Fic, Bad Hair Day, Danny/Lester, 15
Sep. 24th, 2015 09:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fredbassettTitle : Bad Hair Day
Author : fredbassett
Fandom : Primeval
Rating : 15
Characters : Danny/Lester, Becker
Disclaimer : Not mine, no money made, don’t sue.
Spoilers : None
Word Count: 3,500
Summary : Danny is back and Lester offers him the use of his spare bedroom.
A/N : Written for the ‘grooming’ square on my![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
primeval_denial bingo card.
“It’s good to have you back, Danny.”
“Good to be back, guv.”
Danny was sprawled out on the sofa in Lester’s office, savouring his first cup of coffee in over a year. He was thinner than Lester remembered, his skin darkened from sun and wind. His clothes were in tatters and his hair was a matted mess. But he was back, and that was what mattered.
“I’m afraid we weren’t able to hold onto your flat,” Lester said apologetically. “Your landlord claimed you were in breach of the lease by leaving it vacant for more than 60 days. The lawyers said there wasn’t much point in trying to fight him over it.”
“He’s wanted me out ever since I booked him for drink-driving.”
Lester allowed himself a slight smile. Danny Quinn certainly knew how to win friends and influence people.
“The ARC will pay for a hotel, of course, until you find somewhere else.”
A flicker of something that might have been disappointment crossed Danny’s craggy face. “No worries, guv, I’ll just use one of the bunkrooms. Soldier boy says he’ll rustle me up some stuff. I’ll be clean as a trivet in no time.”
“If memory serves me right, one is as right as a trivet, not as clean as one.”
“Are they like mongooses?”
Lester raised one eyebrow in query.
“Trivets. Or am I thinking of tribbles?”
“I believe a trivet is something you use to stand pots on.”
It was Danny’s turn to look puzzled. “So why is something as right as one?”
Lester sighed. “I have utterly no idea. Would you like some more coffee?”
A wide grin advanced across Danny’s face. “Now you’re talking.”
After another two mugs of coffee and half a packet of chocolate biscuits, Danny leaned back against the black leather of the sofa and declared, “I used to dream about coffee and choccie biccies.”
Lester had dreamed about getting the last member of his team back in one piece, but that wasn’t something he felt able to share, not yet, anyway, and not in quite those words. It might give the wrong impression, or should that be the right impression?
The sound of booted footsteps approaching drew both men’s attention. Becker appeared in the doorway, a rucksack in his hand. He grinned at Danny and tossed the rucksack onto the sofa.
“That lot should sort out your personal hygiene problems, Danny boy. There’s a couple of changes of clothes plus some shampoo and stuff.” Becker hesitated a moment and then added, “There’s a load of stuff you left behind in your locker, as well. We kept it for you.”
“Thanks, mate. I don’t suppose you’d run to a couple of beers as well, would you, just until the guv’nor sorts out my back pay…?” Danny shot Lester a mischievous grin. “Should be quite a nice wodge waiting for me. And think of all the back holiday I’ve accrued.”
“The money’s already in your bank account,” Lester told him truthfully. “I never quite got around to cancelling the payments. Most remiss of me.”
Danny’s eyes widened in delight. “You’re all heart, guv!”
“I allocated your parking space to someone else, though,” Lester retorted. It wouldn’t do to be seen to be going soft, after all. “And you can only carry over one week of holiday.”
“Welcome back,” Becker said. “See you in the Black Swan later?”
“Might leave the beers until tomorrow,” Danny said. “I’m feeling a bit cream-crackered.”
When Becker had gone, Lester said, “Not quite up to the 21st century in all its glory yet?”
“Not quite up to the Swan on a Friday night,” Danny admitted. “Not if they’re still doing karaoke.”
“I’m told they are.” Lester hesitated for a moment then said, “A microwaved meal and a night in a bunkroom isn’t exactly the best way to celebrate your return, Danny. I have a perfectly good spare room at my flat that’s already ready. And I had the amazing prescience to put a beef stew in the slow cooker before I left this morning. It’ll be perfectly adequate for two.”
Lester thought he caught a flash of pleasure in Danny’s eyes, but when he spoke, his tone was cautious. “I wouldn’t want to put you to any trouble, guv.”
“It’s no trouble,” Lester said firmly.
“Will there be dumplings?”
“Yes, I imagine I can run to dumplings.” He closed the lid on his laptop equally firmly. “Come on, I have no wish to owe you overtime on a Friday as well as back pay.”
