Stoic

Who: Danny and Elle
Where: One More Round
When: Evening

The ‘Round didn’t love cops, but given the mood Danny was in he wanted to see someone try something. It’d give him an excuse to kick someone’s ass and throw them in jail. Which would likely have his badge taken away, but after the day he had he was starting to think it wouldn’t be an awful thing would it? It wasn’t like they were making any progress at anything these days.

It was too bad Danny didn’t know how to be anything other than a cop.

Stewing in his awful mood he found his booth in a dark corner of the bar, hoping to be ignored by anyone who wasn’t the waitress that brought his drinks. He hoped she didn’t talk either just looked at him once and kept them coming. Fucking department. He hated that they were right. They were all right. That didn’t make it any easier to swallow.

Being at the Round suited Elle’s need to keep busy. She had nearly gone past the point of being tired. By plowing along with one task after another, she managed to keep it from catching up to her. She knew that if she stopped for too long everything would catch up to her. Staving it all off was the much more appealing option.

But for all her good intentions, there was something a little off about her. That was the other good thing about the Round - as long as she had enough of a smile and fulfilled orders promptly and correctly, she was doing what she needed to. Usually she would chat a little more, spend a little more time with customers. It seemed to go largely unnoticed that she wasn’t. Maybe they were glad she was just bringing drinks and moving along to the next person for once.

During her drifting, she saw the familiar figure in the familiar booth. She returned to the bar to grab a beer from him then made a beeline towards it. Danny was just the person she’d been hoping to see. If anyone would have any information about who had attacked the gallery, Elle figured he would be one of them. The thought of being able to tell Shannah that she knew the police were working hard on it and maybe even that they had some idea of who was behind it lifted her spirits. Until she got close enough to see Danny’s face. He didn’t exactly look in the best of moods. Frowning to herself, her initial agenda to find out about the gallery was temporarily put aside.

“Oh dear,” she said and placed the drink down, staying opposite the booth to maintain some distance. “Sitting alone in the dark isn’t usually a good sign.”

Danny was a little surprised to see the drink just appear in front of him. He was pretty sure he hadn’t ordered anything yet. It was the sweet tone of Elle’s voice though that brought his eyes up, seeing the young blond there. He looked a wreck, he was sure of it, and even if part of him did untwist at the sight of her he couldn’t bring himself to even fake a smile. At the most his gruff expression shifted ever so slightly as he reached for the beer. “Not been a good day,” he grumbled at her before taking a long pull off the glass.

Elle hated seeing that kind of look in anyone. It crossed her mind that he may very well want to be left alone but she couldn’t quite bring herself to wander away. He’d probably tell her if he didn’t want her lingering around, anyway. Even if he did she’d still keep an eye on him from a distance. After a moment of hovering there she came to sit at the end of the booth. “What happened?” she asked gently.

Danny was surprised to see her sit with him. He thought he’d been nasty enough to scare even his wife away but apparently Elle was just as good hearted as Janey. First he took another pull off his glass then set it down to study the girl. She had no business bothering with him, but she did anyway. He had to wonder what it was that he did that kept her coming back and not just dropping the glass off and running away. “Why do you care?” he wound up blurting gruffly instead of answering her question.

“Because we’re friends,” she answered, a slight indication in her tone that it should have been obvious. Or some reassurance that she considered him to be a friend, at least. “So I find it hard to see you sitting there like that and not care.” Elle decided not to ask again, not wanting to press the issue and wind up with him being angry at her as well as whatever was bothering him.

They were friends? Why did she want to be friends with him. “You really shouldn’t care,” Danny pointed out, scowling down at the table. “I’m a loose cannon. Likely to blow at any moment.” Of course he’d never blow up on Elle. Maybe towards her, but he wouldn’t ever hurt her. There were some lines he didn’t cross.

Hearing Danny talk about himself that way, Elle frowned. “Who told you that?” With the state he was in now, she could see why someone might view him like that. She could almost picture it herself, though it didn’t come easily. Mostly because she didn’t want it to. Everyone had their dark moments. It didn’t necessarily mean that they would, as he had put it, blow.

Danny gave a low snort, a dark noise. “My superiors, the ass wipe I’m supposed to call my partner. Everyone.” He was an idiot. This was his fault, he knew it, but he still hated it. Looking down at the table he rubbed his temple, wanting it not to be true anymore. “I’ve been kicked off my cases. Whatever comes up next will be mine but they dropped me from the cases I was on. The park, the gallery, all of it. I’m too close or something.” And he was slowly starting to lose his cool.

