SN WIP: Homophobic - Part Eight
May. 1st, 2004 10:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
out_thereCan we now call this the fic that ate my brain? (Ummm... yes. Assignment = half done. Total WIP word count = around 43,000. Yes, my priorities are *screwed*, people.)
Oh, and I'm playing with sporting reality. (From the ESPN website: September 12, 2000 - ESPN's Jeremy Schaap provides an exclusive, live 30-minute interview with recently fired Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight.)
***
Natalie had already had a couple of margaritas when she wandered over to the bar. "It was a great interview, Danny."
Dan smiled tightly and nodded. "Thanks, Natalie." He sounded pleased, but Casey noticed that Dan's smile seemed permanently set on 'sharp'.
Jeremy came up to the other side of Natalie, and he seemed far steadier on his feet. "We're going to leave now," he said as he wrapped an arm around Natalie's waist.
"So this is the big goodbye?" Dan asked, spinning around on the barstool.
Jeremy shook his head. "We're thinking of stopping in at the midday rundown, on the way to the airport."
"That's a bit out of your way, isn't it?" Casey asked. He'd never actually driven out to the airport, but Dan has bitched about the trip often enough that he has an idea of the inconvenience.
"I have to say goodbye to Isaac," Natalie announced.
Jeremy rolled his eyes. "Hence, tomorrow."
"Ah." Dan nodded. "I'll make my goodbyes then."
"No words of wisdom for me now?"
Dan paused, thinking about it. "Be careful of drop-bears."
"Drop-bears?" Natalie echoed.
Jeremy's eyes narrowed. "They don't exist."
Casey stage-whispered to Jeremy, "That's what people say about Dan's cunning and guile." Dan's glare was flat and unamused.
"We'll see you guys tomorrow," Natalie said with a shake of her head, and let Jeremy lead her out. The two of them had never been particularly subtle about their romance, but Casey thought you'd have to be blind not to notice how happy they look right now. It was sweet, as long as Casey didn't have to listen to them ramble happily about each other.
The pair of them had flights for Australia tomorrow, along with quite a few of the technical crew. Most of the technical crew were the West Coast Update team, so Sports Night wasn't losing too many people, but it was still strange to think that tonight's show was the last show with everyone together. It was a very good show, even if Dan hadn't seemed to notice.
"You don't think I have cunning and guile?" Dan asked, a little too seriously.
"I think they are cleverly concealed," Casey responded easily, toying with his beer. It was only a week since the god-awful Jaegermeister hangover, and the 'no drinking' pledge had already changed to 'no spirits.'
Dan stared at him, obviously trying to work out if that was a compliment or not. Casey shrugged and changed the topic of conversation. "Natalie's right."
"She frequently is."
"It was a good interview."
Dan nodded. "Natalie said great, but..."
Casey laughed. "Fine, it was a *great* interview."
"But it wasn't an exclusive," Dan finished sourly, glaring at his glass. Casey wasn't sure if Dan was drinking scotch or whisky, but it was some dark spirit that Casey wasn't going to ask about.
"It was still a good interview."
"But ESPN had it first."
"They had it like half an hour earlier, Danny. It's not a big deal." Casey sighed. When Danny had a bone to pick, he could be very tenacious about it. Like a dog with a bone. Casey decided that if he was going to quote bad cliches at himself, this was going to be his last beer.
"Of course it isn't a big deal. I spent the last three days working on that," Dan growled. Casey nodded. Dan had put serious effort into getting Bobby Knight on camera. As it turned out, so had Jeremy Schaap. "And not only was it not an exclusive, we weren't even the first network to screen it."
"Danny."
Dan scowled. "So, not an exclusive, not the first to broadcast it, but at least it wasn't a bad interview. Nice to know I can take comfort in something."
And this was professionally-annoyed Danny. This was the Danny who shared Casey's office for a couple weeks each time Casey won an award. Dan didn't get bitter, he got frustrated and angry at himself. So for a few weeks, he lost his sense of humour when he wasn't in front of a crowd and he really focused on his job; as a result, the show sparkled and Danny's writing was… simply inspired. It was great for the show and great for ratings, but Casey was always relieved when normal-Danny returned. He missed being able to laugh, and no-one made him laugh as much as Danny.
Casey could have stepped back and let the show reap the rewards of Danny's high self-expectations, but it was bad enough that Natalie and Jeremy would be gone for two weeks. He didn't need Dan gone, too. "It was a good interview."
"Yeah, whatever, Casey," Dan muttered, holding up his glass for Jack to refill.
"It was a live interview, and it was good."
"It wasn't an exclusive."
"It didn't need to be."
Dan just glared at that. "If it had been an exclusive, I'd be celebrating with Dana over there. But it wasn't, regardless of how 'good' you think it was."
"It was a good interview." It had been. Dan had really been on his game tonight, and the ex-Indiana coach had opened up under Dan's combination of charm, intelligence and irony. It was an excellent piece of journalism. "So what if it wasn't an exclusive? It's not a big deal."
"SportsCenter-" Danny started.
"SportsCenter got it too. It's not a big deal," Casey repeated. "Who are our main rivals? In our timeslot, who are the two stations that consistently beat our ratings?"
Dan swallowed a mouthful of beer and then answered wearily. "ESPN and Fox."
Casey nodded. "And ESPN got the interview, but Fox didn't. It's a win."
Dan shook his head. "At the best, it's a tie."
"It's a win. We got something big that Fox didn't. It's a win, Danny." He caught Dan's eye, and didn't look away until he was sure Dan believed him. "It's a win."
"I did good?" Dan asked uncertainly.
Casey grinned widely and squeezed Dan's shoulder. "You did damn good."
"I did good," Dan repeated, and this time, he sounded pretty pleased with himself.
"Yep." Casey finished the last of his beer. "You did."
Dan grinned. "If I did that good, we should be celebrating."
Casey gestured around at Anthony's, noticing Dana talking to a guy he assumed was Jimmy. "I think we are."
"You're sitting there with an empty beer. That's not celebrating, Casey." Dan's smile seemed innocent, so it was a sure sign he was teasing.
"I'm celebrating responsibly."