*****
The drive back to Lester’s flat was mostly accomplished in companionable silence, for which Danny was grateful. After a year stuck in the Rift Valley with only his ancestors for company he was unused to the noise and bustle of modern life. He found himself flinching at the congestion in London and the sheer press of people everywhere. Even meeting former colleagues in the ARC had been more of a strain than he’d expected. The only ones who probably understood how he was feeling were Connor and Abby, as they’d already had to undergo a transition that, however long hoped for, was actually quite a shock to the system when it finally happened.
Abby had given him a big hug, tears in her eyes. Connor had shaken his hand and had look pleased when Danny had pulled him into a hug. There’d even been one of those slightly awkward man-hugs with Becker. It was good to be back, there was no doubt about that. The coffee and biscuits had been good, being poked and prodded by the medics less good, but what he wanted most now was a long hot shower and a cold beer, and somewhere he could spend some quiet time getting used to being home. Or rather back, as it didn’t look like he had a home any more, but then again he’d never been that attached to his flat. It had just been somewhere to crash when he’d not been working.
Quite what he’d been thinking of accepting Lester’s invitation, Danny wasn’t sure, but the idea of staying in one of the bunkrooms hadn’t been that attractive. Becker had offered him a bed at his place, but from what Danny had seen even in a few hours back in the ARC, their prim and proper soldier boy now seemed to be an item with the new field controller. She was chirpy, colourful and competent. She’d do Captain Fussy Pants the world of good.
There had been a couple of occasions before he’d got stuck in the past when Danny had wondered if he and Lester might have been edging closer to each other in ways that weren’t just connected to work, but a year was a long time, and the bloke had no doubt moved on. But Danny appreciated the invitation and had been surprised by how much the simple kindness had meant to him.
Lester showed him the spare room and demonstrated his excellent grasp of priorities by then promptly offering Danny the long-awaited cold beer. The first mouthful was even better than the coffee had been. It slid seductively down his throat and left a deliciously cold trail down to his stomach. He’d eventually got used to the unrelenting heat and dryness of the Rift Valley, but he’d never stopped dreaming about the prospect of a cold beer and the reality had finally lived up to those dreams.
“There are plenty more in the fridge,” Lester said. “You can even take a bottle into the shower. There are towels in the guest bathroom. Use anything in there.”
“Have you got a pair a scissors, guv?” Danny asked, running his hand over his matted hair. Quite a bit of it was going to need to come off, but how he was going to give himself a haircut, Danny really didn’t know, but he’d cross that bridge when he came to it.
“Yes, but you might need some help with that. Let me know when you’re ready.” In response to Danny’s look of surprise, Lester added, “I have three children, one of whom liked experimenting with her own hair, and sometimes her sister’s. And she tended to do it when they were staying with me rather than their mother, so I got used to taking remedial action.”
Danny knew that Lester had been through an acrimonious divorce but did his best to stay part of his children’s lives. Not easy, in a job like theirs. “Thanks. I won’t be long.”
Lester poured himself a large gin and tonic. “Take as long as you want. I have some dumplings to make then I intend to have a shower as well.” He flipped the top off another bottle of beer and handed it to Danny.
Danny grinned and promptly finished off the first beer. After a year with no alcohol it was likely to go straight to his head, but he really didn’t care. He had quite a bit of catching up to do.
The shower was wonderful. Danny stood there under the hot jets, watching the dirt and dust of the past wash off his skin and swirl down the drain taking away the last vestiges of the fear that he would never see the 21st century again. It had been hard to remain positive for so long, but Danny had mostly managed to keep his spirits up.
The Australopithicines had been undemanding companions, eventually accepting that he posed no threat to them. He wouldn’t go so far as to say he’d been accepted into their group, but they’d tolerated his presence, and it had been good not to be totally alone. He’d sometimes talked to them, and they’d occasionally grunted back. It had been not unlike spending time with teenagers or soldiers.
When he was finally convinced he really had washed off the accumulated grime of over a year with only the occasional mud bath to scour his skin and hair, Danny stepped out and enveloped himself in one of the largest bath towels he’d ever encountered. The rucksack Becker had packed for him contained all the essentials like underwear and socks, as well as a couple of changes of clothes. He pulled on a pair of faded jeans and a loose, comfortable checked shirt.
