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“For the last time, Casey, you are wrong. Let it go.”
“You have the year wrong.” Casey hisses back across the anchor desk.
“I don’t have the year wrong nor do I have the person wrong. You, on the other hand, have all your facts wrong.”
Casey’s glaring at him, he doesn't have to look up from his script to know that. He also knows that Casey’s about five seconds from calling Jeremy over.
“You know what, Danny,” Dan grits his teeth, “I know how to be the bigger man here-”
“- You have never once been the bigger man.”
“I’m trying to be right-”
“So Wayne Gretzky wasn’t the first pick in the 1979 NHL draft then?”
“Well,-”
Casey’s interrupted by a crackle in their ears. “Wayne Gretzky wasn’t in the draft.” Jeremy turns doesn’t need to be called over to answer.
“I thought you both didn’t like hockey.”
“Actually, Natalie, we have tickets to the Rangers game on Saturday.” Casey says. Dan is watching the clock and trying to make sure he doesn’t crumb his script in his hands.
Jeremy points out the obvious. “Gretzky retired two seasons ago.”
The argument - and he really hates that it has progressed to an argument - started because Casey had been disappointed that they hadn’t got free Rangers tickets while Gretzky was still there, they started talking about his career and the Rangers chances and it proceeded to The History Of Gretzky and is now Casey being stupid and dumb and pissing Dan off.
“That’s not the point. Danny is wrong and-”
“Stop that.” Dan freezes. He hadn’t meant to say that.
Casey turns with the beginning of a smug grin on his face. “Ah ha. You admit I’m right?” he points his finger towards Dan as well.
Dan bats it away and glaces at the clock. “No, you’re very much wrong. For being a professional in sports, Casey, you really should know this.”
Casey blinks.
“Ten seconds till we’re back on air.” Dave calls.
“Stop what then?”
“Casey, drop it.” Dan straightens out his script.
“Stop what?” Casey’s beginning to frown and they have five seconds.
“Stop calling me Danny.” And he doesn’t look at Casey as he hisses it.
Dan turns to the camera and beams. “Welcome back, we’ve got Jacob Appleman’s home run to discuss.”
________
He rushes back to his - because turns out it’s all his not his and Casey’s - office after the show. He’s not childish enough to lock the door but that’s mainly because there’s no lock and it would prove Casey right.
Before Casey the only person to call Dan ‘Danny’ was Sam and Dan allowed that because Sam was his younger brother and his favourite person ever. He allowed Casey to call him that because he was Casey and amazing and Dan liked hearing him give him a nickname. But then it grew, Casey would use it and introduce him as ‘This is Danny, he works with me.’ and everyone then called him it.
It’s not that he hates being called ‘Danny’, he quite likes it - when it's by certain people, like Rebeca and until recently Casey.
It’s just that until recently he hadn’t realised why Casey likes calling him it so much. It’s childish and immature and its states to everyone around that Casey is better and older and so much more fucking supiour to him. It paints hima s funny and Casey as serious despite the fact that ‘Casey’ is a ridiculous name and girls have it more often than guys. It’s no more the name for a thirty something news anchor than ‘Danny’ is but little boys get called ‘danny’ and grow out of it. Casey never gave him that chance.
And now he won’t drop a stupid fcking arguement and Dan’s being called ‘Danny’ every two seconds because Casey does it a lot more when he’s pissed and wants to be seen as the smartest one in the room.
The door opens.
“What the fuck, Danny?”
“Stop it!” Dan turns away from the window and Casey shuts the door. “Just stop showing everyone you’re better. They know it already, Casey, so just stop proving them right every other hit.”
“What?”
“You gave me the name when I was nineteen and I’m not nineteen anymore, I’m not an intern and I’m not a puppy following you around. I am thirty one and my name’s Dan - Daniel, to be exact - not Danny.”
“You like being called Danny.”
“Not by you.”
Casey blinks and the hand he never removed from the knob is turning white. “Why?” and the fact that Casey is asking questions not arguing back is a sign of Casey being out of his depth. He had caught one of Casey and Lisa’s arguments in Dallas and Casey had been so unsure - like he is now - that that was when Dan decided he really didn’t like Lisa.
“You make it seem like I’m still a teenager on a summer internship.”
Casey looks up, “But you aren’t,” He’s trying to make eye contact with Dan but only managing to get to his shoulder, a sign that Casey’s going to say something stupid. “You’re an anchor on Sports Night and you’re so damn good at it, I’m surprised you haven't got a job at ESPN or FOX or anywhere better than here, with me. Danny- Dan, I, I think sometimes I was following you. I stayed in Dallas because I was better with you than I was ever without.”
“You don’t think I’m a kid?”
Casey smiles slightly, still weary. “I think you can still get a child’s levels of energy and happiness on a good day. I think sometimes you remind me of Charlie when he finds a new joke and has to tell everyone - oh, or maybe he reminds me of you. You aren't a kid, I never thought it.”
Dan doubts that last part but he gets Caey’s point and he believes the fundamentals of it - at least right now he does, tonight in his bed maybe less so. “Danny is a kid’s name.”
Casey shrugs, his hand is off the door knob. “And Casey’s a girl’s name.”
Dan lets a small laugh leave his lips and Casey meets his eyes. “It’s a ridiculous name.”
“Hey, that’s my name, you’re talking about.”
Dan lowers his eyes. “Just don’t call me Danny so much.”
“Okay. But can I still do it sometimes? I like it.”
He smiles. “Yeah, sometimes. I like it too.”
Casey's smile is half fond and half smug and Casey’s the only person that could make smug endearing. “Good.”
“But,” He takes a few seconds to enjoy Casey’s panicked expression. “Only if you admit I’m right about Gretzky.”
“You’re right about Gretzky. He wasn’t drafted and Rob Ramage went first in 1979. Gretzky went straight into the Oilers due to having a personal services contract. I work in sports, Dan, I know about the biggest name in hockey.” Dan opens his mouth. “I just like fighting with you - when it’s about sports.”
Dan walks over to Casey and slings his arm around his shoulder. “You admitted I’m right. Today’s a day for firsts.” and he leads them over to wardrobe since neither of them got undressed after the show.