It had been a few days after Alex's big return home and Hank was still in a bitter mood to say the least. Maybe Hank wasn't being fair, but it felt fitting to give Alex the cold shoulder, if only for a little bit. Hank isn't entirely sure how long he can keep this up, seeing as how it kills him to be under the same roof as Alex but not talking to him.

The arrival of Peter didn't help Hank's case either since he became hooked the moment he laid eyes on the quickster and he was sure the feeling was mutual. Peter appeared to be attracted to him on more than one occasion and he often went out of his way to touch Hank in some way. Not in an inappropriate manner, but in a casual way that expressed affection.

Hank was actually finally considering asking Peter out properly instead of continuing in this runaround, that is until Alex returned. After five years without seeing or speaking to Alex and having him show up all of a sudden when he was finally moving on kind of screwed him up a little.

There was no doubt in Hank's mind that he cared deeply about his boyfriend... Or, ex... Hank didn't even know what they were anymore. It's not as if they had officially broke up, but their last conversation wasn't particularly friendly and both of them said things they didn't mean. Much like the conversation they had no more than three days ago.

Alex avoided him for the most part after that, seeing as how Hank made it painfully clear that he needed his space, and Charles acted as if he was oblivious, which he really wasn't. The same could not be said for Peter, however, because unlike Charles, Peter wasn't into the whole when you're ready approach.

It was Peter's mission to collect details and find out what the hell was going on with Hank. Sure, Alex had given Peter a slanted once over and told him to get lost, but he didn't seem like a bad guy though. After all, he did serve in the Vietnam war if Peter caught the subtext correctly from what he did hear of their conversation while he was still present. Alex seemed alright, then again Peter wasn't aware of his and Hank's history.

He must have done something really upsetting for Hank to act this bitter and jaded.

It wasn't his business to intrude on and he was far from understanding, but Peter took it upon himself to straighten things out between them whether Hank liked it or not. How did Hank expect to move on if he still had unfinished business with his ex? Unless, of course, they still had feelings for each other. That would make things even more arduous.

As mentioned before, it took Peter a whole three days until he finally couldn't mind his own business anymore. Peter had pestered Hank for a better part of the day, shamelessly grilling him for details. It wasn't as if Peter wanted to gossip he just needed to know, especially since he was interested in being with Hank. He couldn't be with Hank until the air was cleared.

"So..." Peter draws out. "Alex seems interesting."

It was a later in the day when Peter found himself in Hank's room, acting as a successful nuisance while Hank tried to catch up on some reading, or at least that's what he claimed. Peter was sure it was another tactic to push Alex out of his mind.

Peter was laying on his stomach across the width of Hank's bed, chewing on his lip as he stared at the back of Hank's head. Hank promptly replied with a turn of a page and a clearing of his throat as if to tell Peter to let it be and drop it, but that wasn't how Peter did things.

"What's the deal with you two, anyway?" Peter further asks, propping his head up with a hand under his chin. "You and Alex, I mean."

"He's just a guy I used to see," Hank dismisses indifferently, trying to concentrate on his book. "That's all."

"Seem awfully close for it to just be a casual thing," Peter observes, testing Hank's nerve.

"I'd rather not talk about it," Hank tells him and while it's not snappy or rude, it still sounds firm.

"It could clear your conscience a little."

"My conscience is clear, okay?"

He's lost his place more than twice by now, thanks to Peter, and Hank can't remember which line he was on, but it didn't matter since he was pretending anyway. Before Hank can find his place, the book is snatched so quickly out of his hands than Hank didn't really have to guess who did it.

Hank sighs heavily, sounding as if it's the most painful and strangled exhale he's ever made in his life, as he turns around in his chair to see Peter holding it up in a mock tease. Peter jerks the book back when Hank walks over and tries to snatch it out of his hand. Hank puts his hands on his hips, seeming to be unamused by Peter's antics.

"That is a lie and you know it," Peter points out, becoming serious for the sake of the situation. He tosses the book aside and sits back on his heels. "Now that you're done pretending to read, maybe you can tell me what the hell is going on with you."

"I don't know what you mean," Hank disregards lamely.

"Hank, I'm really into you and I don't want ruin things between you two," Peter admits, staring deeply into Hank's eyes. Peter takes Hank's hand in his and pulls him a little closer to where he sits on the bed. "I want us to be more than friends. That can't happen if I find out you still have feelings for Alex."

"I don't have feelings for him," Hank denies with a shake of his head. "I only want you, Peter."

"You can't even say his name," Peter observes proactively, frowning at Hank's belligerent denial.

"Yours is the only name I should be saying," Hank whispers, leaning in to kiss Peter timidly.

Peter had more to say, more to argue, but Hank's lips were so soft and yielding that he completely forgot what he wanted to say. Hank brought his hands up to cup Peter's face, kissing him more deeply than before to wash away any remaining doubt. And it did, if only for a brief moment.

