now_you_dont | Let's get down to business

first_rule posting in

If Daniel had thought the last year had been a whirlwind, it was nothing like all that changed the moment they stood before Dylan in the park. A lifetime of hardwork, a year of risking prison and failure, and now he had come to the pinnacle of all he had ever wanted.

And it wasn't even close to over yet. Packing wasn't hard, and leaving behind his life had already been done. They had no idea where they were going, or what was coming next.

He did know that McKinney didn't stop making whatever sound that was at the ungodly hour of not even four in the morning, and he was about ready to scream if the coffee maker didn't go faster.

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From:

first_rule

"You like it more than me. I hate it for that reason too," he said brightly. "There, feel better?"

He made it sound like a laugh and a joke but he was being deadly serious.

From:

the_highpriestess

Daniel may have made an effort to pass it off as a joke, but Henley knew him too well. She knew that he was being serious, and -- well, she couldn't help but stare at him for a moment, stunned. Seriously? Daniel was jealous of a rabbit?

"I don't like the bunny more than you, Daniel," she told him after a moment and once she'd regained her composure.

From:

first_rule

He hefted her bags in his hand, turning to look at her. He wore his best smile, bright eyed, and utterly honest. "I would. Fluffy's never treated you like crap," he pointed out, which was him working up to apologies he knew he should have given before now, but he wasn't that good at them and he didn't even know how to say the words, if he was honest with himself.

From:

the_highpriestess

Henley's smile, on the other hand, did not return.

Really? They were doing this now? It wasn't that she didn't want to hear Daniel apologize, didn't realize what a big step that was for him, just -- well, okay, maybe she didn't want him to apologize. She didn't want to have to think about some of the shit he'd done to her, some of the shit she'd given him right back. They had a good thing going, for the time being, and she didn't want to see it ruined, so soon. She wasn't in the mood for the argument she all but knew would stem from it when she or Daniel or whoever said the wrong thing at the wrong time.

"Don't," she said, that in mind. "Not that I don't appreciate the build up to the whole groveling act, but just -- don't, okay?"

From:

first_rule

His gaze wouldn't settle. Not on her. Not anywhere. The floor, the wall, as shifty eyed as they came. His mind was reeling, trying to come up with the right words. Hell, with any words. He wasn't sure what the words were that were needed in this moment, but he was trying so hard to come up with them.

Then he had nothing. Nothing at all but her saying no.

Then he did lift his head, looking right at her. Staring for a long time before he nodded. "Okay then. Whenever you're ready. If ever."

He wasn't sure he would ever be, just willing to ignore it if it meant he had this, but he wouldn't risk this by not saying it either.

From:

the_highpriestess

She shifted, when he started, taking a step forward to rest a gloved hand against his arm lightly, almost apologetically. She felt a little bad, shutting him down, but she just couldn't do this, couldn't have this conversation. Not now.

"Okay," she repeated softly, for lack of anything better to say.

From:

first_rule

Leaning in, he kissed the corner of her mouth. Maybe they would never have the talk. Maybe that would be enough. He didn't know, but he did know he would tell her the words if she ever wanted to hear them.

"Also, you have better ways of shutting me up, you know."

From:

the_highpriestess

With a breath out, she turned her head, returned the kiss. When she pulled away, it was with a roll of her eyes, this one a little closer to genuine than the ones she's offered before had been. "Yeah, well, I didn't exactly think that'd work, in this case."

From:

first_rule

He wasn't sure why she thought that all things considered. It saved him making an ass of himself. "What? I listen to you," he noted. "Sometimes. Maybe."

From:

the_highpriestess

She laughed, a little more of the tension of the last few minutes receding. "You keep telling yourself that, Danny."

From:

first_rule

"All I believe is what I tell myself," he teased, meaning it. Though he knew he could do more, and he was working on it.

From:

the_highpriestess

"Knew that," she chirped in response. Honestly, if Daniel decided the sky was black, no one could convince him otherwise.

From:

first_rule

"And yet, somehow, I still manage to listen to you. Funny how that works." And he meant it. Even if by listening he meant having stalked her for years.

From:

the_highpriestess

"I'm less sure about that one." But he was carrying her bags, so maybe he had a point.

From:

first_rule

"Since we came back together, prove I haven't?" Oh yeah, he was carefully wording that one.

From:

the_highpriestess

She didn't give it much honest though, if only because she didn't want to discourage him, but she did take a moment to look at least teasingly thoughtful. When that moment passed, she nodded. "Okay, I'll give you that one."

From:

first_rule

He took that as a win, smiling widely and showing just how much that meant to him. "Well then, that's a start, and I have time to wear you down," he said, teasing surely but it wasn't just a tease.

From:

the_highpriestess

"Plenty of time," she allowed, recognizing the words as more than just a joke. For as much as she needled him, as much as their relationship had been anything other than smooth, she was his, again, now. She hoped it actually lasted, this time.

From:

first_rule

"Come on. Let's get loaded and on the road. I don't know about you but I really want to know what Rhodes has in store for us." Because if it was anything like the last job, it was going to be awesome.

From:

the_highpriestess

Nodding, Henley moved away from him to gather up one of the other bags (not hers) so that Daniel wasn't doing all the work by himself. Just because she wanted him to carry her things didn't mean she was cruel enough to let him do it all.

"I'm definitely curious," she agreed as she settled with it. A pause followed and then she was headed towards the door, parroting him, "Come on."

From:

first_rule

"I said it first," he teased, winking at him, smiling. It felt so right and he was glad for it.

"You know, you're cute when you're bossy though." That was a compliment, right?

From:

the_highpriestess

Henley understood that Daniel was trying to be complementary, but she still couldn't help but make a face. "You realize that most women don't go for being called bossy, right?"

From:

first_rule

"You're not most women," he pointed out, meaning it and not at all apologetic for thinking that. "You're beyond them all."

From:

the_highpriestess

"Better," Henley decided after a moment. If the look on her face was one of flattered embarrassment, it was because it was. Never mind how hard she tried to clamp down on it.