FIC: Reid Oliver's Top Ten Boyfriend Requirements
A LuRe fic in which Reid determines if Luke matches any of his boyfriend requirements. (As the World Turns, PG-13)
Title: Reid Oliver's Top Ten Boyfriend Requirements
Author: sleeper6
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2031
Disclaimer: All belongs to As the World Turns, not me.
Summary: Reid determines if Luke matches any of his boyfriend requirements.
A/N: Inspired by Eric Sheffer Stevens' comments that Luke's traits would not be on Reid's list of potential partners.
In his small, dark bedroom at Katie Snyder’s apartment, Reid Oliver lay on his back next to a sleeping Luke Snyder and waited for Chris Hughes to leave. Chris was supposed to tell Katie about his health crisis tonight, and Reid was ready to comfort Katie once she realized that she could lose Chris just as she had lost her husband a year before.
Earlier in the day, Reid and Luke, both worried about Katie and Chris, had agreed to skip their planned lunch date and returned to Katie’s with Chinese take-out. After eating silently (Luke knew better than to attempt a conversation while Reid was eating-that and he didn’t like it when Reid talked with his mouth full) and kissing for a good while, Reid and Luke had laid in bed quietly, waiting to hear Chris tell Katie the truth that he’d been keeping from her for some time.
“I hope he tells her tonight. She really loves him,” Reid’s voice cracked on the last word.
“I think he will. After the way we ganged up on him today, he has to tell her.”
Reid smiled. “Yeah, um, thanks for that, by the way.” He cleared his throat. “For, uh, you know, helping me.”
“See, I’m not completely useless.”
Reid looked at Luke and shook his head. “You’re not-I, I haven’t called you that in a long time.”
Luke grinned. “I know.” He leaned in closer to Reid. “And you’re welcome,” he whispered, his dimples deepening as he smiled the Luke Snyder trademark smile, which Reid happened to think was the biggest-and best-smile he’d ever seen on a living person.
They couldn’t hear anything except muffled voices from the living room but still, they waited. Luke eventually fell asleep, mumbling something that Reid couldn’t quite understand. Meanwhile, Reid’s thoughts were still on his roommate and her boyfriend.
Ever since Katie had told him about her and Chris, Reid had pondered what it was Katie saw in that guy. In the one or two times Reid had thought about Doogie Hughes in medical school, Reid considered him to be an arrogant bore. After a few minutes of trying to rationalize this relationship, Reid gave up and just accepted it. Kind of like he had with Luke. Reid stared at Luke, whose pouty lips quivered slightly as their owner breathed deeply in his sleep. Reid was still surprised at the direction his life had taken in coming to Oakdale and finding Luke.
Luke Snyder.
Luke was not the type of guy Reid thought could ever be his boyfriend. Reid Oliver had a list of traits that his ideal partner had to have, and they didn’t include any of Luke Snyder’s characteristics. It was his very own Top Ten list that was nearly impossible to match, prejudged every potential boyfriend right from the start, often resulted in those possible love interests not being worth Reid’s time and energy, and was not really fair, but it was his list, and it was logical and comforting to him and he wasn’t going to care about it being fair.
Turning his body to the left to look at the blond sleeping beauty next to him, Reid, in an attempt to distract himself momentarily from Katie’s dilemma, decided to evaluate the pre-set conditions of his mental list and see just how mismatched he and Mr. Snyder were.
Reid Oliver’s Top Ten Boyfriend Requirements
1. Must be ambitious and goal-oriented.
Sure, Luke had a job (jobs?), but Reid was uncertain as to what Luke wanted to do with the rest of his life (other than be gay, Reid smirked). Reid had known he wanted to be a doctor since he was 10. Of course, Luke didn’t need to work since he had enough money to last a lifetime. Money that had helped fund Reid’s dream of running the best neurological center in the country. That was certainly ambitious . . . for Reid.
Lately, Luke had been spending a lot of time helping Reid become the prime candidate for the Chief of Staff position. That was a real goal . . . for Reid.
In the end, Reid determined that Luke didn’t have to pick his life’s objective just yet as he was only 22 years old and still had many years to decide.
