New LuRe Fic: The Great American Fake-Off, 1/4
The Great American Fake-Off, Part 1
by Suz
Another fake dating fic! Ah, I do love this trope :D
Luke/Reid (shocker) AU, set in the early days of their storyline. Rated PG-13.
Many, many thanks to nel and d for their constant encouragement. Feedback would be fab! Also posted on AO3 here.
*
It wasn't even 8:30 in the morning and Reid had already had more than enough of Luke Snyder.
"Do you really have to follow me everywhere?"
Luke just kept walking right next to him. "Trust me, Dr Oliver, the last thing I want to do is spend more time than I have to with you, either. It just seems that we're heading to the same destination."
Annoyingly, he was probably right - the only place worth going to in this part of Old Town was Java, where they were both likely heading for their morning caffeine fix. God knew Reid couldn't get by on the swill they served at the hospital. And he'd honestly seen Luke in Java enough times in the morning that he knew he was likely to catch a glimpse of him most days, even if they didn't talk to each other.
Today he hadn't been so lucky.
"What are you doing up this early anyway?" he asked, though Luke was in a suit so the answer seemed obvious. At this point Reid was just messing with him. "I would've thought your people wouldn't deign to get out of bed before 10am."
"My people?"
"You know," he explained, "rich people. Entitled people."
Stepping up pace to walk next to him, Luke rolled his eyes as they turned a corner. "In case you've forgotten, I do actually have a job. Just grabbing a coffee before I start work at the Foundation."
"Can't blame me for losing track," he said, though of course he'd done nothing of the kind. "You just seem to spring up wherever I am, no matter what the time of day. I just assumed you had nothing better to do." Though, in all honesty, since Luke and Noah seemed to have finally ended things - for real, this time - Luke had been around a lot less often.
Not that Reid had noticed his absence in particular. It was just that when an annoying fly had been buzzing around you for months, you couldn't help but relish the silence when it finally stopped.
"Spending time at work or spending time harassing you?" Luke asked with a smirk as they finally stepped into Java. "It's a tough call, gotta admit."
Shaking his head, Reid got into line in front of Luke deliberately - he had technically been ahead of him when they'd bumped into each other - then made a point of looking up at the list of drinks. He knew perfectly well what he was getting - he always got the same drink, being a creature of habit - but anything that might persuade Luke to stop talking to him was worth investing in.
It didn't work, of course.
"You gonna get that caramel thing?" Luke asked conversationally, like they discussed coffee orders all the time.
How did he even know about that? "You know about that?"
"We're both in here most mornings," he pointed out, "and Noah used to work here, you know." He'd heard that. "I'm close with most of the barista's." Luke waggled his eyebrows like he knew something Reid didn't. He was probably just doing it to be annoying, but Reid found himself responding to it anyway.
"And, what?" he asked. "They secretly pass on the coffee orders of regular customers? If that's the case then, one, you all need to get lives and two, surely that must violate some kind of customer-employee confidentiality."
"This isn't medicine," Luke argued, "it's serving coffee. There's no doctor-patient confidentiality equivalent at Java."
"Well there should be," he replied, "and if anyone's the expert on doctor-patient confidentiality around here it's certainly not-"
"Reid Oliver," a voice interrupted - a disturbingly familiar voice, that filled Reid with a wave of revulsion as he finally paid attention to the man in line in front of him. "I thought that was your voice."
The guy had turned around completely now and though he was a little older, he still looked annoyingly attractive. He'd aged well, against everything Reid had hoped for. "Steve." He was caught so completely by surprise that he was actually dumbstruck for a few seconds. Steve was literally the last person he'd ever wanted to see again. He'd known it might be a possibility someday, assuming they were both still working in the medical industry, but he'd sure as hell never expected it to happen here, in a tiny town at the ass-end of nowhere.
He'd thought he'd be safe, here.
Reid still hadn't managed to say anything else so he was grateful - for once - when Luke intervened, taking over the conversation and introducing himself. "Luke Snyder," he offered, shaking Steve's hand. He couldn't imagine what Luke was even thinking about Reid's sudden muteness.
"Steve Rogers," he greeted, before adding charmingly, "and no, before you ask, not the same one." He was still using that old line, then. "How do you know Reid?"
"Oh, he's-"
Reid didn't even know he was going to do it before he suddenly was. "We're dating."
Luke's eyes went comically wide but fortunately, right then, Steve was busy looking at Reid with surprise. "Good for you, Reid," he said with no sincerity whatsoever.
Luke was plainly still scrambling to keep up and Reid was trying to communicate with his eyes that he really, really needed Luke to play along no matter how much they annoyed each other. As always, Luke just wouldn't shut up. "Uh, I really don't know why he-"
"I'm surprised, though," Steve interrupted, thankfully for Reid's sanity, as he finally looked Luke over from head to toe. "I mean he's cute and all but he barely looks like more than a child. Unless that kind of thing is allowed in Oakdale."
Reid could actually see the moment Luke's face hardened, his resolve settled, and he finally realised that Steve Rogers was the real villain here and absolutely needed to be taken down.
"He can speak for himself," he pointed out firmly, "and he's very proud that he gets to date someone as intelligent and as caring as Reid."
Okay, so he was putting it on a bit thick, but it was better than the obvious confusion he'd been showing previously.
Undeterred, Steve just laughed - making Luke glower even more. "Defensive of you, isn't he? Don't tell me you've actually tricked someone into liking you."
Oddly enough, with Luke now backing him up, Reid finally got his metaphorical feet back under himself. "Unlike you," he said dryly, "I don't need to manipulate anyone to make that happen."
Steve's smug facade finally cracked, a little. "Touché," he said, before being called forward by the barista to give his order.
As soon as Steve's back was turned, Reid leaned in close to Luke. "Evil ex."
"No kidding," Luke spat back in a whisper. "This explains so much about you."
No time to deal with that comment right now. "You're really okay with-?"
"The enemy of my enemy, right?" he responded quietly. "Besides, I didn't think it was possible, but he's even more arrogant than you are. I would love to see him brought down a few notches. Unless," he offered, "you just want to get out of here. I can understand not wanting to waste your time on him."
"Really not giving him that satisfaction," Reid murmured back, just as Steve finished paying and moved over to wait at the other end of the counter for his order.
Luke really went the whole hog, speaking over Reid to order for the both of them - he really did know Reid's order, down to the letter - selling the idea that they knew each other that well. When they were forced to wait next to Steve at the collection area, Luke even casually slung an arm around Reid's waist.
Reid honestly didn't care - anything that helped prove the idea that they were together right now was good as far as he was concerned.
Steve, of course, started talking again - he'd always liked the sound of his own voice. "So you're living here now?" he asked Reid. "Would've thought this town would be too small for someone with an ego the size of yours."
"You're here too," he pointed out casually. "That's a little like the pot calling the kettle black."
"Ah, but I'm only visiting," Steve argued. "I've been sent by my company to assess a business opportunity. Should be here for a couple of weeks."
Reid processed that information. "Not still practising as a doctor, then."
"Oh God, no," he said with practically a shudder. "No, I decided a while ago that working in the corporate side of medicine was a much better fit."
"There's a shocker," Reid muttered, because Steve had only ever cared about himself. Of course he would remove himself from a job that actually helped people.
"Really?" Luke said to Steve, ignoring Reid's remark. "That's a shame. I know Reid finds helping his patients particularly rewarding."
"True," Steve agreed, "but then he always was a soft-touch."
He obviously meant it as an insult but Luke deliberately took it as a compliment, even though it probably went against everything he thought he knew about Reid. "Yes, one of the things I always found most attractive about him is how determined he is to help his patients, no matter what. I've lost track of the amount of times he's stayed late at work, trying to find a solution to a problem to help a patient."
Luke knew about that?
"More fool him," Steve shrugged. "And what do you do?"
"Oh, me?" He asked innocently, like he couldn't possibly do anything important - then launched his attack. "I run a multi-million dollar charitable foundation that supports at-risk youth."
"Well," Steve remarked in what seemed like honest surprise, "I thought Reid had just hooked up with some hot young thing in an attempt to stave off his impending mid-life crisis, but you actually have a brain."
There was so much he was about to say to that, but Luke got there first.
"Yes, I do," Luke said sharply, narrowing his eyes, "and right now this brain is wondering why we're wasting any time talking to you at all. You might be the most unpleasant person I've ever met."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Steve smirked, when - thank everything holy - his order arrived. Grabbing the cup, he said nothing to his server, instead turning to look at Reid. "I'm assuming you're working at Memorial Hospital? In that case, I'm sure we'll see each other again," he winked, before turning and walking out of Java.
"Wow," Luke announced, dropping the arm that'd still been around Reid's waist, "what an asshole."
Feeling a little more metaphorically steady on his feet, Reid turned to regard him. "I don't think I've ever heard you curse before."
"That guy deserved it," he replied and Reid really couldn't disagree.
"I would've thought cursing broke some sacred Snyder vow," he suggested anyway. "Don't you get two years in the out-house for using a curse word?"
"So this is how it's gonna be?" Luke asked, instead of answering the question - which, truthfully, had been mostly for show anyway.
"How what's going to be?"
"I help you out," Luke observed, "and you go right back to making fun of me?"
Of course he would. "This changed nothing," Reid argued, "I still think you're a spoiled brat who manipulates the situation until he gets what he wants, I just think Steve's worse. Hell, you agreed that he needed to be dealt with - I don't owe you anything."
"Well," Luke said, conveniently just as their drinks arrived, "good luck dealing with him the next time you see him and no longer have a boyfriend." Point made, Luke took his drink, thanked the barista and left.
Rolling his eyes, Reid took his own drink and dashed after him.
"Okay," Reid began when he caught up to him. "I might owe you something."
"Yeah, three dollars for the coffee," Luke told him, not slowing down.
"Not just that," he said, grabbing Luke's arm - which finally made the other man stop. "Look, we know each other...fairly well by now. I may...poke at you more than I should because of our past."
"How brave of you to say so, Dr Oliver."
Reid looked at him, unimpressed. "You remember how you even got me here in the first place, right? Doesn't exactly leave a guy with a good first impression."
