Orange Pt 2 - FFF - I wasn't ready, Pt 3 of the Experts-universe
Title: Orange
author: scotianova
warning: sexual content (mild), not revised
Pt. 2
The following weekend they sat on a blanket under their favorite tree in Central Park. Luke was leaning against the trunk, reading a book and Reid - well he’d intended to look through some medical journals but then he bedded his head in Luke’s lap and it wasn’t long before he dozed off with Luke absentmindedly stroking his hair in a slow, steady rhythm with his free hand.
Luke looked down on the peaceful and relaxed features. They were together only six months yet it felt as if they’d known each other their entire lives. Well, Reid hadn’t said that he loved him so far, but Luke had never felt more loved than with him. And look at his gorgeous lover now, feeling comfortable lying in his lap sound asleep.
Luke bent back and rested his own head against the tree, closing his eyes he wondered where the path of life might carry them. The age difference didn’t matter - Reid was 8 years older, so what, if they were lucky they had decades to grow old together.
Startling Luke realized he’d taken a nap either when he felt something or someone shadowing their little resort.
Looking up he found a man at his age shyly smiling down at them. Unconsciously Luke shielded Reid’s face with his big right hand.
“Sorry I haven’t notice he’s asleep!” Edvard Simonides, son of a Norwegian mother and a Greek father and the man who’d broken Reid’s heart, whispered as if that would explain anything.
Luke would recognize him everywhere, just as Reid would recognize Noah Mayer, since they’d looked their Exes up on the internet together. “I am so happy that your ex was stupid enough to send you packing!” “Same here!” Reid had answered and kissed him passionately.
“I’ve spotted you - the both of you - a few times and never had the guts to say ‘hello’- but … I don’t know…it seems childish, you know to pretend I hadn’t seen you… I’m Edvard Simonides btw.”
It wasn’t often that Luke was speechless - but he was now.
The last time he and Reid had Googled him he’d moved to Seattle.
Being a doctor Reid slept almost everywhere - come what may. But Luke wondered how he’d be able to block out what was just happening.
“Reid and I…well we were an item… a while ago.” The guy added unnecessarily, maybe he believed Luke wouldn’t know who he was.
What a weird situation. Ignoring him was childish, but what was he supposed to answer?
Therefore Luke only nodded and knitted his brows. That he was forced to look up wasn’t anything he liked at all. All this felt like an ambush!
As if he could read Luke’s mind the obtrusive guy sat down beside them and kept trying to catch a glimpse of Reid. Luke had never been happier about having big hands and wouldn’t dream of moving his hand away that was still protecting Reid’s face from unwanted and nosy strange eyes.
Closing his eyes Luke wondered if Edvard Simonides might disappear if he continued to pretend he wasn’t sitting next to them but the moment he decided to finally open his mouth Reid stirred and uttered something unintelligible, shifted on his side and buried his face in Luke’s stomach.
“Reid...Reid! Hey, wake up - please…we’ve a visitor.”
Reid grunted and refused to be disturbed.
Why on earth didn’t Edvard Whoever get the hint and go away?
Luke bent down and gently nudged the tip of Reid’s nose.
“Reid, please wake up! Your ex is sitting beside us!”
Reid started up from his sleep and Luke’s heart flinched witnessing his sweetheart’s confusion.
“Hi Reid!” Edvard smiled - warmly, in a very charming way.
In an instant Reid sat up and looked Luke in the eye.
“Sorry that I am interrupting but…” Simonides pretended to be sorry.
“What do you want?” Reid asked huskily, eventually looking at the new arrival.
“I’ve moved to New York - a few weeks ago. I think it was in May… when I spotted the two of you at a restaurant having dinner. Well, you two looked familiar with each other but it wasn’t necessarily ‘clear’ if you were a couple. So I went to the hospital - wanting to talk to you, Reid, but when I finally braced up knocking at the door of your office you strolled along and I baked off.” Edvard Simonides turned his face to Luke now. He actually had an open, admittedly friendly face.
