Epic by InSilva

Disclaimer: didn't create 'em. Don't own 'em. Just borrow them for a little bit.

Chapter Two: One Day


Morning came with a headache and Danny squinted at his watch with a wince. He'd already downed enough alcohol last night before he'd met Rusty. Rusty who had cast a spell with a smile that had made him pour out his life story. Danny groaned. How ridiculous had he been. Terry would be having a good laugh right about now.

Breakfast out on the private terrace with Terry was a trial. It took three black coffees before Danny could even begin to focus properly on Terry's side of the conversation with Gloria. Papers being drawn up for something, some target organisation other than Linson Davis. Probably the next but one acquisition.

Terry hung up eventually. He put the phone down on the table and looked across at Danny appraisingly and if Rusty had reported back, Terry wasn't telling.

"You got something on your mind? Something I should know about?"

"Nothing," Danny said firmly.

"Good. Plenty of time for you to think about what I've asked you to think about."

Danny smiled, all confidence and face and true feelings nowhere near the surface.


Striker had been summoned and Terry was off having a sotto voce conversation that was undoubtedly about the shadier side of Terry's business activity. Danny headed back to his suite, barely noticing the waiter in the corridor until the waiter pushed him back into his room and kicked the door close behind them.

Danny was staring into blue eyes that demanded an audience with him.

"Get out," Danny hissed.

"Please."

It was just one word. One word that felt like it shouldn't have been said because there was something crackling in the air just as there'd been something the previous night, some sort of connection that made Danny relax and trust, some hint of a joke that Rusty wanted to share with him and him alone.

He folded his arms and nodded. "Alright. Talk."

"Terry didn't send me and I wasn't following you. I… I'm a conman."

"Do I have to check if I still have my wallet?"

"I don't know, do you?" Rusty's eyes were fierce.

Danny was silent for a moment. "I guess not."

Rusty took a deep breath. "I'm here for a man named Andrew Lee. I picked him up on the tailend of a job back in the UK. I saw Terry at the docks with the limo and the attaché case. I notice these things. I noticed you too."

Danny's chin lifted slightly.

"Not…not as someone to steal from."

It was the truth. And yet…

Rusty sighed. "You looked like you had a story to tell."

He waited and reluctantly, Rusty went on.

"And I wondered if the story would give me an in to Terry." Blue eyes held his gaze with defiance. "But then I met you."

Five words and they hung in the air between them and Danny wondered suddenly if Rusty felt the same electricity that he did.

"You don't know me," Danny whispered, his arms dropping to his sides.

Rusty's smile was silent contradiction and it was like the previous night, an immediate intimacy that was rash and reckless and Danny didn't have to wonder any longer.

"We only met last night," Danny pointed out stubbornly, feeling conventional and stupid because he wasn't certain that that actually mattered.

Rusty's answer confirmed the feeling. "Is that important?"

This time, Danny smiled too. "I guess not."


He wasn't certain why he'd needed to seek Danny out. Why it had been necessary to make sure Danny understood the truth. Just that during the course of last night – and he couldn't even be sure at what point - he'd identified something in Danny, some quality that was special and that he, Rusty, didn't want to be disappointed in him. Danny's opinion mattered. More than that, there was something about this man he'd just met and the something wasn't just that Danny was no longer eligible as a distraction. Danny mattered. And that was ridiculous in ways that Rusty didn't want to contemplate but he couldn't avoid the fact that it was true.

Right now, he was stood facing Danny and he knew with certainty that Danny felt it all too. Danny, who was so tied up in knots by Terry Benedict that it set Rusty's teeth on edge. Suddenly, setting Danny free fired through Rusty. So many constrictions and he wanted to draw a sword and cut right through them.

He gave Danny an appraising look. "Come on," he said.

"Come on where?"

"Let me show you what you're missing."

"I have to- I can't-"

"Terry'll phone you if he needs you, won't he?"

"Yes." Terry would. Terry did. Often. Always.