Losing a little of his self-righteousness, Luke conceded with a nod. "Fair point."
"But..." He knew he had to do this, he just didn't want to. "You're not all that bad. I mean, don't get me wrong - you totally screwed my life up." That wasn't even a lie or exaggeration. "But it wasn't for you, personally. You were trying to help someone and - well. Your heart was in the right place, blah blah. The point is," he went on, "in your own, weird little Snyder way, you were trying to do the right thing."
"Wow," Luke remarked, "you really suck at compliments."
"But the important thing is that you knew it was a compliment," Reid pointed out. "Because...you're right. If he is really going to be here for a few weeks, I might need you to play the boyfriend again."
"So you're only really being nice - well, trying to be nice - so I'll be your boyfriend again?"
He didn't even deny it. "Is it working?"
Luke studied him curiously. "He must've really done a number on you to make you of all people worry about appearing single or not."
Reid had been worried he'd comment on that. "Look, I'm not giving you all the juicy details, but let's just say he was convincing at portraying himself as something other than he was - very convincing. And when he got what he wanted he made it abundantly clear that was all he really after all along." He hated having to admit any of that, how Steve had absolutely played him for a fool. Reid had been brash and arrogant and so full of his own self-importance that he genuinely hadn't seen it coming - Steve had picked him perfectly. But he knew he had to give Luke something - the guy was too curious and he was the one who was going to have to keep play-acting as Reid's boyfriend.
That seemed to mean something to Luke, though, who tipped his head to one side and considered him a little sadly. "He really messed you up. Wait," he said, "is that why you hated me so much when you first got to town? Because I was another guy who was..."
"...manipulating me?" Reid finished. "Let's just say you didn't earn yourself any brownie points."
Quiet for a while, he eventually nodded decisively. "Okay - give me your number."
Wait, what? "Sorry?"
"We're dating, right?"
Right. "So we should have any each other's numbers." Reid started fishing his phone out of a pocket one-handed.
"Right," Luke agreed. "It'd be weird if we didn't, and it'll make it easier planning any fake-boyfriend shenanigans." Luke waggled his eyebrows, which was not in any way likeable.
Once their numbers were exchanged, Reid only then began to realise just how much this could affect Luke's life. "You're really sure about this? I mean...your whole life is in this town. Your family, friends...Noah. They're bound to find out at some point."
"I'm an adult," Luke announced almost proudly. "It's my life - my choice. Noah and I aren't together anymore, so it's really none of his business who I'm dating. Fake-dating," he added, as an afterthought.
Well, if he absolutely insisted, Reid wasn't a good enough person to turn him down. "In that case - brace yourself, Mr Snyder, I'm about to say something I almost never say to anyone."
"And what's that?"
He paused dramatically. "Thank you."
Grinning - genuinely, for once, most of the smiles he wore around Reid tended to be edged with sarcasm - Luke dipped his head down once. "You're welcome. But also?" he continued. "It's probably time you started calling me by my first name."
Good point. He'd become so used to addressing Luke as 'Mr Snyder' that Reid might actually find that a challenge. "Okay," he said deliberately, "Luke." Yeah, that felt really weird.
"Good," he replied brightly, "Reid." That felt even weirder. "Who knows?" he asked rhetorically, "maybe this will finally be the start of a beautiful friendship."
Somehow, Reid doubted it.
*
Work was the welcome distraction it always was - it was the one thing in life he'd always been able to rely on. He had rounds, first thing, then a couple of follow-up appointments - though luckily not with Noah, that day.
He was beginning to realise just how complicated this fake-dating business would be. Technically there was nothing wrong with him dating Luke, but he was a current patient's ex and that was undeniably messy. If he was really honest with himself he knew he never should've pretended to date Luke in the first place but he'd seen Steve and just - panicked.
Reid put on a good front, most of the time, but unfortunately even he was only human. Still, he'd done what he'd done and there was no getting out of it now - if he admitted what he'd done or suddenly he and Luke 'broke up' he'd look even more the fool.
It still rankled that, after all this time, he cared what Steve thought so much. Reid had sold the act that he didn't give a crap what anyone thought for such a long time that he'd begun to buy it himself. Yet all it had taken was for one asshole to roll into town and suddenly he was back there, when it happened, the betrayal so sudden and unexpected that he almost couldn't breathe.
From that one encounter alone Reid had had more than enough of having his emotions being used against him and he'd vowed to never let it happen again.
And it hadn't. Reid got to help people every day, had an amazing career, the prestige and recognition of his peers, and that was all he really needed.
Well, until Luke Snyder had come along. Now he was stuck in this hellhole...which, unfortunately, he'd begun to think wasn't that much of a hellhole. Clearly there was something in the water because, now that he'd been there for a couple of months, he actually quite liked working at Memorial. 90% of the residents of Oakdale were still certifiable, no doubt about that, but Katie and Jacob made up for a lot. Even Bob was okay, really. They maybe hadn't got to know each other under the best of circumstances - and even Reid had to admit that hadn't been his finest hour - but now that he'd chosen to stay rather than being forced, at least until Noah's surgery was complete, he'd seen a different side to the old man. Had begun to think that maybe he knew a few things about life that were worth listening to.
Yeah. There was definitely something in the water.
As if he knew Reid had just been thinking about him Bob suddenly appeared. "Ah, good," he began, turning to the guy behind him. "Reid, there's someone I'd like you to meet. Dr Reid Oliver, this is-"
Of course it was him. That was just the way Reid's day was going. "Steve Rogers," he muttered, taking in Steve's smarmy smile. "We've met." Steve actually held out his hand and Reid just stared at it dubiously. "You've got to be kidding."
"You already know each other?" Bob asked. "Well, that's wonderful news."
"It's really not," he remarked. "What are you even doing here, Steve?" He was annoyed at himself for not putting it together earlier - Steve had asked about Memorial, had even said he'd be around. He should've seen this coming.
"I told you I was here on business," Steve said, tone of voice nothing but charming. "Well, this is it. My company is interested in buying Memorial - help take it into the 21st century."
Oh, no way in hell. "Help drive it into the ground, you mean."
"Reid," Bob said in warning.
"Bob, I know this moron, okay? And I know you can't believe a single word he says." If Steve got his hands on Memorial, he'd ruin it - just like he ruined everything.
"I'm hurt you'd say that, Reid," Steve said, frowning with apparent sincerity - he was still convincing, unfortunately, though at least Reid knew better this time. Unfortunately, nobody else did. "I know how upset you were when I broke things off, but there's no need to ruin this opportunity for Memorial."
"Oh," Bob said in wonder, like he'd just realised exactly what was going on.
"Don't flatter yourself," Reid spat, "my concerns are entirely professional."
"And I hardly think your current boyfriend would appreciate you still being hung up on me," Steve observed. "Luke, wasn't it?"
"Luke?" Bob asked, aghast.
Reid crossed his arms. "Believe me when I say the last thing I am is hung up on you - especially when I have someone like Luke. You don't even begin to compare to him."
"Wait," Bob continued, "Reid, you're really dating Luke?"
Finally tearing his gaze away from Steve - annoyingly, there'd been no break in character at all, not even for a smug smile when Bob wasn't looking - Reid gave in and nodded. Time to commit, he supposed. "Yeah. It's...new. I wouldn't have used the word boyfriend myself yet," he admitted, because to make this look real they couldn't have been dating that long, "but it's definitely...something."
"Well," he began, clearly thinking it over, "I'd say I'm surprised, but honestly..." Bob shrugged. "This actually explains a lot."
Wait, what? "Oh?"
"Don't all the great ones start that way?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye. "Thinking you hate each other when really it's just...chemistry?"
Of course Bob was a romantic. "Right," Reid said dryly, "chemistry."
"Sounds like a great romance," Steve said encouragingly. "I hope it works out." Reid just glared at him. "Anyway, Dr Hughes, I'd better go report in," he continued, offering Bob his hand. "I'll pass your comments on and get back to you. I'll be staying in town for a while, of course, as we work the details out. I very much hope that Memorial can become part of the Invicta family."
"As do I," Bob replied, shaking his hand.
Turning to Reid, Steve smiled pleasantly. "It was a surprise - and a pleasure - to see you again, Reid."
"Can't say the same," Reid drawled, and he'd long since had enough of this farce. "I need to get back to work." Gratefully taking the opportunity to escape, he fled.
Unfortunately, it wasn't long at all before Bob tracked him back down. "Reid," he began, "I can't say I appreciate the way you dealt with Mr Rogers."
"That's because you don't know him the way I do, Bob."
"Look, I understand that you had a personal relationship-"
Sighing, Reid pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's not because he broke up with me Bob - the man's a sociopath."
Eyes widening, he looked more than a little shocked. "That's quite a statement."
"It's the truth," he shrugged. "He'll act a certain way, pretend to be something he's not - and as soon as he gets what he's really after, then you'll see his true side. Trust me when I say it's not pretty."
Finally seeming to take Reid seriously, Bob studied him perceptively. "There's quite some history between you two."
"That's putting it mildly." He hadn't enjoyed explaining this to Luke and he didn't enjoy it now, either. "He betrayed me - personally and professionally." That was all his pride could stand to share right now. "He will do the same to you - to this hospital."
Taking in a deep breath, Bob eventually nodded. "Very well, Reid. In that case, I thank you for your candour. I'll make the board aware of your concerns and I'm sure they'll keep them in mind moving forward. We haven't agreed to anything yet, so everything is still very much theoretical at this point."
That was something, at least. "Good."
"Also..." he began cagily.
"Yes?"
Bob just said it. "Is Noah aware of the change in your and Luke's...relationship?"
Ah. That. "No," he admitted, spinning out the lie. "We'd been keeping things quiet while we were seeing if it...worked."
"Probably a smart move," he conceded. "Luke and Noah have their own complicated history. However," Bob went on, "as you seem to be going public now...probably better to tell Noah sooner rather than later, yes?"
Right. "Sure thing, Bob. Good idea."
The next time he had a moment he sent Luke a text, trying to explain everything in a message that wasn't a million words long. Steve been at hospital, trying to buy it - needs to be stopped. Bob knows we're dating, says we should tell Noah.
