Probably Rev to see if I have any more birdseed milkshake mix he can have, Daniel thought to himself as he quickly wrapped his towel around his lower extremities. Birdseed milkshake and the love for classic cartoons are some of the very few things that the feathered friends have in common. While Daniel will spend his down time either working out or reading his comic books, Rev will help Tech out in his lab. He has always had a knack for tech stuff, mostly due to his father building tech toys and gadgets for a living.
But nothing will get the two together faster than a lazy afternoon watching old cartoons and drinking birdseed milkshakes. It was something that they would do together. Not anything planned but something that they will find themselves doing if the city alerts are quiet and there is nothing to do for the two of them. But Daniel realized that they had just drank the rest of the mix the day before and it was his turn to go get some.
"Hey I know I was supposed to go to the store before I got back and I forgot," he yelled as he secured his towel, shook the water out of the feathers that were draped over his eyes and opened the door. "Sorry Re-" was all he could get out before he saw who was behind the door. What was supposed to be a tall, lanky bird in a red suit talking 90 miles a second about how it was ok and that he would come back to him tomorrow for it was instead the man of his dreams. Well, rabbit anyway.
Ace decided to get out of his suit and put on a grey muscle shirt, blue jeans and some black and white sneakers. The tightness of his shirt gave Daniel a peek at the abs that were underneath. The way the jeans laid over his body looked like the pants were made with him in mind. If Daniel wasn't freaked out about the fact that he was standing in front of his crush (not to mention his leader) he would be able to appreciate the way he looked and could even entertain the thought that he dressed this way just for him.
Ace stood at the door for a moment, staring at the near naked fowl that was in front of him. Realizing that something needs to be said, Daniel widened the door and wordlessly welcomed him in his room. After another moment of staring before shaking his head, the leader walked in and stood in the middle of the room.
"Hey, uh, did ya want me to give ya some privacy?" Ace asked, clearly unsure as to what he should be doing. Duck chuckled. Count on the leader to freak out over some nakedness. "Nah, I can bring clothes into the bathroom and change. Just wait out here for a moment will you?" As Ace nodded and sat on the unmade bed, Duck grabbed a pair of black shorts and a huge orange t shirt. Planned on going to sleep after this anyway so I might as well get ready for it.
After changing in the bathroom and quickly brushing his teeth (just in case), he stepped out into the room and sat on the opposite side of the bed. The two of them were silent and avoiding eye contact All Daniel could think about was the kiss. Is there something there? Am I just imagining it? Is he here to tell me to forget about it and to not tell the others?
All he could do was sit there with a million questions running around in his head. With another minute of silence, he was starting to think that this was one of the hare's way of trying to ease the situation down. Not wanting to be the heart broken, Daniel started on what he called his "uncaring phase." It started when he and his sister were in the orphanage. After getting rejected over and over again by the adults and children alike and crying himself to sleep at night, he decided to start turning off his emotions. With practice over the years, including after being adopted, he had gotten pretty good at it. Too good in fact. It cost him a love life, friendships and trust issues.
His and Marci's therapist (at the insistence of their parents when they wouldn't open up to them) would tell him over and over again that blocking his feelings wasn't good for him and that he should address them. He doesn't see her too much as an adult unless the stress of life would get to him. And even then Dr. Laura would ask him about his relationships outside of the family. He would give the same answer every time. "What relationship? I don't have one and I prefer it that way."
As he started to feel himself shut down and become emotionless, he heard Ace cough. "So… were you expecting someone else here tonight"
"No, why"
"I heard you say something about going to the store and you almost called me someone else."
"Oh that. I thought you were Rev. He comes by my room sometimes for a late night snack and cartoon marathon."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
Then the silence came at them again. Just when Daniel thought that all hope was gone and his sister was wrong about everything that has to do with his nonexistent relationship with his leader, Ace started talking."
"Look, I am sorry about earlier. I didn't think that you appreciated me coming on to you like that. I have no clue what in the world got into me like that. I really didn't to ruin our friendship by doing anything stupid. I have wanted to do that for a while but I never knew how you would have felt. I should have said something and I am sorry. Would you be able to forgive me?"
Daniel was floored. He is sorry? He thinks I don't want to be with him? Is that what I am getting? He dared to ask the question. "So you mean to tell me that you have had these… thoughts about me and didn't want to break our friendship by seeking more? Is that what you are saying?"
Ace had his head down and faced away from Daniel. If he didn't know any better, he could have sworn that Ace, the leader of the Loonatics, the holder of the Guardian Strike Sword, Acmetropolis's Bachelor of the Year, was ashamed of his confession.
All Daniel could do was drop his jaw. He couldn't believe that someone like Ace could be capable of loving someone like him. There was just no way possible. This is a joke. Someone is putting him up to this. There is no other way. As he thought this to himself, he could feel the ice that was in his heart expand to the rest of his body. But he wouldn't let him get away with this without knowing who asked him to do this.
"So who put you up to this?" He inquired, noting that he could hear the ice in his voice. Ace quickly looked at Daniel with a questioning gaze, looking nothing like someone who got caught red handed in a lie. Second guessing himself, he decided to clarify. "I mean, why would you want to kiss me and then come here and talk about how YOU didn't want to tell me how you felt about ME! I mean, what are you playing at?"
The hurt that was in Ace's eyes was all it took for Daniel to finally stop his over active imagination for a moment.
"Sorry. It's just, you can't expect someone like me to believe that I am liked "in that way" by someone as great as you. It's definitely not something that happens every day. And the fact that you are gay kind of throws me off. I really could have sworn that you and Lexi had something going on."
Ace chuckled as he visibly relaxed, knowing the reason for the outburst. "She may think so but I have tried to hint to her on multiple occasions that I "play for the other team" so to speak. I don't think she gets it though."
Poor, poor Lexi, he thought to himself as he felt the ice in his heart melt. But maybe it is for the best… for me anyway…
Relieved but not truly relaxed, Daniel decided to ask the question that has been bugging him all night. "So, what does this mean for us? I mean, what are we? I don't mind friendship or something more. I am fine with whatever you want to do!"
After a moment, Ace let out a sigh. "I would love to be with you but I feel like some rules need to be set for the safety of the team. Last thing we need is to put everyone in danger because of us. Is that ok with you?"
Ecstatic, Daniel cried out, "I don't mind! I am just happy that you want to be with me! Wait… what kind of rules?"
"Well, for one, we shouldn't say anything to the others yet. As much as I would like to show you off, let's see how we are first. I want them to see that we can be professional outside of our relationship.
"Speaking of which, no PDA during missions. Don't make that face, I hate it too, but think about if Zadavia found us canoodling somewhere while the others are fighting the bad guys. Yeah, I feel the same way so don't do anything that you wouldn't do in front of your parents. Okay?"
Daniel decided to leave out the whole parent situation for later and concentrate on the blooming relationship that was happening in front of him. Not knowing how to act or what to say, he decided to break the tension that was in the air. Jumping off the bed without a word, he went to his bedside table. After finding what he was looking for, he jumped back on the bed, closer to Ace who had a questioning look on his face.
"Cookie?" Daniel asked as he put one in his mouth and munched happily.
As Ace smiled and took one, Daniel laid back on the bed and sighed contently as he watched the hare take a bite from the cookie and smiled. This is the start of something. Maybe great and maybe not so great. But it's a start.
