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 what Danny had brought.

"You want a drink?" he asked.

[london_spy]

"Please," Danny nodded, pushing his hair back and looking a bit more high-strung than usual.

[drfeelbad]

"Look, it's fine if you need to lay low," House said as he grabbed his cane and went to the cabinet where he had some bottles. "There's nothing I need urgently."

[london_spy]

"I just don't know if I can keep doing this," Danny admitted. "I'm tired. Tired of running. Tired of... Everything."

[drfeelbad]

House's hand lingered for a moment over the glass as he poured, but then a moment later he continued.

He handed Danny a generously poured short glass of something strong, keeping the other for himself. "Those things seem unrelated," he said. "Your running. My errands."

[london_spy]

"Look, I can find you another errand boy," Danny sighed. "I'm sorry, won't dump my problems on you."

[drfeelbad]

"I mean, I don't exactly need an errand boy..." House said awkwardly, and sat down.

"Look, what do you actually. need right now?"

[london_spy]

"Rest. I'm exhausted. I don't know if it's the curse or the trip, but I feel drained," Danny admitted.

[drfeelbad]

House took a drink. "Sure, do that then. Easy enough."

[london_spy]

"You don't mind? I feel like a bit of a dick, coming over and then climbing right into bed. ...Suppose it'll give you a chance to check over the goods though," Danny said, picking up his drink and sipping.

[drfeelbad]

"I already told you you can stay here," House said. "There's a bed. Sleep in it if you want." He shrugged.

[london_spy]

"Your tone tends to cancel out your generous offers," Danny replied with a snort. "You somehow manage to make it sound like you want me to fuck off, all while insisting I stay."

He wouldn't say no to a warm bed though.

"Was everything alright while I was gone?" he asked, not sure why he felt like he should check up on House. ...He just did. He worried about him, even if he was doing his best not to get attached. ...Not just to him, but anyone.

[drfeelbad]

"If I wanted you to fuck off I'd tell you to fuck off," House pointed out. "I tell lots of people to fuck off."

He took another drink. "Well, I did have some trouble cleaning up after the wild rager of a party I had, without your help. If you find panties or liquor bottles under your bed just throw them in the pile with the others."

[london_spy]

"Right, sorry for giving a shit," Danny said flatly.

[drfeelbad]

House sighed. "Everything was fine. Everything's the same. There was an execution. Barbaric as always, though one of them escaped."

[london_spy]

"Nice to know someone's having good luck," Danny replied.

[drfeelbad]

"Indeed," House snorted. "Oh there are also some very interesting rumors about the king's magician. The one who's missing." Except not so missing, as House had discovered first hand.

[london_spy]

"Oh?" Danny asked. "Didn't peg you as a gossip," he noted.

[drfeelbad]

"I am interested in listening to it," House said. "You can learn a lot from lies."

[london_spy]

"And what have you learned?" Danny asked as he finished his drink, watching House with curious eyes.

[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?"