Danny

[petty_dabbler]

He'd meant to stay a day in Manchester, but that lead to a second day. He'd texted Danny a few times, but it was a painfully slow process on his flip phone. And, frankly, he'd been a bit busy.

He'd texted when he'd hit the edge of London and had gone straight to his hotel. Ten grand and he was still in this grubby flop house.

Back in town. Come over? Doors open.

He'd tucked his phone in his pocket and left it in his pocket as he got into the shower. He left the door unlocked- wishful thinking- and didn't even think about his phone. Danny was probably busy anyway.

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[london_spy]

Danny had been texting back when he could, and tonight was no different. Still part of him was worried about meeting up again after his talk with Greg. House hadn't asked him to stop seeing other people, but with James gone, things were getting complicated.

Finishing up a paper. Need half an hour before I come around.

[petty_dabbler]

John got the message when he picked up his phone to order a Chinese. He smiled, ordered enough for two, then went and sat by the window to smoke.

He wasn't even sure where to begin to tell Danny about...everything.

[london_spy]

Danny was a bit later than he'd hoped, having gotten in Scottie's car only to find he'd forgotten to get petrol.

One tube ride later and he was knocking on the door, hoping John hadn't given up on him turning up.

[petty_dabbler]

The food had beaten Danny and John was halfway through a carton of lo mein. He opened the door with the food in one hand and a noodle hanging from his lips.

He slurped it up and smiled.

"Traffic?" he asked.

[london_spy]

"Something like that," Danny said, stepping inside and dropping his bag by the door.

"How did your trip go?"

[petty_dabbler]

"Little hiccup, but it worked out in the end," he said. "Someone downstairs was messing with me. Sorted now."

[london_spy]

"When you say downstairs, I assume you don't mean the young couple on the floor below that I met on my way up here," Danny said quietly.

[petty_dabbler]

"I mean Hell," he nodded. John returned to the grubby table with his food and selected a different carton of chicken.

"I suppose we should start where your knowledge is. How up are you on Hell and Heaven and such? Just from movies?"

[london_spy]

"And being told by mum parents that's where I was going. ...Yes, yeah, that's about it," Danny said, sitting down as well.

[petty_dabbler]

"Alright. Pick a carton there, get comfortable. School's in session."

He waited til Danny was settled and then began. Simple at first- Straight Christian doctrine. But then he went deeper into the horrors and age of Hell and only paused when Danny had questions.

[london_spy]

Dany was picking at some noodles, avoiding the vegetables and picking out the best bits to eat.

"So... what, it's all real? Heaven, Hell? Well, Dad'll be glad to know he was right about me burning for being a queer," Danny muttered. He wasn't sure he believed it though.

"But if magic is real, how do you know it's not all some big illusion?"

[petty_dabbler]

He had a grubby glass with some dubiously cloudy water in it and paused to sip it.

"Moving on to the advanced courses already, hmm?" John grinned. "Okay. Magic."

He began to gesture with his hand, making sparks and flames before letting the fire fully engulf his hand and then simply vanish.

"Believe it or not, magic follows a lot of the same rules as science," he said. "Magic is a push and a pull on the fabric of the universe. It can fuck with reality, but reality's always there, waiting to snap back."

Flame on again.

"I shape reality. Temporarily."

And the fire went out.

"Can't go against God's own creation when it's all said and done. Lots of rules with magic. Lots."

[london_spy]

Danny frowned, trying to follow along, but struggling to keep up. It was a lot to take in.

He fell silent, picking at his food again.

[petty_dabbler]

John set his carton aside and moved to sprawl on the bed, sitting up against the headboard. He lit up, long ago ceasing to give a fuck if he was allowed to smoke in here.

"It's a lot, innit? That's why I save it for our second date."

[london_spy]

Danny offered a laugh, but it was tired and soft.

[petty_dabbler]

"You want me to keep going?" John asked with the flag hanging lazily from his lip. He drew his knee up, just to rest his arm.

[london_spy]

"I think, maybe, that's enough for tonight. Don't you?" Danny said softly. "Besides, I've got things to tell you about. Stuff you missed while you weren't here."

[petty_dabbler]

John arched a brow and pulled his smoke from his mouth.

"Your go, then," he said with a sense of impending doom.

[london_spy]

"James is gone. ...Presumed dead," Danny said quietly.

[petty_dabbler]

He nodded. Of course it had been coming...he'd just hoped he could have had just a bit more time.

"I see," he said, then took a deep drag.

[london_spy]

"We're taking things slow though. I don't know if he's happy about that part, but- I don't know. I love him, yeah? I love him, but sharing him with James kind of made me realize I've always been so quick to throw myself at others, to drown in love and being a couple. A half, you know? But I'm not a half, I'm me, and- I think I'm enjoying that right now. I'm free and I'm doing what I want to do with my life. My work, school- I'm focused on that right now. I don't want to risk falling into old habits. ...I think he gets that."

[petty_dabbler]

John just...kept nodding. Slow, steady.

"Sure," he said. "That makes sense."

Sort of.

[london_spy]

"You don't sound like you think it makes sense," Danny replied.

[petty_dabbler]

John sucked at his teeth for a second.

"...You love him," he finally said. To him that sort of tied everything up neatly.

[london_spy]

"I do. ...But I'm- I like what we have. I want to know you better- If you'd let me in," Danny said softly.