Jack

[london_spy]

(from here)

That uncomfortable flutter of nerves hit Danny again, and he was surprised by how hard it was to shake them off before nodding and following after Jack. He'd done this so many times, why was this any different? Perhaps because it had been so long, that was all he could think as he brushed the feelings away and found a smile.

Comments

[just_hex]

He swallowed hard and closed his eyes.

"Thank you," he said softly. "I was so afraid you'd think I was just a lunatic. That this would be the thing that made you say enough..."

[london_spy]

"You believed me," Danny said softly. "When I told you I'd been careful, that someone had made me ill- You believed me. Not many would have."

[just_hex]

Hex got up then and slowly moved to sit by Danny. He took hold of his hand and gave it a squeeze.

"It really is us against the world, isn't it? No one else would believe us. I've tried to tell people. Mates I trust. They all think I'm sick, or that it's a delusion from drinking. But not you."

[london_spy]

"Maybe," Danny said softly, leaning into Hex and closing his eyes. "that's not so bad though, is it?"

[just_hex]

"Not at all. Not at all," he replied, slipping his arm around Danny. He turned his head enough to kiss the man's hair. "It seems right, doesn't it? Us, together. It seems so right. I love you so much."

[london_spy]

Danny wanted to argue there was nothing 'right' about anything in their lives, but despite his tendency towards the somewhat dramatic, he bit it back. Instead, he tilted closer to Hex, Closing his eyes and sighing softly.

"I love you too," he said softly.

[just_hex]

Hex kissed him again and remained there for a moment, breathing him in. Danny smelled clean and was so warm in his arms. For the moment Hex could let go of everything and just soak in joy of the simplicity of this moment.

Why couldn't everything be this easy? Why couldn't it always be just like this?

Because, he thought. Because of the bloody government and bloody HIV and bloody Fin and everything that conspired against them, from Hex's drinking to Alex's ghost. And now, it seemed, Jack. Jack who was a threat to them both. Jack who had...

"...Did he hurt you tonight, Danny?" he asked, just barely above a whisper.

[london_spy]

"No- No, it wasn't like that," Danny said quietly. "Things didn't take a turn until after you rang me, and even then, I just left."

He decided not to mention Jack's final words to him. There had been enough upset tonight.

"I'm really sorry, Hex. I'm really..." He trailed off, then sighed. He was a real twat, that's all there was to it.

[just_hex]

He moved a bit and face Danny as best he could, pulling the man into his arms.

"Don't be sorry, Danny. Really don't. Please," he said softly. Perhaps it was to soften the hurt of his own guilt he felt over Fin, but the knowledge that Danny had been with someone else didn't sting as much as it should. He wasn't jealous. Wasn't possessive. All he wanted, in the end, was for Danny to be safe.

[london_spy]

Danny moved easily, settling on Hex's lap, straddling him and resting against the other man's chest.

"He said- He said he was positive, like me," he confessed. "That we didn't have to be careful. ...As careful, anyway. I still was."

Mostly, anyway.

[just_hex]

Hearing that did twist his heart a bit. He longed to not be careful, to be spontaneous and adventurous in bed. But that simply couldn't happen. For that, Hex had regrets, but it was nothing that was ever going to change unless by some careless mishap he got sick too.

But in that moment he was painfully jealous that Jack could have Danny in a way he never could.

"I know. I mean, I know you would be. You're not foolish," he said. "And there's more out there than HIV. You don't need a second illness, yeah?"

He smoothed his hand over Danny's hair, then cradled his head and kept him close.

[london_spy]

"I know. I know, that's why I was still careful, yeah?" Danny assured him, ducking his head and nuzzling against Hex's neck.

"Are you alright?" he asked finally. "You sounded so upset over the phone, and then I dumped all this on you... Are you alright?"

[just_hex]

"Yeah. I'm alright...I'm better now that I'm home. With you," he replied, arms holding Danny securely. The tender affection against his neck made his whole body light up and he hummed softly when Danny found a tender spot.

Then he sighed.

"I'm so glad to be home with you."

[london_spy]

"Me too," Danny said softly. "Me too."

Exhaling softly, he pressed a soft kiss to the other man's neck.

[just_hex]

Hex reached up with one hand to card it through Danny's hair, rubbing with his fingertips.

"That feels so good, love," he said, offering more of his neck.

[london_spy]

Danny was still spent, but he didn't hesitate to shower Hex with little shows of affection. Soft kisses, gentle words, he offered them all up without faltering.

[just_hex]

Hex ate it up. He didn't try to take any more than was given, but he opened himself up to Danny's kisses and caresses. Again and again he sighed softly, moaned quietly, and explored Danny's back with a light hand.

[london_spy]

"Can we go to bed?" Danny asked softly. "I just- I want to sleep. I want to dream away the day."

[just_hex]

"I'd like that. I think I'd like that a lot," he replied, then wrapped his arms around him and held on, smiling.

"Want me to carry you? Drag you to bed like a caveman?" Hex teased.

[london_spy]

"You reckon you can make it that far?" Danny laughed, tugging at Hex's shirt and then trying to pull it off over the other man's head. "Come on then, let's see those abs..."

[just_hex]

He let go enough that Danny could pull his shirt off. He chuckled and rubbed a hand over his abs.

"These?" he asked. "You like these?"

[london_spy]

"Well, 'snot like I'm ever going to have any, is it?" Danny laughed, running his palm over them slowly and offering a warm grin. "Just have to admire and covet yours."

[just_hex]

Hex took hold of Danny's shirt to pull it off.

"I like what you've got," he said, tossing the shirt aside. But then he could see every bruise, every bite, and his eyes widened.

"Christ, what did he do to you?" Hex asked touching Mark after mark.

[london_spy]

Danny had tried to stop him, but in an instant he'd found himself bare, his arms wrapped around himself to try and hide a little.

"He didn't attack me or anything, I asked for it. I just... I wanted- I wanted you to see I was still desirable," he admitted awkwardly, looking ashamed as he slipped off Hex's lap and turned away.

"Look, let's just go to bed, okay?"

[just_hex]

Hex watched him for a moment, then stood and caught him in his arms.

"Did you think you weren't?" he asked, holding Danny lightly. "I think you're the most desirable man on the planet..."