After a moment's consideration, he then sent a second message. And how's your morning been?
Luke's response wasn't long in coming. Not as interesting as yours, apparently. Then a second message came through. Busy atm but I'll try and visit at lunch so we can strategise. Then a third message arrived. Miss you, sweetie pie ;)
Smiling despite himself, Reid shot back, Not as much as I miss you, sugar lump.
In response, Luke sent back the puking emoji.
When Reid finally took his lunch break, he texted Luke that he'd be in the canteen. That was where Luke found him some twenty minutes later, dropping into the seat across from him with his own tray of food.
"We really need to work on your pet names," he complained as he got comfortable. "Sugar lump is never an appropriate pet name for anyone."
"In my defense I've never used pet names in my life - and I never seriously intend to."
"I haven't either," Luke admitted, opening his bottle of water. "But sugar lump? Come on." He took a sip of water. "You can do better than that."
"Darling?" he asked mockingly. "Sweetheart?"
"Better," Luke approved, putting his water down and starting on his mac and cheese. "So," he began impatiently, "give me all the details."
Finishing off his own food, Reid did just that. Luke listened attentively, only interrupting occasionally - sometimes for clarification, sometimes to comment what an ass Steve was. When Reid reached the part about Bob suggesting they tell Noah, he grew a little less animated, withdrawing into himself.
"I...get it, if you don't want to," Reid offered. "You two could still-"
"Oh, we are definitely over for good," Luke assured him, "I made that abundantly clear when he broke up with me for the third...fourth? Time." Okay, and Reid hadn't known anywhere near as much about their relationship as he'd thought he had. He had, quite honestly, been under the impression that Noah took Luke a little for granted, but he certainly hadn't known about their apparently very rocky history. "And though I personally don't feel I owe him anything anymore, it's the right thing to do telling him - if only because you're his doctor."
This whole act was going to have some very real life consequences. "You think he'll be okay with it?"
"Well, he and Richard are a thing already," Luke pointed out, not a little bitterly, "so if he's not okay with it I'll just shove his whole double-standard back in his face." Okay then. "Honestly, funny as this may sound, this is just what I need right now."
Well that made no sense. "Dating me?"
"Yeah," he admitted with a grin. "On the way to see you I bumped into Bob and of course he asked about you - about us. And it was...fun."
"Fun?"
"Waxing poetically about you," he joked, before clarifying, "being sneaky and underhanded. Noah never liked that side of me - always made me feel bad about it, made me feel bad about myself. But it is a part of me," he continued.
"Trust me, I know that already," Reid said with good humour. "I vividly remember how you got me here in the first place."
Making a face, Luke shrugged. "Right, stuff like that. Noah always hated it - unless it benefited him."
"And then he was just fine with it."
Luke nodded. "It doesn't always make me proud of myself, but it does make me feel...confident. Strong. I probably have some issues," he admitted, which wasn't a surprise for someone coming from this town. "But doing this? With you? It's a way to feel all that without actually hurting anyone. I enjoyed it this morning with Steve. I enjoyed it just now with Bob. And God knows, right now," he said wryly, "I need some fun in my life."
Reid honestly felt a lot better about this arrangement now that he knew it was mutually beneficial. They were both using each other but they were both aware of it - that worked out more than fine for him. "I can promise you," he told Luke, "being in a relationship with me is all kinds of fun."
"I'm sure," he replied, voice indicating he believed anything but. "We should probably talk limits, though - how far we're prepared to go to be convincing. I know we're both gay, but that doesn't mean we're both automatically going to be okay with faking intimacy with someone we're not actually close to-"
"I'd have no problem faking intimacy with you."
...and that may have come out a little too easily. What the hell?
"Oh," Luke said, blinking, looking confused. "Really?"
"I'm just being pragmatic," Reid explained, because clearly that was the only reason. "You're hot. Why wouldn't I want to get all up in that?"
Luke just kept blinking, face flushing. "I...you really...?" He paused. "Thank you?"
Reid just shook his head. "It's just physical. Honestly, it's another part of the reason you were so annoying when you first dragged me here. You'd ruined my entire life and you were annoyingly attractive."
"Oh," he responded blankly, honestly still seeming a little dazed. "That makes sense, I guess." Eventually getting over himself, Luke sat up straighter before nodding decisively. "I'd be okay with it, too. You're not exactly hard on the eyes either, you know."
Reid took the compliment. "I know."
"Unbelievable," Luke muttered, rolling his eyes - but they were both grinning. "So," he continued, "being in each other's personal space, hand holding, that kind of thing?"
"Personal space I can do," he agreed. "Never been much of a hand holder. Though if it's something people expect to see you doing with someone you're dating..."
"Maybe?" Luke shrugged, as he thought it over. "Even though it might seem kind of...immature, I always did like holding hands."
"Well, we'll give it a whirl," because why not? "We can use it as a sign of how you've tamed me," he joked, though there were probably some people who'd actually believe that.
"And what about..." Luke started hesitantly and Reid soon understood why. "Kissing?"
Reid was aware that, despite this entire conversation, that was a whole other level of intimacy. "That's down to you," he said honestly. "I'd have no problem kissing you but don't want you to force yourself to do something you're uncomfortable with just because of how stubborn you are."
"Me, stubborn?" he asked cheekily.
"When it's something you're focused on?" he quipped rhetorically, holding Luke's gaze. "Absolutely."
Giving in, Luke nodded - though he didn't look away from Reid. "I can handle anything you can handle," he said firmly, honestly just proving Reid's point for him. "In fact, I think I'm going to be much better at this relationship stuff than you are."
Reid smirked despite himself. "Is that a threat, Luke?"
He just grinned. "That's a promise, Reid. I mean, I only recently got out of a relationship - when's the last time you even dated anyone?"
"It's been a while, I'll admit," he conceded, "but it's quality, not quantity that matters. I can more than handle anything you throw at me."
"Well then," Luke announced, eyes darkening as he leant across the table, "may the best boyfriend win."
*
The next day, as part of his plan to prove he could be the best boyfriend on the face of the planet, Luke insisted on taking him to Metro. Reid agreed because one, Luke was paying for everything and two, they'd already decided they should be seen around town together on 'dates' to look more convincing.
Luke still looked annoyingly attractive, of course, only this time Reid didn't have to pretend he wasn't noticing. It was actually kind of freeing, to be honest and soon decided to take Luke at his word that he could handle anything Reid threw at him. Sliding up next to him the bar, unnoticed, Reid leaned in close.
"You look hot," he murmured into Luke's ear, an act that definitely made Luke jump around in surprise - and brought a flush to his face, if Reid wasn't mistaken.
"Thanks," he mumbled a little awkwardly, though it didn't take him long to adjust and get into the role, surprise smoothing out into apparent pleasure as he grabbed Reid's jacket and pulled him in close, eyes falling to Reid's mouth. "Missed you."
Reid very much liked how much Luke was committing - even though it might make it harder to prove that, in fact, he was the best boyfriend on the face of the planet. He was looking forward to seeing just what came next - a kiss would definitely be a normal reaction to greeting your own boyfriend, right? - when the bartender interrupted to take their order.
Tragically, they pulled apart.
A few minutes later they were sitting at a table together. As it turned out, Metro didn't do much in the way of food - little more than snacks, really. Luke was going to have to do much better next time if he wanted to keep Reid satisfied.
"So, I told Noah today," Luke said from across the table.
Pausing mid-sip, Reid raised his eyebrows before nodding in acknowledgement, swallowing. "And how did that go?"
"Actually...okay," he shrugged, looking surprised. "He wasn't thrilled, but when I pointed out he was already dating someone too, there wasn't much he could say about it. Although," he made a wry face, "he tried at first."
"Yeah," Reid said, "my next appointment with him isn't going to be awkward at all."
"Hey, this was all your idea," Luke pointed out, "you only have yourself to blame."
"I didn't exactly see you rushing to say no."
"True," he gave in. "But like I said - it's fun."
"Being devious and underhanded, yes," Reid remarked.
"Clearly you find that attractive," Luke shot back with a grin. "So," he continued, leaning his elbow on the table and resting his chin in his hand to stare across at Reid 'adoringly', "how was your day, pumpkin?"
Pet names again, was it? Reid could roll with that. "Let me tell you all about it," he mirrored Luke's pose, "poopy-face."
Luke actually laughed at loud.
Pleased with himself, Reid grinned, sat back and actually started telling Luke about his day - they had to kill the time somehow and just sitting there in silence would make it look like one hell of a crappy date.
Luke actually seemed interested, too - which could've been an act, but he was asking insightful questions about Reid's job so maybe it was actual interest. As it turned out, once he started Luke had a lot of questions about the kind of work Reid did, even sometimes using terminology Reid was honestly surprised to hear him use.
"I did do my research, you know," Luke admitted, "when I was first trying to convince you to come here. I may not be a medical super genius," he continued, gesturing across to Reid, "but I'm no slouch."
"Never thought you were," he replied instantly, because while he'd accused Luke of many things, being dumb wasn't one of them. Too driven by his emotions, perhaps, but certainly not unintelligent. "Go on, then - your turn." Reading Luke's confused expression, he explained. "Tell me about your job and exactly what you do at this foundation of yours."
Reid already had some idea - he'd done his own research, too - but it was much more interesting hearing about it straight from the source, rather than reading some dull webpage. And, amazingly enough, it was more than just a little interesting. Luke spoke about the foundation with such passion and determination it automatically made Reid give a crap about it, too. It was honestly surprising when he realised that he'd never heard Luke talk about it before, barely even in passing. All of their conversations in the past had usually been focused around Noah and, while understandable - he was the reason Reid had been dragged there in the first place, after all - it was honestly refreshing to see and hear Luke being so engaged with something else.
He really was more than 'Noah's boyfriend'.
Or 'the bane of Reid's life'.
"I had a...difficult time, coming out," Luke admitted, eventually. "If I can make other LGBT kids' lives a bit easier, even just a little, then it's all worth it."
Reid had been wanting to prove for years that he could cope with anything by himself, but the idea of having support for LGBT kinds was undeniably a worthy one. "You think it'll make up for it somehow?"
