House

[london_spy]

The trip took much longer than he'd hoped, and he'd been right in assuming he'd wind up taking a ship back. That would have been fine, except the damn thing had sunk  miles out from the shore, forcing him and the other passengers to struggle to shore on planks and leaky lifeboats.

He'd done it though, all without losing a single item from House's order.

He was feeling victorious- Until only a few hours into the last leg of his trip back he'd begun coughing and his body shakey and unsteady by the time he reached Greg's door and began to knock.

Comments

[drfeelbad]

"Also drink that tea," House said, gesturing to a pot on the table. "For your lungs."

[london_spy]

Danny picked up the tea and took a seat, sipping as he watched House. He couldn't pretend it tasted nice, but he could feel everything sitting on his chest, like a demon trying to crush him.

"You don't have to do all this."

[drfeelbad]

"What, make sure you don't die because you were running an errand for me?" House snorted.

He put a plate with some bacon in front of him.

"By the way, well done. I inventoried what you brought last night after you fell asleep."

[london_spy]

"You're happy with it then? That's good, that's good."

Steady work was the most he could hope for at the moment.

[drfeelbad]

"Yes, though for the future keep in mind that I would rather you return with less than not return at all."

House took the rest of the bacon and sat down in the other chair at the table.

[london_spy]

"Yeah, then you'd have to find a new courier," Danny snorted.

[drfeelbad]

House didn't say anything to that, just ate a piece of bacon. He wasn't going to try to convince Danny that he gave a shit.

Though after a moment said, "Did you run into any trouble? Before the ocean?"

[london_spy]

"No, I found a portal nearby, actually. Took me right there. Getting back was when the trouble started," Danny said, digging in like he'd not eaten in years.

[drfeelbad]

"Couldn't find a portal that would bring you back here?" House asked.

[london_spy]

"No, it's always harder leaving there, you know? They hate portals there. People sneak in, but getting out is way harder," Danny explained. "And I just never learned magic, you know?"

[drfeelbad]

"Right, of course," said House. "Well I was going to send you to the Dryad Realm next, is that better or worse?"

[london_spy]

"Depends. Do I have to deal with Dryads, or can I gather it myself?" Danny asked.

[drfeelbad]

House considered this for a moment, then shrugged. "I think you could get almost everything yourself with some ingenuity."

[london_spy]

"When do you want me to leave?" Danny asked, honestly dreading his next trip being too soon. He felt drained, not that he wanted to admit it.

[drfeelbad]

"When you feel ready to go again," House said with a shrug. It wasn't like he was in some huge hurry for what he needed. And if Danny waited to long he just wouldn't be paid. Though House also didn't really mind if he crashed here in the meantime.

[london_spy]

"I can go now, if you want," Danny offered, even though he was clearly in no fit state.

[drfeelbad]

House sighed. "No. You were clearly not ready to go anywhere. Look, you can stay here while you recuperate. I'll even buy the bacon."

[london_spy]

Danny seemed unsure, poking at his food.

"I need to make money, House," he said quietly. "I have some money from when my friend died, but, um- I can't get it. It's in this metal box with a charm on it. He left a note saying I know how to open it, but I don't.

Scottie was a lovely man, but he wasn't good at being direct.

[drfeelbad]

"How much money do you need?" House asked. "In the immediate, I mean."

[london_spy]

"Enough to eat. Enough to get back home and back here again for work... I don't know. I just know I can't afford to be still."

[drfeelbad]

"Danny, let me be clear," said House. "I'll give you what you need. Okay? An advance. But you're no good for me if you take off now and die on the way and don't come back."

[london_spy]

Danny sighed, rubbing his face.

"I'll figure it out, I don't want an advance."

[drfeelbad]

"So what do you actually want?" House asked, genuinely having no idea.

[london_spy]

"What makes you think any of this is about want? I want to have a normal life. I want to be happy, and safe," Danny snapped. "That's not in the cards though, so it's about need. Needing food, needing transport, needing to buy fucking firewood so I don't freeze to death."

[drfeelbad]

House looked at him for a second, and then sighed. "I can't give you a life, Danny. But I can make sure you don't freeze. I'm trying to work out why you don't seem to want to take what I'm offering you. Are you afraid I want something in return?"