It was Elle’s turn to stare at the tabletop. She knew what she wanted to say but doubted he was going to like it. Eventually she looked up at him, still hesitant. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t be angry about that, and no one could really blame you for being so, but I think if you are too close it’s probably best if you’re not involved. You have to be objective, don’t you? Look at the facts and step outside yourself to be able to put them all together. If you’re caught up emotionally, it’s hard to do that. I know you want to do your job and find the people responsible for everything, and I’m sure you’re a good cop. The possibility of blowing up doesn’t mean you’re not. It just means you’re human. So if there’s another case without the emotional charge, you can be that good cop.”

Danny didn’t want to hear it. He knew Elle was right, she was saying what everyone else had but he didn’t want to hear it. “It doesn’t matter if I was close, it’s my job to find out who did it...” he trailed off, losing some of the anger. What good was he doing anyway. Setting the glass aside he buried his face in his hands. “I’m not a good cop.”

Elle reached out and gave his back a gentle pat. “You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself.” Withdrawing her hand, she folded both in her lap. “It’s your job to protect the city. You’ll still be doing that.” Falling silent for a moment, she looked down away from him. “Something else is probably going to happen, isn’t it?” she said quietly. “It’s not like it’s all just going to stop.” Normally those thoughts wouldn’t be vocalised. Given the circumstances, they were going to serve to make a point. And it served to lighten some of her own burdens. “And if it does, you’ll be there to solve it. You can put yourself to good use and show your superiors that maybe they were wrong rather than have the chance to give them more fuel for the fire.”

He couldn’t believe she was reassuring him. Not a soul else was, but here was this small thing telling him he’d be fine. Her question had him looking up, watching her as she spoke. “I don’t know if I’m even capable of solving a damn thing these days. It’s not like we were getting anywhere with the other cases.” Danny let out a sigh, looking away looking into the room proper. “You’re worried aren’t you?” he asked as he glanced back towards her.

“Well, you obviously care about things so that’s a good start. At least you’re not jaded.” Elle gave him a small but encouraging smile. “And they don’t seem like the kind of cases that will be cracked overnight.” As nice as that would have been. For whatever faults it might have brought, she admired Danny’s passion. Features twisting into a frown, Elle shrugged slightly. “Everyone’s worried. I just don’t want to see my friends, or anyone else, hurt any more.”

Danny had to wonder if he was jaded or not. Some days he felt like that. Like no one but him gave a shit for the letter of the law. Of course he’d just barely cracked under that pressure with that smarmy kid who they let go. It was right to let him go sure, but Danny wasn’t comfortable with citizens shooting others. Even if it was in self defense. There shouldn’t be a need for it, but obviously the cops weren’t keeping up and that left Danny feeling like it was his fault. His fault that the city was falling apart.

“No one wants to see that kiddo,” he told her, trying to sound reassuring but it came out sarcastic. He really had no way with words whatsoever. Taking the glass back he finished it off then set it aside. “You’re staying safe right?” he asked, again gruff, but the concern was there under it.

“No, of course they don’t,” she replied softly. It had been kind of a stupid, obvious thing to say. But stating the obvious meant being able to avoid admitting her personal fears and worries. Better to suffer the sarcasm than that. Nodding at the question, Elle smiled. “I’m fine. All safe. Don’t worry.” Which wasn’t exactly true. She felt bad for lying to him but Danny had enough to deal with as it was. And she was fine, so there was no need to bother him with anything. “But it’s sweet of you to ask,” she added serenely, purposely contrasting with his brusqueness. Partly in acknowledgment of his concern, partly to distract from the topic of her safety.

Danny flinched at her soft reply. He hadn’t intended to make her feel bad about her comment, but he didn’t blame her. He wasn’t good at being reassuring when he was already in a rotten mood. The way she contrasted his attitude had just a slight more of the edge softening on him and his hand fell over hers for a brief instant. There was a little sweet about him, but he was trying to show her that somewhere in there it was there. “Stay that way, safe.” Finding Elle at one of these crime scenes would kill him.

Now she really did feel bad, what with the way he was trying to be nice and all. So she squeezed his hand and kept on smiling, kept on nodding. Of course, she intended to stay nothing other than safe but she wasn’t certain it was a promise she could keep. Not unless she holed up in her apartment and never left. “I will. Nothing’s going to happen to me because someone has to be around to remind you that you actually are a good guy.”

