wilson was splayed across house’s couch, a glass of whiskey sloshing in his hands. house was pacing across his living, his own mostly empty glass of whiskey balanced between his fingers as he gestured towards his bookshelf. “-plenty of perfect examples,” house was saying.
dropping his head back against the armrest, wilson huffed out a derisive snort. “i doubt you’ve even read a single one of those books, let alone could quote poetry off the top of your head,” wilson said, lazily gesturing with his whiskey glass at house.
house’s face twisted into a dramatic pout. “it’s like you don’t have any faith in me at all.”
“i don’t,” wilson said, attempting to level house a look of nonchalance but failing due to the alcohol in his system.
with a smug little grin, house moved across the room and propped himself on the arm of the couch that wilson was sitting on. dramatically clearing his throat, house flashed wilson a little wink. then, he closed his eyes and began to speak.
“o captain! my captain! our fearful trip is done; the ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won; the port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, while follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
“but o heart! heart! heart! o the bleeding drops of red, where on the deck my captain lies, fallen cold and dead.
“o captain! my captain! rise up and hear the bells; rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills; for you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding; for you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
“o captain! dear father! this arm beneath your head; it is some dream that on the deck, you've fallen cold and dead.
“my captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still; my father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will; the ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done; from fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;
“exult, o shores, and ring, o bells! but I, with mournful tread, walk the deck my captain lies, fallen cold and dead.”
as the final words of the poem fell from house’s lips, he finally opened his eyes to see wilson staring at him with stars in his eyes.
“wow,” wilson uttered, letting out a little laugh of surprise as he stared at house like he’d hung the moon.
house shrugged one-shouldered as he put his glass down onto the table. “told you i’m more cultured than you are.”
the look of awe slipped from wilson’s face as he pointed at house in challenge. “i know poetry, too, you know.”
house huffed out a laugh, sliding down onto the couch next to wilson. “no you don’t.”
raising an eyebrow, wilson turned his body until he was half slouched against the armrest and half leaning against house, placing his empty glass next to house’s on the table.
“the healer with his magic powers. i could rub his gentle brow for hours. his manly chest, his stubbled jaw,” wilson started to recite.
house kicked at wilson’s thigh with his foot. “shut the hell up.”
“everything about him leaves me raw with joy. oh, house, your very name, will never leave this man the same,” wilson continued, leaning in until his breath was ghosting against house’s cheek; whispering the final line of the poem against house’s stubble.
“dick. of course that’s the only poem you have memorized.”
wilson’s nose rubbed against the underside of house’s jaw. “you love it, don’t deny it.”
house shook his head. “i hate you,” he grumbled, even as he slipped his arm around wilson’s lower back and tugged wilson closer so wilson could trace open-mouthed kisses down house’s neck.
“should’ve known,” wilson said, pressing lips to skin. “you’d be,” wilson said after another kiss, “as good with poetry as you are with music.” another kiss to the skin above the collar of house’s t-shirt.
“music is just poetry with a melody,” house said, sucking in a breath as wilson’s lips grazed against his collarbone.
wilson moved up, kissing the corner of house’s lip before hovering just out of reach. “prove it,” he whispered.
“fuckin’ tease,” house muttered.
wilson laughed softly, shifting to ghost a feather-light kiss to house’s lips before he settled against house’s side with his legs draped over house’s lap.
drawing in a deep breath, house closed his eyes and let his alcohol-infused brain find a jazz song he knew by heart.
softly, house began to sing, “someday he'll come along. the man I love. and he'll be big and strong. the man I love. and when he comes my way, i'll do my best to make him stay.
“he'll look at me and smile. i'll understand. then in a little while, he'll take my hand. and though it seems absurd, I know we both won't say a word.
“maybe I shall meet him sunday. maybe monday, maybe not. still i'm sure to meet him one day. maybe tuesday will be my good news day.
“he'll build a little home that's meant for two, from which I'll never roam. who would, would you? and so all else above, i'm dreaming of the man I love.”
the final words hung in the air, and house turned his head to glance at wilson.
wilson didn’t utter a word; he just leaned in and drew house into a long, lingering kiss that left them both breathless.