Page 25 of Bad Daddy

“It’s just not as warm,” Danny said. Admitted. “It was a present though, so I-I feel bad if I don’t wear it.” More like Clint’s remarks were always extra cutting whenever Danny didn’t wear his gift. Danny hated the way Clint’s expression would go cold and cruel, how he’d say things like, “Do you even deserve the nice things I give you, if you don’t want to use them?”

But it amounted to the same thing.

Haru was quiet for a moment. Then he asked, “Is the person who gave you the gray coat the same guy who doesn’t like your brown one?”

Danny felt himself seize up before he remembered that it was okay, it was okay, it was just a question. It didn't matter. Haru didn't know anything. He didn't know about Clint, or that Danny was doing what he was doing just to get through school.

Even if he did find out and never wanted to even look at Danny again, that would be—that would be fine. Haru had already done so much to help, and he certainly didn’t owe Danny his time or attention. If Danny lost Haru’s respect because of what Danny was doing to make things better for himself, that was just how life went.

It wouldn’t be a big deal.

“He just…” Danny curled his fingers around the sides of his mug, shifting in his seat. He was okay at lying to get by, but he didn't want to lie to Haru. Haru had only been good to him so far. Danny owed him more than dishonesty. “He just thinks the brown one isn’t as nice.”

“But it keeps you warmer,” Haru said, looking…sad. It wasn’t a question.

Danny shrugged and took another sip of his drink.

The silence that fell was awkward. Danny struggled to come up with something to do or say to lift the mood, but his mind had blanked out, unable to stop the anxiety from rising up. If Haru found out about Clint, Danny didn’t just stand to lose Haru’s respect. Haru could easily ruin Danny’s career before it even happened, if he talked about the sex work to other people. Word like that would spread like wildfire in professional circles. And that was if Clint himself didn’t try to drag Danny through the dirt.

Danny didn’t think that Haru was the type of man to air someone else’s dirty laundry, but Danny didn’t really know him. What was a couple of meetings and an afternoon spent looking up disability services? Danny didn’t mean anything to Haru, not really.

“I, uh…” Haru leaned down to pick a little reusable tote up off the floor, setting it on the table. “I actually… I brought you something.”

It was an odd non-sequitur, and surprising on top of that. “You did?” Danny asked, staring at the tote. “What–uh—why?”

Instead of answering, Haru pushed the tote forward, into Danny’s hands. Their fingers didn’t brush.

Uncertain, Danny reached into the tote and pulled out a scarf. It was light brown, with stripes of black and gray and little slivers of red running through it, with fringe on the ends. It looked thick and warm and soft.

His breath caught as he glanced up at Haru.

“I noticed you didn’t have a scarf,” Haru said. “And I just thought, you know, it might be nice to have an extra something to help keep you warm.”

“Oh,” Danny said, not even having to feign his surprise and pleasure. It was such an incredibly thoughtful gift. Haru had noticed Danny didn’t have a scarf and had gotten him one. “Um, wow, I… thank you.” He ran his fingers along the fringe. It was incredibly soft. “But Haru you… you didn’t have to…” Haru barely knew him. Why was he giving Danny anything at all, much less something so nice?

“I know,” Haru said, lifting one shoulder. “But I wanted to.”

“Oh,” Danny said again. “But…why? You’ve already done so much for me.”

“Sometimes it’s nice to do things for other people just because,” Haru said gently. “I thought you might like a scarf. I was hoping it might help keep you warm. That’s all.”

Danny studied him, trying to figure out if there was a motive.

Haru’s kindness was still a foreign unknown, but he never made Danny feel stupid or unworthy because he had trouble with letters and numbers. He asked Danny silly questions about food or class and seemed to do so for the sole purpose of finding out more about Danny’s likes and interests. He invited Danny out and always ended with my treat, never expecting anything of Danny except perhaps some of his time.

He hadn’t tried to touch Danny even once.

He looked back down at the scarf in his hands and swallowed. There were something like butterflies in his belly. “It’s really nice, Haru. Thank you. Really.”

Haru smiled at him. “Wear it in good health, okay? And hey, it uh…it matches both of your coats. So you could wear it with whichever one you wanted.”

Danny would, he thought, curling his fingers into the soft scarf. He absolutely would, and screw Clint if he wanted to make a fuss.

Chapter 7

Danny figured that he might not hear from Haru again. He had helped Danny out–so, so much, Danny couldn’t even begin to thank him for it— had gotten to hear directly from Danny how things had gotten better, and had bought Danny a present. Haru had been kind, thoughtful, and generous in ways that were almost overwhelming.

Haru had done his good deed though. What else would he need to see Danny for?

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