Dan snorted. "I think that interview was good enough to warrant us both getting drunk."
Casey squinted at Dan's helpful, butter-wouldn't-melt-in-my-mouth tone. "You think?"
"I'm pretty certain."
Casey shrugged, but ordered another beer anyway. "If we're both hungover tomorrow, you're going to regret it."
Danny laughed and he sounded happy. "Have I mentioned how much of a wuss you are?"
"Yes."
"Lately?"
"Yes."
"Remind me to mention it to you again."
"No."
***
Casey wasn't sure how they ended up back at his place. It had something to do with catching the rerun of Danny's interview, but Casey suspected it had more to do with the fact that Dan didn't need to drive to Casey's apartment. Either way, it had also involved stopping at a liquor store on the way, and picking up more beers.
Casey slouched back on the couch, nursing his umpteenth beer in his hand and thinking that there was a good chance that his liver would go on strike if he kept drinking like this. This was the second time in a week that he'd got drunk. Well, the second time in eight days. Certainly, he wasn't as drunk as his birthday - it was physically impossible to reach the same level of intoxication just drinking beer - but he still pretty buzzed. And this time, Danny was travelling the road to intoxication right along with him.
"That was a good interview," Danny said thoughtfully.
Danny was smiling that small, pleased half-smile; the one he wore when something unexpectedly good happened, like fluking a golf shot or his mom sending him a care package. It was the smile of a happy Danny.
"I know," Casey replied, turning back to the screen. The credits rolled across the screen, and the opening sequence to West Coast Update started. "We're going to be doing their show for two weeks, you know."
"I know," Dan replied, gesturing at Peter and Paul onscreen. "We don't have to write their stuff, do we?"
Casey shook his head. "Probably not." He thought about pointing out that Sally somehow managed to write their scripts without them, but figured Dan knew that. Besides, mentioning that would also bring up the nasty thought that puns and cliches could still be part of the show.
Danny picked up the remote, and started flicking channels. He stopped on the most awkward kiss Casey had ever seen. "That doesn't look pleasant," Casey said with a worried frown.
"It looks very uncomfortable," Danny said, staring at the screen in horrified fascination. Casey leaned over for the remote, and pulled it out of Danny's hand. He changed the channel, flicking until they landed on some old eighties sitcom.
"Hey, I was watching that," Danny whined.
"Well, it was giving me nightmares."
Dan snorted. "That's because you're a wuss."
"You can't call me that anymore," Casey decreed with a frown, flicking onto a black-and-white film. He stared at it for a few moments, wondering if that was Cary Grant or not. "Is that Cary Grant?"
"It's Ralph Bellamy. Born the same year," Danny replied after a moment. "1904."
Casey shot Danny a look. "Why do you know that?"
Danny shrugged. "Just do. Why can't I call you a wuss?"
"You overuse that word." Casey frowned at the TV, and then flicked over to some music channel. "You're a writer. You should be more imaginative."
"So I can still insult you, I just can't use that word?" Danny asked and Casey nodded.
He flicked back to the movie. "You know, I never got the appeal of Cary Grant."
"Okay," Danny said slowly, obviously bewildered.
"Lisa had a thing for him," Casey explained. "Dana, too. Apparently, they used to watch his movies and eat chocolate and drink. It used to be a regular thing for them in college."
Danny shrugged. "So?"
"Never got why they liked him. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he's a bad actor." Casey sighed and flicked back to West Coast Update. "I just never saw what made him different from all the other actors of his time."
"It's called charisma, Casey. It's something he has," Dan said, and then paused dramatically. "And you never will."
If Casey had had popcorn, he would have thrown it at Danny. "We should be eating popcorn."
"Do you have popcorn?"
"No."
"Then that's why we're not eating popcorn," Danny replied. Their conversation hushed as Peter and Paul mentioned Bobby Knight. Then, they screened highlights of Danny's interview.
He blinked at the screen. "That's highly edited," Casey said after a moment.
Dan shrugged. "Not really. It's just taking his answers and getting rid of my questions."
Casey sighed. "Have I mentioned those two are a pair of idiots?"
"Yeah, but tomorrow, they'll be idiots on the other side of the world," Danny replied.
Casey thought about that and laughed. "You should run for President, with that as your slogan."
"My slogan?"
"Vote for me and I'll send all the idiots to the other side of the world!" Casey exclaimed, throwing his arms wide.
Danny snickered and pushed Casey's arm down so he could see the screen. "So after I win a handful of Emmys for Sports Night, and write a top-selling book, I'm running for President?"
"Hmmm…" Casey grinned. "Do you think you could find time to cure cancer, too?"
Danny grimaced. "I don't know, Casey. I've got a busy schedule. I could do it, but only if I give up on world peace."
"Oh, that's a tough one." Casey's brows furrowed as he thought about it. "I mean, I think more people die from wars, so that's probably your top priority," he said, and then laughed at the ridiculousness of the conversation. He looked up to see the TV was screening commercials. They featured another lip-locked couple. "Is it my imagination or is there a lot of kissing tonight?"
"'Sex is everywhere, but nowhere around me,'" Danny crooned and Casey elbowed him. Danny had a tendency to randomly sing when drunk. "I don't know. What do you define as a lot of kissing?"
"Well, there's this ad, there was Natalie and Jeremy in Anthony's and there was Dana and Jimmy outside of Anthony's..."
Dan looked surprised. "Jimmy?"
"Either he's the Jimmy she met on my birthday, or Dana's started to move fast with guys." Casey paused, trying to remember his thought. "So, three kisses, plus the Most Uncomfortable Kiss Ever."
"It's only four kisses," Danny pointed out reasonably.
"It seems like a lot."
Dan snorted. "Only because none of them feature you."
"That's a good thing."
"How?"
Casey smirked. "It's much better than being involved in the uncomfortable kiss."
"Better to have kissed awkwardly, than never to have kissed at all," Danny announced in a faux-BBC America voice.
Casey tried not to cringe at the terrible accent. "Only a bad kisser would say that."
"A bad kisser?" Danny repeated incredulously.
Casey nodded. "Only a bad kisser."
