House

[london_spy]

After getting Fin home, Danny had done the same for himself, getting his homework done at last before calling it a night. House's text was what woke him mid-day. ...Apparently he was getting that lunch after all.

Car still in the shop, Danny took the tube into the city proper, meeting Greg in a diner he'd never been to before.

He spotted House in a booth and went to join him, dumping his bag on the seat beside him as he slid into the booth.

"Rough night?" he quipped.

Comments

[drfeelbad]

House didn't say anything at first. He was having trouble navigating this. The truth was, he found himself very attracted to Danny, and he didn't really want to introspect about why, or push himself to think about how far it went or what it meant.

"Interesting mess is probably an accurate assessment," he finally said.

[london_spy]

Danny observed him for a moment, not sure where he was even trying to take this. He was still fragile, still healing- But he couldn't pretend he didn't find himself attached to Greg.

He was still a romantic deep down. Maybe he had grown a hard shell, but at his core a romantic was what he'd always be.

[drfeelbad]

When Danny didn't say anything, House was afraid to let the moment just linger. "Things are pretty complicated right now," he said. "With what Fin's going through. And... Wilson."

[london_spy]

"I know," Danny assured him quickly. "I get it- I'm not... I know it's not a good time," he finished awkwardly.

[drfeelbad]

House was quiet for a moment. "And you know that's not bullshit, right? I mean, I - " He stopped himself before he could say more. "It's not bullshit."

[london_spy]

"It's fine," Danny assured him, holding his gaze. "It's all fine."

[drfeelbad]

It was House who looked away, feeling awkward as fuck.

He should make a joke, but all he came up with was, "I mean, I don't know about you, but this happens to me all the time. I can't help that I'm so fucking desirable."

[london_spy]

Danny smiled, letting out a soft laugh before returning his attention to his meal.

[drfeelbad]

House watched him for a moment then said, "Want to go see some horses?"

[london_spy]

"Racing, you mean?" Danny asked, finishing his meal.

[drfeelbad]

"That is exactly what I mean," said House. "You don't have a gambling problem do you?"

[london_spy]

"No, I always preferred drugs. ...Suppose there's room in my life for new vices though," Danny smiled.

[drfeelbad]

"Oh good, in that case we're using your money then," House said with a wink, and pulled out his wallet so he could pay for their meal.

[london_spy]

Danny let out a quiet laugh, then shrugged. "Sure," he agreed, pulling out his own wallet to pay his share.

[drfeelbad]

"I've got it," House said, waving him away. "Consider it a thanks for your white knighting last night."

[london_spy]

"You don't owe me anything for that, I wasn't going to let him leave with that creep," Danny assured him, though he didn't stop Greg from paying. Old habits died hard.

[drfeelbad]

"In that case I'm paying because we're about to use your money on the horses," House said, and got up from his seat, grabbing his cane which was leaning against the wall.

[london_spy]

"You really like that sort of thing? Danny asked as they headed outside. "I always feel a bit bad for the horses."

[drfeelbad]

"There are much worse fates for horses," House pointed out.

[london_spy]

"Yeah, and better ones too," Danny laughed. "Race cars I can get behind. I mean, they're mental, but at least they're choosing to get into those cars and race."

[drfeelbad]

"How do you feel about monster trucks?" asked House.

[london_spy]

"Only seen them in films," Danny admitted.

[drfeelbad]

"Well I'd love to show you that instead... but monster trucks are surprisingly hard to come by in jolly old England," House said dryly.

[london_spy]

"Narrow roads," Danny quipped with a lopsided smile.

[drfeelbad]

"Well, do you think you can handle the horses today, knowing that they're running whether or not we're there to make money off of them?" House asked as they approached his bike.