Chapter Text
Chapter 1: I’m Taking A Chance, Letting You Inside
We're both looking for something
We've been afraid to find
It's easier to be broken
It's easier to hide
Looking at you, holding my breath,
For once in my life, I'm scared to death,
I'm taking a chance, letting you inside
It was hard to figure out when the attraction started.
Was it the first day, when Dan saw this…child pretending to be a judge and yet his easygoing smile and quirks put him at ease before realizing Harry had a deep understanding of the law and the human heart? No, that wasn’t it.
Was it when Harry hugged the smart mouth kid who needed a smack on the back of the head while believing some guy was Santa? No, but it was the first time Dan wanted to see what it would be like to be held by the other man.
Dan couldn’t lie and say that he didn’t want to be the one who comforted Harry when he thought his mother came back into his life or when he told the story of crashing the car and being on the receiving end of his father’s disappointment. That was when he truly thought he could get to know the man behind the judge.
And the more he spent time with Harry outside of court, he really felt like he was falling for him.
So, when the investigation was started, it tore Dan up inside. Harry didn’t deserve to lose his job over a couple of quirks. Quirks that, admittedly, were annoying but made the job that much more fun. Harry made the job much more fun.
But Dan didn’t help matters much when he put his foot in his mouth and basically said that Harry didn’t belong on the bench.
Then to hear Harry quit over Carla, over a gesture of comfort and friendship…well, it made Dan attracted to him a little more.
And tonight, Dan Fielding was going to make a move.
It was a crazy few days. Between the investigation and the trial, quitting, then getting his job back, both Dan and Harry were exhausted.
But, for the judge, seeing his friends so happy to be with him, hell, seeing them rallying around him, warmed his heart.
“So, sir, what’s next,” Dan asked, sitting next to him on the couch after the others were gone, Billie being the last one to leave after hugging Harry for longer than needed.
“Dan, session’s over. It’s Harry,” Harry chuckled.
Dan gave him a small smile and nodded. “Sorry, Harry,” he corrected.
The way he said Harry’s name made the judge shiver a little. He schooled his emotions and shrugged.
“Well, I was thinking of just taking it easy this weekend, it’s been a busy couple of days,” he replied.
Dan nodded, noticing how Harry shivered a little at the sound of him saying his name. He filed that information away for later. “Sounds like a good idea,” he said.
“What about you? Got a hot date lined up,” Harry asked.
Dan chuckled. “Not at the moment,” he replied, his eyes sparkling.
Harry felt his heart rate tick up and cleared his throat. “Say, why don’t we head over to my place and break out the good stuff,” he offered.
Dan tilted his head. “You sure? You were just investigated for impropriety, won’t being seen with your ADA be bad business,” he asked.
Harry shook his head. “I’m not worrying about that if you don’t,” he replied.
Dan smiled and stood up, walking with Harry out the door. They had an easy conversation on the way back to Harry’s apartment and a secret part of Harry wished that this was the way they could always be.
“Here we are, home sweet home,” Harry said, opening the door.
Dan stepped in and looked around the apartment. It was tasteful and fit Harry’s style to a t. He unbuttoned his coat and hung it up.
“Nice place,” he said, sitting down.
“Thanks,” Harry said, flushing a little. “So, I have wine. I have scotch, vodka, soda, let me know what you want,” he said, moving around to hide the blush.
“For now, I’m good. I actually want to talk to you about something,” Dan said, leaning forward. Harry stopped moving and looked at him from across the room. The ADA sighed and looked him in the eye. “Mac told me about Carla. Why didn’t you just tell the truth? Why quit,” he asked.
“Dan,” Harry sighed.
“No, really? Why make it seem like you and her had an affair? Why would you throw your life away for an act of kindness?” Dan asked, standing up.
“Did you really come here just to yell at me?” Harry asked.
“I came here because I,” Dan stopped himself, running a hand through his hair. “Why would you throw it all away?”
