Heh, nothing makes my day like waking up to an enthusiastic review or two. Or three. *grin* Thanks again for taking the time to leave one! Hm… Deadpool… I like him but I'm not sure how he'll fit in. I may do a brief cameo since you asked so nicely though. I'll be trying for an update a week but I've got two kids, one almost two years old and the other is five. We tend to get pretty busy during the week with school and stuff. Both girls actually love the show; the oldest got me into it in the first place. The youngest asks for "Hook! Hook!" which I found out is her word for Hulk. Seems my love of the big green guy has passed to her.
Sam and Peter? *Gasp* How did you know? *grin* At first, it wasn't a pairing I put much thought behind. Then I watched the episode where Peter meets the Guardians of the Galaxy. And now… I can really see it in the show. It's so ridiculously cute that I'm extremely tempted to put it into the story somehow… but… not until much later. Like… after Danny has to return to K'un Lun later. Though… at that point it might just be a sequel? Huh. And maybe a threesome after that! Oh dear… my mind has gone to some dirty, dirty places.
Also, I'm really glad you guys find them in character. It's something I've had problems with in the past and it's good to know I'm breaking free from my bad habits. Thanks for keeping an eye open for me *grin*. Your jokes made me almost snort my coffee, good job!
Same warnings as always. M for Mature with boys kissing and junk. Don't like, turn back.
I own nothing that is Spiderman or Marvel. Just the craziness in my brain waiting to be written out.
Attraction
School that morning was a rather dreamlike affair for most of the team. Ava looked fine but the slight edge to her usual demeanor gave her away. I'll just steer clear of her until after lunch. Aunt May sent them all off with a bemused smile, shaking her head. When the team walked into their science class, they weren't prepared for the sight of one, haggard, Dr. Bruce Banner pushing their Agent Principal Coulson out of the room despite the numerous protests he was making. The man sat back down and leaned back in his seat and rubbing at his temples. He was obviously showered and clean but not rested. The fact that he had neglected to shave was just another reminder. Did he seriously just manhandle Coulson? Cool.
"Good morning class." The doctor yawned widely and was echoed by at least half the class. "Sorry if I'm a little unfocused today. There was a problem at Stark Industries and I was there all night helping out. Principal Coulson was asking me to take the day off but I don't want to abandon you on my second day here." He gave the class a sheepish grin. "If you'll all please turn to where we left off yesterday?"
The class complied quietly, seemingly just as tired as he was.
"Mr. Parker?" Dr. Banner called as they began filing out of the class for lunch. "I need to see you before you leave for lunch."
The brunet gulped, not quite sure what this was about. I doubt he's going to turn into the Hulk and squish me… but why does he want me to stay after? He just nodded to Danny as he passed, gesturing for him to wait for him outside the class. The blond acknowledged him with his own nod and leaned against the lockers outside the room to wait.
"Yes, Dr. Banner?" Peter walked back to the doctor's desk, drumming his fingers along the wood nervously. The doctor looked up from his marking and waved for Danny to come in as well.
"You might as well come in as well Mr. Rand." He replied, waiting until they were both in front of the desk before placing a small metal object on his desk and activating it. A small pulse went out and both teens looked around with shocked expressions.
"What did you do?" Danny asked, just as Peter said, "That's so cool!"
"Mini EMP, we only have a few minutes of unmonitored time so straight to business. First, yes, I do know who you all are and so does Tony." He held his hands up as though to soothe the suddenly frazzled teens. "It's not really anything you did. The… other guy, the Hulk… he has an excellent sense of smell." The doctor emphasized the word 'excellent' eyebrows rising slightly. "Tony… his AI pointed it out to him a little while back."
"Well… that's awesome?" Peter rolled his eyes sulkily. Iron Fist patted his back.
"Don't worry about it. I've yet to be detained and successfully tortured for information." He grinned tiredly. "My second concern is this." The man held up a sheet of paper that Peter had to get closer to read.
"Oh, yeah, the internship at Oscorp. I won, so what?" Peter tried to wave it off nonchalantly. Danny looked at him quizzically.
"You never took the internship." Bruce crossed his arms.
