"Triangle" - Chapter 1
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!
Axel's. Luke hadn't been in this particular establishment before, but his posse said it was good, so in they went. He knew he hadn't gone wrong when he saw the bartender behind the counter. Tall, dark and drop-dead handsome. Luke eventually made his way over and flashed the guy a smile. He received an easy one back.
"What can I get you?"
"Gin and tonic. And five more for that table over there."
The bartender looked past him to the table where Luke's friends were already gathered. "Be right up."
"So, this place seems pretty hopping."
"It's been like that for a few years now."
"You've been working here all of that time?"
"Just the last two." The bartender looked evenly at Luke. "That'll be 66 even."
Luke pulled a crisp 100 dollar bill out of his wallet and laid it in front of the other man. "You can have the rest if you tell me your name," he said with a wink.
"Oh," he said coolly back, "you don't have to do that. A normal tip will do. The name is Noah, but I wouldn't want to lead you down the wrong path, I'm straight." He smiled again.
Luke stiffened just a little. "OK then, Noah, thanks for the information." He gathered a couple of the drinks. "I'll be back in a moment to get the rest. You can still keep that," he glanced towards the bill sitting in front of Noah.
Noah shrugged and took it with a smile. "Thanks!" He walked gracefully away to tend to some other customers.
When Luke had all of his friends drink-laden he joined them. He was easily the best looking and best dressed of the group, although none of them were hard on the eyes. And he was the most confident and cocky of the bunch. Plus he was rich, very rich. So it was easy to see why he had a posse of sorts. He led and they followed. He paid and they consumed. And he found the hottest guy in whatever bar or club they were in and those of his friends who were gay got the hand off when he was sick of said guy. Luke liked it this way - he liked it very much. So he was a little annoyed when he got back to the table.
"What's up, Luke, you look like a kid who lost his favorite plaything." Casey had a good laugh and a goofy smile and was everyone's favorite guy to party with. He actually wasn't gay or at least said so but he certainly didn't seem to mind when Luke wanted to go to gay establishments nor the fact that most of the posse was gay.
"Uggh, nothing, just that that gorgeous piece of ass over there seems to be straight as they come, and I've definitely given up the idea that I'm going to change anyone over." They all smiled.
"Good plan, Luke! Don't worry though," Chris piped in, "this place is filling up, and besides, we're on to an after party by midnight, so I think we're guaranteed of a good time tonight!" They all toasted that.
The place was getting more crowded, and so it was actually difficult for the waiter to get through by the time he made his way to their table. He was tall and nicely built, although not as tall as the bartender, elegant looking, a square jaw, auburn hair, and the most beautiful eyes Luke thought he had ever seen on a man. He had on a dark oxford, black pants, and a long white apron tied around his waist. It very nicely showed off his trim, sexy figure. Any disappointment over Noah went racing right out of Luke's head.
"Good evening gentlemen, my name is Reid, and I'll be your server tonight."
"I hope so!" Giles, another member of the posse, called out. Luke noticed that Reid seemed to ignore the comment. This wasn't known to be a gay bar but the neighborhood was gay-friendly enough that the staff here probably got hit on constantly.
"Our specials are listed on the chalkboard over there," Reid gestured towards the wall, "and I am especially recommending the swordfish tonight. I can give you a few minutes more to look at the menus, or are you ready to order?"
"Oh, I had a question." Luke beckoned with his fingers. Reid looked over at him with his piercing blue eyes and just for a moment, Luke thought he felt a connection between them.
Then Reid smiled a little blandly. "Of course." He walked around the table partway and stood next to Luke. "Yes, what can I..." at that Reid stopped talking and spun towards Riley to his right. "Get your hand off of me, right now," he said in a low but firm voice.
Riley leered up at him a little. "You sure, hon?"
Luke felt his own blood boil. Riley was definitely not going to be included in their next outing.
"Oh I am definitely sure."
Riley smugly removed his hand from the back of Reid's thigh and took a sip of his drink. Luke shot him a very dirty look.
