"Triangle" - Chapter 2
This is an AU where Luke, Reid, and Noah are all about the same age and all live in New York City. Luke has no kidney problems in this fic - he drinks quite happily. Noah is not really the Noah of canon - he is how I wish he had been written. And thus, this story is my version of a true 'triangle.' Hope if you read it you enjoy it!
Luke/Reid, Reid/Noah (you've been warned BBs)
Chapter 1
Noah and Reid had worked together for almost a year, ever since Reid switched from Manny's down the road to Axel's. Despite Reid's private nature, Noah knew a few things about him. Reid had no family; his parents were dead and he had no siblings. He'd come to New York from Boston a few years ago for pre-med and basically kept to himself a lot, mostly because he was studying whenever he wasn't working. Noah had gotten him to stay after work for a drink a few times (this was how he knew anything about Reid's personal life), and somehow felt protective of him. Reid was a great guy, funny, intense, unique, but a little socially awkward at times, like he's been kept locked away from life somehow. This impression bothered Noah and so he felt protective. And, truth be told, once in a while, in the middle of the night when Noah and whatever girl he was with at the time were sharing his bed, and he couldn't sleep, he would invariably find himself imagining what it would feel like to lean down and kiss Reid. He would feel his cock start to stiffen and eventually try to change the subject in his mind. Who knows where these type of thoughts came from. No one was going to find out about them anyhow, especially not Reid. Noah was straight. Goddamn, he could practically have any woman he wanted. His interest here was just in making sure that a player like Luke didn't do a number on Reid.
During his Saturday shift Reid stopped by the bar for a moment to get himself a soda to take in back.
Noah saw him going for a glass and walked over quickly. "Here, let me. What would you like?”
“Oh, thanks, Noah." Reid smiled at him. "Just a Diet Coke with some lime.”
“Coming right up there, sir. So, you give any thought to what I told you the other day?” he said as he cut into a fresh lime.
Reid scrunched up his face in irritation. “You mean about Luke? I told you, he's not that bad of a guy under all the bravado.”
It was Noah's turn to make a face now. He stepped closer and set Reid's drink in front of him. “You know, he made a play on me when he first came in that night.”
Reid's face registered shock for a moment. Then he glared at Noah. “So what's new? Who doesn't make a play on you!”
Noah opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. He was rather surprised that Reid had formed such an opinion of him. He was also secretly a little aroused.
Reid was still giving him a baleful look. “Why are you telling me this, Noah?”
Noah now looked irritated as well. “I don't know. I guess maybe I cared.” He shrugged and walked away.
Reid watched him go for a moment, took a long sip of his drink and headed back to the kitchen.
Mel had a crush on Noah. Everyone at Axel's knew that. She was older than him and married but that just didn't seem to be a factor. So when he started pouring his heart out to her later that night during a lull she was all ears. Mel had seen Luke and his crew the other night (she thought Luke and Casey were really cute) and so knew who they were.
Noah and Mel had their heads together at one end of the bar. Noah was dissing Luke.
“Man, I know it's none of my business, but I don't get why a great guy like Reid would let himself be taken in by a jerk-off like Luke.”
“I don't know, Luke was pretty damn cute.”
Noah scoffed.
“Please, the guy's a player. He was all over me the first minute he walked in here for Christ's sake.”
“Really? Damn. How'd I miss that!” Mel laughed. “What'd you do?”
“Blew him off.”
She smiled up at Noah adoringly. “Well, at least he has good taste.”
Noah grimaced. “Huh! I wish he would just get lost. Oh, well, I'd better get back to work.”
An hour later Luke walked into Axel's. He was actually early. He supposed he was just overeager to start his date with Reid. The first person he happened to see was Noah. Who looked right through him and walked away, disappearing behind a door to a storeroom or something. Whatever, Luke thought. The next person to make eye contact with him was a server, a woman. “Can I help you? Oh, I'm just here to pick up Reid.”
“Oh, you mean one of our servers? That Reid?”
“Yeah, him.”
“You know, I don't think he's working tonight,” she said rather casually. In reality Mel knew that the manager had sent Reid across the street a couple of minutes ago to trade some kitchen supplies with the restaurant there - a somewhat shady agreement but not that out of the ordinary. He would be back soon.
“Are you sure?” Luke looked crestfallen.
“Um, I'm pretty sure.” Seeing Luke's face made Mel felt a little bad for lying. She had impulsively thought this would earn her points with Noah but now she wished she had just kept her mouth shut. “Who knows, maybe he's here and I'm just high!” She hurried off.
Luke looked around. He didn't see Reid anywhere. He stood there for another couple of minutes. He finally walked back outside the restaurant and went down the sidewalk a little bit, checking his phone. No calls. He tried to call Reid (he had gotten his cell the other night). No answer. Luke didn't leave a message. He turned away and walked further down the sidewalk. He didn't notice Reid behind him hurrying back across the street with a couple of boxes in his arms. Luke walked back to his sedan and drove to Reid's place. He parked illegally and walked down the stairs to the door and knocked. No one answered.