He towelled his hair, but a quick look in the steamed up mirror confirmed that a sharp pair of scissors really was the only answer. With a smaller towel draped around his shoulders, he wandered back into Lester’s kitchen. His host was also wearing jeans and, if anything, they looked even more battered and faded than Danny’s. Over the top Lester wore a loose, comfortable-looking dark blue cashmere sweater that had seen as much wear as the jeans. His bare feet were tucked into a pair of equally well-worn slippers. Danny had rarely seen Lester out of his trademark suits, but he had to admit that the man looked good in casual clothes, younger and a lot more approachable. They were actually within a year of each other in age, but Danny would be the first to admit that his face had a more lived-in look, and a year in the past had done nothing to improve that.
“More beer or some wine?” Lester asked. “There’s a bottle of rather decent fizzy open in the fridge. I like to treat myself on a Friday night. Surviving another week is always cause for celebration.”
“Sounds good.”
Lester poured two glasses and held one out to Danny. “Here’s to being back in one piece, Danny.”
They clinked the glasses together. Danny took a sip. Lester was right. It was extremely decent fizzy. The bubbles went straight to his head in a warm rush.
The smell of cooking was making him realise just how hungry he was feeling. Food had been scarce in the Rift Valley and he’d become used to the almost constant hunger pangs. Like the Australopithicenes, he’d rapidly turned into a scavenger, taking what scraps were left when more competent hunters had fed. To start with, raw meat had played havoc with his digestion, but eventually, when he’d mastered the art of making fire, things had taken a turn for the better, and by watching his ancestors foraging, he was able to learn what plants, berries and roots were edible. It wasn’t exactly gourmet living, but it had kept him alive, even if the weight had dropped off him at an alarming rate.
Sitting in Lester’s kitchen, drinking from a glass rather than scooping up water with his hands from the river, getting ready to eat a meal he’d had no hand in catching or gathering was a luxury he couldn’t quite get his head around. And talking of his head….
Danny ran a hand somewhat self-consciously over his damp, matted hair.
Lester correctly interpreted the gesture and took a pair of kitchen scissors off a magnetic rank on the wall. He draped the towel draped around Danny’s shoulders and started to tease out some of the tangled hair with a comb. When it became clear that large parts were felted beyond redemption, the cutting started. It felt strangely liberating as each dreadlock began to give way under Lester’s gentle, nimble fingers. It was a far cry from the way his mum had pulled and tugged at the knots when he was a kid, resulting in the short, spiky crops that had got him laughed at by the other kids at school. If truth be told, they’d not been able to afford trips to the hairdresser, so he’d had to live with the teasing. Eventually, a few well-aimed punches had mostly put a stop to it. He’d been excluded for a week as a result, and that had earned him a clip around the ear, but it had been worth it.
“Penny for them?” Lester asked, dropping a particularly long, twisted dreadlock into the plastic bag he’d opened up on the table.
Danny felt a blush creeping up his cheeks and was glad Lester was standing behind him. “Just thinking you’re better at this than my mam was, guv.”
“You’d better reserve judgment on that until you’ve seen the end result.” Lester topped Danny’s glass up with champagne and went back to his work.
More scraps of hair followed, but eventually, Lester put the scissors down and started to comb what was left, running his fingers through Danny’s hair and finding the smaller knots that needed less dramatic treatment. Danny felt himself relaxing totally into the other man’s touch. Apart from a few brief hugs in the ARC, this was the first time he’d been touched by another human being in over a year. In that respect, his hairy companions in the Rift Valley didn’t count, as even though they’d eventually let him get close enough to help out sometimes when they’d been in trouble, and they’d even returned the favour occasionally, but it hadn’t been the same.
He let his eyes fall closed as he enjoyed the closeness and the sensations. He felt properly clean for the first time since he’d left the 21st century behind and the light, dancing touch of Lester’s hands made him realise just how utterly touch-starved he’d become. If he wasn’t careful, he’d start purring like a large, ginger cat.
Danny liked the fact that Lester hadn’t badgered him with questions about his time in the past. He would talk about it, but not now. All he wanted to do now was luxuriate in the sights, smells and touch that he’d been denied for too long. The comb felt good against his scalp, the tingling sensation of a comb running through his hair felt nicer that he’d imagined, even when he’d dreamed of hot showers and nice, scratchy towels, the sort that dried you quickly, not fluffy, girly towels that looked nice but couldn’t dry a wet dog, or anything else for that matter.
