Fic: Even the Wrong Words Seem to Rhyme
Title: Even the Wrong Words Seem to Rhyme
Author: bubblegumhunny
Pairing/Characters: Reid/Luke, and a tiny bit of Noah/Luke.
Rating: from G to NC-17
Word Count: 2400+
Summary: Fifty sentences composed of Luke, Reid and their relationship.
Warnings: SEMICOLONS (apparently one sentence is hard for me, so I cheated and added excessive amounts of these), most likely grammar mistakes, mentions of character death, suggestive situations (of various kinds), language
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's notes: This was written for 1sentence; theme set Alpha. Not really canon-centric (some are, some aren't). I will be doing sets Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon if you guys enjoy this one! I promise it's not as boring as it sounds. Title is taken from the song Collide by Howie Day. As always, feedback is love. Tell me your favorites! ♥
#01 - Comfort: It’s only when Luke uses Reid’s toothbrush and Reid doesn’t react at all that Luke realizes Reid is getting used to having him around, and he feels a soothing kind of reassurance when he goes into the kitchen to make breakfast, humming lightly.
#02 - Kiss: Reid likes to nibble, pushing his teeth into the soft plush of Luke’s bottom lip and then releasing when he hears a low whimper; he tugs gently and then pushes Luke up against the wall to finish what he started, mouth hot and hungry against Luke’s.
#03 - Soft: There’s something about Luke’s hugs that get him every time; he’s warm and it’s like being wrapped in a damn marshmallow, and if Reid gives him a few Eskimo kisses and Luke rubs his cheek against Reid’s affectionately in response, they don’t talk about it.
#04 - Pain: Late at night, when they’re both home relaxing and the television is on low, Luke takes Reid’s aching hands and massages them as they watch The Food Network (Reid’s favorite channel) and Reid lets Luke put his perpetually cold toes under his thighs to warm up.
#05 - Potatoes: “Potatoes are the only vegetable worth noticing,” Reid says, grabbing a handful of French fries and stuffing them all into his mouth; he gives Luke a wide grin with squirrel cheeks, and Luke rolls his eyes and takes a pointed bite of his garden salad, hiding a smile.
#06 - Rain: They’re filthy as they roll around in the wet mud, getting caked with it as wet grass sticks in their hair, but it’s worth it to hear Reid laugh for real, and Luke kisses him, giddy, as they strip down to nothing and let the rain wash their dirty bodies as they find a perfect rhythm of slip-sliding heat.
#07 - Chocolate: Edible underwear, Luke reads on the package, blushing to the roots of his hair when he looks up and meets Reid’s amused, predatory gaze, and he’s just thankful he followed Reid’s passing comment that he open his birthday gift after his whole family leaves.
#08 - Happiness: It’s nice to have somebody’s hand to hold, somebody there by his side, somebody who simultaneously infuriates him and makes him laugh and, especially, somebody who wants him; he’s spent such a long time feeling unwanted that it’s euphoric to have the sentiment finally returned.
#09 - Telephone: “I miss him, Noah,” Luke says, small and lost, and the voice on the other end of the line is as thrumming with regret and resentment and anger as it always is; the only difference now is the way Noah says gently, “I know, Luke, but I’m here now.”
#10 - Ears: Luke’s been with Reid long enough to have figured out his sensitive spots, and there’s a little place behind his ear that he can’t help sucking on every time he sees it, because it takes Reid right over the edge and Luke loves watching his expression when he falls apart under Luke’s tongue.
#11 - Name: “Say it,” Reid growls, and Luke drops to his knees, pupils dilated and needy as he looks up and says, “I’ll worship you.”
#12 - Sensual: When Luke bites the end of his pen, Reid is positive there’s nothing sexier; the best part is he’s never aware that he’s doing it, and the innocent fanning of his light blond lashes against his cheeks as he frowns down at his paperwork makes something in Reid’s belly curl with want.
#13 - Death: Kissing someone who’s already dead is nothing like kissing a real person, Luke thinks, but the ghost of a real person is better than no real person at all, and he hangs onto that thought as he presses his lips to Reid’s dry, cold ones.
#14 - Sex: “Don’t rush me,” Luke says, holding Reid’s hands above his head as he thrusts in slow, languid and deep; he breathes out, “Keep them there or I won’t let you come,” and his voice shudders on the last word.
