Close To Heart

Prompt #047 Heart

By: Kuroi Neko-kun (lino_en_kuldes)

Summary: The past week had been an emotional roller coaster for the both of them.

Disclaimer: CSI: NY and Blade Trinity I do not own. Sylum is Bev’s.

Warning: Slash. Don’t like? What are you doing here then? Shoo!

Rating: FRM

Beta: Bev (bjjones)

A/N: Danny’s dog tag bunny bit me! Evil bunny!

-

The past week had been an emotional roller coaster for the both of them. They had both managed to get hurt helping the clan, leaving the other scared of losing each other. It led them to start their bond. Mac held Danny in his arms as he watched his future mate sleep.

They had returned to New York and the both of them discussed what they should do now. Mac didn’t want to be away from Danny for too long and Danny wasn’t about to leave him alone for long periods of time anytime soon. With Mac’s new ‘children’, they barely worked with each other. Mac considered living at Blade’s warehouse. It was safer and with the thought of him training with Blade and Danny, he might as well be living there. Though explaining his sudden change of address would be a headache on its own.

But he didn’t mind going through it. Anything for Danny.

-

“So you guys got it on?” Hannibal asked as he sparred with his new little ‘brother’. Danny smacked the wooden sword harder than normal, causing Hannibal’s to grimace.

“Stop asking. I don’t kiss and tell,” he said, dodging Hannibal’s thrust. He parried the blow and made room for another strike.

“Aiden does,” Hannibal said, dodging the blow. “Locking Mac in for how many days? Boy, I wonder how he walked after that.”

Danny glowered at him. “We took turns," he added smirking.

“Interesting,” Hannibal said. “What else did you do?”

Danny stopped before tossing his sword aside. He let out a sigh. “I started the bond and…” Hannibal looked at him. He realized now that Danny was going through. Something that frustrates most vampires: An incomplete bond.

“Talk to me,” he said.

“I just feel like growling at everyone who even thinks about touching him. And worse, Lindsey keeps flirting with him,” he muttered.

“Mac knows his place, Danny,” Hannibal pointed out as he picked up Danny’s sword. “And you are a lot better than that cheap piece of ass.”

Danny raised an eyebrow. “You never even met her.”

“I took the words right off my mate’s mouth,” Hannibal said, smiling.

“Right,” Danny said. “Well it’s hard not to jump him in his office and take him right there.”

The other vampire laughed. “Better don’t. Stella might like watching.”

“She does,” Danny said, smirking. “I guess it’s all about controlling myself.”

“Yeah, cut down of the growling unless completely necessary,” Hannibal said, patting his back.

“I’ll try,” Danny laughed.

-

Mac wasn’t one to sleep but tonight he wasn’t getting any. It was a Saturday night and Stella was out on a date, leaving him with the ‘boys’ (as she would say). It wasn’t too bad as they sat around drinking beer, watching action movies until Flack complained that he was hungry. Before he could even suggest something to eat, both Flack and Danny had left the warehouse. Mac sighed. Hannibal just shook his head and smirked.

“Losing your touch, old man,” he said.

“Old man? Technically that’s a term reserved for yourself,” Mac retorted, smiling. Hannibal let out a small laugh.

“But I look good for a man who is 119 years old, don’t I?” Hannibal smirked. It was Mac’s turn to laugh before nodding.

“Doesn’t that mean we’re both losing our touch with our mates?” Mac asked.

“Well, they do have certain advantages,” Hannibal pointed out.

“That they do,” Mac agreed. “I’m still grateful that Danny wants to be with me.”

“Grateful enough to start the bond?” Hannibal asked, eyeing him. Mac sighed.

“And finish it. I still have…”

“Your doubts,” Hannibal finished for him. “It’s not like Danny doesn’t understand.” Mac looked at Hannibal, raising a brow.

“What are you getting at?” he asked.

“He’s feeling uneasy. This is a very difficult time for him and maybe he needs something to know that you are there for him during this time would be perfect,” Hannibal said.

Mac didn’t say anything because he couldn’t. He didn’t realize what Danny was feeling. Hannibal was right. He needed to be there for his mate.

-

Danny walked passed Mac’s office for the third time, hoping to see him. He hadn’t seen Mac the whole day and he was starting to worry. Danny didn’t like feeling worried.

