Captain Hookano is an ass, and okay he understands it's the governor's order, but it's not like he fought for Danny to keep the case either. He's put so much time and work into this case and even has a solid lead, and it's all over, done with, because Commander Steven McGarrett arrived on the scene and wants to solve it himself.
How this man could be his soulmate is incomprehensible.
And it's not like he doesn't get it, Hesse has murdered McGarrett's father, anyone would be out for vengeance after that. It shouldn't be about revenge though, but to bring about justice and uphold the law. Yeah, if it was Danny's own family, he would be hard pressed to adhere to these ideals, yet he knows it would still be the right decision to let the police handle it.
Anyway, what's done is done. He hands over the file to McGarrett without making much of a fuss, even though the man gives him that wide, provoking grin. No need to antagonise the guy, although he really wants to. Danny has enough trouble with the other detectives here, he doesn't need the stress of arguing with the entitled ass of a commander, too.
After all this crap the only thing he's looking forward to is a nice, cold beer and maybe some TV to kill time and relax. Hah, one good part of being taken from the case, no more work through the evening and night! Mekka would be pleased.
All he can do is relax and stop thinking about the stupid lug of a man he's met this morning.
He's just settled down on his crappy couch, as comfortable as he's likely to get, and searching for a good soap or something, when there's a knock on the door. Wondering who that could be, -not Rachel with Grace, she would have called- it's not like he knows anyone else on this godforsaken island, he trudges over to the door and opens it, only to reveal Steve McGarrett in the flesh.
"What do you want?" he asks warily. If this is about the thing between them, he's going to shut the door so fast in his face that McGarrett can't blink before getting a bloody nose. And he's not taking him to the hospital, oh no!
Their eyes meet and for a second the other man flounders. He looks awkward, sheepish like he can read the violent turn to Danny's thoughts. "It's not about- you know."
Then the stoic mask is back on his face and every little piece of the uncertainty Danny glimpsed before, is shuttered away. "You requested a wire on someone named Frank Doran. Tell me about him."
Sighing in resignation he lets him in, it's about work, he can't really turn him away. Besides, it's good that at least someone is going to follow the lead, even if that person isn't Danny. So he explains his theory that Hesse got his weapon from Doran. The guy's a small fry weapons dealer, but that can make it harder for the police to link him to Hesse. It's not a bad strategy and he can see McGarrett's nod of agreement.
"Okay, let's go talk to him", McGarrett says, suddenly full of energy and a disquieting glint to his eyes.
"Are you suffering from dementia? This isn't my case anymore." He shakes his head in exasperation and adds a little bitterly, "And whose fault is that, huh?"
McGarrett frowns at him. "I need you to help me cover more ground-"
"Well, I'm not doing it, so find someone else", Danny snaps, crossing his arms in agitation.
"You can't tell me you'd rather sit on your couch than apprehend a criminal with me", he grits out.
"That's exactly what I'm telling you! Thanks but no thanks, have a nice day!"
"Okay that's it! I don't care, you got no choice, detective. Governor Jameson gave me jurisdiction and I'm making you my partner."
And this- this is unbelievable.
"You can't just make me your partner!"
"I just did." Damn him, he even has the audacity to smirk at him. Again.
"We're going to get along great."
McGarrett strides out with the calm assurance of a man that has just gotten his way and the full expectation to be followed and obeyed.
Seething with every step, Danny goes after him.
If murderous urges are a part of the soulmate deal, their bond must be particularly deep.
So their talk with Doran doesn't go quite as planned and turns more into a manhunt, in which Danny gets shot, okay grazed, and McGarrett acts more like Rambo than the rational, responsible leader he is supposed to be.
He doesn't even manage to shoot the bastard Doran, (what are his fancy Navy Seal tricks worth now?!) and even lets him take a female hostage, some tourist unfortunate enough to be walking by. Obviously it's up to Danny to save the day, which he does, when he shoots the guy in the head.
And his 'partner's' response? Gratitude? Thanks for saving his life?
No, no, no. Not with Steve McGarrett.
The most pressing thing he's got to say is, "You shot our only lead."
"I freaking saved your life! Thanks for the notice, next time I won't bother!"
Danny turns on his heels and stomps in the direction of his car without waiting for McGarrett to catch up.
No way is he going to be that madman's partner! The governor insists on their continued cooperation? Fine, he would talk to her, or throw his badge in the ocean for all it's worth, and become a P.l., not like anyone would miss the haole cop.