#15 - Touch: It’s nothing but a touch, just a simple hand on shoulder and squeeze, but it kills some of the overwhelming guilt Reid feels when he remembers Annie Judd’s face, and when he lets a tear slide there’s nobody to see it but the person he trusts most.
#16 - Weakness: Every time Reid wears his glasses --at home where nobody can see-- Luke distracts him from whatever he’s reading anyway, so it’s fairly pointless; Luke’s got a bit of a nerd kink, apparently, but Reid doesn’t really mind indulging it when it makes Luke act all growly like this.
#17 - Tears: When Luke’s favorite horse dies, Reid catches him when he crumples down to the stable floor and holds him as he sobs into Reid’s shirt; Reid stays with him until Luke falls into an exhausted doze against his shoulder and for once he keeps his mouth shut, even with the hay poking him in uncomfortable places and his arm steadily growing numb.
#18 - Speed: Right before he crashes, the split second he has before it all goes to hell, Luke swims into view, arms outstretched, and Reid falls into him as his eyes close; it’s like relief.
#19 - Wind: Luke swings on the tire, and as the wind rushes through his hair and raises goose bumps on his exhilarated, bare flesh, he can almost forget the way Reid literally gave his heart away to someone else and left him here alone.
#20 - Freedom: As Reid watches them through the window, together once more, his nails dig into his palm so hard he almost breaks the skin, but he stops himself just as he’s about to draw blood because his hands are the only things he’s got now; he’s not going to chase after something that he never had in the first place.
#21 - Life: Luke puts his hand over Reid’s heart whenever he’s close enough to do it, because if he doesn’t, who knows when he’s going to be able to feel it beating beneath his fingers again, warm and alive?
#22 - Jealousy: Reid loves rimming Luke, seeing him spread open and begging, writhing as Reid fucks him with his tongue, and he does it until Luke’s moans and cries don’t start with the letter ’N’ anymore.
#23 - Hands: While Reid’s touch is firm and confident, Luke’s is uncertain and absurdly gentle; for some odd reason, they fit perfectly together.
#24 - Taste: “Paws off, Snyder,” Reid says, leering, “this is my sandwich and I won’t share unless you convince me you’re worth the sacrifice, and the only way you can do that is by getting on your knees and showing me how hungry you really are.”
#25 - Devotion: Whenever Reid’s lips brush against Luke’s scar from his kidney transplant, Luke goes tense and silent, but after a few moments of soft, open mouthed kisses and a reassurance of whispered words, he goes boneless and sighs.
#26 - Forever: Luke knows he’s in for the long haul when he gets kicked in the ribs by Reid for the third time in one night and all he does is huff with amusement and roll to the edge of the bed to sleep.
#27 - Blood: Reid has seen a lot of blood in his life, but that still doesn’t stop him from shaking when he remembers Luke’s and the way it felt to watch it draining from his lifeless body, eyes dulling from their familiar brightness as Reid failed to save him.
#28 - Sickness: “I can’t believe you’re being such a baby about this,” Luke says, looking down at him from his straddled position on Reid’s lap as he tries, once again, to get Reid to open his mouth and swallow down the cough medicine; he adds, in a flat voice, “Open your mouth now or I’m going to start the choo-choo train.”
#29 - Melody: Reid is a terrible dancer, Luke finds out, but he stops feeling guilty for laughing when one night Reid suggests they buy a stripper pole for Luke since he’s so much better, and he can show off what he’s got while Reid sits back and learns from the master.
#30 - Star: “You’ve got...” Reid trails off when Luke tilts his head questioningly and instead leans forward to blow it away; he brushes his thumb over the delicate skin under Luke’s eye and says, “An eyelash, so make a wish.”
#31 - Home: Reid pulls Luke forward by his tie and kisses him until he’s breathless, following it up with a small smack to Luke’s stunned cheek as he says, “Gotta go cut open brains now; see you at home, honey,” and walks away smugly.
#32 - Confusion: “I must be getting mixed signals here, because I thought you liked my cooking,” Luke says, and Reid shakes his head and swallows successfully (without wincing); it really says something about their relationship when Reid, “King of Bluntness and Truth,” can’t tell Luke he almost vomited because he doesn’t want him to be upset.
