Leap of Faith (by Mariko Azrael for Meg)
Jul. 27th, 2010 01:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
defeatedbyabridge posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
prficathonsFic Remixed: Oh, No, Not Now (http://dorkishavenger.dreamwidth.org/349400.html)
Recipient:defeatedbyabridge
Summary: Danny realizes he's in love Max. Unfortunately, he realizes this while on a date with Kendall.
Rating: G
Pairings/Warnings: Begins Kendall/Danny, ends Max/Danny. My remix takes place post-series, spoilers apply.
Danny kept reminding himself how lucky he was. The Orgs were only a memory now. They could have normal lives again, and he could finally, finally be with Kendall in that way. And his friends understood how much he liked-- no, how much he loved her. Even Max. Max’s opinion was the most important one, of course-- if he’d said no, even with the fighting over, Danny would have had reservations about dating Kendall. Max seemed a little… uncomfortable about it all, but he’d eventually accepted it, and now Danny was happier than he’d ever been in his life.
Or so he kept reminding himself.
“Danny?” Kendall’s brow furrowed. “Is anything wrong?”
“N-no, I--” Danny ducked his head, pretending to study the painfully purple tablecloth. “I guess I’m hungrier than I thought.” That wasn’t totally a lie. “My blood sugar must be getting low.”
Kendall smiled that smile that always made him melt a little.
… Except it wasn’t very reassuring. He’d been dating Kendall for almost a month now, and while he hadn’t been expecting to magically charm her every time, he’d been hoping that he could at least learn to talk to her without sounding like a stammering idiot in the process. But no, every time she so much as looked at him, he couldn’t quite figure out what to say next.
Talking was just so much easier with Max.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Kendall’s tone was understanding and patient as ever. She wasn’t mad, just worried.
“Um, yeah. Just thinking.“ Danny took a sip of his tea, wondering what Max was up to right now. He hadn’t been in the best mood when Danny left for his date, so he had probably gone out for a bit. And he would’ve taken his comic books with him-- it was a beautiful day, and Max liked to read when he was depressed.
Danny stopped mid-sip. Was Max really that upset? He was showing some of the signs-- snappish but insisting that he was fine, really, if anyone tried asking-- for awhile now. Danny felt like kicking himself, but settled for stirring too much sugar into his tea. He was Max’s best friend. He was supposed to know these things, and help out if he could--
“Oh, the food’s here!” Kendall murmured a thank you to the server, smiled at Danny, and took a bite of chicken.
Danny sighed over his BLT sandwich. He knew he should eat, since he was hungry and Kendall would worry if he didn’t, but… he couldn’t stop thinking about Max. How Max was probably alone, and upset, because Danny hadn’t realized it until it was too late. He couldn’t just sit around and eat, even with Kendall, when he knew Max needed him. He needed Max, too, and--
Oh. Of course.
Well, that probably explained why his dates with Kendall went so badly.
“Danny.” Her voice was gentle, but there was an undercurrent of frustration. And a while lot of concern. “Please tell me what’s wrong. You haven’t even touched your lunch!”
He took a deep breath. Then he took another one. Even now, this could end badly, and the last thing he wanted to do was to hurt her feelings. “Kendall, I… I don’t think this is working.”
“What do you mean?”
“Us. I mean us.”
“I see.”
“It’s not you, I promise. It’s me, and um, Max. I think. I hope.” Before all Danny could do was stutter; now he couldn’t stop talking. “I-I was thinking, like I said earlier, and I realized… I guess I kinda feel for Max now what I used to feel for you.” He stared at his hands helplessly. “I’m really sorry Kendall, but I can’t do this anymore.”
He heard her sigh softly… but then she placed her hands over his. “Danny, it’s not your fault.” She squeezed briefly, then continued. “It’s been a while. People change.”
Kendall hadn’t changed, Danny realized as he attempted a smile. She was still beautiful, kind, and caring. He would’ve been very happy with her.
But Max needed him. And he needed Max.
He thanked her, paid for the meal and tipped the server, and did his best not to pass out as he staggered out of the tiny restaurant and into the sunny park it was nearby. He was scared. Really scared. He’d given up being with Kendall on a half-hope with Max-- and even if Max did like him back, not only did he know Danny was seeing Kendall, he wasn’t exactly happy with him right now.
But he couldn’t use that as an excuse to give up, Danny realized as he stuffed his hands in his pockets, picking up his pace. This could end badly. But now he knew that he… well, loved Max, more than anything. He wouldn’t give up.
