Fox

[drfeelbad]

House still couldn't quite believe how the previous day had gone. When he'd gone into Fox's shop for an ingredient for an experiment, he certainly hadn't expected to share a bed with him. Asking him to dinner would have seemed like a slightly more likely outcome, and somehow that had ended up happening after.

Later that evening he went back to Fox's place, dressed nicely (for him) and smelling good.

Comments

[shadows_fall]

Fox laughed a bit, then seemed to remember something. "I got a new roommate today. I said the other night, I think, that I was looking to rent out a room. I ran into someone who did some consulting for my old job ages ago, and he happened to be looking for a place. How lucky was that? Until he finds work, he says he'll just help around the flat with everything I can't manage anymore."

[drfeelbad]

House thought someone not paying rent seemed a little sketch, but all he said was, "If that's working out for you, that's great."

[shadows_fall]

"I think it will. You'd get on with him, I think," he admitted, looking thoughtful and wondering if he'd just started collecting grumpy older men. Best not to dwell on that.

"Honestly, there's a lot I struggle with. When I can't use my magic, I definitely can't use my hands, and that means dishes pile up, dust... Everything. If he can just help keep the place from becoming a dump, I'm thankful."

[drfeelbad]

"Maybe I should get a tenant," House joked.

[shadows_fall]

"You have a hard time as well?" Fox asked, not sure yet how much Greg's leg affected his life.

[drfeelbad]

"Nah I'm just a slob," said House automatically. Though then paused, as if realizing it was worth a real answer, and added, "I mean, the cane makes cleaning a little frustrating."

[shadows_fall]

Fox nodded in understanding, picking at their dessert while he thought.

"It's still hard to get used to, not being independent," he said, sure House would understand what he meant. "I mean, I don't feel different than before, but then I just... I can't do everything I used to. Stupid things. Things I barely thought about back before... You know?"

[drfeelbad]

"Yeah," House said with a nod. Pause. "I used to run."

[shadows_fall]

"You must miss that," Fox said softly. "Sometimes it feels like you've been robbed of half your life, you know?"

[drfeelbad]

"Mmmmm and you have more of your life left than I do," House said, just as the server left a check on the table for them. House picked it up and slid in his card.

[shadows_fall]

"I could pay half," Fox offered.

Though he wanted to point out that neither of them had any idea how long his life might be. Even fae blood couldn't fight a curse forever.

[drfeelbad]

"This one was my idea," House said. "You can pay when you ask me on a second date."

[shadows_fall]

"If you insist," Fox said with a little nod. "This was nice, I would like to do it again sometime."

[drfeelbad]

"Next time we can take my bike somewhere," House said, and rather liked the idea of Fox behind him, arms around his waist.

[shadows_fall]

"Consider it a date," Fox said with a tiny smile.

[drfeelbad]

"Well," House said, as the server came and swiped his card, "in the short term, I will walk you home."

[shadows_fall]

"You're sweet- Though that is also where you parked," Fox chuckled.

Paid up, they headed back outside, Fox's hands starting to tremble again as they made their way back.

"I've got some Faeweed coming through the shop next week," he said.

[drfeelbad]

"What are the most typical uses for it?" House asked, as his gaze slipped briefly to Fox's hands.

[shadows_fall]

"Health potions, mana restoration... Small explosions, strangely enough," Fox added.

[drfeelbad]

"Mmmm perhaps I should experiment with it," House said thoughtfully. "It might be interesting for that vampire recovery potion I'm working on."

[shadows_fall]

"Possibly," Fox nodded. "It's not something the vampire community would normally have access to either, it grows in the fae realm, not very vampire friendly in those parts. Fae would likely kill them on sight in their own realms."

[drfeelbad]

"Interesting," said House. "Seems like a handy thing to experiment with. I'll come by and get some."

[shadows_fall]

"I'll put some aside for you," Fox offered. "Just enough to play around with."

[drfeelbad]

"Perfect," said House, just as they approached Fox's front steps.

[shadows_fall]

Fishing his keys from his pocket, Fox seemed fine for a moment- Only to have one of his knees give out from under him. He didn't fall so much as stumble, but he hit the concrete step hard enough to put a hole in the knee of his trousers and scrape the skin.

"Shit, sorry. That hasn't happened in a while." he said as he pulled himself back up using the rail.