Azziria's journal

Drabble written for the 1_million_words word of the day prompt: Gentle.

Lost

"I have to warn you, Detective, you'll find him very changed from the man you knew."

Danny's eyes flick to the figure sitting motionless in the chair under the tree, big hand resting on the head of the dog beside him. Steve, missing in action for so long and finally located.

The sister continues, her voice soft with pity and kindness. "His head injuries were severe; he was unconscious for several weeks. We don't know how much he actually understands. He's very gentle but he won't speak to anyone, except to that stray who's adopted him. He calls it 'Danny'…"

Drabble written for the 1_million_words word of the day prompt: Beautiful.

Exodus

McGarrett's out of a lab on Prime 6, raised in a Federation facility and trained for the Corps from birth. There's no way he's going to understand what Danny's feeling right now.

"That was my home," Danny says, tracing the shape of the receding planet on the viewport with his finger.

"Leaving makes you sad," McGarrett says. "Why?"

"It was beautiful, once. I remember that."

McGarrett steps in close and his hand finds Danny's, squeezing it tight. "We'll find another home, babe. I promise."

And Danny's heart twists in his chest, because maybe, just maybe McGarrett does understand after all.

Drabble written for the 1_million_words word of the day prompt: Coxcomb. This probably won't make any sense to you if you've never played Pictionary... :)

Coxcomb

"I'm never playing Pictionary with you ever again, Steven. Never, ever, d'you hear me?"

Steve smirks, pulling his face into an expression that affects Danny more than he cares to admit. Like making him think that maybe he'd rather kiss Steve than deliver the smack he so richly deserves.

"I don't see what your problem is, Danny – we won, didn't we? Chin and Kono didn't stand a chance. It just proves how much we think alike!"

Danny sighs and gives in to the power of the smirk.

"Well, perhaps. It's just… couldn't you have drawn a pair of chickens instead?"

Drabble written for the 1_million_words word of the day prompt: Slake.

Savor

He's learned to control himself. The pure, animalistic need to slake his thirst no longer obliterates all reason; he can consign the beat of a human heart and the delicate, delicious flush of blood under human skin to the back of his mind while he focuses on the hunt. He's learned to stalk his prey and to delight in the dance of cat-and-mouse, learned to appreciate how the thrill of the chase sweetens the surrender.

The blond in the shadows is a challenge; he's going to taste so good.

"It's my crime scene now," Steve says, and smiles.

Game on.

Drabble written for the 1_million_words Cheated challenge.

Retaliation

"I don't get it, Rach. I offered to sort out the two-timing son-of-a-bitch but she insists she's going to deal with him herself!".

Danny's hot and bothered, tense and angry as he shifts from foot to foot, all up there with nowhere to go. Rachel turns to look out of the window at where her daughter and Steve are sitting quietly together on the lanai, dark heads close in earnest consultation.

Danny may be Grace's biological father, but sometimes Rachel thinks that she's got more in common with her other dad.

She almost feels sorry for her daughter's erstwhile boyfriend.

Drabble written for the 1_million_words word of the day prompt: Capitulate.

The last straw

Kono lays a sympathetic hand on his arm.

"It's going to have to be you, brah," she says. "You know that his pride won't let him back down. You're going to have to be the one to capitulate, or..."

She lets it go unspoken, but Danny understands. If he doesn't make peace with his stubborn, pig-headed partner then their relationship is doomed, wrecked on the rocks of Steve's emotional illiteracy.

It's always the same, though. However sorry Steve is afterwards, it's always Danny who has to make the first move.

Danny wonders if it's really worth the effort any more.