Luke paused, as if he'd never considered that. "I don't know. Maybe? I just know..." he shrugged. "It's the right thing to do."
Damn him. Luke was actually making Reid feel glad that he had all that money, so he could keep spending it on that damn foundation. Life was so much easier when there were no grey areas and he could just keep thinking of Luke as the spoiled rich kid.
In all honesty, he hadn't thought that was the truth for a long time now.
"So what happened?" Reid asked, curious. "When you came out?"
Shrugging, Luke's face fell and he stared down at his drink. Reid was starting to feel bad, for once, and was about to offer an out when Luke finally replied.
"Mom and Damian tried to send me to a straight camp."
He honestly had to take a few moments to deal with that. Taking them, he blinked and then managed to produce a few words. "And you still have a relationship with them?" Damian, he could definitely see doing something that underhanded. But Lily? She'd always been so supportive of Luke and Noah's relationship that just the idea made his mind boggle.
"It's...complicated." No kidding. "We're all past it now," he assured Reid, "but it was...terrifying for a while."
"Of course it was," he shot back. "Jesus, you were just a kid and that's how they treated you?" He'd thought this more than once, but seriously - what was wrong with the residents of this town?
"Reid, honey," Luke grinned, apparently getting back into character - he'd honestly forgotten about that, for a while. "It's okay, now." Reaching across the table, he placed his hand on top of Reid's. "It's ancient history."
Still feeling affronted - somewhat surprisingly - on Luke's behalf, Reid decided it'd be easy enough to use that in-character, too. Turning his hand over, he took Luke's and threaded their fingers together. "They try and do that to you now," he said darkly, "they'll have me to deal with."
"I know," Luke said happily, apparently still amused by all of it, so Reid decided to step it up a notch.
Bringing his own hand - and subsequently Luke's, which he was still holding - up to this mouth, Reid held Luke's gaze as he pressed a kiss to the back of his hand. It was old-fashioned, perhaps, but definitely romantic and he watched in satisfaction as the smile disappeared from Luke's face - though, sadly, only for a moment. He could literally see the nano-second Luke decided he wasn't about to let Reid get the better of him and he waited, with interest, to see exactly what was about to happen next.
"So," Luke began, glancing off to one-side, "why don't we-?"
"Luke?" a voice interrupted, taking Reid out of the little bubble they'd cocooned themselves in so effectively that his brain had to scramble to keep up for a few moments.
Seeming shocked himself, Luke turned to look up at the newcomer. "Grandma," he said, and though clearly surprised, didn't let go of Reid's hand. If anything, he tightened his grip.
Reid could roll with that. "I've never met a grandparent before," he 'confided' to Luke, well aware that his grandmother was listening to every word. "Is there some protocol I should be aware of?"
"Just be your charming self," he said through gritted teeth, before talking to his grandmother. "Hi, Grandma. What are you doing here?"
"Just meeting with some business associates," she said absently but apparently couldn't stop herself from staring at Reid. He understood the impulse - he was a fascinating guy. "The far more interesting question is what you're doing here."
Nodding in acknowledgement, Luke did the introductions. "Grandma, this is Reid Oliver. Reid, this is Lucinda Walsh - my Grandma."
"Oh, the doctor," Lucinda remarked, clearly recognising his name. "I haven't had the pleasure. Though, apparently," she threw a glance towards their joined hands, "you have."
"Grandma," Luke hissed, obviously embarrassed.
Reid just grinned.
"Oh, come now," she replied. "You're dating a doctor - Noah's doctor - and haven't told me a thing about it? I think I'm entitled to have a little fun."
"I haven't told you anything because it's still new, okay? We're still...working things out."
"Things seem plenty worked out to me," she observed, glancing at their hands again.
"It's more Luke who needs to work things out, really," Reid said, playing the patient new boyfriend to the best of his ability. "He has all that history with Noah, you know and..." he sighed, forlorn. "It isn't easy, but I think he's worth it."
It worked, of course. Lucinda looked utterly charmed. Luke looked furious - though his expression soon smoothed out into something less obvious.
"I don't think there's much to think about here," Lucinda encouraged. "You know I was...fond of Noah, in my own way, but some of the things you told me about him...well," she continued, "you know how pleased I was when that finally ended for good. Maybe Reid is what you really need right now. I have to say," Lucinda added thoughtfully, "this certainly explains why you kept talking about him all the time. I thought you just hated him."
Game face firmly in place, Luke now didn't look embarrassed by any of it. "It's true that I...hid my true feelings," he 'admitted'. "And honestly, Grandma, it's not even the Noah thing anymore, not really. It's just that," he looked over at Reid, faking an apologetic look, "he's so, so much older than me."
Oh, nicely done. Reid gave him a tiny nod in acknowledgement of a job well done.
Luke nodded back. "I just don't know if, practically, we can make it work."
Lucinda thought it over. "While part of me - especially being an older woman myself - wants to say that age is just a number, the practical side of me admits that could be an issue, eventually. One the two of you are going to have to work out between you. One piece of advice I would give?" she said seriously, looking between them. "Life is too short - take the chance while you can. Even if it doesn't work out in the long run, I say that's worse than never trying at all."
Hearing a voice call her name, she turned towards a table of people and waved. "That's my cue," she announced, turning back to them. "The two of you have a lovely evening and," she focused on Luke, "I expect to hear all the details later. Dr Oliver," she acknowledged.
"Miss Walsh," he replied respectfully, then watched as Lucinda walked away. "I've gotta give you some credit," he began once he was sure she was out of hearing range, "it took you a while to warm up, but you are good at this."
"I am Damian Grimaldi's son," Luke pointed out, which was fair. "I do feel kind of bad lying to Grandma of all people, though," he admitted. "She's always believed in me, you know? Even when I didn't believe in myself." They sounded close. "Then again," he added with a grin, "I know she got into a lot of trouble herself, in the old days. She'd probably approve." Seeming reassured, he took a sip of his drink. "You know the sad thing?" he asked rhetorically. "This is honestly the most fun I've had on a date in forever. And it's not even real," Luke finished, shaking his head in wonder.
That was a little surprising - but then when he thought about Noah, maybe it wasn't. "You and Noah didn't go out much?"
Luke shook his head again. "Before the accident, he'd been working for ages on this new project for college and was spending virtually all his free time with his college advisor, Mason. We finally had a place together, you know? Our own space where we could...be alone." Alone clearly meant 'have sex'. "We wouldn't constantly have Mom or Dad looking over our shoulder, or be worried that one of the kids was about to burst in. And..." he shrugged, sadly. "He was never there."
The answer seemed obvious enough to Reid. "That's because he was an idiot."
"Reid..."
"Hey, now," he argued, "as your current boyfriend it's my job - hell, my duty - to point out what a moron your ex was. Is. Making some crappy film or spending time in bed with you? There's no contest."
Luke stared at him flatly, even though he was a little embarrassed. "That's sweet, Reid, but I know how much your work means to you. Say you'd invented some amazing new neurological technique but you had to work on it after hours - are you honestly saying that wouldn't come first?"
"What I'm saying is that I have pioneered amazing new neurological techniques - and I was dating someone at the time."
That honestly seemed to catch Luke off-guard. "Wait, really?"
"Yes, really." It was Steve, but that didn't need pointing out right now. "And it didn't kill our relationship. Because - while, yes, I did spend a lot of time working on it - I didn't spend as much time as I could have on it because even I know you make time for someone if you care about them. If Noah wasn't doing that for you at all? Well, then, that was just him being a selfish asshole."
Falling silent, for a while, Luke started looking all sad and stuff. Reid found he didn't like that at all, and looked for a way to distract him. "What were you going to say earlier?"
Luke frowned at him. "Sorry?"
"Just before your grandmother arrived, you were about to say something."
Thinking back on the conversation, Luke eventually remembered. "Oh, I was jokingly going to suggest we dance," he said, gesturing to the dance floor where a few couples were dancing to the inoffensive jazz being played in the background.
Reid could cope with that. Standing, he held out a hand. "Shall we?"
"Seriously?" Luke studied Reid - and his hand - dubiously. "Honestly, I was just hoping you didn't know how to dance and I'd catch you being less than perfect at something."
"Unfortunately for you, I know what I'm doing," Reid said, hand still extended. "I've had to schmooze more than a few donors at more than a few fundraisers. What about you?" he questioned. "They teach you to dance at rich-boy school?"
Back straightening, Luke took his hand and pulled himself up. "And then some," he announced, leading Reid over to the dance floor.
This was much more like it, as far as Reid was concerned. Luke was so much more fun when he wasn't moping over Noah.
It was a little awkward at first with both of them technically meant to lead, though they soon found a happy medium and it actually felt kind of...nice, in the end. That probably had a lot to do with the way they kept grinning at each other. For his part, Reid just found it profoundly amusing that anyone looking at them right now thought this was actually real. Seeing the way Luke's attractive face kept smiling at him didn't exactly hurt, either.
When the music slowed down it was only natural that their dancing slowed too, as they instinctively moved even closer together - it'd only look weird if they didn't. Eventually they ended up doing little more than shuffling in a circle and though Reid didn't usually do this kind of crap with guys he was dating, Luke probably did and it was certainly helping them sell the idea they were dating.
It honestly felt good, too - Luke's warm, firm, attractive body pressed up against his. It had been a while for Reid, and he certainly appreciated being close to someone he was attracted to. And, in all honesty, when Luke drew his head back to stare at Reid's mouth, he knew what he needed to do.
Holding Luke's gaze for a moment, silently asking for permission, there was barely a hesitation when Luke nodded.
Reid had been intending to kiss Luke briefly, because at that point it would've looked strange if they hadn't kissed at all.
Luke got there first, sliding his hands up to Reid's head and bringing their mouths together for a much firmer - and deeper - kiss.
Not that Reid was complaining, enjoying the rasp of Luke's stubble against his skin, the heat and pressure of his mouth. Honestly, he could've happily kept kissing for a while but Luke ended the kiss himself, pleased with himself as he kept grinning in Reid's face, hands playing with Reid's hair.
"Have to make it look good," he said quietly, "for Grandma."
Right, of course.