“Then you showed up at ‘Avra’s` - you couldn’t know that my father has bought it up, Reid. But I’m happy you haven’t forsworn your gusto for ‘Stifado’ because of me.” With that the man with that wild-honey thick hair and those huge dark brown eyes smiled and Luke understood Reid’s comment when they met for the first time. Edvard Simonides and he himself did resemble each other. Not as alike as two peers in the pot though. Edvard S. was smaller than Luke, fine-boned, stylish, and while he himself always had preserved his farm boy-charm in a good way, Edvard was radiating urbanity. When Luke showed up somewhere for the first time people didn’t instantly diagnose “wealth” but they probably did meeting Edvard S.: Prada-shoes, True Religion jeans, Prada-shirt... Luke wondered if Reid ever had noticed that stuff - probably not.
“Anyway…when I detected you today I thought it was worth to take the risk getting clocked and approach you.”
“What do you want, Edvard?” Reid repeated.
“Talk…Say, that I am sorry…”
“You already apologized - years ago - remember?”
“Yeah, but I’ve changed, you know, I do realize how badly I behaved, sending mixed messages…and all that and I get that you felt led on - by me.”
“Good, a fault confessed is half redressed…apology accepted and now you can move on.”
With that Reid dismissed him and fortunately Edvard S. took the hint, stood up and left.
It was obviously that he wanted to say another thing but he seemed to change his mind, nodded towards Luke and murmured: “Goodbye, Reid!...It was nice to meet you…?”
“Luke - I’m Luke.” The addressee added and smiled - somehow he felt bad for the guy although he was relieved he finally waltzed off.
“That was…weird…!” He snorted realizing Reid was compressing his lips.
“I didn’t know that his father is reaching out for New York - so far he concentrated his business on the West coast. I wouldn’t have schlepped you to ‘Avra’s’ if I had known". Reid apologized.
“Reid - such things happen - it won’t bother me if it doesn’t upset you!”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah - come here, Reid.”
“Come here” was a paraphrase for ‘kiss me’ and who was Reid to resist?
However something changed after Edvard’s sudden appearance. They didn’t feel comfortable sitting under their tree anymore, the place felt profaned somehow. Maybe feeling like that was childish, how could anyone desecrate a genuinely profane place? Only for them it wasn’t just an ordinary spot - it was their little haven outside their home. Both had always wanted that - being with someone, exclusively, openly, displaying their mutual affection whenever and wherever they wanted.
“We’ll find another place.” Luke whispered, grabbing Reid’s hand even tighter while the headed home.
“Trust me, meeting Noah would have been weirder!” Luke suddenly chuckled.
“Why?”
“At least your Ex-Eddie is friendly. Noah is not friendly. And although he didn’t want me he didn’t want anyone else to want me either.”
“What?”
“Yeah -it is like: If I am not comfortable with sexuality nobody else should be - at least when it comes to men having sex with men.”
“Maybe you should have him compulsory hospitalized.” Reid grunted.
Despitethey were both chuckling now they couldn’t ignore sadness settling between them - for that there was only one single cure.
Closing the door behind them they started eating each other alive. They didn’t even make it to their bedroom, instead they rolled around the fortunately soft, thick carpet of the living area.
Cupping Luke’s face fiercely Reid looked him in the eye an unmistakable urgency pushing him.
“I love you, Luke. I love you very much, you do know that, right?”
“I do!” Luke smiled and captured Reid’s lips for a kiss.
Luke was honest, he’d known but he also had known, that Reid hadn’t been ready to say it. And if it had taken Edvard Simonides to show up to day and say what he believed he had to say - although neither he nor Reid had been in need of hearing it - so what?
Luke wasn’t an insecure boy anymore and meeting and living with his pragmatic lover was the most romantic thing he’d ever experienced.
Tomorrow they would find another magic spot somewhere in Central Park.
And in a week or maybe two weeks he would drag Reid into “Avra’s” again. If Reid loved that overcooked stew he should have it - the entire Simonides clan aside.