"Sorry about my friend," Luke purred. "I think he's been imbibing a bit too much tonight."
Reid looked down at him. "Comes with the territory. What can I help you with?"
Luke frowned a little. He had hoped this guy would engage a little. "How's the steak?"
"Excellent."
"Really?"
"Yes, really." This redhead had spunk. Luke liked it.
"OK, um, Reid, I'll have that."
"Very good."
Reid collected the rest of their orders and pushed his way back towards the kitchen.
Luke looked around the table with a rather self-satisfied smile. "Mine, gentlemen."
Casey shook his head. "I don't know Luke, this might be your second strike out tonight. He doesn't seem too interested. You're losing your touch man!" Casey could get away with saying this sort of thing to Luke without being cut off from the gravy train. The nervous laughter of the others showed that their status was not so solid.
"We'll see, Case."
But Luke was encouraged by the way that Reid leaned into him when he set Luke's meal down in front of him. And later, when Reid refilled Riley's water, how he managed to press a little into Luke's body, although maybe he was just doing this to escape being groped again. Either way the feeling of Reid against him sent a shiver of desire up Luke's spine. He had to figure out a way to get this guy in bed. He was sure he was gay, he just had to be.
Luke called Reid over again the next time he checked on their table. "So, that your boyfriend over there?"
Reid looked a little flustered. "What?" He looked over in the direction Luke was pointing, which was directly at Noah. "Uh, no. He's straight."
"That so?"
"Why?"
"I saw you talking to him a few minutes ago. That's all. Don't know if I like the way he was looking at you." Which was actually kind of true. Although Noah had said he was not gay, he could have fooled Luke considering the way that Noah looked at Reid and seemed to laugh at whatever he had to say.
"No, he's straight, quite straight."
"And you?"
"Why are you asking?"
"Why do you think?"
"I have to get back to the kitchen."
"C'mon!"
Reid looked at him carefully.
"I guess we'll see if you're still here two hours from now, because that's when I get off."
"Count on it!"
Luke was true to his word. He ditched the guys and the after party. They were all bummed that Luke wasn't going with them, but knew better than to fight him on it. He sat alone at the table, sipping occasionally on what was his third gin and tonic of the night. The place was winding down, and he hadn't seen Reid for awhile. The last time he had Reid had given him an odd look, like he really couldn't believe Luke was even still around. Just when Luke was getting a little anxious that Reid had somehow ditched him, he felt a touch on his shoulder. He turned. Reid was standing there, apron now removed, still in his wait clothes. "You're really still here, huh?"
"I'm a man of my word."
"You do seem to be quite the man..."
"The name is Luke, actually. Luke Snyder."
"Hi Luke. I'm Reid."
"Have a last name there, Reid?"
"Oliver. Reid Oliver."
"So, you want to get out of here, Reid?"
Reid nodded. Luke got up, grabbed his coat, and put his arm around Reid's shoulder, guiding him out of the place, past the bar. He might have been a little alarmed if he had seen the death glare that Noah was giving him on the way out.
When they got outside Luke asked Reid what he wanted to do. "We could walk down that way, there's a club that I've been to before that's fun. Or we could go get a drink somewhere quieter. Or," Luke said a little knowingly, "we could just go somewhere more private."
Reid looked at him.
"Private?"
"Well, you know, like your place or mine."
Reid stared at him for a long moment and then looked away. Luke wondered at Reid's reaction. Did he think Luke was totally out of line or was Reid interested? It was hard to get a read here, the guy was pretty closed off. Finally Reid returned his gaze to Luke.
"I think I'm a little too exhausted to go clubbing just now. How about you just walk me home, it isn't more than a mile and it will give us a chance to get to know each other a little better."
Luke thought this was an OK proposition only in that he knew where that would put them at the end of the walk, so he agreed to it. He definitely wanted into Reid's bedroom. He knew he would get his way, he had that sort of charm.
"Well, this is my place."
