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

[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.

[london_spy]

Danny leaned into him slightly, steadying himself.

"What do you want then?" he asked. "Because I can't tell."

[drfeelbad]

"It's stupid," House mumbled. "I just think - maybe I miss you when you're not here."

[london_spy]

Danny had been so numb for so long. Losing Alex, then Scottie, it had changed him to the point he wasn't sure how to react to Greg's words.

Impulsively, he leaned in and kissed him- Before he could even think about what kissing the man meant- What it suggested, what it might ruin. He didn't think at all.

[drfeelbad]

House was surprised, but instinctively kissed him back - and then it was nice, and he put a hand to Danny's face and deepened the kiss. As if he hadn't been kicking himself for daydreaming about this for months.

[london_spy]

The kiss lingered, but eventually it had to break. Danny looked dazed and uneasy as he drew away.

He couldn't help but feel like he'd just ruined something. That's what he always wound up doing after all.

[drfeelbad]

House looked at him for a long moment, trying to read him. And he couldn't get a good read, but saw the uneasiness as part of it.

"I wanted that," he finally said, the words spilling out. "But if you regret it... it's fine, we can pretend it didn't happen. And it won't impact your welcome here."

[london_spy]

"I don't- I don't regret it," Danny assured him. "I just- I don't want to ruin our friendship either. You're the only friend I have, House."

[drfeelbad]

"Did you kiss me because you wanted to?" House asked.

[london_spy]

Really, you want to grill me about my motives? I don't know. Yes? I think? I don't know. I know I wanted to in that moment, it felt right," Danny said, sighing softly.

[drfeelbad]

House put both hands on either side of his face and kissed him again. Wanting it, but also wanting to see how he reacted.

[london_spy]

Danny went still for a beat, then returned the kiss.

He still didn't know how he felt, didn't want to think. Kissing was good. Kissing was easy.