dann_0 | PSL: Sentinel AU

Danny is Steve's guide. He is still pretty new at it and working with a Sentinel who has some bad experiences. To top if off, while working a case in Portland he finds out that a guide can have more than one Sentinel who is their perfect match.

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From:

super_seal

It takes a couple minutes of Danny's constant caress and reassurance, but Steve starts to relax against him. It happens is steps, first his breathing falls in sync with Danny's, then his heart beat. Next, his arms come up and wrap around Danny's waist and he presses his forearms and palms onto Danny's back, seeking as much skin on skin contact as possible. His face doesn't move from being pressed up against Danny's chest except to move slightly more over his heart. Soon everything else is on the other side of the barrier and his world is focused on Danny. The sound of his voice, the smell of his scent and the feel of his skin up against Steve's.

The pain isn't as intense in his mind but there's an after image of it just beyond his being, threatening. Taking in a slightly deeper breath, Steve sighs out a heartfelt 'Danny'. There's so much more in that one word that he can put into words - thanks, trust, love, appreciation, relief.

From:

dann_0

"There you go." Danny whispers, pride in his voice. He blinks a little at the way Steve says his name, surprised but also absolutely loving it. He wants more of that. But this isn't the time or place. But he can't keep the smile out of his voice when he answers. "I'm right here. Not going anywhere. You're safe now." He shifts a little so he can pull Steve even more against himself and now that he knows Steve's starting to come out of it he shifts from gentle stroking to trying to give him a bit of a shoulder rub. Working out the knots there. He figures it might help Steve relax some more. "After this lets get you home and get you some proper sleep."

From:

super_seal

There's no fight left in him and as Danny adjusts him, Steve easily moves with him. His shoulders are relaxed, leaning forward towards Danny, but they're also full of knots from all the stress and tension he's been carrying there. The rub feels good and he all but purrs under his breath in appreciation of Danny's efforts.

His senses are still a mess, but right now with only Danny coming in he's appreciating the relief and the buffer. The loss of control and being overwhelmed like that has always scared him and that's no different now. He's never one for being made vulnerable and yet he never figured out how to get a handle on that uncontrollable immense pain when he had been exposed to that state. In the past he'd always been pushed there, this was the first time he'd ended up there by his own doing. It wasn't something he ever wanted to repeat again.

At Danny's mention of home and proper sleep Steve shivers. He doesn't want to be far from Danny but with Eliot here he doubts Danny will be cuddling in with him. Maybe he can crash on the couch, just to have him near. Besides they still need to talk, about a couple of things. Pushing those thoughts away for now he squeezes Danny in a hug.

"How long?" He has no idea how long he was like that or how long they've been cuddled in his office. His eyes are still closed and he's in no rush to open them.

From:

dann_0

Danny smiles slightly at the shiver. "Only ten minutes. It was pretty quick. You're getting better at getting out of it. And that seemed like a bad one." He strokes again and then goes back to working on the knots. "You know, you should go to one of those massage places and get a professional to look at things."

He smiles softly as he glances towards his own window and then back down at Steve. "You alright with Eliot coming back to your house with us?" He sighs a little the smile fading as he looks back. He has no idea how to prove to Eliot that he isn't going to lose him. But he isn't going to put that on Steve right now. This is something he has to figure out without involving either of them really since they seem to be negative about the whole thing.

"On the positive side, if Eliot comes with us I might convince him to cook. That will give us much better pizza than if we ordered out."

From:

super_seal

Steve shook his head, although since his face was pressed into Danny's chest it was more of a rubbing. "That's all you. You give me something stable I can follow out." Squeezing Danny, he inhales slightly - not enough to get high but to seek out comfort. "That was different. Not so much a zone but being completely overwhelmed." Usually when Danny pulled him out of a zone, unless what he was zoning on spiked - like a child who suddenly screeched, it wasn't painful. Whatever the name of what had just happened, hurt. His senses felt delicate and he was still avoiding opening his eyes.

At the mention of going to a professional masseur, Steve tenses slightly and he needs to force himself to relax again. Strangers touching him like that wasn't an idea he liked to entertain, even if it was for his well being.