They had walked by a stairwell leading down to a doorway. Luke was a little shocked. The door looked shabby, the whole building didn't look that great.
"This is your place?"
"Yeah, is that a problem?" Reid sounded a little defensive.
"No, no! I just uh I'm not that familiar with this part of Brooklyn."
"It's all I can afford right now, and that's with a roommate."
"You have a roommate?"
"Yeah, I don't actually see a lot of him. Our schedules are opposite. And when I am home I'm usually holed up in my room studying."
"Oh? What are you going to school for?"
"I'm pre-med."
"Really? Wow!" Luke was impressed.
"But I'm only going part time right now. Hopefully I can get back to full time next year and finish up. Just have to hope the economy turns around."
Luke nodded, a little uncomprehendingly. He never had such concerns.
"And then you'll go to medical school?"
"Yeah. I'm impressed that you know the normal progression."
"Hey, I'm really not quite as shallow as you might think!"
Reid smiled. "Sorry, didn't mean to offend you."
"So," Luke reached over playfully and straightened Reid's collar, "can I come in?"
Reid looked at him in all seriousness.
"We'd better not."
Luke was incredulous. "You sure?" He noticed that despite Reid's words he was spending a lot of time looking at Luke's mouth.
"Yeah, but..."
"But what?" Luke angled Reid back around the stairwell and towards the building behind him and pressed him up against its brick wall. He shoved his tongue hungrily down Reid's throat, grabbing him around the waist and quickly moving his hands lower to cup Reid's ass. Despite his reticence at going inside, Reid seemed to enjoy the manhandling, he kissed back and put his hands in Luke's hair and on his face.
"God you're hot," Luke whispered.
"So are you."
"I wanna fuck you."
Reid didn't say anything, but let Luke continue to feel him up and kiss him deeply.
Luke groaned. "I really, really want to fuck you."
This time his words illicited a response. "Why do I get the feeling I'm not the first guy to hear this from you."
"Well, is that so bad?" Luke said between kisses.
"No, I mean, this week."
Luke pulled back. He looked just slightly exasperated.
"Listen, I can't help it if I'm a good looking guy."
"Uh huh."
"And that I'm wealthy."
Reid didn't seem all that impressed.
"Besides," Luke purred, "you probably get hit on all the time at your job."
"I usually ignore it," Reid said somewhat cryptically.
"So, maybe I am a little bit special?" Luke was surprised at the words coming out of his mouth. He usually didn't find himself doing this much lobbying on his own behalf, nor did he usually care all that much what the other guy thought of him.
If the goal was sex, Luke left empty-handed. If it was aggravation, he had it in spades. He did at least get Reid to agree to meet again. Luke's own social calendar was quite full, but secretly he felt like he would have ditched any of his plans for whatever day Reid threw out there. They agreed to go out on Saturday night after Reid's shift ended. "I'll come by and pick you up at 11:00 then."
"So you're good at making late night plans."
"Oh, very good," Luke said mischievously.
"Hmmm," was all Reid had said in return.
On Friday Reid was in the middle of his shift when Noah approached him while he was grabbing a few wine glasses from the bar.
"So, Reid, what's up?"
"Uh, nothing much."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, why?"
Noah gave him a funny look. "I couldn't help but notice that you left with that smooth ass jerk the other night."
Reid looked puzzled for a moment. Then a lightbulb seemed to go off in his head. "What? You mean Luke?"
"I don't know what his name was. We're talking about the good looking guy at table eight with all of his moronic followers, right?"
"Uh, yeah. Jeez Noah could you be a little harsher?"
"Sorry, Reid, the guy's an asshole."
"Based on what?"
"I've been around the block enough to know. Just be careful is all I'm saying."
Reid was struck by the solemnity of Noah's expression.
"Don't worry, Noah, I'm a big boy!"
Noah gave him a funny look. "Oh yeah? Well then Luke is really going to like you!"
Reid blushed, picked up a bar towel, snapped it at Noah's hip and walked off.