"Well no, kinda been busy saving people at all hours of the day." He replied, indicating the doctor. Case in point actually. "I can't just leave a job where people are depending on me to do it. It's not fair to anyone."
"That's the answer I was looking for." The doctor nodded, leaning forward and handing him an envelope. "Did you know that Tony has internships available as well? And since we already know your unique circumstances, it wouldn't be a problem for us to work around them?"
"Wait… I looked for internships with Stark Industries first. I never found anything." Peter argued, a frown forming on his lips as he looked down at the envelope. His brows shot up.
"Yeah… SHIELD tends to like to filter the information you kids get. Fury does it to everyone really. Tony says, 'He's THE super spy. His secrets have secrets.' You should ask Captain Rogers about it sometime." Banner rolled his eyes with a laugh and pointed at his little EMP device. It seemed to be losing power. "It would be a way for Tony and me to thank you for yesterday… and for you to get your hands on real information. Real science. Think about it." Within seconds of pointing at the device, it powered off and the doctor was waving them out the door, Peter with an official internship offer in his backpack. "Have a good day kids."
"You never told us you applied for an internship." Danny said casually as they walked to meet their friends for lunch.
Peter shrugged. "Not much to say about it. I ended up not being able to take it due to the hero gig."
"But it's your life's passion isn't it?" The blond looked a little intense at the moment.
"Well yeah… but it's not exactly a priority right now. There are too many villains to deal with right now."
"There will always be villains, Peter. Yin and Yang. The dark balances the light."
"There you go again, fortune cookie." Peter smiled. "As fun as it sounds, Stark Industries doesn't do genetics. That's what I really want to do."
"Maybe nothing will come of it. I still think you should meet with Stark and see what he has to offer. You never know."
"Okay, I will." Twist my rubber arm. "It'd be cool to geek out with him at his lab again. Those were some great times." Peter grinned, reminiscing.
"We still need to talk, don't forget." The blonde's voice cut through the hazy daydream like a knife.
Peter stopped abruptly, just outside of the cafeteria and turned to face Danny.
"Do you want to do this over lunch? I don't imagine the subject matter will aid in our friend's digestion." Peter joked, reaching for a smile and failing.
The blond sighed, about to reply when Sam came running up behind them, textbook under his arm.
"Oh hey guys!" He said rather loudly. "Forgot my text book for our next class. Who wants pizza? I want pizza!"
Peter blinked at the sudden intrusion but nodded, taking the save for what it was. He allowed Sam to steer them both to the food line and back to the table, grateful for the distraction. Not that I don't want to have that conversation… okay, I don't. I don't but only because I don't know what to say!
At the table, everyone was already sitting and talking between bites of food. Peter sat and ate mechanically, chewing and swallowing, lifting another bite to his mouth, the whole time his brain was a whirl of activity.
Well, that was an awkward way to find out Sam knows about it. I guess he and Luke are on the other side of the wall… Peter blushed, still on autopilot. Oh man… I hope being on the other side of the hallway means that Aunt May and Ava couldn't hear. And what do I feel about that? If they did know, in a less creepy way? Huh…
"Hey Parker." Sam nocked on his head. "I asked you a question, like, ten minutes ago."
"Huh?" He stopped in mid bite, eyes focusing on the shorter teen.
"Real attractive Parker." Sam rolled his eyes and snapped a picture with his phone. "What did Dr. Banner want?"
"Oh, uh…" Part of it involves the team now… that will have to wait for a bit though… "He was passing along an internship offer from Tony Stark."
"Wow, no wonder you're zoned out. You must be geeking out in there hard core."
"Yeah, totally." He replied dryly.
"That's awesome news Peter!" MJ smiled widely. Harry however, didn't look very impressed. "What about the one at Oscorp? I thought you wanted that!"
Peter raised both brows, unsure of where this was coming from.
"I wasn't ready." He shrugged halfheartedly. Not like I can tell him the truth… "And now that kid Alex has it. Heard he was doing great."
"Yeah okay…" Harry looked away unconvinced.
"What, he's supposed to stay by your side or something?" Ava asked, dropping almost everyone's jaws.
"What? I didn't say that!" Harry sat up straighter, brow furrowed. "He just hasn't been around much. Hard to imagine him having time for an internship anywhere really."