#33 - Fear: “It’s just water, Reid,” Luke says, and he’s got a smile on his face and his arms are stretched out all stupid and happy and inviting and comforting as he murmurs, “You can trust me,” and Reid does.
#34 - Lightning/Thunder: They fight a lot, throwing insults at each other that burn on their tongues and down their throats, but it’s only after they’ve scratched, bitten, bruised and fucked that they realize they were both grinning like maniacs the whole time.
#35 - Bonds: “I thought you said you had a key,” Luke says, irritated, and Reid pats his pockets down and shrugs like has no idea what Luke’s talking about; Luke spends the rest of the day with his hands behind his back, locked in metal cuffs, and Reid spends the rest of the day behind Luke, watching him struggle and moan as he fucks him.
#36 - Market: Reid rams his shopping cart into an old woman at the market that day, and no it isn’t actually intentional; Luke’s sucking on a lollipop he bought in the candy aisle and it’s extremely distracting; the little shit knows it, too.
#37 - Technology: ilu baby <3, Luke texts Reid, and the response he gets makes him laugh out loud: What are you, fourteen?
#38 - Gift: One morning Reid wakes up to lights fluttering behind his eyelids and a distinct pressure holding down his hips; when he opens his eyes Luke is tonguing the head of his cock, staring at him and smirking, and there’s a crackling sparkler teasing the skin of his thighs when Luke rasps, “Happy birthday.”
#39 - Smile: There’s something wrong about Luke’s smile today, and Reid only notices it because, apparently, he spends a lot of his time watching him.
#40 - Innocence: They share a bowl of spaghetti, which was originally Luke’s lunch only, but Reid forgot his from his busy hours doing doctor things and Luke is too nice for his own good; they’re both slurping up a long noodle, slowly, and they blink in surprise when they meet each other in the middle, sharing a wide-eyed kiss that’s embarrassingly similar to the one in Lady and the Tramp.
#41 - Completion: “You make me feel like I’m worth it,” Luke gasps out, breath hitching and fingers tangling in Reid’s hair as they move together, and they don’t stop kissing until they fall asleep in each other’s arms an hour later.
#42 - Clouds: “That one looks like a penis,” Reid says conversationally, one day when they’re lying on the grass outside after too much of Luke’s grandma’s apple pie; after a second Luke rolls on top of him lazily and looks down at him with arched brows, murmuring, “Something on your mind, Reid?”
#43 - Sky: “We’re going to do something that will amaze you, Snyder,” Reid says, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the airport terminal; he grins wickedly as he adds, “Instead of daddy’s jet with champagne and caviar, we’re going economy class with ham and cheese.”
#44 - Heaven: It’s two months later when Luke is sitting on the porch, alone with bleak tears threatening to fall, that he feels a familiar touch (a hand on his cheek and a kiss below his jaw); it’s gone when he opens his eyes, carried with the wind, but for the rest of the day he keeps pressing his fingers to that spot and smiling unconsciously.
#45 - Hell: In the mornings before he goes to work, Luke will sit in the chair by the bed, just watching Reid breathe; sometimes, if he tries hard enough to pretend, he can imagine the steady beeping of the life support machine fading and Reid’s chest rising and falling on its own.
#46 - Sun: Reid finds it hard not to stutter and go herp a derp when he’s faced with the force of Luke’s grin, so to stop it from happening he throws out cruel insults until it goes away; it works about ten percent of the time.
#47 - Moon: “I never figured you for a star gazer,” Reid says, coming up behind Luke and sliding his arms around him until they’re fit snugly from front to back, and Luke continues his perusal of the moon when he answers, in a quiet voice, “There are lots of things you don’t know about me yet.”
#48 - Waves: The way Luke moves is intoxicating; he rolls his hips up and then down in fluid motions, head falling back against his shoulders and mouth open in a gasp that sounds like the crash of a wave.
#49 - Hair: “You look like a curly fry from Wendy’s,” Luke says, not even trying to disguise the laughter edging its way into the corners of his eyes as he tugs on one of Reid’s curls, fresh from the shower and drying to poodle-length rapidly.
#50 - Supernova: When Luke comes into the room, Reid freezes, and Luke freezes, and then after a minute of staring and as the hairbrush falls from Reid’s lips Luke can’t hold it in anymore and he wheezes and holds his sides as the stereo plays on, “Do you believe in life after love?”
