There's something uncomfortably reminiscent of last week -- or, actually, it's almost two weeks ago, now -- in this kiss. More like argument than need, like Steve's about to prove a point again, all over Danny's body.
Except he's not. He's actually sort of restrained. He's pressing down, hard, mouth insistent and hot, and his hands are on Danny's shoulder and at his hair, but that's all. There's no shoving. No yelling. No teeth sinking into the cord of muscle at his neck, no marks being sucked into his skin. But there's nothing gentle about it.
It's more like Danny's being held here, like he's grounded, or being sent to the corner until he learns his lesson. Like he's being sat down and told to look at what he's done, until he apologizes for it. And it's actually more intense with the lack of motion than it would be if Steve really did slam him into the door, like he's threatening, in that way that might not actually be one hundred percent a joke. Steve bearing down on him when Danny knows that behind that sniper-tight focus is all the force of a howling hurricane, winding itself up into Steve's head.
Or maybe not. But there could be. Easily. Because Steve hasn't accepted his apology, or done much other than be disdainful and annoyed since the moment it seemed like Danny might actually take him at his word. That nothing happened. That, of course, nothing happened. Leaving Danny caught in this strange new reality where that is actually the case. Trying to wrap his head around the implications, of Steve pushing Catherine away. For him. Even if he didn't have to. Even if they never actually said he needed to. Even if he didn't want to.
He did. And it slots into place, that look that's been carved across Steve's face, cranky and exasperated. Pushes it right back into a memory of that night after the barbeque, when Steve looked so insulted at the idea that he might not have noticed, somewhere over the last two years, that Danny sucks at casual and never does anything but get too involved. Like Danny's ridiculous insecurities are in some way a slight against Steve's character, and not just proof that getting involved with Danny is probably in no way a good idea for anyone, least of all Steve.
And yet he's here, saying of course just like he said you think I don't know that?, affronted and annoyed, and now he's kissing Danny in a way that makes Danny feel like he's being actively scolded, not wanted. When Steve still looks -- not disappointed, but frowning and stormy.
Not that it makes it any easier to actually pull away, even to say "Okay, I get it, alright, I am sorry for besmirching your character with baseless accusations." Flippant sounding, maybe, but he is, because for one second he does get it, sees a flash of Steve's face in the yard and another on the lanai and it all slots together so perfectly in a way that makes him feel like the world's biggest moron, because Steve literally knows him better than anyone on the planet. It's not like Steve of all people might not know what he's getting into. He knows everything, has seen Danny broken down by Rachel, is the one who hauled him back on his feet again.
He's probably going to lose it again in a second, but getting it out is important, more important than any kiss, especially one that feels like punishment.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2013-02-08 06:36 pm (UTC)Except he's not. He's actually sort of restrained. He's pressing down, hard, mouth insistent and hot, and his hands are on Danny's shoulder and at his hair, but that's all. There's no shoving. No yelling. No teeth sinking into the cord of muscle at his neck, no marks being sucked into his skin. But there's nothing gentle about it.
It's more like Danny's being held here, like he's grounded, or being sent to the corner until he learns his lesson. Like he's being sat down and told to look at what he's done, until he apologizes for it. And it's actually more intense with the lack of motion than it would be if Steve really did slam him into the door, like he's threatening, in that way that might not actually be one hundred percent a joke. Steve bearing down on him when Danny knows that behind that sniper-tight focus is all the force of a howling hurricane, winding itself up into Steve's head.
Or maybe not. But there could be. Easily. Because Steve hasn't accepted his apology, or done much other than be disdainful and annoyed since the moment it seemed like Danny might actually take him at his word. That nothing happened. That, of course, nothing happened. Leaving Danny caught in this strange new reality where that is actually the case. Trying to wrap his head around the implications, of Steve pushing Catherine away. For him. Even if he didn't have to. Even if they never actually said he needed to. Even if he didn't want to.
He did. And it slots into place, that look that's been carved across Steve's face, cranky and exasperated. Pushes it right back into a memory of that night after the barbeque, when Steve looked so insulted at the idea that he might not have noticed, somewhere over the last two years, that Danny sucks at casual and never does anything but get too involved. Like Danny's ridiculous insecurities are in some way a slight against Steve's character, and not just proof that getting involved with Danny is probably in no way a good idea for anyone, least of all Steve.
And yet he's here, saying of course just like he said you think I don't know that?, affronted and annoyed, and now he's kissing Danny in a way that makes Danny feel like he's being actively scolded, not wanted. When Steve still looks -- not disappointed, but frowning and stormy.
Not that it makes it any easier to actually pull away, even to say "Okay, I get it, alright, I am sorry for besmirching your character with baseless accusations." Flippant sounding, maybe, but he is, because for one second he does get it, sees a flash of Steve's face in the yard and another on the lanai and it all slots together so perfectly in a way that makes him feel like the world's biggest moron, because Steve literally knows him better than anyone on the planet. It's not like Steve of all people might not know what he's getting into. He knows everything, has seen Danny broken down by Rachel, is the one who hauled him back on his feet again.
He's probably going to lose it again in a second, but getting it out is important, more important than any kiss, especially one that feels like punishment.