For Lucinda.
TBC
Original post on Dreamwidth - there are
comments there.
by Suz
Another fake dating fic! Ah, I do love this trope :D
Luke/Reid (shocker) AU, set in the early days of their storyline. Rated PG-13.
Many, many thanks to nel and d for their constant encouragement. Feedback would be fab! Also posted on AO3 here.
*
It wasn't even 8:30 in the morning and Reid had already had more than enough of Luke Snyder.
"Do you really have to follow me everywhere?"
Luke just kept walking right next to him. "Trust me, Dr Oliver, the last thing I want to do is spend more time than I have to with you, either. It just seems that we're heading to the same destination."
Annoyingly, he was probably right - the only place worth going to in this part of Old Town was Java, where they were both likely heading for their morning caffeine fix. God knew Reid couldn't get by on the swill they served at the hospital. And he'd honestly seen Luke in Java enough times in the morning that he knew he was likely to catch a glimpse of him most days, even if they didn't talk to each other.
Today he hadn't been so lucky.
"What are you doing up this early anyway?" he asked, though Luke was in a suit so the answer seemed obvious. At this point Reid was just messing with him. "I would've thought your people wouldn't deign to get out of bed before 10am."
"My people?"
"You know," he explained, "rich people. Entitled people."
Stepping up pace to walk next to him, Luke rolled his eyes as they turned a corner. "In case you've forgotten, I do actually have a job. Just grabbing a coffee before I start work at the Foundation."
"Can't blame me for losing track," he said, though of course he'd done nothing of the kind. "You just seem to spring up wherever I am, no matter what the time of day. I just assumed you had nothing better to do." Though, in all honesty, since Luke and Noah seemed to have finally ended things - for real, this time - Luke had been around a lot less often.
Not that Reid had noticed his absence in particular. It was just that when an annoying fly had been buzzing around you for months, you couldn't help but relish the silence when it finally stopped.
"Spending time at work or spending time harassing you?" Luke asked with a smirk as they finally stepped into Java. "It's a tough call, gotta admit."
Shaking his head, Reid got into line in front of Luke deliberately - he had technically been ahead of him when they'd bumped into each other - then made a point of looking up at the list of drinks. He knew perfectly well what he was getting - he always got the same drink, being a creature of habit - but anything that might persuade Luke to stop talking to him was worth investing in.
It didn't work, of course.
"You gonna get that caramel thing?" Luke asked conversationally, like they discussed coffee orders all the time.
How did he even know about that? "You know about that?"
"We're both in here most mornings," he pointed out, "and Noah used to work here, you know." He'd heard that. "I'm close with most of the barista's." Luke waggled his eyebrows like he knew something Reid didn't. He was probably just doing it to be annoying, but Reid found himself responding to it anyway.
"And, what?" he asked. "They secretly pass on the coffee orders of regular customers? If that's the case then, one, you all need to get lives and two, surely that must violate some kind of customer-employee confidentiality."
"This isn't medicine," Luke argued, "it's serving coffee. There's no doctor-patient confidentiality equivalent at Java."
"Well there should be," he replied, "and if anyone's the expert on doctor-patient confidentiality around here it's certainly not-"
"Reid Oliver," a voice interrupted - a disturbingly familiar voice, that filled Reid with a wave of revulsion as he finally paid attention to the man in line in front of him. "I thought that was your voice."
The guy had turned around completely now and though he was a little older, he still looked annoyingly attractive. He'd aged well, against everything Reid had hoped for. "Steve." He was caught so completely by surprise that he was actually dumbstruck for a few seconds. Steve was literally the last person he'd ever wanted to see again. He'd known it might be a possibility someday, assuming they were both still working in the medical industry, but he'd sure as hell never expected it to happen here, in a tiny town at the ass-end of nowhere.
He'd thought he'd be safe, here.
Reid still hadn't managed to say anything else so he was grateful - for once - when Luke intervened, taking over the conversation and introducing himself. "Luke Snyder," he offered, shaking Steve's hand. He couldn't imagine what Luke was even thinking about Reid's sudden muteness.
"Steve Rogers," he greeted, before adding charmingly, "and no, before you ask, not the same one." He was still using that old line, then. "How do you know Reid?"
"Oh, he's-"
Reid didn't even know he was going to do it before he suddenly was. "We're dating."
Luke's eyes went comically wide but fortunately, right then, Steve was busy looking at Reid with surprise. "Good for you, Reid," he said with no sincerity whatsoever.
Luke was plainly still scrambling to keep up and Reid was trying to communicate with his eyes that he really, really needed Luke to play along no matter how much they annoyed each other. As always, Luke just wouldn't shut up. "Uh, I really don't know why he-"
"I'm surprised, though," Steve interrupted, thankfully for Reid's sanity, as he finally looked Luke over from head to toe. "I mean he's cute and all but he barely looks like more than a child. Unless that kind of thing is allowed in Oakdale."
Reid could actually see the moment Luke's face hardened, his resolve settled, and he finally realised that Steve Rogers was the real villain here and absolutely needed to be taken down.
"He can speak for himself," he pointed out firmly, "and he's very proud that he gets to date someone as intelligent and as caring as Reid."
Okay, so he was putting it on a bit thick, but it was better than the obvious confusion he'd been showing previously.
Undeterred, Steve just laughed - making Luke glower even more. "Defensive of you, isn't he? Don't tell me you've actually tricked someone into liking you."
Oddly enough, with Luke now backing him up, Reid finally got his metaphorical feet back under himself. "Unlike you," he said dryly, "I don't need to manipulate anyone to make that happen."
Steve's smug facade finally cracked, a little. "Touché," he said, before being called forward by the barista to give his order.
As soon as Steve's back was turned, Reid leaned in close to Luke. "Evil ex."
"No kidding," Luke spat back in a whisper. "This explains so much about you."
No time to deal with that comment right now. "You're really okay with-?"
"The enemy of my enemy, right?" he responded quietly. "Besides, I didn't think it was possible, but he's even more arrogant than you are. I would love to see him brought down a few notches. Unless," he offered, "you just want to get out of here. I can understand not wanting to waste your time on him."
"Really not giving him that satisfaction," Reid murmured back, just as Steve finished paying and moved over to wait at the other end of the counter for his order.
Luke really went the whole hog, speaking over Reid to order for the both of them - he really did know Reid's order, down to the letter - selling the idea that they knew each other that well. When they were forced to wait next to Steve at the collection area, Luke even casually slung an arm around Reid's waist.
Reid honestly didn't care - anything that helped prove the idea that they were together right now was good as far as he was concerned.
Steve, of course, started talking again - he'd always liked the sound of his own voice. "So you're living here now?" he asked Reid. "Would've thought this town would be too small for someone with an ego the size of yours."
"You're here too," he pointed out casually. "That's a little like the pot calling the kettle black."
"Ah, but I'm only visiting," Steve argued. "I've been sent by my company to assess a business opportunity. Should be here for a couple of weeks."
Reid processed that information. "Not still practising as a doctor, then."
"Oh God, no," he said with practically a shudder. "No, I decided a while ago that working in the corporate side of medicine was a much better fit."
"There's a shocker," Reid muttered, because Steve had only ever cared about himself. Of course he would remove himself from a job that actually helped people.
"Really?" Luke said to Steve, ignoring Reid's remark. "That's a shame. I know Reid finds helping his patients particularly rewarding."
"True," Steve agreed, "but then he always was a soft-touch."
He obviously meant it as an insult but Luke deliberately took it as a compliment, even though it probably went against everything he thought he knew about Reid. "Yes, one of the things I always found most attractive about him is how determined he is to help his patients, no matter what. I've lost track of the amount of times he's stayed late at work, trying to find a solution to a problem to help a patient."
Luke knew about that?
"More fool him," Steve shrugged. "And what do you do?"
"Oh, me?" He asked innocently, like he couldn't possibly do anything important - then launched his attack. "I run a multi-million dollar charitable foundation that supports at-risk youth."
"Well," Steve remarked in what seemed like honest surprise, "I thought Reid had just hooked up with some hot young thing in an attempt to stave off his impending mid-life crisis, but you actually have a brain."
There was so much he was about to say to that, but Luke got there first.
"Yes, I do," Luke said sharply, narrowing his eyes, "and right now this brain is wondering why we're wasting any time talking to you at all. You might be the most unpleasant person I've ever met."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Steve smirked, when - thank everything holy - his order arrived. Grabbing the cup, he said nothing to his server, instead turning to look at Reid. "I'm assuming you're working at Memorial Hospital? In that case, I'm sure we'll see each other again," he winked, before turning and walking out of Java.
"Wow," Luke announced, dropping the arm that'd still been around Reid's waist, "what an asshole."
Feeling a little more metaphorically steady on his feet, Reid turned to regard him. "I don't think I've ever heard you curse before."
"That guy deserved it," he replied and Reid really couldn't disagree.
"I would've thought cursing broke some sacred Snyder vow," he suggested anyway. "Don't you get two years in the out-house for using a curse word?"
"So this is how it's gonna be?" Luke asked, instead of answering the question - which, truthfully, had been mostly for show anyway.
"How what's going to be?"
"I help you out," Luke observed, "and you go right back to making fun of me?"
Of course he would. "This changed nothing," Reid argued, "I still think you're a spoiled brat who manipulates the situation until he gets what he wants, I just think Steve's worse. Hell, you agreed that he needed to be dealt with - I don't owe you anything."
"Well," Luke said, conveniently just as their drinks arrived, "good luck dealing with him the next time you see him and no longer have a boyfriend." Point made, Luke took his drink, thanked the barista and left.
Rolling his eyes, Reid took his own drink and dashed after him.
"Okay," Reid began when he caught up to him. "I might owe you something."
"Yeah, three dollars for the coffee," Luke told him, not slowing down.
"Not just that," he said, grabbing Luke's arm - which finally made the other man stop. "Look, we know each other...fairly well by now. I may...poke at you more than I should because of our past."
"How brave of you to say so, Dr Oliver."
Reid looked at him, unimpressed. "You remember how you even got me here in the first place, right? Doesn't exactly leave a guy with a good first impression."