Author: bubblegumhunny
Pairing/Characters: Reid/Luke, and a tiny bit of Noah/Luke.
Rating: from G to NC-17
Word Count: 2400+
Summary: Fifty sentences composed of Luke, Reid and their relationship.
Warnings: SEMICOLONS (apparently one sentence is hard for me, so I cheated and added excessive amounts of these), most likely grammar mistakes, mentions of character death, suggestive situations (of various kinds), language
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's notes: This was written for 1sentence; theme set Alpha. Not really canon-centric (some are, some aren't). I will be doing sets Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon if you guys enjoy this one! I promise it's not as boring as it sounds. Title is taken from the song Collide by Howie Day. As always, feedback is love. Tell me your favorites! ♥
#01 - Comfort: It’s only when Luke uses Reid’s toothbrush and Reid doesn’t react at all that Luke realizes Reid is getting used to having him around, and he feels a soothing kind of reassurance when he goes into the kitchen to make breakfast, humming lightly.
#02 - Kiss: Reid likes to nibble, pushing his teeth into the soft plush of Luke’s bottom lip and then releasing when he hears a low whimper; he tugs gently and then pushes Luke up against the wall to finish what he started, mouth hot and hungry against Luke’s.
#03 - Soft: There’s something about Luke’s hugs that get him every time; he’s warm and it’s like being wrapped in a damn marshmallow, and if Reid gives him a few Eskimo kisses and Luke rubs his cheek against Reid’s affectionately in response, they don’t talk about it.
#04 - Pain: Late at night, when they’re both home relaxing and the television is on low, Luke takes Reid’s aching hands and massages them as they watch The Food Network (Reid’s favorite channel) and Reid lets Luke put his perpetually cold toes under his thighs to warm up.
#05 - Potatoes: “Potatoes are the only vegetable worth noticing,” Reid says, grabbing a handful of French fries and stuffing them all into his mouth; he gives Luke a wide grin with squirrel cheeks, and Luke rolls his eyes and takes a pointed bite of his garden salad, hiding a smile.
#06 - Rain: They’re filthy as they roll around in the wet mud, getting caked with it as wet grass sticks in their hair, but it’s worth it to hear Reid laugh for real, and Luke kisses him, giddy, as they strip down to nothing and let the rain wash their dirty bodies as they find a perfect rhythm of slip-sliding heat.
#07 - Chocolate: Edible underwear, Luke reads on the package, blushing to the roots of his hair when he looks up and meets Reid’s amused, predatory gaze, and he’s just thankful he followed Reid’s passing comment that he open his birthday gift after his whole family leaves.
#08 - Happiness: It’s nice to have somebody’s hand to hold, somebody there by his side, somebody who simultaneously infuriates him and makes him laugh and, especially, somebody who wants him; he’s spent such a long time feeling unwanted that it’s euphoric to have the sentiment finally returned.
#09 - Telephone: “I miss him, Noah,” Luke says, small and lost, and the voice on the other end of the line is as thrumming with regret and resentment and anger as it always is; the only difference now is the way Noah says gently, “I know, Luke, but I’m here now.”
#10 - Ears: Luke’s been with Reid long enough to have figured out his sensitive spots, and there’s a little place behind his ear that he can’t help sucking on every time he sees it, because it takes Reid right over the edge and Luke loves watching his expression when he falls apart under Luke’s tongue.
#11 - Name: “Say it,” Reid growls, and Luke drops to his knees, pupils dilated and needy as he looks up and says, “I’ll worship you.”
#12 - Sensual: When Luke bites the end of his pen, Reid is positive there’s nothing sexier; the best part is he’s never aware that he’s doing it, and the innocent fanning of his light blond lashes against his cheeks as he frowns down at his paperwork makes something in Reid’s belly curl with want.
#13 - Death: Kissing someone who’s already dead is nothing like kissing a real person, Luke thinks, but the ghost of a real person is better than no real person at all, and he hangs onto that thought as he presses his lips to Reid’s dry, cold ones.
#14 - Sex: “Don’t rush me,” Luke says, holding Reid’s hands above his head as he thrusts in slow, languid and deep; he breathes out, “Keep them there or I won’t let you come,” and his voice shudders on the last word.