Ouch. Truth hurts I guess… Peter sighed. This is the worst part of being a super hero.
The table was quiet for a bit, the only sound being the clink of plastic forks.
The Avenger's tower is pretty cool, Peter decided as he walked into Stark's office. Scratch that, it's totally freaking awesome!
"Peter Parker, there you are." An obviously freshly showered Tony Stark offered his hand to the teen as he stood from his chair. "Walk with me."
"Uh… Yes, sir!" Peter followed the man quickly, trying not to trip over himself. Sure, I'm Spiderman but around my biggest science crush ever? Yeah, totally weak kneed.
"So, Bruce tells me that you're interested in genetics?" The man asked, long strides eating up the ground to the elevator quickly. At Peter's quick nod, he continued. "That internship I'm offering is under him. Legally he works for my company but he really just does his own thing. He needs a capable assistant with… experience in super genetics."
"Well, I'm rather uniquely qualified then aren't I?" He snorted. "So, what, he's working to cure himself?"
"On the side maybe." Tony fixed him with a hard look before getting into the elevator. "He's more interested in reversing other genetic accidents. Kurt Connors for example." The man crossed his arms and waited for Peter to follow. "Bruce has managed to control his transformations through practice. You'll want to mind your jokes."
"Right, sorry." The brunet winced. "I can understand that."
"He's not sensitive about it. I am." The man replied. A few moments later the elevator stopped and opened, letting them both out.
"So, your AI Jarvis runs the building?" He asked, noting that Tony had yet to touch any buttons or give any voice commands. He's also telling me subtly-not-so-subtly that he's with Bruce. Huh. I guess Danny was right.
"Yes, good observation. Jarvis, introduce yourself."
"Good day, Mr. Parker. You may call me Jarvis as everyone else does. Should you need anything while in any Stark building, do not hesitate to ask." The cool, polite voice came from above them.
"Uh… Hey Jarvis. Thanks." Peter looked up, hand on the back of his head nervously. That means he's watched us sparring!
"I'll tell you now, he's pretty mischievous. Watch yourself." Tony warned with a smirk. As he turned, arms outspread, holo-screens popped out of nowhere, lighting the room up with their blue light. As the lab brightened, Peter could make out scores of equipment, much he hadn't seen on the SHIELD Helicarrier back when it was still up in the air. He knew he had to be salivating.
"Pretty awesome isn't it?" A new voice came from behind them. Peter turned to see a freshly showered Dr. Banner coming off the elevator. He ran a hand through his damp curls and waved at the teen with the other. "I could feasibly recreate my own transformation here but it's not in the best interests of anyone." He tilted his head at the equipment. "You want to work with me?"
"Oh man." The brunet's eyes alternated between both the equipment and the geniuses standing next to him. "Yeah, I really do."
"Great. How long can you stay today?" The scientist asked.
"Well… I kind of blew off a team training exercise for this. I'll be making up for it after supper though with one on one sparring practice with Danny." The teen shrugged.
Both men smirked, catching eyes before turning back to him. Wait, what was that look for?
"Let's get to work then, don't want to waste any time." Banner replied, bringing him further into the lab and geek heaven.
"I'll let you two science it up. Genetics isn't really my thing." The CEO gave them a quick wave before leaving in the elevator again.
"So, how was it?" Danny asked as soon as they were in the building.
"It was amazing." Peter gushed, grinning widely. "Dr. Banner has his own labs, labs as in plural, in the Avenger's tower. There's so much science man… so much awesome."
The blond smiled at him and nodded along with the excited chatter as they both taped up their knuckles and tapped fists together.
It began suddenly, as it always did between them, Danny moving in with quick jabs and darting back out just as fast. Peter kept up amazingly well considering his relative newness to the art, owing a lot to the fact that his Spidey Sense actually worked with Danny using his Iron Fist. He pressed his own attack a few times and danced back gracefully.
"Have you ever studied dance?" The question came out of nowhere.
"Huh?" Peter dodged a hit, slightly confused. "Dance? Like, tap dancing or ballroom or something?"
"No, ballet."
Peter blushed. "Aunt May had me signed up as a kid. I got out of it when I convinced her that it was making kids bully me."