Losing a little of his self-righteousness, Luke conceded with a nod. "Fair point."
"But..." He knew he had to do this, he just didn't want to. "You're not all that bad. I mean, don't get me wrong - you totally screwed my life up." That wasn't even a lie or exaggeration. "But it wasn't for you, personally. You were trying to help someone and - well. Your heart was in the right place, blah blah. The point is," he went on, "in your own, weird little Snyder way, you were trying to do the right thing."
"Wow," Luke remarked, "you really suck at compliments."
"But the important thing is that you knew it was a compliment," Reid pointed out. "Because...you're right. If he is really going to be here for a few weeks, I might need you to play the boyfriend again."
"So you're only really being nice - well, trying to be nice - so I'll be your boyfriend again?"
He didn't even deny it. "Is it working?"
Luke studied him curiously. "He must've really done a number on you to make you of all people worry about appearing single or not."
Reid had been worried he'd comment on that. "Look, I'm not giving you all the juicy details, but let's just say he was convincing at portraying himself as something other than he was - very convincing. And when he got what he wanted he made it abundantly clear that was all he really after all along." He hated having to admit any of that, how Steve had absolutely played him for a fool. Reid had been brash and arrogant and so full of his own self-importance that he genuinely hadn't seen it coming - Steve had picked him perfectly. But he knew he had to give Luke something - the guy was too curious and he was the one who was going to have to keep play-acting as Reid's boyfriend.
That seemed to mean something to Luke, though, who tipped his head to one side and considered him a little sadly. "He really messed you up. Wait," he said, "is that why you hated me so much when you first got to town? Because I was another guy who was..."
"...manipulating me?" Reid finished. "Let's just say you didn't earn yourself any brownie points."
Quiet for a while, he eventually nodded decisively. "Okay - give me your number."
Wait, what? "Sorry?"
"We're dating, right?"
Right. "So we should have any each other's numbers." Reid started fishing his phone out of a pocket one-handed.
"Right," Luke agreed. "It'd be weird if we didn't, and it'll make it easier planning any fake-boyfriend shenanigans." Luke waggled his eyebrows, which was not in any way likeable.
Once their numbers were exchanged, Reid only then began to realise just how much this could affect Luke's life. "You're really sure about this? I mean...your whole life is in this town. Your family, friends...Noah. They're bound to find out at some point."
"I'm an adult," Luke announced almost proudly. "It's my life - my choice. Noah and I aren't together anymore, so it's really none of his business who I'm dating. Fake-dating," he added, as an afterthought.
Well, if he absolutely insisted, Reid wasn't a good enough person to turn him down. "In that case - brace yourself, Mr Snyder, I'm about to say something I almost never say to anyone."
"And what's that?"
He paused dramatically. "Thank you."
Grinning - genuinely, for once, most of the smiles he wore around Reid tended to be edged with sarcasm - Luke dipped his head down once. "You're welcome. But also?" he continued. "It's probably time you started calling me by my first name."
Good point. He'd become so used to addressing Luke as 'Mr Snyder' that Reid might actually find that a challenge. "Okay," he said deliberately, "Luke." Yeah, that felt really weird.
"Good," he replied brightly, "Reid." That felt even weirder. "Who knows?" he asked rhetorically, "maybe this will finally be the start of a beautiful friendship."
Somehow, Reid doubted it.
*
Work was the welcome distraction it always was - it was the one thing in life he'd always been able to rely on. He had rounds, first thing, then a couple of follow-up appointments - though luckily not with Noah, that day.
He was beginning to realise just how complicated this fake-dating business would be. Technically there was nothing wrong with him dating Luke, but he was a current patient's ex and that was undeniably messy. If he was really honest with himself he knew he never should've pretended to date Luke in the first place but he'd seen Steve and just - panicked.
Reid put on a good front, most of the time, but unfortunately even he was only human. Still, he'd done what he'd done and there was no getting out of it now - if he admitted what he'd done or suddenly he and Luke 'broke up' he'd look even more the fool.
It still rankled that, after all this time, he cared what Steve thought so much. Reid had sold the act that he didn't give a crap what anyone thought for such a long time that he'd begun to buy it himself. Yet all it had taken was for one asshole to roll into town and suddenly he was back there, when it happened, the betrayal so sudden and unexpected that he almost couldn't breathe.
From that one encounter alone Reid had had more than enough of having his emotions being used against him and he'd vowed to never let it happen again.
And it hadn't. Reid got to help people every day, had an amazing career, the prestige and recognition of his peers, and that was all he really needed.
Well, until Luke Snyder had come along. Now he was stuck in this hellhole...which, unfortunately, he'd begun to think wasn't that much of a hellhole. Clearly there was something in the water because, now that he'd been there for a couple of months, he actually quite liked working at Memorial. 90% of the residents of Oakdale were still certifiable, no doubt about that, but Katie and Jacob made up for a lot. Even Bob was okay, really. They maybe hadn't got to know each other under the best of circumstances - and even Reid had to admit that hadn't been his finest hour - but now that he'd chosen to stay rather than being forced, at least until Noah's surgery was complete, he'd seen a different side to the old man. Had begun to think that maybe he knew a few things about life that were worth listening to.
Yeah. There was definitely something in the water.
As if he knew Reid had just been thinking about him Bob suddenly appeared. "Ah, good," he began, turning to the guy behind him. "Reid, there's someone I'd like you to meet. Dr Reid Oliver, this is-"
Of course it was him. That was just the way Reid's day was going. "Steve Rogers," he muttered, taking in Steve's smarmy smile. "We've met." Steve actually held out his hand and Reid just stared at it dubiously. "You've got to be kidding."
"You already know each other?" Bob asked. "Well, that's wonderful news."
"It's really not," he remarked. "What are you even doing here, Steve?" He was annoyed at himself for not putting it together earlier - Steve had asked about Memorial, had even said he'd be around. He should've seen this coming.
"I told you I was here on business," Steve said, tone of voice nothing but charming. "Well, this is it. My company is interested in buying Memorial - help take it into the 21st century."
Oh, no way in hell. "Help drive it into the ground, you mean."
"Reid," Bob said in warning.
"Bob, I know this moron, okay? And I know you can't believe a single word he says." If Steve got his hands on Memorial, he'd ruin it - just like he ruined everything.
"I'm hurt you'd say that, Reid," Steve said, frowning with apparent sincerity - he was still convincing, unfortunately, though at least Reid knew better this time. Unfortunately, nobody else did. "I know how upset you were when I broke things off, but there's no need to ruin this opportunity for Memorial."
"Oh," Bob said in wonder, like he'd just realised exactly what was going on.
"Don't flatter yourself," Reid spat, "my concerns are entirely professional."
"And I hardly think your current boyfriend would appreciate you still being hung up on me," Steve observed. "Luke, wasn't it?"
"Luke?" Bob asked, aghast.
Reid crossed his arms. "Believe me when I say the last thing I am is hung up on you - especially when I have someone like Luke. You don't even begin to compare to him."
"Wait," Bob continued, "Reid, you're really dating Luke?"
Finally tearing his gaze away from Steve - annoyingly, there'd been no break in character at all, not even for a smug smile when Bob wasn't looking - Reid gave in and nodded. Time to commit, he supposed. "Yeah. It's...new. I wouldn't have used the word boyfriend myself yet," he admitted, because to make this look real they couldn't have been dating that long, "but it's definitely...something."
"Well," he began, clearly thinking it over, "I'd say I'm surprised, but honestly..." Bob shrugged. "This actually explains a lot."
Wait, what? "Oh?"
"Don't all the great ones start that way?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye. "Thinking you hate each other when really it's just...chemistry?"
Of course Bob was a romantic. "Right," Reid said dryly, "chemistry."
"Sounds like a great romance," Steve said encouragingly. "I hope it works out." Reid just glared at him. "Anyway, Dr Hughes, I'd better go report in," he continued, offering Bob his hand. "I'll pass your comments on and get back to you. I'll be staying in town for a while, of course, as we work the details out. I very much hope that Memorial can become part of the Invicta family."
"As do I," Bob replied, shaking his hand.
Turning to Reid, Steve smiled pleasantly. "It was a surprise - and a pleasure - to see you again, Reid."
"Can't say the same," Reid drawled, and he'd long since had enough of this farce. "I need to get back to work." Gratefully taking the opportunity to escape, he fled.
Unfortunately, it wasn't long at all before Bob tracked him back down. "Reid," he began, "I can't say I appreciate the way you dealt with Mr Rogers."
"That's because you don't know him the way I do, Bob."
"Look, I understand that you had a personal relationship-"
Sighing, Reid pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's not because he broke up with me Bob - the man's a sociopath."
Eyes widening, he looked more than a little shocked. "That's quite a statement."
"It's the truth," he shrugged. "He'll act a certain way, pretend to be something he's not - and as soon as he gets what he's really after, then you'll see his true side. Trust me when I say it's not pretty."
Finally seeming to take Reid seriously, Bob studied him perceptively. "There's quite some history between you two."
"That's putting it mildly." He hadn't enjoyed explaining this to Luke and he didn't enjoy it now, either. "He betrayed me - personally and professionally." That was all his pride could stand to share right now. "He will do the same to you - to this hospital."
Taking in a deep breath, Bob eventually nodded. "Very well, Reid. In that case, I thank you for your candour. I'll make the board aware of your concerns and I'm sure they'll keep them in mind moving forward. We haven't agreed to anything yet, so everything is still very much theoretical at this point."
That was something, at least. "Good."
"Also..." he began cagily.
"Yes?"
Bob just said it. "Is Noah aware of the change in your and Luke's...relationship?"
Ah. That. "No," he admitted, spinning out the lie. "We'd been keeping things quiet while we were seeing if it...worked."
"Probably a smart move," he conceded. "Luke and Noah have their own complicated history. However," Bob went on, "as you seem to be going public now...probably better to tell Noah sooner rather than later, yes?"
Right. "Sure thing, Bob. Good idea."
The next time he had a moment he sent Luke a text, trying to explain everything in a message that wasn't a million words long. Steve been at hospital, trying to buy it - needs to be stopped. Bob knows we're dating, says we should tell Noah.
