Danny

[petty_dabbler]

...Pulled out his phone and texted Danny...

Busy? Got good news

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[london_spy]

Danny was laying in bed with his laptop. He was supposed to be working on an essay but at some point his mouse had wandered to porn hub. He wasn't even watching anything, just flicking through thumbnails.

Picking up his phone, he sat up slightly and texted back.

Home. Not busy. Come hang out.

[petty_dabbler]

Danny got a 'K' back, then John marched back to the store to get his car.

"Aw, shit. I bought ice cream," he said to himself when he saw the shopping bag.

He didn't let that upset him too much. Ten grand.

He was still grinning to himself when he knocked on Danny's door.

[london_spy]

Danny had pulled on a shirt, but he was still in pyjamas as he opened the door. He was in full student mode, his summer courses really dragging him down. He looked scruffy and smelled like coffee.

"What's the good news then?" he asked, stepping back to let John in.

[petty_dabbler]

"Ugh, mate, did I wake you up?" he asked, walking in trailing the fading cloud of smoke. He didn't give Danny a chance to answer.

"We're going out tomorrow. You and me. Someplace posh. I'll even take a shower."

[london_spy]

"...Um, sorry, why are we going out? Is it your birthday?" Danny asked, looking bemused.

[petty_dabbler]

"I haven't celebrated a birthday in years. Yeah, sure. Why not. My birthday celebration," he grinned. "I came into some cash. Can't have that. Better spend it."

[london_spy]

"You came into cash? How?" Danny asked, closing the door and heading into the living room.

[petty_dabbler]

John opened his mouth...and it hung there.

He had not considered the fact that of course Danny was going to ask about it and of course. he couldn't tell him.

"Little private business. I got hired by this actor to do a job."

What job could he possibly do...think, John...

[london_spy]

"...An actor?" Danny asked, looking confused and pulling his feet up onto the sofa. Danny had a strange way of sometimes looking rough for his age, and other times looking quite young. Right now it was the latter, his features smooth and only his brow creased in confusion. "You pulling a con or something? I don't think I can legally risk having anything to do with that. The spooks in this city would love an excuse to be rid of me."

[petty_dabbler]

"No, nothing shady," he said. And in the world he lived in, cremation wasn't shady at all. Just, well, details. He couldn't tell Danny.

That's the first smart idea you've had, John. Keep him safe and keep him away from your world

And for once in his life, John listened to Chas.

"Just digging around in some family business. Rich people pay for the stupidest stuff. I don't even think he knows what he's asking for. Can I make some coffee?"

[london_spy]

"There's some made, but you might want to start another pot, " Danny said, gesturing at the pile of cups he'd left laying about. "You're doing PI work then? You know I'm still looking for a partner, right?"

[petty_dabbler]

"Danny, I like you, mate, but I work alone," he said. Dodged. "Think on where you want to go. Anyplace. Posh or not. I just want to blow this idiot's money."

[london_spy]

Danny frowned at that, then shook his head.

"I don't want to go anywhere, You want to go it alone, you can dine alone," he assured him, pushing up off the sofa and getting to his feet.

[petty_dabbler]

"Is that how it is?" John replied.

[london_spy]

"I don't understand you. You seem like you want to get close to me, then you linger just out of reach. ...I don't have the energy for that, John," Danny said honestly.

[petty_dabbler]

It was such an easy out. All he had to do was walk away and eventually Danny would be a fond memory and after a while John wouldn't think of him at all. He could just say goodbye, no hard feelings, and get on with his life and leave Danny to the relative safety of his own.

"Danny, mate. I like you. I do. but we barely know each other," he pointed out. "Why would you ever want to partner with someone like me? That's a poor business plan, right there."

[london_spy]

"I need a partner. You seem more experienced than me, and- I don't know. I just felt a connection. We get on," Danny said softly.

Not to mention the fact that Danny was, generally, quite impulsive anyway. He latched onto people right away, always had.

[petty_dabbler]

"I'd like to think we had...something," he replied.

He needed to stop with this school boy crush bullshit. Danny had a boyfriend, and a complicated one at that. John just needed to...not.

[london_spy]

"It doesn't have to be official. I couldn't secure the building, I'm going to be working out of my home as it is. ...We could just try working together. See how it goes," Danny said.

[petty_dabbler]

Just leave, John, you absolute fucking moron.

"Not partners," he insisted. "But I'll be by your side if you need help."

[london_spy]

Danny seemed unsure if he believed that, but after a moment he nodded.

"Okay," he replied, sounding tired.

[petty_dabbler]

John was quiet for a moment, rolling a question around.

"Danny, what do you want?" John finally asked.

It wasn't sex. Obviously not dinner. Or money. And he didn't need John's particular skill set...

[london_spy]

"Heavy question from someone who just pointed out I hardly know him," Danny replied.

"...I don't know," he said honestly. He sighed, then frowned, turning towards the kitchen where a tap was running.

"That's the second time that's happened this week," he muttered, ducking into the kitchen and turning off the tap. Dirty water lingered in the sink, gray and murky.

[petty_dabbler]

John followed him in and looked in the sink.

"It's probably a clogged P trap," he said helpfully. He'd cleaned so much gore out of the plumbing.

It was easier to get distracted by the pipes than it was to admit that once he'd asked the question he knew he didn't have an answer of his own.

[london_spy]

"No, but the tap just turns itself on. Shouldn't be able to do that, should it?" Danny asked, glancing over.