John - Asylum

[london_spy]

 (from here)

"I really hope you're right," Danny said, looking out the window with a frown.

Soon enough it was time to go back to their rooms, and Danny kept himself busy until nightfall. He'd mastered the art of slipping out his room, and had the path to the boiler memorized. He'd snagged a candle from an emergency kit at the nurse's station, and was holding it tight in one hand as he lingered by the furnace, waiting for John.

Comments

[london_spy]

Danny was in shock, and his reaction was slightly belated as he fell to the ground, landing on his backside hard.

"What- What was that?"

[petty_dabbler]

"Magic and science are like oil and water," he said, picking up his cigarette and tucking it back between his lips.

"Or maybe like sodium and water, because they don't mix. Guess I can say this isn't supernatural. I'll be buggered if have any other idea, though."

[london_spy]

"...What?" Danny replied, still baffled, then shaking his head.

"Fine, so- Maybe we run? Hide here until we figure out how to leave?"

[petty_dabbler]

"I doubt there's even any toilet paper here," he chuckled. He pressed what was left of his cigarette between his teeth so he could button up. "We need someone who knows science. I'm no help here."

[london_spy]

"Do you know anyone?" Danny asked, moving closer. He wasn't sure why, but he very much didn't want to be on his own after whatever that had been.

[petty_dabbler]

One last drag, right down to the filter, then John dropped it on the floor and smashed it with his slipper.

"I don't know. Your doctor boyfriend?" he shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure who's here that is of any help at all. Might be on our own."

[london_spy]

"I dunno if he'd be game, he's still not sure," Danny sighed, leaning against the wall.

[petty_dabbler]

"We could convince him," he said. "If both of us face him maybe he'll see it."

John pulled out another cigarette and held his hand out for the lighter he'd given to Danny. He paused a moment for a good, deep, soul shaking cough first, though.

[london_spy]

"Perhaps," Danny agreed, though he seemed unsure as he handed the lighter over. "I don't know. Maybe we should just run," he said, though he didn't sound hopeful about that either.

[petty_dabbler]

"Where's there to run if we don't know where we are?" he asked. "All my life, running away has never been the answer."

Of course, standing and fighting had usually not been the answer, either, but John never ran away. Stupid, stubborn, bullheaded, and unbelievably lucky, he knew he'd get them out. Just not tonight.

[london_spy]

Without really thinking, Danny took John's hand and squeezed, before awkwardly letting go.

[petty_dabbler]

"Hey. Come here. It's alright," he said as he caught Danny's retreating hand to pull him closer. "I have never come across anything that didn't have an explanation. Might be a bloody weird explanation, but there's always some order in chaos," he said, sounding genuinely hopeful.

[london_spy]

"I walk past friends here, and they don't know me. Not that I have many friends, but- I feel very abandoned, I suppose, and that's never been good for me. Danny on his own is a man who tends to lean into bad habits. Destructive habits," he admitted.

[petty_dabbler]

"Can't have that, love," John said kindly. It was charming, refreshing in a way, just how normal Danny was. John decided then that no matter what, he was going to keep Danny out of his world as best he could. The man didn't need tainted with the horror of a warlock's life. He'd keep Danny safe from that.

Perhaps he should have thought of that before he'd tried to blow up the room.

"We're going to get out somehow," he promised. "Why don't we just hang out in here a bit, though, okay?"

[london_spy]

Danny nodded, then impulsively leaned over and kissed him. It was a soft kiss, cautious even, but it was very much a kiss and it lingered a moment before he drew away and leaned back against the wall again.

[petty_dabbler]

He was just a little surprised and smiled as Danny broke away.

"You've never been in a mental ward?" he asked.

[london_spy]

"No," Danny said, shaking his head. "Nearly wound up in prison, but not the mad house, no. ...You?"

[petty_dabbler]

"A couple-a times," he said. "They always let you out eventually. That's the way these places work. When the money runs out, and it always runs out, they cut you loose."

[london_spy]

Danny nodded, but it wasn't very comforting.

"I keep thinking this must be a bad dream."

[petty_dabbler]

"That's not a bad thought to have. Keeps you sane in the madhouse, right?"

John moved so he could look Danny square in the face.

"You know what's real. Cling to that. Cling to that til we can get back to reality."

[london_spy]

Danny held his gaze- And it felt like an invitation.

Slipping his arms around John he kissed him again, for real this time. Everything felt wrong, Greg felt like a stranger, Hex walked right past him in the hall, but John was here, and he looked at him like he knew. Like he remembered. He listened and believed, and- And Danny needed to be heard. Needed to feel like he wasn't loosing it.

[petty_dabbler]

John slid one hand around him and the other cradled Danny's face to hold him close. By God, but the man knew how to kiss. John moaned softly and pushed in a little closer.

[london_spy]

Danny knew this couldn't go anywhere. Asylum or not, he was still positive. It felt good to be held though. Good to be kissed.

...And he liked John, genuinely. Even if everything he'd just witnessed was madness, the man himself was... Well, he was nice. Kind and warm, and... Nice.

"Can we just stay here a while?" he asked. "I don't want to go back to my room yet."

[petty_dabbler]

"You keep snogging me, we can stay here forever," he whispered.

[london_spy]

Danny exhaled a laugh- But it didn't ring joyful.

"Let's get out of the basement maybe?" he suggested. The main floor is dusty, but not as damp as down here. Looks like it's been closed off for a decade at least."