Reid scratched this clause off the list.
2. Must be honest.
Luke had definitely not been honest with his feelings when he refused to tell Noah about him and Reid. And Luke had kept lying to himself for weeks when he wouldn’t admit his feelings toward Reid. There were other things, too, that Luke told Reid about, like the election. Reid had been surprised and a bit dismayed that a goody two-shoes like Luke actually stuffed his school’s ballot boxes in order to win.
Recalling the story, though, made Reid see why Luke had cheated (the kid was really trying to make a difference unlike his dunderhead of an opponent). Besides, Reid had once cheated to ensure that the best candidate (namely, Reid) won a fellowship award.
Reid scratched this one off the list too.
3. Must be able to appreciate a good beer.
Reid had just recently found out exactly why Luke didn’t drink, so it was okay that Luke wouldn’t. Reid could drink for both of them, and he thought it’d be nice to always have a designated driver.
He also deleted this one.
4. Must be sane and rational at all times.
Reid covered his mouth to keep from laughing at this one. Luke “Overreact” Snyder was neither of these things most of the time. He jumped to conclusions (when he’d thought Reid was cheating on him with Chris), made bad decisions (underage drinking, kissing his grandfather, trusting Bad Dad, Noah), and acted crazy (begging Noah to take him back and then running to Reid when Noah didn’t).
Before arriving in Oakdale, sane and rational is all Reid had been. Since living in Oakdale, however, Reid had had lapses in judgment that resulted in making irrational decisions (quitting his job for Luke even though he knew he’d do it again if he had to). Thinking it over as he laid there, Reid decided to plead temporary insanity due to living in Oakhell, Illinois. He and Luke were already crazy enough to give each other a chance so he couldn’t penalize Luke for not abiding by this particular condition.
More crossing out.
5. Must like and be able to win at chess.
Luke liked chess. Luke would never beat Reid at chess. Reid thought about this and altered the condition: Must like and be able to win at chess. Must like chess even if he’s lousy at it.
6. Must not snore.
Reid laughed out loud as his sleeping boyfriend released a very loud snore. Reid reached over and pinched Luke’s nose, causing Luke to stir slightly. Reid made a mental note to either buy Luke some nasal strips or call one of his ENT colleagues to remedy this problem (which wasn’t really a problem, thought Reid, but a minor snag).
7. Must know how to cook.
Reid never learned how to cook because he was too busy learning to be the best neurosurgeon in the world. Therefore, it was always important to Reid that his partner either make food or be prepared to spend a lot on take-out. Reid knew that Luke didn’t cook, having discovered this a few weeks before when Luke almost burned down his mother’s kitchen making very toasted grilled-cheese sandwiches. Just as Reid was about to impart his usual critique and decline the dinner, Luke stared at him with that ridiculously charming smile that made Reid forget his own name. Reid simply grinned and ate four grilled-cheese sandwiches that night.
Luke is rich and shouldn’t have a problem spending money on take-out or dinners for two, thought Reid. So Reid scratched this condition off the list too.
8. Must be willing and eager in bed.
Reid and Luke had not had sex yet. But every time they kissed, Luke responded very eagerly. This had confused Reid on more than one occasion because as hesitant as Luke was about having actual sex, he was never shy when they kissed or did other things. And they had done other things. After all, Luke Snyder was not a complete prude and Reid Oliver was not the most patient man.
Just an hour prior, Reid had wanted nothing more than to continue what they’d started earlier when he and Luke kissed on the couch before Jacob’s rattle stopped them. Apparently, Luke did too given the way he was grinding his hips against Reid’s and sticking his very wet tongue into Reid’s mouth as they made their way to the bedroom. All they’d done was kiss, though, before Katie and Chris arrived, Luke fell asleep, and Reid became preoccupied with his roommate again. But nobody kissed as well as Luke, so Reid had no complaints about the lack of everything else . . . for now.
He modified this requirement too: Will Must be willing and eager in bed.
