King's Realm - Moss Henge

[petty_dabbler]

It had only taken two rumours to draw John from the Lonely Island to the King's Realm. Rumours of a demon John had dispatched some time ago. A demon that may have clawed its way back from Hell.

He'd put an end to this once and for all.

But, if it was the same demon, he knew he'd need help. He'd need very specific help.

And he was pretty sure House was going to tell him to follow the creature when he'd beaten it. Alone.

Still, he had a full pouch of cairn weed and he could be charming.

He knocked on House's door.

Comments

[drfeelbad]

House opened the door, and as soon as he saw who was there the first words out of his mouth were, "What do you want?"

It wasn't like John made random social calls.

[petty_dabbler]

"Good to see you, too, House," John smirked. "Invite me in, we need to have a chat."

[drfeelbad]

House sighed and opened the door wider. "Sure." He already had a feeling he wasn't going to like where this was going.

"Please tell me this doesn't have anything to do with Q's boyfriends. I've already helped enough."

[petty_dabbler]

"So I heard. You've perfected the deathcap antidote? I bet you were overjoyed to have a test subject," John snickered.

[drfeelbad]

"It worked," House said cheerfully. "But that's a fucking mess that I don't want to get involved in. I stay away from royalty."

[petty_dabbler]

"Bond knows if any harm comes to Q, I will end him and his fleet," John said plainly.

He pulled out his pipe and began to pack it. The perfume of the leaf was sweet.

"What would you say if I asked you to get involved with something other than royalty?" he asked, lighting up with his fingertip.

[drfeelbad]

"Maybe," said House. "If it also has to do with something other than demons." And he walked over to get the bottle of whiskey off the shelf.

[petty_dabbler]

John puffed his pipe.

"...Might not be a demon," he muttered around the stem.

[drfeelbad]

House snorted. "Yeah, I thought so." He poured two short glasses.

[petty_dabbler]

"There's a monster at Moss Henge," he confessed. "Scaring the flocks, driving the dogs mad. Come with me."

[drfeelbad]

"Why?" asked House. "What do you think I'm going to do?" Sure, he could take care of himself, but he was an inventor and a medic, not a battle mage.

[petty_dabbler]

"I need a lock," he answered plainly. "Magic alone isn't working. I need your art, House."

[drfeelbad]

House sighed. “ I don’t want to do this shit anymore. For good reason.”

[petty_dabbler]

"But you're so good at it, Greg," John grinned.

[drfeelbad]

"Yeah but I don't have a death wish like you," House pointed out.

[petty_dabbler]

"Oh, bull shit, you don't," John laughed loudly. "Come on. When's the last time you had a thrill? Saved a village? You might get a girl."

That was something that almost certainly wouldn't happen.

[drfeelbad]

House snorted at that last part.

"Why do you care so much?" he asked. "What do you care about saving villages these days?"

[petty_dabbler]

"Saving villages is my bread and butter, House," he grinned, puffing on his pipe a moment. "Not a lot of call for Hellblazers anymore. Put myself out of a job, hmm?"

[drfeelbad]

"Seriously John, I don't understand why you think you need me," House muttered.

[petty_dabbler]

"Maybe I don't need you. Maybe I want you to come," he said.

He'd never been more obviously a liar.

[drfeelbad]

House rolled his eyes. "See this is what happens when you carefully cultivate a life without any friends."

[petty_dabbler]

"I have a few," he protested. "Only top quality. Like you."

He flashed that sweet grin that was hard to say no to.

[drfeelbad]

"If you go alone you're going to get yourself killed aren't you," House sighed.

[petty_dabbler]

"Mmmmmmmaybe?" John drawled out.

He was sure he could manage, but having House there would help his chances.

[drfeelbad]

House sighed. Again. "Fuck me. Fine."