“Stop pouting. You know that it doesn’t affect me.”
Luke didn’t stop. He knew for a fact that it did affect Reid and he reallyreallyreally wanted Reid to come to this family gathering. So he looked as disappointed as possible.
Reid could feel it in his chest. Those sad brown eyes nibbling at this heart. But then he noticed something else. A small flicker of expected victory. Luke knew he would get his way. Again. That little flicker changed everything.
Reid didn’t narrow his eyes. He didn’t raise his eyebrow. He didn’t get annoyed. His face held just one emotion. Hurt.
“Do you have any idea how this makes me feel?”
Luke looked confused. Reid using the F-word was remarkable, to say the least, but the hurt in Reid’s eyes scared him.
“It’s just a small dinner party…”
“But you KNOW how uncomfortable they make me feel, Luke…” Reid started to look desperate now. “I don’t understand how you keep making me go to them, when you KNOW I can’t handle it.”
Before Luke could answer, Reid shook his head and lifted his hand. “Don’t answer that. There’s nothing you can say that would make it better, right now. I’ll go out for a while. I need some space to think…”
Luke was in shock. What happened to Reid and who was this alien that had taken over? Sure, they just started dating, but . He used to ‘get’ him. He always felt he knew Reid At least the important parts. And he’d witnessed Reid overreact before. This was different, though. This was…scary. He knew how to handle a stubborn Reid. A grumpy Reid. A jealous Reid. An angry Reid, even. But a hurt Reid?
Panic started creeping in. Did he mess up yet once again? He shouldn’t have been so pushy. Reid was right. He knew Reid didn’t like social events. And this was the third one this week. Maybe he should have taken Reid’s feelings in account, instead of focusing on getting his way…
Luke swallowed that realisation and it left a big lump in his throat. Would he ever learn? He needed to fix this. He needed to find Reid and fix this.
The minute he hurried out, he realized he didn’t have to search too hard. Reid stood there. Relaxed. Arms folded. No hurt. No drama. Just his calm self.
“Are you okay?” Luke scanned the blue eyes. Feeling confused again.
“I am, but thanks for asking.”
“I’m sorry for being so pushy.”
“Okay.” Reid still leaned against the wall. It made Luke nervous.
“We don’t have to go to that party…”
“That’s good,” Reid shrugged, “but that’s not what this is about…”
Luke swallowed. Oh God, he did mess up. The fear reached his eyes and made Reid step forward, closing the gap.
“I don’t like emotional blackmail. So I gave you a piece of your own medicine.”
“It was an act?”
“Partly. The frustration was real. The Drama Queen was an act.”
“You were convincing.”
“Of course I was,” Reid snorted, making Luke smile for a moment. “I needed to show you how it feels at the receiving end of the Snyder Pout.”
Luke nodded. “Not good.”
“Nope. No fun. It would be nice if you’d accept my no, without the whole drama thing.”
“I’ll work on it.” Luke looked shy. “Are we okay?”
Reid frowned. “What do you mean? Why wouldn’t we be…” He looked into the brown eyes. No flicker of victory. Only fear and insecurity. Reid grabbed Luke’s face and kissed him firmly.
“We had an argument. That’s all.” He opened the door to Katie’s apartment and pushed Luke inside.
“Trust me,” Reid panted between kisses, “we’ll have lots more. Just think of all the make up sex we will have…”
It made them both moan. Loudly.
And while Reid’s hands found their way over his body, Luke realised something important. Even without pouting, he got what he wanted. The only thing that really mattered. He had Reid. Right here, in his arms. Just where he wanted him. All he had to do now was starting to trust what he had. His mind went blank when he felt Reid’s fingers on his zipper. Lots of make up sex. Yeah, he could live with that.