9. Must not complain about my work schedule.
Reid was a doctor first so his patients would always be his priority. And so far, Luke understood this. Even when Reid had cancelled previous dates or been too busy with Chris’s secret appointments, Luke had not complained much. There was that day with Holden and Molly’s wedding, but that hadn’t interfered with his job, just his sleep.
In fact, Luke fit in with Reid’s schedule quite agreeably. Being on the hospital board afforded Luke the opportunity to be at the hospital most days now. And this meant Reid got to see Luke as much as he hoped. They’d have breakfast together the mornings that Reid didn’t have scheduled surgeries, lunch on the days when he did, and too-brief but very enjoyable make-out sessions in the lounge or locker room when no one was around.
Mulling over this, Reid realized that Luke was a part of Reid’s job, so there’d be no need to completely separate his personal life from his professional life, thereby avoiding typical work-related arguments that had always threatened his relationships in the past.
More deleting.
10. Must not fall completely in love with me.
Reid always thought this condition should be number one, yet he could never bring himself to bump it up. Reid had loved in his past two (and only) relationships and been loved in return. But he and his previous partners had never been completely, madly, and deeply in love with each other. Reid needed to always be in control of every aspect of his life so he had never before invested everything in a relationship. That would force him to lose control of that which he had always been able to manage: his heart, his emotions, the most important parts of him. He would be powerless if he did, just like he’d told Luke earlier that day.
Luke.
Reid stared long and hard at the man next to him. The man who loved more passionately and faithfully than anyone Reid had ever encountered and the man whose love Reid wanted-and needed-more than anything.
Reid made one final change to his list. Must not fall completely in love with me. Please let him fall completely and madly in love with me just as I’ve fallen completely and madly in love with him.
Reid leaned in and gently kissed Luke’s pink lips while his hand caressed his cheek. Reid was already powerless but he didn’t care. Just as he suddenly didn’t care for the list anymore-who was he to determine who he could and could not fall in love with? There was no controlling anything in these situations; things just happened. Love just happened. Love just happened for Katie and Chris. And love just happened for him and Luke.
Reid became hopeful as he ran his hand through Luke’s messy blond hair. If he and Luke could be at this place together after everything they’d been through, then Katie and Chris would be too, no matter what happened tonight.
Title: Reid Oliver's Top Ten Boyfriend Requirements
Author: sleeper6
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2031
Disclaimer: All belongs to As the World Turns, not me.
Summary: Reid determines if Luke matches any of his boyfriend requirements.
A/N: Inspired by Eric Sheffer Stevens' comments that Luke's traits would not be on Reid's list of potential partners.
In his small, dark bedroom at Katie Snyder’s apartment, Reid Oliver lay on his back next to a sleeping Luke Snyder and waited for Chris Hughes to leave. Chris was supposed to tell Katie about his health crisis tonight, and Reid was ready to comfort Katie once she realized that she could lose Chris just as she had lost her husband a year before.
Earlier in the day, Reid and Luke, both worried about Katie and Chris, had agreed to skip their planned lunch date and returned to Katie’s with Chinese take-out. After eating silently (Luke knew better than to attempt a conversation while Reid was eating-that and he didn’t like it when Reid talked with his mouth full) and kissing for a good while, Reid and Luke had laid in bed quietly, waiting to hear Chris tell Katie the truth that he’d been keeping from her for some time.
“I hope he tells her tonight. She really loves him,” Reid’s voice cracked on the last word.
“I think he will. After the way we ganged up on him today, he has to tell her.”
Reid smiled. “Yeah, um, thanks for that, by the way.” He cleared his throat. “For, uh, you know, helping me.”
“See, I’m not completely useless.”
Reid looked at Luke and shook his head. “You’re not-I, I haven’t called you that in a long time.”
Luke grinned. “I know.” He leaned in closer to Reid. “And you’re welcome,” he whispered, his dimples deepening as he smiled the Luke Snyder trademark smile, which Reid happened to think was the biggest-and best-smile he’d ever seen on a living person.
They couldn’t hear anything except muffled voices from the living room but still, they waited. Luke eventually fell asleep, mumbling something that Reid couldn’t quite understand. Meanwhile, Reid’s thoughts were still on his roommate and her boyfriend.