--
Yes, he wasn’t going to give up, but when Danny saw Max brooding on the bench every instinct in his body was telling him to run. But he also knew that if he didn’t do this, he’d regret it forever. So he took a breath and began, “Uh, Max? Can I talk to you?”
Max kept his gaze fixed on his comics, grumbling something bout how it could wait.
Danny tried to keep a brave face.
… Which obviously hadn’t worked, since Max was scooting over to give him room. Grateful, Danny sat next to him. Okay, he was with Max. Now all he had to do was tell him what had happened. “Uh, Max, it's about Kendall.” There. Now he would--
“You're in love with her. Hey, Danny, it's okay. Really. I'm happy for you.” Max’s voce was a textbook example of finality.
Danny bit back a yelp-- this wasn’t how it was supposed to go at all. “No, Max, that's not it!” Surely that would get him to understand, right?
Max’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “It's not? Did she dump you? ...I'll kill her.” He was up, moving way too quickly for Danny’s liking, and this wasn’t going right at all-- but he wasn’t going to quit. Not until he said what he needed to.
So he placed a hand on Max’s shoulder, and just told him. All of it. What had happened with Kendall. His realization. And how he loved Max, not her. When he was done, he was still scared of what might happen next, but he did feel a bit better.
Max blinked. “With me? You what?”
Oh, dear. Max still didn’t understand. Which was understandable, since Danny himself has just figured it out. He had only one choice left… and it would leave him wide open for rejection, but he couldn’t just leave it like this.
He gathered what was left of his courage, and kissed Max.
And Max just stared at him.
This had been a mistake. A horrible, awful mistake, and now he’d ruined his friendship with Max, because he’d been stupid enough to convince himself that they could have more. “I’m sorry, Max,” he managed, when he could almost breathe right again. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” He almost managed not to cry as he turned away.
“Hey. Danny.” Now Max’s hand was on his shoulder. Hunh. “Stop, please.” Not really thinking, Danny did what he was told.
“I'm not scared. Just, uh, surprised.” And now Max was kissing him, too. This one went much more smoothly, and Danny felt a tiny thrill go through him when Max’s hands went to his waist. It was a minor part of the kiss, but it was Max, so it made it so much better.
When it was over, Danny was out of breath, but in a good way. “That was nice,” he murmured. But the best part was knowing that there would be a lot more nice moments to come with Max.
Recipient:
defeatedbyabridgeSummary: Danny realizes he's in love Max. Unfortunately, he realizes this while on a date with Kendall.
Rating: G
Pairings/Warnings: Begins Kendall/Danny, ends Max/Danny. My remix takes place post-series, spoilers apply.
Danny kept reminding himself how lucky he was. The Orgs were only a memory now. They could have normal lives again, and he could finally, finally be with Kendall in that way. And his friends understood how much he liked-- no, how much he loved her. Even Max. Max’s opinion was the most important one, of course-- if he’d said no, even with the fighting over, Danny would have had reservations about dating Kendall. Max seemed a little… uncomfortable about it all, but he’d eventually accepted it, and now Danny was happier than he’d ever been in his life.
Or so he kept reminding himself.
“Danny?” Kendall’s brow furrowed. “Is anything wrong?”
“N-no, I--” Danny ducked his head, pretending to study the painfully purple tablecloth. “I guess I’m hungrier than I thought.” That wasn’t totally a lie. “My blood sugar must be getting low.”
Kendall smiled that smile that always made him melt a little.
… Except it wasn’t very reassuring. He’d been dating Kendall for almost a month now, and while he hadn’t been expecting to magically charm her every time, he’d been hoping that he could at least learn to talk to her without sounding like a stammering idiot in the process. But no, every time she so much as looked at him, he couldn’t quite figure out what to say next.
Talking was just so much easier with Max.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Kendall’s tone was understanding and patient as ever. She wasn’t mad, just worried.
“Um, yeah. Just thinking.“ Danny took a sip of his tea, wondering what Max was up to right now. He hadn’t been in the best mood when Danny left for his date, so he had probably gone out for a bit. And he would’ve taken his comic books with him-- it was a beautiful day, and Max liked to read when he was depressed.
Danny stopped mid-sip. Was Max really that upset? He was showing some of the signs-- snappish but insisting that he was fine, really, if anyone tried asking-- for awhile now. Danny felt like kicking himself, but settled for stirring too much sugar into his tea. He was Max’s best friend. He was supposed to know these things, and help out if he could--
“Oh, the food’s here!” Kendall murmured a thank you to the server, smiled at Danny, and took a bite of chicken.
