Danny

[drfeelbad]

This was exceptionally stupid, but when Danny left again House kind of missed him.

No, he told himself, he missed having someone cook eggs and tidy up. Insisted to himself, really. Because obviously House was not lonely.

He did, however, actually smile when there was a knock at the door and Danny was on the other side.

"Well," he said. "That took you long enough."

Comments

[drfeelbad]

"Mostly," said House, "what people are afraid of. Who are the boogie men who kidnap the adorable little wizard? Demons? Pirates? A rival realm? Or maybe he wasn't kidnapped at all, maybe it's all some scheme, and it's the wizards we should be afraid of."

He nudged the bottle towards Danny, should he want another pour.

[london_spy]

"All could be true," Danny replied, taking the bottle and pouring another glass.

"What do you think happened then?" he asked, assuming the other man had a theory.

[drfeelbad]

House looked at him for a second and then said, "I actually know the answer. If you can keep your mouth shut. I have a feeling you can, am I right?"

[london_spy]

"House, the only person I talk to is you," Danny admitted. "I've got no one to tell."

[drfeelbad]

House chuckled. "Fair." He knocked back the rest of the whiskey in his glass, and then poured himself another as well.

"He's absconded with the pirates, because he's in love with a pirate king. Romantic, isn't it?"

[london_spy]

Not so long ago Danny would have agreed, but he had mixed feelings about romance now.

"Sure, if you want to end your life among sharks or in a noose," Danny replied. "Better than serving the throne though, I suppose."

[drfeelbad]

"I'll drink to that," House snorted, and held up his glass. "Fuck the throne. Also fuck romance. But good for the nerdy little wizard I guess."

[london_spy]

"Have daydreams of running off with pirates?" Danny asked. "I could see you on a ship..."

[drfeelbad]

"I hate ships," House said. "Puke my guts out. I'm not sure how much pirate hotness would have to make up for that."

[london_spy]

"You get used to it. I used to be ill every time I had to get on a ship, not anymore. Working at the docks cured me very quickly," Danny admitted.

[drfeelbad]

"What were you doing on the docks?" House asked. "Like... moving cargo?"

[london_spy]

"Taking inventory, mostly," Danny nodded. "It was shit. Most jobs I'm qualified for are though."

[drfeelbad]

"Oh too bad," House said. "I was imagining you doing hard labor for a moment."

He took another drink. "And I will also remind you that I've offered to train you in useful skills."

[london_spy]

"Been too busy running errands to take any time to learn," Danny pointed out. "But I did say I'd take you up on it."

[drfeelbad]

"Well we have the perfect opportunity now then," House said. "We'll start with basic first aid. Then potions."

[london_spy]

Danny was grateful that Greg was willing to train him, but he was also in a mood. Everything felt so hopeless and pointless, and it left the younger man feeling a touch reckless and self destructive.

"Or we could get wasted, fuck, then sleep," he replied. "What do I need skills for? If this curse doesn't kill me, one of the kings will.

[drfeelbad]

The glass was at House's lips, but he coughed in surprise.

"I uh. I didn't mean right now, I was thinking maybe first aid lessons tomorrow..."

Which he knew was a stupid response to that, but he was just a little taken aback and the whiskey was making his brain move slightly slowly.

[london_spy]

Danny snorted, knocking back the rest of his drink.

"Sure, tomorrow," he replied.

[drfeelbad]

"Look, you're not dead yet," House said. "And you're... sharp. Even if you die next month, wouldn't you get bored doing nothing but drinking and fucking between now and then?"

And course, he'd just had to put the idea of fucking him into House's brain.

[london_spy]

"Dunno what your sex life is like, but mine used to be pretty damn entertaining," Danny replied, shrugging one shoulder.

[drfeelbad]

"Mine is expensive," said House.

"Look, you're very hot and I'm sure you could get as much tail as you want, just... don't bring someone back here." House did have some limits to preserve his own dignity.

[london_spy]

"Not gonna treat your home like an inn, Greg. Haven't yet, and didn't intend to start," Danny shrugged. "And look, I- I'll get out of your hair as soon as I can afford to," he promised.

[drfeelbad]

"I don't want you out of my hair," House said irritably, then knocked back the rest of the drink and set the glass hard on the table.

[london_spy]

Danny flinched, then frowned.

"I'm going to bed," he said finally, getting to his feet.

He looked frail and tired, and it wasn't the errands doing it. It was the curse. It was as though it was devouring him alive from the inside, sapping away his energy and making just existing that much harder.

[drfeelbad]

House jumped to his feet as well, and moved close to him, taking him by the arm to steady him. Though House wasn't exactly steady on his feet either. "I don't want you out of my hair," he repeated quietly.