"Yeah, I'm okay with it if you are." He's thinking about Grace here. If it hadn't of been for her, Steve likely would have brought Eliot back to the house last night. Thinking of Eliot again, Steve realizes Danny is without his shirt and that he shouldn't be okay with that. Right now though, he's still shaky and he's not going to protest anything that Danny is willing to give him. He wants things with Eliot to work out, but right now he needs this. Instead he sighed and relaxed more into Danny, letting out more of the tension as the pain started to ebb away. "Oh yeah? I could get behind that. He make pizza the way you like it?"

From:

dann_0

"I wish you were this easy to lead all the time." He leans to kiss Steve's hair again. "That's never happened before has it?" When Steve tenses Danny's hands are back on him and stroking his back. "Or I could take classes. I am going to need someone to practice on though."

"Yeah I am good with it if he is. And he does make really good food, I have no doubt he knows how to make pizza properly." He stays in the hug for a little bit longer and then finally moves to stand. "I am going to go check on him. You want to come with or do you want to wait here?"

From:

super_seal

"Are you saying I'm usually difficult?" There's not a lot of energy in his voice yet, but there is a traceable amount of humor lacing it. Although, all the humor is gone when he speaks again. "Never of my own doing, but in the military..." His voice drifts off and he somewhat shrugs and cuddles in tighter.

There's a small hum of appreciation. While Steve has no interest in others touching him, Danny is, and really has always been, allowed and even wanted. "I don't mind being your guinea pig for that."

"Yeah but your idea of proper pizza and everyone else's isn't quite the same thing." When Danny moves to stand, he takes in one more deep breath, then nods and releases his hold on Danny while straightening from his slouch. Part of him thinks that he should let Danny go alone to sort things out but being overwhelmed has left him more shaky than he was before and of all things, having that happen again is a scary prospect for him. "No, I'll go with you if you don't mind." He hands Danny his shirt. "Maybe I can help convince him to come back to the house, reassure him that it's something we both want."

Steve still wants Danny to have the stability of Eliot in his life. That hasn't changed and isn't going to change. He's willing to do almost anything he can to help that to happen. Although, what just happened has been a wake up call for him and his insistence to go it as much alone as possible has been rattled.

From:

dann_0

Danny shakes his head at the mentioning of the military forcing Steve through that. He is not at all happy hearing it and he wishes there was something he could do. But he knows that the best thing he can do is to make sure they are never getting their hands on Steve or Eliot.

He nods and then pulls the shirt back on. "Well, the guy knows good food so..." He grins. "And you're not the easiest partner I've had." Though he is definitely Danny's favorite by far. He pauses for a second to look back at Steve. Was Eliot coming back to the house something Steve wanted? He isn't sure. He is hoping and but he is worried Steve's just allowing it to keep Danny happy.

Once they are ready Danny leads the way into his office. "Eliot?"

From:

super_seal

"Well, I know he makes one hell of a burger," Steve says as he pushes himself to his feet. "Yeah, but you love it. Admit it." It takes a second but he finds his bearings and nods at Danny to lead the way.

When Danny looks back at him, Steve doesn't know why Danny's paused but the look of uncertainty on his face does make him wonder, although he thinks it's about Eliot not coming back to the house. He gives Danny what he hopes is a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, we'll convince him."

Following Danny to his office, Steve hangs back a little. He wants to be close to Danny, has that need to be close, but he wants to give them space too.

From:

a_very_distinctive

Eliot's not sure if he wishes the damn building were properly sound-proofed or not as he sits there listening to Danny and Steve argue. To Danny making it so very abundantly clear that he's out of the blue--as far as Eliot's concerned, anyway, and probably Steve too--that he wants his partner. That this isn't a romantic relationship and a friendship, that it's some kind of triangle he wants to try and navigate. And there's no way in hell that ends any way but with Eliot the odd man out, an awkward afterthought until he just becomes an even more awkward inconvenience. And much as he'd been prepared for this to be short-lived, to ride it out for as long as it lasts and then make his peace with walking away when it implodes, he hadn't expected it to go to hell quite so fast. And definitely not in this particular fashion.

He's too god damned wound up and strung out at this point to be safe walking out the door, though. All his senses keyed up to the point where the world's becoming just a confusing buzz of painful over-stimulation. And the only thing keeping him from losing it entirely is Danny's voice through the wall, the scent of Danny that permeates this room, even as the overlay of Steve's voice and scent and distress continues to wind him up. The actual words have faded to a meaningless buzz somewhere along the line, it's just worry and pain and want he's registering.