Danny stared at him. "Are you implying that I'm a bad kisser?"
"I'm not really implying it," Casey said, and Danny looked a little reassured. "I'm outright stating it. You must be a bad kisser."
"I'm a great kisser!"
"*Bad*."
"I'm a great kisser," Danny said again, sounding truly offended. "Ask any of my ex-girlfriends. I can kiss."
"Danny, I'm not going to go polling the crowd of women you've slept with just to hear that you can't kiss."
"This is a baseless opinion," Danny shot back, hands moving quickly as he spoke. "You have no proof, you have no testimonials. This is totally baseless."
Casey blinked. "I have first hand experience."
Danny shook his head. "That doesn't count."
"I kissed you. The world did not move, Danny."
"You were so drunk it probably did."
"It was not a good kiss. However, I am a good kisser," Casey said, confident because he was a good kisser. Lisa, Dana and Pixley had all agreed on that fact. "Hence, the problem lies with you."
"With me?"
"You're a bad kisser, Danny," Casey said decisively as he turned back to the screen. He flicked past a few stations half-heartedly until Danny pulled the remote out of his hand.
Dan glared at him, turning the TV onto mute. "I am a good kisser and that doesn't count."
"Why not?"
"Why doesn't it count?"
"Yeah," Casey replied, watching Danny closely. He knew that kiss counted.
"Because I didn't kiss you back."
Casey frowned, thinking. Dan could have a point. "Why didn't you?"
"Because…" Dan blinked and then waved a hand in defeat. "I don't know. I'm drunk and I don't know. But I had good reasons, I'm sure."
"Is it possible that it's because you're a bad kisser?" Casey asked helpfully.
Danny looked wounded. "I'm a good kisser!"
"No, you're not."
"I am, too."
Casey turned and rested a hand on Danny's knee. "Danny, I know you're a bad kisser and the sooner you admit that to yourself, the sooner you can move on." He paused, and then added, "Learn to overcome your failings."
Danny glared. "I'm a good kisser, and I can prove it."
"How?"
"Right here, right now, mister. I can kiss you and prove that I'm a good kisser."
"No."
Dan's brows shot up. "No?"
"No." Casey shook his head. "I don't want another bad kiss."
"I am a good kisser," Danny said, standing up and swaying a bit. Danny stretched over and supported himself with a hand on the back of the couch. Casey realised Danny was a bit drunker than he was. Then he wondered if 'drunker' was a word.
"Is 'drunker' a word?" Casey asked, as Danny leaned over him, raising one knee onto the cushion. Danny was staring at him intently, a mix of challenge and offended pride. "Danny, what are you-"
Casey was interrupted by Danny's mouth settling on his. It was warm and wet, but there were teeth clacking, and noses squished against each other. Casey's neck was stuck at a weird angle, and twisting his head just made it worse. All in all, it was a pretty bad kiss. Uncomfortable, awkward, and... bad.
He settled a hand on each of Dan's shoulders, and pushed him back. "That was a bad kiss."
Danny scowled at him. "That's because you're not co-operating."
Casey snorted. "No, it's because you're a bad kisser."
Danny tipped his head back, staring at the ceiling in frustration. Casey's eyes were drawn to the length of his neck, to the long stretch of throat and the Adams apple that bobbed when Danny swallowed. He was still staring when Dan dropped his head back down and spoke. "We have to test this again."
Casey blinked and drew his attention away from Dan's neck. "Why?"
"Give me one chance to redeem myself," Danny said. He pointed a finger at Casey. "And don't make it awkward."
Casey glared. "I'm not the one who can't kiss."
"Just let me lead, okay?"
"This isn't dancing, Danny. It's kissing. You seem to be confusing the two." Casey blinked. "Maybe that's what you're doing wrong...?"
Danny sighed, and straddled Casey. "Just... shhh," Dan said, pressing his thumb against Casey's lips. "One kiss and then you eat your words."
Casey rolled his eyes and then nodded. "Do your worst." Dan snorted.
Dan's hand slid around to Casey's cheek, an oddly familiar gesture, and then Danny leaned forward. Casey waited for another bad kiss, but instead, Dan brushed his lips against Casey's. Dan stayed still for a moment, just breathing against Casey's mouth, and Casey closed his eyes without meaning to. Lost himself in the smell of beer, and aftershave, and the faint citrus of makeup remover.
Dan pressed another soft kiss against his lips and moved so slowly that Casey found it hard to let Danny lead this. Taking a deep breath, Casey held himself still as Danny kissed him again. And again. Danny's breath grazed his skin, almost as damp and soft as his kisses. Casey followed the pressure of Danny's hand, let his head be tilted at a slight angle and almost groaned in frustrating when the kisses remained shallow and controlled.
He rested his hands on Danny's thighs, because he needed to touch, even if he wasn't supposed to. Danny didn't chide him, didn't stop, just kept almost-kissing him, so Casey figured that was okay.
When Danny's tongue finally came out to play, Casey's lips were already parted in invitation. Danny licked his way inside, keeping it slow and shallow, and Casey was sucking on Danny's tongue, trying to urge the kisses deeper. His fingers clenched, clawing into the tense muscle of Danny's thighs. Danny got the hint.
Casey could hear the needy little whimpers he was making, but really couldn't bring himself to care. Not when Danny's mouth was warm and lush, not when Danny was driving him insane with these slow, thorough kisses. It was as if Danny was trying to explore and claim every inch of Casey's mouth; indulgently taking his time, making sure there wasn't any place Casey could hide.
It was intoxicating and overwhelming, and then suddenly, it was over.
Danny was pulling back, breathing a little heavily with a crooked grin pasted on. "See? I can kiss."
"Danny." Casey didn't try to hide the shameless pleading in his tone.
"Casey, it's..." Dan paused, his hand still on Casey's cheek. "It's a really bad idea."
"I don't care," Casey said, wrapping a hand around Danny's neck and pulling him down into another kiss. For a moment, Danny pulled back against his hand but Casey kept kissing him. Then Danny gave up and kissed Casey back.
