tempting_the_fates

"You're the only person I know who could move to LA and somehow get paler," Olivia said.

She'd been perched on the counter beside him while he scrubbed off his makeup. Some of the crew didn't seem to like her, but truthfully, Nyx thought she was alright. Maybe a bit attention seeking, but who wasn't in this industry?

"What can I say, I'm a vampire," Nyx joked, drying his face.

"Yeah? Didn't know vampires bruised so easily," she said, pointing at a rather nasty one that was starting to bloom on his arm.

Nyx hadn't even noticed it, and frowned as he gave it a closer look. "I must have whacked my arm off something earlier," he said with a yawn.

"Are you sleeping at all?" she asked. "Jesus, Nyx, you seem permanently exhausted."

Nyx shook his head though, rubbing his arm a bit and then shrugging. "I swear, lately all I do is sleep. It's become my favorite pastime."

Olivia clicked her tongue thoughtfully, then pushed away whatever she'd been thinking with a laugh and a smile. "Yeah, well, if you're sick, keep it to yourself. I'm hosting a charity thing this weekend. Don't need your germs, thanks."

"I'm hurt," Nyx said, pretending to pout. "Thought we shared everything, Liv," he teased, leaning over and pretending to try and steal a kiss.

Olivia shrieked out a laugh, pushing him away and nearly falling into the sink. "Dickhead," she snorted, still laughing as she fixed her hair.

"Your dickhead though," Nyx grinned, walking away as she laughed again and flipped him off. On the way out the door he nearly walked right into House- Who was either on his way in, or on his way past. Nyx couldn't really tell. "Alright, Greg?" he asked.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

drfeelbad

"Sing it for me," said House quietly against his ear.

From:

tempting_the_fates

Nyx smiled softly at that, closing his eyes and then starting to sing. It wasn't quite the same without Willy singing his part, their voices entwined, but it was still pretty.

From:

drfeelbad

House's hands continued to move over his skin under the water as he listened. When he stopped, he kissed his neck again and said, "It's great. And your voice is amazing."

From:

tempting_the_fates

"You're sweet," Nyx said. "It's just nice to make music again," he admitted, turning his head a little to try and look at House.

"Do you ever miss practicing medicine?"

From:

drfeelbad

There was a beat of silence, and then House said, "Constantly."

From:

tempting_the_fates

"That must be hard," Nyx said softly. "Do you want to talk about it?" he offered, drawing lines in the water with his fingertips.

"I don't have good advice, but I'm a good listener."

From:

drfeelbad

House was quiet for a moment, and then said, "Did I ever tell you about why I became a doctor in the first place? "When I was 14 my father was stationed in Japan." He was still idly stroking Nyx's skin while he spoke. "I went rock climbing with this kid from school. He fell, got injured and I had to bring him to the hospital. We came in through the wrong entrance and passed this guy in the hall... a janitor. My friend came down with an infection and the doctors didn't know what to do."

He paused. "So they brought in the janitor. He was a doctor. And a Buraku. One of Japan's untouchables. His ancestors had been slaughterers, grave diggers. And this guy, he knew that he wasn't accepted by the staff, he didn't even try. He didn't dress well. He didn't pretend to be one of them. The people that ran that place, they didn't think that he had anything they wanted. Except when they needed him. Because he was right. Which meant that nothing else mattered. And they had to listen to him."

From:

tempting_the_fates

"That's you now, huh? Or... Was you, I guess," Nyx said, catching House's hand with his own and twining their fingers together. "You are obnoxiously clever," he said with a tiny smile. "I mean, I don't know shit about shit, and even I know you're clever. The plots you write, the stories you tell- You're in there, aren't you? You're practically bleeding yourself onto the page."

From:

drfeelbad

"The stories, the cases... yes. And just things I've learned about how these things go..." He squeezed Nyx's hand lightly. "Though I confess I've steered away a bit from the more personal. I've considered putting in a case about myself, what happened with my leg, but... can't seem to bring myself to write it."

From:

tempting_the_fates

"You don't owe anyone that," Nyx said softly. "Your trauma isn't for people's entertainment."

From:

drfeelbad

"... yeah," House said. "Maybe I thought it would be cathartic or something. I used it when I guest lectured to medical students once. Didn't tell them it was me, of course. It was just on my mind because my ex showed up."

From:

tempting_the_fates

"Who was your ex?" Nyx asked. It was nice to just listen to Greg talk, even if it wasn't about the happiest things.

From:

drfeelbad

"She's a lawyer," House said after a moment. "Named Stacy. Great hair. Excellent taste in sarcasm. Bad taste in men. She put up with me longer than most people do—five years, give or take. We lived together."

From:

tempting_the_fates

"Five years? Damn, practically married," Nyx said with a gentle laugh.

From:

drfeelbad

"Uh... yeah, actually," House said, a touch awkward. "Practically. But now she's actually married."

From:

tempting_the_fates

"Does that appeal to you?" he asked. "Marriage, I mean."

From:

drfeelbad

"Marriage? God, no." House said it like Nyx had asked if he wanted to take up competitive birdwatching.

Then after a moment he added, "I mean, I get the appeal. Legally binding affection. Tax breaks. An audience to witness your slow moral decay."

His fingers trailed down Nyx's arm. "People think marriage is about love. It’s not. It’s about tolerance. It’s about saying ‘yes, I agree to this person’s entire catalog of flaws, even the ones they haven’t discovered yet."

He shrugged. "I admire that kind of delusion. I just don’t share it."

From:

tempting_the_fates

"It terrifies me," Nyx admitted. "It always has."

From:

drfeelbad

"Don't worry, I'm not going to propose," House murmured against his ear... and finally slid his hand on Nyx's leg farther up his inner thigh under the water.

From:

tempting_the_fates

Nyx made a small sound that faded to a gasp.

"No? I'd be such a pretty bride though," he joked, a bit breathless as House teased him.

From:

drfeelbad

"You would," House whispered, and let his fingers brush against Nyx's cock. "And I'd rip that pretty white dress off of you as soon as the ceremony was over."