March 7th

[haolehothead]

Danny feels ridiculous. Genuinely and truly, he doesn't know that he's ever felt like more of a schmuck in his entire life, feeling as nervous as he does. He's in the main room of the hut, watching sports like something might actually change in the outcome of his Best Of DVDs if he just watches hard enough. Nothing does change.

Still, he stays nervous and he feels like he's about to do something that could simultaneously be the best and the worst thing that he's ever done in his entire life -- and it's tomorrow. He's getting hitched with Steve tomorrow. He's got his clothes hung up over the doorway, he's got a speech in mind for the reception, and he's even doing fairly okay with not having Grace there. He just can't shake the goddamn nerves.

"Shit," he mutters, getting up to get some air, leaving the door open before he returns to the best of the NHL, circa 2008. He's supposed to be calm about this. It's Steve. It's his best friend, it's the guy he's been with for over a year -- almost to the day, even -- and friends with for over a year before that.

Maybe the solution here is some booze, but Danny doesn't want to be that tragic kind of guy who does it all alone.

Comments

[haolehothead]

"Yeah, but we need some decoration on the inside. Steve's all carpenter-handyman, which is nice and all, but it leaves me with this whole 'living in man territory' when it comes to the indoors," he points out, gesturing to the walls and ceiling above him before settling for another drink. "And there won't be any kinky blowups. That's not Steve or me."

[girlsolo]

"Well." Kate looks around and gives it a little thought before nodding. "It may take awhile, but at least I know what to get you guys for a wedding present."

[haolehothead]

"Some creepy adult pictures?" Danny jokes, giving her an amused look. "If you're really in the market for a wedding gift, I'd happily accept a 'you win' card out of Steve. I could always use one of those in the bank in the event he and I get into a tiff."

[girlsolo]

"I'd have to tell him it was for the first time I beat him sparring." Which, let's face it, probably is never going to happen, but she's getting a lot closer. She sucks down another sip of vodka and pats him on the arm. "Don't worry. I know I don't always act like it, but I can do tasteful."

[haolehothead]

"I'm not worried about you." He's worried about himself, about worrying so hard that he's going to screw it all up. He's worried that Rachel wasn't a one-off and that something in him will trigger it to happen all over again.

[girlsolo]

"So what are you worried about?" she asks, like she doesn't know, like they haven't talked about it before. Maybe she's closer to Steve than him, but it doesn't mean she can't be his friend and Friend 101 is like Con 101. Listening comes first.

[haolehothead]

"I'm worried that I'm the problem. I'm worried that the reason Rachel left me is..." He taps his fingers against his chest, against his torso. "I worry that Steve's going to stumble onto some kind of knowledge that will drive him away from me. Just like Rachel."

[girlsolo]

Pretty much all the time she's known him, Danny's been worried about that. And she's pretty sure nothing she can say is gonna fix that. Especially when, "Yeah, I get that. I feel that way about Declan a lot. Or like he's gonna meet the girl he's really into--" Or Watson's going to show up. "And then what?" She nods but then shrugs. "I guess you just do the best you can, every day, and enjoy the hell out of the ride so there are no regrets if it ever comes to an end."

[haolehothead]

"Well, some regrets," Danny clarifies, a hint of a wicked smile lurking back onto his face. "I mean, Steve is pretty good in bed, considering he didn't have half an idea what he was doing when we first got together. So, you know, a little bit of that."

[girlsolo]

Kate just shakes her head, grinning. "Why are you always trying to tell me about your sex life?" If it weren't the night before his wedding, she might make a crack about whether he's looking for a chick in the middle or something, but it is, and she won't.

[haolehothead]

"Maybe because it's actually enviable for the first time in my life?" Danny guesses, because it definitely is the first time he wants to shout from the rafters about what he's got.

[girlsolo]

"So, see? Nothing to worry about. Most people will forgive a lot for great sex." Kate nudges him in the arm with her elbow when she says it, but it's actually a lot deeper than that.

Maybe she's had enough vodka to loosen her tongue or maybe she just finally knows Danny well enough to let him see there's a lot more to her than sex, guns and leather. "Seriously." Sex is a lot like running a con sometimes. But in a good way. "If you can't get the words right but you're smiling after sex, that's not about the biggest O ever. It's about reading each other and doing it well. S'why sometimes it's easier to talk after."