This time, it wasn't gentle and it wasn't slow. It was hot and heavy; messy, wet kisses only interrupted to gasp for breath and then dive back in. Casey's hands were scraping up Danny's thighs, skating up his back, pulling ineffectually at Danny's clothes. Danny's fingers had somehow delved under Casey's t-shirt, and were doing sinful things to Casey's chest. Scraping across his skin, tugging lightly at his chest hair, and for a moment Casey thought of Sally and her long, sharp fingernails. Then Danny was kissing him again, all tongue and desperate hunger and all he could think of was Danny, his demanding mouth and his talented hands.
Danny's fingers trailed down his stomach. When they undid his pants, Casey buried his groan inside Danny's mouth. Then Danny was cupping him through his boxers, squeezing lightly. He dropped his head to Danny's shoulder, begging hoarsely. "Danny! Please, Danny..."
He wasn't quite sure what he wanted Danny to do. To squeeze him tighter, to kiss him, god, anything. Just more, and now.
The one thing he didn't want was what Danny did. Froze. Just stopped completely.
Casey's eyes flew open, and he found Danny staring at him with wide, almost horrified, eyes. "Danny...?" He reached out to touch Danny's shoulder, and Danny scrambled back with a surprisingly amount of co-ordination.
Then Dan stood there, blinking at him. His mouth opened and closed, but he didn't say anything. Just stared at Casey, looking a little disgusted.
"Danny?"
"I've got to go," Danny said in a rush. He grabbed his jacket and fled out the door.
Casey sat there, staring after him. It took him about ten minutes to realise Danny wasn't coming back.
***
He fell asleep on the couch and woke up with a crick in his neck, but not too much of a hangover. While walking in to work, he tripped over the pavement, nearly sprained his ankle, and had three separate cars honk at him when he dashed across the road. The worse thing was that there was a chance the morning would be the high point of his day.
He wasn't looking forward to the fun of having to see Dan, so he hid in Dana's office for a while. He was stretched out on her couch when she stormed in at twenty to twelve.
"Casey!" she shrieked in surprise.
Casey cringed at the sudden noise.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Dana had a hand splayed against her chest, breathing sharply. "Scared the living daylights out of me."
"I'm hiding."
"From?"
Casey thought about lying and then decided he wasn't up to it. "Dan."
Dana blinked. "Is this a case of seriously hiding, or did he get you drunk last night and dare you to do something stupid?"
"The latter."
Dana sighed. "Well, you can only hide in here until noon rundown. Then, we're saying goodbye to Natalie and I may need my office for half an hour to sniffle in peace."
Casey sat up and sniggered. "She'll only be gone for two weeks."
"I don't know if you've noticed, but things around here run more smoothly when Natalie's around." Dana's half-smile was a little self-depreciating. "I run more smoothly when Natalie's around."
"If you don't want her to go, tell her." Casey sighed. That seemed like the simple solution. Tell Natalie she shouldn't go, and Natalie would stay.
"Then Natalie wouldn't go."
"Exactly."
"But I want her to go," Dana said.
Casey looked at her. "No, you don't."
"I want what's best for her."
"But you just said..." Casey shook his head. This was too ridiculous for him.
Dana huffed. "I don't want her to go, because I'm happier when she's around. But I *want* her to go. It'll be great for her career. And she'll come back."
Casey's brows lowered as he thought that through. "Okay, Dana? She's going. You'll be miserable. That's basically it, right?"
"I wouldn't be grumpy to me when you're hiding in my office," Dana said, and then headed out the door with a stack of pages. Casey rolled his eyes and stretched back on the couch.
***
Oh, and I'm playing with sporting reality. (From the ESPN website: September 12, 2000 - ESPN's Jeremy Schaap provides an exclusive, live 30-minute interview with recently fired Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight.)
***
Natalie had already had a couple of margaritas when she wandered over to the bar. "It was a great interview, Danny."
Dan smiled tightly and nodded. "Thanks, Natalie." He sounded pleased, but Casey noticed that Dan's smile seemed permanently set on 'sharp'.
Jeremy came up to the other side of Natalie, and he seemed far steadier on his feet. "We're going to leave now," he said as he wrapped an arm around Natalie's waist.
"So this is the big goodbye?" Dan asked, spinning around on the barstool.
Jeremy shook his head. "We're thinking of stopping in at the midday rundown, on the way to the airport."
"That's a bit out of your way, isn't it?" Casey asked. He'd never actually driven out to the airport, but Dan has bitched about the trip often enough that he has an idea of the inconvenience.
"I have to say goodbye to Isaac," Natalie announced.
Jeremy rolled his eyes. "Hence, tomorrow."
"Ah." Dan nodded. "I'll make my goodbyes then."
"No words of wisdom for me now?"
Dan paused, thinking about it. "Be careful of drop-bears."
"Drop-bears?" Natalie echoed.
Jeremy's eyes narrowed. "They don't exist."
Casey stage-whispered to Jeremy, "That's what people say about Dan's cunning and guile." Dan's glare was flat and unamused.
"We'll see you guys tomorrow," Natalie said with a shake of her head, and let Jeremy lead her out. The two of them had never been particularly subtle about their romance, but Casey thought you'd have to be blind not to notice how happy they look right now. It was sweet, as long as Casey didn't have to listen to them ramble happily about each other.
The pair of them had flights for Australia tomorrow, along with quite a few of the technical crew. Most of the technical crew were the West Coast Update team, so Sports Night wasn't losing too many people, but it was still strange to think that tonight's show was the last show with everyone together. It was a very good show, even if Dan hadn't seemed to notice.
"You don't think I have cunning and guile?" Dan asked, a little too seriously.
"I think they are cleverly concealed," Casey responded easily, toying with his beer. It was only a week since the god-awful Jaegermeister hangover, and the 'no drinking' pledge had already changed to 'no spirits.'
Dan stared at him, obviously trying to work out if that was a compliment or not. Casey shrugged and changed the topic of conversation. "Natalie's right."
"She frequently is."
"It was a good interview."
Dan nodded. "Natalie said great, but..."
Casey laughed. "Fine, it was a *great* interview."
"But it wasn't an exclusive," Dan finished sourly, glaring at his glass. Casey wasn't sure if Dan was drinking scotch or whisky, but it was some dark spirit that Casey wasn't going to ask about.