Axel's. Luke hadn't been in this particular establishment before, but his posse said it was good, so in they went. He knew he hadn't gone wrong when he saw the bartender behind the counter. Tall, dark and drop-dead handsome. Luke eventually made his way over and flashed the guy a smile. He received an easy one back.
"What can I get you?"
"Gin and tonic. And five more for that table over there."
The bartender looked past him to the table where Luke's friends were already gathered. "Be right up."
"So, this place seems pretty hopping."
"It's been like that for a few years now."
"You've been working here all of that time?"
"Just the last two." The bartender looked evenly at Luke. "That'll be 66 even."
Luke pulled a crisp 100 dollar bill out of his wallet and laid it in front of the other man. "You can have the rest if you tell me your name," he said with a wink.
"Oh," he said coolly back, "you don't have to do that. A normal tip will do. The name is Noah, but I wouldn't want to lead you down the wrong path, I'm straight." He smiled again.
Luke stiffened just a little. "OK then, Noah, thanks for the information." He gathered a couple of the drinks. "I'll be back in a moment to get the rest. You can still keep that," he glanced towards the bill sitting in front of Noah.
Noah shrugged and took it with a smile. "Thanks!" He walked gracefully away to tend to some other customers.
When Luke had all of his friends drink-laden he joined them. He was easily the best looking and best dressed of the group, although none of them were hard on the eyes. And he was the most confident and cocky of the bunch. Plus he was rich, very rich. So it was easy to see why he had a posse of sorts. He led and they followed. He paid and they consumed. And he found the hottest guy in whatever bar or club they were in and those of his friends who were gay got the hand off when he was sick of said guy. Luke liked it this way - he liked it very much. So he was a little annoyed when he got back to the table.
"What's up, Luke, you look like a kid who lost his favorite plaything." Casey had a good laugh and a goofy smile and was everyone's favorite guy to party with. He actually wasn't gay or at least said so but he certainly didn't seem to mind when Luke wanted to go to gay establishments nor the fact that most of the posse was gay.
"Uggh, nothing, just that that gorgeous piece of ass over there seems to be straight as they come, and I've definitely given up the idea that I'm going to change anyone over." They all smiled.
"Good plan, Luke! Don't worry though," Chris piped in, "this place is filling up, and besides, we're on to an after party by midnight, so I think we're guaranteed of a good time tonight!" They all toasted that.
The place was getting more crowded, and so it was actually difficult for the waiter to get through by the time he made his way to their table. He was tall and nicely built, although not as tall as the bartender, elegant looking, a square jaw, auburn hair, and the most beautiful eyes Luke thought he had ever seen on a man. He had on a dark oxford, black pants, and a long white apron tied around his waist. It very nicely showed off his trim, sexy figure. Any disappointment over Noah went racing right out of Luke's head.
"Good evening gentlemen, my name is Reid, and I'll be your server tonight."
"I hope so!" Giles, another member of the posse, called out. Luke noticed that Reid seemed to ignore the comment. This wasn't known to be a gay bar but the neighborhood was gay-friendly enough that the staff here probably got hit on constantly.
"Our specials are listed on the chalkboard over there," Reid gestured towards the wall, "and I am especially recommending the swordfish tonight. I can give you a few minutes more to look at the menus, or are you ready to order?"
"Oh, I had a question." Luke beckoned with his fingers. Reid looked over at him with his piercing blue eyes and just for a moment, Luke thought he felt a connection between them.
Then Reid smiled a little blandly. "Of course." He walked around the table partway and stood next to Luke. "Yes, what can I..." at that Reid stopped talking and spun towards Riley to his right. "Get your hand off of me, right now," he said in a low but firm voice.
Riley leered up at him a little. "You sure, hon?"
Luke felt his own blood boil. Riley was definitely not going to be included in their next outing.
"Oh I am definitely sure."
Riley smugly removed his hand from the back of Reid's thigh and took a sip of his drink. Luke shot him a very dirty look.
