AN: This is the 'clean' version. There is still mentions of adult themes and some swearing, but the smut has been removed. You can read the smut version on AO3.
Sam and Peter are college roommates and neither knows the other is a super hero. Spider-Man and Nova hate each Peter and Sam? They're about to make their lives very complicated.
Sam threw his plate into the sink. He stormed out of the kitchen and snatched the remote out of his roommate's hand. "You know I hate this crap."
Peter grabbed for the remote, "I was up first, I get dibs on the tv!"
Sam rolled his eyes, and switched to the cooking channel. "Yea, up at the crack noon."
"Right, like you're any better!" Peter snatched the remote back and changed the tv to the news again. Sam was grateful it was on commercial.
"Some of us have jobs, you know. I didn't get home until 2am." He left out the part where he was a superhero and had spent two hours after his shift cleaning up the mess Spider-Man had left. Seriously, who only takes out the big baddie and lets the goons run free?
Sam wrestled with Peter for the remote. Peter used his longer reach to hold the remote behind the couch. With a growl, Sam lurched into Peter's lap, clawing for the remote. He didn't register the position he had put them in; the only focus was on the remote.
The commercials cut out and the news program came back on. "Spider-Man to the rescue again!" MJ's voice drifted into the living room. She finally was given an on-air segment once a week, and had turned it into mostly Spider-Man propaganda.
Sam groaned and put more fight into his quest for the remote. He did not want to hear anymore about the hero. It was just out of his reach, and he was about to climb over Peter to grab at it when suddenly he was on his back. Peter smirked down at him. He had moved so quickly Sam didn't have time to roll away.
Peter kept him pinned to the couch. "You know, MJ would be hurt if I told her you didn't want to watch her segment."
Sam stuck out his tongue. "Tell her I'll watch it if she gets better material." It was a lie, he hated the news no matter the subject or who was reporting it. "What do you care anyway, didn't you two break up, like, months ago?"
Peter pushed him harder into the couch, "What, don't you like Spider-Man? And we are still friends!"
Sam scoffed, "The angry guy that spits at the screen had it right, he's a menace. I don't know why MJ sticks up for the guy, he's one of the worst heroes in the city."
Peter rolled his eyes.
"So, are you going to get off of me today? I have class in like 15."
Peter hesitated then smirked. "Only if you admit you'd totally *do him if you had the chance."
Sam pretended to gag, "Dude, no. Way gross. I'd rather take my chance with Black Widow or Squirrel Girl."
Peter frowned, "Sorry, I thought -"
Sam smirked, "Besides, I'm not the one with the man-crush on the Insect-Man." Sam knew better; Peter was straight, he had been with several girls in the last month alone. He knew, because he had been not so politely asked to stay out of their one bedroom apartment several times.
"Arachnid."
"What-ever." Sam tried to push Peter off, but the other man didn't budge. He was stronger than he looked.
"Sam?"
"Yea?" He blinked up at his friend and roommate.
He didn't get an answer. Peter slowly lowered his head towards Sam's. The seconds ticked past and Sam laid there, frozen. What was Peter...?
The moment was interrupted by Sam's cell phone alarm. Peter jolted back and stared at Sam.
"Uh, I gotta get going." He silenced his phone and grabbed his books. He didn't spare a look at Peter as he waved, then he was out the door.
Sam cursed when the door closed behind him. "Stupid phone, stupid class." He was thankful he remembered to set an alarm to prevent him from being late. If it hadn't gone off...Had Peter been about to kiss him? He shook his head, there was no way that was what had been about to happen. But, maybe?
He skidded into class a minute before 1pm and took his normal seat in the back corner. He willed himself to concentrate on the lecture, but his mind kept shifting back to Peter.
He and Peter were different majors, but they met during their freshmen year general courses. Peter knew Sam was bi. In the three years they had known each other in college, Sam had dated a girl and a guy, both of which crashed and burned. He hadn't been seeing anyone recently; college, his job, and being Nova meant he didn't have much time to go meet anyone.