"I see." Danny nodded. "Your movements always have grace, a kind of synchronistic timing."
"Well, Spidey Sense is pretty amazing." Peter shrugged, darting in and landing a blow that knocked Danny back. "Never completely figured it out though. It still refuses to see Aunt May seeing me in my costume as a bad thing." He chased the blond and forced him to stand his ground. They fought, deadlocked in a dance of flurrying punches and sweeping kicks.
They eventually found themselves grappling and breathing hard from exertion, Peter slowly forcing the other teen back with his superior strength. Danny smirked and Peter only had a second to worry before the force pushing back at him suddenly disappeared. He reigned himself in but not before he ended up tumbling them both to the floor.
"Hey, what was that for?" Peter griped as he sat up, shaking his arms out. He looked up to see Danny's green eyes at the same level as his and only inches away. His breathing was slowing and bringing with it the smell of chai. "Oh."
Again, soft lips on his and he was lost. He allowed it, wanting the closeness despite the fact that he knew that Jarvis was watching them. When Danny finally came back up for air, they both were breathing faster, faint flushes gracing both faces.
"Gentlemen, may I please remind you that the cameras in this room are focused on the sparring floor. The one in the locker room only watches the lockers." The polite tones of Jarvis came over the speaker, shocking the two apart.
"Who was that?" Danny looked up, eyes wide.
"Stark's AI, Jarvis. Runs all his buildings." He squinted up at the roof, getting an idea. I'd be stupid to assume they only washed each other's hair. "Oh hey, I forgot to tell you, you were right. Stark and Dr. Banner are an item."
The blond merely grinned. "My intuition is rarely wrong."
"Hey Jarvis, does being the newest Stark Industries employee get me any perks?" Peter stood up, pulling Danny with him.
"There are a few that I am authorized to allow."
"Can you turn off the sound feed in the bathroom?" He asked, hoping Stark was that cool.
"Already done sir. Is there anything else?"
"Nope, thanks man." Peter grinned and pulled the slightly confused blond with him to the locker room. Once inside, he began undressing, not bothering to do more than step outside of the camera's view. Danny watched him closely now, a new understanding dawning in his eyes and showed even more by the sexy smirk forming as well. Damn, it should be illegal to be that sexy.
"Come on, we don't have much time before we need to get back home." The brunet urged his friend. Danny needed no more urging and by the time they were both undressed, he was half hard. He pushed Peter back into the shower stall, the water coming on automatically at the perfect temperature. I know he can't technically see us now… but that was a little weird.
Danny didn't seem to care as he was more interested in the skin of his neck, peppering it with light kisses. Peter leaned his head to the side, allowing water to cascade through it and down his other side. The blond moved his hips forward, bringing both of their half-mast erections together into his palm. They both sighed at the friction and moved together until they were both fully erect.
Peter threw his head back with a gasp, not really caring that the wall was there. He'd had worse after all. When Danny reached up to feel for a bump, Peter shook his head and guided the hand to his hip as he lifted one leg to wrap around the blonde's waist. The look of interest was totally worth any embarrassment he might have felt at this slightly awkward position and it gave him the courage to bring up his other leg as well. Danny ran his hands firmly along the muscled thighs that were clenching around him, kneading them almost roughly. Peter groaned at the feeling and brought his hand up to the fancy soap dispensers. Danny pressed one of the buttons and a creamy conditioner came out into the brunet's hand. Perfect! Now just to… do this… thing…
Danny must have sensed his hesitation because he brought the hand that wasn't stroking their lengths together around to Peter's ass, swiping the cream from the stilled fingers and leaving Peter hanging on with only his legs. The muscles on his legs and abdomen stood out in sharp definition, especially due to the water, and made Danny groan into the brunet's neck, sending shivers wherever his lips touched.
He was faster this time as he prepared Peter, neither of them wanting to wait any longer. Within minutes they were joined together, still for the moment for the slighter of them to adjust.
"Just move Danny." He breathed. "I'm fine."
The blond didn't move yet, still wanting to give Peter some time. The brunet groaned in frustration and arousal, using his own legs to pull himself up and push back down. The strangled gasp that came from Danny only made him repeat the action, curious to see what other sounds he could elicit from his lover.