After a few more snips of the scissors, Lester stopped back and brushed some stray hairs off Danny’s neck and onto the towel. Lester walked around him, considering Danny from all angles. A snip here and a stip there followed. The man was clearly a perfectionist. Eventually, Lester gave a satisfied nod and took the damp towel off Danny’s shoulders and consigned it to the washing machine in the corner of the kitchen.
“Take a look in the bathroom mirror and see what you think while I take a dustpan and brush round here,” Lester said, pouring himself another glass of champagne and topping up Danny’s glass.
With a degree of trepidation, Danny did as he’d been instructed. The reflection that stared back at him was still as suntanned and craggy as before, but at least now his ginger hair was short and neat. He ran his fingers self-consciously through it. The whole thing had been a deeply sensuous experience and Danny was all too aware of the fact that his cock was now half-hard. Luckily, with the weight he’d lost, the jeans he was wearing were baggier than usual and with the large checked shirt untucked, his condition was unlikely to have been noticed.
When he returned to the kitchen, Lester had set the table and was busy ladling beef stew and dumplings into two large bowls. Danny’s stomach gave an appreciative growl and he realised just how hungry he was. Lester had warmed up some garlic bread in the oven which he quickly sliced through and put out. The whole thing smelled amazing and Danny’s mouth was watering at the prospect.
Lester put a steaming bowl of stew in front of Danny and said, “Dig in, there’s plenty more.”
Danny stared down at the aromatic food, suddenly unsure of himself. Should he eat with a knife and fork or a spoon? The table contained all three. But was the spoon for dessert?
Possibly sensing his hesitation, Lester picked up a spoon and started to eat, allowing Danny to follow suit.
The stew was wonderful. The meat simply fell apart in his mouth, barely having to be chewed, unlikely the stringy ends of carcasses that he’d so often had to content himself with in the past. The gravy was rich and tasty, and the dumplings took him straight back to his childhood in a nicer way than remembering his mother’s haircuts. She’d been able to turn a few off-cuts from the butcher into a lovely meal, shielding Danny and his brother from the harsh reality that they’d had all too little money for much of the time.
He forced himself to eat slowly, savouring each mouthful, rather than bolting the lot down in double-quick time before something more formidable than him decided to take it off him. He also knew that his stomach would no doubt rebel later, but for now, he really didn’t care. This was bloody wonderful.
Lester made no attempt at conversation while they ate, letting Danny enjoy his meal without distraction. After allowing himself to be tempted to a small second helping, Danny cleaned his bowl with the remaining chunk of garlic bread and leaned back in his chair.
“That was bloody lovely, guv.”
Lester smiled. “We’re off duty now, Danny. James will do fine.”
Danny’s answering smile was uncharacteristically shy. “Thanks, guv… James.”
Dessert was warm apple pie and cream. Comfort food at its very best. When the meal was over, Lester declined any offers of help and quickly tidied the plates and bowls away into the dishwasher, poured them both another glass of an exceedingly red and suggested they move to the comfy seats in the living room.
Danny settled down on one wide of a large, comfortable sofa facing the most enormous picture window he’d ever seen, overlooking the river, with a stunning view of the London Eye. He sipped his wine and stared out at the bright lights and bustle of the city, glad he could view it at a safe distance while he became acclimatised to the world homo sapiens sapiens had created for itself. He would miss the stark beauty of the Rift Valley in some ways, especially the jewelled stars in vast black velvet night skies. Without the light pollution of the modern world, the stars had been breathtaking and Danny knew he might never see their like again. But that was a small penalty to pay for a return to his own time.
“It must be a lot to take in,” Lester said softly. “Take your own time, Danny. You don’t have to rush back to work.” He hesitated the barest fraction and then said, “You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need. There’s a spare key you can have if you like?”
Danny did like. In fact he liked very much. His answering smile was wide and genuine. “Thanks, James. That would be good.”
For the first time in over a year, as he remembered the touch of Lester’s fingers combing through his hair, Danny knew he could allow himself to look forward to the future, rather than having to live solely in the present.
Author : fredbassett
Fandom : Primeval
Rating : 15
Characters : Danny/Lester, Becker
Disclaimer : Not mine, no money made, don’t sue.
Spoilers : None
Word Count: 3,500
Summary : Danny is back and Lester offers him the use of his spare bedroom.
A/N : Written for the ‘grooming’ square on my
primeval_denial bingo card.“It’s good to have you back, Danny.”
“Good to be back, guv.”
