96 Danny's POV
"I like to write songs with you." Tom suddenly blurted out, not two days after his discussion with Natasha. The sentence was followed by him cringing into himself, like he was regretting speaking.
"Good, because I like writing songs with you too." I wasn't sure how to respond, I mean, did I encourage him? Did I get him to continue? Offer to go off and write songs with him right now? None of that felt right. Maybe just saying that I liked writing songs with him was a good idea?
"You, you do?" Tom glanced up with wide, slightly scared eyes. Like I was going to laugh at him, tell him that I was lying, that I hated writing songs with him, or hell, doing anything with him. The thought squeezed my chest uncomfortably.
"'Course I do, it's great fun." I smiled, hoping it looked encouraging.
"Oh, o-okay. Thanks." Tom took a few seconds to think, "I, I like to play guitar. And piano sometimes. Just, just for fun. And not, not to write any songs." Again, he looked scared to say it. How long had it been since Tom had expressed an opinion? Or admitted to enjoying something? Too long, too damn long, judging by the way he was struggling to say it.
"So do I." I nodded, trying not to give him anything that would sway his responses one way or the other. I didn't want to freak him out, or push him into saying something to try and please me. If we were going to have a conversation about this, and talk about the things we enjoyed, then I wanted Tom to open up as much as he wanted, or felt like he could.
"Is there anything else you enjoy?" I asked, not feeling like that was swaying him one way or another, just giving him an opening to talk.
"I, I think I... I think I like to... play, play video games." All the time, Tom was glancing at me, between me and his hands. Was he shaking? My God, he was actually shaking, just telling me that he enjoyed something.
"Well you used to, so if you want, we can get out the old consoles and you can have a play around some day." no specific dates, no pushing him, letting him know that he was definitely in charge here. It was Tom's decision entirely, he could do what he wanted, whenever he wanted, if he wanted to do it. We would help him, but we wouldn't push him, or mock him for it.
"That... I'll think about it." Tom shifted uncomfortably, I wanted nothing more than to hug him close and tell him that it was okay, that he could admit to enjoying something without fear of being put down for it. He was a human being, he had things he enjoyed, and things he didn't, there was no shame it in, none at all.
"Let us know, whenever you're ready." I couldn't help it, I had to reach out, hold his hand in my own, let him know that I supported him. I supported him through all of this.
"Thanks." Tom whispered shyly, "I, I'm not sure what else I enjoy. I don't... I can't really remember." He couldn't remember? Dear God, what had his wife told him? How long had she banned him from doing anything he enjoyed? To completely forget the things he liked to do? It must have been years, years and years. The thought alone made my blood boil.
"That's alright, would you like to talk about it, see if we can come up with more options?" I'd be more than happy to help, in fact, I was desperate. We were so helpless, I felt so helpless, I wanted to do something to help, anything at all. Even if it was just talking to Tom, helping him to open up, or get used to talking again.
Tom hesitated, then nodded. "If, if you don't mind."
"I don't mind in the slightest," I just wanted to help, that was all, I just wanted to help.
"Now, where do you want to start?" I could remember so much, almost everything, about Tom, I could give him huge lists of things he used to love, and I'd do everything in my power to help him find joy again.