Fic: Positive (H/W friendship)

[knitty-woman.livejournal.com]

Fic: Positive
Genre: Gen, H/W friendship, with implied m/m sex (no slash).
Author:knitty_woman
Rating: PG-13, for language and adult situations.
Summary: Wilson's sick. House finds out. Angst.
Words: Under 600
Disclaimers: This is a transformative work based on characters created by David Shore and others. No monetary profit is intended or sought.
A/N: Many thanks to blackmare, who read my first draft on the heels of her terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day and nonetheless made generous, helpful comments. It's expanded, and hopefully improved, since then. Thanks also to damigella for some useful suggestions. Any flaws, of course, remain my own.

Inspired by the Six Word Stories challenge for this year's Camp Sick Wilson. My story has many words, but only six per line.




Positive. Wilson's never appreciated the irony.

“HIV's no longer a death sentence.”
The counselor urges a support network.
Wilson considers. Telling House isn't....advisable.

He joins a gym, researches treatments.
Takes meds, goes back on antidepressants.

Poker, porn, no beer (“Zoloft, remember?”)
No unscheduled exams or stealth bloodlettings.
House seems oblivious; Wilson is relieved.

He's gotten good at keeping secrets.

One night, gaze averted, House asks.
“When were you gonna tell me?”

“House, what part of 'medical privacy'...”

“About the gay sex, you moron!”

Wilson stops breathing, closes his eyes.
This is the conversation he's dreaded.
He stands, paces nervously. “I'm not...”

“The facts weren't hard to find.
Your calendar says 'M,' not 'Michael'.
Credit charges from a certain bookstore.
Bars I've never had the pleasure...”

“Congratulations. You've outed me. Happy now?”

“Happier if you'd told me yourself.”
House chuckles darkly. “You're a coward.”

Wilson twists. “You wouldn't be? Asshole.”

“I'm not afraid of the truth.”

“And what truth would that be?"

House stands now, exasperated. “Our truth.”

Wilson squints, tilts his head, puzzled.

“I don't swing your way, Wilson....”

Wilson rolls his eyes. “God forbid.”

“...so you're afraid I'll leave. Idiot.
You've always been a fucking cliché.
You have terrible taste in women.
Men can only be an improvement.
And AIDS is so last century.
Your diagnosis is boring. You aren't.”

Wilson's gapes, hands and voice raised.
“I'm glad my--situation-- amuses you!
And what happens when it doesn't?
When—not if – I get sicker?
When I'm dying? When I'm—boring?
And what if people think you're --
You'll go....” He gestures, words failing.

House sighs heavily, his cane tapping.
“Just because you're gay now, Wilson,..”

And it begins, thinks Wilson wearily.

“...doesn't mean things will be different.
You'll do stupid things, I'll mock.
You'll keep secrets, I'll uncover them.
You'll nag me, I'll ignore you.
We'll hang out, watch TIVO, bitch.
People don't change. We won't change.”

Wilson sighs, angry still, but thawing.
“At least your arrogance hasn't changed.
Got any more words of wisdom?”

House looks thoughtful, pulls his lip.
“If the condom's split, you must....shit.”

Wilson can't help himself. He laughs.
“That was pathetic. You're slipping, House.”

House smirks. Mission accomplished, however clumsily.
His cane gently taps Wilson's shin.
“Bros before bros. Deal with it.”

Wilson's tempted. 'Not dealing' hasn't worked.
He's exchanged one closet for another.
He's been lonely. Not any more.
His eyes grow moist. “House, I...”

House grimaces. “Please don't cry. Ever.
We're not the kids from 'Glee'.”

Wilson grins. He's in familiar territory.
Then he remembers. He sobers, pensive.

“There's no cure for HIV, House.
I'm fine now, but some day?
I'll need meds, probably palliative care.
I'll need...you, for however long.”

House's head dips, and he exhales.
"You know the disease is manageable.
You'll probably live longer than me."
A long silence. “My clock's ticking.
But mi vida es su vida.”

Wilson breathes, hopeful. “Are you sure?”

House looks up, eyes steady. “Positive.”

Comments

[yarroway.livejournal.com]

I love how you incorporated the six word story challenge format into a longer fic. I can't read death or terminal type stories easily, but I'm glad i read this and glad you posted it. I loved House's description of "our truth" and how you brought them closer together.

[knitty-woman.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I remember the days when HIV was an automatic death sentence, and while it can be satisfying to read such tragic stories, that wasn't what I had in mind for Wilson. I always saw the illness as a vehicle for exploring Wilson's fear of coming out to House, since, unlike most illnesses, sexuality and HIV are often (not always, of course) linked.

[alternatealto.livejournal.com]

It would never have occurred to me to write a story in sentences of six words, and I'm so glad it did occur to you! This reads like poetry, but also like prose. You manage to get their voices, gestures, and everything else beautifully in this limited format.

