John

[london_spy]

Danny had been thinking about texting John all day, but as the sun vanished beyond the horizon he finally sat down on the edge of the bed with his phone. He wrote a message- Then deleted it. Then another, which he also deleted.

Finally he wrote something he didn't hate.

<i>Come over.</i>

Two words, nothing more. He just hoped John replied.

Comments

[london_spy]

Danny frowned and pulled away.

"Flynn, really?"

[petty_dabbler]

"What a dumbass. I almost feel bad about taking his money," he said. "Now that you know about it all, he needed my magic because he doesn't know anything."

[london_spy]

Danny didn't laugh though, he just moved to sit back on the sofa.

"What did he need your magic for?"

[petty_dabbler]

"Some faerie nonsense. He could have just taken it to a church, but either he didn't know, or he really wanted to be sure it was done right," he explained.

[london_spy]

"Yeah, but- What? What did you do for him, exactly?" Danny pressed.

[petty_dabbler]

"I burned some magic flowers," he said. "Nothing to fuss over, and he gave me ten grand. Cash. Easiest thing I've ever done."

Now that Danny knew, he might as well know it all.

[london_spy]

"Ten grand? For flowers?" Danny asked, confused.

[petty_dabbler]

"You'd be amazed at what a little magic can be worth to people," he replied. "I've got ethics. I won't do dodgy shit. But this was pure overkill, I'll tell you that. I'm not so ethical to refuse the dosh, though."

[london_spy]

"I dunno, I mean, I don't like Flynn, he's a prat- But he never struck me as wasteful. I mean, Greg wouldn't waste time on someone like that," Danny said, clearly interested in getting to the bottom of this.

[petty_dabbler]

"You can never guess what people are going to think are valuable. I tracked down this stone for a woman. Thought it was something important. She just wanted to clean her cunt," he chuckled. "She paid me six thousand for that stupidity."

[london_spy]

"Gross. ...Still, flowers?" Danny said again, frowning.

[petty_dabbler]

"I like keeping things where I know the bare minimum. Everyone has a story to tell. Frankly, I just don't care. I solve problems. I've never been touchy feely like that," he said.

[london_spy]

"I need to know everything," Danny said honestly. "I hate secrets."

[petty_dabbler]

"I don't like secrets, either. But I don't need to know about some hag's twat, I just want to finish the job," he said. "And then, if it's worth looking into on my own time, I have lovely patrons like Mr. Flynn who pay for good food and nicer hotel rooms. Things that go bump in the night don't pay shit."

[london_spy]

"You know what would be good for a steady paycheck? A PI job..." Danny said as casually as he could manage.

[petty_dabbler]

"Oh, you're slick," John chuckled. "Tell me more about this business of yours. How you getting clients? How you going to access resources like records and such?"

He was genuinely interested in how Danny might do this. He'd known a few PI's in his time, sort of considered himself one, in a way, but he'd never asked the ins and outs of a normal day for them.

[london_spy]

"Currently my clients are students, but I'm hoping to expand using word of mouth. I know a police officer who owes me a favour, she's been some help with records," Danny replied, aware it wasn't everything, but confident it was a fair start.

[petty_dabbler]

"Can you use a gun, Danny?" he asked.

[london_spy]

"...I don't. I'm hoping never to have to," Danny replied. "It's not easy to get a gun in London anyway."

[petty_dabbler]

"It's a lot easier than you think," he countered. "A taser, then."

[london_spy]

"...I have pepper spray," Danny replied.

[petty_dabbler]

"That's better than nothing," he nodded. John gently touched Danny's cheek.

"Okay. Not full time, mind. I have cases of my own. But, yeah. Let's do it."

[london_spy]

"Yes, sure, yes. I'm not even full time myself yet," Danny replied, shocked that John was agreeing.

[petty_dabbler]

"Now that's sorted," he said. "Look at me. Gainfully employed."

[london_spy]

Danny snorted a laugh, pulling his feet up onto the sofa and giving John a very gentle, playful kick.