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.

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[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."

[london_spy]

"I'm happy right now," Danny admitted. "I've always thrown myself into relationships. I would make the other person my whole world. But- Sharing you with James forced me not to do that, and it's been kind of eye-opening for me. I was forced to focus on me. My work, my goals... It was a miserable circumstance, but in a way I'm thankful. It proved to me that I can love without it taking over my life."

[drfeelbad]

"Oh," said House, and his expression softened. "That's good. I mean... I'm glad. There's so much more to you than whoever you happen to be with."

[london_spy]

Danny squeezed his hand and smiled softly, glad Greg approved.

"Why don't we just have a lazy afternoon?" he suggested. "I feel like we've both earned one. We can watch trash telly and have a drink or two..."

[drfeelbad]

"That sounds great," House said. But first, he stood, and still holding his hand limped the short distance between them so that he could lean down and kiss him.

[london_spy]

Danny tilted his head to return the kiss, his hand resting on Greg's shoulder.

They could navigate this. Danny was sure of it. They'd work this all out.

[drfeelbad]

House deepened the kiss as he pulled Danny to his feet. He'd missed him.

[london_spy]

Danny moved with him, slipping his arms around him and holding on tight.

[drfeelbad]

There was no pretending House wasn't a little fucked up right now. He was still grieving. He'd been a wreck for the past two weeks. Drinking, mostly. But the only thing that had really made him want to stop was the desire to see Danny. And to not be a wreck for him.

His leg suddenly buckled and he grunted in pain. He'd go see Fin the next day.

"Let's go sit down," he said.

[london_spy]

Danny nodded, slipping an arm around him and subtly helping him over to the sofa.

[drfeelbad]

With that impending visit on his mind, House said, "It's going to cost something, for Fin to take away my pain. That's how fae magic works. It's been fine so far, but... I don't know what it might be."

[london_spy]

"Well, he doesn't need money. He paid John ten-thousand quid to do something for him recently. Not that John would tell me about it," Danny frowned.

[drfeelbad]

"No, it won't be money," House said. "I'm sure it will be fine, I just don't want to hide things, especially when it comes to magic."

[london_spy]

"I appreciate that," Danny said softly. "But don't... Don't let him take anything you don't want to give."