Annapolis, MD - Saturday Evening

[hatesparadise]

Danny wasn't specifically a boat person, even with his current home being on an island. And his other home also being on an island. But he was at this yacht parade thing anyway for Steve.

And also to enjoy how miserably cold the guy was in the winter.

Look, date night was fun for a variety of reasons. Sometimes you just had to lean into it.

"You want to borrow my scarf?" Danny asked.

[for the delicate islander]

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[grenadesandohana]

"Nah, I'm good," Steve said, stomping his feet in his boots so he could count his toes.

[hatesparadise]

"Are you sure?" Danny asked.

[grenadesandohana]

"I've been to Afghanistan in February, I'll live," Steve said. "This is almost over."

It was not.

[hatesparadise]

Danny pushed up onto his toes to glance down the way to see a lot more boats coming. Then looked back at Steve silently.

With judgement.

"I'm getting you one of those heated jackets this year for Christmas."

No, no. You're getting him a gun that says 'yeet', Daniel.

[grenadesandohana]

Well, Steve was getting himself a gun that said yeet on it. He was just putting Danny's name on the gift label.

"I don't need a heated jacket," Steve said. "I'm a SEAL."

[hatesparadise]

"Sure, you don't need it, but you'd like it." And Danny wouldn't have to listen to his teeth chatter. Which was why he was removing his scarf to put over Steve's neck.

[grenadesandohana]

"Thank you," Steve said with extremely ill grace as he snuggled into the scarf.

[hatesparadise]

"You're welcome," Danny said sweetly.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve bumped his arm against Danny's shoulder. "Hilarious."

[hatesparadise]

"You love it," Danny replied, leaning back into him.

[grenadesandohana]

"Never," Steve said, smiling fondly.

[hatesparadise]

"Watch the boats, you putz," Danny replied with a laugh.

[grenadesandohana]

"And then we can get crab cakes," Steve said.

[hatesparadise]

"Then we get crab cakes," Danny agreed with a nod. "And beer."

[grenadesandohana]

"And something warm," Steve said. "But these boats are cool. The people are more dressed than they are at the boat parade at Hawaii Kai Marina."

[hatesparadise]

"It's almost like it's a fifty degree difference in the weather," Danny replied dryly. "Maybe if you ask nicely, Kamekona will wear the Santa outfit, though."

[grenadesandohana]

"You wear it better," Steve said.

[hatesparadise]

Danny elbowed him gently. "Maybe for Charlie. But that hole holiday will be... weird this year."

[grenadesandohana]

"Oh, definitely," Steve agreed. "How's custody looking?"

[hatesparadise]

"Good," Danny said with almost uncharacteristic optimism. "She's not fighting me like she did with Grace."

WEIRD, RIGHT?

[grenadesandohana]

"Maybe she's learned and grown?"

Steve didn't sound like he entirely believed that, but he was trying to.

[hatesparadise]

Danny hummed in a way that said he knew what Steve was doing, but didn't have a counter to it. Because Rachel would always be both a sore spot and a blind spot for him.

"Well, we get him for Christmas Eve."

He used 'we' instead of 'he' there. Weirdly.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve bet Rachel was absolutely thrilled about that we. Just thrilled.

"And she gets him after he wakes up?"

He was betting no.

[hatesparadise]

"She goes back that evening," Danny said with a little face.

[grenadesandohana]

"Sorry, Danno," Steve said quietly.