“Danny?” The vampire nearly jumped before turning towards the speaker. Stella looked at him before frowning.

“Okay, if I managed to make you jump, something must be up,” she said.

“Nothing… Just miss him, you know,” Danny said, shrugging.

“I see. This has a lot to do with locking Mac up for three days?” Stella asked.

“Something like that,” Danny replied shaking his head not surprised Aiden called Stella. “It’s just… I need to…”

She patted his shoulder. “Danny, calm down. You’ll see him.”

“What makes you say that?” Danny asked. A few moments later, Mac’s smell invaded his nostrils. His mate was in the lab. Danny brightened.

“You see I have women’s intuition,” Stella said.

“You’d make a great vampire Stella,” he said, smiling.

“Go see him and if Lindsey is trying to make a move, fang up,” Stella said, smirking.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“Hell yeah,” she answered.

-

Mac barely got into his apartment before Danny mauled him with kisses. Mac had to grip Danny’s wrists and make his future mate stop.

“Danny,” he said, smiling, “Let me close the door first.”

Danny blushed, looking down at his shoes. “Sorry, Mac.” Mac closed the door, locking it before turning towards the vampire.

“It’s not that I mind but is there something you need to tell me?” Mac asked. Danny sighed before moving to the couch, settling himself there.

“You really want to know?” Danny asked, looking at him. Mac joined him on the couch.

“Yes,” he said.

“I don’t want to push you, but I really want to finish the bond. It’s driving me insane,” Danny said. “I just…”

Mac cupped his mate’s cheek. “Danny…”

“You’re not ready,” he whispered, not looking at Mac.

“You’ll know when I am,” he said. “In the meantime…” Danny watched Mac move off the couch, getting on one knee before taking out a small black velvet box out from his pocket. He opened it, revealing a small silver ring. Danny blinked.

“Are you proposing to me?” Danny asked.

“It’s a commitment ring,” Mac explained. “So that you know that we’re tied to each other.”

“Mac…” Danny managed to say as he tried to control his shock. Mac took the ring out and put it on Danny’s finger.

“Danny Messer, from this day on till we complete our bond, I’m yours. No one else’s,” Mac said. Danny looked at Mac, his heart soaring. Mac went to lengths to make him feel better. He smiled before kissing his mate.

“Thanks,” he whispered.

“Anything for you, Danny,” Mac said, smiling.

“But you know I can’t wear this to work, right?” Danny said. Mac creased his eyebrows.

“Why?”

“Well, everyone’s going to ask when I got married, who’s the lucky girl and why wasn’t anyone invited to the wedding. Stella will smirk all day giving you looks. And I really don’t want to get any chemicals on it. It’s special,” Danny said.

Mac weighed his options. Questions and chemicals he didn’t mind. Stella smirking, waiting to pounce, he wasn’t so sure about. He didn’t want to burden Danny either. Mac reached for the clasp behind his neck and took off his dog tags. He put them around Danny’s neck.

“Put your ring on this,” he said, pointing to the dog tags. “That way you won’t lose it.”

“Mac… These are yours,” Danny said. “I can’t…”

“That way, I’m close to you, no matter where you are,” Mac said, “Close to your heart.” Danny smiled at the thought as he looked at the tags. That's when he spotted the small Saint Christopher medal. He looked at Mac who was now staring at it as well.

“It belonged to Claire, right?” Danny asked quietly. Mac looked at him before slowly nodding. “Mac, I can’t take this.” But Mac wasn’t listening. He reached out and gently touched the medal.

“She gave me this when I was going to fight for my country,” he said. “Claire told me that as long as I had this on, she could protect me.” Mac looked up, meeting his mate’s eyes. “I lost her. I can’t lose you. So she’s going to protect you. I know she would.”

Not able to take it anymore, Danny kissed his mate deeply. Mac was sweet, a side that he was sure that only he and Claire saw. Danny felt that he was lucky to have Mac now. The bond can wait as long as Mac needed to wait. He could live with it. At that moment, he would do anything for Mac.

“I love you,” Danny whispered, pulling Mac into his arms. Mac smiled, curling up against Danny.

“And I you,” Mac said.

They stayed in each other’s arms, not caring for whatever dangers were out there for them. All that mattered was this moment of peace that they could have.

-

End… For now.