Author's Note:
This is a short two-part story already written - the first chapter will be posted now and the next chapter next week. Because of old previous unfinished WIPs I've decided to only post stories once completed!
This is my first H50 fic so I'm pretty nervous about it... it's just a little bunny I had because there's always gunshots and explosions on the show, particularly around Steve and they never wear any hearing protection... I don't have a beta so any mistakes are all mine.
Disclaimer: Unfortunately for me I do not own the show. Oh, how I wish I did.
Danny had started to notice things.
Like how Steve always had to drive. And if he did (reluctantly) agree to take the passenger seat, he goaded Danny into rant mode.
And he always had be walking next to Danny's left side. Never his right, always his left.
And how when he saw someone walk to Steve's left and start talking to him, he'd somehow always manage to walk around them, doing something, until he was on their left side.
This got Danny thinking. Either his partner had some OCD tendencies, which was, let's face it, very possible, or… he was deaf in his left ear.
He didn't want to come straight out and ask Steve because he knew that he would just deny it and just be way more stealthy about the whole thing. But with his fondness for heavy armory and explosions it was a highly likely possibility and Danny just had to find out for sure.
The next time he was at Steve's house and Steve had just run upstairs to get something, Danny flicked on the TV. Sure enough, the sound blasted through the room.
And the next time Steve grabbed at Danny's keys, Danny held them away from him.
"No!" exclaimed Danny. "It's MY car and I want to drive it, thankyou very much!"
"But," said Steve, reaching for the keys again.
"No! Stiff shit, McGarrett."
"Danno…"
"Don't Danno me…" said Danny, heading for the driver's side door. "Only Grace gets away with stuff using that. Now shut it and get in."
Steve frowned and got into the passenger seat with an exaggerated sigh. As Danny drove, Steve did everything he could to goad Danny into an argument. He pushed every button, from pineapple on pizza to New Jersey. Nothing, nothing was making Danny angry.
"What's wrong with you?" asked Steve.
"Nothing," said Danny softly.
"What?"
"Nuh-thing," said Danny, looking over at him and sounding out the words.
"Then why are you acting so… not you?" asked Steve.
"Because I'm concentrating on driving safely like a sane person, and I'd like to know if you're hearing anything I'm saying anyway," said Danny even more softly, looking away out the driver's side window. "Aliens at the zoo, aliens at the zoo."
"Whatever," said Steve. He gave up and looked out the window.
Danny shook his head and looked at him.
"What?"
"You and I, my friend," said Danny loudly. "Are going to have a talk when we get back to the office."
Steve frowned like he'd missed the punch line of a joke.
"Uh, okay," said Steve, putting his hands up in mock surrender.
"You're deaf," said Danny loudly. He leant forward and placed his hands onto the computer table, looking directly across at Steve. They were finally alone in the office.
"Excuse me?" said Steve, crossing his arms and cocking his head to the side to glare at Danny.
"Well," said Danny. "You may not have heard me, due to you know, being deaf and all, so I'll say it again. You're deaf."
"I heard you, Danny," said Steve, twitching his nose into Aneurysm face. "I just don't agree with you. My hearing is fine."
"Sure it is," said Danny, smiling.
"Look," said Steve. "I don't know where you're getting this from, but you're way off base."
"Oh, I am?" said Danny, eyebrows rising. "What was that little conversation we had in the car earlier?"
"Well, as I remember," said Steve. "It wasn't really much of a conversation, considering you know, you barely talked the whole time."
"Oh, but I did," said Danny. "But you missed it! Did you not hear the part about the aliens at the zoo?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" exclaimed Steve.
"Aliens at the freaking zoo, Steve!" yelled Danny, gesticulating wildly. "While you thought I was not talking, I said 'aliens at the zoo, aliens at the zoo' but you didn't hear a word I said," said Danny.
"Well, Danny," said Steve, arms still crossed. "I probably just zoned you out considering that makes no sense at all."
Danny frowned and narrowed his eyes at Steve. "Steven."
"Daniel."
"Look, I know you don't want to hear this," said Danny. Steve scoffed.
"But. But wait, listen to me. I am a detective, I have evidence," said Danny.
"Evidence?"
"Yeah, evidence," said Danny, holding up his hand to count using his fingers. "One, you always have to walk on my left side, everybody's left side. If you're not on the left side you somehow manage to go around to the left side. Two, you have to drive, which is the left side of the car. Three, your TV is up way too loud, I checked the last time I came over. And there is my evidence that you, Steven J McGarrett, are deaf in your left ear."
Steve clenched his jaw before speaking. "As far as 'evidence' goes Danny, that's pretty circumstantial. And I can explain all of those things."
"Go on then," said Danny, waiving his hand, trying to hide his shit-eating grin.
"I like to drive," said Steve, his arms dropping onto the computer table. "As you said once, I may, may have control issues. And I like being on the left side of people, it reminds me of driving, I feel more comfortable on the left. My TV was on loud because the last time I had it on, we were watching a football game. This might come as a surprise to you but I don't watch much TV."
Danny squinted at him. "You're lying."
"Prove it," said Steve, crossing his arms again.
Danny shrugged. "Take a hearing test."
Steve frowned. "No."
"Why?" said Danny. "If you can hear, then why won't you take a hearing test?"
"I'm not deaf," said Steve. "So I don't need a hearing test."
"But I say you are, and it would prove me wrong if you're right," said Danny. "What, are you scared? Or is it because you already know that I'm right?"
"No!" said Steve. "I uh, I um… I'll take one if you do."
"Happy to," said Danny, calling his bluff.
"Fine!" yelled Steve. He turned his back on Danny and stormed into his office.
"Ha," said Danny. He smiled and walked away.
TBC...
Please review if you have the time - constructive criticism welcome :)