Danny sighed over his BLT sandwich. He knew he should eat, since he was hungry and Kendall would worry if he didn’t, but… he couldn’t stop thinking about Max. How Max was probably alone, and upset, because Danny hadn’t realized it until it was too late. He couldn’t just sit around and eat, even with Kendall, when he knew Max needed him. He needed Max, too, and--
Oh. Of course.
Well, that probably explained why his dates with Kendall went so badly.
“Danny.” Her voice was gentle, but there was an undercurrent of frustration. And a while lot of concern. “Please tell me what’s wrong. You haven’t even touched your lunch!”
He took a deep breath. Then he took another one. Even now, this could end badly, and the last thing he wanted to do was to hurt her feelings. “Kendall, I… I don’t think this is working.”
“What do you mean?”
“Us. I mean us.”
“I see.”
“It’s not you, I promise. It’s me, and um, Max. I think. I hope.” Before all Danny could do was stutter; now he couldn’t stop talking. “I-I was thinking, like I said earlier, and I realized… I guess I kinda feel for Max now what I used to feel for you.” He stared at his hands helplessly. “I’m really sorry Kendall, but I can’t do this anymore.”
He heard her sigh softly… but then she placed her hands over his. “Danny, it’s not your fault.” She squeezed briefly, then continued. “It’s been a while. People change.”
Kendall hadn’t changed, Danny realized as he attempted a smile. She was still beautiful, kind, and caring. He would’ve been very happy with her.
But Max needed him. And he needed Max.
He thanked her, paid for the meal and tipped the server, and did his best not to pass out as he staggered out of the tiny restaurant and into the sunny park it was nearby. He was scared. Really scared. He’d given up being with Kendall on a half-hope with Max-- and even if Max did like him back, not only did he know Danny was seeing Kendall, he wasn’t exactly happy with him right now.
But he couldn’t use that as an excuse to give up, Danny realized as he stuffed his hands in his pockets, picking up his pace. This could end badly. But now he knew that he… well, loved Max, more than anything. He wouldn’t give up.
--
Yes, he wasn’t going to give up, but when Danny saw Max brooding on the bench every instinct in his body was telling him to run. But he also knew that if he didn’t do this, he’d regret it forever. So he took a breath and began, “Uh, Max? Can I talk to you?”
Max kept his gaze fixed on his comics, grumbling something bout how it could wait.
Danny tried to keep a brave face.
… Which obviously hadn’t worked, since Max was scooting over to give him room. Grateful, Danny sat next to him. Okay, he was with Max. Now all he had to do was tell him what had happened. “Uh, Max, it's about Kendall.” There. Now he would--
“You're in love with her. Hey, Danny, it's okay. Really. I'm happy for you.” Max’s voce was a textbook example of finality.
Danny bit back a yelp-- this wasn’t how it was supposed to go at all. “No, Max, that's not it!” Surely that would get him to understand, right?
Max’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “It's not? Did she dump you? ...I'll kill her.” He was up, moving way too quickly for Danny’s liking, and this wasn’t going right at all-- but he wasn’t going to quit. Not until he said what he needed to.
So he placed a hand on Max’s shoulder, and just told him. All of it. What had happened with Kendall. His realization. And how he loved Max, not her. When he was done, he was still scared of what might happen next, but he did feel a bit better.
Max blinked. “With me? You what?”
Oh, dear. Max still didn’t understand. Which was understandable, since Danny himself has just figured it out. He had only one choice left… and it would leave him wide open for rejection, but he couldn’t just leave it like this.
He gathered what was left of his courage, and kissed Max.
And Max just stared at him.
This had been a mistake. A horrible, awful mistake, and now he’d ruined his friendship with Max, because he’d been stupid enough to convince himself that they could have more. “I’m sorry, Max,” he managed, when he could almost breathe right again. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” He almost managed not to cry as he turned away.
“Hey. Danny.” Now Max’s hand was on his shoulder. Hunh. “Stop, please.” Not really thinking, Danny did what he was told.
“I'm not scared. Just, uh, surprised.” And now Max was kissing him, too. This one went much more smoothly, and Danny felt a tiny thrill go through him when Max’s hands went to his waist. It was a minor part of the kiss, but it was Max, so it made it so much better.
When it was over, Danny was out of breath, but in a good way. “That was nice,” he murmured. But the best part was knowing that there would be a lot more nice moments to come with Max.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-27 04:20 am (UTC)THANK YOU for this, so much. <3