Luke felt irate and hurt. Could Reid have forgotten? Had something happened? Luke dithered as to whether to call Reid again or not. The idea of leaving an angry rant or a pitiful plea for an apology was not appealing. Luke finally just called Casey and found out what club he and the guys were in, made some excuse as to why he was going to join them. He wondered if he would hear from Reid later or in the morning.
Reid got his stuff together and went out to sit at the bar and wait for Luke. Which it occurred to him could be seen as rather insensitive towards Noah considering his opinion of Luke. Oh well, Reid told himself, Noah will just have to get over it. What does he care anyhow? I don't flame him for some of the bimbos I've seen hanging on him in the past. Not that Luke is a bimbo, but he's certainly not who I'd expect to normally date. He wondered what it was that was drawing him to Luke. Maybe it was his outgoing nature. Oh well, Reid dropped the subject in his mind. Why am I psychoanalyzing myself anyhow?
Just at that moment Noah came up and crossed his arms on the bar counter in front of Reid. “Hey there, handsome, what can I get you?”
Reid laughed, blushing a little. “So we're still friends?”
Noah smiled. “Yep. We're still friends. Really, do you want something while you wait for Luke?”
“How'd you know, and yes, I'll have a scotch.”
“You changed into a different shirt and jacket, and you look a little fresh scrubbed. I've been there myself many times, man! Plus,” he admitted, “I saw Luke here a few minutes ago.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, he was over there, just standing around, but then I think he left.”
“That's strange.” Reid reached for his cell phone. It wasn’t in his jacket pocket. “Damn. I think I left my cell at home! I never do that. Stupid! I'll bet he called or something.” He paused. “I'd ask to use your phone but I don't know his number.”
“Hmm,” Noah said noncommittally. “When was he supposed to meet you?”
“11:00.” It was 11:10 now.
“Well maybe he'll show up in a few minutes. I’ve got to wrap a few things up before I’m outta here, but good luck!”
“Thanks,” Reid said, trying not to appear glum.
Reid sat and sat there and finally started to feel stupid. Why he had forgotten to bring his cell was beyond him but he still was feeling a little irritated. Why would Luke come here and then leave? Something must have come up. Or, it occurred to him, maybe he just found a better opportunity. Reid finally decided he would just head home. If there was some sort of explanation in the form of a voice mail or Luke was there waiting for him then it would be cleared up, and if not, well then, better to know right now that the guy was the flake Reid had feared he might be. Reid grabbed his jacket and backpack and headed out the door. He had just set foot onto the sidewalk outside (with no sign of Luke - he checked) when he heard a voice right behind him.
“Hey, which way you walking?” It was Noah, also obviously off for the night.
Luke/Reid, Reid/Noah (you've been warned BBs)
Chapter 1
Noah and Reid had worked together for almost a year, ever since Reid switched from Manny's down the road to Axel's. Despite Reid's private nature, Noah knew a few things about him. Reid had no family; his parents were dead and he had no siblings. He'd come to New York from Boston a few years ago for pre-med and basically kept to himself a lot, mostly because he was studying whenever he wasn't working. Noah had gotten him to stay after work for a drink a few times (this was how he knew anything about Reid's personal life), and somehow felt protective of him. Reid was a great guy, funny, intense, unique, but a little socially awkward at times, like he's been kept locked away from life somehow. This impression bothered Noah and so he felt protective. And, truth be told, once in a while, in the middle of the night when Noah and whatever girl he was with at the time were sharing his bed, and he couldn't sleep, he would invariably find himself imagining what it would feel like to lean down and kiss Reid. He would feel his cock start to stiffen and eventually try to change the subject in his mind. Who knows where these type of thoughts came from. No one was going to find out about them anyhow, especially not Reid. Noah was straight. Goddamn, he could practically have any woman he wanted. His interest here was just in making sure that a player like Luke didn't do a number on Reid.
During his Saturday shift Reid stopped by the bar for a moment to get himself a soda to take in back.
Noah saw him going for a glass and walked over quickly. "Here, let me. What would you like?”
“Oh, thanks, Noah." Reid smiled at him. "Just a Diet Coke with some lime.”
“Coming right up there, sir. So, you give any thought to what I told you the other day?” he said as he cut into a fresh lime.
Reid scrunched up his face in irritation. “You mean about Luke? I told you, he's not that bad of a guy under all the bravado.”
It was Noah's turn to make a face now. He stepped closer and set Reid's drink in front of him. “You know, he made a play on me when he first came in that night.”
Reid's face registered shock for a moment. Then he glared at Noah. “So what's new? Who doesn't make a play on you!”
Noah opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. He was rather surprised that Reid had formed such an opinion of him. He was also secretly a little aroused.
Reid was still giving him a baleful look. “Why are you telling me this, Noah?”
Noah now looked irritated as well. “I don't know. I guess maybe I cared.” He shrugged and walked away.
Reid watched him go for a moment, took a long sip of his drink and headed back to the kitchen.
