Page 31 of Bad Daddy

“I’m looking forward to it,” Haru said. “What would you like to have for dinner?”

“Have for dinner?” Danny parroted, confused by the change in topic.

“Of course,” Haru said. “I’m not having you over Tuesday evening without feeding you. So you’ll have dinner with me, and then we’ll make popcorn for the documentary.”

“We will?” Danny asked, smiling now. “For a documentary?”

“Unless you have something against popcorn,” Haru said. “It’s an entertainment food. I can also get candy, if you like that. Do you have a favorite movie theater candy?”

“I’ve never bought candy at a movie theater,” Danny said with a laugh. He barely went to the movies at all, but when he did go, he certainly didn’t spring for snacks. “I have no idea.”

Haru looked considering. “No idea at all?”

Danny shook his head.

“Well, that’s okay,” Haru said magnanimously. “We’ll find out then. What did you want to have for dinner?”

***

Much later, after Danny was showered and dressed and picking at his entree, Clint crooked a finger at him from across the table. “Come here, pet.”

Danny darted a look around. They were in a secluded corner of the restaurant, one Clint must have paid handsomely for, but still–

“Do I need to ask again?” Clint asked, voice silk.

Face burning with shame, Danny slipped out of his seat and into Clint’s lap.

It wasn’t like everyone here hadn’t already taken one look at him and known what he was for anyway, Danny thought dully as Clint’s eyes glinted with cruel humor.

He just needed to do this. One thing at a time.

It would be fine.

***

Danny had sort of expected to feel awkward being in Haru’s home, but it was nothing of the sort. The house was a comfortable size and tastefully decorated, full of beautiful art and personal photos, such a departure from Clint’s wealthy-but-minimal-chic aesthetic. When Danny couldn’t help looking around with interest, Haru gave him an impromptu tour, talking Danny through different art pieces and telling stories of how Haru acquired them while traveling. Danny found himself enjoying it immensely, and for once wasn’t self-conscious about asking follow-up questions.

Haru seemed perfectly happy to just talk to him. Like Danny was someone worth talking to. Spending time with.

The easy conversation carried through their pizza dinner, and then Haru was leading Danny into his living room, with its cozy looking couch and impressively sized TV.

“You make yourself comfortable,” Haru said, handing Danny the bowl of popcorn he’d made. “And I’ll be right back. Just gotta grab something before we start the documentary.”

“Okay,” Danny said easily, taking a seat on the couch. He made sure to sit at the very end, to give Haru plenty of room when he returned, and nibbled on a handful of popcorn.

“Alright,” Haru said a moment later, coming back into the room carrying a large tote bag. “Here we go. Now you can figure out your favorite.”

“Figure out my—?” But then Haru upended the tote bag onto the couch cushions next to Danny, and over a dozen different movie theater candy boxes rained down out of it.

“Did you buy out an entire candy store?” Danny stammered as he took in the boxes.

“Nope,” Haru said cheerfully. “Just the candy section at the grocery store. Figured this was the easiest way for you to learn what you liked.”

“You didn’t—Haru, you didn’t have to do that,” Danny said, still shocked. It was both incredibly thoughtful and incredibly silly for the man to have done this.

“Oh no,” Haru said in mock seriousness. “I totally did. What if I want to take you out to a movie and we get there and then you have no idea what snack to pick? You might end up with something you don’t like, and we can’t have that.” He picked up a box of snow caps and shook it. “This way you can try everything. Process of elimination.”

“I-I don’t know if I can eat twelve boxes of candy,” Danny said, suddenly afraid that he’d be expected to. He hated wasting food and he didn’t want to disappoint Haru and—

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