150 Playing hero
Word Soap: As The World Keeps Turning
Author: SYLnl
Title: #150 Playing hero
Rating: PG
Summary: “A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.” - Bob Dylan
Big Thanks To: ltklo, for brushing up my grammar
Previously on As The World Keeps Turning: click here for chapters 1 - 149
Okay. He was man enough to admit that he had enjoyed their Christmas Eve party. That he had enjoyed it a lot, even. It had surprised him too, but he was willing to own it. Parties could be fun. Their New Year’s Eve party had confirmed it. He had felt relaxed. Sometimes his memory would take him back to that evening and the breakfast the next morning and every time he’d found himself grinning. Good memories. Reid sighed. He wasn’t so sure about this one, though.
In all fairness, Luke had asked him if he was okay with a ‘slightly bigger guest list than usual’ and the way his blond had bitten his lip should have been a warning sign. But he had been preoccupied - he couldn’t remember with what, but it had probably something to do with Luke’s feet or hair or… - and he had just nodded. And this was his punishment for not paying attention. The living room was crowded. Really crowded. The kitchen was too, he knew from experience. The whole place was overrun by what Luke referred to as ‘their inner circle’. Indicating there could have been more.
While sliding his hand through his curls, he pulled his eyes from his guests and focused on the chess board in front of him. Seth had been a lifesaver yet again, by inviting Reid for a game when the older man had noticed Reid’s growing discomfort.
“Overwhelming?”
Reid looked up to his chess partner and smiled.
“The way you play, you mean?”
Seth chuckled. Although he hadn’t been able to win once, he knew he put up a good fight, but he would never refer to it as overwhelming.
“Hardly, Dr. Genius,” the oldest Snyder grinned.
Reid gave him a quick smile, followed by an honest answer.
“It’s a bit much.”
To his surprise, Seth nodded.
“I agree. I don’t feel comfortable in large groups either.”
“You don’t say,” Reid was genuinely surprised. “Even though almost everybody in here is related to you, one way or the other?”
Seth softly laughed. “I know! That Snyder family tree is something else.”
“That’s one way of putting it,” Reid snorted.
“Let’s just say I’m grateful you came and found a place on one of the branches, because now I can play hero and stay on the sidelines at the same time.”
“Play hero?” Reid frowned.
“Yeah, by playing chess with you I’m the family’s rescue-worker,” Seth teased. “Believe it or not, but everybody in here wants you to have a good time too and we all know how you feel about gatherings like this.”
“So this is charity?” Reid smirked. He knew better than that.
“You didn’t actually think I was having fun now, did you?” Seth flung back and both men chuckled.
Reid looked next to him when he felt a familiar hand on his neck and without any conscious thought his hand found its way to Luke’s calf. Softly stroking it.
“Hey guys,” Luke put a soft kiss on Reid’s curls, “Looks like you’re enjoying yourselves. Can I get you another beer?”
Both men nodded, but when Luke made a move to leave, Reid’s hand on his leg stopped him and when their eyes met, Luke smiled, leaned in and enjoyed the soft kiss.
“Thanks,” Reid whispered and Luke winked.
Watching the blond man making his way to the kitchen, Reid smiled and Seth joined. It was such a treat to watch both men interact.
“Makes you wonder how some people can still object to a love like that, doesn’t it?” a voice next to him softly asked and Seth nodded.
“It does, Dr. Bob. It startles me even more that they use the Bible to air their judgment.”
“Yeah, they found a footing in Leviticus,” Bob snorted. “But I don’t hear them about Corinthians where Paul writes that it’s good for a man not to marry.”
Both men grinned.
“Ah well, any stick will do to beat a dog, as they say,” Seth shrugged.
“It’s just a power thing,” Reid joined the discussion, “By putting someone else down, they feel bigger. That’s all it is.”
“It never gets to you?” Seth raised his eyebrow.
“Sometimes it does,” Reid admitted. “Especially now I’m with Luke. I mean,” Reid lifted his hand and looked at the ring, “this is pretty effective, but if you think about it…it’s baffles me that we can’t get married if we’d want to. I mean, Child Services feels we’re the perfect couple to raise children, but we’re not allowed to marry. It’s just…” Reid shrugged, “bullshit.”
“It is,” Bob agreed calmly. “Sanctimonious with a capital S.”
“Maybe you should go into politics,” Seth suggested, accepting the bottle of beer from Luke and turning back to Bob. “You have all this free time on your hands now…”
“Kim would kill me,” Bob rolled his eyes, “She wants me to take it easy…”
“And what do you want?” Reid asked and Bob smiled at him.
“I want to take it easy too. And thanks to the generosity of the Memorial staff I have new golf clubs I need to christen…”
“It was a great party,” Luke smiled, still standing next to Reid whose hand was on Luke’s calf again, “There was a lot of love in the room…”
Bob smiled, nodding. “There was. I didn’t know our nurses were so talented…”
They all grinned, thinking about the songs the nurses performed. They had obviously put a lot of time and effort into lyrics and performances and it had been quite a show.
“I’ll deal with their diva attitudes tomorrow,” Reid rolled his eyes, not able to hide his contentment. He’d been pretty proud of them, especially when they’d shown their bravery by performing a song about Dr. Devil.
“Sounds fair,” Bob teased, “I had to deal with yours for many months.”
Reid faked outrage and turned to Seth. “Let’s continue our game…”
They all laughed and after ruffling Reid’s hair, Luke mingled with the guests, Bob turned over to John Dixon and Reid watched the group of people again. He smiled, watching Ethan, Natalie, Hallie and Danny on the floor, playing some sort of game. Danny was completely focused on Natalie who was explaining something and the young face looked way older than six.
“You’re doing a great job with him,” Seth had followed Reid’s gaze and then moved a piece of the board in front of him.
“Yeah, broadly speaking he’s doing okay…”
“But?”
“I wish I could see what goes on in that brain of his,” Reid’s eyes were still on Danny, “For example…when we told him about Zoë, he asked if we were gonna replace him with her.”
“Replace?”
“His words,” Reid nodded. “Like he’s disposable.”
“I guess that’s what abuse does to one’s psyche,” Seth muttered and Reid nodded.
“Exactly. It’s heartbreaking to realize that he thinks so low about himself.”
“It is,” Seth agreed on a calm tone, “but don’t underestimate your influence, Reid. My beloved nephew had a pretty bad self-image and it was getting worse by the minute. Until you came along. I’ve never seen him so secure, so self-assured, as he is right now. And I really mean never. So that’s you. I’m absolutely sure about that. And with two dads feeling good about themselves and good about each other, this boy will learn to feel proud of who he is. It may take some time, but he will.”
Reid gave Seth a quick smile.
“Thanks. I hope you’re right.”
“I know I am,” Seth sounded firm. “As you know, I’ve done volunteer work with kids and a lot of them were abused one way or the other. All I did was take them seriously. Listen to them, give them a voice. I’ve seen them change because of it, Reid. After they’ve been treated like throw-aways, they need to be acknowledged as humans. That’s the first step.”
Reid nodded, looking Seth in the eye.
“I guess those kids hated to see you leave…”
“They did,” Seth lowered his eyes, “But thank god for internet. I talk to them online.”
“Ah yes, the Feast of Facebook,” Reid snorted.
“Amongst other things,” Seth smiled, “I take it you’re not into social media?”
“Me and social…” Reid rolled his eyes, “Now there’s a dedictus in terminus.”
It made Seth chuckle.
“I’ve no complaints,” he grinned.
“I’m glad. I hope you still feel that way after my next move. Checkmate.”