Mel had a crush on Noah. Everyone at Axel's knew that. She was older than him and married but that just didn't seem to be a factor. So when he started pouring his heart out to her later that night during a lull she was all ears. Mel had seen Luke and his crew the other night (she thought Luke and Casey were really cute) and so knew who they were.
Noah and Mel had their heads together at one end of the bar. Noah was dissing Luke.
“Man, I know it's none of my business, but I don't get why a great guy like Reid would let himself be taken in by a jerk-off like Luke.”
“I don't know, Luke was pretty damn cute.”
Noah scoffed.
“Please, the guy's a player. He was all over me the first minute he walked in here for Christ's sake.”
“Really? Damn. How'd I miss that!” Mel laughed. “What'd you do?”
“Blew him off.”
She smiled up at Noah adoringly. “Well, at least he has good taste.”
Noah grimaced. “Huh! I wish he would just get lost. Oh, well, I'd better get back to work.”
An hour later Luke walked into Axel's. He was actually early. He supposed he was just overeager to start his date with Reid. The first person he happened to see was Noah. Who looked right through him and walked away, disappearing behind a door to a storeroom or something. Whatever, Luke thought. The next person to make eye contact with him was a server, a woman. “Can I help you? Oh, I'm just here to pick up Reid.”
“Oh, you mean one of our servers? That Reid?”
“Yeah, him.”
“You know, I don't think he's working tonight,” she said rather casually. In reality Mel knew that the manager had sent Reid across the street a couple of minutes ago to trade some kitchen supplies with the restaurant there - a somewhat shady agreement but not that out of the ordinary. He would be back soon.
“Are you sure?” Luke looked crestfallen.
“Um, I'm pretty sure.” Seeing Luke's face made Mel felt a little bad for lying. She had impulsively thought this would earn her points with Noah but now she wished she had just kept her mouth shut. “Who knows, maybe he's here and I'm just high!” She hurried off.
Luke looked around. He didn't see Reid anywhere. He stood there for another couple of minutes. He finally walked back outside the restaurant and went down the sidewalk a little bit, checking his phone. No calls. He tried to call Reid (he had gotten his cell the other night). No answer. Luke didn't leave a message. He turned away and walked further down the sidewalk. He didn't notice Reid behind him hurrying back across the street with a couple of boxes in his arms. Luke walked back to his sedan and drove to Reid's place. He parked illegally and walked down the stairs to the door and knocked. No one answered.
Luke felt irate and hurt. Could Reid have forgotten? Had something happened? Luke dithered as to whether to call Reid again or not. The idea of leaving an angry rant or a pitiful plea for an apology was not appealing. Luke finally just called Casey and found out what club he and the guys were in, made some excuse as to why he was going to join them. He wondered if he would hear from Reid later or in the morning.
Reid got his stuff together and went out to sit at the bar and wait for Luke. Which it occurred to him could be seen as rather insensitive towards Noah considering his opinion of Luke. Oh well, Reid told himself, Noah will just have to get over it. What does he care anyhow? I don't flame him for some of the bimbos I've seen hanging on him in the past. Not that Luke is a bimbo, but he's certainly not who I'd expect to normally date. He wondered what it was that was drawing him to Luke. Maybe it was his outgoing nature. Oh well, Reid dropped the subject in his mind. Why am I psychoanalyzing myself anyhow?
Just at that moment Noah came up and crossed his arms on the bar counter in front of Reid. “Hey there, handsome, what can I get you?”
Reid laughed, blushing a little. “So we're still friends?”
Noah smiled. “Yep. We're still friends. Really, do you want something while you wait for Luke?”
“How'd you know, and yes, I'll have a scotch.”
“You changed into a different shirt and jacket, and you look a little fresh scrubbed. I've been there myself many times, man! Plus,” he admitted, “I saw Luke here a few minutes ago.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, he was over there, just standing around, but then I think he left.”
“That's strange.” Reid reached for his cell phone. It wasn’t in his jacket pocket. “Damn. I think I left my cell at home! I never do that. Stupid! I'll bet he called or something.” He paused. “I'd ask to use your phone but I don't know his number.”
“Hmm,” Noah said noncommittally. “When was he supposed to meet you?”
“11:00.” It was 11:10 now.
“Well maybe he'll show up in a few minutes. I’ve got to wrap a few things up before I’m outta here, but good luck!”
“Thanks,” Reid said, trying not to appear glum.
Reid sat and sat there and finally started to feel stupid. Why he had forgotten to bring his cell was beyond him but he still was feeling a little irritated. Why would Luke come here and then leave? Something must have come up. Or, it occurred to him, maybe he just found a better opportunity. Reid finally decided he would just head home. If there was some sort of explanation in the form of a voice mail or Luke was there waiting for him then it would be cleared up, and if not, well then, better to know right now that the guy was the flake Reid had feared he might be. Reid grabbed his jacket and backpack and headed out the door. He had just set foot onto the sidewalk outside (with no sign of Luke - he checked) when he heard a voice right behind him.
“Hey, which way you walking?” It was Noah, also obviously off for the night.