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It started as most things between them did: as a dare.
It was bound to happen. He always made fun of Wilson for his selflessness. It was completely and always deserved, though. Wilson always put others before him, and it was so painfully obvious it mentally hurt him when he tried to deny it. Wilson always tried to fight back, though, berating him on his own selfishness. And today, on such an argument, a jab was given, a step taken, and now they were face-to-face with House spitting at Wilson “I bet you can’t have a single day where you let yourself be as selfish as you want.”
A mischievous glint appeared in Wilson’s eyes, one House had rarely seen before. Wilson straightened up and smiled slightly before simply answering, “How much?”
House swallowed. Somehow, somewhere, he lost his upper hand in this conversation, and he wasn’t sure how to get it back now. “$50.”
“Oh, don’t underestimate your betting probabilities.” Wilson cooed at him, as if he was a kid he pitied, a patient that he needed to reassure. House had never seen him like this. What had he said? How could he keep him like this for longer?
”You just want more money.” House accused him, because he still had to keep this conversation going, because he had to poke holes into Wilson’s flimsy attempt at being selfish. It would come crumbling down at the mere trial of it.
But instead, Wilson simply shrugged. “So?” House felt his mouth open slightly. Wilson, openly admitting to wanting something, and being unafraid of it?
However, this could not last (as much as House wished for it to). “$100. Final offer.”
Wilson whistled. “I’ll take it. After I prove that I can be as selfish as I want.” With that, he turned and left House’s office, with its proprietor slightly flushed.
*
“Aren’t you supposed to be at a consult right now?” House asked Wilson, after hunting him down from hallway to hallway and finding him talking with another secretary. Ridiculous, that the second you took the leash off of him, Wilson ran off to flirt with someone.
Wilson sighed and rolled his eyes before turning to him. “No. Aren’t you supposed to be focused on your own patient?” He turned back instead of waiting for an answer. Unbelievable!
House fake gasped. “Doctor Wilson, are you really going to abandon the patient of a fellow doctor just because you want to have an extramarital affair?” He announced a bit too loudly. Now, Wilson would have no choice but to sputter an excuse to the poor girl, pull House aside and berate him, for the sake of appearances, making House win the bet-
“Dr. Robinson would put my name on the patient files as a future reference, and I don’t want to have to deal with an extra patient because he couldn’t trust his own judgement. He needs to learn that I won’t always be around for him to bother. As do you. Not being with you at all times doesn’t mean I’m cheating, you know that, right?” He looked at him with fake sympathy, before turning back and pretending the whole conversation had never happened. The look of surprise and attraction on the secretary’s face mirrored House’s own before he walked away, already thinking of the next best way to get him to lose.
*
Before lunch, House had planned his new plan fully. A cane stuck out at the right time for Wilson’s least favorite coworker, so he’d see himself forced to help someone simply for the sake of helping, against his biggest wish to leave him alone. Not his best plan, but the easiest considering the time crunch he was in.
He slid into the booth Wilson was already seated at, easing into a simple conversation with him while he looked around for his victim. Wilson picked at his salad, indulging him, so House decided to pick at the fries he’d put to his side-
“Don’t even think about it.” Wilson suddenly warned him. When House made eye contact with him, he was already staring daggers at him. Damn, when did he start doing that? And why did it look so.. hot?
”About what?” House feigned ignorance. It wasn’t going to help him, but maybe it’d help make Wilson keep looking at him like that.
”You know what.” Wilson hadn’t fallen for it, naturally.
“You won’t do anything about it.” He challenged him. “Not with your pushover personality.”
Wilson grabbed a plastic knife, brandishing it like a teacher would’ve held a ruler, looking at him like he was a disobedient student, and, wow, wasn’t that a thought. “Try me.”
While maintaining eye contact, House inched his hand closer to the fries plate. He’d stolen worse without a single verbal reprimand from Wilson. He wouldn’t rise to the occasion, he knew it. He’d slap his hand with his own, or even better, chicken out and admit defeat.
But when he was about to reach the plate, he felt the sting of the sharp plastic on his hand. “Ow!” He quickly retracted his hand, and looked at it as if it betrayed him. When he looked back at Wilson, he had a smug look on his face, pleased with the shock he saw on House’s.
“You sadistic bastard.”
Another uncaring shrug. “I warned you.” Wilson chuckled. “If anything, you’re the masochist bastard.”
Another view of Wilson to save for his nights.
*
”House, get out.” Wilson sighed exasperatedly. But, when did he not when House unexpectedly entered his office while he was in a meeting with an old patient?
“Oh, sorry, is this a bad time? I just need to borrow you for a quick second for a consult.” House tried to look apologetic, play the right part for Wilson to feel guilty enough to give in.
A look of confusion flitted over Wilson’s face, and House thought he had the bet won. But Wilson figured it out, if a lot quicker than House expected. “Oh, really?” He asked, skepticism clearly etched into both words.
Before House could nod enthusiastically, the patient seated in front of Wilson piped up. “Go, sweetie, I’ll be here waiting.” She smiled at him encouragingly. Hacking into Wilson’s schedule was so helpful, he couldn’t imagine why he hadn’t done it earlier. Now, Wilson had to give in, despite his suspicions. Denying House was one thing, but one of his patients? Especially an elderly one that probably didn’t have much time left anyways? It was unimaginable, even with their bet going on.
Wilson smiled sweetly at his patient, and House’s victory was so close he could almost taste it. “I won’t.” He told her, while still smiling at her. “He’s not worth it.” Before either of them could react, Wilson turned to House and told him, “Get out before I force you to leave. And I will do it, you know I will.” He assured, before he could refute him. And as much as the idea of Wilson pushing House away, manhandling him to make him leave was tantalizing, House just let his face fall and looked down, hoping he looked ashamed. He nodded before turning and exiting the room, but lingering outside the door to hear Wilson quickly apologize for him or his own behavior. But instead, Wilson moved on as if nothing happened.
House finally started reckoning with the idea that he might not win this bet.
*
Wilson made his way to House’s office at the end of the day, looking forward to his easily-earned $100. Being selfish was quite fun, but it wasn’t something he enjoyed yet. He assumed it was an acquired taste, if the example House had set was anything to go off of.
He opened the glass door, letting himself in without knocking. He smiled wickedly at House, motioned towards himself with his fingers, and demanded “My 100 bucks.”
House looked out his dark window, before answering, “As far as I can tell, the day isn’t over yet.”
Wilson glared at him. “Our day is over. Give me my hard-earned money.”
House raised his eyebrows. “Hard-earned from being a bitch to everyone around you?” He feigned concern. “You still have time to take it back, y’know.”
“I won’t.”
”Oh, but I think you will. Maybe I’ll hold onto the money until I make sure you don’t become a selfless saint tomorrow to make up for today..” House pretended to mull this over.
Suddenly, Wilson made his way around the desk and pulled House up by his jacket lapels. The sudden action surprised House and punched the air out of him. They were now standing face-to-face, again, as they had when the stupid bet was initially made, yet somehow closer. Wilson’s breath ghosted over his lips while he felt his hands slide down his chest and settle around his waist. Wilson’s lips were so close, a small movement, a slight lick of his lips could bring them even closer, lead to more of this side of Wilson leaving its brand on House..
What finally made him snap back to reality was something being taken out of his back pocket and being brought between them. In Wilson’s hands was his wallet being opened and flicked through. His eyes, still wide, saw Wilson meticulously take out and count 5 $20 bills and pocket them, before putting his wallet back and patting his ass. “Thanks for the money,” he said, before turning and leaving House speechless.
Maybe Wilson could learn to enjoy being selfish.