What Doesn't Kill You

Chapter 9: User Friendly

Daniel wasn't aware just how insatiable Ian could be until he spent time with him alone after all those months. It took a desire of food to even get them cleaned up and out of bed, although the stop in the bathroom was delayed by Ian going down on him as they tried to make their way into the shower. Eventually though, they made some food in the kitchen and had settled down in the living room to watch a late west coast basketball game.

Daniel was stretched out down the large oversized leather sectional in the livingroom. His head was resting in Ian's lap who was on the edge of the section, a beer on the side table next to him that he was nursing as they watched the Spurs play on the west coast. Ian was mindlessly running his fingers through Daniel's curls and sometimes stroking down his beard gently, although each time the Mavs fell behind his ministrations got slightly more intense.

"Did you become a Mavs fan after you started playing in Texas?" Daniel asked carelessly, his hand reaching up to take Ian's hand and untangle it from his hair, lacing their fingers together and setting it on his chest.

"Yeah. It just kinda happened after living in Dallas for so long. I grew up in Arizona, so I mean, I like the Suns and all. But after the Barkley era I was already drafted and playing baseball by the time Nash was around. So I just kinda adopted most of the Dallas teams." Ian squeezed Daniel's hand back in return. "You're not a sports fan?"

"I grew up in Tennessee. Well, I mean, you know that you've been there." He laughed shaking his head wondering why he had to explain that. "I mean, I was what.. 8 when the Grizzlies showed up as our basketball team in Memphis even though that's far away. And what, five in 1998 when the predators were around but I never really watched hockey? My family wasn't big into sports, I'm pretty sure that the only reason I grew up playing them was my parents had no clue what to do with a boy after both my sisters."

"Fuck I forget how young you were. You were 8 in 2001, and I was 19 and on my second college already hell I'd already been attempted to be drafted in 2000... What did you play other than baseball?" Ian asked dropping Daniel's hand so that he could reach for his beer bottle, taking a long draw from it.

"Yeah well, you clearly have a thing for hot young ass." Daniel smirked and pinched Ian's thigh chuckling. "Yeah well small town, I played varsity basketball and football too. It was never the same as baseball for me though."

"I get that." Ian smiled, "Your life is like, everything I wanted as a kid. I looked you up, second round? I got drafted in the 17th after playing fucking three different colleges. 496th overall in 2003. What were you?"

"I don't remember.." Daniel shook his head, a blush forming under his beard.

"Bullshit. We all do. Tell me." Ian nudged him settle the beer down his hand moving to brush over Daniel's bushy long beard.

"74th. Not that I've lived up to half the potential in that draft. Hell, the people in the organization are more excited for Fulmer then me." Daniel sighed closing his eyes. "Hell, the only reason I even had a rotation spot when I came over was because of injuries."

"That's not true. Besides, you're the favorite for the fifth spot." Ian sighed and leaned down to place a kiss on his forehead. "I've seen you pitch. You're good. You're gonna be great."

"Thanks. But that's easy for you to say. You've made a team every year since 2005. And yes, I know that because I was a huge fucking Ian Kinsler fan when I was growing up and did a project on you." Daniel laughed, admitting that to himself.

"Is that what that collage was hanging in your room at your parents? I saw that old photo, but I really wasn't ready to ask. Brad was there too right?"