He can't leave, but he can't stay, and he finds himself pacing restlessly, hands flexing uselessly at his sides as he tries to find some modicum of focus. Some ability to rationally work his way through the situation and his options. It's not working, though, his heart is racing and his breathing's becoming labored, and he knows at this point that he should make himself hyper-focus on Danny, that he should push himself to zone rather than letting this build any further and risk going feral again. The problem is he doesn't feel safe here, doesn't feel like he can risk being that helpless, and a lifetime of habit, of the very particular kind of paranoia and back-handed control that's kept him alive, is pushing him towards breaking instead. Towards a reaction that keeps him from being completely helpless and vulnerable, and keeps what he is from being discovered.

There's a reason he has a reputation for having a short fuse, for being violent and unpredictable. There's a reason he's not safe. He shoves his fist in his mouth and bites down hard to keep himself quiet, to use the pain to focus. To try and find some kind of rationality and balance... he hasn't gotten even close when he realizes that Steve's voice has picked up again and there's movement in the other office. That they're coming back this way and he's lost his chance to escape before he blows everything completely to hell.

His head snaps up at his name in Danny's voice, eyes squinted half-shut and pupils contracted down to pinpricks against the barrage of visual over-stimulation as he makes himself look past Danny to Steve hovering behind him. "You need t'tell him," he rasps, heart hammering and hands still flexing restlessly into white knuckled fists. "About the, uh... about the thing. I'll have Hardison... I'll have him forward you-" He stops, eyes squeezing farther shut and head twisting to the side and tipping oddly as he tries to find the words he needs. "The stuff... the information for... for the thing. For-" He waves his hand vaguely and shakes his head, scowling in frustration. He hates this he hates this he hates this. Hates not being in control, hates being seen to not be in control, and he starts, more than half-blind, to stalk towards where he remembers the door being.

From:

dann_0

Danny blinks the moment he steps inside and sees Eliot there. Damn, fuck. Eliot too? How long had be been like that? Suddenly he feels guilty for lingering with Steve rather than checking on Eliot faster. He moves to close the distance between them, knowing he has to pull Eliot out of this. He doesn't want him to have to go through what Steve just went through. He doesn't want either of them to have to go through that ever again.

He moves to wrap his arms around Eliot and hold him, pressing his face against Eliot's neck. He gives his a warm kiss to it before he whispers. "I got you. You're safe here. Nobody is going to hurt you. Close your eyes and breathe for me. Please?"

From:

a_very_distinctive

Eliot starts to sidestep Danny as he approaches. Starts to, but can't make himself, and instead finds himself leaning into the contact with a shudder, curling his hands into the back of Danny's t-shirt and turning his face to press his nose into Danny's hair. Steve's scent is a heavy overlay, but what matters that underneath it Danny's scent is still strong and solid, even if it's laced with worry and distress.

"'Course no one's gonna hurt me," he makes himself mutter. "Not a fuckin' damsel." It doesn't stop him from pressing his lips to Danny's temple, though, or sliding a hand down until he can push Danny's shirt out of the way and lay his palm against the small of Danny's back. Or slowly syncing his breathing to Danny's, almost without conscious intent.

From:

dann_0

Danny chuckles a little, warm affection obvious in it. "Of course you're not. You're the fucking hero." He lets his hand stroke Eliot's back. Trying to draw him out of the zone. "Still you're safe here. I got you. Steve's watching your back. We got you." He kisses Eliot's neck again. "You're doing good, really good. We're going home, all three of us and we'll relax alright. Safe and sound and nothing to worry about. If you want to, of course."

From:

a_very_distinctive

"Pfft. Not anyone's hero." No matter how much he's turned his life around or how much good he's done in the last five years, he'll still never believe that. Even if it had been what he'd wanted most when he'd joined up at eighteen. That ship sailed almost twenty years ago, when black ops got their claws in him.

"Don't need you t'keep me safe," he adds in a murmur, nuzzling in to Danny's temple. "Need you t'keep everyone else safe from me." Because Danny probably doesn't have the frame of reference to realize he's not zoning, not withdrawing helplessly into the misery inside in his own head, he's trying desperately not to fly into a blind, agonizing rage.

From:

dann_0

Danny disagrees with that. They are his heroes, both of them and they can't see it. But he knows better than to argue, so he doesn't. Instead, he leans his head on Eliot's shoulder.

"Then I'll do that. I won't let you fall or shatter. And if I fail... Steve got it. We got your back, Eliot. I promise. We'll help you, together. You think you want that?"