Ever since Katie had told him about her and Chris, Reid had pondered what it was Katie saw in that guy. In the one or two times Reid had thought about Doogie Hughes in medical school, Reid considered him to be an arrogant bore. After a few minutes of trying to rationalize this relationship, Reid gave up and just accepted it. Kind of like he had with Luke. Reid stared at Luke, whose pouty lips quivered slightly as their owner breathed deeply in his sleep. Reid was still surprised at the direction his life had taken in coming to Oakdale and finding Luke.
Luke Snyder.
Luke was not the type of guy Reid thought could ever be his boyfriend. Reid Oliver had a list of traits that his ideal partner had to have, and they didn’t include any of Luke Snyder’s characteristics. It was his very own Top Ten list that was nearly impossible to match, prejudged every potential boyfriend right from the start, often resulted in those possible love interests not being worth Reid’s time and energy, and was not really fair, but it was his list, and it was logical and comforting to him and he wasn’t going to care about it being fair.
Turning his body to the left to look at the blond sleeping beauty next to him, Reid, in an attempt to distract himself momentarily from Katie’s dilemma, decided to evaluate the pre-set conditions of his mental list and see just how mismatched he and Mr. Snyder were.
Reid Oliver’s Top Ten Boyfriend Requirements
1. Must be ambitious and goal-oriented.
Sure, Luke had a job (jobs?), but Reid was uncertain as to what Luke wanted to do with the rest of his life (other than be gay, Reid smirked). Reid had known he wanted to be a doctor since he was 10. Of course, Luke didn’t need to work since he had enough money to last a lifetime. Money that had helped fund Reid’s dream of running the best neurological center in the country. That was certainly ambitious . . . for Reid.
Lately, Luke had been spending a lot of time helping Reid become the prime candidate for the Chief of Staff position. That was a real goal . . . for Reid.
In the end, Reid determined that Luke didn’t have to pick his life’s objective just yet as he was only 22 years old and still had many years to decide.
Reid scratched this clause off the list.
2. Must be honest.
Luke had definitely not been honest with his feelings when he refused to tell Noah about him and Reid. And Luke had kept lying to himself for weeks when he wouldn’t admit his feelings toward Reid. There were other things, too, that Luke told Reid about, like the election. Reid had been surprised and a bit dismayed that a goody two-shoes like Luke actually stuffed his school’s ballot boxes in order to win.
Recalling the story, though, made Reid see why Luke had cheated (the kid was really trying to make a difference unlike his dunderhead of an opponent). Besides, Reid had once cheated to ensure that the best candidate (namely, Reid) won a fellowship award.
Reid scratched this one off the list too.
3. Must be able to appreciate a good beer.
Reid had just recently found out exactly why Luke didn’t drink, so it was okay that Luke wouldn’t. Reid could drink for both of them, and he thought it’d be nice to always have a designated driver.
He also deleted this one.
4. Must be sane and rational at all times.
Reid covered his mouth to keep from laughing at this one. Luke “Overreact” Snyder was neither of these things most of the time. He jumped to conclusions (when he’d thought Reid was cheating on him with Chris), made bad decisions (underage drinking, kissing his grandfather, trusting Bad Dad, Noah), and acted crazy (begging Noah to take him back and then running to Reid when Noah didn’t).
Before arriving in Oakdale, sane and rational is all Reid had been. Since living in Oakdale, however, Reid had had lapses in judgment that resulted in making irrational decisions (quitting his job for Luke even though he knew he’d do it again if he had to). Thinking it over as he laid there, Reid decided to plead temporary insanity due to living in Oakhell, Illinois. He and Luke were already crazy enough to give each other a chance so he couldn’t penalize Luke for not abiding by this particular condition.
More crossing out.
5. Must like and be able to win at chess.
Luke liked chess. Luke would never beat Reid at chess. Reid thought about this and altered the condition: Must like and be able to win at chess. Must like chess even if he’s lousy at it.
