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]

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.

[london_spy]

Danny hated the hesitation- Resented it a little even given how Greg had seemed to be pushing for more of a relationship only moments ago- But the man was going through a lot, and he knew that he had a tendency to say it first. He always had.

"Don't say it if you don't mean it, and don't dance around it to save my feelings. It's okay to just let it sit, Greg," he said quietly. "Doesn't change anything, Let it sit."

[drfeelbad]

"Danny..." This really was too much talking about his feelings for one day. But he owed him this. "When I say it, you'll know... it really means something. Really. Like point of no return." Hell, how many years had it been, until he'd said it to Fin?

[london_spy]

Danny studied him for a moment, then nodded in understanding. Though he let it be for now.

[drfeelbad]

House reached over the table and took his hand. "Look, all of this talk, it's just... what this comes down to, is I want to be with you. I haven't had any doubts about that part. Okay?"

[london_spy]

Danny gave his hand a squeeze and nodded.

"You don't have to make promises or assurances. Right now you need to focus on you. And I'll be here while you do that," he said softly.

[drfeelbad]

"Okay... but I really do want to know what you need, Danny. When you're comfortable telling me."