Page 47 of Bad Daddy

They still hadn’t kissed yet, but Danny was pretty sure they both wanted to. He got the feeling that Haru was waiting for him to be ready. Danny wasn't exactly sure what he was waiting for, but he appreciated the consideration. He didn't want to feel like kissing Haru was taking something else from him.

“You didn’t have to wait up for me,” Danny mumbled after a minute. The adrenaline was fading, leaving him exhausted in its wake. He could drift off like this, safe and warm with Haru’s fingers gentle on his scalp.

“I wanted to,” Haru said, like all other times he had said it. And then, softly, “Is everything okay?”

Danny kept his eyes shut and exhaled. “He showed up at my class.”

Haru’s fingered still. “What?” His voice had turned steely.

“Nothing happened,” Danny said, reminding himself of that, just as he was assuring Haru. “And I—it wasn’t even him. He sent his driver. But I don’t think he saw me. I told the TA and she called campus security. Then she, uh, gave me a ride home. That’s why I’m early.”

“I’m glad she was able to help you,” Haru said. He didn't say, I’m glad you were able to ask for help, but Danny heard it anyway. He was trying to get better at it. It was a process.

Danny sighed, opening his eyes to look up at Haru. “It was nice to be able to come back here, after,” he said. Being honest was also a process. “Being able to see you.”

Haru sucked in a breath. “Danny.” It was all he said. Just Danny’s name, but it sounded like so much more. It sounded like Danny was important. That he meant something.

That he meant something to Haru.

Maybe Danny didn't need to wait anymore. Maybe trying to move forward with Haru wasn't taking something from him at all. Maybe it was giving Haru something instead. Something Danny wanted to give, just because he wanted to.

No expectations. No exchange of goods and services.

Danny sat up, still feeling the drag of exhaustion in his limbs, and moved to lean against Haru so that they were shoulder to shoulder. Haru shifted just so, to let Danny rest his head on Haru’s chest. Danny curled into him easily, breathing out, and Haru stroked a hand down his back. Haru was always so warm.

His heartbeat was a little quicker than it probably should be.

“Would you want to kiss me?” Danny asked quietly, breaking the silence that had settled, comfortable, like a friend. “If I wanted to kiss you?”

Haru’s heart thudded a little louder under his ear. “Yes.” He didn't hesitate. Didn’t ask why Danny was asking either. It was just open admission. “I would. I do.”

Danny licked his lips and tilted his head up. “Would you… hold me after?”

“Sweetheart,” Haru whispered, and Danny warmed at the name. “I’d hold you whenever you wanted.”

Danny angled a little better and closed the distance.

Haru kissed him the same way he said Danny’s name. Like Danny was precious and important. Danny used to like a little rougher affection, but he didn't know if he was ready for that again yet. He liked that Haru treated him gently, how the sweetness sent zings of pleasure fizzing down his spine.

He made a little noise into Haru’s mouth and Haru responded by pulling him closer, his big, warm hands pressing into Danny’s back. Holding him, but not gripping too tight. Danny wasn’t trapped there. He could stop whenever he wanted and get space whenever he wanted. This wasn’t something desperate and wrung out and filled with shame.

Haru pulled back first, panting just a little, and he rested his forehead against Danny’s. On complete impulse, Danny kissed Haru’s nose, then immediately flushed an embarrassed red.

Haru blinked at him, wide-eyed, before his expression settled into one of quiet delight. He nuzzled at Danny’s cheek and Danny’s breath hitched as Haru pressed feather-light kisses underneath his ear and along the side of his jaw.

Then Haru’s hand cupped Danny’s chin, and he pressed one last kiss to Danny’s mouth. “Not that I want to stop, ” he murmured. “But it’s late. And you’ve got an early class tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” Danny sighed out, knowing Haru was right. Besides, not only did Danny have to get up early, but Haru did too.

Haru looked at him, gaze heavy, eyes dark, and kissed Danny again, like he couldn't help it. Like he cared for Danny that much. “Let me hold you while we sleep?”

Danny swallowed. “Please.”

Chapter 13

Danny finished The Adventures of Captain Haruto Nakamura, Explorer of Deep Space three days after he finished semester finals, because Luis refused to schedule Danny for double-shifts at Grand Azteca. Danny had tried to insist that he wasn’t going to do much else with his time, at which point Antonio had tattled on him about having just finished finals, because “all work and no play made Danito a stick in the mud.”

Danny was able to talk Luis into a few extra shifts, but it hadn't come close to filling all his newfound free time. Luckily, Danny found it easier this time around. He had people to hang out with and interests to pursue.

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