Ficlet: Lessons Learned (Luke/Noah)

May 09, 2013 17:41

Title: Lessons Learned
Characters/Pairing: Luke/Noah
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 562 words
Summary: Throughout his life Noah learns a lot of lessons.
Disclaimer: I wish I owned these characters but I don’t.
Beta: No beta, so I apologize in advance for the mistakes.
Author’s Note: Written for what_did_you_do and the prompt a lesson learned and also for my Nuke Bingo Card and the prompt long lost.


Throughout his life Noah learns a lot of lessons.

Never show weakness in front of his dad. Never ask questions about his mother. Never be late to his first day of work. Never play board games with Luke’s little sisters (unless, of course, he actually wants to lose).

But the most valuable and painful lesson is one he learns much later:

Never let the person he loves slip away without a fight.

Because, as it turns out, winning Luke back isn’t done in a heartbeat.

First there’s Reid. Noah doesn’t understand that relationship at all, doesn’t understand how Reid will be able to give Luke any of the things that he needs. And before anyone can find out, tragedy strikes - Reid gets killed and Luke is left behind, lost and broken.

Some time after that Luke starts dating Vincent. An arrogant reporter who thinks he’s god’s greatest gift to media, and well, to humanity in general. Noah meets him once, during a visit to Oakdale, and immediately hates his guts. He’s relieved to discover that by his next visit, Vincent is already long gone and Luke doesn’t seem to particularly care about it.

Then it’s Philip. He actually has Noah concerned for a while because he’s a really sweet guy, if maybe a bit dense. Luke seems to genuinely care about him, but Noah can’t help but notice that he also seems a bit… bored. Philip sticks around for almost a year though, and Noah doesn’t know how it all ends but Luke doesn’t seem too upset this time either.

After that there are a few guys that Noah only hears about. First Mark, then Brandon and finally Greg. To Noah they’re just faceless shadows that Luke mentions on the phone a couple of times (he doesn’t even change his Facebook status for them). Before he gets the chance to meet any of them they’re gone, and aren’t really talked about again.

Ryan is a surprise. He’s at least ten years older than Luke and makes no secret of what he wants: Find a partner, settle down and have a family. He’s clearly head over heels with Luke and proposes within six months. Luke seems kind of terrified by the whole thing and turns him down, no doubt breaking Ryan’s heart in the process. Noah, on the other hand, is immensely relieved.

After that there’s nothing for a while. No new names are mentioned when he speaks with Luke.

Then their friends-with-benefits period starts.

They hook up every time they meet (which isn’t nearly often enough) and it’s pretty amazing, except for the fact that it always leaves Noah wanting more.

Nothing more happens, though. They’re not together and neither of them seems to dare broach the subject. For a long time they just… don’t talk about it.

Until one night in Noah’s apartment, tangled together in Noah’s bed, when Luke whispers, “I love you, Noah. I’ve always loved you.”

Noah feels warm all over. Maybe what they once had isn’t lost after all.

In the end Noah learns another important lesson:

Even if it takes years and it sometimes feels like it will never happen, love is always worth waiting for.

Especially if the one you’re waiting for is Luke Snyder. Stubborn, sometimes infuriating, always incredible, the love of Noah’s life - Noah would have waited for him forever.

And then some.

length: ficlet, pairing: luke/noah, challenge: what_did_you_do, fandom: atwt

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