The next day, Thursday, was perfectly, frustratingly normal. Danny was just the same as he always was: over-opinionated and brash. Steve inexplicitly felt disappointed, though he wasn't sure what exactly he wanted. To go on a date with Danny? To kiss him good morning when he stopped by Steve's house before work? To have him in his bed?

Yes, he wanted that all very much. But it wouldn't do him any good to dwell on it.

Then, later that afternoon, there was a moment at HQ when Danny lightly touched the small of Steve's back. Steve startled, felt warmth trickling through his chest. If Danny realized the reaction he'd inspired in his partner, he didn't show it.

A month passed – three and a half weeks, to be exact – of little touches, flirty comments, and lingering glances from Danny. Steve felt utterly confused. Was Danny sending him signals, or was Steve just misconstruing these gestures in false hope?

One day, Steve returned to the palace after a meeting with the governor and found Danny in a quiet discussion with Kono. This conversation ceased as soon as the two noticed Steve, but he didn't think much of it. Then two days later, he interrupted a conversation between Danny and Chin, outside the palace.

"Hey, what's up?" Steve asked, surprised but trying to shake it off.

"Just, uh, talking about the game this weekend," Danny replied, but not before his eyes darted to Chin.

"Yeah? Who do you think is gonna win?" Steve asked casually, effortlessly keeping his tone breezy.

Danny opened his mouth, then closed it again wordlessly.

"Well, I think it'll be the Seahawks," Chin replied smoothly. "But Danny disagrees."

Steve hummed in acknowledgment, and his eyes shifted back to Danny's face. The detective seemed to have regained his cool. "Well, I should be going. I promised to call Mary before it got too late."

"'Kay, see you tomorrow," Chin said with a slight smile.

"Yeah, see you," Danny echoed. His eyes were like mirrors.

Steve smiled too, warily, and found his truck in the parking lot. Just before starting the engine, he looked up at Danny and Chin across the lawn, who'd resumed their conversation. They almost certainly weren't talking about football. But why lie then? There was something Steve wasn't seeing, and he ruminated on it all night to no avail.

The next day, he stumbled upon all three clustered around the computer table in HQ. Judging by the guilty looks on everyone's faces, they weren't discussing a case. Steve felt his temper flare and decided to clear the air.

"What's going on?" he asked in his best Navy SEAL voice.

Danny began to speak.

"No lies," Steve quickly interjected. "Everything. I want the truth."

Danny sighed mightily. "Do you always have to be this way? Hold on," he said, and ducked into his office. Steve watched, frowning, as Danny rummaged through his desk. He emerged from his office waving an envelope in his hand, appearing to be on the verge of a tirade.

"I just want you to know that this is not the way I wanted to do this. If you could've just dialed down your supersenses for a minute, we could've properly surprised you."

Steve blinked as he slid the envelope out of his partner's hand. What was Danny talking about?

Inside the envelope: a single sheet of folded paper. It was a confirmation for a reservation for four at Hy's Steakhouse. Despite all the information on the paper, Steve was only feeling more confused. "I don't understand," he said.

"You've been pushing yourself hard lately, and we wanted to treat you to a night out," Chin explained.

"It's also the anniversary of the day we met," Danny added. "I know we've never celebrated it before, but I thought it would be nice . . ."

"It was all Danny's idea," Kono said, a spark in her eyes.

"Uh, thanks," Steve mumbled, feeling a little blindsided. "Everyone."

"You're welcome," Danny replied, sounding not a little aggravated. "Now about the case . . ." And suddenly it was back to work, as though he gave Steve gifts all the time, and this was no big deal. Steve tried to refocus on work, but there was still a damned flutter in his stomach that refused to go away.