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kathierif_ficTitle: Human Nature
Author: Kathie
Rating: FRT
Fandom/Claim: CSI:NY Mac Taylor/Don Flack/Danny Messer
Challenge + prompt:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
10_per_genre, table 7: Fluff, Prompt 1: Cuddle
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Word Count: 714 Words
Summary: Danny Messer doesn’t cuddle, and Mac Taylor doesn’t let people get close to him.
Authors Note: Title taken from the quote “It is human nature to think wisely and act in an absurd fashion”.
Thanks, Blame, and Flowers to the usual suspects…
Danny Messer did not cuddle. Everyone knew that. He had made sure that everyone knew. He'd told it his lovers, his friends, his coworkers, and the occasional witness and suspect. He did not cuddle.
The truth was, he didn't know how to. He'd never learned how to let someone hold him. The only person he'd ever let come close enough to touch had been Louie, and Louie had more often than not pushed him away and had laughed about little Danny's attempt to find some emotional warmth.
Danny had learned from that. He'd learned to clench his teeth and not need anyone.
And the most important lesson he'd learned was: he did not cuddle. Cuddling was for the weak.
Real men didn't need to cuddle. They were strong and not clingy and whimpering.
Danny had learned how to be a real man. He didn't cuddle.
It wasn't that touching made him uncomfortable. Danny loved to touch, and he liked if he was touched back. He just didn't know how to let someone hold him close, doing nothing. No matter how hard he tried to relax, he couldn't. He felt trapped, had to fight the urge to jump up and run, and became extremely uncomfortable.
He started fidgeting, and so far, everyone had understood and had backed off.
Danny didn't mind. He had learned his lesson, and he wouldn't forget it.
The Tanglewood Boys had made sure of that.
Mac Taylor had learned early in his life that it was dangerous to get too close to people. Of course, as a Marine, he'd trusted his comrades, and he befriended a few of them. But in the end, he knew, it just was a matter of time for them to die - or for him to die. Getting too close was dangerous. Letting down his guard meant the risk of getting hurt.
Claire dying had only proven that he'd been right on that. After her death he hadn't allowed anyone close, not physically and not mentally. He had pushed everyone far away, to protect himself, and to protect them - it was only a matter of time before he, or they, too, would leave. Being a cop was dangerous, just like being a Marine had been. It was easier to keep to himself than allowing himself to get hurt again and again.
He liked some of his co-workers well enough, but still, he didn't try to become their friend. Of course, a few, like Stella, slipped through his carefully built defenses, but most of them didn't.
It was for the best.
Mac was tired of getting hurt.
For Don Flack, touching was something normal, something that allowed him to get through his days. It had always been like that - a pat on the back from his father for a job well done, a hug from his mother for a favour, a brief touch from Gavin for a lesson well learned. It was a sign of affection. Even more, it was a sign of human nature. It was something everyone should do, and it reminded him that not everyone was as bad as his job sometimes made him believe.
It enforced his belief in the good of humanity.
When they were at work, Don was able to act business-like around his lovers. But when they were off the clock, he often reached out to his lovers - a brief squeeze of a shoulder to show his gratitude for Danny bringing him a beer, a soft kiss to soothe Mac's troubles, a hug to say good morning or welcome home - he did it without thinking about it.
It had taken him some time, but gradually, both Danny and Mac got used to it. The day when Danny, for the first time, hadn't flinched when Don had wrapped his arms around him for a relieved hug was one of the best days he could remember.
And now, almost a year later, Don allowed himself a satisfied smile when Mac hesitantly wrapped his arms around him and pulled him on top of him, against his chest. Danny relaxed against them, his head resting against Mac's shoulder, his fingers moving quietly over the material of Don's shirt.
It was better than he'd ever dared to hope.
It was perfect.
The End.
Author: Kathie
Rating: FRT
Fandom/Claim: CSI:NY Mac Taylor/Don Flack/Danny Messer
Challenge + prompt:
10_per_genre, table 7: Fluff, Prompt 1: CuddleDisclaimer: Not mine.
Word Count: 714 Words
Summary: Danny Messer doesn’t cuddle, and Mac Taylor doesn’t let people get close to him.
Authors Note: Title taken from the quote “It is human nature to think wisely and act in an absurd fashion”.
Thanks, Blame, and Flowers to the usual suspects…
Danny Messer did not cuddle. Everyone knew that. He had made sure that everyone knew. He'd told it his lovers, his friends, his coworkers, and the occasional witness and suspect. He did not cuddle.
The truth was, he didn't know how to. He'd never learned how to let someone hold him. The only person he'd ever let come close enough to touch had been Louie, and Louie had more often than not pushed him away and had laughed about little Danny's attempt to find some emotional warmth.
Danny had learned from that. He'd learned to clench his teeth and not need anyone.
And the most important lesson he'd learned was: he did not cuddle. Cuddling was for the weak.
Real men didn't need to cuddle. They were strong and not clingy and whimpering.
Danny had learned how to be a real man. He didn't cuddle.
It wasn't that touching made him uncomfortable. Danny loved to touch, and he liked if he was touched back. He just didn't know how to let someone hold him close, doing nothing. No matter how hard he tried to relax, he couldn't. He felt trapped, had to fight the urge to jump up and run, and became extremely uncomfortable.
He started fidgeting, and so far, everyone had understood and had backed off.
Danny didn't mind. He had learned his lesson, and he wouldn't forget it.
The Tanglewood Boys had made sure of that.
Mac Taylor had learned early in his life that it was dangerous to get too close to people. Of course, as a Marine, he'd trusted his comrades, and he befriended a few of them. But in the end, he knew, it just was a matter of time for them to die - or for him to die. Getting too close was dangerous. Letting down his guard meant the risk of getting hurt.
Claire dying had only proven that he'd been right on that. After her death he hadn't allowed anyone close, not physically and not mentally. He had pushed everyone far away, to protect himself, and to protect them - it was only a matter of time before he, or they, too, would leave. Being a cop was dangerous, just like being a Marine had been. It was easier to keep to himself than allowing himself to get hurt again and again.
He liked some of his co-workers well enough, but still, he didn't try to become their friend. Of course, a few, like Stella, slipped through his carefully built defenses, but most of them didn't.
It was for the best.
Mac was tired of getting hurt.
For Don Flack, touching was something normal, something that allowed him to get through his days. It had always been like that - a pat on the back from his father for a job well done, a hug from his mother for a favour, a brief touch from Gavin for a lesson well learned. It was a sign of affection. Even more, it was a sign of human nature. It was something everyone should do, and it reminded him that not everyone was as bad as his job sometimes made him believe.
It enforced his belief in the good of humanity.
When they were at work, Don was able to act business-like around his lovers. But when they were off the clock, he often reached out to his lovers - a brief squeeze of a shoulder to show his gratitude for Danny bringing him a beer, a soft kiss to soothe Mac's troubles, a hug to say good morning or welcome home - he did it without thinking about it.
It had taken him some time, but gradually, both Danny and Mac got used to it. The day when Danny, for the first time, hadn't flinched when Don had wrapped his arms around him for a relieved hug was one of the best days he could remember.
And now, almost a year later, Don allowed himself a satisfied smile when Mac hesitantly wrapped his arms around him and pulled him on top of him, against his chest. Danny relaxed against them, his head resting against Mac's shoulder, his fingers moving quietly over the material of Don's shirt.
It was better than he'd ever dared to hope.
It was perfect.
The End.