Title: So, I Heard...
Prompt: Denial
Word Count: 382
Rating: PG
Warnings/Spoilers: Through season four (not counting House's Head/Wilson's Heart)
Summary: Amber inquires about Thirteen and Kutner's odd relationship and finds out a little more than she bargained for.
"I heard you're sleeping with Kutner," Amber said bluntly, sitting down beside Thirteen as she was unpacking her lunch.
"And if I am?"
"Interesting choice," Amber said, shrugging. "He's not the type of guy I'd expect to see you with, but if that's what your into," she added, gesturing across the cafeteria where Kutner was explaining something (rather enthusiastically, with hand gestures and full body movements) to Taub (who seemed very amused by the younger one's antics) while Foreman read his newspaper. "Why aren't you sitting with them anyway?"
"Just didn't feel like it today."
"Did you have a fight?"
"We don't fight," she said simply. "Nothing to fight about. We aren't a couple."
Amber shrugged. "Is it interesting?"
"Is what?"
"Him," she said.
"Why are you even here?"
"Wilson and I were supposed to have lunch, but he's busy with a patient and so I'm waiting," she said. "But why do you always avoid my questions?"
"Yeah, it is interesting," Thirteen said, getting irritated.
"What kind of interesting?"
"We leave you and Wilson in the dust," she muttered. "At least from how House talks about you two."
Amber's attention had finally been caught, instead of trying to pry into Thirteen's business as she had gotten into the habit of when she was a fellow, she was genuinely curious as to why Thirteen would think something like that.
"What makes you think that?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well…Kutner isn't as old, and he's…well-"
"A science experiment," Amber muttered.
"He is not," Thirteen snapped, getting more and more obviously irritated.
"He's a cute science experiment sure," Amber said thoughtfully.
"Just shut up, really," Thirteen said. "It's not funny, and whatever you're trying to prove isn't going to work."
"I was just trying to make conversation," Amber said, feigning innocence.
"And then you went into denial mode that maybe what I have is better than what you have," the brunette added, rolling her eyes. "I have work to do, Amber." Thirteen left the table and walked over to where Kutner, Taub and Foreman were sitting and the four of them left the cafeteria together, with a puzzled Amber left to ponder.