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

[petty_dabbler]

"Interesting kink," he quipped dryly. John smiled at him and swallowed hard. He should politely decline. He should leave Danny alone.

Oh, but this was nice. It felt good. John was not such a good man he'd deny himself a little happiness, even when he knew what was going to happen.

You're such an asshole, John. Leave him alone. Oh, yes. Just what he needed was Chas's voice ringing in his head.

"Pancakes sound good."

[london_spy]

Danny laughed, heading back inside, leaving the door open for the other man.

He'd made pancakes often enough that he didn't even need the recipe, and he pulled out a bowl as he started to make the batter. He thought about Alex then, how methodical he was, how it had always driven him a little mad the way Danny eyeballed everything rather than measured it out.

[petty_dabbler]

While Danny cooked, John made himself useful by brewing a fresh pot of coffee.

"Did you sleep alright?" he asked casually.

[london_spy]

"I did," Danny replied, glancing back over his shoulder at John. "Did you?"

[petty_dabbler]

"Like the dead," he replied. "It really is a much nicer bed than at the hotel," he added with a little laugh.

[london_spy]

"Yeah, well, you can crash here again if you like," Danny offered, even though just putting that out there seemed a bit stupid.

The pancakes cooked fast, and soon he had two plates, each with three pancakes. He paused to grab the syrup from the fridge, then set both plates on the table.

"Should eat them while they're hot," he said awkwardly.

[petty_dabbler]

He was happy to tuck in. He never gave them a chance to cool off. John ate like a man who had no idea when he might eat again. He savoured every bite and even played at getting the extra syrup into his mouth.

It didn't leave time for chit chat until he was done.

"You're a good cook," he finally said when he'd swallowed everything down.

[london_spy]

"I'm really not," Danny assured him, still eating. "This is my only recipe. This, and beans on toast."

[petty_dabbler]

"Beans on toast is actually my favorite," he said. "There were times that's all me and my band could afford. We'd huddle inside this beat up van, heating up beans and toasting bread over a sterno flame."

He gave a bitter little huff.

"Good times."

[london_spy]

"Do you miss it?" Danny asked, finishing his last bite.

[petty_dabbler]

"Not. Remotely," he chuckled. "Some things are best left in my twenties, back before I knew any better," John smiked

[london_spy]

"I bet you looked good on stage. All swagger," Danny smiled.

[petty_dabbler]

"It got me laid," he shrugged. "And I got to scream my anger to the world. Win, win."

[london_spy]

Danny laughed, smiling as he gathered their plates and started to wash up.

[petty_dabbler]

"What about you? What'd you get up to when you were a lad?" John asked as he debated going outside again.

[london_spy]

"Drugs, mostly. Left home when I was fifteen, came straight to London. Drugs, fucking, more drugs," Danny said honestly.

[petty_dabbler]

"I do love a good tale of misspent youth," John smirked.

[london_spy]

"Mine would have been much worse if I hadn't met Scottie. He took me under his wing, took care of me even when I was hell bent on ruining myself," Danny admitted, looking somber for a moment.

He missed Scottie, missed having someone to look out for him.

[petty_dabbler]

"How's taking care of yourself working out for you now?" he asked, leaning back comfortably and tilting his head to look at Danny.

[london_spy]

"Fine. I mean- I suppose I'm doing okay. I'm back in school... I'm working. That's good, right?" Danny shrugged.

[petty_dabbler]

"Sounds...safe," he nodded. "Ambitious, even."

[london_spy]

"You think?" Danny asked, sitting back down. "No one's ever described me as ambitious," he snorted.

[petty_dabbler]

"When all your life has been fucking and getting high? Yeah, I'd say going to school and starting a business are ambitious," John said thoughtfully.

[london_spy]

"I just wish I'd done it sooner. I wasted so much time," Danny confessed.

[petty_dabbler]

"No, I don't think so," John said. "Things happen when they're supposed to Danny. Trust me on that."