#jesus christ this is terrible lmao what has happened to my ability to write today

[aerodaltonimperial]

Prompt: Hook calls Danhausen. It's impulsive as hell, he regrets it at the first ring. The line clicks mid ring and THANK GOD it's only voice mail! So he empties his heart and he gets ready to hang up, maybe try to re-record it, be less vulnerable- then Hook hears a throat clear on the other end OR behind him. Your choice!

(I can't FUCKING WORDS today ugh this is like pulling teeth but I'm DESPERATE lol)

The line rings. Rings. Rings. And that's good, that's fine, that's better, because this way Hook can just record a voice-mail and then retreat to the safety of his hotel room again, and it won't matter, and they’ll never have to talk about it, he can pretend it never happened, he can ignore--

"Leave a message at the tone. When you are finished recording, hang up, or press * for more options."

"So I guess you didn't see what happened today," Hook says, launching straight into the whirlwind of thoughts without even thinking of marking it with a greeting. "Which doesn't really make sense, because I watch you? I mean, not you-you, but like, I watch what happens?"

He takes a breath, planting his toes against the nearest wall. "And I just...I thought that, y'know, you would be there if...if something went wrong, I thought...I...okay, well, now that I'm saying this out loud, yeah, I didn't help you when the Factory targeted you. But it wasn't because I didn't want to? I thought you and the Best Friends had it covered, right? Because you have people?"

Fuck. Maybe this isn't going well. He's rambling. He probably should have practiced. "Well, I don't. You know? I don't have people. I don't...I had Jack, and now I don't, and that’s it." Hook’s head hurts. God, his head is throbbing from where Ethan fucking Page threw him into the god damn ring post. "And I just...I just..."

This is awful. He runs a hand through his hair and grabs it to try and keep his eyes from filling, from stinging, from overflowing. "I don't have anyone, D. And they fucking ambushed me today. They ambushed me, and I couldn't do anything about it." There's a spot on his chest that will bruise, long and sharp from being manhandled over the ropes. "I needed...I wanted you to be there. I wanted you to help, but I can't..." He tries to swallow the lump that's formed and can't. "I don't have anyone, D."

He drops his voice as his body sort of collapses on itself. "I wish you had come to help. I don't know how to ask for it. I don't know...you know I don't know how to ask, I don't..."

Someone clears their throat behind him, close enough that it sends shivers down Hook’s spine. He whirls, heart in his throat, chest constricted in a panicked vice.

"Hook doesn't know how to ask?" Danhausen says, low and soft. His hands twist in front of him. "He just did."

Hook can't reply. He can't breathe. The phone, still pressed against his ear, has warmed his skin so much it stings. He stares at Danhausen, who stares back.

Finally, breaking the stalemate, Danhausen reaches for Hook’s phone and gently tugs it away from his ear. He thumbs the red END button before his mouth twists, lopsided. "Danhausen is sorry he wasn't there."

It takes too much effort for Hook to wrap his tongue around the syllables. He's painfully slow, but eventually manages to grit out, "You are?"

"Yes." Simple. Painfully honest. Danhausen shrugs slightly. "Danhausen wants to be there for Hook."

"Then why aren't you?" Hook knows he's whining. It would be pathetic if his skin wasn't still screaming, temples throbbing, legs aching.

"You sent me away," Danhausen says. "Hook said he had it."

"Well, I..." Hook inhales, sharp and wet. "I don't. I don't."

Danhausen nods, like he understands. His fingers move to the side of Hook's face and slide gently along the curve of his cheek. "Okay."

"Okay?" Hook repeats, a little wild. "So...you'll stay? You'll be here?"

"Yes," Danhausen tells him.

Hook’s muscles are starting to unclench, one at a time. They've suddenly gotten permission from the palm cradling his face as though he's valuable. "It's that easy?"

"All Hook had to do was ask."

"Now what?" Hook whispers.

Danhausen pockets Hook’s phone, and yeah, that makes more sense considering Hook’s still in his ring gear with a hoodie thrown over the top, too rattled to do anything more, his skin wearing the aftermath of salt. Then Danhausen smiles. "Danhausen takes Hook upstairs and patches him up."

"Okay." Hook can manage this, right? He can deal with things now, because the world isn't so fucking empty. Lonely. Bitter. "I, uh...I..."

Danhausen is still smiing, like he gets it. "I know."

"Do you?"

Danhausen’s free hand cups the other side of Hook’s face, holding him with an unbearable gentleness. He nods. "Yes. Danhausen knows. He will take care of Hook from now on."

"I missed you." Hook swipes his tongue across his lip and gets a burst of copper. "I really missed you."

"Come," Danhausen tells him, and if Hook isn't seeing things, the man's smile had gone a little sad, bittersweet at the edges. "We can talk while Danhausen patches you up."