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]

House glanced at the calendar hanging by the sink.

"Oh that's perfect," he said. "If you want to learn first aid... I have a standing appointment with one of Hannibal's employees. Because she had a standing appointment last night." He took a sip of the normal tea that Danny had made. "And it tends to get rough. I patch her up in the morning. We can go after breakfast."

[london_spy]

Danny was no stranger to sex and violence, but he wasn't sure he wanted to confront it right now, and he looked unsure.

"Seems a bit unfair to just spring me on your patient," he said awkwardly.

[drfeelbad]

"She won't mind," House said, and felt pretty confident of that.

Pause. "Unless it bothers you... I promise you she's fine. She's an anguisette. She feels pain as pleasure." He snorted. "Must be nice. But look, you don't have to. I just thought it would be an easy first aid lesson. Antiseptic and bandages."

[london_spy]

"Um- Sure, yeah, I'll come," Danny said awkwardly, feeling as though he'd be judged if he said no.

[drfeelbad]

House could read the awkwardness, and he looked at him for a second and then said, "Seriously, if it makes you uncomfortable... it's fine. You can wait here and we'll do a potions lesson when I get back."

[london_spy]

"It's fine," Danny insisted. "I just- I don't have anything to wear out to go to some posh brothel."

[drfeelbad]

House arched an eyebrow. "What do you think I wear when I go over there? You ever seen me look posh?"

[london_spy]

"You have a reputation to smarten you up. I have fuck all," Danny replied.

[drfeelbad]

"You have my endorsement," House said. "See, this is why you should let me train you up. If you do enough good for people, you can be as much of a bastard as you want and they don't care."

He shrugged. "Besides, the people who work there, they make everyone seem like hideous slobs in comparison."

[london_spy]

"Just go without me this time, maybe I'll come next time," Danny said, deciding that he'd try and scrounge up some money to buy some acceptable clothes.

[drfeelbad]

"Sure," said House, as he certainly wasn't going to push it. "I should go soon though... I won't be gone long."

[london_spy]

"I'll have a tidy while you're out," Danny offered, thinking he'd clean and use the sparse coin he had to buy some meat for dinner. A treat for them both.

[drfeelbad]

"Sure," House chuckled, and got to his feet. "But keep resting too, okay?"

[london_spy]

"Yeah, of course," Danny nodded.

He waited for House to head out, then set about cleaning. He started in the bedroom, washing the sheets and Greg's laundry, then hanging it out to dry before heading to the market. He didn't have much to spend, but he managed to get a rather plump chicken and some good bread. On the walk home he gathered wild greens- Something Alex had taught him to do on their long walks.

By the time he was home the laundry was dry, and he put the chicken on to roast as he set about putting things away and making the bed, ready for Greg's return.

[drfeelbad]

House was gone longer than he'd anticipated, and when he returned he smelled cooking... and smiled when he saw Danny. "You've been busy," he said.

[london_spy]

"Oh, not really," Danny lied. "I did go buy a chicken though. And the sheets are clean now..."

[drfeelbad]

House cleared his throat. "That's um... thank you. Really, I'm sure the place needed a good clean, but... I hope you know that I didn't ask you to stay because I want someone to cook and clean for me."

[london_spy]

"I need to earn my keep," Danny replied. "Not- Not because I think you expect it, but for myself. I need to know I'm doing something."

[drfeelbad]

"Well I'd prefer for you to earn your keep as my assistant," House said. "But... I mean, I won't complain about the other stuff, too." He gave him a lopsided smile. "I can't cook for shit."

[london_spy]

"I'm not that good either, I only know a few dishes," Danny confessed. "I can cook a chicken though."

[drfeelbad]

"I really like chicken," House said. "Though also..."

He opened his cloak and pulled something out of a large pocket. A wrapped parcel that he opened on the table, revealing a decadent looking swirled cinnamon cake.

[london_spy]

"Hope that's not how they paid you today," Danny joked.

[drfeelbad]

House chuckled. "I mean I don't always get paid entirely in coin, but baked goods would be a first from them. No, I stopped by the bakery on the way back. They had the door open and it smelled kind of amazing. I thought you might like it."

[london_spy]

"It smells lovely. We should share it," Danny said with a smile.

[drfeelbad]

"Oh yes, that was my plan," House assured him. "Dessert? I may also have some wine around here somewhere..."