2015 LuRe Yule Challenge: Rebound
Title: Rebound
Summary: set pre-LuRe. Luke goes on a sex binge, and fucks everything in sight.
Rating: M/R (despite the summary, this story doesn't actually feature any smut...how's that for a change..)
A/N: Goes AU after Luke and Noah break up, ie: no Mr Judd drama, etc.
Credit to Satine_1984 for the fantastic banner for this year's challenge.
A big thanks to Tldreamer for being a very thorough (and hilarious) beta, in addition to organising the entire challenge. But in the end, all mistakes are mine.
I had major writer's block this year and really struggled to get this finished, so let's just describe this as half-crack.
I can't believe it's 2016 an people are still reading and writing for LuRe, rock on guys, and all the best for this year.
*
Noah, where do we go from here...?
Luke walked out of Noah's hospital room a shattered man. The relationship he had invested so much time and energy in over the past three years was over. He walked down the hospital corridor unseeingly, blinking out of his daze only when he bumped into something large.
"Dude, are you okay?" Casey asked, smiling at him with friendly concern.
"Yeah. No. I'm fine." Luke shook his head to clear it. "Totally fine." Luke lowered his head and tried to make a break for it, but Casey caught hold of his arm.
"Okay, You're clearly not fine. So how about you be a good lil Luke and come have coffee with me and tell Uncle Casey what's up?"
"Casey, I'm really-"
"Luke." It was Casey's warning voice, the one that would have held him in good stead as a lawyer had Noah not sold him out, and Luke had long learned it brooked no arguments.
"Okay," he agreed. "But can we go to Java please, I need to get out of here."
"Java it is," Casey said.
*
Casey drove them to the cafe and filled the trip with mindless chatter about his job, his mother's new renovation project fail and his father's panic over his receding hairline. It was only when they had both gotten settled with their coffees that Casey got serious.
"So. Dude. Spill."
Luke didn't have the energy to beat around the bush. "Noah and I broke up."
"What?! Man, why?"
Luke swallowed. "Ever since...it's been really hard for Noah since his accident, and ever since then he's been pushing me away, blaming me for him going blind-"
"How was it your fault?!" Casey looked aghast.
"I was distracting him while he was fiddling with the fireworks-"
"He knew the risks the moment he got up on that ladder Luke!"
Casey's words hit home, and Luke nodded, feeling something beyond the heavy depression that had been weighing him down since Noah's accident. "He said that he couldn't focus on his recovery and me at the moment. I thought he meant he wanted to put our relationship on hold, as if that wasn't already bad enough, but he doesn't even see a future for us. And fuck, I know the whole ‘leaving the blind guy’ thing looks bad," Luke heard himself laugh weakly, "but I just couldn't do it anymore. He doesn't want me around him, and he doesn't want me."
"Dude, it sounds like it's better for both of you. You need to look after yourself too."
"Yeah, but you know my version of looking after myself is pouring myself into the nearest bottle of vodka." The look of alarm in Casey's eyes sent a pang through Luke. "Which I'm not going to do, don't worry, I was just kidding."
"Well, at least you can kid."
"But Case, how do I move on? How do I get through the day? I can't even envision getting through the next hour."
"You need a distraction."
"Like what?"
"Look, I know it's not really up your alley, but maybe you could find a rebound guy, have a little fun, release some endorphins." At Luke's raised eyebrows, Casey added, "it can't hurt to try."
*
It was two weeks before Luke acted on Casey's advice.
*
Sitting in his private office, Reid scarfed down a sandwich during his lunch-break, his mind pleasantly occupied with thoughts of Luke Snyder.
It hadn't taken Reid long to fall hook, line and sinker for Luke. The guy was altogether too gorgeous and funny, and nice to boot - even his blackmail stunt had been prompted by the desire to help his blind boyfriend (the boyfriend he'd watched treat Luke like shit for weeks) - and when he had learned from Noah that they had broken up last week, he had felt his heart speed up.
Blonde hair, brown eyes, pouty lips, wide shoulders and the perfect ass - Luke was exactly his type.
If ever Reid was going to have a chance with Luke it was now, although even he knew he should wait a decent amount of time before making a move. And this had reduced him to fantasising about Luke and practicing the art of patience.
