing with assholes who couldn't be bothered to use spell check or actual words instead of netspeak in their product reviews. Like Danny didn't do his best to find one that might, conceivably, survive a typical day in the life of one Steven J. McGarrett.
The fine print claims the safe is rated for extreme temperatures at both ends of the scale as well as a whole slew of conditions no normal, sane person should ever expect to find themselves in, and yet, Danny knows that won't be enough because he bought it for Steve.
"Yes. Well done, Commander," Danny says. He's possibly annoyed at Steve for putting him in this position. "Excellent work. We'll make a real detective out of you in no time." Danny smiles, but it feels more like a grimace. "Now put your damn pelt in there and hide it someplace where a grade school student can't find it, okay?" he says, and pushes past Steve because he needs a beer.
Danny knows it's not a pelt - that it's actually kind of insulting to keep calling it that with the way Steve yells back at him, "It's not a fucking pelt, you asshole!”, and smirks as he hears Steve stomping off to wherever the hell he's hidden his damn seal skin this time.
====
====
Danny's annoyance and frustration with Steve has faded to the usual comfortable level of mild exasperation by the time Steve finds him on the lana'i. Danny raises an eyebrow at him, and Steve makes a face as he slowly allows himself to relax.
"Thanks," Steve says, stiff and awkward.
Danny snorts, shooting him a look. "Did you actually use the damn thing?"
Steve just smiles, not looking at Danny.
Danny sighs, tipping his head back and closing his eyes. "Mary came to see me," he says, knowing he has Steve's full attention. "Told me she'd kill me if I used it against you."
There's a moment of stunned silence, and then, "She what?"
Danny opens his eyes and looks at Steve, who sounds genuinely surprised. Almost as though it never occurred to him that he might not be the only dangerous one in the family, or that anyone, even Mary, would do something like that for him. "She's your sister," Danny says, trying not to let it show just how much it makes him want to hit something because Steve is having trouble processing this one, simple thing. "She worries."
Steve ducks his head and mutters something Danny doesn't quite catch, but he can take an educated guess given the way Steve reacted when she first showed up. Blood's thicker than water, but it doesn't mean there aren't problems.
"Hey. Hey, shut up and appreciate the sentiment, asshole," Danny says.
Steve shuts up, but only for a minute. "Danny, you know - "
"Again, shut up."
There are countless myths and legends surrounding what Steve and Mary are, and none of them end with a happily ever after.
Steve's looking at him like he's trying to figure out how to say it. To tell Danny that one day Steve's going to be gone, back to the fucking sea and nothing Danny can do, short of holding him against his will can make him stay. (And, seriously. Fuck Steve for even thinking Danny could do that, or that Mary or Chin or Kono wouldn't do something about it if he tried. )
Danny knows Steve. He knows that huge, frightening brain of his is coming up with every single possible way this could go wrong, could blow up in his face and turn into the biggest clusterfuck the world has ever seen. He knows Steve is trying to think of all the reasons it's a bad idea, the worst one anyone has ever thought up.
Ordinarily Danny would be right there with him. It's stupid, insanely so. It's stupid and reckless and will probably get one or both of them killed because the world's a fucked up place and Steve never fucking thinks, but.
"I know what I'm getting myself into here, okay?" Danny says, doing his best to make sure Steve understands what he's saying. "I mean, sure, I'm going to have to make allowances for your love of high-grade explosives and other assorted things no person in their right mind would express any kind of fondness for, but really, McGarrett. Trust me to know that much, okay?"
"Fine, okay," Steve says, more to placate Danny than out of actual agreement.
Danny shakes his head as he relaxes in his lounge chair. "Christ, you're a stubborn bastard." He knows this thing between them isn't quite settled, but they're making headway, and considering this is Steve, that's saying something.
"Mmm," Steve says, sounding a little tired from dealing with inconvenient things like feelings, as he stretches out in his own lounge chair. "Worth it, though."
Steve doesn't sound as confident as he should, and Danny can feel Steve sneaking looks at him, little darting glances like they're what, back in high school or something, and God. That's just so Steve Danny can't help but smile.
"Yeah, you keep right on thinking that, princess," Danny says, and reaches out to bump Steve's hand with his because the bastard just might have a point there. “You keep thinking that.”
Posted at http://kitsune-tsuki.dreamwidth.org/333821.html. | You can reply here or there. |