“Dan, I quit because if the choice was making Carla tell her story and relive that pain was the right one to make. Because it didn’t matter to me. I quit because helping a friend, showing kindness to someone who needs it, is more important to me than what you or anyone else thinks of me,” Harry said. “I didn’t throw anything away. Hell, before the Carla thing, I was home free. You guys all did a hell of a job. Even you, who, out of all of them, has all the reasons in the world to hate me.”
“I could never hate you,” Dan said, walking over to the mantle. He looked over to Harry, eyes soft. “Harry, you might be a little looney, have some interesting quirks and funny tastes in music and clothes but you are one of the best men I have ever met. You nearly gave up a career because someone thought you were like all the other men in the world when a prostitute comes to your door,” he said.
Harry swallowed and took a step towards him. “Dan,” he whispered.
“Harry, I came here tonight because I am tired of hiding and letting Billie have the moments with you. I’m tired of hiding the fact that I like you and that it tore me up inside to know that they were trying to take away your job because of who you are. I'm tired of pretending I don’t want you and only you. I’m tired of hiding how I feel about you,” Dan said, all pretenses gone.
Harry finished crossing the room and they were standing mere inches apart. Harry’s eyes traveled all over Dan’s face and saw the truth shining over all else.
“Dan, are you sure,” he asked.
“Harry, I haven’t been more sure of anything in my whole life,” Dan replied, smiling at him. His hand trailed up the side of Harry’s face and caressed his cheek, making the other man close his eyes in pure pleasure. “Are you sure,” he asked.
Harry nodded and closed the distance between them. It was hard to tell who kissed whom first but once they started, they didn’t want to stop. Hands went all over, exploring, grasping. Dan ran a hand over Harry’s hair and the judge shivered like he did in his office. He molded his body to Dan’s and felt his reaction to their activities against his leg. He smirked, pulling back.
“You have a cigar in your pocket or are you really enjoying this,” he asked.
Dan smirked and moved his hips a little to feel Harry’s erection and chuckled as Harry moaned and threw his head back.
“Pot, kettle,” the ADA purred.
“Ngh, not fair,” Harry moaned.
“When I have been known to play fair,” Dan asked.
Harry chuckled and leaned in again. Their mouths fused together again and Harry pulled Dan along into the bedroom. Dan smiled as he kicked the door shut for the rest of the night.
The next morning, Dan woke up to find the bed empty but music playing from the kitchen. He got up and put on his boxers before going in search of Harry. He found him in the kitchen, making eggs and a fresh pot of coffee on the burner. Dan smiled and went to wrap his arms around the other man, making him jump.
“Good morning,” he said, kissing the back of Harry’s neck.
Harry smiled softly and leaned back into his embrace. He turned his head and kissed him softly. “Morning,” he replied, pulling back to see Dan’s eyes sparkle.
Dan littered kisses on Harry’s neck, taking in his scent. “Harry, while breakfast is appreciated, next time I would rather wake up with you in my arms,” he whispered.
Harry pulled back and looked him in the eye. “Next time,” he asked.
Dan bit his lip, thinking he spoke too soon, said too much. “I meant what I said last night. I am so tired of pretending I don’t want you. And it’s beyond sex, though that was incredible last night. I’m talking about this: waking up to each other, easy breakfasts, simple dates, stolen moments here and there. I knew if we were to ever cross the line, it wouldn’t be for one night. Not to me anyway,” he said.
Harry took all his words in and turned off the stove so the eggs wouldn’t catch fire. He looked back to Dan, who laid his heart out to him. He smiled and took his hands.
“I don’t want one night either, Dan. I want all you said and maybe more someday. I want to try,” he said, leaning in to kiss him.
“Thank God,” Dan whispered as they kissed.
Harry grinned into the kiss and let Dan lead him to the couch. They would have to really figure out what came next but that was for later.
Right now, all they could think about was how right it was to be here in this moment together.
Chapter 1: End