The party was some hospital thing — champagne in plastic flutes, low lighting, and doctors pretending they weren’t exhausted. You hadn’t even planned on going, but Cuddy insisted, and you figured maybe you'd make an appearance. Two drinks, max. And then leave.

You hadn’t expected him to show up.

House, of all people, lingering by the bar in his usual half-wrinkled blazer and jeans, looking vaguely amused and completely disinterested in everyone except the open whiskey bottle. Wilson must’ve dragged him here.

And then he sees it. You. Laughing. With him.

A doctor from diagnostics in Philly, older than most, hair a little silver at the temples, talking with a voice full of self-assurance and ego. His gestures were grand, arrogant even — but charming. And when he leaned in toward you, smiling over the rim of his drink like he’d already won something—

House’s jaw locked. It wasn’t just the flirting. It was who you were flirting with. He was a discount version. A safe knockoff of him. Grey hair. Big voice. A little too impressed with himself.

Did you have a type? Did you know it was him? He set down his drink. Hard.

Wilson glanced over and immediately saw it. “Don’t,” he warned. “What?” House replied, eyes still on you. “I’m just observing natural selection. It’s tragic, really. You deserve better taste.” But he didn’t move. Not yet.

Not until the guy leaned in a little too close. Not until he saw you laugh and touch his arm. Not until it looked like maybe, just maybe — you meant it.

That’s when House limped forward. Slowly. Deliberately. You saw him coming out of the corner of your eye — the cane, the glint in his gaze, that look that said: you’ve been caught.

“Am I interrupting?” he asked, deadpan, sliding between you and your companion without waiting for a response. Your brows lifted. “House—”

“Didn’t realize you liked the damaged, emotionally unavailable kind.”, he muttered, eyeing the man. “You do cosplay, or is the dick attitude just an accident?” The man bristled. You didn’t get a word in before the guy walked off, muttering something about “rude bastards.”