He had to sneak around the campus dorms for two years so no one caught onto his alias. So, at the start of their junior year, he lept at the opportunity to get an apartment with his friend. It was basically on campus, right across from the regular dorms. They had opposite class schedules, so it was a great arrangement. Until Peter broke up with MJ a few months prior, he would only be in the apartment to shower and grab clean clothes. It made sneaking out as Nova easy.
But, recently Peter had been having girls over once, twice, sometimes three times a week. So, no. Sam didn't think Peter had been about to kiss him. The math didn't add up.
People getting up from their chairs alerted him of the class ending. He looked down at his notebook, the only thing there was a doodle of him as Nova sucker punching Spider-Man. He could dream. He sighed, he would have to get the notes from a classmate.
That was his only class for the day so he decided to go on patrol to blow off some steam. He swung by his apartment to grab his helmet and was thankful Peter wasn't there. He didn't have class, but he spent most of his free time in one of the labs.
Sam loved the rush that came from flying. Being above everything, ignoring the pull of gravity, it was freedom. Some days he would fly for hours, around the city, around the country, and up to space if he had the time.
The wind rushed past and he let his mind wander back to Peter. He had long since labeled his nerdy friend as off limits. Peter was straight, he was smart, he was just way out of his league. But Sam was still sure that had been a kiss lean in that afternoon.
He was hit with a thought. What if Peter wanted to experiment? He wouldn't be the first straight guy to, his last boyfriend hadn't been sure of his sexuality. They dated a few weeks, Sam doing his best to ease his boyfriend into dating another guy. But when things started getting hot and heavy the relationship started to fall apart. Sam knew going in that it might not last, and he always gave his boyfriend an out; if he changed his mind, and realized he wasn't into guys as much as he thought, he could walk at anytime. But after their first night together, Sam fell hard.
Everything seemed fine, but a few days later he had been dumped. Because, although he admitted he was bi, Jared had decided he would prefer a female partner. Turned out he liked to give, but not take.
Sam blasted a few bottles sitting on a building ledge. It still hurt to think about. He had put a lot of effort into it...and in the end it hadn't mattered. Peter knew that whole story, so Sam hoped he wouldn't ask.
An explosion a few blocks away shook him from his thoughts. He flew over to investigate. Sam took a quick inventory of the situation. Trapster was running around the corner, bags in hand. There didn't appear to be any civilians injured or in danger and he shot off after the villain.
Trapster was usually an easy catch. His weapons malfunctioned more often than not, and he wasn't the type to plan out his heists.
Sam caught up to him quickly. He was about to intercept him when a red and blue blur crossed his path. He collided with it, and they both fell to the ground.
He landed on the offender. Of course it was Spiderman, who else in New York didn't look both ways before web slinging across the road?
The man below him groaned. "Get the fuck off me dumbass. Trapster is getting away!"
Sam hovered himself up and scanned the road for Trapster. "You're the one that cut me off web freak. I had him!"
A finger was thrust in his face. "You crashed into me, newbie. For the last time, stay out of my way."
Sam resisted the urge to bite the gloved finger in his face. He could exchange insults later, the Trapster needed to be apprehended.
"Fuck you." He flew in the direction Trapster had been heading.
He felt Spider-Man sling next to him. Sam did give him points for being able to keep up when he couldn't fly.
"You'd never be so lucky, Bucket Head." With a laugh the other hero shot webbing at a corner building and turned down a side street.
"Son of a-" Sam did a mid air u-turn and headed after Spider-Man.
It only took him a few seconds to catch up, but Trapster was already tied up with a triumphant Spider-Man posing for photos. Show off.
He hovered back until Spider-Man web slinged away from the crowd. On the top of a nearby building he flew in front of the other hero.
"He was mine!" Sam glared, but he knew spiderman couldn't see it through his helmet.
Spider-Man chucked. "Yea, no. I had a tracker on him way before you got on the scene." He sauntered up to Nova. "But, if you're still down to fuck..."
