"Triangle" - Chapter 3
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 / Chapter 2
“Hey, which way you walking?” It was Noah, also off for the night.
Reid gestured north.
“So am I. I'll walk with you. It's pretty late.”
Reid rolled his eyes, “I walk it all the time, but if you insist.”
“I insist.”
“Fine!”
“So, any sign of Luke?”
“Nope.” Reid said coolly. Noah could tell he didn't really want to talk about it.
“Hmm, well, like you said, you can check your cell when you get home.”
“Yep.”
Noah dropped the subject.
They walked for many blocks, talking easily as they always did. Once or twice Noah's shoulder brushed Reid's and the proximity gave Reid almost the feeling that he was being escorted, like he was on a date. He brushed off the thought.
They rounded a corner and were now in front of Reid’s building. Reid gestured towards the door of his apartment below. “Well, this is where I get off. Thanks for the company, Noah.”
Noah peered down into the stairwell. “So, you got any beer or something?”
Reid looked at him, a little surprised.
“Yeah, maybe. Why, you don't have anywhere to be just now?”
Noah seemed flustered, only for a moment. “Well, there is Kelly, she expecting a drop-by I think. But I don't know, I'm just not in the mood just now.” He looked rather intensely at Reid. “I like drinking with you once in awhile. You're an interesting guy!”
Reid laughed. “Thanks. I think I'm pretty dull myself. Either studying, sleeping, or waiting on pretentious fucks.”
“Don't I know it,” Noah laughed. “See? You need to drink once in awhile, too! That is, unless you really just have to get to bed or something.”
“No, no, come on in.”
Reid led the way downstairs. He unlocked the door with a key and let them in in. The apartment was tiny. A small kitchenette/living room area no bigger than 10 feet square with a small hall leading of to what must be at least one bedroom and a bathroom.
Reid went to the fridge and rummaged through it. He finally emerged with two beers. “Awesome!” Noah exclaimed.
“Shh!” Reid half-whispered with a smile. “I forgot to mention that my roommate might be asleep in there.” He nodded in the direction of the hallway.
“Oh, sorry! So you have a roommate, huh?”
“Yeah , he's a student as well.”
“Pre-med?”
“Engineering. He's Romanian. Nice guy but our conversations are fairly limited.”
Noah chuckled.
Reid walked over and handed Noah a beer. He walked back into the kitchenette area. His cell phone was laying on the kitchen counter and he surreptitiously checked it for messages, as he suddenly felt like it would be rude of him to start listening to voicemail while Noah was sitting there. Reid could see that Luke had called once, at 10:50 p.m. but there were no messages. Weird. Well, fuck it, I'll call him tomorrow. He laid the phone back down where he'd found it.
Luke walked into the club and looked for Casey. He saw him right away, dancing with two women and fairly smashed. “Luke!” he screamed when he saw his friend. “C’mere loverboy!!” Luke rolled his eyes and suddenly had the urge to just turn around and walk out the door. He felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Riley.
“Hey there.” Riley’s tone was a little off, like he knew he was still on Luke’s shit list. “We’re over there.” He pointed in the direction of a bunch of tables near the back of the club.
“OK, thanks,” Luke said flatly. “Be over there shortly.”
As he walked towards the bar he took his phone out of his pocket and stared at it. No new messages. He put the phone back in his pocket and set his jaw. He wanted a drink.
As Reid walked back over towards Noah the thought occurred to him that Luke wouldn't be all that happy to see this situation, even though Noah was straight. Noah was just too good looking of a guy, that was all. And obviously Luke thought so, too, since he had hit on him. Reid reminded himself that all of this was probably pointless to ponder considering that Luke seemed to have stood him up.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
“Oh sorry, I don't know. I was just thinking about Luke. I mean maybe you were right about him.”
“You mean cause he stood you up?”
“Yeah, I don't know, I thought maybe he wasn't that bad in reality.”
“Forget about him. You're too great of a guy to waste your time on him.”
“Easy for you to say, Mr. I-have-so-many-women-I-don't-know-where-to-look.”
“Yeah,” Noah said thoughtfully, “I suppose it's a little harder when you're gay.”
Reid scoffed. “Just a little!”
“But still, I mean, you're a good looking guy.” Noah looked away for a moment, then back at Reid. “I can't imagine you have any shortage of guys hitting on you.”
Reid gave him a funny look. “You mean gay or straight?”
Noah swallowed. “Both,” he said quickly and looked away again.
“I guess I'm just picky or something. Listen, can we change the subject?”
Noah laughed. “Sure, you wanna see what's on TV? I think the Knicks are wrapping up a game.”
“Uggh, I guess.” Reid shook his head. “Miserable excuse for a team.”
Noah had to agree.
