Page 50 of Bad Daddy

He saw it dawn on Haru just how long the comic was, saw his eyes widen as he continued to flip through the sketchbook. Saw him exhale softly as he read about Captain Saito’s adventures, about how hard he worked to do the right thing, how hard he fought, even when the odds were against him. How he met Kirah and was determined to help, even when everyone else tried to warn him away. How he and Kirah continued on in the next adventure together, side by side.

When Haru got to the last page, he closed the sketchbook and ran a finger down the spine of it. “This is incredible,” he said, hushed, as if he didn't want to break the quiet spell. “Danny, wow, I…”

“I made it for you,” Danny said again.

“It’s amazing,” Haru said softly. He reached out to cup Danny’s cheek. “You’re amazing.”

“You are too,” Danny said. “And I just wanted… I just wanted you to know that. How amazing you are.”

Haru made a low sound, and Danny leaned in to kiss him. He was getting better at taking initiative. He had never wanted to before, but Haru enjoyed it so much when he did, and Danny loved giving him that.

Giving.

He was going to tell Haru about Clint soon. About everything, but especially about who and how and why. Not tonight though; tonight was for making better memories.

Danny had spent so much of his life running in place, exhausting himself and stagnating. Now he was going somewhere good, so fast it sometimes made him dizzy. But he was so, so happy.

This was what flourishing felt like. This was what flying must feel like.

“Hey, Haru?” Danny whispered.

Haru’s eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. Danny loved that he had gotten to learn Haru’s face so intimately. “Yeah, baby?”

“I’m happy,” Danny said. Even with the anxiety and panic that still reared its head, even with the bad dreams about how things used to be, even with the self-doubt and self-flagellation that still crept in. “I’m really, really happy.”

Haru’s lips parted. “I’m so glad, sweetheart.” He sounded breathless. “I’m so glad.” And then, nuzzled into Danny’s temple. “Me too.”

Danny turned to kiss the corner of Haru’s mouth. Haru was still careful with him, and Danny had been happy to take things slow, to let himself heal a little from the fingerprints Clint had bruised into his skin. But the happiness and pride zipping down his spine made him want.

He wanted to give more to Haru. It wasn’t because Haru gave him so much, because what they had wasn’t transactional. It was simply because Danny wanted. He liked Haru so, so much, and was happier with him than he could ever remember being.

And now he wanted to be closer.

“Would you—” Danny licked his lips, suddenly shy. But he wanted Haru more than he wanted to hide. “Would you want to…touch me? If I wanted that too?”

They were so close that Danny heard Haru’s quick inhale. Saw the way Haru’s eyes darkened. “Yeah,” Haru rasped, only ever honest with Danny. “If you wanted it? Then yeah, sweetheart. Every damn day.”

Danny almost gasped at the admission. At the raw desire in Haru’s voice. He wondered if he’d ever stop being surprised by the fact that Haru liked him, wanted him, as much as Danny liked and wanted Haru.

“Take me to bed?” Danny asked, and it came out clumsy, but Haru didn’t seem to mind. Instead he was eager, eyes bright.

“Yeah?” Haru said, voice rough. “You want that?”

Danny nodded. Returned Haru’s admission with his own. “I-I want everything with you.”

Haru quickly stood, taking Danny’s hand and pulling him to his feet.

Danny let out a laugh as he was tugged up, gratified at Haru’s eagerness. Excitement had settled low in his belly, residual sparks fluttering through him. He and Haru had slept together in the same bed almost every night, but they’d only ever slept.

Danny was looking forward to sex in a way he never had before. He’d never done it freely, when it wasn’t a transaction. He looked forward to learning what Haru liked. Learning what made Haru feel good.

Maybe Danny wanted to learn some things about himself too.

They tripped their way to the bedroom hand in hand, stopping for breathless kisses along the way. It was only once they were inside the threshold, bed in sight, that Haru pulled back.

“You’re sure?” He asked Danny, cupping his face. “I’m not—I’m not pressuring you or—”

“I’m sure,” Danny told him in a rush. “I want this. I want you.” He met Haru’s eyes. “More than I’ve ever wanted anyone before.“

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