Sam made a retching sound. That was twice in the same day he had been ask to sleep with his nemesis. He hovered a bit higher, making himself taller than the other hero. "You're vile."
Spider-Man grabbed him by the collar of his uniform and yanked him down. Sam let out a yelp at the force.
"Stay. Out. Of. My. City." He was thrown down to the roof and landed on his back. "Or I'll force you out." Spider-Man was straddling him, pinning him to the roof.
Sam couldn't stop the slight shudder that went through him and hoped it went unnoticed. They often threw insults at each other, but Spider-Man had never flat out threatened him before.
Sam shot out of Spider-Man's grip and hovered over him. "I'll do what I want, Bug Boy." He flipped him off and flew away. "Fucking hate that guy."
He flew a few laps around some of the more high crime areas, but nothing seemed to be afoot. Sam decided to call it a day and flew to the small park near his gym and stuffed his helmet into his drawstring bag. After patrol he always stopped there. If patrol hadn't been too exciting he would work out for a bit. But on days when he had a villain fight, or a Spider-Man run in, he would often just hit the showers at the gym then head home. It kept Peter from asking too many questions at least.
After a quick shower he returned to his apartment. The shower was on, so he assumed Peter had returned at some point. He entered their shared bedroom and hid his bag in his usual spot. All he wanted was a nap. A nice, warm, nap, with no intruding thoughts about Peter's behavior that morning or the lingering threat from Spider-Man
He took off his shirt and threw it on the floor. He kneeled down to climb onto his bed which was just a mattress on the floor. Sam pulled back his blanket and yelped. Between his pillows was a Spider-Man plushie. He blinked at it then grabbed it from his bed. He ripped the stitching from around the head of the doll and started pulling the fluffing out.
Sam stomped out of the bedroom and pounded on the bathroom door. He knew it was Peter, and he was not amused. The last thing he wanted to see anywhere near his bed was Spider-Man's face.
He heard a muffled, "Yea?" from inside.
Sam stared at the door and hoped Peter was in there alone. He tested the nob and found that it wasn't locked. He forced the door open and threw the plushie's body over the top of the shower.
"What? Ah! Sam!"
"Peter, that was NOT funny!" He tossed the plushie's head over and stormed back out.
He settled into his bed, done with the day.
Peter ran into the bedroom, not bothering to dry off. He had just a towel over his waist. And damn, who knew he was hiding that body under those baggy clothes? He had a few scars dotted across his torso, and Sam wondered where a nerd like Peter Parker would acquire injuries like that. Maybe a car accident?
Peter paused half way across the room. "Sorry, it was a joke…"
Sam shook his head and stared at his friend, Spider-Man toys forgotten.
Peter smirked, "What? Like what you see?"
Sam snapped out of his daze. "Dude...don't even joke."
Peter hesitated. "Hold on…" He grabbed some pants from his pile and left the room. He returned quickly with the pants on and the towel gone. Sam missed the towel.
"So…" Peter sat on the floor next to Sam's bed. "Uh...I'm sorry about this morning...I didn't mean to weird you out or anything" He picked at the carpet as he spoke.
Sam knew Peter mean the almost, maybe, kiss. But he decided to play with his friend a bit, and prolong talking about it. "Well, we can always write up a TV time chart."
Peter shook his head. "Sam, that's not what I-"
"Don't." Sam looked away.
"Sam…"
A warm hand was placed on his knee and Sam looked up. "Pete...please...I…"
Peter leaned forward. Sam could feel his warm breath ghost over his lips. "Sam? Can I kiss you?" And that was so Peter, always respecting people's boundaries.
Sam closed his eyes and closed the small distance. Peter's lips were soft against his chapped ones. Peter was hesitant and that was all Sam needed to pull away. He couldn't be someone's experiment again.
He stood up and grabbed his shirt.
"Sam, wait!"
Sam shook his head.
"Sam, I like you...I…"
"I can't." And he left.