"Well, then."

"I guess…" Danny opened the door and they bumped together as they both went to go through it.

"Sorry," Rusty apologised and stepped back into the room to let Danny go first.

As he did so, he placed Danny's phone on the table by the door. Terry wasn't going to interrupt them.


First stop had been back to the lower deck and the store cupboard which Rusty was using as a changing room. Danny averted his eyes as Rusty changed and pretended not to feel the grin burning into his back.

"I'm decent," Rusty said after a few minutes. "Relatively speaking."

Danny shuffled round in the tiny space and saw Rusty automatically pull his suit sleeve down over his cuff. There was a slight awkwardness in Rusty and Danny just held his gaze until it dissipated. Material differences weren't important.

"Let's start with priorities," Rusty suggested as they stepped back on deck.

"And that would be…?"

"That would be breakfast."


Bagels always tasted good. There was something intrinsically better tasting about illegal bagels. Danny had looked on marvelling and anxious and a little shocked in equal measure as Rusty had lifted the food from the café right under the nose of the girl with the plastic smile and the attitude.

"She is in the wrong job," Danny commented, biting into cream cheese and salmon.

The girl was busy politely bullying two customers who were offering food tokens that were either the wrong colour or the wrong day or possibly the wrong shape.

"Yeah. You think Terry has an opening?"

Danny was silent and Rusty sighed.

"Sorry. I didn't intend to mention Terry if I could help it. "

"Good," Danny said with unexpected fierceness. "Because I don't want to think about him if I can help it."

There was a slow nod from Rusty and an unspoken understanding. They'd mention and think about Terry later. Right now, there was the moment.


There were crowds of people on the cruise and they spent the morning people-watching. Honeymooners, retired couples, singles… Danny sat and studied and Rusty gave commentary on all the little details that he saw.

"He normally wears a wedding ring – see the tan line? – but he isn't right now which means either a recent divorce or-"

"Or the redhead he has his arm around isn't his wife," Danny finished.

"You got it."

Rusty looked with a wistful glance as a girl in her twenties walked past with a strawberry milkshake. Danny was almost certain it wasn't the girl that was attracting Rusty's attention.

"Let me get us some drinks," he began, his hand reaching for his wallet.

Rusty caught his wrist. "Let me," he insisted.

Watching Rusty elegantly pick a pocket was like a magic trick and even though Danny was seeing the trick up close and in full detail, it didn't take the magic away. Smooth and graceful and it was over in a second. The man who was loud and obnoxious and busy shouting insults at the sports on the plasma screen didn't even notice. Rusty was back at Danny's side without breaking his stride.

"Milkshake?" Rusty offered, flashing the green.

Danny grinned. "Just coffee for me, thanks."

He looked over at the man still gesticulating at the TV, still unaware that he had been robbed. Then he saw Rusty looking at him and waiting for reaction. He ought to be horrified. He ought to be outraged. He wondered what it meant that he was neither.

Rusty's face relaxed. "I do discriminate," he said quietly.

Danny nodded. "So do I."


The wallet had disappeared over the side of the ship and now there was pink milkshake which was thick and frothy and blissfully delicious and Rusty lost himself momentarily in the creamy and the sweet and the heavenly. When he refocused, he saw amusement smiling back at him.

"They that good?" Danny asked, sipping his coffee.

Rusty ran a finger around the edge of his mouth and then licked the stray milkshake off.

"I recommend them," he smiled.

The amusement was still sparkling opposite him. "Damn but I'll have to try one sometime."


He had to trust that his friends in the cause were going to carry out their roles as efficiently as he was. That was what this was about. Trust and efficiency. And results.

He sat on his bed in his cabin as he had done since he had done since he had boarded. No food, no drink. Fasting was good for the soul. He stared at the bag with the clothes neatly folded on top of the explosives. Soon, it would be time. Soon.