Done with his sandwich, Reid decided to head down to the cafeteria to see if there was anything decent on offer. Walking down the hall, he saw the new intern - the one who had tried hitting on him on his second day at Memorial - standing with Luke at the nurse's station, leaning far too close to him and laughing at something he had said. And when the intern pulled out his phone and handed it to Luke - the same move he'd pulled on Reid when he'd tried to get his number - Reid felt jealousy bubbling furiously inside him. He was about to charge over and order him to perform a colonoscopy or lance a boil or something equally disgusting when he received an urgent page that there were complications with the patient he'd operated on just that morning. Grinding his teeth together in frustration, Reid went to attend to his patient, leaving Luke with Dr. Sleazebag.
The rest of Reid's day did not improve, with nurses constantly underfoot and the discovery that a young patient’s brain tumour had returned.
Performing the rest of his shift in a filthy mood, he finally stumbled into Yo's for dinner wondering if his day could get any worse. The first thing he saw was Luke seated at a table with the sleazy intern. It didn't help that the damn interloper was gorgeous, with black hair and green eyes...the very epitome of tall, dark and handsome. All of which Luke was attracted to if Noah was anything to go by, and all of which Reid was certainly not. No sir, Reid was a pasty ginger, and not wanting to watch pathetically as the two of them interacted, Reid ordered his meal to takeaway and left.
*
Casey cornered Luke in OldTown. "Well? Did you take my advice?"
Luke could feel himself blushing as he nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, it's been good. Really good, I feel better than I have in a long time Case."
"High five bro." Luke stared at him. "Don't leave me hanging."
Luke smiled and punched his arm instead. "You're an idiot Case."
*
In desperate need of a bathroom, Reid walked into the men’s room at Java and found Luke groping a shirtless Asian guy with a lean chest and nipples like melted chocolate chips. The guy's hands were clearly down Luke's pants.
Clenching his jaw, Reid let the door slam shut behind him loudly, and smirked as Luke and the guy jumped, although to his irritation neither made any move to separate from each other.
"Hey, Dr. Oliver," Luke said with an embarrassed smile, his face adorably flushed, "we were just leaving." Grabbing the guy's shirt and wrapping it around his neck, Luke took him by the hand and headed for the door.
Reid's jaw clenched as he saw a fresh hickey blooming on Luke's neck and he headed for a stall, scowling when he heard the door shut softly.
Fuck. Even if he wanted to try hooking up with Luke he couldn't, because every time he got near him, Luke was already with someone else.
*
Early for a coffee date with Maddie, Luke sat waiting in Java nursing a latte and engaged in his favourite past-time of cataloguing Dr. Oliver's body. The guy could be an obnoxious arsehole, but there was no doubting he was hot as hell.
Eyes, cheekbones, delectable arse. Tick, tick, tick.
He played at being the emotionally untouchable uber-professional, but having seen his commitment to his patients, Luke wasn't fooled. It was clear his abrasive persona was hiding some deep-seated trust issues, and Luke had to admit that it was a major turn on.
Too bad he was unattainable.
Luke was roused from his daydream by Maddie's arrival, a loud thunk sounding as she dumped her handbag on the table.
"Who are you thinking about?" She asked with a smirk and took a seat.
"What?"
"You've got your sex-fantasy face on."
"My what-what?!" Luke spluttered.
"Puh-lease Luke, you've been going at it like a Duracell bunny for weeks now, I can tell when you're sporting wood."
"Maddie!" Luke heard himself shriek, a little horrified by how well she knew him.
Maddie ignored him. "What about that guy?" She whispered loudly, gesturing none too subtly at the man sitting at the back of the coffee shop. "He's super-hot."
"Maddie, I don't need your help-"
"Yeah, you've made that pretty clear over the past few weeks, but it's fun!"
"I've already done him." He smirked. "And the guy that just walked in the door."
"The wannabe emo with the bad eyeliner?" Maddie sighed. "Jesus Luke, you'd fuck a shoe nailed to a tree," she said, rolling her eyes.
"Jealous?" Luke smirked even though he could feel his face burning hotly, and Maddie rolled her eyes and smiled at him fondly as the busboy brought over Maddie's coffee order and offered him a refill.
*
Seeing Luke with yet another guy - at Metro this time - Reid had to smile, jealous though he was. It was admirable the way Luke had rebounded from the end of his relationship with Noah. After seeing him so miserable by Noah's bedside day after day, it was nice to see him moving on with his life and enjoying himself.