Danny was sprawled out on the sofa in Lester’s office, savouring his first cup of coffee in over a year. He was thinner than Lester remembered, his skin darkened from sun and wind. His clothes were in tatters and his hair was a matted mess. But he was back, and that was what mattered.
“I’m afraid we weren’t able to hold onto your flat,” Lester said apologetically. “Your landlord claimed you were in breach of the lease by leaving it vacant for more than 60 days. The lawyers said there wasn’t much point in trying to fight him over it.”
“He’s wanted me out ever since I booked him for drink-driving.”
Lester allowed himself a slight smile. Danny Quinn certainly knew how to win friends and influence people.
“The ARC will pay for a hotel, of course, until you find somewhere else.”
A flicker of something that might have been disappointment crossed Danny’s craggy face. “No worries, guv, I’ll just use one of the bunkrooms. Soldier boy says he’ll rustle me up some stuff. I’ll be clean as a trivet in no time.”
“If memory serves me right, one is as right as a trivet, not as clean as one.”
“Are they like mongooses?”
Lester raised one eyebrow in query.
“Trivets. Or am I thinking of tribbles?”
“I believe a trivet is something you use to stand pots on.”
It was Danny’s turn to look puzzled. “So why is something as right as one?”
Lester sighed. “I have utterly no idea. Would you like some more coffee?”
A wide grin advanced across Danny’s face. “Now you’re talking.”
After another two mugs of coffee and half a packet of chocolate biscuits, Danny leaned back against the black leather of the sofa and declared, “I used to dream about coffee and choccie biccies.”
Lester had dreamed about getting the last member of his team back in one piece, but that wasn’t something he felt able to share, not yet, anyway, and not in quite those words. It might give the wrong impression, or should that be the right impression?
The sound of booted footsteps approaching drew both men’s attention. Becker appeared in the doorway, a rucksack in his hand. He grinned at Danny and tossed the rucksack onto the sofa.
“That lot should sort out your personal hygiene problems, Danny boy. There’s a couple of changes of clothes plus some shampoo and stuff.” Becker hesitated a moment and then added, “There’s a load of stuff you left behind in your locker, as well. We kept it for you.”
“Thanks, mate. I don’t suppose you’d run to a couple of beers as well, would you, just until the guv’nor sorts out my back pay…?” Danny shot Lester a mischievous grin. “Should be quite a nice wodge waiting for me. And think of all the back holiday I’ve accrued.”
“The money’s already in your bank account,” Lester told him truthfully. “I never quite got around to cancelling the payments. Most remiss of me.”
Danny’s eyes widened in delight. “You’re all heart, guv!”
“I allocated your parking space to someone else, though,” Lester retorted. It wouldn’t do to be seen to be going soft, after all. “And you can only carry over one week of holiday.”
“Welcome back,” Becker said. “See you in the Black Swan later?”
“Might leave the beers until tomorrow,” Danny said. “I’m feeling a bit cream-crackered.”
When Becker had gone, Lester said, “Not quite up to the 21st century in all its glory yet?”
“Not quite up to the Swan on a Friday night,” Danny admitted. “Not if they’re still doing karaoke.”
“I’m told they are.” Lester hesitated for a moment then said, “A microwaved meal and a night in a bunkroom isn’t exactly the best way to celebrate your return, Danny. I have a perfectly good spare room at my flat that’s already ready. And I had the amazing prescience to put a beef stew in the slow cooker before I left this morning. It’ll be perfectly adequate for two.”
Lester thought he caught a flash of pleasure in Danny’s eyes, but when he spoke, his tone was cautious. “I wouldn’t want to put you to any trouble, guv.”
“It’s no trouble,” Lester said firmly.
“Will there be dumplings?”
“Yes, I imagine I can run to dumplings.” He closed the lid on his laptop equally firmly. “Come on, I have no wish to owe you overtime on a Friday as well as back pay.”
*****
The drive back to Lester’s flat was mostly accomplished in companionable silence, for which Danny was grateful. After a year stuck in the Rift Valley with only his ancestors for company he was unused to the noise and bustle of modern life. He found himself flinching at the congestion in London and the sheer press of people everywhere. Even meeting former colleagues in the ARC had been more of a strain than he’d expected. The only ones who probably understood how he was feeling were Connor and Abby, as they’d already had to undergo a transition that, however long hoped for, was actually quite a shock to the system when it finally happened.
