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

[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."