A/N: KatieTaylor wanted to know how many stars she needed for more. At the time, I couldn't think of anything that wasn't a generic first date, so I didn't write anything; I like to infuse my characters' personalities into the story and at least have something that's distinct so it isn't just like all the other first date stories out there. I finally thought of something, so Katie, I hope you're still reading, and I hope you like it!
It took a surprisingly short time for Steve to earn enough stars to take Danny to dinner, even with Danny upping the requirement to 10 stars ("Five stars gets you Kamekona's; you're going to have to work harder if you want a proper date") and threatening to take stars away if Steve didn't follow procedures. Danny actually did remove stars when Steve got them and the Camaro shot (not shot at, actually shot, requiring bullets to be removed from all three of them), then pinned their perp to a wall with the Camaro after the idiot abandoned his vehicle and tried to make a break on foot. Danny should have removed all Steve's stars for that instead of just the two he did. Except for that one incident, Danny may have been generous—a star for paying for lunch or drinks, a star for letting Danny drive his own car, three stars for doing his own paperwork (Danny tried to get Steve to do the detective's for bonus stars, but it didn't work). So Danny really wanted a date with Steve. So sue him. Still, Danny figured Steve would be working towards it for at least a couple of months, instead of hitting the target after just over a month.
Steve didn't waste any time after Danny announced he'd earned the 10th star. Danny had barely posted it to the chart he was using to keep track before Steve marched into the detective's office. "I'm cashing in my stars," the SEAL announced.
"Okay, what's your prize?" Danny asked. "Per our agreement, you have enough for two lunches at Kamekona's, five deep kisses, or 10 pecks." Danny was mostly teasing. He knew what Steve wanted, but he was going to make the SEAL say it. Besides, the thought of more kissing certainly wasn't revolting. Idly, Danny wondered how many stars he could offer for sex. Whoa, wait, that was getting ahead of himself a bit. Dinner first. There wasn't even any guarantee Steve was interested in more than that, though Danny was certainly hoping so.
"I want dinner," Steve said. "You promised."
Danny rubbed his chin thoughtfully, pretending to ponder the request. "So I did. Well, then, I suppose dinner it is. When and where?"
"Tonight. I'll pick you up at seven. Dress nice. No tie." With that, Steve marched out of Danny's office, leaving Danny staring after him, flabbergasted. Did Steve just order him on a date? The gall of that Neanderthal! Danny would give him a piece of his mind—after their date.
True to his word, Steve arrived at Danny's precisely at seven. To Danny's amazement, the other man was wearing dark slacks and a dark green dress shirt that brought out his eyes instead of his usual cargoes. Danny, if he did say so himself, always looked good, but he had taken more care than usual, replacing his rumpled-at-end-of-day shirt and slightly-the-worse-for-wear-after-chasing-after-Steve McGarrett-all-day slacks with khakis and a light blue dress shirt that brought out his eyes. As requested Danny, reluctantly, forewent the tie.
"You clean up good, babe," Danny said when he opened the door.
Steve looked the blond up and down appreciatively. "So do you. Ready?"
"Absolutely," Danny confirmed. "Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise," Steve said, leading the way to the Camaro. It figured Steve would use Danny's car to take Danny on a date. Oh, well, the Camaro was more comfortably anyway.
"You know I don't deal well with surprises," Danny complained. "Can't you just tell me?"
"Nope," Steve said. "You're just going to have to wait."
To Danny's surprise, they ended up at Hy's Steakhouse, one of the nicest restaurants on the island. Danny gave an appreciative whistle. "You really went all out, babe."
"Only the best for my partner," Steve said. Danny's heart skipped a beat at that. If Steve was trying to impress him, that was a good sign, right?
Danny followed Steve to their table. Steve looked at the wine list. "How about a nice bottle of Pinot Noir?" he asked.
Danny was once again surprised. Usually, they just had beer. Steve was taking this whole "wining and dining" thing seriously. "Sure, sounds good," Danny replied. He opened his menu, taken aback by the prices. Steve didn't have to do this for him. Of course, Danny being Danny, he played it off with his usual snark. "I hope you remembered your wallet."
Steve looked hurt. "Of course I did, Danny. I'm wounded that you'd even think that."
Danny reached across the table and put his hand on Steve's, ignoring the thrill that simple touch elicited. He touched Steve constantly, but it had never felt as intimate as this. "Sorry, babe, that was out of line," Danny apologized.
"Apology accepted," Steve said as he perused his own menu.
They placed their orders and chatted while they waited for their steaks. By tacit agreement, they stayed away from work, instead discussing Danny's kids, Mary and Joan, and going surfing the next weekend. It was stuff they always talked about, but it seemed to have a deeper significance in this setting, like two people sharing of themselves. Danny liked it.
The food was excellent. They both had rib-eyes, and Danny hadn't had one so tender in a long time. For dessert, Danny ordered the flourless chocolate cake. Steve passed.
"Come on, live a little," Danny urged.
"No, thanks, Danny," Steve said. "That stuff will clog your arteries and give you a heart attack."
"It's a special occasion. It's not like I do this every day," Danny said. Steve gave him a pointed look. "Malasadas don't count." Steve looked dubious. "Just let me enjoy myself, just this once, Steven."
Steve shrugged and dropped the subject. Danny eagerly dug in when his cake came. He moaned at the first rich, chocolate taste. "Ooooh, this is so good. You have to try it, Steve." Danny broke off a piece and held out his fork. Instead of taking it, Steve's lips closed around the tines, his eyes locking with Danny's, then slowly slid the fork out of his mouth, swallowing the bite of cake. "You're right, Danny, it is good. I can think of things that would taste better, though," he said with a wink.
Danny swallowed, hard. Steve did not just say that. Danny's pants suddenly grew tight. He was sure his face was red as a beet. "Uh, yeah, but this is hard to beat," he stammered. Oh, god, why did he say that?
Steve smirked knowingly but didn't say anything, and Danny concentrated on eating his cake without embarrassing himself further. When they were done, Steve paid, and they walked out to the parking lot. Danny swore Steve stood closer than usual, their hands almost brushing. Maybe Danny was imagining it, but after the scene in the restaurant, he didn't think so. It gave him hope for the future.
Steve drove them back to Danny's. He turned off the ignition and, to Danny's surprise, instead of heading straight for the Silverado, walked Danny to the door. Danny inserted his key in the lock and paused before letting himself in. "I had a really nice time tonight," he said.
"So did I, but I'm hoping it's not over yet," Steve said. Danny's heart skipped a beat. What did Steve want now? Whatever it was, Danny was pretty sure he'd give it to his partner without hesitation.
"Yeah, what did you have in mind?" Danny asked.
Steve stepped closer, crowding into Danny's personal space until Danny was trapped between Steve's body and the door. "I was wondering if a kiss was included in the reward."
Danny didn't even have to think about it. "Yes"
Steve leaned towards him, but paused just before their lips met. "One star or two stars?"
"Two stars. Five stars," Danny said, breathlessly, already anticipating Steve's lips on his own. "However many stars you want." Hell, right now Steve could take him to bed for all he cared. Danny's last thought as their lips met was This is one hell of a reward.
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A/N: So, I'm thinking this needs a sex scene. Thoughts?