Abby had given him a big hug, tears in her eyes. Connor had shaken his hand and had look pleased when Danny had pulled him into a hug. There’d even been one of those slightly awkward man-hugs with Becker. It was good to be back, there was no doubt about that. The coffee and biscuits had been good, being poked and prodded by the medics less good, but what he wanted most now was a long hot shower and a cold beer, and somewhere he could spend some quiet time getting used to being home. Or rather back, as it didn’t look like he had a home any more, but then again he’d never been that attached to his flat. It had just been somewhere to crash when he’d not been working.
Quite what he’d been thinking of accepting Lester’s invitation, Danny wasn’t sure, but the idea of staying in one of the bunkrooms hadn’t been that attractive. Becker had offered him a bed at his place, but from what Danny had seen even in a few hours back in the ARC, their prim and proper soldier boy now seemed to be an item with the new field controller. She was chirpy, colourful and competent. She’d do Captain Fussy Pants the world of good.
There had been a couple of occasions before he’d got stuck in the past when Danny had wondered if he and Lester might have been edging closer to each other in ways that weren’t just connected to work, but a year was a long time, and the bloke had no doubt moved on. But Danny appreciated the invitation and had been surprised by how much the simple kindness had meant to him.
Lester showed him the spare room and demonstrated his excellent grasp of priorities by then promptly offering Danny the long-awaited cold beer. The first mouthful was even better than the coffee had been. It slid seductively down his throat and left a deliciously cold trail down to his stomach. He’d eventually got used to the unrelenting heat and dryness of the Rift Valley, but he’d never stopped dreaming about the prospect of a cold beer and the reality had finally lived up to those dreams.
“There are plenty more in the fridge,” Lester said. “You can even take a bottle into the shower. There are towels in the guest bathroom. Use anything in there.”
“Have you got a pair a scissors, guv?” Danny asked, running his hand over his matted hair. Quite a bit of it was going to need to come off, but how he was going to give himself a haircut, Danny really didn’t know, but he’d cross that bridge when he came to it.
“Yes, but you might need some help with that. Let me know when you’re ready.” In response to Danny’s look of surprise, Lester added, “I have three children, one of whom liked experimenting with her own hair, and sometimes her sister’s. And she tended to do it when they were staying with me rather than their mother, so I got used to taking remedial action.”
Danny knew that Lester had been through an acrimonious divorce but did his best to stay part of his children’s lives. Not easy, in a job like theirs. “Thanks. I won’t be long.”
Lester poured himself a large gin and tonic. “Take as long as you want. I have some dumplings to make then I intend to have a shower as well.” He flipped the top off another bottle of beer and handed it to Danny.
Danny grinned and promptly finished off the first beer. After a year with no alcohol it was likely to go straight to his head, but he really didn’t care. He had quite a bit of catching up to do.
The shower was wonderful. Danny stood there under the hot jets, watching the dirt and dust of the past wash off his skin and swirl down the drain taking away the last vestiges of the fear that he would never see the 21st century again. It had been hard to remain positive for so long, but Danny had mostly managed to keep his spirits up.
The Australopithicines had been undemanding companions, eventually accepting that he posed no threat to them. He wouldn’t go so far as to say he’d been accepted into their group, but they’d tolerated his presence, and it had been good not to be totally alone. He’d sometimes talked to them, and they’d occasionally grunted back. It had been not unlike spending time with teenagers or soldiers.
When he was finally convinced he really had washed off the accumulated grime of over a year with only the occasional mud bath to scour his skin and hair, Danny stepped out and enveloped himself in one of the largest bath towels he’d ever encountered. The rucksack Becker had packed for him contained all the essentials like underwear and socks, as well as a couple of changes of clothes. He pulled on a pair of faded jeans and a loose, comfortable checked shirt.
He towelled his hair, but a quick look in the steamed up mirror confirmed that a sharp pair of scissors really was the only answer. With a smaller towel draped around his shoulders, he wandered back into Lester’s kitchen. His host was also wearing jeans and, if anything, they looked even more battered and faded than Danny’s. Over the top Lester wore a loose, comfortable-looking dark blue cashmere sweater that had seen as much wear as the jeans. His bare feet were tucked into a pair of equally well-worn slippers. Danny had rarely seen Lester out of his trademark suits, but he had to admit that the man looked good in casual clothes, younger and a lot more approachable. They were actually within a year of each other in age, but Danny would be the first to admit that his face had a more lived-in look, and a year in the past had done nothing to improve that.
