John - Post Asylum

[london_spy]

He'd woken up in his own bed. Alone. Safe. Normal. Danny didn't understand why or what that meant. His first instinct was to call Greg, but his phone wasn't working at all. the screen was shattered and when he plugged it in there was no sign of life.

He supposed he'd have to go get a new one.

Coffee in hand he found himself just walking, past the hospital where Greg should be checking in for his shift, past the flat Hex shared with Flynn and the others, then past the hotel where John had been staying. He could have gone into any off those places, but he just wasn't brave enough to see who was there and who remembered him.

He stared at John's hotel a beat longer, then began to walk again.

Comments

[london_spy]

Danny offered a slightly melancholy smile.

"I'm not sure I'm a very good friend to have, if I'm honest."

[petty_dabbler]

"I like you fine," he said. "You feeling up to eating yet?"

[london_spy]

"Yeah," Danny nodded, even though his appetite hadn't returned yet. He knew he needed something on his stomach.

"What do you fancy?"

[petty_dabbler]

"Pizza is always my default," he said. "But I'll eat whatever you like. Broaden my horizons."

[london_spy]

"Pizza's fine," Danny assured him, pulling himself together a bit and picking up his phone to open the app.

[petty_dabbler]

"I need another cup," he announced, walking back into the kitchen as Danny ordered. A little coffee, a little pizza, and he'd make sure Danny was secure in bed. John had all but abandoned the idea of anything happening. Danny seemed like he wasn't in any kind of space for that.

But he could be here. John was the last person anyone would turn to for comfort. He was too blunt, too crass, and too cold. But he couldn't help being empathetic- it was just that usually feelings sent him running. And he knew in his heart he should run from this. He didn't want to be the ruin of Danny's already troubled life.

"Ah, hot cup. Much better," he said when he came back.

[london_spy]

Danny had lost a sock on his way to bed, and he'd turned on the TV, the news playing quietly in the background. He smiled when John joined him, moving over so they could both sit comfortably.

[petty_dabbler]

He put his cup on the table, surely to be forgotten soon. To be polite, John kicked off his shoes.

He nodded to Danny's foot.

"Your toes are going to get cold," he noted.

[london_spy]

Danny looked at his feet and snorted a tired laugh.

"Guess I wasn't paying much mind," he admitted. "My head's elsewhere."

[petty_dabbler]

"I can tell," John nodded. "Doesn't look like you're happy being there, a million miles away."

[london_spy]

"In my head I'm back in that place," Danny admitted. "I can't leave it be."

[petty_dabbler]

"Why not?" John asked. As if he'd not been poking around the aether for answers himself.

[london_spy]

"It's just who I am," Danny said. "I need answers and I don't let things go."

[petty_dabbler]

"And what happens when there just isn't an answer?" he asked. "Not one that makes any kind of sense, anyways."

[london_spy]

"There's always an answer," Danny replied, looking over at John. "It doesn't have to be one I like- But there's always an answer."

[petty_dabbler]

"You're really not going to let it go, hmm?" he asked, then reached over and rubbed Danny's arm. "Let it go for tonight, love. Just for tonight."

[london_spy]

Danny sighed, rubbing his face but eventually nodding. He could leave it be, just for a while.

"Food'll be here soon," he said softly.

[petty_dabbler]

"Good. We can eat and then, what is it? Netflix and chill?" he replied. Clearly something he'd only heard about.

[london_spy]

Danny managed a laugh. "Presumptuous of you, but alright," he replied.

[petty_dabbler]

"Did I say it wrong?" he asked, barely keeping in a laugh. "I saw it on a nightshirt in a Walmart in, God, where was it? Florida, I think."

[london_spy]

"I just don't think it means what you think it means. ...Netflix and chill is kind of code for hooking up, John," Danny laughed, offering a real smile now.

[petty_dabbler]

"I can't say I'd be opposed to that, either," he chuckled. "We used to say 'you wanna get coffee'. That always meant sex."

[london_spy]

"That why you're on another cup?" Danny teased.

[petty_dabbler]

John laughed at that.

"You caught me," he said.

[london_spy]

Danny laughed a little, about to say more when the doorbell rang.

"Do you mind getting the pizza?" he asked. "It's paid for, and I left tip money in the kitchen."

He knew he still looked a bit of a mess.