The afternoon wore on. There was enough stolen money for lunch and there were stories. Many stories of success and funny – Pat Byres and the herbal health scheme, Oliver Bryant and the silver mines in Toledo - and Danny listened and lived them. Occasionally, Rusty would skip over part of a story and Danny wanted to ask but the look on Rusty's face was enough to keep him quiet. Sometimes things didn't go Rusty's way.

"It all sounds…" Danny waved a hand. "It all sounds amazing."

It did. He sat opposite this man who was free in a way that he felt he himself would never be. Who was so full of life and colour and vibrancy that beside him, Danny felt grey and shrivelled and empty.

A hand brushed against his.

"It's not always," Rusty said softly. "There can be occasions when it's all less than amazing. Sometimes, you don't know where you're sleeping that night or where your next meal's coming from. You can be hungry and hurting and all you have is yourself to pick yourself up and dust yourself off. It can be lonely as hell."

There was an ache in the final words and Danny stared at him. It still sounds amazing, his eyes told Rusty. And lonely seemed a relative term.

Rusty shifted in his seat as if there was suddenly too much vulnerability on display. As if he'd revealed too much to Danny and as if Danny was starting to take them down a road that he couldn't see the end of.

I've frightened him, Danny thought and he sat back quickly. I don't want him to leave, I don't want him to-

"Idiot," he heard Rusty mutter under his breath and then, Rusty stood up. "Come on."

"Where are we going?"

The grin was wide. "Do you have to know everything?"


Terry was not in a good mood. His daily stock market report had not been satisfactory. His share portfolio was underperforming and he had decided that he needed to change the mix of risk. Risk. That was the trouble. Terry did not like risk. He liked certainty and angles covered and bets won before they were placed.

He'd spent the morning frowning at the financial pages, trying to decide whether it was worth investing in the latest gadgets or whether they would all be obsolete this time next month. Property was safer but the return was too steady, too slow. Terry sighed. Maybe he was better off just locking his money away in a bank.

Thoughts of Tess flittered across his mind and he brightened. He checked his watch. She'd be at her desk about now.

She was at her desk and as always, her voice sounded warm and professional and honest and Terry felt himself cleansed just by listening to it. Simply by existing, Tess made him feel a better man.

"Tess," he said with a smile and he could picture her smile the other end. "How's your day going?"

"You just rang to ask me that?" She laughed. "It's going fine. It hasn't really been going long enough to go otherwise."

"You missing me?"

"You know I am."

Good. He liked to hear that,

"I'm bringing you a present," he said and waited for a squeal or a gasp that would never come. Tess wasn't that kind of girl and that's why she was so right for him.

"You don't need to bring me presents."

"I know. That's why I like bringing you them."

There was a sigh of amused exasperation. "Well, I'm sure it's expensive and unnecessary and I'm sure I will completely love it."

Terry smiled. "That's why I bought it."

"You could just have bought me dinner."

"When I get back, I'll buy you dinner too," he promised.

There was a pause and then Tess asked hesitantly, "Is Danny OK?"

The smile dropped from Terry's face but he was careful to keep his voice even.

"Danny's fine. He can join us for dinner, if you like."

"Oh, no, no, don't be silly…" Tess sounded flustered. "He can't. I just wanted to know he was alright."

"He is," Terry said shortly. "I've got to go. I'll speak to you soon, Tess."

He snapped the phone shut before she could say "Goodbye" or "I love you" or any other banality.

Danny. Terry's hand tightened into a fist. Danny. Then his fist slowly uncurled. He had all the cards as far as Danny was concerned and that included Tess. He'd insist Danny joined them for dinner. The thought of Danny's face as he sat and watched Terry holding Tess's hand and kissing her fingers made Terry's lips curve upwards. And then he'd present Tess with The Heart of the Ocean and he'd fasten it round her neck and Danny could see exactly how things were.

Danny. Terry frowned again. Where was Danny? He tried to call him again but still all he got was voicemail. Damn the man. Didn't he learn? With a sigh, Terry got to his feet and opened the door to Danny's cabin with the pass key Striker had obtained.

