why don't we imagines

new haircut (d.s.)

a/n: just wrote this today and decided to post it, hope you enjoy!

summary: daniel comes back home with a new haircut and sees your reaction.

The sound of Daniel's car creeping onto the driveway sent your gaze towards the front door as you sat on the couch. He hadn't seen you since the morning before he left for work, and as he made his way across the porch to the door, keys jingling in the lock, you were hopping off the couch to greet him. Kobe's little paws followed behind eagerly.

As the door opened, his dark furred dog was pawing at him excitedly on his hind legs, and Daniel, barely having two feet inside, crouched down to scoop Kobe into his arms. He wore a typical hoodie and joggers, and despite the brim of his hat veiling the top of his head, tiredness peeked through the lines across his forehead and dark smudges under his eyes.

"Hi, baby." He smiled, trudging sweetly into your arms.

"Hi," you met his eyes for a second before your lips met his own for a long-awaited, chaste kiss, hooking your fingers around the strings of his hoodie as if to somehow be closer to him.

As you pushed his hat from his head, mouths still locked for a few more kisses, Daniel broke the kiss, breathily giggling against your lips. "I have a surprise for you."

"What is it?" You asked, mind split between sudden curiosity and the need for his affection.

"Just look up," The unusual response was intriguing, pushing your lips off his and raising your eyes to his blonde head of hair.

Daniel let his mouth rest slightly open in anticipation for your reaction, unsure if he should mention that it was an effortful decision to dye his hair lighter again, or that he liked a little change once in a while, or to stay quiet and let you process the surprising short, blonde haircut.

"Your hair," You breathed, now standing too still for his liking, arms unmoving by your sides.

"Do you like it?" He asked hopefully, bending down to let Kobe jump out of his arms.

"Y-yeah," You hesitated, "yeah, it's okay." You said quietly, turning away from him towards the kitchen. Daniel lingered in your wake, feeling a bundle of regret brew in the pit of his stomach.

"I made you dinner." You pushed his plate of lukewarm dinner across the kitchen island, eyes not meeting him.

He sensed your quick, awkward change in subject, and as slipped out of his red puffer jacket, he spoke a gentle, "just 'okay'?" He draped it over the barstool next to him and sat before his dinner, pushing around his food haphazardly with a fork.

The cabinet door shut with a light thud as you pulled out a glass cup, your back as you focused on filling it with water from the fridge dispenser. "Yeah, it's alright."

Daniel's smile fell. "You don't like it." He frowned, his tone matter of fact. The clatter of his fork dropping against the plate had you spinning around to face him.

"No," You protested disbelievingly with a smile, although the obvious disappointment poured over your face spoke the truth. "I...I like it."

Daniel stared at you, furrowing his brow, and in just a moment you were sighing, dropping the fake grin to finally admit, "okay, fine." You set the glass of water down next to his plate, receiving a quiet 'thank you' before you continued. "I don't like it...I'm just so used to your brown hair," you pouted, leaning forward over the marble island to run your hand through his newly dyed locks, "and your beautiful curls."

Daniel watched you slither your hand slowly through his hair, fingers brushing over the shaved, short sides. He dropped his head to his dinner, solemnly poking his food to raise to his mouth. "I thought you'd like it." He mumbled.

"I..." You stopped to think of what to say. "...kinda like it." You huffed with a gentle laugh. "Just need time to get used to it." It was quiet for a moment, and Daniel stared at you over the lip of his cup as he sipped his water.

"You're still just as handsome to me," You tried to lighten the mood, reaching for his hand across the counter. "And I love you," A slight grimace pulled down the soft smile spread across your lips as you glanced up again, "even if I'm not quite used to your blonde hair yet."

Daniel chuckled, and through another bite of his dinner, he mummed "I love you too."