They watched for awhile and continued chatting amiably. When Reid saw that Noah had finished off his beer he hopped up and rummaged through the fridge for another. He came up empty handed.
“See what a miserable host I am? I ran out of beer!”
Noah smiled. “Well, I guess next time you'll just be more prepared, or else I'll just bring a six pack along.”
Reid looked at him narrowly. “You think there will be a next time, huh?”
“Sure, why not?”
“Can I ask you a question, Noah?”
“Sure.”
“Why do I get the feeling that Luke is somehow involved in your sudden interest in being my friend?”
Noah blushed.
“Reid, it's not sudden. I've always wanted to get to know you better, and I think you know that. I just thought you were really closed off. But you are right, Luke was the first guy I saw you leaving with, so then I thought you were a little more willing to be social than I thought.”
“Oh...” Reid replied. But what he was thinking was social meaning what? You thought I was gonna fuck him.
“Well,” Noah rose to his feet rubbing his hands on his jeans for a moment. “I guess I'd better head. I don't want to tempt fate by waiting until only the muggers are out looking for company,” he said with a laugh.
Reid walked with him to the door and opened it. “At least you look pretty intimidating though. How tall are you anyhow?”
Noah seemed to puff himself up a little. He looked down at Reid with a smile. “6'3".”
“Not bad,” Reid said, his beautiful features lit by the streetlight above as he looked up at Noah.
Noah didn't mean to do what he did next. It just happened and he couldn't seem to change course. He leaned down and kissed Reid on the mouth. It was soft and smooth and not just as good as he'd fantasized about, it was better. He drew back. “I'm sorry, I don't know where that came from!”
Reid looked shocked but seemed to recover quickly. “You don't?” He looked at Noah's lips. The next moment their mouths were together again hard, tongues exploring, hands clutching faces and shoulders. They stood in the doorway kissing for more than a minute. Reid finally pulled back. He looked intently at Noah.
“Well, this will be awkward as hell the next time we work together.”
Noah looked down at the ground, then back up into Reid's eyes. “I won't regret it.” He leaned down and gently kissed Reid one more time. “I'd better go.” With that he turned and strode up the stairs and was gone into the night.
Reid closed the door and walked back over to the couch. He sat down and leaned his head against its back. A rueful smile passed over his face. This is just not my life. How are you gonna get out of this situation now? He shut his eyes and tried not to think about it any more. It made his head hurt.
Luke/Reid, Reid/Noah (you've been warned BBs)
Chapter 1 / Chapter 2
“Hey, which way you walking?” It was Noah, also off for the night.
Reid gestured north.
“So am I. I'll walk with you. It's pretty late.”
Reid rolled his eyes, “I walk it all the time, but if you insist.”
“I insist.”
“Fine!”
“So, any sign of Luke?”
“Nope.” Reid said coolly. Noah could tell he didn't really want to talk about it.
“Hmm, well, like you said, you can check your cell when you get home.”
“Yep.”
Noah dropped the subject.
They walked for many blocks, talking easily as they always did. Once or twice Noah's shoulder brushed Reid's and the proximity gave Reid almost the feeling that he was being escorted, like he was on a date. He brushed off the thought.
They rounded a corner and were now in front of Reid’s building. Reid gestured towards the door of his apartment below. “Well, this is where I get off. Thanks for the company, Noah.”
Noah peered down into the stairwell. “So, you got any beer or something?”
Reid looked at him, a little surprised.
“Yeah, maybe. Why, you don't have anywhere to be just now?”
Noah seemed flustered, only for a moment. “Well, there is Kelly, she expecting a drop-by I think. But I don't know, I'm just not in the mood just now.” He looked rather intensely at Reid. “I like drinking with you once in awhile. You're an interesting guy!”
Reid laughed. “Thanks. I think I'm pretty dull myself. Either studying, sleeping, or waiting on pretentious fucks.”
“Don't I know it,” Noah laughed. “See? You need to drink once in awhile, too! That is, unless you really just have to get to bed or something.”
“No, no, come on in.”
Reid led the way downstairs. He unlocked the door with a key and let them in in. The apartment was tiny. A small kitchenette/living room area no bigger than 10 feet square with a small hall leading of to what must be at least one bedroom and a bathroom.
Reid went to the fridge and rummaged through it. He finally emerged with two beers. “Awesome!” Noah exclaimed.
“Shh!” Reid half-whispered with a smile. “I forgot to mention that my roommate might be asleep in there.” He nodded in the direction of the hallway.
“Oh, sorry! So you have a roommate, huh?”
“Yeah , he's a student as well.”
“Pre-med?”
“Engineering. He's Romanian. Nice guy but our conversations are fairly limited.”
Noah chuckled.