“And you, you my orange flip-flops wearing weirdo - you have no idea how much I love you!”
author: scotianova
warning: sexual content (mild), not revised
Pt. 2
The following weekend they sat on a blanket under their favorite tree in Central Park. Luke was leaning against the trunk, reading a book and Reid - well he’d intended to look through some medical journals but then he bedded his head in Luke’s lap and it wasn’t long before he dozed off with Luke absentmindedly stroking his hair in a slow, steady rhythm with his free hand.
Luke looked down on the peaceful and relaxed features. They were together only six months yet it felt as if they’d known each other their entire lives. Well, Reid hadn’t said that he loved him so far, but Luke had never felt more loved than with him. And look at his gorgeous lover now, feeling comfortable lying in his lap sound asleep.
Luke bent back and rested his own head against the tree, closing his eyes he wondered where the path of life might carry them. The age difference didn’t matter - Reid was 8 years older, so what, if they were lucky they had decades to grow old together.
Startling Luke realized he’d taken a nap either when he felt something or someone shadowing their little resort.
Looking up he found a man at his age shyly smiling down at them. Unconsciously Luke shielded Reid’s face with his big right hand.
“Sorry I haven’t notice he’s asleep!” Edvard Simonides, son of a Norwegian mother and a Greek father and the man who’d broken Reid’s heart, whispered as if that would explain anything.
Luke would recognize him everywhere, just as Reid would recognize Noah Mayer, since they’d looked their Exes up on the internet together. “I am so happy that your ex was stupid enough to send you packing!” “Same here!” Reid had answered and kissed him passionately.
“I’ve spotted you - the both of you - a few times and never had the guts to say ‘hello’- but … I don’t know…it seems childish, you know to pretend I hadn’t seen you… I’m Edvard Simonides btw.”
It wasn’t often that Luke was speechless - but he was now.
The last time he and Reid had Googled him he’d moved to Seattle.
Being a doctor Reid slept almost everywhere - come what may. But Luke wondered how he’d be able to block out what was just happening.
“Reid and I…well we were an item… a while ago.” The guy added unnecessarily, maybe he believed Luke wouldn’t know who he was.
What a weird situation. Ignoring him was childish, but what was he supposed to answer?
Therefore Luke only nodded and knitted his brows. That he was forced to look up wasn’t anything he liked at all. All this felt like an ambush!
As if he could read Luke’s mind the obtrusive guy sat down beside them and kept trying to catch a glimpse of Reid. Luke had never been happier about having big hands and wouldn’t dream of moving his hand away that was still protecting Reid’s face from unwanted and nosy strange eyes.
Closing his eyes Luke wondered if Edvard Simonides might disappear if he continued to pretend he wasn’t sitting next to them but the moment he decided to finally open his mouth Reid stirred and uttered something unintelligible, shifted on his side and buried his face in Luke’s stomach.
“Reid...Reid! Hey, wake up - please…we’ve a visitor.”
Reid grunted and refused to be disturbed.
Why on earth didn’t Edvard Whoever get the hint and go away?
Luke bent down and gently nudged the tip of Reid’s nose.
“Reid, please wake up! Your ex is sitting beside us!”
Reid started up from his sleep and Luke’s heart flinched witnessing his sweetheart’s confusion.
“Hi Reid!” Edvard smiled - warmly, in a very charming way.
In an instant Reid sat up and looked Luke in the eye.
“Sorry that I am interrupting but…” Simonides pretended to be sorry.
“What do you want?” Reid asked huskily, eventually looking at the new arrival.
“I’ve moved to New York - a few weeks ago. I think it was in May… when I spotted the two of you at a restaurant having dinner. Well, you two looked familiar with each other but it wasn’t necessarily ‘clear’ if you were a couple. So I went to the hospital - wanting to talk to you, Reid, but when I finally braced up knocking at the door of your office you strolled along and I baked off.” Edvard Simonides turned his face to Luke now. He actually had an open, admittedly friendly face.
