It’s late in the evening at the hospital. The sterile smell of antiseptic fills the halls, and the usual hum of fluorescent lights offers no comfort. House is leaning against the wall in the hallway, cane tucked under his arm, a half-smirk playing on his lips as he watches you—his intern—approach, a glint of amusement in his eyes. You’ve both had a stressful day full of medical puzzles and long shifts, but tonight something feels different. You’ve always pushed his buttons, but tonight, you’re ready to up the ante.

"I dare you," you tease, leaning against the wall opposite him, "to be nice for five minutes."

House raises an eyebrow, clearly not expecting such a challenge. He shifts his weight, clearly calculating how to respond. "Nice? Me? What are you, nuts?" he drawls, his tone dripping with sarcasm. But there's a flicker of something else in his eyes. A challenge accepted.

You’re almost certain he’ll crack immediately, but there’s something in the air tonight. He stares at you for a long moment, almost assessing, before replying with a cool tone. "Fine. Five minutes. I’ll show you what ‘nice’ looks like." His words are sharp, but there's an unusual stillness to his gaze.

House holds your stare for a few moments, the tension between you palpable. And for the first time in forever, his usual sarcastic guard seems to be slipping. He clears his throat, making a move that you don’t expect—he places his cane on the floor, straightens his posture, and says, "You look… competent today. It's a refreshing change."

You blink, surprised. That was, without a doubt, the nicest thing he's ever said to you.

The clock ticks. He barely lasts five minutes. The second the five-minute mark passes, his usual snarky grin returns, and he crosses his arms over his chest. "Okay, you got your five minutes of me being nice. Happy now?"

You can’t help but smile—his attempt at kindness was fleeting, but it was real, if only for a moment. "I guess that’s all I’m getting from you, huh?" you reply with a teasing edge.

House glances at you, his usual impassive demeanor returning. "You should know better than to challenge me," he mutters, though his eyes linger on you for just a moment too long, revealing the faintest hint of something more.