Part Two
This was just… way too weird.
As Danny led this blast from his past through the living room, where Charlie was still focused on is painting, he wondered how long it would take before Steve recognized him. Maybe, if he was very lucky, the former Navy SEAL wouldn't recognize him at all.
After all, their time together had been very brief. To Danny, it had been incredibly significant, as it marked his sole exploration into a side of his sexuality he had previously suppressed. They had gone on a date together after meeting on Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (the former Honolulu International Airport). Their chemistry had been unlike anything Danny had ever felt with another person before - and considering that he had already met Charlie's mother Rachel at the time, this was saying something.
After that massively successful date, Danny had gone back to Steve's place, and they had slept together - but in the morning the fear had returned. He had sneaked out in the morning before Steve woke up, refused to take any of his calls, and avoided Hawaii where they'd met for years since.
As Danny stopped in front of Charlie to introduce the two, however, he saw understanding dawn in Steve's eyes. Clearly, that short-lived hope had been asking too much. "Hey buddy," said Danny, trying to keep his voice even. "This is Steve McGarrett. Steve, this is my son Charlie."
Steve's eyes lingered on the Senator for a few long moments, somber and unimpressed, before flickering over to Charlie. Needless to say, Charlie's art remained his main focus, so the boy didn't notice the vitriol on their guest's face. This was lucky, really. Charlie had never been shy about asking the awkward questions, and Danny had no doubt the boy would bring it up.
"Nice to meet you, Charlie," said Steve, eventually.
"Maybe your dad and I can talk details elsewhere?"
Emphasis on elsewhere, clearly. Danny winced internally. Apparently, the conversation could not be avoided - but maybe that was for the best. "Of course," he said. "Will you be okay in here, buddy?"
"Mm-hm."
"Great. Come through to the kitchen," Danny offered, carefully avoiding eye contact for as long as possible. Unfortunately, Steve was quite persistent, and as soon as they arrived and stood on opposite sides of the breakfast bar, it was no longer possible to keep his eyes turned away.
Steve looked at him, his expression piercing. "So."
"Hi," said Danny, voice meek.
"Doesn't seem like you were expecting to see me again," said Steve coolly. "I wasn't expecting to see you again either."
"Listen Steve," said Danny, trying to placate him. "That was- "
"ʻO kēlā pila, that's what it was," said Steve, leaving a long, impactful pause between his first and second word. ʻO kēlā pila. "We spend a whole night together - talking, laughing, flirting and then sleeping together. Then I wake up the next morning, and you're gone."
Danny cleared his throat. "To be fair," he said, "It was quite a few years ago."
"Oh," said Steve. "Right. That makes it all better."
"I'm not saying it does," Danny quickly corrected, one hand raised in a calming gesture. "But… like I think I told you on that night, I was in a very difficult place; I wasn't out, I wasn't ready…"
"It's funny," said Steve. "But I wouldn't thought you could've picked up the phone and called me. Hey, by the way, last night was great, but I'm not out and I'm not ready."
"It's not that easy."
"It literally is that easy."
They looked at each other, already stuck in an impasse. Clearly, even after all this time, Steve still harbored some kind of bitterness towards him. Was that weird? Surely that wasn't a normal way to respond to somebody ghosting on you, even if it was really blatant and rude, and even if the person had seemed very nice. Surely most people wouldn't hold onto that anger for six years.
"I don't think this is going to work," Danny started, haltingly. "If- "
"No, it will," Steve cut in. "I'm a professional. I'll take care of your son. I just wanted you to know I hadn't forgotten."
"Duly noted," said Danny, fighting the impulse to roll his eyes. This situation was already ridiculous; he really, really shouldn't do anything to make it worse. "But I mean… he's my son. I have to be 100% sure…"
"I'm not going to risk your kid's life because you're a jerk," Steve said, blunt as you like. "Is that what you're concerned about?"
"It might not even be purposeful," Danny insisted. "If both you and I are distracted…"
Ironically, the sound of the TV turning on in the living room was what distracted them right then. Danny frowned, confused, and held up a finger as he headed through to where his son was. Charlie sat with the remote control in his hands, having turned the sound up, and glanced over at him with a solemn expression.
"They're going after kids," the boy said. "It's pretty mean."
What could he possibly say to that? Danny glanced back, hearing Steve's footsteps behind him. He was expecting to see more hatred there, but what he actually saw was concern. With this news still filling up the TV, and apparently a brand new case from just five minutes ago? Well. They could no longer debate.
"It's awful," Danny agreed. "But that's what Steve is for, right?" We're all going to stay safe in our family."
Author's note:
ʻO kēlā pila - That was crap (I don't know if that's true, but the translator says so)
