Actions

Work Header

Well-Spoken

Work Text:

"Whuk?"

"Aww, Danno, I think she likes you," Steve teased.

"She likes me? Of course she likes me. I rescued the damn thing from a murder of crows, Steven." Danny gave him one of those mixed looks--annoyance (at Steve) and fondness (for the owl).

He crossed his arms and smirked. "Murder of crows?"

Danny rolled his eyes as he let the bird--a type of Scoops Owl, Steve believes--perch onto his finger, hooting softly again. "Yes. That's what you call them when they group together. Something you didn't know?"

Steve laughed. Whatever upper hand Danny was trying to get was lessened by the owl. "Yes, of course I knew that, didn't know you did," he teased again, knowing full well it would get Danny ranting again.

And it did. Danny ranted as HPD and Animal Control finished giving their sweep of the warehouse, continued through while they signed off where they had to, and still had enough steam--though Steve's sure of a topic switch--while they were told what would happen to the rest of the animals.

The case wasn't their usual high-explosives, high-adrenaline kind, which Steve was sure Danny was grateful for--since, if Danny can't bitch about how insane a case is, it's about how simple it is. One dead body led to a drug and animal smuggling ring. In the end, there were no extra dead bodies but quite a few battered and bruised ones. It also ended up with a lot of the cages breaking apart and chaos ensuing with various animals (Danny blamed Steve on this of course) and how they came to be acquainted with the owl that was now happily perched on Danny's shoulder.

"Pirate, are you?"

"Shut it, Steve," Danny said with no malice, one finger up to shush him as he turned to the Animal Control officer. "So you're saying they'll all be shipped back to the mainland?"

"Well the common animals, yes," the officer replied. "Unless someone's willing to adopt..."

Danny's eyebrows furrowed, crossing his arms. Steve knew what that look meant, as Danny's current apartment didn't allow pets.

"You do realize you have a thing for strays, right, Danno?" Steve asked. He ignored the other man's stuttering at that and continued, "What do I have to do to adopt the owl?"



They were driving back to HQ a while later, papers signed and cage found, while a very happy owl--'Lali'--slept in the back seat, a very quiet Danny next to him.

"Did I do something wrong?" Steve asked, wondering if he overstepped another line, but Danny shook his head.

"You didn't have to Steven, but, thanks." Danny gave him one of those rare smiles, ones usually reserved for his daughter.

That warmed Steve to no end. It was a while before he spoke up again. "You know, you and Grace can visit Lali any time," Steve said, grinning after Danny nodded, smiling to himself.

Anything to make Danno happy.

 

Meet Lali, the Indian Scoops Owl.