And he'd be lying if he didn't admit he liked the fact that Luke had a slutty side - after hearing Luke go on and on about "one true love" as he tried to convince him to do Noah's surgery, it was a nice change, and hot as hell.
*
In between board meetings, Luke decided to have a quick snack at Al's, and it was there that Noah cornered him.
"Hi Luke," Noah said, stopping by his table.
"Hi Noah," Luke said awkwardly. "How are you-"
"I need to talk to you," Noah spoke over the top of him. "What are you doing these days? Alison said she saw you out in public with a guy today, that it's the third one she's seen you."
Irritation flared through Luke. "Yeah. I was. I don't see how that's any of your business. Or Alison's," he added.
"Don't bring Ali into this," Noah snapped, the beginnings of a familiar sneer starting to take over his face.
"It's quite simple Noah," Luke sighed, wanting to nip this awkward conversation in the bud, "I don't need your judgement, and I don't need you telling me how to live my life. You did enough of that when we were together." It was bitchy, but it felt good to say it. "And to be honest, I don't particularly care what you think. See ya later."
Gathering his things up and preparing to leave, Luke spotted a hottie at the next table eyeing him. Winking at him as he walked past him and out the door, Luke smiled to himself when he heard footsteps behind him and turned to see the guy had followed him out, the promise of a good time in his eyes.
*
Neither of them noticed Reid, sitting in a booth and hiding behind a magazine as he stared after them like a lovesick fool.
*
No matter what Reid did or where he went, Luke was always on his mind, if not there in person.
Late one night after finishing his shift, Reid stumbled in to Yo's for a much-needed beer and came across Luke seated on a barstool next to a hot preppy blonde with shoulders that could rival Luke's own.
Reid turned on his heel and walked right back out the door, jealous to the bone.
*
"Luke, have you got a moment?" Lily asked as Luke walked out of Natalie's room after tucking her in bed for the night.
"Sure," Luke smiled at his mother.
Lily gestured at the couch and they both sat down, facing each other. Lily took a deep breath and smiled at him tightly. "Sweetie, I've noticed recently that you've been…acting differently."
"Well, there have been some changes in my life..."
"I know it's been a tough few weeks since you've broken up with Noah, and you must be upset and I'm just worried that you might be making decisions you'll regret-"
"I'm fine actually, mum. I'm working harder than ever and things are going well at the Foundation, and before you ask, I'm not drinking either."
"Yes, but Luke, I've heard things...that you've been...well, with other men you've been..." Lily trailed off, flushing.
Luke couldn't help but bristle. Obviously Noah had been mouthing off to his mother, although he had to admit he hadn't exactly been discreet himself. "Mum, I know what I'm doing and I'm okay."
"But this isn't like you Luke, you've always valued love and the importance of relationships, and you've always been so loyal to Noah-"
"I am loyal, Noah was the one who broke up with me mum, and I'm sick of all the back and forth with him. I just want my life back and live like I want and do what single people do."
"But to go out every night like this..."
"I'm just making up for lost time."
Lily frowned. "Luke, it's not right!"
"Excuse me? You and dad have done it, and let’s be honest, you still do it!" Lily widened her shoulders a little, looked defensive and opened her mouth to argue, but Luke beat her to the punch. "Don't judge me for something that I'm doing when it's not even wrong!”
Lily looked hurt. "Baby," she said, "I'm just worried about you."
"I understand that, mum," he said tightly, trying to control his temper, "and I appreciate it, but I'm not a kid anymore, so please don't treat me like one."
"Yes, but Luke-" Lily took a deep breath.
"I'm happy mum. For the first time in years I feel free, and i want to enjoy it. Is that so wrong?!"
"No, it's not-" Lily said shakily.
Lily looked hurt and Luke sighed, but refused to feel guilty. "I know you're only saying this because you care about me, but really, I'm okay, just trust me and let me live my own life."
"In other words, I should stop acting like my mother," Lily sighed, flushing. "I'm sorry baby," she said, reaching out and stroking his hair gently.
"It's okay mum. And can we please never, ever talk about my sex life again?" He begged.
Lily nodded vehemently.
Luke cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Well, I have to go," he said awkwardly.
"Me too," Lily smiled weakly.