"Sorry about my friend," Luke purred. "I think he's been imbibing a bit too much tonight."
Reid looked down at him. "Comes with the territory. What can I help you with?"
Luke frowned a little. He had hoped this guy would engage a little. "How's the steak?"
"Excellent."
"Really?"
"Yes, really." This redhead had spunk. Luke liked it.
"OK, um, Reid, I'll have that."
"Very good."
Reid collected the rest of their orders and pushed his way back towards the kitchen.
Luke looked around the table with a rather self-satisfied smile. "Mine, gentlemen."
Casey shook his head. "I don't know Luke, this might be your second strike out tonight. He doesn't seem too interested. You're losing your touch man!" Casey could get away with saying this sort of thing to Luke without being cut off from the gravy train. The nervous laughter of the others showed that their status was not so solid.
"We'll see, Case."
But Luke was encouraged by the way that Reid leaned into him when he set Luke's meal down in front of him. And later, when Reid refilled Riley's water, how he managed to press a little into Luke's body, although maybe he was just doing this to escape being groped again. Either way the feeling of Reid against him sent a shiver of desire up Luke's spine. He had to figure out a way to get this guy in bed. He was sure he was gay, he just had to be.
Luke called Reid over again the next time he checked on their table. "So, that your boyfriend over there?"
Reid looked a little flustered. "What?" He looked over in the direction Luke was pointing, which was directly at Noah. "Uh, no. He's straight."
"That so?"
"Why?"
"I saw you talking to him a few minutes ago. That's all. Don't know if I like the way he was looking at you." Which was actually kind of true. Although Noah had said he was not gay, he could have fooled Luke considering the way that Noah looked at Reid and seemed to laugh at whatever he had to say.
"No, he's straight, quite straight."
"And you?"
"Why are you asking?"
"Why do you think?"
"I have to get back to the kitchen."
"C'mon!"
Reid looked at him carefully.
"I guess we'll see if you're still here two hours from now, because that's when I get off."
"Count on it!"
Luke was true to his word. He ditched the guys and the after party. They were all bummed that Luke wasn't going with them, but knew better than to fight him on it. He sat alone at the table, sipping occasionally on what was his third gin and tonic of the night. The place was winding down, and he hadn't seen Reid for awhile. The last time he had Reid had given him an odd look, like he really couldn't believe Luke was even still around. Just when Luke was getting a little anxious that Reid had somehow ditched him, he felt a touch on his shoulder. He turned. Reid was standing there, apron now removed, still in his wait clothes. "You're really still here, huh?"
"I'm a man of my word."
"You do seem to be quite the man..."
"The name is Luke, actually. Luke Snyder."
"Hi Luke. I'm Reid."
"Have a last name there, Reid?"
"Oliver. Reid Oliver."
"So, you want to get out of here, Reid?"
Reid nodded. Luke got up, grabbed his coat, and put his arm around Reid's shoulder, guiding him out of the place, past the bar. He might have been a little alarmed if he had seen the death glare that Noah was giving him on the way out.
When they got outside Luke asked Reid what he wanted to do. "We could walk down that way, there's a club that I've been to before that's fun. Or we could go get a drink somewhere quieter. Or," Luke said a little knowingly, "we could just go somewhere more private."
Reid looked at him.
"Private?"
"Well, you know, like your place or mine."
Reid stared at him for a long moment and then looked away. Luke wondered at Reid's reaction. Did he think Luke was totally out of line or was Reid interested? It was hard to get a read here, the guy was pretty closed off. Finally Reid returned his gaze to Luke.
"I think I'm a little too exhausted to go clubbing just now. How about you just walk me home, it isn't more than a mile and it will give us a chance to get to know each other a little better."
Luke thought this was an OK proposition only in that he knew where that would put them at the end of the walk, so he agreed to it. He definitely wanted into Reid's bedroom. He knew he would get his way, he had that sort of charm.
"Well, this is my place."
