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

[drfeelbad]

"Diagnostician," said House. "I solved the puzzles that no one else could." He sounded proud of this. "But after a while the challenges were few and far between, and what I see here, well.... there's always something new."

[shadows_fall]

"I see," Fox said, a bit worried that might be the root of Greg's interest in him. Another puzzle. He hoped that wasn't true though, he was finding he quite liked spending time with the other man.

[drfeelbad]

"I also function a lot better being my own boss," House added.

[shadows_fall]

"I can imagine that," Fox said, looking thoughtful, his head tilting as though analyzing him. "A rebel. ...Shitty childhood?" he guessed. "My money's on daddy not being very nice."

More tricks left over from a past life of having to read people and understand their motives.

[drfeelbad]

House arched an eyebrow. "Well spotted."

[shadows_fall]

"Lucky guess," Fox shrugged.

[drfeelbad]

"Oh I think it was more than lucky," House chuckled.

[shadows_fall]

"I don't mean to be rude doing it, it just happens. You start seeing people, really seeing, and it's hard to make yourself look away," Fox admitted.

[drfeelbad]

"Oh who the fuck cares if people think you're rude," House said. "It's a useful skill you have."

[shadows_fall]

"I care," Max shrugged. "It's a useful skill I don't really need anymore. It's just an excuse to pick at people. I don't need to be on guard all the time anymore."

[drfeelbad]

"I'd like to think I'm pretty good at reading people too," House said. "It's useful. Because people lie. Constantly. Especially to their doctors."

[shadows_fall]

"I don't lie," Fox assured him. "Omit, maybe..."

[drfeelbad]

"That's true, you don't," House said thoughtfully. He did appreciate that about him.

Then he smiled. "So how is this date going?"

[shadows_fall]

"Oh, are we on a date?" Fox joked. "This isn't a check up?"

[drfeelbad]

"Sorry, did I not make that clear?" House said mildly.

[shadows_fall]

"Well, I did think it was odd you'd not even checked my pulse," Fox smiled.

[drfeelbad]

House reached across the table, gently took his hand, turned it palm up, and put two fingers on his wrist.

"Anything I could do to quicken it?" he asked.

[shadows_fall]

"I'm not that kind of girl, Greg. Still our first date," Fox said with a laugh, smiling as he gently tugged his arm away.

[drfeelbad]

“Dan I thought that was such a good line,” House said sheepishly. “But to be clear I was totally thinking first date stuff.”

[shadows_fall]

"And what counts as 'first date stuff'?" Fox asked with a laugh.

[drfeelbad]

"Usually not sleeping in the same bed half naked," House said with a smirk. "I was thinking more... a very respectful kiss at the end of the evening."

[shadows_fall]

"Oh, well I do prefer a respectful kiss over a rude one," Fox said with a barely hidden smile.

[drfeelbad]

House quirked a smile too. He realized it wasn't an answer to his question, but he at least thought this date was going pretty well.

"Dessert?" he asked, spotting the waiter coming back over to them.

[shadows_fall]

"Sure, do you want to share?" Fox suggested, aware he'd never manage one to himself. And besides, sharing was nice.

[drfeelbad]

"Gulab jamun?" House suggested. "I like something a little sweet, don't you?"