“More beer or some wine?” Lester asked. “There’s a bottle of rather decent fizzy open in the fridge. I like to treat myself on a Friday night. Surviving another week is always cause for celebration.”
“Sounds good.”
Lester poured two glasses and held one out to Danny. “Here’s to being back in one piece, Danny.”
They clinked the glasses together. Danny took a sip. Lester was right. It was extremely decent fizzy. The bubbles went straight to his head in a warm rush.
The smell of cooking was making him realise just how hungry he was feeling. Food had been scarce in the Rift Valley and he’d become used to the almost constant hunger pangs. Like the Australopithicenes, he’d rapidly turned into a scavenger, taking what scraps were left when more competent hunters had fed. To start with, raw meat had played havoc with his digestion, but eventually, when he’d mastered the art of making fire, things had taken a turn for the better, and by watching his ancestors foraging, he was able to learn what plants, berries and roots were edible. It wasn’t exactly gourmet living, but it had kept him alive, even if the weight had dropped off him at an alarming rate.
Sitting in Lester’s kitchen, drinking from a glass rather than scooping up water with his hands from the river, getting ready to eat a meal he’d had no hand in catching or gathering was a luxury he couldn’t quite get his head around. And talking of his head….
Danny ran a hand somewhat self-consciously over his damp, matted hair.
Lester correctly interpreted the gesture and took a pair of kitchen scissors off a magnetic rank on the wall. He draped the towel draped around Danny’s shoulders and started to tease out some of the tangled hair with a comb. When it became clear that large parts were felted beyond redemption, the cutting started. It felt strangely liberating as each dreadlock began to give way under Lester’s gentle, nimble fingers. It was a far cry from the way his mum had pulled and tugged at the knots when he was a kid, resulting in the short, spiky crops that had got him laughed at by the other kids at school. If truth be told, they’d not been able to afford trips to the hairdresser, so he’d had to live with the teasing. Eventually, a few well-aimed punches had mostly put a stop to it. He’d been excluded for a week as a result, and that had earned him a clip around the ear, but it had been worth it.
“Penny for them?” Lester asked, dropping a particularly long, twisted dreadlock into the plastic bag he’d opened up on the table.
Danny felt a blush creeping up his cheeks and was glad Lester was standing behind him. “Just thinking you’re better at this than my mam was, guv.”
“You’d better reserve judgment on that until you’ve seen the end result.” Lester topped Danny’s glass up with champagne and went back to his work.
More scraps of hair followed, but eventually, Lester put the scissors down and started to comb what was left, running his fingers through Danny’s hair and finding the smaller knots that needed less dramatic treatment. Danny felt himself relaxing totally into the other man’s touch. Apart from a few brief hugs in the ARC, this was the first time he’d been touched by another human being in over a year. In that respect, his hairy companions in the Rift Valley didn’t count, as even though they’d eventually let him get close enough to help out sometimes when they’d been in trouble, and they’d even returned the favour occasionally, but it hadn’t been the same.
He let his eyes fall closed as he enjoyed the closeness and the sensations. He felt properly clean for the first time since he’d left the 21st century behind and the light, dancing touch of Lester’s hands made him realise just how utterly touch-starved he’d become. If he wasn’t careful, he’d start purring like a large, ginger cat.
Danny liked the fact that Lester hadn’t badgered him with questions about his time in the past. He would talk about it, but not now. All he wanted to do now was luxuriate in the sights, smells and touch that he’d been denied for too long. The comb felt good against his scalp, the tingling sensation of a comb running through his hair felt nicer that he’d imagined, even when he’d dreamed of hot showers and nice, scratchy towels, the sort that dried you quickly, not fluffy, girly towels that looked nice but couldn’t dry a wet dog, or anything else for that matter.
After a few more snips of the scissors, Lester stopped back and brushed some stray hairs off Danny’s neck and onto the towel. Lester walked around him, considering Danny from all angles. A snip here and a stip there followed. The man was clearly a perfectionist. Eventually, Lester gave a satisfied nod and took the damp towel off Danny’s shoulders and consigned it to the washing machine in the corner of the kitchen.
“Take a look in the bathroom mirror and see what you think while I take a dustpan and brush round here,” Lester said, pouring himself another glass of champagne and topping up Danny’s glass.