The quickster grabs Hank by the hips, feigning nervousness to mask his hesitance in order to make this feel right. Peter is unable to suppress a moan when Hank takes it up a notch and climbs into his lap without breaking the kiss. Peter is taken aback by this gutsy leap simply because they've never been this close before.

Hank brackets his legs on either side of Peter's thighs, pressing himself impossibly close and wrapping his arms around Peter's neck. Peter rests his hands on the tops of Hank's upper thighs, following the lead of Hank's kiss when their tongues meet for the first time. The feeling is unlike anything Peter has experienced before, but even as their tongues slide against one another, something feels off.

The way Hank moans openly and excessively is enough to lead Peter into believing that this is rushed and desperate. Like Hank is trying too hard to seduce Peter into silence. Peter won't lie, he loves the way Hank grinds on him or how he swirls his tongue along his, but this doesn't feel right. Peter feels guilty somehow.

Before Peter can break free from the kiss, Hank gently pushes him down against the mattress so that he's on top of Peter. Hank slides his hands up under Peter's shirt, caressing the smooth skin delicately with long fingers. Hank purposely grinds his hips down against Peter's groin to elicit arousal but it doesn't do anything for Peter. Peter is too preoccupied with the fact that Hank is only doing this so they don't have to talk about Alex.

"Is something wrong?" Hank asks breathlessly when he finally pulls away.

He makes sure that his hips are flush against Peter's when he sits up fully, squirming slightly in a final attempt to arouse Peter. Peter sits up as well, steadying Hank so he doesn't fall out of his lap. The look on Peter's face is riddled with disappointment and frustration as he resists the urge to humor Hank.

"I can't do this," Peter murmurs, feeling a slight tinge of guilt when Hank's face falls short of a frown. "It feels like cheating."

"It's not cheating," Hank argues, letting his voice go thick from emotion. He's angry and confused and Peter rejecting him is the last thing he needs right now. "I told you I don't want him anymore."

"Then why are you trying so hard?"

"I'm not! You're just being too self-conscious," Hank protests, trying to mask his own insecurities.

"Yeah, because I'm only a substitute for Alex," Peter answers truthfully, expressing great concern and immediately hating the way that came out. "Look, it's okay if you still love Alex. I'm completely fine with that. What's not okay is denying it and then finding out just how unfulfilling I can be just because I'm not like him. Do you understand?"

Hank wants to cry because he knows how right Peter is about him and his twister of emotions for Alex. Peter goes to sit up, sliding Hank off his lap in the process before he starts to smooth out his clothes and hair. Hank feels as low as he's ever been and it didn't occur to him just how uncomfortable Peter could be by this. He felt crummy because he had no control over his emotions.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put you in this kind of situation," Hank apologizes, hanging his head down in shame. "I really do like you, though, and I want to be with you."

"You don't know what you want," Peter rebuffs, heading for the door.

He stands in the threshold for a moment before eventually turning to face Hank who stands indifferently by his bed. Peter caves in slightly when Hank unconsciously pouts his lips that have turned a light shade of pink from kissing. Peter walks back over towards Hank and cups his face.

"I have no doubt that you do like me, but this is serious and I don't want you making a decision you'll regret later," Peter tells him softly, angling his face up to give him a proper kiss on the lips. Hank sighs and reaches out to hold Peter, but Peter moves away before he can. "You should talk to Alex. It could do you some good."

Peter lightly taps Hank on the cheek affectionately, trying for a smile and almost succeeding if it weren't so painful to remain optimistic. Peter knew that there was a very good chance that Hank would inevitably get back with Alex, and why not? Hank was obviously hung up on the guy.

"Sort it out. Okay?" Peter says ardently, letting his hand slip away from Hank's face only to have it snatched by the wrist desperately.

"You don't have to leave, you know," Hank stalls, hoping against hope that Peter will stay. Peter gives him a skeptical once over. "I won't try anything. I just don't want to be alone. Please?"

Peter realizes he can't say no to Hank as much as he knows he should and he wishes he could trust him to keep his promise of not trying anything. Either way, Peter succumbs to the pressure of Hank's timid gaze, humoring him by sitting down on the bed and taking his shoes off.

Hank watches Peter toss his shoes aside and recline further onto the bed before eventually laying down. Peter pats the open space next to him, prompting Hank to follow suit and lay down with him. Hank hops out of his shoes one at a time, nearly falling over once or twice, and slips up beside the silver haired boy. Peter curls an arm around Hank's waist and pulls him close so that their foreheads rest against one another.

They just stare at each other for the longest time, blinking occasionally and counting the seconds to the cadence of their exhales. Peter pulls Hank even closer and rests his chin on the top of Hank's head, letting his eyes drift shut when he feels Hank's nose and breath brush against the hollow of his throat.

Hank turns into Peter's contact further, burrowing into him and wrapping an arm around the quickster as well. The embrace is reassuring and platonic enough to the point where it doesn't come off as sexual. Peter could get used to holding Hank and that scares him the most, he supposes.

Because as long as Alex is around, Peter knows Hank's heart can never truly be his.