Chapter Text
When Steve tells the Governor he’s found something to change his mind, he isn’t talking about the investigation, doesn’t give a damn about the box (not as much as he’ll come to) and he’s only attentive of the man standing in front of him. Danny Williams, who doesn’t recognize him – who’s flashing his badge around and looking right at home with the Honolulu Police force.
Steve knows better.
He knows Danny Williams and the planes and angles of his body. He knows the man in front of him vividly and intimately, but Danny has no idea who Steve is. The doctors had said the amnesia might fade, but it’s yet to do anything of the kind. Steve’s been waiting a year for Danny to wake up and remember Steve, along with the other facts of life.
Facts such as the tendency for Danny’s legs to turn to fin and tail the moment they’re adequately submerged by water. The official term is mermaid, but Danny had always hated Hans Christian Andersen for that one – at least, he had when he remembered what he was.
Now, here he is, bitching and ranting and he’s every bit the Danno that Steve knew before, but he doesn’t remember anything about his life and he’s concocted some kind of wife-and-child scenario to bask in. Steve tries to nod along as Danny rants on about Grace and his ex-wife – people who don’t exist – and can’t help his look of shock when Danny starts in on a rant about swimming.
“You don’t swim?”
“I swim,” Danny insists sharply. “I swim for survival, not for fun.”
And then he’s off on another topic and somehow they get back to New Jersey and it’s exactly the same as before, but Danny keeps complaining about how much he hates the water and the beach and the comforting lull of the waves as they pass you by.
How little you know.
Before the accident, Danny had always been the more eager of the two of them for a swim, provided the hour of day was suitable. Danny loathed getting up early, but loved a sunset swim. He would coax Steve closer to the shore with kisses and teasing touches to the skin of his hip, just above the ridge of his tail and scratch his nails along the edge – fully aware of the kinds of sensations they would evoke in Steve.
Steve could count on several things as sure-fire, in his life. The sun would rise and set, his sister would be a pain in his ass, and Danny Williams would give him the smuggest shit-eating grin every time Steve inhaled a sharp breath as a result of Danny’s ministrations.
“Danny, we’re not really supposed to be doing this so close to shore,” Steve always forced out through gritted teeth. Their kind is still somewhat hidden in the shadows and calling attention to themselves before they shifted is a bad idea – possibly one of the worst, because the last thing they need is to be called up before a council of elders. “Danno,” Steve says, jaw tensing when Danny doesn’t pay any fucking attention.
“C’mon, babe, let’s go for a swim.”
Danny may have forgotten, but Steve swears he never will.
He’ll always remember the way the sun casts shimmering light off Danny’s iridescent blue tail as he swims shallow along the sea, turning nearly silver when the moon first peaks out. Steve could forget every last bit of himself, but he will never forget that image and will never forget how Danny had looked at peace as the waves lapped over his fins and gills. It had always put Danny in a content mood and that had, in turn, made Steve happy.
So, maybe it would’ve been okay if Steve could accept the fact that Danny didn’t remember:
A) The whole ‘you’re a mermaid’ business (which Danny’s family is starting to get impatient with, what with their impending visit growing closer by the day)
and,
B) That he’s been with Steve for years before this – that the ring on his finger doesn’t belong to some figment of his imagination, but wholly to Steve.
It’s been a year since Danny forgot the most important things about him. Danny’s parents have tried to get Steve to understand that Danny’s stubborn (as if he doesn’t know) and that he shouldn’t waste his life. He should move on.
It’s easier said than done considering that mermaids mate for life and Danny’s had Steve wrapped up in his goddamn gorgeous tail since the day they met.
tbc