With a degree of trepidation, Danny did as he’d been instructed. The reflection that stared back at him was still as suntanned and craggy as before, but at least now his ginger hair was short and neat. He ran his fingers self-consciously through it. The whole thing had been a deeply sensuous experience and Danny was all too aware of the fact that his cock was now half-hard. Luckily, with the weight he’d lost, the jeans he was wearing were baggier than usual and with the large checked shirt untucked, his condition was unlikely to have been noticed.
When he returned to the kitchen, Lester had set the table and was busy ladling beef stew and dumplings into two large bowls. Danny’s stomach gave an appreciative growl and he realised just how hungry he was. Lester had warmed up some garlic bread in the oven which he quickly sliced through and put out. The whole thing smelled amazing and Danny’s mouth was watering at the prospect.
Lester put a steaming bowl of stew in front of Danny and said, “Dig in, there’s plenty more.”
Danny stared down at the aromatic food, suddenly unsure of himself. Should he eat with a knife and fork or a spoon? The table contained all three. But was the spoon for dessert?
Possibly sensing his hesitation, Lester picked up a spoon and started to eat, allowing Danny to follow suit.
The stew was wonderful. The meat simply fell apart in his mouth, barely having to be chewed, unlikely the stringy ends of carcasses that he’d so often had to content himself with in the past. The gravy was rich and tasty, and the dumplings took him straight back to his childhood in a nicer way than remembering his mother’s haircuts. She’d been able to turn a few off-cuts from the butcher into a lovely meal, shielding Danny and his brother from the harsh reality that they’d had all too little money for much of the time.
He forced himself to eat slowly, savouring each mouthful, rather than bolting the lot down in double-quick time before something more formidable than him decided to take it off him. He also knew that his stomach would no doubt rebel later, but for now, he really didn’t care. This was bloody wonderful.
Lester made no attempt at conversation while they ate, letting Danny enjoy his meal without distraction. After allowing himself to be tempted to a small second helping, Danny cleaned his bowl with the remaining chunk of garlic bread and leaned back in his chair.
“That was bloody lovely, guv.”
Lester smiled. “We’re off duty now, Danny. James will do fine.”
Danny’s answering smile was uncharacteristically shy. “Thanks, guv… James.”
Dessert was warm apple pie and cream. Comfort food at its very best. When the meal was over, Lester declined any offers of help and quickly tidied the plates and bowls away into the dishwasher, poured them both another glass of an exceedingly red and suggested they move to the comfy seats in the living room.
Danny settled down on one wide of a large, comfortable sofa facing the most enormous picture window he’d ever seen, overlooking the river, with a stunning view of the London Eye. He sipped his wine and stared out at the bright lights and bustle of the city, glad he could view it at a safe distance while he became acclimatised to the world homo sapiens sapiens had created for itself. He would miss the stark beauty of the Rift Valley in some ways, especially the jewelled stars in vast black velvet night skies. Without the light pollution of the modern world, the stars had been breathtaking and Danny knew he might never see their like again. But that was a small penalty to pay for a return to his own time.
“It must be a lot to take in,” Lester said softly. “Take your own time, Danny. You don’t have to rush back to work.” He hesitated the barest fraction and then said, “You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need. There’s a spare key you can have if you like?”
Danny did like. In fact he liked very much. His answering smile was wide and genuine. “Thanks, James. That would be good.”
For the first time in over a year, as he remembered the touch of Lester’s fingers combing through his hair, Danny knew he could allow himself to look forward to the future, rather than having to live solely in the present.
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Date: 2015-09-24 08:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-24 08:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-24 08:26 pm (UTC)From the interaction at the beginning to the quiet introspection at the end it gave the perfect timeline for returning to a normal life.
Sweet.
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Date: 2015-09-24 08:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-24 08:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-25 08:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-25 07:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-24 10:27 pm (UTC)If he wasn’t careful, he’d start purring like a large, ginger cat.
OM, what a lovely mental image! ^_^
Great insight at Danny's feelings after his return and nice, fluffy moments with Lester *purrs too* Danny has definitely something very interesting to look forward to!
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Date: 2015-09-25 08:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-25 05:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-25 08:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-25 12:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-25 02:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-25 12:56 pm (UTC)This was a sweet and lovely comfort/comfort. <3
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Date: 2015-09-25 02:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-26 07:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-26 02:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-28 01:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-09-29 10:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-10-05 08:54 pm (UTC)I like the way you blend what happened to Danny in his year away and Lester domestic leanings that will help him return to a more normal life again.
I would like to see how this relationship developed. I hope for a happy ending.
no subject
Date: 2015-10-06 07:24 am (UTC)