OTA

[london_spy]

He'd come into the new year clean, and intended to do his best to stay that way. More importantly, he was back on his medication and back to eating regular meals- Not that it seemed to be helping much. Some damage couldn't be undone easily though, and Danny was still painfully underweight. Worse still, he was a bit under the weather, and couldn't get in to see his doctor until the end of the month.

It was just a bug, that's what he kept telling himself- And only himself. He didn't want to worry Hex with this, the other man had already gone through so much because of him. Had put up with so much...

He'd pushed himself through a job interview that morning, and was supposed to stop off for groceries next, but a dizzy spell had nearly left him flat on the pavement. So instead he'd wandered into a small cafe, ordering a cup of tea and a sandwich before settling into the last booth in the corner. His hand trembled every time he lifted his mug, and he knew he looked a little pale. 

"It's fine," he whispered to himself. "You're fine. It's fine..."

Taking a calming breath, he lifted his cup again, his hand shaking so hard this time that it fell from his fingers. It bounced off the table, rolling a little before smashing on the floor, coating the shoes of a person walking past.

"Sorry- Shit, I'm so sorry," he said, reaching for some napkins as he spoke.

Comments

[london_spy]

Danny noticed, he was sharper than people expected him to be, and he noticed that look- Though he wasn't sure what it meant.

"No," he said after a moment, deciding she must have recognised him from the papers. His expression went blank, completely void of emotion.

"I've got HIV, and it's been a bad week."

[pippa_flynn]

Pippa pursed her lips and looked genuinely concerned for a moment.

I don't know what a bad week means for someone who is positive, but I can imagine. I'm so sorry," she said. "Do you need help? To go to a doctor? Or...I don't know. I sound like a twat."

[london_spy]

"I have an appointment next week," Danny assured her. "It's fine, I'm fine. ...Well, as fine as I'm able."

[pippa_flynn]

"Next week? But what do you do on a day like today? I feel a bit bad for saying, but you're a wreck, Danny," she replied.

[london_spy]

"I push through," Danny shrugged. "There's nothing else to be done."

[pippa_flynn]

"So you're all alone in this? Don't you have a mate you could stay with or anything?" she asked. She wasn't entirely heartless...she wasn't about to have a complete stranger over to hers to care for him or anything, but she didn't like to see people without resources.

[london_spy]

"I have a boyfriend," Danny said. "I just- I don't want to burden him today. I feel like I've been nothing but a pain for him lately."

[pippa_flynn]

Pippa nodded at that. The server brought them each a piping hot cup of tea and she added sugar before she spoke.

"Do you mind if I sit with you a while, then? Just until you're more steady."

[london_spy]

"You don't have to do that," Danny insisted. "You're welcome to, but- Don't feel you need to," he assured her.

[pippa_flynn]

"Oh, darling, I don't do anything I don't want to," she laughed lightly. "We can just chat. I hate to drink my tea alone, anyway."

[london_spy]

"I so often prefer it that way," Danny admitted. "Not always, but- Sometimes. It's nice to just have a hot cuppa and get lost in your thoughts sometimes."

[pippa_flynn]

"Makes you sound like a bit of a dreamer. My brother's like that. He'll pour a cup and get lost in thought and let it go stone cold," she laughed lightly.

[london_spy]

"Oh? Not you though, you're more in the moment. I can tell," Danny noted.

[pippa_flynn]

"How keen of you," she smiled. "And kind. Most people use less kind words like impetuous and manic"