A/N: This was meant to be a one shot, but it seems that I am incapable of making Reid unhappy. So, here's a short chapter two to catch up with Luke. The next chapter will go back to Reid again.
Who's Luke?
Chapter Two – Stir Fry for Dinner
Red peppers sat on the chopping board, along with carrots, spring onions and bean sprouts. Luke tiredly pulled a carrot towards him, picked up a knife and began to chop it up into bite-sized pieces. It was Luke's turn to cook, and he always liked to make the dinner he prepared good, for his boyfriend's sake. The kitchen was silent, with only the sound of the knife slicing and the clocks ticking to disturb the peace. Luke glanced up at the orange clock hanging on the wall, smiling as he saw the time: half past five in the evening. That meant that Noah would be home from Oakdale University soon.
They'd been living together for just over a year now, and it was clear that Noah was thrilled every time he came home to Luke's welcoming arms. As far as Noah was concerned, what they had together was domestic bliss; they rose together from the same bed at promptly seven every morning. Sometimes there was sex, sometimes not. They'd take a shower together and get dressed. Luke would eat cereal for breakfast, Noah would have toast. Then, Noah would head off to university, after giving Luke a quick kiss on the lips. Luke would clear away the breakfast plates, and then head off to work, either at the foundation or at Grimaldi shipping. Luke normally got home first, and if it was his turn to cook, he would. Otherwise, he would read, or write until Noah came home. They could eat together, and then Noah would get any coursework or assignments done, while Luke did housework. They finally retired to bed at about eleven.
When they slept, Noah always curled his body around Luke, as though to protect him and keep him safe. To Luke, his boyfriend's arms wrapped tightly around him just felt like a cleverly crafted prison cell. Because in spite of everything, Luke felt restless. He loved Noah, he really did, and a part of him knew he always would. But as much as he tried to deny it to himself, Luke was no longer in love with Noah. His feelings had changed, and he didn't know what to do about it.
Noah was the love of his life, so why did his heart no longer beat faster when his boyfriend looked at him, or held his hand? Why was it that when Noah kissed him, Luke didn't feel butterflies ready to take flight in his gut? And why was it that when Noah touched him, he didn't feel like he had just been burnt? Luke still loved Noah, but now it was like he loved Casey or Will; as a friend, a brother, but not a lover.
Every day, Luke vowed to himself that he would end things with Noah. He told himself that Noah deserved better, deserved the chance to be with someone who would give him the love he wanted. But every time he went to say all of that to Noah, he found that he just couldn't get his words out. And the one time he had got up the courage to start, Noah had cut him off, and told him how much he loved him. Luke couldn't bring himself to be the reason the light in Noah's eyes died, the reason that his soppy smile fell from his lips. So he just smiled, kissed him, and held him close. And all the while, he felt like a traitor. To himself, and to Noah.