"Uh, bye," Luke said, his voice high-pitched as he turned away and high-tailed it to Java where he was meeting Maddie for a late night catch-up.
*
Luke and his Foundation had organised a Christmas party at the hospital - wanting to make the kids feel some joy and distract them from their illnesses - and he had gone the whole hog, recruiting nurses, doctors and members from the community to help convert the children's floor into the North Pole. He had gotten the children to help decorate the large Christmas tree, write letters to Santa, and today at the party they were all lining up to sit on Santa's lap. And of course, he had donated a truckload of gifts for the entire department.
Reid wandered down to the floor, ostensibly to check on a paediatric neurology patient, but really to drool over Luke - why deny it?
Walking into the room he saw Luke standing near the tree, looking super-hot in a perfectly fitted shirt and suit pants, and a Santa hat on top of his messy hair.
Adorable.
Reid wasn't sure how long he stood there staring, but when he finally snapped out of his drooling daze, he realised Luke was talking to an attractive young man, also wearing a Santa hat and standing much too close to Luke for Reid's liking. They were laughing together and Reid scowled, rolling his eyes when the guy reached out and played with the white pompom on the Luke's hat, twirling it in his fingers. As the guy stepped closer still to Luke and kissed him, their bodies pressing against each other, Reid felt a queer feeling in his stomach as he wondered if this one might mean something more to Luke than just a fling. Feeling the urge to pulverise the guy, Reid watched as the guy slipped in the tongue, his hands sliding up and down the Luke's back while Luke rested his hands on the asshole's waist. All of a sudden there were hoots and hollers from a few of the older children and Luke and the guy broke their kiss and looked around. Luke was blushing prettily and Reid groaned and skulked away before Luke noticed him watching creepily.
He ended up at the food table, stuffing his face and slurping down eggnog, which he quickly learned that Hank had had a hand in spiking. Three cups in, Reid had convinced himself that it was a good idea to make a move on Luke, and when Luke, alone for once, walked up to the table and asked him how he was enjoying the party, Reid decided it was time to take the bull by the horns.
"Can I speak with you a moment in private, Mr Snyder?" He asked politely, and when Luke warily replied with a "yes," Reid quickly hustled him out of the room and into the closest exam room, kicking the door shut behind him and pressing Luke against the wall and slamming his lips against his in a hard kiss.
Luke's lips were soft, and Reid bit down on his lower lip, pulling at it gently right before he was unceremoniously pushed away.
"What the hell Dr Oliver, what are you doing?!"
"Ummm..." Reid stared at him dumbly, completely addled with lust and unable to come up with a single response.
"Are you drunk?" Luke asked suspiciously.
Reid shakes his head. "No," he whispered and leaned in and pressed his lips against Luke's again, but Luke placed his palms on Reid's chest and pushed him away once more, and Reid staggered a little, the intensity of the hurt that shot through him surprising even him.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Reid stayed silent, feeling like a fool, the rejection hitting him hard.
"What, you heard the rumours I'm a slut and thought you'd have a crack?" Luke accused, his face tight.
Luke!" Reid protested, shocked at Luke's outburst.
"What?! You don't even like me, and now you're suddenly cornering me in some room...is this some sort of game so that you can make a fool out of me?"
Reid stared at him, stung. "That's your opinion of me? I would never do that to you."
Luke's shoulders seemed to relax and he looked at him questioningly. "What's going on here, Dr Oliver?" He asked softly, looking confused, and Reid felt the pull towards Luke as strongly as ever.
And then his stupid fucking mouth took over. "Look, I think you're hot and I've been wanting to kiss you for ages. Can't a guy do that without being put to the Inquisition?"
Luke stared at him in shock, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open. "You've wanted to...what?"
Reid castigated himself for a fool, but it was way past the stage where he could take it back. It was time to raise the white flag and hope that Luke didn't crush him to pieces. "Don't make me say it twice Mr Snyder. I like you, you're cute and you're smart and you’re funny. How could I not like you?" He said, unable to make eye contact.
Luke flushed, blinking softly in that way he did that made Reid's stomach flip, and Reid had to momentarily close his eyes to stop himself from pressing Luke against the wall. He had already tried that, and failed. But the next thing he knew Luke was stepping close to him and cupping his neck and kissing him gently and Reid couldn't help but respond, Luke's lips soft and firm and warm and moist against his own.