"The fact… that you can… you can do this…" The blond couldn't finish. Instead, he grabbed the moving hips and held them tight, thrusting himself at a new faster pace, pulling a deep moan from Peter's lips that he moved in to swallow with his own. Peter matched the pace and pushed it faster, allowing himself to be pressed against the now warm tiles with abandon, his head thrown back once again.
"Faster, Danny!" He cried out, feeling himself quickly reaching his peak. The blond nodded, shifting his grip and turning Peter slightly. The change might not have been dramatic but the effect it had on the angle of the blonde's thrusts had Peter calling out unintelligibly, his vocabulary suddenly gone completely as the stars took up residence on the inside of his eyelids. The building tension finally reached a breaking point and he fell over the edge, clinging to Danny with what little strength he had left. The blond continued for a few more moments before they were both sliding to the floor, completely spent.
"Wow." Peter said once he was finally able to regain his ability to speak. He opened his eyes and got an eyeful of naked blond. The water flowed in rivulets down his muscled chest, leading his eyes all over the place. Double wow. This needs to happen again.
"I'll second that." Danny replied, a sated grin on his face.
Peter blinked, realizing he'd said that out loud.
When they got home, everyone was already settling into their night time routines so they went to do theirs. Inside Peter's room however, was Ava, looking none too pleased with them.
"Uh… hey Ava? Don't you have your own bed to get to?" Peter raised a brow.
She ignored his question and stood, coming almost nose to nose with him.
"The next time you two decide to 'shower' you should probably use actual soap." She scowled lightly, pointing to her wrinkled nose. "I can smell both of you guys all over each other and it's all around in here. Thanks for telling the team this important news."
Both boys had stood frozen while she grumbled at them, only now looking at each other sheepishly.
"Sorry, Ava. We're still figuring each other out." Danny smiled apologetically.
"Whatever you two." She rolled her eyes, smiling back. "I'm going to bed. Keep it down in here. Luke and your Aunt May might sleep like the dead but Sam and I don't."
She didn't wait before moving between them for the door and closing it quietly behind her.
"So that was really awkward." Peter rubbed at the back of his head.
"Yes, it was." Danny agreed, willing the blush to leave his face. "But again, it forces the issue."
"I know, I know." Peter sighed. "Can I just start out saying that I like what we do together? And I don't mean just sex. Fighting and sparring and kicking butt and hanging out in your weird Zen ways is a lot of fun. I don't really want any of that to change." He tried not to pout.
Danny nodded. "I know what you mean. None of it has changed… though we have added more intimacy in certain matters."
"Among other things." Peter joked, getting a laugh from his blond lover. "I'd like to see where this goes though… and I also want to know what you want. You've been pretty clear that you won't do anything that I don't want… but haven't said anything about your wants."
The blond was blushing again but he figured his own kind of cancelled that out. At least he was smiling. Danny's smiles are the best… so warm and soft and all for me. Uh… wait.
Danny didn't give him time to continue thinking. "I sort of lied when I said I was okay with not dating. I'd really prefer that… but I can understand why you don't want to. Our lives can be difficult enough…"
Peter shut him up with a kiss. When he pulled back, there was a hopeful smile on Danny's lips.
"I never actually said I didn't want to tell anyone. I just didn't really know what to say. I imagine telling our high school friends that we live by some weird shudo principle wouldn't go over very well."
The blonde's eyebrows nearly hit his hairline. "You know what shudo is?"
"Yeah, Samurai paired off with young boys, yadda yadda yadda. They fought together and stayed faithful to one another." Peter grinned; happy his random trivia knowledge had managed to surprise the other teen.
Danny grinned back. "So… who do you want to tell first?"
"We could just show up holding hands." Peter shrugged awkwardly, looking away.
"We could do that."
They both laughed, the slight tension that had been there, erased for good.
End Chapter 3! (1000 words more than usual to make up for the last shorter chapter :D)
Note: There will be a time skip to after the Tricarrier is completed in the next chapter. Assume about a week or two has passed. Don't worry, you still get to see the reactions of friends and school to the boys' news. Minor baddies per usual. Next chapter will start the 'problem' of the story.