Brava!

[knitty-woman.livejournal.com]

*blushes* Thank you for your kind words! Truth be told, I'd been mulling this story for about six months, but wrote nothing down (haven't written fiction of any kind since 8th grade). Then I saw the 6-word lines, and thought of a couple immediately. The elements of writing the story that I found daunting - setting, descriptions, plot, were nearly absent, given the limited format, and I just let myself write. I've always been good at literary mimicry (I've bastardized Dr. Seuss more times than I can count), and this was similar. And it's MUCH easier than haiku. Limiting syllables is hard. :)

Thank you again for commenting!

[jahmat.livejournal.com]

This was such an original idea! I love how it begins and ends with the same word which has two such different meanings! Well done!

[knitty-woman.livejournal.com]

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I'm grateful. I'm also glad you liked the repetition; I'd worried it might be too... forced?

[srsly-yes.livejournal.com]

An absolutely awesome read. Love the duality of the title. *mems*

[knitty-woman.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! That duality prompted my story idea months ago, but as I was writing this, I worried that it might seem a bit forced or cliched. (An earlier draft pushed the idea further, with less success.) I so appreciate your comments. Thank you again!

[zebra363.livejournal.com]

That reads surprisingly well for so many lines of just six words!

[knitty-woman.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Six words, luckily, is quite a lot, when it comes down to it, as long as you choose judiciously. I do wonder if anyone would have noticed if I hadn't mentioned it and had formatted it a little differently. It turned out better than I thought it would, and I'm glad that you enjoyed it.

[rslhilson.livejournal.com]

This was wonderful. Almost like a poem, and beautifully done. The last line was perfect.

[knitty-woman.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked the last line (improved significantly by blackmare, by the way). As an oncologist, Wilson would have uttered the word many times in its negative context, and probably would have already considered the irony. Doesn't make it easier to hear, though.

Thank you so much - I am humbled by the comments here from such fine writers, like you.

[menolly-au.livejournal.com]

Wow - that's really well done, it reads a bit like poetry to me but also tells a story, and an interesting one at that - I haven't seen too many stories where one or the other likes men and the other doesn't - would be an interesting situation for them.

[knitty-woman.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your comments! As much as I enjoy slash stories, I just don't buy that they'd both be gay/bi and have no clue about the other. I could see one hiding it successfully, but two? It could happen, I suppose, but it makes more sense to me this way. And I actually think Wilson hasn't exactly figured out who he is. His exploration came to a screeching halt with his diagnosis.

[storm-seller.livejournal.com]

Cleverly done and a nice handling of the topic. Big yay to both form and content, loved it :-D

[knitty-woman.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! The format could have been offputting - I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[sassyjumper.livejournal.com]

Wow. What a unique, clever idea! I actually somehow initially missed your explanation that this was for the six-word challenge (I'm speed-reading apparently). So while I was reading, I thought it was such a cool amalgam of poetry and prose. And actually, I still think it is :)

[knitty-woman.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I couldn't quite decide if it sounded poetic or just choppy. I'm glad you found it pleasing. :)

[barefootpuddles.livejournal.com]

Cool use of the 6 word story format!

“Bros before bros. Deal with it.”

Loved that line!

[knitty-woman.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you appreciated the allusion. I'm still uncertain about that line, myself. Time to let it go, I guess. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment.

[jezziejay.livejournal.com]

Read this the other day, and finally making it back to tell you that it is awesome. Very different take on fic telling, and you made it work wonderfully well. I hope you write more :)

[knitty-woman.livejournal.com]

It was fun to do (part of my self-improvement plan, via Eleanor Roosevelt - 'do one thing each day that scares you'), but I'm not sure I see another fic in my future. Thank you so much, though, for both the comments and the encouragement!

[3rdgal12.livejournal.com]

This was so perfect. And the six word sentences seemed a little awkward in places, but only in the places where the speaking should be awkward. I don't know if that makes sense, but it is a compliment, I promise. :)

[knitty-woman.livejournal.com]

LOL! I do think I know what you mean. The six word constraint necessitated a few concessions to rhythm - I figured that, given the format, readers would cut me some slack. I did try to make it sound as natural as possible, however. Thanks so much for your comment!

[brighidsfire.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on a first fic . . . and it's brilliant. I love the six-word structure, the rhythm, the IC-ness of both parties . . . the bittersweetness, the power of Wilson's situation and House's quiet, steady response. 'Our truth' indeed--beautifully put. Magnificent. Please write more, you're an excellent author.

[knitty-woman.livejournal.com]

Late replyi to your very kind and much appreciated comments. As I said above, I'm humbled by the support from writers I admire so much (including you, of course). It was very satisfying to do. I think I've haad my one big idea for a story, but if I do stumble upon another, I will have a bit more confidence in pursuing it.