"It was still a good interview."
"But ESPN had it first."
"They had it like half an hour earlier, Danny. It's not a big deal." Casey sighed. When Danny had a bone to pick, he could be very tenacious about it. Like a dog with a bone. Casey decided that if he was going to quote bad cliches at himself, this was going to be his last beer.
"Of course it isn't a big deal. I spent the last three days working on that," Dan growled. Casey nodded. Dan had put serious effort into getting Bobby Knight on camera. As it turned out, so had Jeremy Schaap. "And not only was it not an exclusive, we weren't even the first network to screen it."
"Danny."
Dan scowled. "So, not an exclusive, not the first to broadcast it, but at least it wasn't a bad interview. Nice to know I can take comfort in something."
And this was professionally-annoyed Danny. This was the Danny who shared Casey's office for a couple weeks each time Casey won an award. Dan didn't get bitter, he got frustrated and angry at himself. So for a few weeks, he lost his sense of humour when he wasn't in front of a crowd and he really focused on his job; as a result, the show sparkled and Danny's writing was… simply inspired. It was great for the show and great for ratings, but Casey was always relieved when normal-Danny returned. He missed being able to laugh, and no-one made him laugh as much as Danny.
Casey could have stepped back and let the show reap the rewards of Danny's high self-expectations, but it was bad enough that Natalie and Jeremy would be gone for two weeks. He didn't need Dan gone, too. "It was a good interview."
"Yeah, whatever, Casey," Dan muttered, holding up his glass for Jack to refill.
"It was a live interview, and it was good."
"It wasn't an exclusive."
"It didn't need to be."
Dan just glared at that. "If it had been an exclusive, I'd be celebrating with Dana over there. But it wasn't, regardless of how 'good' you think it was."
"It was a good interview." It had been. Dan had really been on his game tonight, and the ex-Indiana coach had opened up under Dan's combination of charm, intelligence and irony. It was an excellent piece of journalism. "So what if it wasn't an exclusive? It's not a big deal."
"SportsCenter-" Danny started.
"SportsCenter got it too. It's not a big deal," Casey repeated. "Who are our main rivals? In our timeslot, who are the two stations that consistently beat our ratings?"
Dan swallowed a mouthful of beer and then answered wearily. "ESPN and Fox."
Casey nodded. "And ESPN got the interview, but Fox didn't. It's a win."
Dan shook his head. "At the best, it's a tie."
"It's a win. We got something big that Fox didn't. It's a win, Danny." He caught Dan's eye, and didn't look away until he was sure Dan believed him. "It's a win."
"I did good?" Dan asked uncertainly.
Casey grinned widely and squeezed Dan's shoulder. "You did damn good."
"I did good," Dan repeated, and this time, he sounded pretty pleased with himself.
"Yep." Casey finished the last of his beer. "You did."
Dan grinned. "If I did that good, we should be celebrating."
Casey gestured around at Anthony's, noticing Dana talking to a guy he assumed was Jimmy. "I think we are."
"You're sitting there with an empty beer. That's not celebrating, Casey." Dan's smile seemed innocent, so it was a sure sign he was teasing.
"I'm celebrating responsibly."
Dan snorted. "I think that interview was good enough to warrant us both getting drunk."
Casey squinted at Dan's helpful, butter-wouldn't-melt-in-my-mouth tone. "You think?"
"I'm pretty certain."
Casey shrugged, but ordered another beer anyway. "If we're both hungover tomorrow, you're going to regret it."
Danny laughed and he sounded happy. "Have I mentioned how much of a wuss you are?"
"Yes."
"Lately?"
"Yes."
"Remind me to mention it to you again."
"No."
***
Casey wasn't sure how they ended up back at his place. It had something to do with catching the rerun of Danny's interview, but Casey suspected it had more to do with the fact that Dan didn't need to drive to Casey's apartment. Either way, it had also involved stopping at a liquor store on the way, and picking up more beers.
Casey slouched back on the couch, nursing his umpteenth beer in his hand and thinking that there was a good chance that his liver would go on strike if he kept drinking like this. This was the second time in a week that he'd got drunk. Well, the second time in eight days. Certainly, he wasn't as drunk as his birthday - it was physically impossible to reach the same level of intoxication just drinking beer - but he still pretty buzzed. And this time, Danny was travelling the road to intoxication right along with him.
"That was a good interview," Danny said thoughtfully.
Danny was smiling that small, pleased half-smile; the one he wore when something unexpectedly good happened, like fluking a golf shot or his mom sending him a care package. It was the smile of a happy Danny.
"I know," Casey replied, turning back to the screen. The credits rolled across the screen, and the opening sequence to West Coast Update started. "We're going to be doing their show for two weeks, you know."
"I know," Dan replied, gesturing at Peter and Paul onscreen. "We don't have to write their stuff, do we?"
Casey shook his head. "Probably not." He thought about pointing out that Sally somehow managed to write their scripts without them, but figured Dan knew that. Besides, mentioning that would also bring up the nasty thought that puns and cliches could still be part of the show.
Danny picked up the remote, and started flicking channels. He stopped on the most awkward kiss Casey had ever seen. "That doesn't look pleasant," Casey said with a worried frown.
"It looks very uncomfortable," Danny said, staring at the screen in horrified fascination. Casey leaned over for the remote, and pulled it out of Danny's hand. He changed the channel, flicking until they landed on some old eighties sitcom.
"Hey, I was watching that," Danny whined.
"Well, it was giving me nightmares."
Dan snorted. "That's because you're a wuss."
"You can't call me that anymore," Casey decreed with a frown, flicking onto a black-and-white film. He stared at it for a few moments, wondering if that was Cary Grant or not. "Is that Cary Grant?"
"It's Ralph Bellamy. Born the same year," Danny replied after a moment. "1904."
Casey shot Danny a look. "Why do you know that?"
Danny shrugged. "Just do. Why can't I call you a wuss?"
"You overuse that word." Casey frowned at the TV, and then flicked over to some music channel. "You're a writer. You should be more imaginative."
