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Daniel both loved and hated that Connor was a cop. He loved that his boyfriend was doing something he enjoyed very much and took pride in his job making the city even just a little bit safer. (Daniel couldn’t protest being able to occasionally persuade the other to misuse his handcuffs in a certain way either.) Though, he hated the danger that came with being part of the police force.
A typical day for Connor was often just responding to domestic disputes and the occasional bizarre call. He’d check out reported suspicions too, but more often than not nothing came of those.
Though, there were also days like today. Days were Daniel would leave the TV on the local news station as he went about his day - a habit he didn’t know if Connor had rubbed off on him from watching it so much himself or if it had started out of desperation to know of any dangerous events the police were responding to - just to be stopped in his tracks by the sound effect of breaking news.
Today, Daniel had been in the middle of mindlessly cleaning when he heard the sound chime from the TV. He had given the broadcast more attention as he listened for the headline and quickly dropped the rag he was holding as he dashed to see the TV for himself.
Reports were coming in of the DPD being involved in an armed standoff. Daniel scanned the officers in the live footage as best and fast as he could in desperate hope to not find a certain face there. His heart sank when he found exactly what he feared.
He didn’t know how long he had been zoned out, the sound of blood rushing in his ears and the sensation of his heart pounding in his chest the only things he was aware of. By the time he even realized he had been out of it, he cursed himself for missing part of the announcement and gave the rest of it his full attention.
He had sat on the couch and kept his eyes glued to the screen even as the segment ended. He couldn’t leave, couldn’t look away. He had to be there for the next update, whenever that may be - he was far too afraid of his lover’s safety to be able to do anything else now anyway.
So he sat there. He sat there for hours listening to news about the weather and sports and local charities and a recall on some specific kind of baby formula. During every commercial, he was tapping and scrolling away on his phone, desperately looking for any new information on the standoff.
His heart had sank at the news of an officer being injured and evacuated and again, a while later, when several more were reported injured. No identities were being revealed and it was driving Daniel crazy. Hell, even if it wasn’t Connor who was injured, he had become close to several other officers over time and there was a chance that it could have been any of them who were hurt too.
The extreme levels of stress and anxiety the whole ordeal caused him was definitely not good for his health. Daniel was practically pulling his hair out, as is - the news of one officer’s confirmed death might as well have just torn his heart out and stepped on it.
It was days like today that reminded Daniel just how much he hated Connor’s job sometimes and how much he loved Connor himself. The moment he had heard the headline, a painful longing had started pulling at his chest, so strong that it felt like it was trying to burst right out. All he wanted was for his love to hold him, to be near him.
He needed Connor - needed him so bad. He missed his love incredibly. It felt like a black hole had formed in his stomach and the only thing that could fill it was knowing that Connor was okay. The feeling only grew as seconds, minutes, hours ticked by.
Eventually, the suspects had been arrested and the news coverage had ended. Connor hadn’t been shown again after the initial clip and Daniel hated that. As much as he didn’t want Connor to be there, seeing him in the footage assured him that he was okay. No new images of his lover did little to ease Daniel’s worried mind. The lack of identities on those injured and killed was also not helping, fear of the worst still plaguing his thoughts.
The day had felt like a decade and Daniel was left pacing the living room, sure that his footsteps would wear through the floorboards sooner than later. He checked the time and the front door constantly, counting down the seconds until Connor should be home.
When that time came and passed, Daniel had only panicked worse. His breathing had become uneven and his thoughts raced even faster than they had been before. He was on the verge of tears as more and more negativity filled his head.
When the door finally clicked open thirty-seven minutes late, it only took a glance for Daniel to throw himself at the man who entered and start sobbing against his chest.
A hand came up to the back of his head and a pained yet reassuring voice spoke, “I take it you saw the news?”
Daniel fervently nodded and hugged the other even closer. He grabbed fistfuls of Connor’s clothes and held on so tightly that his knuckles turned as white as ghosts.
“Daniel…” The pain was still clear in Connor’s voice, obviously distressed by the state of his lover. ”I’m okay. I‘m here. You’re okay. It’s okay.” He repeated reassurances to the blond as he ran a hand through his hair over and over and pressed kisses anywhere he could reach.
When Daniel finally got his emotions out, he felt like a wreck. His eyes were red and puffy and his cheeks were tear stained. His nose had run something awful and a mix of fluids dripped from his all too hot face.
He gave a few big sniffles and wiped at the mess with his shirt. When he was semi-composed, he finally dared to look his love in the eye.
He was here. He was real. He was okay.
A shuddering breath left Daniel as the thoughts proceeded and a massive weight lifted off his shoulders. He stared Connor in the eye for no more than a second before surging upward and smashing their lips together.
He had been scared - no, terrified - of losing him. He had never loved someone so deeply before - losing him sounded like the worst possible nightmare.
The kiss was…relief. He had been worried they’d already shared their last kiss. Scared that he’d never be able to kiss those perfect lips again.
He sure as hell wasn’t about to let any of those things become true.
He let his arms snake up Connor’s back and clutched at his shoulders as he kissed with all the intensity and passion he could muster. He wanted - needed - Connor to know just how much this meant to him.
Judging by the urgent kiss he got in return, his message seemed to have been clearly received.
Connor rested their foreheads together as he pulled away, a moment later, and breathed hard. “It’s okay Danny… It’s all okay…” He panted and gave a big, genuine smile. “I love you.”
Daniel softly panted and couldn’t help the sheepish smile that creeped across his face. “I love you too.”