Title: Assumptions, Admissions, and Acceptance
By: Mickeylover303
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG-13
Words: 1465
Summary: It was that newer side of Greg that Nick wasn't sure how to deal with.

***

Nick was pretty sure it was the most random thing he'd ever done in his life ... if not the most seemingly out of character thing he'd ever done in his life.
 
But nearly two weeks later and he still couldn't figure out what he was thinking ... what in God's name possessed him to ask Greg to dinner because of a case involving peanuts; putting on some kind of suave bravado that in retrospect was anything but and made him question how Greg fell for it in the first place; why he even said yes. 
 
Nick did suspect it may have had something to do with his assumptions about Greg's sexuality, which he already acknowledged but never really confirmed. And while they haven't had sex - intermittently falling into the situation and clumsily avoiding it ... Greg seemed comfortable enough around him. Though, Nick could say that it'd been like that for as long as he'd known Greg; the other man not afraid of Nick invading his personal space and not minding returning the favour. But within a different context, one outside of friendship, the physical contact held a completely different meaning; a different kind of intimacy that didn't necessarily mean sexual.
 
While he may have grown up a bit more conservative than most, Nick didn't have a problem with homosexual relationships, per se. Not having encountered it much until later on in life, Nick simply turned his head and didn't have much to say about it ... not really having an opinion about two people of the same sex being intimate with one another. However, it didn't mean he went out of his way to support it, either ... more likely to avoid it than anything else.
 
But the inherent problem in having a relationship with Greg besides Greg being male was the fact that Nick wasn't gay ... knew he wasn't anything but straight ... and had yet found himself spending time at Greg's place on more than one occasion; where Nick had actually sought to bring the topic of his sexuality into conversation.
 
"I'm flattered," Greg said, grinning widely as he opened a drawer, taking out two spoons and placing them on the small wooden table, "really."
 
"Are you ever going to be serious outside of work?" Nick asked shortly, the irritation in his voice fading as he noticed the slight falter of Greg's smile; a brief display of vulnerability that caught the older man by surprise.
 
"I am," Greg said softly before taking a seat beside Nick. "But if it's any consolation, I wouldn't say that you're gay. Not that it should really matter, right?"
 
Sighing, Nick removed the spoon from him mouth, putting it back in the bowl. "What about you, then?"
 
Greg looked up from the table, licking the remains of vanilla ice cream from his lips. "I'm just Greg."
 
The other man hadn't really done much to alleviate him and Nick wouldn't deny that he was worried, concerned about what other people would think of him; would think of his relationship with another man, much less Greg. His private life was just that ... private. And if word got out, regardless of his perceived reputation, the consequences could be devastating to both their careers; especially since Greg recently told him he was thinking about going out into the field, which ... if their relationship lasted that long ... would lead to a whole slew of problems and complications Nick wasn't sure he knew how to deal with.
 
But that was too far in the future to comprehend for Nick because it was the now he worried about, the fact that he was here. Honestly, he didn't know what to do, didn't know if there was anything he was supposed to be doing. He'd never had this kind of intimacy with a man before and hadn't been involved with someone so closely for more than a month in a long time.
 
And it was for those reasons alone that Nick could admit he was afraid.
 
**
 
When the butterflies in his stomach began to dwindle and the novelty of doing something he'd never done before wore off after a week, Nick learned that being with Greg was the almost the same as spending time with Greg;  like there was some kind of unspoken agreement between that said nothing had really changed between them.
 
 Nick still wasn't sure what to call their relationship and doubted Greg could clarify it, either. But between increasingly frequent thoughts of Sharon, comparing her to Greg and finding fault where he used to once believe was perfection, he decided he would just go along with it, see where being with Greg would take him.   
 
Because there'd be days when Nick would think of something about Greg; something he liked, something he disliked. And even during those times when he felt the other man was being particularly trying, he would always end up seeing Greg's smile, picturing it in his mind alongside a silent laughter that made his entire body feel numb.
 
And he would think of the small touches that weren't there before; the feel on his lips pressing hard against Greg's; the fleeting glances that would never seem long enough; the silent conversations that conveyed more than words ever could. He would remember Greg's fully clad body beneath him, long arms wrapped tightly around him; the secrets neither of them wanted to say being quietly shared between them.
 
**
 
It wasn't until Greg tried to initiate sex for a second time that Nick noticed something wrong. The first time Greg tried, Nick had managed to convince the other man to wait and prolong the inevitable conversation about it. Other than the fact that he'd never had sex with another man before, Nick couldn't say he was ready to make that step, no matter how small.   And it wasn't as if he didn't think about it. He was a normal guy with basic needs and had already crossed the hurdle of seeing Greg in a sexual manner. More than twice he would imagine what it would be like, faced pressed against a flat chest instead of in between a woman's supple breasts; running his hands down Greg's torso and cupping his ass.
 
Still, Nick was wary of the effect it could have on their relationship. Because it wasn't based on sex, it wasn't based on a one night stand that made them feel obligated to meet again next week or whenever one of them wanted a warm bed at night only to find it empty in the morning. It was fragile and still developing. He had yet to place his relationship with Greg, what he was doing with the other man (because he felt dating sounded too contrived in these circumstances), but he knew he wasn't in a hurry to impair it anytime soon.
 
It wasn't until Greg actually tried to confront him about not having sex, did Nick realised the other man probably wasn't ready to make that step, either. It was a moment of vulnerability from Greg that Nick didn't know what to make of, didn't know what to do with, and honestly never wanted to see again. The implications staggered him, caught him off guard and made him want to distance himself from Greg; turn back and leave everything that happened behind.
 
But he knew there was nowhere else to go.
 
Greg looked expectantly at Nick before settling back in between the other man's legs. "You know I'm more talk than anything, right?"
 
"I thought it was kind of obvious," Nick said thoughtfully, "more than obvious, really."
 
"And you know I've never had sex with another guy before, right?"
 
Nick picked up the remote; putting the TV on mute before putting the remote back on Greg's couch. "Come again?"
 
"I've never had sex with another-"
 
"I heard you the first time, but you're telling me now?" Nick asked incredulously; not able to prevent the small scoff that escaped him. "I mean, you're the one who-"
 
"I know ... I know, but it's just..." Greg paused, turning his head away as he closed his eyes. "...is it me?"
 
Nick sighed heavily, earlier annoyance fading at the diffidence in Greg's voice. "You know I've never had sex with another guy, either, right?"
 
"I thought it was kind of obvious," Greg said, laughing briefly as he let himself sink further in between Nick's legs.
 
Nick closed his eyes; placing his head on top of Greg's. "Smart ass," he said softly, indulging in the faint smell of shampoo and the soft strands tickling his face.
 
"Is it?" Greg asked again, body tensing as they both waited in the silence that followed; Nick tightly wrapping his arms around the man; listening for the soundless voices from the TV screen before he finally spoke.
 
 "I like your hair."