#15 - Touch: It’s nothing but a touch, just a simple hand on shoulder and squeeze, but it kills some of the overwhelming guilt Reid feels when he remembers Annie Judd’s face, and when he lets a tear slide there’s nobody to see it but the person he trusts most.
#16 - Weakness: Every time Reid wears his glasses --at home where nobody can see-- Luke distracts him from whatever he’s reading anyway, so it’s fairly pointless; Luke’s got a bit of a nerd kink, apparently, but Reid doesn’t really mind indulging it when it makes Luke act all growly like this.
#17 - Tears: When Luke’s favorite horse dies, Reid catches him when he crumples down to the stable floor and holds him as he sobs into Reid’s shirt; Reid stays with him until Luke falls into an exhausted doze against his shoulder and for once he keeps his mouth shut, even with the hay poking him in uncomfortable places and his arm steadily growing numb.
#18 - Speed: Right before he crashes, the split second he has before it all goes to hell, Luke swims into view, arms outstretched, and Reid falls into him as his eyes close; it’s like relief.
#19 - Wind: Luke swings on the tire, and as the wind rushes through his hair and raises goose bumps on his exhilarated, bare flesh, he can almost forget the way Reid literally gave his heart away to someone else and left him here alone.
#20 - Freedom: As Reid watches them through the window, together once more, his nails dig into his palm so hard he almost breaks the skin, but he stops himself just as he’s about to draw blood because his hands are the only things he’s got now; he’s not going to chase after something that he never had in the first place.
#21 - Life: Luke puts his hand over Reid’s heart whenever he’s close enough to do it, because if he doesn’t, who knows when he’s going to be able to feel it beating beneath his fingers again, warm and alive?
#22 - Jealousy: Reid loves rimming Luke, seeing him spread open and begging, writhing as Reid fucks him with his tongue, and he does it until Luke’s moans and cries don’t start with the letter ’N’ anymore.
#23 - Hands: While Reid’s touch is firm and confident, Luke’s is uncertain and absurdly gentle; for some odd reason, they fit perfectly together.
#24 - Taste: “Paws off, Snyder,” Reid says, leering, “this is my sandwich and I won’t share unless you convince me you’re worth the sacrifice, and the only way you can do that is by getting on your knees and showing me how hungry you really are.”
#25 - Devotion: Whenever Reid’s lips brush against Luke’s scar from his kidney transplant, Luke goes tense and silent, but after a few moments of soft, open mouthed kisses and a reassurance of whispered words, he goes boneless and sighs.
#26 - Forever: Luke knows he’s in for the long haul when he gets kicked in the ribs by Reid for the third time in one night and all he does is huff with amusement and roll to the edge of the bed to sleep.
#27 - Blood: Reid has seen a lot of blood in his life, but that still doesn’t stop him from shaking when he remembers Luke’s and the way it felt to watch it draining from his lifeless body, eyes dulling from their familiar brightness as Reid failed to save him.
#28 - Sickness: “I can’t believe you’re being such a baby about this,” Luke says, looking down at him from his straddled position on Reid’s lap as he tries, once again, to get Reid to open his mouth and swallow down the cough medicine; he adds, in a flat voice, “Open your mouth now or I’m going to start the choo-choo train.”
#29 - Melody: Reid is a terrible dancer, Luke finds out, but he stops feeling guilty for laughing when one night Reid suggests they buy a stripper pole for Luke since he’s so much better, and he can show off what he’s got while Reid sits back and learns from the master.
#30 - Star: “You’ve got...” Reid trails off when Luke tilts his head questioningly and instead leans forward to blow it away; he brushes his thumb over the delicate skin under Luke’s eye and says, “An eyelash, so make a wish.”
#31 - Home: Reid pulls Luke forward by his tie and kisses him until he’s breathless, following it up with a small smack to Luke’s stunned cheek as he says, “Gotta go cut open brains now; see you at home, honey,” and walks away smugly.
#32 - Confusion: “I must be getting mixed signals here, because I thought you liked my cooking,” Luke says, and Reid shakes his head and swallows successfully (without wincing); it really says something about their relationship when Reid, “King of Bluntness and Truth,” can’t tell Luke he almost vomited because he doesn’t want him to be upset.