From:

super_seal

Coming up behind Danny, Steve can see Eliot in the office. The pacing and hand clenching, not able to get all his words out, the feel of an animal about to be let loose... He knows exactly what's going on and for that reason, he hangs back just a little bit more in order not to make things worse. Steve's only gone feral a couple of times, himself, but he was educated on the signs - both inwardly and outwardly.

He doesn't bother to warn or stop Danny because he honestly doesn't believe there is a threat to Danny. One of the reasons a sentinel will go into distress is separation from his/her guide. While Steve's not certain that's the reason here or not, it could be more the stress of the situation as a whole or several other things, but generally it's known that a guide, especially the guide of the sentinel can tame the beast and bring it out of that state. Steve expects Eliot will defend Danny against him before he hurts Danny at all. Another reason to keep back for now - no matter how much he feels the need to be as close to Danny as possible.

At hearing that Eliot needs Danny to keep everyone safe from him, Steve stretches his still fragile senses to focus in on both Eliot and Danny's heartbeat and breathing. If he needs to, he'll intervene, but unless it's required, he'll let Danny take care of things. It's reassuring to hear Eliot is starting to settle, even if it's only a bit. Leaning up against the wall outside Danny's office, Steve focuses on his hearing and listens to what's transpiring in the other room.

From:

a_very_distinctive

"Yeah... okay." The tense edge is seeping out of his voice and posture both, and he's leaning a little heavier into Danny. Breathing in deep where his nose is pressed into his hair and letting both hands settle against the warm skin above his waistband. He'd meant to leave, take himself out of the situation and cope on his own, like he's done for over fifteen years now, but he hadn't been able to make himself step away. Definitely can't make himself do it now.

"You won't fail." His voice is dropping lower, into a warm buzz, almost lazy, and his heart rate has settled significantly from the stressed staccato of just moments ago. His breathing is almost in sync with Danny's. "But s'fine, he can maybe take me if he has to." Eliot doesn't know him well enough to be sure, but he's military and a Sentinel, he's probably trained well enough that, at least with advance warning, he'd have a fighting chance to put him down. "Don't want him t'have to," he adds, nosing along Danny's hairline, breath ghosting warmly over the shell of his ear.

From:

dann_0

"No, and knowing him, he doesn't want to have to either. But that is part of the promise. We got your back even if that means having to do things we don't want." Danny gives a little shiver at breath over his ear. His breath catches ever so slightly and he lets it out with the smallest little sigh of pleasure. It's not even sexual. Just happy to have his Sentinels here.

"You're doing great. Both of you." because he knows Steve can hear him. "I'm proud of you." They had just pulled themselves out of bad spinning out of control and he is so damn proud of them for that.

From:

a_very_distinctive

"Good. 'S'good." His heart rate settles almost completely into sync with Danny's at that reassurance. Knowing Danny would be willing to put him down if has to... it's important. And it's not something he could ever ask of Parker or Hardison. They wouldn't understand, they'd try to save him even if he was past saving, and he can't risk that. Can't risk either of them getting hurt because of him, by him.

"Nothin' t'be proud of," he rasps, voice almost slurring, even as he shifts one hand from Danny's back to push through the short hairs at the nape of his neck and then up, fingers curling to cradle the back of his head. "Couldn't keep my shit t'gether. "Could'a hurt someone." He's done that so many times, and even if he hasn't for a long time now he's been feeling it pushing closer to the surface. Feeling his hard won control slipping.

"Don't wanna hurt someone who doesn't deserve it," he adds as he mouths his way down Danny's jaw. It's light and almost tender, just letting himself taste Danny's skin to reinforce his solidity and presence. It's not something he'd meant to allow himself again, but he's not entirely coherent at the moment, coming down from the adrenaline rush of a near feral incident, and more than a little high on Danny's taste and scent.

From:

dann_0

Danny smiles softly. "But you came out of it. And you didn't hurt anyone." He shifts and tips his head up into that touch. "Mmm that feels good you know." he hums to himself. He stays in that touch for a few breaths longer. "I missed you." He whispers. He had even if it had only been a day.

Then he pulls back to look up at Eliot. "How are you feeling? Feeling up for the ride back to Steve's so we can settle in properly?" And get Grace back. Damn, he'll have to talk to Eliot about how he wants to be introduced to her. But not right now. Right now he is happy just holding the man.