After a moment's consideration, he then sent a second message. And how's your morning been?
Luke's response wasn't long in coming. Not as interesting as yours, apparently. Then a second message came through. Busy atm but I'll try and visit at lunch so we can strategise. Then a third message arrived. Miss you, sweetie pie ;)
Smiling despite himself, Reid shot back, Not as much as I miss you, sugar lump.
In response, Luke sent back the puking emoji.
When Reid finally took his lunch break, he texted Luke that he'd be in the canteen. That was where Luke found him some twenty minutes later, dropping into the seat across from him with his own tray of food.
"We really need to work on your pet names," he complained as he got comfortable. "Sugar lump is never an appropriate pet name for anyone."
"In my defense I've never used pet names in my life - and I never seriously intend to."
"I haven't either," Luke admitted, opening his bottle of water. "But sugar lump? Come on." He took a sip of water. "You can do better than that."
"Darling?" he asked mockingly. "Sweetheart?"
"Better," Luke approved, putting his water down and starting on his mac and cheese. "So," he began impatiently, "give me all the details."
Finishing off his own food, Reid did just that. Luke listened attentively, only interrupting occasionally - sometimes for clarification, sometimes to comment what an ass Steve was. When Reid reached the part about Bob suggesting they tell Noah, he grew a little less animated, withdrawing into himself.
"I...get it, if you don't want to," Reid offered. "You two could still-"
"Oh, we are definitely over for good," Luke assured him, "I made that abundantly clear when he broke up with me for the third...fourth? Time." Okay, and Reid hadn't known anywhere near as much about their relationship as he'd thought he had. He had, quite honestly, been under the impression that Noah took Luke a little for granted, but he certainly hadn't known about their apparently very rocky history. "And though I personally don't feel I owe him anything anymore, it's the right thing to do telling him - if only because you're his doctor."
This whole act was going to have some very real life consequences. "You think he'll be okay with it?"
"Well, he and Richard are a thing already," Luke pointed out, not a little bitterly, "so if he's not okay with it I'll just shove his whole double-standard back in his face." Okay then. "Honestly, funny as this may sound, this is just what I need right now."
Well that made no sense. "Dating me?"
"Yeah," he admitted with a grin. "On the way to see you I bumped into Bob and of course he asked about you - about us. And it was...fun."
"Fun?"
"Waxing poetically about you," he joked, before clarifying, "being sneaky and underhanded. Noah never liked that side of me - always made me feel bad about it, made me feel bad about myself. But it is a part of me," he continued.
"Trust me, I know that already," Reid said with good humour. "I vividly remember how you got me here in the first place."
Making a face, Luke shrugged. "Right, stuff like that. Noah always hated it - unless it benefited him."
"And then he was just fine with it."
Luke nodded. "It doesn't always make me proud of myself, but it does make me feel...confident. Strong. I probably have some issues," he admitted, which wasn't a surprise for someone coming from this town. "But doing this? With you? It's a way to feel all that without actually hurting anyone. I enjoyed it this morning with Steve. I enjoyed it just now with Bob. And God knows, right now," he said wryly, "I need some fun in my life."
Reid honestly felt a lot better about this arrangement now that he knew it was mutually beneficial. They were both using each other but they were both aware of it - that worked out more than fine for him. "I can promise you," he told Luke, "being in a relationship with me is all kinds of fun."
"I'm sure," he replied, voice indicating he believed anything but. "We should probably talk limits, though - how far we're prepared to go to be convincing. I know we're both gay, but that doesn't mean we're both automatically going to be okay with faking intimacy with someone we're not actually close to-"
"I'd have no problem faking intimacy with you."
...and that may have come out a little too easily. What the hell?
"Oh," Luke said, blinking, looking confused. "Really?"
"I'm just being pragmatic," Reid explained, because clearly that was the only reason. "You're hot. Why wouldn't I want to get all up in that?"
Luke just kept blinking, face flushing. "I...you really...?" He paused. "Thank you?"
Reid just shook his head. "It's just physical. Honestly, it's another part of the reason you were so annoying when you first dragged me here. You'd ruined my entire life and you were annoyingly attractive."
"Oh," he responded blankly, honestly still seeming a little dazed. "That makes sense, I guess." Eventually getting over himself, Luke sat up straighter before nodding decisively. "I'd be okay with it, too. You're not exactly hard on the eyes either, you know."
Reid took the compliment. "I know."
"Unbelievable," Luke muttered, rolling his eyes - but they were both grinning. "So," he continued, "being in each other's personal space, hand holding, that kind of thing?"
"Personal space I can do," he agreed. "Never been much of a hand holder. Though if it's something people expect to see you doing with someone you're dating..."
"Maybe?" Luke shrugged, as he thought it over. "Even though it might seem kind of...immature, I always did like holding hands."
"Well, we'll give it a whirl," because why not? "We can use it as a sign of how you've tamed me," he joked, though there were probably some people who'd actually believe that.
"And what about..." Luke started hesitantly and Reid soon understood why. "Kissing?"
Reid was aware that, despite this entire conversation, that was a whole other level of intimacy. "That's down to you," he said honestly. "I'd have no problem kissing you but don't want you to force yourself to do something you're uncomfortable with just because of how stubborn you are."
"Me, stubborn?" he asked cheekily.
"When it's something you're focused on?" he quipped rhetorically, holding Luke's gaze. "Absolutely."
Giving in, Luke nodded - though he didn't look away from Reid. "I can handle anything you can handle," he said firmly, honestly just proving Reid's point for him. "In fact, I think I'm going to be much better at this relationship stuff than you are."
Reid smirked despite himself. "Is that a threat, Luke?"
He just grinned. "That's a promise, Reid. I mean, I only recently got out of a relationship - when's the last time you even dated anyone?"
"It's been a while, I'll admit," he conceded, "but it's quality, not quantity that matters. I can more than handle anything you throw at me."
"Well then," Luke announced, eyes darkening as he leant across the table, "may the best boyfriend win."
*
The next day, as part of his plan to prove he could be the best boyfriend on the face of the planet, Luke insisted on taking him to Metro. Reid agreed because one, Luke was paying for everything and two, they'd already decided they should be seen around town together on 'dates' to look more convincing.
Luke still looked annoyingly attractive, of course, only this time Reid didn't have to pretend he wasn't noticing. It was actually kind of freeing, to be honest and soon decided to take Luke at his word that he could handle anything Reid threw at him. Sliding up next to him the bar, unnoticed, Reid leaned in close.
"You look hot," he murmured into Luke's ear, an act that definitely made Luke jump around in surprise - and brought a flush to his face, if Reid wasn't mistaken.
"Thanks," he mumbled a little awkwardly, though it didn't take him long to adjust and get into the role, surprise smoothing out into apparent pleasure as he grabbed Reid's jacket and pulled him in close, eyes falling to Reid's mouth. "Missed you."
Reid very much liked how much Luke was committing - even though it might make it harder to prove that, in fact, he was the best boyfriend on the face of the planet. He was looking forward to seeing just what came next - a kiss would definitely be a normal reaction to greeting your own boyfriend, right? - when the bartender interrupted to take their order.
Tragically, they pulled apart.
A few minutes later they were sitting at a table together. As it turned out, Metro didn't do much in the way of food - little more than snacks, really. Luke was going to have to do much better next time if he wanted to keep Reid satisfied.
"So, I told Noah today," Luke said from across the table.
Pausing mid-sip, Reid raised his eyebrows before nodding in acknowledgement, swallowing. "And how did that go?"
"Actually...okay," he shrugged, looking surprised. "He wasn't thrilled, but when I pointed out he was already dating someone too, there wasn't much he could say about it. Although," he made a wry face, "he tried at first."
"Yeah," Reid said, "my next appointment with him isn't going to be awkward at all."
"Hey, this was all your idea," Luke pointed out, "you only have yourself to blame."
"I didn't exactly see you rushing to say no."
"True," he gave in. "But like I said - it's fun."
"Being devious and underhanded, yes," Reid remarked.
"Clearly you find that attractive," Luke shot back with a grin. "So," he continued, leaning his elbow on the table and resting his chin in his hand to stare across at Reid 'adoringly', "how was your day, pumpkin?"
Pet names again, was it? Reid could roll with that. "Let me tell you all about it," he mirrored Luke's pose, "poopy-face."
Luke actually laughed at loud.
Pleased with himself, Reid grinned, sat back and actually started telling Luke about his day - they had to kill the time somehow and just sitting there in silence would make it look like one hell of a crappy date.
Luke actually seemed interested, too - which could've been an act, but he was asking insightful questions about Reid's job so maybe it was actual interest. As it turned out, once he started Luke had a lot of questions about the kind of work Reid did, even sometimes using terminology Reid was honestly surprised to hear him use.
"I did do my research, you know," Luke admitted, "when I was first trying to convince you to come here. I may not be a medical super genius," he continued, gesturing across to Reid, "but I'm no slouch."
"Never thought you were," he replied instantly, because while he'd accused Luke of many things, being dumb wasn't one of them. Too driven by his emotions, perhaps, but certainly not unintelligent. "Go on, then - your turn." Reading Luke's confused expression, he explained. "Tell me about your job and exactly what you do at this foundation of yours."
Reid already had some idea - he'd done his own research, too - but it was much more interesting hearing about it straight from the source, rather than reading some dull webpage. And, amazingly enough, it was more than just a little interesting. Luke spoke about the foundation with such passion and determination it automatically made Reid give a crap about it, too. It was honestly surprising when he realised that he'd never heard Luke talk about it before, barely even in passing. All of their conversations in the past had usually been focused around Noah and, while understandable - he was the reason Reid had been dragged there in the first place, after all - it was honestly refreshing to see and hear Luke being so engaged with something else.
He really was more than 'Noah's boyfriend'.
Or 'the bane of Reid's life'.
"I had a...difficult time, coming out," Luke admitted, eventually. "If I can make other LGBT kids' lives a bit easier, even just a little, then it's all worth it."
Reid had been wanting to prove for years that he could cope with anything by himself, but the idea of having support for LGBT kinds was undeniably a worthy one. "You think it'll make up for it somehow?"