Some idiot bumps into him and an agonising jolt of pain rushes through his shoulder. As he said, it's just a graze, it still hurts though and he doesn't manage to suppress a hiss at the contact with his wound. Hopefully he doesn't bleed through the bandage, the EMT has patched him up already, he doesn't want to go back there.
"Wait! Danny wait!", he hears McGarrett call out behind him and though unwilling, he pauses, glaring at the man.
"Are you alright?" he asks with a glance to his shoulder.
"I'm fine." He leaves the 'No thanks to you' unsaid.
"Listen-", the other man starts and that's enough to make Danny boil over. Really? Would an apology be too much? If not for getting Danny shot, than at least for being a dick.
"No, you listen! I know you've got your personal vendetta going, or whatever, and I'm not butting in, I get it! But the least you can do is acknowledge that I risk my life here, buddy, and one wrong move and I could leave my daughter without a father, okay? So stop fucking around!"
For a moment there McGarrett looks stricken, affected, you know, like an actual human being, then his expression smoothes out and he is back to soldier-mode.
"Are you done?" he asks calmly, effectively dismissing his concerns as irrelevant and treating him like a child throwing a tantrum.
That's when Danny flips.
Within seconds he's right in McGarrett's face, finger outstretched and poking him in the chest as he hurls abuse in his face. With hindsight it's no wonder that McGarrett reacts the way he does. Trained Navy Seal and everything, Danny should have thought about it before prodding at him. In the time it takes him to blink, his right arm is grabbed at the wrist and pinned to his back, while McGarrett's other hand pulls him closer until he's almost pressed flush against the other man's body.
McGarrett's fingers dig into his wristband, press through the fabric into the soulmark beneath and Danny feels a sharp stab of pain at the harsh touch.
"You don't have to like me", the man murmurs in his ear, keeping the conversation private, yet not giving an inch, holding Danny securely in a tight, unyielding grip he cannot escape. "But right now, there's no one else to do this job."
"Let go of me!" Danny demands and his struggles grow frantic.
Unphased, McGarrett slides his thumb under the elastic of the wristband and deliberately strokes over Danny's mark. A jolt travels through his whole body at the contact and searing warmth spreads from the center of his wrist to the rest of his arm. A wave of calmness descends upon him, wrapping around him like a thick blanket and muffling all feelings of rage and anger. He has a moment to feel helplessness rise inside him, until that too is swept away.
"Do you understand, Danny?" McGarrett whispers to him and goosebumps spread all over Danny's skin. Nodding reflexively, he lets himself relax, trusting the man on a subconscious level, as a deep sense of contentment settles inside him.
"Good." With that he slackens his grip and releases Danny, who stumbles a little, feeling weak and shaky at the sudden lack of touch.
"What did you do to me?" he asks cautiously, watching his every move, because whatever just happened was fucked up. Sluggishly his mind tries to come up with possibilities, maybe McGarrett learned this in a special military training program designed to mess with soulmarks?
"Nothing", the man replies nonchalantly and he might have just as well said 'classified'. "You've calmed down, right? We should stop arguing and focus on the human trafficking ring Doran was connected to. We have to get to Hesse before he leaves Hawaii. "
He's right, there are more important matters to consider than their personal differences.
It still feels damn satisfying though, when he punches him in the face with all the not inconsiderable strength he's got. His fist collides with McGarrett's jaw and there's a loud crack. He hopes this will bruise, that it looks all black and blue for everybody to see. Difficult to say what he enjoys more, the stunned look on the other man's face or the actual punch.
"You're right, I don't like you", he admits and inexplicably feels better now, having said that. "And don't ever use that freaky technique on me again, got it?!"
"I can't believe you're my soulmate", McGarrett mutters, rubbing at his jaw.
"Believe me, I didn't sign up for the job!" Danny hisses and McGarrett honest to god grins at him, showing off his perfect, white, unharmed teeth.
At the sight a weird fluttering sensation settles in his stomach and he promptly dismisses the reaction as his body rebelling against the strange Hawaiian food he's been consuming lately. Nothing to do with the guy standing a few feet away from him.
Danny gives in with an exaggerated eyeroll, conceding to the fact that he is not getting out of working this case with that maniac.
"Let's go, McGarrett. Got a murderer to catch."
"You know, you can call me Steve, right? We're partners now", he offers earnestly.
And soulmates, apparently. That realisation would never get old. Steve is so unlike anything Danny ever expected to encounter in his life, and he means that in the most unflattering way possible.
"Yeah, and I don't really care, so let's go!"
AN: Thanks for reading, I hope you like the new chapter!