"She's good, which is why I am in a relatively decent mood tonight, unlike you."
It doesn't take much to neatly turn that question on its head, because as distraction tactics go, it's pretty damn blatant, and unworthy of Steve. It's like tossing a tennis ball in front of a dog, or holding out a treat; assuming that the topic of Grace will get them on less rocky shores, but that's not how this works. "Come on, what's going on? You look like you want to go out and bust some heads; you're telling me that's a normal reaction to dinner with a friend?"
A friend who knows. The only friend who knows. Who was previously pushed aside specifically because of this, because of him, and Danny feels a little sliver of ice slide into his heart.
He resists it. Tries to, anyway. Cath had been amiable that night, and he's got no reason to think she and Steve even discussed it. Right? Maybe they talked military nostalgia all night. Or considered the various types of supercomputers available.
All of which is easier to consider than the fact that she had Steve for years, and he can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want to put up a fight against the guy who's snuck in for a month.
He's watching Steve now, with no pretense of even glancing at the water, leaning over his knees to peer across his shoulder, at flat look, tight jaw, mechanical drinking of the beer in his hand, when he remembers it's there, and that's not right, none of this is right. He's happy to talk about Grace, but not when she's being used as a diversion.
"What gives? Hey." He shifts a little, leaning slightly towards Steve. "Talk to me."
no subject
It doesn't take much to neatly turn that question on its head, because as distraction tactics go, it's pretty damn blatant, and unworthy of Steve. It's like tossing a tennis ball in front of a dog, or holding out a treat; assuming that the topic of Grace will get them on less rocky shores, but that's not how this works. "Come on, what's going on? You look like you want to go out and bust some heads; you're telling me that's a normal reaction to dinner with a friend?"
A friend who knows. The only friend who knows. Who was previously pushed aside specifically because of this, because of him, and Danny feels a little sliver of ice slide into his heart.
He resists it. Tries to, anyway. Cath had been amiable that night, and he's got no reason to think she and Steve even discussed it. Right? Maybe they talked military nostalgia all night. Or considered the various types of supercomputers available.
All of which is easier to consider than the fact that she had Steve for years, and he can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want to put up a fight against the guy who's snuck in for a month.
He's watching Steve now, with no pretense of even glancing at the water, leaning over his knees to peer across his shoulder, at flat look, tight jaw, mechanical drinking of the beer in his hand, when he remembers it's there, and that's not right, none of this is right. He's happy to talk about Grace, but not when she's being used as a diversion.
"What gives? Hey." He shifts a little, leaning slightly towards Steve. "Talk to me."