Luke paused, as if he'd never considered that. "I don't know. Maybe? I just know..." he shrugged. "It's the right thing to do."
Damn him. Luke was actually making Reid feel glad that he had all that money, so he could keep spending it on that damn foundation. Life was so much easier when there were no grey areas and he could just keep thinking of Luke as the spoiled rich kid.
In all honesty, he hadn't thought that was the truth for a long time now.
"So what happened?" Reid asked, curious. "When you came out?"
Shrugging, Luke's face fell and he stared down at his drink. Reid was starting to feel bad, for once, and was about to offer an out when Luke finally replied.
"Mom and Damian tried to send me to a straight camp."
He honestly had to take a few moments to deal with that. Taking them, he blinked and then managed to produce a few words. "And you still have a relationship with them?" Damian, he could definitely see doing something that underhanded. But Lily? She'd always been so supportive of Luke and Noah's relationship that just the idea made his mind boggle.
"It's...complicated." No kidding. "We're all past it now," he assured Reid, "but it was...terrifying for a while."
"Of course it was," he shot back. "Jesus, you were just a kid and that's how they treated you?" He'd thought this more than once, but seriously - what was wrong with the residents of this town?
"Reid, honey," Luke grinned, apparently getting back into character - he'd honestly forgotten about that, for a while. "It's okay, now." Reaching across the table, he placed his hand on top of Reid's. "It's ancient history."
Still feeling affronted - somewhat surprisingly - on Luke's behalf, Reid decided it'd be easy enough to use that in-character, too. Turning his hand over, he took Luke's and threaded their fingers together. "They try and do that to you now," he said darkly, "they'll have me to deal with."
"I know," Luke said happily, apparently still amused by all of it, so Reid decided to step it up a notch.
Bringing his own hand - and subsequently Luke's, which he was still holding - up to this mouth, Reid held Luke's gaze as he pressed a kiss to the back of his hand. It was old-fashioned, perhaps, but definitely romantic and he watched in satisfaction as the smile disappeared from Luke's face - though, sadly, only for a moment. He could literally see the nano-second Luke decided he wasn't about to let Reid get the better of him and he waited, with interest, to see exactly what was about to happen next.
"So," Luke began, glancing off to one-side, "why don't we-?"
"Luke?" a voice interrupted, taking Reid out of the little bubble they'd cocooned themselves in so effectively that his brain had to scramble to keep up for a few moments.
Seeming shocked himself, Luke turned to look up at the newcomer. "Grandma," he said, and though clearly surprised, didn't let go of Reid's hand. If anything, he tightened his grip.
Reid could roll with that. "I've never met a grandparent before," he 'confided' to Luke, well aware that his grandmother was listening to every word. "Is there some protocol I should be aware of?"
"Just be your charming self," he said through gritted teeth, before talking to his grandmother. "Hi, Grandma. What are you doing here?"
"Just meeting with some business associates," she said absently but apparently couldn't stop herself from staring at Reid. He understood the impulse - he was a fascinating guy. "The far more interesting question is what you're doing here."
Nodding in acknowledgement, Luke did the introductions. "Grandma, this is Reid Oliver. Reid, this is Lucinda Walsh - my Grandma."
"Oh, the doctor," Lucinda remarked, clearly recognising his name. "I haven't had the pleasure. Though, apparently," she threw a glance towards their joined hands, "you have."
"Grandma," Luke hissed, obviously embarrassed.
Reid just grinned.
"Oh, come now," she replied. "You're dating a doctor - Noah's doctor - and haven't told me a thing about it? I think I'm entitled to have a little fun."
"I haven't told you anything because it's still new, okay? We're still...working things out."
"Things seem plenty worked out to me," she observed, glancing at their hands again.
"It's more Luke who needs to work things out, really," Reid said, playing the patient new boyfriend to the best of his ability. "He has all that history with Noah, you know and..." he sighed, forlorn. "It isn't easy, but I think he's worth it."
It worked, of course. Lucinda looked utterly charmed. Luke looked furious - though his expression soon smoothed out into something less obvious.
"I don't think there's much to think about here," Lucinda encouraged. "You know I was...fond of Noah, in my own way, but some of the things you told me about him...well," she continued, "you know how pleased I was when that finally ended for good. Maybe Reid is what you really need right now. I have to say," Lucinda added thoughtfully, "this certainly explains why you kept talking about him all the time. I thought you just hated him."
Game face firmly in place, Luke now didn't look embarrassed by any of it. "It's true that I...hid my true feelings," he 'admitted'. "And honestly, Grandma, it's not even the Noah thing anymore, not really. It's just that," he looked over at Reid, faking an apologetic look, "he's so, so much older than me."
Oh, nicely done. Reid gave him a tiny nod in acknowledgement of a job well done.
Luke nodded back. "I just don't know if, practically, we can make it work."
Lucinda thought it over. "While part of me - especially being an older woman myself - wants to say that age is just a number, the practical side of me admits that could be an issue, eventually. One the two of you are going to have to work out between you. One piece of advice I would give?" she said seriously, looking between them. "Life is too short - take the chance while you can. Even if it doesn't work out in the long run, I say that's worse than never trying at all."
Hearing a voice call her name, she turned towards a table of people and waved. "That's my cue," she announced, turning back to them. "The two of you have a lovely evening and," she focused on Luke, "I expect to hear all the details later. Dr Oliver," she acknowledged.
"Miss Walsh," he replied respectfully, then watched as Lucinda walked away. "I've gotta give you some credit," he began once he was sure she was out of hearing range, "it took you a while to warm up, but you are good at this."
"I am Damian Grimaldi's son," Luke pointed out, which was fair. "I do feel kind of bad lying to Grandma of all people, though," he admitted. "She's always believed in me, you know? Even when I didn't believe in myself." They sounded close. "Then again," he added with a grin, "I know she got into a lot of trouble herself, in the old days. She'd probably approve." Seeming reassured, he took a sip of his drink. "You know the sad thing?" he asked rhetorically. "This is honestly the most fun I've had on a date in forever. And it's not even real," Luke finished, shaking his head in wonder.
That was a little surprising - but then when he thought about Noah, maybe it wasn't. "You and Noah didn't go out much?"
Luke shook his head again. "Before the accident, he'd been working for ages on this new project for college and was spending virtually all his free time with his college advisor, Mason. We finally had a place together, you know? Our own space where we could...be alone." Alone clearly meant 'have sex'. "We wouldn't constantly have Mom or Dad looking over our shoulder, or be worried that one of the kids was about to burst in. And..." he shrugged, sadly. "He was never there."
The answer seemed obvious enough to Reid. "That's because he was an idiot."
"Reid..."
"Hey, now," he argued, "as your current boyfriend it's my job - hell, my duty - to point out what a moron your ex was. Is. Making some crappy film or spending time in bed with you? There's no contest."
Luke stared at him flatly, even though he was a little embarrassed. "That's sweet, Reid, but I know how much your work means to you. Say you'd invented some amazing new neurological technique but you had to work on it after hours - are you honestly saying that wouldn't come first?"
"What I'm saying is that I have pioneered amazing new neurological techniques - and I was dating someone at the time."
That honestly seemed to catch Luke off-guard. "Wait, really?"
"Yes, really." It was Steve, but that didn't need pointing out right now. "And it didn't kill our relationship. Because - while, yes, I did spend a lot of time working on it - I didn't spend as much time as I could have on it because even I know you make time for someone if you care about them. If Noah wasn't doing that for you at all? Well, then, that was just him being a selfish asshole."
Falling silent, for a while, Luke started looking all sad and stuff. Reid found he didn't like that at all, and looked for a way to distract him. "What were you going to say earlier?"
Luke frowned at him. "Sorry?"
"Just before your grandmother arrived, you were about to say something."
Thinking back on the conversation, Luke eventually remembered. "Oh, I was jokingly going to suggest we dance," he said, gesturing to the dance floor where a few couples were dancing to the inoffensive jazz being played in the background.
Reid could cope with that. Standing, he held out a hand. "Shall we?"
"Seriously?" Luke studied Reid - and his hand - dubiously. "Honestly, I was just hoping you didn't know how to dance and I'd catch you being less than perfect at something."
"Unfortunately for you, I know what I'm doing," Reid said, hand still extended. "I've had to schmooze more than a few donors at more than a few fundraisers. What about you?" he questioned. "They teach you to dance at rich-boy school?"
Back straightening, Luke took his hand and pulled himself up. "And then some," he announced, leading Reid over to the dance floor.
This was much more like it, as far as Reid was concerned. Luke was so much more fun when he wasn't moping over Noah.
It was a little awkward at first with both of them technically meant to lead, though they soon found a happy medium and it actually felt kind of...nice, in the end. That probably had a lot to do with the way they kept grinning at each other. For his part, Reid just found it profoundly amusing that anyone looking at them right now thought this was actually real. Seeing the way Luke's attractive face kept smiling at him didn't exactly hurt, either.
When the music slowed down it was only natural that their dancing slowed too, as they instinctively moved even closer together - it'd only look weird if they didn't. Eventually they ended up doing little more than shuffling in a circle and though Reid didn't usually do this kind of crap with guys he was dating, Luke probably did and it was certainly helping them sell the idea they were dating.
It honestly felt good, too - Luke's warm, firm, attractive body pressed up against his. It had been a while for Reid, and he certainly appreciated being close to someone he was attracted to. And, in all honesty, when Luke drew his head back to stare at Reid's mouth, he knew what he needed to do.
Holding Luke's gaze for a moment, silently asking for permission, there was barely a hesitation when Luke nodded.
Reid had been intending to kiss Luke briefly, because at that point it would've looked strange if they hadn't kissed at all.
Luke got there first, sliding his hands up to Reid's head and bringing their mouths together for a much firmer - and deeper - kiss.
Not that Reid was complaining, enjoying the rasp of Luke's stubble against his skin, the heat and pressure of his mouth. Honestly, he could've happily kept kissing for a while but Luke ended the kiss himself, pleased with himself as he kept grinning in Reid's face, hands playing with Reid's hair.
"Have to make it look good," he said quietly, "for Grandma."
Right, of course.
For Lucinda.
TBC
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