House

[london_spy]

He'd invited Greg around. It was his day off from school, and it would be nice to spend some time together- Even if things were complicated right now. Greg was grieving, and Danny was starting to take steps to open his business. Things felt unsteady and strange, but Danny was stubborn, and wanted to try and navigate it all. He wanted to make all of this work somehow.

Comments

[drfeelbad]

"I wasn't going to propose," House said awkwardly, also thinking that the idea of moving in together sounded terrifying. "I thought you might want... a break."

[london_spy]

"Stop, stop putting it on me and what I want, Greg. You're the one going through change, through trauma. Tell me what you want. Tell me what you need," Danny said quietly. "I'm not going to get mad, but you asking me fifty questions and hating some of my answers isn't getting us anywhere, it's just you trying to get me to vocalize what you want- But I'm not a mindreader. I need you to speak up. That's where we start, okay?"

[drfeelbad]

Danny could see through House's words better than maybe anyone he'd been with. The fact that he was so sharp just made House want him more. Which wasn't helping.

"I barely remember what it's like to have something that felt... normal. Like not some Greek tragedy waiting to happen."

[london_spy]

"So you want normal, that's understandable. After everything you've been through, that's understandable. Tell me what normal is for you then," Danny said gently.

[drfeelbad]

"Well, you're not dying and you're not a magical creature, so we're off to a good start," said House. "And I just... like you. Without any weird baggage behind it. I like your mind."

[london_spy]

Danny smiled at that. "I like your mind too," he said softly. "So we go slow. We date, we do normal- We see where it goes."

[drfeelbad]

House wanted to tell him that yes, he would like him to stop sleeping with John.

But how could he, without being an utter hypocrite? Danny would just come to resent him for it.

"Okay," said House, and took a little breath. "Okay. So does that mean we can't have sex until date three?"

[london_spy]

Danny rolled his eyes, but smiled.

"Eat your lunch," he chuckled, picking his own fork back up.

[drfeelbad]

House ate, and there was a slight mull, and eventually House said, "I'm back on Vicodin. I just thought you should... know."

[london_spy]

"You haven't spoken to him?" Danny asked curiously.

[drfeelbad]

"To Fin? ... no." House didn't think he could handle Fin's concern right now.

[london_spy]

"Maybe you should?" Danny said quietly. Hating that he was sending Greg Flynn's way, but- Well, he hated seeing Greg in pain. "If he can help- Even just for short bursts? I dunno. ...I can't tell you what to do, you're a grown man, but if sucking up to Flynn gets you some pain free months, surely it's worth it?"

[drfeelbad]

"Really?" said House. "You feel that way even after seeing what a shit show magic is?"

[london_spy]

"As long as he's not drawing blood and speed dialing hell, I'm not too worried," Danny said, thinking back to what he'd seen John do one morning after the man had slept over.

[drfeelbad]

"All... right," said House. He was right. It wasn't just his own pain. If he could barely walk he wasn't exactly in a position to be a good partner, in or out of bed.

"Yeah, I'll go see him."

[london_spy]

Danny nodded, then wet his lip.

"Is that everything out in the open now? Is there more you need to talk about?" he asked softly.

[drfeelbad]

"No, that's... way more talking about my own feelings than I'm usually comfortable doing," House admitted. "What... about you?"

[london_spy]

"Well, I guess I want to know if you still want to see other people for a while. If you want me to stop seeing other people? I want to know if you're thinking about getting counseling... I mean, you've been through a lot," Danny said gently.

[drfeelbad]

House visibly winced at the word 'counseling.' "Right now I don't think I'm interested in seeing other people or a counselor," he said.

[london_spy]

"What about me?" Danny pressed, wanting a clear answer.

[drfeelbad]

"You want to take things slow," House said. "And I'm okay with that. One thing that means is that I can't tell you who you can and can't fu - see."

[london_spy]

Danny pushed his hair back, then nodded. "Okay," he said simply. "Alright," he agreed.

[drfeelbad]

That was House's leap of faith. Because after meeting John, he legitimately thought there was a good chance Danny might fall for him. And that the'd go back to feeling what he'd told House very early in their friendship. That he didn't like to share.

But given what House had just done to Danny, he wasn't going to start their relationship with hypocrisy.

"Are we okay?" he asked quietly.

[london_spy]

"Yeah. Yeah, of course we are," Danny said softly. "I love you."

[drfeelbad]

Hearing those words made House feel... better, largely, but also conflicted. He knew he couldn't say it back, not yet. He found himself hesitating, because he didn't want to purposefully not say it.