If Eliot's experience is near Steve's than he may be banking on him not needing to be a concern if nature takes its course. Eliot doesn't need to push Steve away, or be worried about his involvement, if Danny bonds with him. The bond will take care of that on its own.
Hearing his muttered words, Steve turns to look at Danny. He can feel and see the misery there, the misery he's causing. That in itself hurts him in return. He's not supposed to be a source of pain, it's his job to protect Danny from that, not cause more but he doesn't see a painless solution out of this.
"I'm sorry this is so complicated, Danny, I..." His words trail off as he looks back to the road. Steve had many arguments against why Danny should back off him and focus on Eliot. None of them he likes - they all argue against what he truly wants. But there is no scenario he can see where he is not destined to be alone in the end. The longer he lets this go on, the harder it was going to be - for both of them. He'd already let it go on for too long. What Steve wanted had never been a consideration before, why should it be now?
He has to try again even if his resolve is starting to crack. "If... When, I get recalled back to active duty you're going to be without me. I can't take you with me there. You'll loose too much if they find out about you. Grace..." He doesn't need to say it, they've talked about those risks before. "Isn't it better to give you the best chance at having something you can have long-term? Something not broken and complicated?" As far as he could see, Steve was just holding Danny back, preventing him from having what he should.
Picking Danny up at the Airport
Hearing his muttered words, Steve turns to look at Danny. He can feel and see the misery there, the misery he's causing. That in itself hurts him in return. He's not supposed to be a source of pain, it's his job to protect Danny from that, not cause more but he doesn't see a painless solution out of this.
"I'm sorry this is so complicated, Danny, I..." His words trail off as he looks back to the road. Steve had many arguments against why Danny should back off him and focus on Eliot. None of them he likes - they all argue against what he truly wants. But there is no scenario he can see where he is not destined to be alone in the end. The longer he lets this go on, the harder it was going to be - for both of them. He'd already let it go on for too long. What Steve wanted had never been a consideration before, why should it be now?
He has to try again even if his resolve is starting to crack. "If... When, I get recalled back to active duty you're going to be without me. I can't take you with me there. You'll loose too much if they find out about you. Grace..." He doesn't need to say it, they've talked about those risks before. "Isn't it better to give you the best chance at having something you can have long-term? Something not broken and complicated?" As far as he could see, Steve was just holding Danny back, preventing him from having what he should.