That got a bitter laugh of out of Danny. “Nice to hear that someone thinks that.” It was nice to hear, especially after the day he’d had. “How about I stick around until you’re done tonight, see to it that you get home in one piece.” He hoped she agreed, though even if she didn’t he was likely to just walk her home anyway.

Elle gave him a very unimpressed look at the laugh, crossing her arms over her chest. “Well, I mean it,” she told him. Relaxing out of her moment of pouting, she shook her head. “It’s okay, you don’t have to do that. I mean, it’s kind of you to offer but I’m sure you have better things to do.” He didn’t have to put himself out for her.

“I know you meant it,” Danny said, knowing that if he was in a better mood he would actually try and smile at her little pout. She was a rather adorable person. “I don’t have better things to do. And that would give me peace of mind.” And gave him the sense of actually accomplishing something, pushing back the darkness in some way.

“If it’ll make you feel better, okay then,” she relented. It wouldn’t be such a bad thing to be accompanied home. Elle had made her way back alone dozens of times before but given recent events she’d be glad about the company. Cop company at that. “Maybe I’ll get you to carry my purse.” she mused with a little smile. “It feels ever so heavy at the end of a long day.”

Danny gave her an unamused look. “Even my wife doesn’t get that treatment,” he pointed out. Though given his weakness for protecting and saving women he was likely to be convinced to do so much.

Elle sighed then gave an exaggerated shrug. “Oh well, it was worth a shot.” Done with kidding around for now, her expression turned more serious. “I think I might just get a cab home. Then you don’t have to worry about walking me or me walking by myself.” She was aware that she was apparently changing her tune from one moment to the next but this time her mind was made up. Because he had a wife at home and therefore did have better things to do. Though she was also aware that the sudden awkwardness she felt wasn’t to do with Danny himself, not really.

He considered that for a moment, realizing she’d changed her tune, but he went with it, nodding slowly. “I like that idea as well. Probably better.” He would leave her a decent tip enough to cover the cab ride as well. Just to make sure. “Figure I can get another?” he asked holding up the glass. He would still wait out her shift, but he wasn’t going to be able to do it without a few more beers.

Elle got to her feet, grabbing the glass as she did so. “Sure. I mean, that’s what I’m here for after all. Not to keep rambling on and on at you. I guess I’m not that great a waitress.” It was topped off with a self conscious smile that was flashed Danny’s way before she made a hasty retreat for the bar. Returning shortly after, she set the fresh drink down in front of him. “So I should probably get back out there...” she said, looking out around the Round. Elle paused and her gaze drifted back to him. “I’m really glad you talked about things,” she told him sincerely. “And... Feel better soon.”

Danny opened his mouth to say something but she dashed off too quickly. When she came back though he reached out and caught her wrist in his hand, gently as he could but nothing about him was terribly gentle. “You’re doing a good job Elle,” he told her sternly, not wanting her to doubt that just because he was inherently a jerk. Letting go of her wrist, he leaned back into the shadows of the booth, shifting so he could see the bar properly. He would keep a close eye on her while she moved about, making sure she didn’t run into any trouble. “Thanks for listening,” he managed.

She had to smile at his utter seriousness. “It’s okay. I appreciate you saying that but I’m not holding out for my ‘Waitress of the Year’ award or anything. It just works well while I try and figure out what my talents actually are.” And again with the talking too much. She couldn’t stop herself when she felt a little uncomfortable. Words tended to just pour out. “You’re welcome,” she said graciously, smiling a bit more. “I’m always here to listen.” At least he didn’t seem quite so angry now. That was good. Hopefully he’d do nothing more than sit and brood the rest of it away.

“You’re my favorite,” he pointed out, but it didn’t sound anything more than stern again. Danny figured that wasn’t much of a compliment from him either as his expectations for waitresses tended to be far lower than most. Provided the drinks kept coming with alcohol in them, he didn’t care about much else otherwise. At her other comment he nodded, opting to take another drink instead. He wasn’t a talker, wasn’t about to be one, but it was good to know that someone was listening.

“But strong and silent works too,” she said with the smallest hint of amusement. “And now I really am going. So take care, be good and don’t end up hanging around this place all night.” Mimicking Danny’s stern demeanor, she fixed him with a look and wagged a finger at him. She walked backwards for a couple of paces, keeping up the no-nonsense expression. Then it dissolved into a smile before she turned and headed away.