6. Must not snore.
Reid laughed out loud as his sleeping boyfriend released a very loud snore. Reid reached over and pinched Luke’s nose, causing Luke to stir slightly. Reid made a mental note to either buy Luke some nasal strips or call one of his ENT colleagues to remedy this problem (which wasn’t really a problem, thought Reid, but a minor snag).
7. Must know how to cook.
Reid never learned how to cook because he was too busy learning to be the best neurosurgeon in the world. Therefore, it was always important to Reid that his partner either make food or be prepared to spend a lot on take-out. Reid knew that Luke didn’t cook, having discovered this a few weeks before when Luke almost burned down his mother’s kitchen making very toasted grilled-cheese sandwiches. Just as Reid was about to impart his usual critique and decline the dinner, Luke stared at him with that ridiculously charming smile that made Reid forget his own name. Reid simply grinned and ate four grilled-cheese sandwiches that night.
Luke is rich and shouldn’t have a problem spending money on take-out or dinners for two, thought Reid. So Reid scratched this condition off the list too.
8. Must be willing and eager in bed.
Reid and Luke had not had sex yet. But every time they kissed, Luke responded very eagerly. This had confused Reid on more than one occasion because as hesitant as Luke was about having actual sex, he was never shy when they kissed or did other things. And they had done other things. After all, Luke Snyder was not a complete prude and Reid Oliver was not the most patient man.
Just an hour prior, Reid had wanted nothing more than to continue what they’d started earlier when he and Luke kissed on the couch before Jacob’s rattle stopped them. Apparently, Luke did too given the way he was grinding his hips against Reid’s and sticking his very wet tongue into Reid’s mouth as they made their way to the bedroom. All they’d done was kiss, though, before Katie and Chris arrived, Luke fell asleep, and Reid became preoccupied with his roommate again. But nobody kissed as well as Luke, so Reid had no complaints about the lack of everything else . . . for now.
He modified this requirement too: Will Must be willing and eager in bed.
9. Must not complain about my work schedule.
Reid was a doctor first so his patients would always be his priority. And so far, Luke understood this. Even when Reid had cancelled previous dates or been too busy with Chris’s secret appointments, Luke had not complained much. There was that day with Holden and Molly’s wedding, but that hadn’t interfered with his job, just his sleep.
In fact, Luke fit in with Reid’s schedule quite agreeably. Being on the hospital board afforded Luke the opportunity to be at the hospital most days now. And this meant Reid got to see Luke as much as he hoped. They’d have breakfast together the mornings that Reid didn’t have scheduled surgeries, lunch on the days when he did, and too-brief but very enjoyable make-out sessions in the lounge or locker room when no one was around.
Mulling over this, Reid realized that Luke was a part of Reid’s job, so there’d be no need to completely separate his personal life from his professional life, thereby avoiding typical work-related arguments that had always threatened his relationships in the past.
More deleting.
10. Must not fall completely in love with me.
Reid always thought this condition should be number one, yet he could never bring himself to bump it up. Reid had loved in his past two (and only) relationships and been loved in return. But he and his previous partners had never been completely, madly, and deeply in love with each other. Reid needed to always be in control of every aspect of his life so he had never before invested everything in a relationship. That would force him to lose control of that which he had always been able to manage: his heart, his emotions, the most important parts of him. He would be powerless if he did, just like he’d told Luke earlier that day.
Luke.
Reid stared long and hard at the man next to him. The man who loved more passionately and faithfully than anyone Reid had ever encountered and the man whose love Reid wanted-and needed-more than anything.
Reid made one final change to his list. Must not fall completely in love with me. Please let him fall completely and madly in love with me just as I’ve fallen completely and madly in love with him.
Reid leaned in and gently kissed Luke’s pink lips while his hand caressed his cheek. Reid was already powerless but he didn’t care. Just as he suddenly didn’t care for the list anymore-who was he to determine who he could and could not fall in love with? There was no controlling anything in these situations; things just happened. Love just happened. Love just happened for Katie and Chris. And love just happened for him and Luke.
Reid became hopeful as he ran his hand through Luke’s messy blond hair. If he and Luke could be at this place together after everything they’d been through, then Katie and Chris would be too, no matter what happened tonight.