*
For several seconds Luke's mind was blissfully blank as Reid kissed him, and then it went into overdrive. He could not believe Dr. Reid Oliver had just confessed that he liked him, and that he was kissing him at this very moment. And damn did it feel good. But just as Luke snuck his tongue into Reid's mouth, Reid pushed him away gently, hands resting on his shoulders.
"What is it?"' Luke asked softly.
"You can't give me what I want."
"What do you mean?" He asked, feeling a glimmer of insecurity awakening in his stomach.
Reid smiled at him ruefully. "You're young, you're having fun, but I want more than just this," he said, gesturing between the two of them."
Luke felt his chest leap, insecurity dying away. "Me too."
"No, you might think you do but you're young, you-"
Luke rolled his eyes. "You have no freaking idea how long I've wanted you Dr Oliver, I just never thought I stood a chance with you.
And sure, the last few weeks I've been messing around...I just wanted to try living a different life and I've realised that I can be whatever I want to be, that I don't have to take sex so seriously just because I have in the past and was with someone who also took it way too seriously. I want to feel free and I feel that way when I'm around you and..." Luke realised he was babbling, and cleared his throat, ignoring the smirk on Reid's face. "I didn't think we'd ever happen, otherwise I wouldn't have looked anywhere else. And I'd really like it if we could...you know..."
"Yes..?" Reid smirked. Luke glared at him, but laughed when Reid said softly, "I'd like that too," and kissed him again. The kiss was good, hot and wet and dirty and Luke already knew the sex was going to be fantastic, but he couldn't help but pull away just to tease Reid a little further.
"So, were you jealous?"
"No," Reid said quickly. Too quickly.
"You were!" Luke crowed.
Reid shook his head, running his hands up and down Luke's back in a way that was entirely too distracting. "What was with that nerd out there in the Santa hat? I mean, a dermatology registrar, really?"
"Well, it was slim pickings when I couldn't have the guy I wanted," Luke smirked.
"Good answer," Reid smirked and kissed him again, biting down hard on his lower lip and Luke grunted. Before Luke knew what was happening, Reid had somehow manoeuvred them both to the desk and pushed Luke flat on his back. He quickly moved down to suck Luke’s nipple through his shirt and gave it a quick nip with his teeth that sent waves of pleasure spiking through Luke's body. Then Reid moved back up his body and gave him a quick, hard kiss before growling in his ear, "hell yeah I was jealous," and Luke couldn't help but moan as he wrapped his legs around Reid's waist.
*
Reid had his face buried in Luke’s neck, sucking on his earlobe and grinding against him when Luke pushed him up a little. "The door," he warned half-laughing, half concerned.
Grudgingly, Reid stood up and ran a hand down Luke's chest before walking to the door and turning the lock. Turning back around, he was arrested by the sight of Luke splayed across the table looking thoroughly debauched, his hair a mess, his shirt unbuttoned and his legs parted wide as he watched Reid through dark, lust-filled eyes. Reid groaned and stalked towards him and straddled him, running his hand across Luke's chest and pushed his shirt back and off his shoulders and began laying biting kisses along his jaw and neck, sucking at the juncture of his neck and shoulder until Luke was writhing beneath him and breathing loudly in his ear.
Luke finally managed to wriggle out of his shirt and his hands came down to grip Reid's ass, squeezing it, and Reid licked his way to Luke's mouth and kissed him hard, the kiss quickly turning feral when Luke tangled a hand in Reid's hair and pulled their mouths closer together.
So lost were they in each other that it was not until they heard a gasp that they realised they were not alone. Both of their heads whipped around to the source of the sound.
Maddie.
"Oh my god Luke, do you ever stop?" she smirked, standing in the doorway.
"I thought you locked the door!" Luke screeched, glaring at Reid and trying to push him away off his lap, his face beetroot red.
"I thought I did," Reid protested calmly, still straddling Luke and making no move to climb off his lap, his hands resting on Luke's waist. "You can watch if you want," he added, looking at Maddie, who grinned.
"This one's a keeper, Luke," she smirked, and Luke blushed deeper still.
"I can't believe you're still capable of blushing after everything you've gotten up to over the last month," Reid observed teasingly, and Luke shoved Reid in the shoulder as Maddie laughed in the background.
"Have a good night boys," she said with a huge shit-eating grin, and disappeared, shutting the door behind her.
The End