If You Close The Door, The Night Could Last Forever (Greg House x James Wilson)

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When they're working at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, Wilson and House are putting on an act. Why they do it, Wilson isn't exactly sure. He knows that neither he nor House care about the opinions of their coworkers when it comes to what they do, but then again, that isn't the problem. He supposes they're more of admitting what they have to each other than they are to anyone else under the careful scrutiny of each other. It's a game they've been playing for years.

At night- outside of the confines of the building where they work- however, things are just a little different. Neither of them acknowledge it, but they both know that the way they're sitting on the hospital's rooftop is not the way that two average friends would sit. They're sitting on the edge, legs dangling off, nothing to save them but each other and their own hands gripping the railing.

Maybe they don't want to be saved from this- from whatever it is that they are these days.

Wilson glances up at the sky. It's a cool summer night and their usual view of the stars is shrouded by the dark, puffy grey clouds that float above them. It's not quite as romantic as their usual silent star-gazing, though Wilson doesn't mind very much. Those stars are always there and will probably be there for the rest of his life. He can't exactly say the same about the man sitting next to him.

So, just like every other night they do this, Wilson quickly becomes distracted and trains his gaze on House.

The older man is still staring at the stars that aren't even there, probably avoiding the intense eye-contact that Wilson is trying to make. It's unsurprising- firstly because this is how it always goes, and secondly because Wilson is trying so desperately to see through House while Wilson is sure that House has always been able to see right through him. House already knows everything there is to know, so for him, there's probably no point in looking anymore. Wilson wonders why House sticks around if he's already figured him out. People are usually just cases to solve to him, after all, and House solved the case of Wilson more than ten years ago

"It's weird to think..." Wilson starts, clearing his throat, which finally makes House look over at him.

"What is?" House responds, furrowing his brow.

"That there's someone on this planet who knows everything about me," Wilson pauses, then decides to clarify (even if House could've figured it out on his own, because House loves making Wilson admit every embarrassing thing he's ever thought out loud). "You."

"Oh, come on. I don't know everything about you. That'd be ridiculous. It's like I said before, you're never boring. Surely, there's something you haven't told me about yourself; something I haven't been able to figure out yet."

"You really think that? I've always seen myself as an open book... You've been around me for so many years, surely you must've pieced everything together by now- or at least everything that's worth getting to know about me."

"Surely not. You're more complicated than you like to make yourself out to be. Plus, it doesn't matter how long you're around someone..." House sighs, then shrugs and finishes his statement with- "People change."

"Really? The House I know would never say that," Wilson laughs. "People don't change, they just become more of who they really are. Isn't that what you claimed all those years ago?"

"...Same difference. I'd be lying if I said I thought you knew everything about me."

"You think I don't?"

House laughs back, shaking his head. Tears prick the corners of his icy blue eyes.

"I'm glad you don't."

"I'm sure you're right, but try me," Wilson challenges. Then, bracing himself, he reaches over and places a hand on top of one of House's. House almost loses his grip on the railing, but Wilson quickly reaches over to hold his friend steady where he sits on the ledge of the hospital's rooftop. "Tell me something I don't know."

House swallows tightly and averts his gaze, red dusting the top of his cheeks. It's an expression that looks delightfully unfamiliar on such a cocksure man. Wilson can't help but fall in love with it.

"How about 'I love you'?"

"You don't mean that."

"I do," House says it plainly, almost as if he's talking about the weather forecast or something of equal triviality. He pulls his hand away from Wilson, scoots back, and stands up on the roof to head towards the latch of the door that leads to the hospital's top stairwell. Really, they're not even supposed to be up here, but staff has access to the lock, so they've been frequenting this spot for years. "But we both know I'm not what you need."

"But you are what I want," Wilson quickly retorts because fuck, they're finally talking about this and he doesn't know when he'll get the opportunity to bring it up again.

"Well, want and need are two different things."

Wilson stands up and takes a few strides towards where House is standing. He pulls House's hands away from the latch and peers up at him.

"Well, what if it's both?"

"Then I feel bad for you," House chuckles. "I'm a lot to deal with."

"Don't feel bad for me," Wilson scoffs. "Or I'll start to feel bad for you, too. I've consciously chosen to do this with you for almost a decade. You think I don't know by now that you're kind of a lot? I mean, you're you."

"Fair point, but... Are we just going to stand here like this, or are you going to shut up and kiss me?"

And, even if Wilson knows they won't talk about this tomorrow, he double checks the lock on the roof's door before pulling House into his arms and pressing their lips together- because maybe if he keeps that door closed, maybe if he keeps House close to him like this, tonight could last forever.

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