They had walked by a stairwell leading down to a doorway. Luke was a little shocked. The door looked shabby, the whole building didn't look that great.
"This is your place?"
"Yeah, is that a problem?" Reid sounded a little defensive.
"No, no! I just uh I'm not that familiar with this part of Brooklyn."
"It's all I can afford right now, and that's with a roommate."
"You have a roommate?"
"Yeah, I don't actually see a lot of him. Our schedules are opposite. And when I am home I'm usually holed up in my room studying."
"Oh? What are you going to school for?"
"I'm pre-med."
"Really? Wow!" Luke was impressed.
"But I'm only going part time right now. Hopefully I can get back to full time next year and finish up. Just have to hope the economy turns around."
Luke nodded, a little uncomprehendingly. He never had such concerns.
"And then you'll go to medical school?"
"Yeah. I'm impressed that you know the normal progression."
"Hey, I'm really not quite as shallow as you might think!"
Reid smiled. "Sorry, didn't mean to offend you."
"So," Luke reached over playfully and straightened Reid's collar, "can I come in?"
Reid looked at him in all seriousness.
"We'd better not."
Luke was incredulous. "You sure?" He noticed that despite Reid's words he was spending a lot of time looking at Luke's mouth.
"Yeah, but..."
"But what?" Luke angled Reid back around the stairwell and towards the building behind him and pressed him up against its brick wall. He shoved his tongue hungrily down Reid's throat, grabbing him around the waist and quickly moving his hands lower to cup Reid's ass. Despite his reticence at going inside, Reid seemed to enjoy the manhandling, he kissed back and put his hands in Luke's hair and on his face.
"God you're hot," Luke whispered.
"So are you."
"I wanna fuck you."
Reid didn't say anything, but let Luke continue to feel him up and kiss him deeply.
Luke groaned. "I really, really want to fuck you."
This time his words illicited a response. "Why do I get the feeling I'm not the first guy to hear this from you."
"Well, is that so bad?" Luke said between kisses.
"No, I mean, this week."
Luke pulled back. He looked just slightly exasperated.
"Listen, I can't help it if I'm a good looking guy."
"Uh huh."
"And that I'm wealthy."
Reid didn't seem all that impressed.
"Besides," Luke purred, "you probably get hit on all the time at your job."
"I usually ignore it," Reid said somewhat cryptically.
"So, maybe I am a little bit special?" Luke was surprised at the words coming out of his mouth. He usually didn't find himself doing this much lobbying on his own behalf, nor did he usually care all that much what the other guy thought of him.
If the goal was sex, Luke left empty-handed. If it was aggravation, he had it in spades. He did at least get Reid to agree to meet again. Luke's own social calendar was quite full, but secretly he felt like he would have ditched any of his plans for whatever day Reid threw out there. They agreed to go out on Saturday night after Reid's shift ended. "I'll come by and pick you up at 11:00 then."
"So you're good at making late night plans."
"Oh, very good," Luke said mischievously.
"Hmmm," was all Reid had said in return.
On Friday Reid was in the middle of his shift when Noah approached him while he was grabbing a few wine glasses from the bar.
"So, Reid, what's up?"
"Uh, nothing much."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, why?"
Noah gave him a funny look. "I couldn't help but notice that you left with that smooth ass jerk the other night."
Reid looked puzzled for a moment. Then a lightbulb seemed to go off in his head. "What? You mean Luke?"
"I don't know what his name was. We're talking about the good looking guy at table eight with all of his moronic followers, right?"
"Uh, yeah. Jeez Noah could you be a little harsher?"
"Sorry, Reid, the guy's an asshole."
"Based on what?"
"I've been around the block enough to know. Just be careful is all I'm saying."
Reid was struck by the solemnity of Noah's expression.
"Don't worry, Noah, I'm a big boy!"
Noah gave him a funny look. "Oh yeah? Well then Luke is really going to like you!"
Reid blushed, picked up a bar towel, snapped it at Noah's hip and walked off.