Danny

[petty_dabbler]

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

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[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.

[petty_dabbler]

"No, that generally doesn't happen."

Not to normal people. It seemed like just the sort of thing to happen to John acquaintances.

"Maybe it's a ghost," he suggested...only sort of joking.

[london_spy]

"Well I wish my ghost wouldn't run up the water bill," Danny said, shaking his head a bit. Turning away from the sink to face John, Danny had no idea that in the murky water behind him a face had briefly appeared, before vanishing.

"You still want that coffee?"

[petty_dabbler]

John saw it, though. His heart sank a bit.

He should have just let this be a one night stand.

Fuck.

"Sure," he replied lamely.

[london_spy]

"You texted me, remember? If you don't want to be here, you're free to go," Danny said, interpreting the tone as misery. Rolling his eyes, he pushed away from the counter.

[petty_dabbler]

"You really won't go out with me tomorrow?" John asked as an answer, then followed with, "We could do it tonight. Now."

[london_spy]

"I don't really feel like a date night," Danny sighed. "Is that what this is about? You don't want to be my partner because I didn't want to fuck last time we hung out?"

Holding John's gaze, he peeled off his shirt and dropped it.

"Fine then, let's fuck."

[petty_dabbler]

John rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Jesus fucking Christ, Danny," he said, bending to pick it up. "Put your clothes on."

[london_spy]

Danny took the shirt back, looking embarrassed.

"I just... I don't get you.

[petty_dabbler]

"Look, mate, this is the shape of it, yeah? I like you. I like you a lot. But it won't ever work out because I can't even say when I'm leaving London and you have a boyfriend anyway," John said, scrubbing his hand through his hair, then over his face. "So with that baggage, we probably can't even be friends."

One of them needed to be the bigger person and walk away, but when John looked at him, all he wanted to do was make sure the trousers came off, too.