Still no Danny. Not in the bedroom, not in the bathroom, not… In disbelief, Terry picked up the phone on the side. Was this mutiny? His lips thinned and he pocketed the phone. Well, mutiny wouldn't last long aboard this ship. He pulled out his own phone to call Striker but then put it away. He'd rather Striker concentrated on setting up the work he'd set him rather than waste time hunting for Danny. Let Danny have his moment of rebellion. He had to come back eventually and he would express his displeasure fully at that time.

Tension arced its way through his shoulders and he winced. Even though he hated to admit it, he needed to unwind.

Fifteen minutes later and he was on the driving range, drilling golf balls with military precision into the netting. Every ball he struck was another of his worries blasted into oblivion. Webster, the acquisition, Linson Davis, his shares…

Terry turned to pick up another golf ball and movement on a lower deck caught his eye. The pace of a cruise was steady and stable. Passengers moved with a languor because they weren't going anywhere and there was no need to hurry.

Two men weren't obeying the unspoken rule. They were hurtling through the crowd as fast as they could and Terry studied them curiously. One dark-haired, one blond, running as fast as they could, weaving in and out of people as if they were being chased by the police… Terry automatically looked behind them but there was no pursuit.

He frowned. The dark-haired man… He had been too far away for Terry to be sure but it had almost looked like… Terry shook himself. Preposterous. He placed the golf ball and swung hard.


Breathless, Danny flung himself against the railings at the front of the ship, vaguely aware of the handful of passengers scattering out of his way. Rusty arrived half a second afterwards, bundling into him and they hung together against the metal, looking out at sea, laughing without sound.

Rusty got his breath back first.

"You don't run. You don't…" He shut up at the sight of Danny's face, alive and dancing with freedom. Rusty shook his head with a grin. "Well, I guess it's alright for you to run."

Danny's hand opened around the wallet and Rusty instinctively turned his body to shield them from view.

"I just stole this."

"I know. I was there."

"I just…"

A man who'd been boorish and rude, on the phone complaining about God knew what, who had elbowed his way past them and nearly sent an elderly woman flying. Who had leaned up against the rail of the ship deep in conversation with his lawyer/therapist/secretary/priest, his hip jutting out and his wallet sitting half-poking out of his back pants pocket, ripe for the plucking…

Danny hadn't hesitated. He'd moved swiftly and smoothly and his fingers had been fast and sure and Rusty had stood in impressed silence right up to the point where Danny appeared to realise what he'd actually done.

Then Danny had taken off like the hounds of hell or Earl Barton's boys were after him, which, Rusty considered, were pretty much the same thing. Startled and then amused, he'd followed, deciding that for someone who looked like he sat behind a desk most of the day, Danny could really move.

"I'm a thief," Danny grinned.

"You are," Rusty agreed. "How does it feel?"

Danny stood, wind blowing through his hair, adrenaline still flooding through him, his heart still pounding with excitement and exertion and the forbidden.

"Like I'm king of the world," he said truthfully.


They lay on the sun deck and stared up at the blue sky and Rusty found himself explaining about Andrew Lee and the little gold statue and about timing that was crucial. Danny listened and asked a few questions and then a distant look came into his eyes and he fell silent and Rusty waited, wondering just a little.

"If you wait till the cruise is nearly ended, then you narrow the opportunity," Danny said slowly. "Like an auction. You can be outbid and miss out."

"True. But if the statue goes missing earlier, then-"

"-then it's only a problem if Andrew Lee notices." Danny turned on to his side and dark eyes shone. "Here's what we'll do."


The plan smoothed out a hundred different wrinkles and Rusty could see it, could almost hold the statue in his hands. Vision. Danny's gift. Terry was right. And more than that, somewhere along the way, Danny had become more than the author of the plan, he'd become an intrinsic part. This was now their project.

"Tomorrow," Rusty suggested and Danny nodded.

"Tomorrow." Danny glanced down at his watch and his eyes widened in surprise.