From:

a_very_distinctive

"'Cause you're here," Eliot points out. Though if he'd been on his own he would have managed. Probably. He just would have had to get himself to someplace quiet and isolated before he lost his last tenuous grip on control, something he's become adept at over the years of solitude.

He shudders a little in response to Danny's contented hum, and again at the whisper. It feels almost like a finger running down his spine, a warm breath directly into his ear, and has to find at least a moment's focus to keep himself from sucking a mark right there against Danny's jaw. "Missed you too," Eliot admits, voice almost breaking as much at the realization Danny means it as at making the admission himself.

He has to pause for a moment at the question, trying to process not just the words, but the significance of it--to get past the fact that what he wants right now is to just strip Danny naked and press him back into the couch, then sprawl across him and soak in his presence. His scent, the beat of his heart, the sound of his voice, the feel of his skin, warm and perfect and so very reassuring. That's not the important part, though, and he has to force his brain through the fog to what is. "Your little girl," he finally rasps, voice still a little ragged and slow. "Don't wanna get in the way'a your time with her. Can just-" He pauses again, frowning, searching for thoughts and words. "Can leave me here," he finally settles on, because whatever thought he'd been trying to chase has slipped frustratingly out of reach. "Got your scent. 'll be okay."

From:

dann_0

"It is fine. She's used to sharing me with Steve, I think she'll like you too. And that you'll like her." He takes a breath. "I don't want to leave you. Not when I can have you close." He takes a deep breath, stroking Eliot's side gently. "How do you want to be introduced to her? As my friend or my boyfriend?" Two hours ago he would have gone for friend, but what just happened here with both of them has solidified it all in Danny's mind. Eliot is going to be part of his life and then he should be introduced to the most important part of it.

"Just don't let her charm you into giving her too many sweets." he chuckles. If Grace is anything like the way she is with Steve with Eliot it is only a matter of time before she has him wrapped around his fingers. "But it is all about where you will be more comfortable."

From:

a_very_distinctive

This would be easier if he weren't still having so much trouble processing. If his senses weren't so out of whack from over-stimulation and and a feeling of panic that hasn't quite completely faded. It means he's quiet for a moment, struggling to sort it all out into something that makes sense, then unnaturally still as he manages, as he realizes what Danny's offering, and his breath catches on something that's a strange combination of a fresh surge of panic and an almost overwhelming sense of affection that he refuses to characterize as love.

"Shouldn' do that," he finally manages to protest, though his voice is unsteady as hell. "Not fair t'her." Not when the odds of him staying in her dad's life are so slim, or when her mother might try to use him as some kind of scandal generator when it comes to custody and visitation and moving. He wants it, though. It scares him how damn much he wants it, how much the thought of it aches. To be that kind of a part of Danny's life. Safe and trusted and stable enough to be a part of his kid's.

"Not fair t'Steve either," he adds, even quieter. More unsteady. "He don't need my stink in his home."

From:

super_seal

Steve has an understanding of where Eliot is coming from when it comes to Grace. It's not likely exactly the same but Steve too had reservations about becoming too involved with Grace, getting too close. Not only was she a child, and he knew he wasn't good with children, but if the military called him back or he got badly hurt as part of the job he didn't want either of them to be too attached. He smiles at the memory of her telling him that if he was important to her Danno than he was important to her too and that meant they had to spend time together.

Head leaning back against the wall, eyes closed, but ears still focused in the other room, Steve speaks up loud enough for Danny to hear as well. "Grace will disagree with you. As you are important to us, she will want to know you too." There's a small pause while he tries to think how to best word the next. "You're stink is already in the car and office, wouldn't be right if it wasn't in the house too!" There's a lightness there even though the voice sounds drained, it loses that lightness though when he speaks again, but it holds a strong measure of sincerity. "I want you there, Eliot. I want you in our home and as part of our lives. Don't say no."

From:

dann_0

Danny smiles warmly at Steve and then turning his head back to Eliot and gives him a reassuring smile. "Steve's right. We want you there, and of course, I want to introduce you as my boyfriend. I am more worried about Kono. She'll never let me hear the end of it." He chuckles as he strokes Eliot's back. "Not in a bad way though."

"And you are important to me, to both of us. It is only right you're a part of this too."

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Daniel "Danno" Williams

July 2018

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super_seal - Danny, Steve and Eliot. In the office. Ironing things out

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