bakerstreet | winter is a lingering season

He reaches for Danny, maybe under the guise of keeping him from falling through the roof again, but drops his hand. He does turn his head, nosing into Danny's palm despite the hard edge of his mask.

"Do you want to go for dinner some time?"

"Maybe." He smiles, ducking his head a little. "Are you asking me out on a date?"

"If you think we're at a good point for a date."

Matt's not sure. They didn't do this the first time around. He's just trying to show Danny that he's serious, though it's hard to look serious when Danny's obvious smile makes him smile, too.

"Or we could just be friends. Or we don't have to do anything at all."

He touches his fingers against Matt's lips to hush him before he gets another 'or' in.

"We can have dinner, I know a few places you might like." As if he hadn't taken Matt out before and knew all of the other man's favorites.

"When are you free?"

Matt doesn't really care where they go. They could end up eating burgers somewhere and he'd be just fine with that.

"Tomorrow, next week, next month, whenever you call me, I'll make the time." He lets his hand drop, resting against the armored plate across Matt's chest.

"But not tonight. Tonight you should go home and take a hot shower and not worry about court cases or old churches or turf wars."

Matt figures, well, he's maybe on a lucky roll so ...

"Can I give you a kiss good night? Just here." He presses a gloved hand to Danny's face, brushing a thumb across his cheek.

He chuckles again, tipping his head against the rough pads of Matt's glove. And maybe he's been shying away from more than a little affection. Or maybe that's why every time he meets up or tags along with Matt they're in costume.

But. "I don't think it could hurt."

Leaning in, Matt presses a kiss to Danny's cheek, lips cold against Danny's warmth. It's nice. It's maybe more than he deserves but he's glad Danny let him have it anyway.

"I'll call you tomorrow."

Danny hums a little sound in response, reaching up to cradle the back of Matt's neck so he can turn his head and gently bump their foreheads together.

"I'll be waiting. Take care of yourself tonight." At least some of Matt's sour mood had faded, and that's all Danny could ask for.

"Don't I always?" That's a joke, because Matt knows he doesn't. He'll probably shower and pass out on his couch - if he even makes it to the shower. He's reluctant to leave Danny, but forces himself to take a step back, turning towards home.

"No." His laughter follows as Danny moves away as well, there's still more around to investigate besides the Church, then he can drag his own ass home to bed.

And, before he jumps off the other side he follows up with an "I love you." Because it's no less true now than it had been before, and maybe sometimes Matt needed to hear it.

Matt huffs a bit, but he doesn't say anything. Danny's gone by the time Matt would want to say it anyway, so he just presses his lips together and goes the opposite way, mindful of the slippery rooftops on the way home.

It's five in the morning before Matt gets a text from Danny, probably because the younger man lost track of time, or could hope that he was asleep and ignoring the vibration of his phone. Because if it was important, people should call first, right?

Got that mess cleaned up I think. How about breakfast instead?

As if Matt would ignore it. He's too light a sleeper, and the announcement from his phone that it's Danny means that Matt is reaching for it from his spot on the couch. It's not like he was really asleep, anyway.

As his phone reads out the message, Matt smiles.

I like breakfast.

Can I pick you up at nine?

That might give him some time to sleep, not that Danny isn't usually bouncing off the walls after finishing a job, but then he had more energy than most people.

I can't wait.

Matt's going to have to shower for sure, now, but he lets himself doze a bit more before he does that. Breakfast is a little more casual than dinner, so he doesn't worry about finding a suit to wear. Besides - Danny might appreciate jeans over dress pants. Matt almost never wears them (mostly because he finds it hard to find a pair that are up to his standards).

Shame on you Matt, that was part of your go home and feel better advice from the night before.

Danny arrives at his door promptly at nine, his own hair still damp from his own shower and he'd never really had any one nag him about how you shouldn't go outside on a cold day with a wet head.

"My driver's mad at me, it's still snowing." He greets with a laugh in his voice, lingering in the open doorway.

"I think I side with the driver on this one."

Matt looks amused and he pulls on his coat, tucking his scarf in before getting his cane. Once he has his keys, Matt nudges Danny back into the hall. "Where are we going for breakfast?"

"There's an Irish tea room that I thought you might like." Mostly because it's not far from the neighborhood and Danny knows how hard it is to get Matt out of Hell's Kitchen, even for a day trip.

He offers Matt his arm, both out of habit and because once they're outside the walk is slick, despite the efforts made to salt them.

"I trust you."

He's teasing, of course. Mostly he's just happy to be out with Danny, and his fingers clutch the heavy fabric of Danny's sleeve as they walk. The car is pleasantly warm and Matt settles in, smiling in the driver's direction as they exchange pleasantries.

"I'm glad." Once they're in the back of the town car he lets his hand slide down to twine their fingers together, leaning back as Matt chat's up the driver on their way to the little restaurant.

There isn't much traffic, but the roads are bad enough it takes them a little while to get there.

Matt tries not to look too pleased at the hand hold, but he fails pretty miserably. He at least tries to hide the smile by looking out the window, though his thumb runs over Danny's hand.

"The rest of your night was good, then?"

"I got beat up twice, but found the guy's looking to bring down the church." He grins, not trying to hide his own pleasure in the least.

The driver doesn't seem to give two shits about what they're talking about, focused instead on the treacherous roads.

"You're in a better mood."

"Mm, yeah, well, this cute guy is taking me out for breakfast. And I think I have a good shot with him."

Matt turns toward Danny, giving him a smile before shaking his head and looking away.

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