Danny

[drfeelbad]

House had spent the night at Danny's the night before, and when he woke he heard Danny in the shower. He yawned and got out of bed, making his way to the kitchen in his boxers to brew a pot of coffee.

Then he walked into the study across from the kitchen. He hadn't paid much attention to it, but then his eyes went to a dark wood case in one corner. He went over, pulled it open, and... jackpot. Chess board.

He carried it into the dining room and put it on the table, opening it up and pulling out drawers of pieces. He'd just finished putting the last white pawn in place when he heard Danny. "Want to play?" he asked. "Coffee might be done."

Comments

[london_spy]

Danny was still drying his hair when he came out, and he looked a bit surprised.

"Sure. I'm not very good though," he confessed, going to get a cup of coffee before joining Greg.

[drfeelbad]

"Bring me one too?" House asked, and finished setting up the board.

"And that's completely fine, I just want the practice," he said, sitting down in front of the white pieces. "I'm rusty and got my ass handed to me the other day."

[london_spy]

Danny grabbed another cup, setting it out and sitting down.

"If you're hoping to get better, I'm not sure I'm the best opponent," Danny laughed. "I'm probably worse than playing the computer on 'easy'," he added with a smile.

[drfeelbad]

"Sure but I'd rather spend time with you than a robot," House said. He made the first move. "I hope it's okay that I got out the chess board. Doesn't seem like a family heirloom or anything."

[london_spy]

"I'll be honest, I had sort of forgotten about it. Scottie would have wanted it to be used though, I'm sure," Danny smiled, looking unsure, then making a move. "Besides, sort of cozy, isn't it? Game of chess and some coffee and conversation."

[drfeelbad]

"It is," said House. And he was glad he'd grabbed a robe. "How about after one game I'll make pancakes."

[london_spy]

"That would be really nice," Danny smiled. "You work today? I don't have anything going on, turns out. Was thinking about stopping by that church I'd started visiting, but... Last time I went, everyone was just gone. So odd."

[drfeelbad]

"Nope, day off," said House. "You want to... well, I don't know. Do something." He picked up his coffee. "Your move."

[london_spy]

Danny seemed unsure, then moved another pawn.

"Sure. What do you fancy? We could go to a museum, maybe catch a film..."

[drfeelbad]

"A movie might be nice," said House. "Anything good out? Though we could also stay in and Netflix." He made a quick move, and then took another sip of coffee as he studied the board.

[london_spy]

"I've no idea," Danny confessed. "I never keep up with that stuff."

He moved another piece, then smiled as he watched Greg think. He was terribly handsome- Even more so when his mind was working.

[drfeelbad]

House thought he'd figured out approximately three moves ahead, and a little smile lit on his lips as he moved another piece. And the looked up at Danny and saw the look on his face. "What's up?"

[london_spy]

"Nothing, just... Enjoying this. Enjoying you," Danny said honestly.

[drfeelbad]

"If I knew you liked chess so much I'd have pulled the board out ages ago," House quipped.

[london_spy]

"I like you," Danny replied. "...I love you."

[drfeelbad]

House smiled at him, and then knocked over a bishop. "Ditto. Check."

[london_spy]

"Does that mean you won?" Danny asked. "Sorry, I haven't played in forever, and I was never good..."

[drfeelbad]

"Not yet," House said. He looked pleased, actually, happy to teach Danny about chess. "Check means that your king is under attack." He gestured to the distance between the white knight and the black king. "I see one possible move you can make that would save him. Otherwise, checkmate."

[london_spy]

Danny leaned back in his seat studying the board, and after a long moment of thought, he moved a piece.

[drfeelbad]

House grinned. "Very good," he said. "You have bought your king a reprieve for, I suspect... two more moves." He moved his knight once more, putting it in a position to be easily overtaken by one of Danny's bishops.

[london_spy]

Danny looked unsure of what to do, and completely missed the bishop play. Instead moving his king away a little.

[drfeelbad]

House had actually been hoping he'd take the knight - it would have put him immediately into checkmate -so when he didn't, House smiled. He still probably had him in one more move. He moved his queen. "Check."

[london_spy]

Danny chewed his bottom lip, not sure what to do.

"I surrender, or give up," he laughed. "I don't see how you don't win now," he admitted with a smile.

[drfeelbad]

"You're right," House said, looking at the board. "No matter what you do on your next move - " He moved one of Danny's pawns, then moved his own queen. "Checkmate. And being able to tell when you've been beaten means you're learning, too."

[london_spy]

"I feel like I wasn't much of a challenge for you," Danny smiled, sipping his coffee.

[drfeelbad]

"But you're so much more fun to look at than a computer screen," House said, and finished the rest of his coffee. "Besides, as I said I had my ass handed to me the other day, I needed the win."

[london_spy]

"Playing with someone at work?" Danny asked, always interested to hear about Greg's work life.

[drfeelbad]

"Nah, just this guy I met," House said. "American... knew my work. And really stupid good at chess."

[london_spy]

"Oh, well, that's nice," Danny nodded. "It's good, you know? Seeing you make friends, I mean. I know you've got Fin and that, but- That all seems so messy, and since you lost James I... I guess I worry, a bit, that you might be lonely.

[drfeelbad]

Just the mention of James caused a twinge, but House pushed it away. "Huh," he said. "I guess you're right, I made a friend." He hadn't really thought of it like that. But what else would you call it?

[london_spy]

"You should invite him over sometime, we can do dinner or something," Danny offered.

[drfeelbad]

"Sure," said House, and if he was twitchy about this at all, it was only because he had the occasional impure thought about Spencer. Not that it mattered. "Yeah, I think he'd like you." He had no idea if that was true, actually, but he liked Danny, how could anyone else not.

[london_spy]

"Cool," Danny smiled. "I'll look forward to it. ...I'd offer to cook, but no one deserves that treatment. Instead I'll promise to order in."

[drfeelbad]

"Perfect," said House. "Though I did offer to make pancakes which as you know is one of like three things I can cook."