“Then you showed up at ‘Avra’s` - you couldn’t know that my father has bought it up, Reid. But I’m happy you haven’t forsworn your gusto for ‘Stifado’ because of me.” With that the man with that wild-honey thick hair and those huge dark brown eyes smiled and Luke understood Reid’s comment when they met for the first time. Edvard Simonides and he himself did resemble each other. Not as alike as two peers in the pot though. Edvard S. was smaller than Luke, fine-boned, stylish, and while he himself always had preserved his farm boy-charm in a good way, Edvard was radiating urbanity. When Luke showed up somewhere for the first time people didn’t instantly diagnose “wealth” but they probably did meeting Edvard S.: Prada-shoes, True Religion jeans, Prada-shirt... Luke wondered if Reid ever had noticed that stuff - probably not.
“Anyway…when I detected you today I thought it was worth to take the risk getting clocked and approach you.”
“What do you want, Edvard?” Reid repeated.
“Talk…Say, that I am sorry…”
“You already apologized - years ago - remember?”
“Yeah, but I’ve changed, you know, I do realize how badly I behaved, sending mixed messages…and all that and I get that you felt led on - by me.”
“Good, a fault confessed is half redressed…apology accepted and now you can move on.”
With that Reid dismissed him and fortunately Edvard S. took the hint, stood up and left.
It was obviously that he wanted to say another thing but he seemed to change his mind, nodded towards Luke and murmured: “Goodbye, Reid!...It was nice to meet you…?”
“Luke - I’m Luke.” The addressee added and smiled - somehow he felt bad for the guy although he was relieved he finally waltzed off.
“That was…weird…!” He snorted realizing Reid was compressing his lips.
“I didn’t know that his father is reaching out for New York - so far he concentrated his business on the West coast. I wouldn’t have schlepped you to ‘Avra’s’ if I had known". Reid apologized.
“Reid - such things happen - it won’t bother me if it doesn’t upset you!”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah - come here, Reid.”
“Come here” was a paraphrase for ‘kiss me’ and who was Reid to resist?
However something changed after Edvard’s sudden appearance. They didn’t feel comfortable sitting under their tree anymore, the place felt profaned somehow. Maybe feeling like that was childish, how could anyone desecrate a genuinely profane place? Only for them it wasn’t just an ordinary spot - it was their little haven outside their home. Both had always wanted that - being with someone, exclusively, openly, displaying their mutual affection whenever and wherever they wanted.
“We’ll find another place.” Luke whispered, grabbing Reid’s hand even tighter while the headed home.
“Trust me, meeting Noah would have been weirder!” Luke suddenly chuckled.
“Why?”
“At least your Ex-Eddie is friendly. Noah is not friendly. And although he didn’t want me he didn’t want anyone else to want me either.”
“What?”
“Yeah -it is like: If I am not comfortable with sexuality nobody else should be - at least when it comes to men having sex with men.”
“Maybe you should have him compulsory hospitalized.” Reid grunted.
Despitethey were both chuckling now they couldn’t ignore sadness settling between them - for that there was only one single cure.
Closing the door behind them they started eating each other alive. They didn’t even make it to their bedroom, instead they rolled around the fortunately soft, thick carpet of the living area.
Cupping Luke’s face fiercely Reid looked him in the eye an unmistakable urgency pushing him.
“I love you, Luke. I love you very much, you do know that, right?”
“I do!” Luke smiled and captured Reid’s lips for a kiss.
Luke was honest, he’d known but he also had known, that Reid hadn’t been ready to say it. And if it had taken Edvard Simonides to show up to day and say what he believed he had to say - although neither he nor Reid had been in need of hearing it - so what?
Luke wasn’t an insecure boy anymore and meeting and living with his pragmatic lover was the most romantic thing he’d ever experienced.
Tomorrow they would find another magic spot somewhere in Central Park.
And in a week or maybe two weeks he would drag Reid into “Avra’s” again. If Reid loved that overcooked stew he should have it - the entire Simonides clan aside.
“And you, you my orange flip-flops wearing weirdo - you have no idea how much I love you!”