"So I can still insult you, I just can't use that word?" Danny asked and Casey nodded.
He flicked back to the movie. "You know, I never got the appeal of Cary Grant."
"Okay," Danny said slowly, obviously bewildered.
"Lisa had a thing for him," Casey explained. "Dana, too. Apparently, they used to watch his movies and eat chocolate and drink. It used to be a regular thing for them in college."
Danny shrugged. "So?"
"Never got why they liked him. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he's a bad actor." Casey sighed and flicked back to West Coast Update. "I just never saw what made him different from all the other actors of his time."
"It's called charisma, Casey. It's something he has," Dan said, and then paused dramatically. "And you never will."
If Casey had had popcorn, he would have thrown it at Danny. "We should be eating popcorn."
"Do you have popcorn?"
"No."
"Then that's why we're not eating popcorn," Danny replied. Their conversation hushed as Peter and Paul mentioned Bobby Knight. Then, they screened highlights of Danny's interview.
He blinked at the screen. "That's highly edited," Casey said after a moment.
Dan shrugged. "Not really. It's just taking his answers and getting rid of my questions."
Casey sighed. "Have I mentioned those two are a pair of idiots?"
"Yeah, but tomorrow, they'll be idiots on the other side of the world," Danny replied.
Casey thought about that and laughed. "You should run for President, with that as your slogan."
"My slogan?"
"Vote for me and I'll send all the idiots to the other side of the world!" Casey exclaimed, throwing his arms wide.
Danny snickered and pushed Casey's arm down so he could see the screen. "So after I win a handful of Emmys for Sports Night, and write a top-selling book, I'm running for President?"
"Hmmm…" Casey grinned. "Do you think you could find time to cure cancer, too?"
Danny grimaced. "I don't know, Casey. I've got a busy schedule. I could do it, but only if I give up on world peace."
"Oh, that's a tough one." Casey's brows furrowed as he thought about it. "I mean, I think more people die from wars, so that's probably your top priority," he said, and then laughed at the ridiculousness of the conversation. He looked up to see the TV was screening commercials. They featured another lip-locked couple. "Is it my imagination or is there a lot of kissing tonight?"
"'Sex is everywhere, but nowhere around me,'" Danny crooned and Casey elbowed him. Danny had a tendency to randomly sing when drunk. "I don't know. What do you define as a lot of kissing?"
"Well, there's this ad, there was Natalie and Jeremy in Anthony's and there was Dana and Jimmy outside of Anthony's..."
Dan looked surprised. "Jimmy?"
"Either he's the Jimmy she met on my birthday, or Dana's started to move fast with guys." Casey paused, trying to remember his thought. "So, three kisses, plus the Most Uncomfortable Kiss Ever."
"It's only four kisses," Danny pointed out reasonably.
"It seems like a lot."
Dan snorted. "Only because none of them feature you."
"That's a good thing."
"How?"
Casey smirked. "It's much better than being involved in the uncomfortable kiss."
"Better to have kissed awkwardly, than never to have kissed at all," Danny announced in a faux-BBC America voice.
Casey tried not to cringe at the terrible accent. "Only a bad kisser would say that."
"A bad kisser?" Danny repeated incredulously.
Casey nodded. "Only a bad kisser."
Danny stared at him. "Are you implying that I'm a bad kisser?"
"I'm not really implying it," Casey said, and Danny looked a little reassured. "I'm outright stating it. You must be a bad kisser."
"I'm a great kisser!"
"*Bad*."
"I'm a great kisser," Danny said again, sounding truly offended. "Ask any of my ex-girlfriends. I can kiss."
"Danny, I'm not going to go polling the crowd of women you've slept with just to hear that you can't kiss."
"This is a baseless opinion," Danny shot back, hands moving quickly as he spoke. "You have no proof, you have no testimonials. This is totally baseless."
Casey blinked. "I have first hand experience."
Danny shook his head. "That doesn't count."
"I kissed you. The world did not move, Danny."
"You were so drunk it probably did."
"It was not a good kiss. However, I am a good kisser," Casey said, confident because he was a good kisser. Lisa, Dana and Pixley had all agreed on that fact. "Hence, the problem lies with you."
"With me?"
"You're a bad kisser, Danny," Casey said decisively as he turned back to the screen. He flicked past a few stations half-heartedly until Danny pulled the remote out of his hand.
Dan glared at him, turning the TV onto mute. "I am a good kisser and that doesn't count."
"Why not?"
"Why doesn't it count?"
"Yeah," Casey replied, watching Danny closely. He knew that kiss counted.
"Because I didn't kiss you back."
Casey frowned, thinking. Dan could have a point. "Why didn't you?"
"Because…" Dan blinked and then waved a hand in defeat. "I don't know. I'm drunk and I don't know. But I had good reasons, I'm sure."
"Is it possible that it's because you're a bad kisser?" Casey asked helpfully.
Danny looked wounded. "I'm a good kisser!"
"No, you're not."
"I am, too."
Casey turned and rested a hand on Danny's knee. "Danny, I know you're a bad kisser and the sooner you admit that to yourself, the sooner you can move on." He paused, and then added, "Learn to overcome your failings."
Danny glared. "I'm a good kisser, and I can prove it."
"How?"
"Right here, right now, mister. I can kiss you and prove that I'm a good kisser."
"No."
Dan's brows shot up. "No?"
"No." Casey shook his head. "I don't want another bad kiss."
"I am a good kisser," Danny said, standing up and swaying a bit. Danny stretched over and supported himself with a hand on the back of the couch. Casey realised Danny was a bit drunker than he was. Then he wondered if 'drunker' was a word.
"Is 'drunker' a word?" Casey asked, as Danny leaned over him, raising one knee onto the cushion. Danny was staring at him intently, a mix of challenge and offended pride. "Danny, what are you-"
Casey was interrupted by Danny's mouth settling on his. It was warm and wet, but there were teeth clacking, and noses squished against each other. Casey's neck was stuck at a weird angle, and twisting his head just made it worse. All in all, it was a pretty bad kiss. Uncomfortable, awkward, and... bad.
He settled a hand on each of Dan's shoulders, and pushed him back. "That was a bad kiss."