#33 - Fear: “It’s just water, Reid,” Luke says, and he’s got a smile on his face and his arms are stretched out all stupid and happy and inviting and comforting as he murmurs, “You can trust me,” and Reid does.
#34 - Lightning/Thunder: They fight a lot, throwing insults at each other that burn on their tongues and down their throats, but it’s only after they’ve scratched, bitten, bruised and fucked that they realize they were both grinning like maniacs the whole time.
#35 - Bonds: “I thought you said you had a key,” Luke says, irritated, and Reid pats his pockets down and shrugs like has no idea what Luke’s talking about; Luke spends the rest of the day with his hands behind his back, locked in metal cuffs, and Reid spends the rest of the day behind Luke, watching him struggle and moan as he fucks him.
#36 - Market: Reid rams his shopping cart into an old woman at the market that day, and no it isn’t actually intentional; Luke’s sucking on a lollipop he bought in the candy aisle and it’s extremely distracting; the little shit knows it, too.
#37 - Technology: ilu baby <3, Luke texts Reid, and the response he gets makes him laugh out loud: What are you, fourteen?
#38 - Gift: One morning Reid wakes up to lights fluttering behind his eyelids and a distinct pressure holding down his hips; when he opens his eyes Luke is tonguing the head of his cock, staring at him and smirking, and there’s a crackling sparkler teasing the skin of his thighs when Luke rasps, “Happy birthday.”
#39 - Smile: There’s something wrong about Luke’s smile today, and Reid only notices it because, apparently, he spends a lot of his time watching him.
#40 - Innocence: They share a bowl of spaghetti, which was originally Luke’s lunch only, but Reid forgot his from his busy hours doing doctor things and Luke is too nice for his own good; they’re both slurping up a long noodle, slowly, and they blink in surprise when they meet each other in the middle, sharing a wide-eyed kiss that’s embarrassingly similar to the one in Lady and the Tramp.
#41 - Completion: “You make me feel like I’m worth it,” Luke gasps out, breath hitching and fingers tangling in Reid’s hair as they move together, and they don’t stop kissing until they fall asleep in each other’s arms an hour later.
#42 - Clouds: “That one looks like a penis,” Reid says conversationally, one day when they’re lying on the grass outside after too much of Luke’s grandma’s apple pie; after a second Luke rolls on top of him lazily and looks down at him with arched brows, murmuring, “Something on your mind, Reid?”
#43 - Sky: “We’re going to do something that will amaze you, Snyder,” Reid says, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the airport terminal; he grins wickedly as he adds, “Instead of daddy’s jet with champagne and caviar, we’re going economy class with ham and cheese.”
#44 - Heaven: It’s two months later when Luke is sitting on the porch, alone with bleak tears threatening to fall, that he feels a familiar touch (a hand on his cheek and a kiss below his jaw); it’s gone when he opens his eyes, carried with the wind, but for the rest of the day he keeps pressing his fingers to that spot and smiling unconsciously.
#45 - Hell: In the mornings before he goes to work, Luke will sit in the chair by the bed, just watching Reid breathe; sometimes, if he tries hard enough to pretend, he can imagine the steady beeping of the life support machine fading and Reid’s chest rising and falling on its own.
#46 - Sun: Reid finds it hard not to stutter and go herp a derp when he’s faced with the force of Luke’s grin, so to stop it from happening he throws out cruel insults until it goes away; it works about ten percent of the time.
#47 - Moon: “I never figured you for a star gazer,” Reid says, coming up behind Luke and sliding his arms around him until they’re fit snugly from front to back, and Luke continues his perusal of the moon when he answers, in a quiet voice, “There are lots of things you don’t know about me yet.”
#48 - Waves: The way Luke moves is intoxicating; he rolls his hips up and then down in fluid motions, head falling back against his shoulders and mouth open in a gasp that sounds like the crash of a wave.
#49 - Hair: “You look like a curly fry from Wendy’s,” Luke says, not even trying to disguise the laughter edging its way into the corners of his eyes as he tugs on one of Reid’s curls, fresh from the shower and drying to poodle-length rapidly.
#50 - Supernova: When Luke comes into the room, Reid freezes, and Luke freezes, and then after a minute of staring and as the hairbrush falls from Reid’s lips Luke can’t hold it in anymore and he wheezes and holds his sides as the stereo plays on, “Do you believe in life after love?”