He wandered around campus with no destination in mind. Across the quad, around groups of other students, he ignored them all. He couldn't believe he kissed Peter. And, oh, how was he going to face him? He had to go home at some point.
"Sam! Hey, Sam!"
Sam looked up to find MJ waving him over to where she was sitting on the grass.
"Uh...hey MJ." Talking to Peter's ex girlfriend. Right, just what he needed. But, they were friends- the three of them. He couldn't just ignore her.
She crossed her arms. "Peter was looking for you. He said you left your phone?"
He took a seat next to her and patted his pockets. "Yea...I must have forgotten it."
"What happened? He said you ran out?" She was scrutinizing him, giving him the journalist eye. Since she had started working at the Bugle during her senior term she had become unstoppable.
"Uh…" Sam sighed. "I- we- just made it awkward."
"What do you mean?"
"We kissed." Sam held up a hand when she went to talk. "Don't start. I'm sorry, okay. It just happened. He asked if he could kiss me, and he was so close, and I kissed him...but I can't be someone's experiment again. I can't go through that again."
MJ smiled- SMILED- at the man who had just kissed her ex. Sam was pretty sure he had just crossed an ethics line with that one. But she was smiling at him.
"Did Peter ever tell you why we broke up?"
"No."
"It was because he had feelings for someone else. We had been drifting apart for a while, and we've been friends forever. So, when we started dating we promised to be friends first, and last. So, when he came to me and said he liked someone else, I let him end our relationship. It hurt, I won't lie, but it wouldn't have been fair to either one of us to keep dating."
Sam eye her, "He hasn't been dating anyone…?"
MJ gave him the special look she used when he was being particularly obtuse. "He was confused...because he liked another guy. And it was the first time he ever had. It scared him, I think...but he was honest with me, and himself. Last we spoke, he still had those feelings but he hadn't acted on them." She stared at Sam, waiting for a reaction. When he continued to stare at her she added, "Until today, it seems."
Oh. OH! Peter like him. Wasn't that what he had said before Sam left? "But, I don't-"
"Sam. He's waited a few months, I think he's sure. You're not just an experiment to him." She put a hand on his shoulder. "Now, go home."
Sam ran home as quick as he could. Because Peter Parker liked him. The nerdy, handsome, Peter Parker like him.
He burst into their apartment and found Peter sitting on the couch.
"Sam. Sam, I'm sorry, I didn't think, I-" But Peter was cut off by Sam's lips covering his.
Sam wrapped his arms around Peter's waist and pulled him close. At first, Peter was hesitant, but soon he matching Sam's enthusiasm. After a few moments, Sam pulled away, letting his hands linger on Peter's hips.
"Sam." Peter whispered breathlessly.
"Peter." Sam leaned up to give him a quick peck on the lips before stepping back.
"We need to talk this through...I can't…"
"Sam, I like you." Peter sat back on the couch and patted the cushion next to him.
Sam too the invitation and fell onto the couch next to Peter. "Yea, MJ said..."
Peter jumped. "MJ? What did she tell you?" His blush deepened.
Sam laughed, "Only that you've liked me for a while." He paused. "Hasn't it been awkward? Living together?"
Peter rubbed his neck, "Yea, a little."
Sam wondered if that was the reason for his string of one night stands. Had Peter been trying to convince himself he wasn't gay (or bi)? "Well, you're pretty cute." Understatement much?
"So, what now?"
Sam cursed Peter for being so adorable. "How about we cuddle on the couch and watch Star Wars?"
Peter grinned. "I can do that."
Sam knew they had both seen the movies a millions times- and that was just since moving into the apartment. It was something familiar, sitting on the couch and watching their favorite movies. This time, however, they didn't sit on opposite sides of the couch.
Sam leaned on his taller...Friend? Roommate? Boyfriend? Peter.
They could worry about labels later.
For the rest of the evening they watched the movies, chatting away like they always did. But the subjects turned more personal, more exploring. And Sam found, for once, he didn't mind sharing.
Thank you for reading!