Rusty smiled. "I know. I didn't notice either. Guess it's true what they say."

"You ever wonder what colour they are?"

"Purple," Rusty said definitely. "And orange."

Danny smiled back and Rusty could swear the happiness in both of them was reach out and touchable and when Danny squeezed his arm, Rusty knew he was right. It was.


It had been a day like no other and Rusty was like no other person he had ever met. Danny wanted – needed – to let Rusty know that and he'd reached over and squeezed Rusty's arm and part of him was berating himself for doing so, for such a demonstrative gesture. Rusty's eyes told him that it was fine.

"Have dinner with me," Danny said suddenly.

"What?"

"Tonight. Terry's been invited to dine with the captain. I can get you on the table."

"I…" Rusty sat up and for the first time that day looked uncomfortable.

"You turning me down?" Danny sat up too.

"It's not really…"

"Please," Danny said, trying to keep the need out of his voice and in the same instant, caught the unconscious pull at the sleeve.

"OK," Rusty said. "If you put it like that."

"It'll be black tie," Danny told him and before Rusty could react to that, added, "Let's find you some clothes first."


The ship catered for everything and everyone and Danny bought the evening dress on his own credit card despite Rusty's arguments.

"I want to," Danny said simply.

He did. Buying Rusty something with his own money was important somehow and when Rusty was changing back, Danny added in a couple of bright shirts that he'd seen Rusty's eyes light on when they'd walked in the shop. There didn't have to be a reason other than wanting to think about the smile on Rusty's face when he found them at the bottom of the bag.

Rusty emerged from the changing room and Danny handed him the bag and silently dared him to say thank you.

Thank you, anyway.

"Idiot," Danny muttered as they walked out of the shop.

"I guess…"

"Guess I'll meet you in the state ballroom," Danny said, reluctantly acknowledging inevitable separation. "About 7 for 7.30?"

"Can't we just say 7.15?"

"7.15," Danny's lips twitched.

They stood and looked at each other. Rusty moved first.

"See you there."

Danny stood and watched him turn a corner and already his world seemed darker. With slow feet, he walked back to his own cabin.


His cabin was dark and he hit the lights and nearly hit the ceiling when he saw Terry sitting, legs crossed, in the easy chair, waiting for him.

"Fuck…you could have given me a heart attack."

Terry looked remarkably unbothered.

"I felt certain you wouldn't have forgotten our dinner date with the captain," he said, brushing invisible crumbs off his knee. "Although you seem to have forgotten whom you work for today. Where have you been?"

Danny glowered at him. "I'm not wearing a leash and you could have called me at any time."

Terry hadn't called. He hadn't called and Danny hadn't noticed. Some part of his brain was busy telling him how unlikely both facts were.

"I could have and I did," came the retort.

He blinked and felt for his phone, stopping when Terry produced it.

"Looking for this? Did it fall out of your pocket?"

Danny was silent. In his head, he was replaying the morning and Rusty brushing against him and stepping aside to let him past…Rusty.

"I didn't want to be interrupted," he said heavily as if Terry had caught him in the lie.

Terry nodded with a satisfied look. "For your information, I am not an interruption. I am your core focus." He got to his feet and crossed to stand in front of Danny. "You will not disappear on me again. You will not abandon your phone. You will not be off radar. Are we clear?"

Stubbornly, he held Terry's gaze. The defiance was a bad move.

"Don't even think it," Terry snapped. "I own you right down to your Calvin Klein socks. If they cut you open, my name would be written right through you."

Danny's eyes dropped down to the thick blue carpet. Terry leant in and pressed home his advantage.

"I pay you to do a job, Danny, and you do that job well. That makes me look on you with a friendly eye. Don't be stupid and change my point of view."

He slammed the phone against Danny's chest and Danny's hands moved automatically to take it.

"Keep it on you. Keep it switched on. Now, get ready for dinner."


A/N: hope you're still liking. And Happy Easter! :)