Work Text:
House couldn’t help but groan in pain as he stood up from his desk. He still wasn’t used to the tender pain in his right leg, and had made the mistake of using that leg to support himself. He leaned back against the desk and massaged his hands into his thigh. Christ, what a week it had been. The pain was unbearable. House reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the prescription bottle. He shook a vicodin into his palm and brought it to his mouth. His shoulders dropped back as the pill slid down his throat. Sweet relief.
He suddenly remembered that Dr. Wilson, the misbehaving oncologist he’d bailed out a couple years ago, started at Princeton Plainsborough today. And his office was right next to House’s. What fun! House smirked to himself, grabbing his cane and making his way out of the office and down the hallway.
Knocking before letting himself in, House was unsurprised to find Wilson face deep in paperwork and files. A try-hard would never leave his first day on time. Wilson looked up, startled that his visitor had entered before he’d had a chance to ask who it was.
“Hello? Can I help you?” Wilson asked, dryly.
House made himself comfortable in the chair opposite Wilson’s desk. “You can! I’m afraid I’ve got a terrible illness, doctor.” House put on his best puppy-dog eyes. “I’ve heard it’s only curable by extreme amounts of alcohol abuse. I’m going to need a prescription.” He batted his eyelashes and held his hands together, faux-pleading.
Wilson chuckled, shaking his head. “Good to see you too, House. I’m afraid I’m busy, though.” He gestured to his paper-covered desk and sighed.
“Oh, come onnn.” House stood and paced the office. “Can’t make a habit of staying late on day one. Might make Cuddy think you care.”
Wilson stood, putting his hands on his hips. “I do care, unfortunately for the cancer patients of this hospital.” He looked down, missing the face that House made to mock him. “Listen, give me ten more minutes to wrap up here. Then I’ll go out with you.”
House’s face faltered for a nanosecond, before he quickly composed himself. “Make it five. And meet me at my car. I’ll be honking in the handicapped spot.” He threw the door open and strode out into the hallway, leaving Wilson staring in an entertained daze in his wake.
~
At the bar, House remarked how differently Wilson carried himself compared to at work. He was relaxed, enjoying himself. He was witty and confident. He was-
“Are you seeing anyone, House?”
House finished his first drink, throwing his head back.
“Nope.” He sucked his teeth. “Not since Stacy.” He motioned to the bartender for another drink.
“Ah, that’s a shame.” Wilson gazed off, then turned to House. “For you that is. Not for those pursuing you.”
House practically choked on a laugh.
“Yeah, right. All my hookers beg to be more than just a one-night stand with me. I’m just so delightful.”
“You know, I think you might be.” Wilson continued looking right at House. “Delightful, that is.”
House’s face dropped. Wilson had clearly gotten the wrong impression of him.
“Sure. And you might still be happily married.” House looked away, taking a long sip from his drink.
“I’m serious, House. And I’ve realized that marriage was never going to work.” Wilson mirrored House, taking a sip from his glass.
Without looking at him, House finished his thought. “Because you’re gay.”
Wilson did a double-take, eyebrows furrowed. “You knew?”
House finally looked back at Wilson. “You’re being serious?” He had said it jokingly, now feeling a twinge of regret.
Wilson nodded, eyebrows raised. “I only realized it recently. I suppose it takes one to know one.”
House shook his head. “Not gay. But I swing the other way now and again. Gotta keep your enemies closer.” He winked.
Wilson laughed, shaking his head a little. “Alright. Whatever you say.” He finished his drink, face looking pinker by the minute.
House was more than just a little gay, but he barely was able to admit that to himself. In fact, he distinctly remembered his attraction to Dr. Wilson two years ago, at the conference in New Orleans. Handsome and charming, smart and yet so stupid that night. House hated to admit it, but he felt that attraction again tonight. He hadn’t allowed himself to acknowledge it though, until he’d apparently outed Wilson’s homosexual inclinations. He had to stop his mind from racing.
They worked their way through another couple drinks, and House found himself embarrassed on Wilson’s behalf, he was so red-faced.
“Jesus, you’re a lightweight,” said House, disapproving. “Didn’t that divorce lead you to increase your tolerance?”
Wilson hiccuped. “Enough talk about my divorce. I’m focused on the future now.” WIlson winked, and House almost laughed; it looked so ridiculous.
“As long as your future doesn’t have winking in it, I’ll support it.”
Wilson peered over his drink, then swallowed. “You wish you could be a part of my future,” and he winked again.
House was grateful he wasn’t one who blushed, but he felt heat in his cheeks. It was one thing that he didn’t usually have someone who could match his bantering, but it was another when that banter turned into actual flirting. Dr. James Wilson was flirting with him. God help him.
“House, listen.” Wilson leaned onto the bar. “These drinks are on me. As a thank you for getting me this job.”
“It’s the least you could do.” House said, pretending to be endearing.
Wilson smiled, genuinely. “Hey, I owe it to you. I wish I could do something more to show my appreciation.”
A thought crossed House’s mind. No. He shouldn’t say that. But as usual, the words were out of his mouth before he had a chance to stop them.
“You could kiss me.”
Wilson stared at him, and House immediately regretted saying it. It was stupid. Wilson had just started at Princeton Plainsborough, and he’d driven him away immediately.
But then Wilson leaned in and kissed House, and my god it was incredible. Wilson’s hands were around House’s back, and House put his hands in Wilson’s hair, and they kissed for a long time. Wilson nearly fell off his stool he was leaning so far into House. House caught him, breaking the kiss to sit him upright.
“I-” House cleared his throat. “I think that might make us even. Unless you still feel indebted to me.”
Wilson smiled, eyes crinkling. “I think I definitely should kiss you again. And we should have another drink, I feel amazing.”
House smirked, waggling his eyebrows before ordering another round of drinks for them. His outward bravado didn’t match the uncertainty he felt inside. Was this a setup? Was this a hallucination?
But then Wilson grabbed him and kissed him again, and the worries fell away. His pain nearly melted away, the kiss was so blissful. He could kiss James Wilson for the rest of his life.
Wilson pulled away, a blush deepening the red of his cheeks.
“I think I’m going to like working with you.”