Danny scowled at him. "That's because you're not co-operating."
Casey snorted. "No, it's because you're a bad kisser."
Danny tipped his head back, staring at the ceiling in frustration. Casey's eyes were drawn to the length of his neck, to the long stretch of throat and the Adams apple that bobbed when Danny swallowed. He was still staring when Dan dropped his head back down and spoke. "We have to test this again."
Casey blinked and drew his attention away from Dan's neck. "Why?"
"Give me one chance to redeem myself," Danny said. He pointed a finger at Casey. "And don't make it awkward."
Casey glared. "I'm not the one who can't kiss."
"Just let me lead, okay?"
"This isn't dancing, Danny. It's kissing. You seem to be confusing the two." Casey blinked. "Maybe that's what you're doing wrong...?"
Danny sighed, and straddled Casey. "Just... shhh," Dan said, pressing his thumb against Casey's lips. "One kiss and then you eat your words."
Casey rolled his eyes and then nodded. "Do your worst." Dan snorted.
Dan's hand slid around to Casey's cheek, an oddly familiar gesture, and then Danny leaned forward. Casey waited for another bad kiss, but instead, Dan brushed his lips against Casey's. Dan stayed still for a moment, just breathing against Casey's mouth, and Casey closed his eyes without meaning to. Lost himself in the smell of beer, and aftershave, and the faint citrus of makeup remover.
Dan pressed another soft kiss against his lips and moved so slowly that Casey found it hard to let Danny lead this. Taking a deep breath, Casey held himself still as Danny kissed him again. And again. Danny's breath grazed his skin, almost as damp and soft as his kisses. Casey followed the pressure of Danny's hand, let his head be tilted at a slight angle and almost groaned in frustrating when the kisses remained shallow and controlled.
He rested his hands on Danny's thighs, because he needed to touch, even if he wasn't supposed to. Danny didn't chide him, didn't stop, just kept almost-kissing him, so Casey figured that was okay.
When Danny's tongue finally came out to play, Casey's lips were already parted in invitation. Danny licked his way inside, keeping it slow and shallow, and Casey was sucking on Danny's tongue, trying to urge the kisses deeper. His fingers clenched, clawing into the tense muscle of Danny's thighs. Danny got the hint.
Casey could hear the needy little whimpers he was making, but really couldn't bring himself to care. Not when Danny's mouth was warm and lush, not when Danny was driving him insane with these slow, thorough kisses. It was as if Danny was trying to explore and claim every inch of Casey's mouth; indulgently taking his time, making sure there wasn't any place Casey could hide.
It was intoxicating and overwhelming, and then suddenly, it was over.
Danny was pulling back, breathing a little heavily with a crooked grin pasted on. "See? I can kiss."
"Danny." Casey didn't try to hide the shameless pleading in his tone.
"Casey, it's..." Dan paused, his hand still on Casey's cheek. "It's a really bad idea."
"I don't care," Casey said, wrapping a hand around Danny's neck and pulling him down into another kiss. For a moment, Danny pulled back against his hand but Casey kept kissing him. Then Danny gave up and kissed Casey back.
This time, it wasn't gentle and it wasn't slow. It was hot and heavy; messy, wet kisses only interrupted to gasp for breath and then dive back in. Casey's hands were scraping up Danny's thighs, skating up his back, pulling ineffectually at Danny's clothes. Danny's fingers had somehow delved under Casey's t-shirt, and were doing sinful things to Casey's chest. Scraping across his skin, tugging lightly at his chest hair, and for a moment Casey thought of Sally and her long, sharp fingernails. Then Danny was kissing him again, all tongue and desperate hunger and all he could think of was Danny, his demanding mouth and his talented hands.
Danny's fingers trailed down his stomach. When they undid his pants, Casey buried his groan inside Danny's mouth. Then Danny was cupping him through his boxers, squeezing lightly. He dropped his head to Danny's shoulder, begging hoarsely. "Danny! Please, Danny..."
He wasn't quite sure what he wanted Danny to do. To squeeze him tighter, to kiss him, god, anything. Just more, and now.
The one thing he didn't want was what Danny did. Froze. Just stopped completely.
Casey's eyes flew open, and he found Danny staring at him with wide, almost horrified, eyes. "Danny...?" He reached out to touch Danny's shoulder, and Danny scrambled back with a surprisingly amount of co-ordination.
Then Dan stood there, blinking at him. His mouth opened and closed, but he didn't say anything. Just stared at Casey, looking a little disgusted.
"Danny?"
"I've got to go," Danny said in a rush. He grabbed his jacket and fled out the door.
Casey sat there, staring after him. It took him about ten minutes to realise Danny wasn't coming back.
***
He fell asleep on the couch and woke up with a crick in his neck, but not too much of a hangover. While walking in to work, he tripped over the pavement, nearly sprained his ankle, and had three separate cars honk at him when he dashed across the road. The worse thing was that there was a chance the morning would be the high point of his day.
He wasn't looking forward to the fun of having to see Dan, so he hid in Dana's office for a while. He was stretched out on her couch when she stormed in at twenty to twelve.
"Casey!" she shrieked in surprise.
Casey cringed at the sudden noise.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Dana had a hand splayed against her chest, breathing sharply. "Scared the living daylights out of me."
"I'm hiding."
"From?"
Casey thought about lying and then decided he wasn't up to it. "Dan."
Dana blinked. "Is this a case of seriously hiding, or did he get you drunk last night and dare you to do something stupid?"
"The latter."
Dana sighed. "Well, you can only hide in here until noon rundown. Then, we're saying goodbye to Natalie and I may need my office for half an hour to sniffle in peace."
Casey sat up and sniggered. "She'll only be gone for two weeks."
"I don't know if you've noticed, but things around here run more smoothly when Natalie's around." Dana's half-smile was a little self-depreciating. "I run more smoothly when Natalie's around."
"If you don't want her to go, tell her." Casey sighed. That seemed like the simple solution. Tell Natalie she shouldn't go, and Natalie would stay.
"Then Natalie wouldn't go."
"Exactly."
"But I want her to go," Dana said.