Reid walked over and handed Noah a beer. He walked back into the kitchenette area. His cell phone was laying on the kitchen counter and he surreptitiously checked it for messages, as he suddenly felt like it would be rude of him to start listening to voicemail while Noah was sitting there. Reid could see that Luke had called once, at 10:50 p.m. but there were no messages. Weird. Well, fuck it, I'll call him tomorrow. He laid the phone back down where he'd found it.
Luke walked into the club and looked for Casey. He saw him right away, dancing with two women and fairly smashed. “Luke!” he screamed when he saw his friend. “C’mere loverboy!!” Luke rolled his eyes and suddenly had the urge to just turn around and walk out the door. He felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Riley.
“Hey there.” Riley’s tone was a little off, like he knew he was still on Luke’s shit list. “We’re over there.” He pointed in the direction of a bunch of tables near the back of the club.
“OK, thanks,” Luke said flatly. “Be over there shortly.”
As he walked towards the bar he took his phone out of his pocket and stared at it. No new messages. He put the phone back in his pocket and set his jaw. He wanted a drink.
As Reid walked back over towards Noah the thought occurred to him that Luke wouldn't be all that happy to see this situation, even though Noah was straight. Noah was just too good looking of a guy, that was all. And obviously Luke thought so, too, since he had hit on him. Reid reminded himself that all of this was probably pointless to ponder considering that Luke seemed to have stood him up.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
“Oh sorry, I don't know. I was just thinking about Luke. I mean maybe you were right about him.”
“You mean cause he stood you up?”
“Yeah, I don't know, I thought maybe he wasn't that bad in reality.”
“Forget about him. You're too great of a guy to waste your time on him.”
“Easy for you to say, Mr. I-have-so-many-women-I-don't-know-where-to-look.”
“Yeah,” Noah said thoughtfully, “I suppose it's a little harder when you're gay.”
Reid scoffed. “Just a little!”
“But still, I mean, you're a good looking guy.” Noah looked away for a moment, then back at Reid. “I can't imagine you have any shortage of guys hitting on you.”
Reid gave him a funny look. “You mean gay or straight?”
Noah swallowed. “Both,” he said quickly and looked away again.
“I guess I'm just picky or something. Listen, can we change the subject?”
Noah laughed. “Sure, you wanna see what's on TV? I think the Knicks are wrapping up a game.”
“Uggh, I guess.” Reid shook his head. “Miserable excuse for a team.”
Noah had to agree.
They watched for awhile and continued chatting amiably. When Reid saw that Noah had finished off his beer he hopped up and rummaged through the fridge for another. He came up empty handed.
“See what a miserable host I am? I ran out of beer!”
Noah smiled. “Well, I guess next time you'll just be more prepared, or else I'll just bring a six pack along.”
Reid looked at him narrowly. “You think there will be a next time, huh?”
“Sure, why not?”
“Can I ask you a question, Noah?”
“Sure.”
“Why do I get the feeling that Luke is somehow involved in your sudden interest in being my friend?”
Noah blushed.
“Reid, it's not sudden. I've always wanted to get to know you better, and I think you know that. I just thought you were really closed off. But you are right, Luke was the first guy I saw you leaving with, so then I thought you were a little more willing to be social than I thought.”
“Oh...” Reid replied. But what he was thinking was social meaning what? You thought I was gonna fuck him.
“Well,” Noah rose to his feet rubbing his hands on his jeans for a moment. “I guess I'd better head. I don't want to tempt fate by waiting until only the muggers are out looking for company,” he said with a laugh.
Reid walked with him to the door and opened it. “At least you look pretty intimidating though. How tall are you anyhow?”
Noah seemed to puff himself up a little. He looked down at Reid with a smile. “6'3".”
“Not bad,” Reid said, his beautiful features lit by the streetlight above as he looked up at Noah.
Noah didn't mean to do what he did next. It just happened and he couldn't seem to change course. He leaned down and kissed Reid on the mouth. It was soft and smooth and not just as good as he'd fantasized about, it was better. He drew back. “I'm sorry, I don't know where that came from!”
Reid looked shocked but seemed to recover quickly. “You don't?” He looked at Noah's lips. The next moment their mouths were together again hard, tongues exploring, hands clutching faces and shoulders. They stood in the doorway kissing for more than a minute. Reid finally pulled back. He looked intently at Noah.
“Well, this will be awkward as hell the next time we work together.”
Noah looked down at the ground, then back up into Reid's eyes. “I won't regret it.” He leaned down and gently kissed Reid one more time. “I'd better go.” With that he turned and strode up the stairs and was gone into the night.
Reid closed the door and walked back over to the couch. He sat down and leaned his head against its back. A rueful smile passed over his face. This is just not my life. How are you gonna get out of this situation now? He shut his eyes and tried not to think about it any more. It made his head hurt.