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 suddenly wondered if this was weird, suggesting that Danny sleep in his bed. In some ways it was more intimate than sex, which could have just been a quick go on the couch and then they went their separate ways.

House usually just slept naked, but well, no. He'd stayed at home today though and was only wearing loose linen pants and a simple shirt, so he just took off his socks, and then after a brief hesitation, his shirt as well before climbing into the bed. "Well, I like it," he said.

[london_spy]

Danny stripped down to his underclothes and climbed into bed.

"It's nice," he said softly. "Soft. Soft feels so rare and lush. Everything in this world is so hard and coarse."

[drfeelbad]

"Especially the people," said House. He pulled the soft, warm comforter over both of them. "I thought this place should be softer."

[london_spy]

"Yeah," Danny said softly. "It is- It's lovely, Greg."

[drfeelbad]

"So are you," said House, and dragged his fingertips along Danny's arm. "You fit here."

[london_spy]

Danny looked over at him, a little vulnerable in that moment.

"I don't fit anywhere," he replied. "I never did."

He settled in on his side so he could look at the other man properly.

[drfeelbad]

"Well... baby steps then," House said, propping himself up by one hand. "You fit in soft sheets."

[london_spy]

Danny offered a tired smile, then settled in and got comfortable.

[drfeelbad]

House hesitated, and then slipped an arm around him. "Is this ok?"

[london_spy]

Danny seemed unsure for a beat, then relaxed into it with a nod.

"Yes," he decided.

[drfeelbad]

House closed his eyes. "Sleep well, then. I'm glad you're back."

[london_spy]

"I'm glad to be here," Danny said, slipping an arm around him and allowing himself this moment of true intimacy.

[drfeelbad]

It had been so long since House had fallen asleep with someone in his own bed, and it was nice. Maybe they'd wake up in the morning and Danny would be horrified, but for right now, it was nice.

He even managed to sleep through the night without being woken up by pain.

[london_spy]

Danny slept well at first, then woke with a start in a cold sweat, shivering a bit and sitting up.

It wasn't unusual for him to wake up this way, haunted by the memory of finding his dead lover.

[drfeelbad]

House was woken by the jostling of the bed, and was disoriented for a moment before he remembered that Danny was there with him. House put a hand onto the small of his back. "Danny? You okay?"

[london_spy]

"Bad dream, I'm fine. It's fine. ...I'll make us some breakfast," he offered, glancing at Greg. "Eggs?"

[drfeelbad]

It was earlier than House usually woke up, but light was beginning to stream in through the windows.

"Uh... sure. Okay." House wasn't going to push it on the dream. People had bad dreams. He had them himself. Usually about fire.

[london_spy]

Danny gave Greg's shoulder a squeeze, as if thanking him for not asking.

"Let me wash up and dress, then I'll get breakfast started and make some tea."

He paused a beat, then gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

[drfeelbad]

House quirked a smile and swung a leg over to get out of the bed. He winced and rubbed his thigh before standing up. "Yes, I think there's some eggs. I try to remember to actually pick them up now."

[london_spy]

"I worry you don't eat right when I'm not here," Danny admitted as he freshened up and pulled on a shirt.

A simple statement that revealed more about Danny's feelings than he meant to.

[drfeelbad]

"I probably don't," House said. "Does whiskey count?" But it was kind of nice to hear that someone worried about him.

He pulled on a shirt as well, and even stopped himself from putting on the same one as yesterday. He got a fresh one from a drawer.

[london_spy]

Danny's wardrobe was limited, and he pulled on the same shirt as the day before, but took some clean trousers from the room he usually stayed in. A new wardrobe wasn't really in the budget.

Wandering to the kitchen he set about putting water on to boil and getting the coals hot enough to start frying up some eggs.

He wasn't a cook, but Alex had taught him enough.

[drfeelbad]

House came in behind him and made up a pot of the painkiller tea as well, filling it with water first once it was boiling.

"How'd you sleep?" he asked.

[london_spy]

"Good," Danny said. "Well, at first. The nightmares just come sometimes. It's like being dragged back through time to one of the worst moments of my life," he admitted.

"Nothing to do with you or your bed though. I'm just damaged or something."

[drfeelbad]

"Maybe a little," said House. "But... I'm sorry, that sucks. I have nightmares sometimes too. Uh. Similar kind of thing, probably. The damage."