Casey looked at her. "No, you don't."
"I want what's best for her."
"But you just said..." Casey shook his head. This was too ridiculous for him.
Dana huffed. "I don't want her to go, because I'm happier when she's around. But I *want* her to go. It'll be great for her career. And she'll come back."
Casey's brows lowered as he thought that through. "Okay, Dana? She's going. You'll be miserable. That's basically it, right?"
"I wouldn't be grumpy to me when you're hiding in my office," Dana said, and then headed out the door with a stack of pages. Casey rolled his eyes and stretched back on the couch.
***
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-05-01 05:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-01 05:28 am (UTC)*sniggers* Thanks, babe. I like kisses, so I'm very glad I can write them enjoyably too.
(And, no. Assignment isn't finished, but my big headache is not lifting, so I'm going to bed and setting the alarm for the morning. I expect to finish my assignment, and get my study-fic-reward, tomorrow. *nods firmly*)
I love your procrastination
Date: 2004-05-01 09:03 am (UTC)It was great for the show and great for ratings, but Casey was always relieved when normal-Danny returned. He missed being able to laugh, and no-one made him laugh as much as Danny.
-- this *shows* us how much Casey loves Danny. (Yo, Casey! Clue bus for you!)
Dana talking about Natalie *shows* us what Danny is feeling, shows us one of the ways love looks.
And the kissing? Well, that *shows* me how much you rock! And it should *show* you how to reduce me to a puddle of pulsing goo.
*re-reads, pulses*
Re: I love your procrastination
Date: 2004-05-01 05:13 pm (UTC)Okay, it's been about half an hour since I read this feedback, so I've calmed down enough to type. Dude, that is... that totally made my morning. The 'show, don't tell' thing? I have troubles with. Big troubles with.
I tend to tell, I tend to use the characters inner pov to download great big hunks of exposition. I realised this on a beta I got back about a "Five Things" fic I wrote about Sam Seaborn (WW). That I don't really do the "show, don't tell" thing.
I mean, of course, SN writing is different from SV or WW. In SN, I let it ramble, I let it take these nonsense twists and turns in the conversation, and I generally don't worry about trying to make it make sense. At worse, it ends up a rambling banter fic without a point (which isn't so different from their actual conversations) so I've lightened up on trying to make the characters stick to the plot inside my head.
In this case? the 'show, don't tell' stuff? Was not done on purpose. Not by any stretch of the imagination. It was just done, and I let them ramble, but I'm just... bouncing at the thought that it, y'know, works. That even if I can't sit down and do this stuff on purpose, it's sort of showing up at the party anyway.
*takes deep breath adn tries to remember the basics of grammar*
Thank you kindly. Since that's something that I generally don't do, or don't do well, I really appreciated the compliment. *beams*
Re: I love your procrastination
Date: 2004-05-02 08:23 pm (UTC)Yup, it's probably something about SN, the way canon is so very conversational so stuff flows and banters on its own.
I've never actually *seen* the show, I'm just here for the banter. And the hotHOThot kissing.*beam*
Re: I love your procrastination
Date: 2004-05-02 09:10 pm (UTC)*nods* There is certainly something about SN that's encouraged and improved my writing.
I've never actually *seen* the show, I'm just here for the banter. And the hotHOThot kissing.*beam*
Dude, that's the reason I watch the show... Okay, well, the banter, the strong manly hugs and the emotionally gripping performances (although, I will give them props for having het kisses that are *hot*. I mean, I'm a total slasher and yet I was *cheering* for the Dana/Casey kiss... *g*). The fact that I get to perve on the guys in their boxers is just an added bonus.
If you get a chance, check the show out. It's the type of clever, funny show that would never really work well as a series on TV, but is absolutely made for DVD.
Hello.
Date: 2004-05-01 10:00 am (UTC)Time to get out the SN DVDs again, I think. :-)
Re: Hello.
Date: 2004-05-01 05:03 pm (UTC)I really like this series. I can see it all happening so, so clearly, and I agree that your kiss descriptions are amazing. Hell all your descriptions are really good.
Thank you! Whenver I write SN, my fear is always that it will end up as 'talking heads', as "he said, she said, he said". In the show itself, there is so much that's added through a raised eyebrow, or a certain half-shrug that just reading the dialogue sort of loses something.
Um, yeah, that was my longwinded way of saying "thanks!"
Time to get out the SN DVDs again, I think. :-)
*cheers* Any excuse for more SN!
no subject
Date: 2004-05-01 01:20 pm (UTC)"Be careful of drop-bears."
*snerk*
no subject
Date: 2004-05-01 05:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-09 10:22 pm (UTC)"Vote for me and I'll send all the idiots to the other side of the world!" Casey exclaimed, throwing his arms wide.
Danny snickered and pushed Casey's arm down so he could see the screen. "So after I win a handful of Emmys for Sports Night, and write a top-selling book, I'm running for President?"
"Hmmm?" Casey grinned. "Do you think you could find time to cure cancer, too?"
Danny grimaced. "I don't know, Casey. I've got a busy schedule. I could do it, but only if I give up on world peace."
Humour and hotness? My brain is melting! Too much goodness all at once! Thank you.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-09 11:35 pm (UTC)Thank you! But, I mean, it's not my fault you can't sleep. Casey and Dan are just built that way. Their hotness is innate.
Humour and hotness? My brain is melting! Too much goodness all at once! Thank you.
You're welcome! And, thanks for commenting. Always great to hear that it worked.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-29 05:59 am (UTC)Very funny and very Sports Night!
And this was professionally-annoyed Danny. This was the Danny who shared Casey's office for a couple weeks each time Casey won an award.
I like Casey reflecting on Dan's reactions - it really reveals how much he cares.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-30 03:38 am (UTC)Thank you. It was actually a line that was bugging me as I thought the repitition might be too much, so I ended up changing it a little (Casey decided that if he was going to be that repetitive, this needed to be his last beer.). Huh. Interesting that a line that bothered me actually worked for someone else.
I like Casey reflecting on Dan's reactions - it really reveals how much he cares.
Yeah, and how he doesn't realise how deeply he cares for Dan. *g*