Work Text:
House limped into the community centre hall with Wilson beside him ‘Remind me why I agreed to this?’ He asked his boyfriend.
‘Because you’re in pain and I want to help you and this course is specifically for chronic pain’ Wilson replied as he opened the door.
The room was filled with a mix of yoga mats, beanbags and stools, several other people were already waiting for the class to start.
House lowered himself onto one of the mats with Wilson’s help, his right leg stretched out in front of him and left leg brought up to his chest.
A blonde man at the front of the room clapped his hands and bounced up off the floor ‘Hi all’ He said to the room with the enthusiasm of a golden retriever chasing a tennis ball ‘I’m Stede, and I’ll be your instructor tonight.’
Wilson cringed as House shot daggers his way at the enthusiastic man at the front. ‘I’m trained in massage specialising in helping people with chronic pain, both my partners experience chronic pain which was the trigger for me choosing a massage course.’
He gestured towards two men at the front of the room sitting closest to him ‘Edward has chronic pain in his knee and his husband Izzy experiences phantom pain from leg amputation’ He explained.
Wilson noticed House’s interest pick up at the medical explanations. Stede began with some general massage techniques on his partners then moved around the room asking questions and offering advice to the attendees.
Wilson looked up as Stede skipped over to him and House ‘What brings you gentlemen here today?’ Stede asked.
‘House has chronic pain in his right thigh from surgery around 10 years ago both muscular and nerve pain.’
Stede nodded as House added ‘I had an infarction and part of my quad was removed.’
Stede considered this and then bent down next to House ‘May I?’ House tensed up slightly as Stede gestured towards his right leg then nodded allowing him to show Wilson the best ways to massage his leg.
House had to admit that the man was good, helping with the muscle tightness without aggravating the nerves.
‘Izzy gets nerve pain and we’ve worked on ways to avoid triggering it’ He said as if he could hear House’s thoughts.
Wilson learned some new methods to help House and they both agreed (Wilson more enthusiastically than House) that it had been worth the time.