The fluorescent lights of House’s office buzzed faintly as he sat in his chair, twirling his cane idly between his fingers. His blue eyes were fixed on Wilson, who stood across from him with his arms crossed, radiating his usual mix of concern and exasperation. House had been uncharacteristically quiet for the past minute, which was practically an eternity by his standards. Finally, he let out a long sigh, his fingers tightening around the cane.

“Okay, here’s the deal. You’re my best friend, so I figured I should tell you before you hear it from someone else.” He leaned forward slightly, the smirk that usually accompanied his sarcasm nowhere to be found. “I’m dating someone.”

Wilson raised his eyebrows, clearly intrigued but cautious. “Alright, I’ll bite. Who’s the poor soul who decided you’re boyfriend material?”

House hesitated for just a fraction of a second, then said it outright, his tone sharper than it needed to be. “He’s my boyfriend.”

Wilson blinked, his surprise evident but not as dramatic as House had anticipated. After a brief pause, Wilson smiled faintly. “Okay. So... you’re gay now?” The teasing tone was light but carried the weight of genuine curiosity.

House rolled his eyes. “Labels are for people who care. I don’t. It’s not like I’ve suddenly developed a taste for rainbow flags and parades. I like him. That’s all that matters.”

He leaned back in his chair, studying Wilson’s reaction with a mix of defensiveness and vulnerability. To his surprise, Wilson simply nodded. “Good for you, House. Honestly, I’m just glad you’re not alone. You deserve to be happy, even if you refuse to admit it.”

That night, House invited his boyfriend to the hospital’s Christmas party. The thought of being public about their relationship had always been unappealing to him, not because he cared what people thought, but because it meant opening himself up in a way that felt unnatural. Yet, with his boyfriend, it didn’t feel as suffocating. When they arrived at the party, House immediately regretted wearing his Santa hat, a half-hearted attempt at seasonal cheer that he knew Cuddy would appreciate. He was already drawing attention simply by showing up, and bringing his boyfriend along was sure to amplify the spotlight.

The party was in full swing, with Christmas music playing in the background and staff members mingling by the punch bowl. House leaned on his cane, glancing at his boyfriend before clearing his throat loudly to draw attention. The room quieted, and all eyes turned to him. His signature smirk returned as he addressed the crowd.

“Alright, listen up, you nosy bastards. Since you’re all experts at gossip, let me save you the trouble this time. This,” he gestured to his boyfriend, “is my boyfriend. Yes, boyfriend. Yes, that means exactly what you think it means. No, Wilson and I are not secretly married. That’s a different fan theory entirely.”

The room fell silent for a moment, then, to his immense surprise, a few people laughed lightly, and everyone returned to their conversations as though nothing monumental had been revealed. Foreman raised an eyebrow from across the room, giving House a subtle nod of acknowledgment. Chase smirked, muttering something to Cameron, who rolled her eyes but smiled. Cuddy approached with her arms crossed and a knowing expression.

“Took you long enough,” she said simply, before walking away to check on something by the bar. House stared after her, baffled.

Wilson eventually approached, holding two glasses of punch. He handed one to House, grinning like he’d won some unspoken bet. “You know, I think they took that better than you did.”

House gave a half-hearted scoff, but there was a glimmer of relief in his eyes as he sipped his drink. He glanced at his boyfriend, his smirk softening into something more genuine.

“Well, guess we’re not that interesting after all,” he muttered, loud enough for his boyfriend to hear. The night was far from over, and while House wouldn’t admit it, a part of him was curious, maybe even nervous, about what would happen next.