_ wow has it reallllly been this long since I updated? Eeek. Hope half a chappie of sex makes up for it :)
A huuuuge thank you to EmeraldsAndAmethyst/Cheeszygoddess for helping me with the sex scene!
Without his job to worry about for the time being, thank you evildoers, Sam had much more free time. Per their agreement, he and Peter went on actual dates away from their apartment and also maintained personal time. Of course, Sam used his personal time to play hero.
Playing hero usually went pretty well, if he said so himself. And hey, even if the spider menace took credit for some of his work, he knew he did good. Saving lives was about more than getting his face on tv, or having fans, or merchandise.
Okay, he wanted all of those things too. Imagine: Nova themed skateboards and maybe a tv show….
And, having Spider-man merch constantly thrown in his face by his boyfriend was starting to wear on him. He knew, if things with Peter continued, he would eventually need to tell him the truth. That he, Sam Alexander, was the mighty hero called Nova, and he hated Spider-man. But, that 'eventually' was a long way off. He would just have to resign himself to shredding the 'gifts' Peter left him.
At least, Peter eased up on it. There wasn't a pillowcase, or mug, or plush, everyday anymore. But, at least once, often twice, a week, they had the same argument.
"You made the mess, you clean it up," Peter said while staring at the remains of a Spider-Man lamp.
Sam had no idea where he found a lamp, but he had a suspicion it was from the same place he found the rest of the junk. Probably an art student, or Spider-Man fan who had too much time and not enough sense.
"Stop trying to turn me into some spider lover." Sam threw his arms up, tired of the same thing. "I'm never going to like that menace, so just get over it."
"But-"
It took a lot of Sam's willpower, nearly all of it, to not cave at the sad puppy look Peter was giving him. "Never. I hate him."
"I-" Peter huffed, his shoulders slumping further. "I'll see you later." Peter stepped over the the bits of plastic on the floor and reached for his camera bag and jacket.
"Peter. Wait." It took him a moment to adjust to the sudden change from arguing to Peter leaving. Sam reached for his arm, but it was pulled away sharply, and Peter left, closing the apartment door with more force than necessary.
"Well, fuck." Sam huffed, still agitated by Peter's antics. He kicked the pile of lamp for good measure. He looked to his bag where his helmet was safely hidden. If Peter could storm off, so could he.
"Maybe blasting some baddies will make me feel better." He didn't believe it would, but he may as well channel his frustration into something positive, right?
In an alley a few blocks from his apartment, Sam paused to put on his helmet. Then, he was soaring high above it all, above the people, the villains, the buildings… but not far enough to escape his own doubts and fears. So, he kept flying, searching for a crime to stop or a baddie's ass to kick. But, New York was quiet, well, as quiet as a city could be.
"I miss Carefree," Sam said to himself as he perched on top a building. Nothing happened in Carefree- and when it did, it was large and easy to spot. New York was a whole other beast. It was a difficult transition to make. Sure, he could hold his own in Space, but he didn't have to live there.
He pulled out his cell, hoping for a message from Peter. All that greeted him was a blank screen.
"Perfect," He muttered to the sky above him. Just a little over a month of dating, and he managed to fuck it up. All because he couldn't keep his loathing of the bug-jerk-man to himself. But where did Peter get off, he knew Sam couldn't stand the joke, yet he persisted. Peter meant well, but there was a line. A LINE. They were both in the wrong, Sam admitted over the conflicting feelings of guilt and anger.
They were bound to fight, right? It was going to happen, all couples faught. But Peter left, stormed off before they could talk it out. What did that mean?
"Well, short term," Sam said aloud, "it means he probably cancelled our museum date for tomorrow. Long term…" he swallowed around the growing lump in his throat. Peter wouldn't break up with him over Spider-man, would he? Shit, he must have spent a lot on those gifts…
"Aurgh!" Sam punched at the air. "Why am I such an idiot?"
"I think it's just in your nature. Your default setting, ya know?"
Sam whipped around, "You!" The web crawler was hanging upside down a few feet behind his perch.
"Me!" The red and blue hero spread his arms out in a silent 'ta-da'.
"Go away. I was here first." Today was not the day. If Sam couldn't fully blame himself or Peter for their argument, he could most certainly blame the menace himself. If he wasn't so infuriating he wouldn't hate him so much, wouldn't despise seeing his face in his apartment, wouldn't have destroyed Peter's 'gifts'.
"Wellllllll," Spider-man dropped down to the roof with unnecessary flourish. "Technically, I was. You know, with it being my city and all."
Sam muttered under his breath. The dance was familiar: they would exchange words, mock each other, then rush off to aide someone mid argument like the good heroes they were. Maybe some shoving afterwards. But, today… Sam was itching for a fight, wanted to cross the line they'd been dancing on and just sucker punch the buffoon.
"Seriously, go away." Sam floated up, putting some distance between them. "I'm not in the mood for your dumb jokes."
"Aww, but Sparky, my jokes are A+. You should appreciate them since you're both outa this world. And by that, I mean: go the fuck back to your space rock." He kept his tone sinisterly sweet as he walked towards Sam at an angle.
"I'm not from space you bug. I'm from Earth. And if I want to defend the people of this city, I'm going to."
Spider-man crossed his arms, he needed to look up to talk to Nova as he hovered a few feet above the roof. "Compensating a little bit?"
"Urgh. Yea, yea, I'm short. Real original bug-boy."
"Arachnid." Without uncrossing his arms, Spider-Man turned his wrist, shooting webbing at Sam's face. "I like it better when you don't talk."
Ew, ew. Sam pulled the webs from his mouth, managing to dislodge most of it after a few tugs. "Yuck urgh, what the hell."
"Hey, I could have used the stickier stuff." He shrugged, "You're welcome."
What was his problem? Sam lowered himself down to float face to face with his nemesis. Fuck, heroes shouldn't be enemies. "Do you pester all the other heroes in the city, or just me?"
"Just you." Sam could hear the smile behind the words. "I actually have friends."
Sam snorted. "Like I believe that." He knew Spider-Man did, indeed, have friends of the hero variety, but a jab was a jab, right?
They were past the point when something would normally go BOOM- the ultimate argument ender, preventing them from doing more than than an insult tango. If it came to blows, Sam was uncertain if he should fly off or stick around to see just which of them would come out on top. Neither of them needed that hit to their public image. He could see the headlines now, JJJ screaming about them. But, hey, Nova in the news? Publicity was publicity and all that
Spider-Man gave his shoulder a test shove. "So, why don't you fly away?"
Sam grit his teeth. "I don't get it." He shoved Spider-Man with slightly more force.
"Oh maaaan." A whistle sounded from across the roof. "Look at you two love birds, bickering like an old married couple already."
Spider-Man rolled his eyes, well, Sam assumed he rolled his eyes from the roll of his head. "Not now Torch."
"Awww," Torch cooed as he moved closer to the pair of heroes. "Nova, did you steal his web fluid again?"
Nova grunted when a too-hot arm wrapped around his shoulders. Most of the other heroes left them to argue, but not Torch. At least Iron Fist wasn't with him, he was so not in the mood for a 'get along' lecture.
He didn't take his eyes off Spider-Man, just because there was a witness didn't mean the web-freak wouldn't try to sucker punch him. Especially since the witness was Spider-man's friend.
"It was once. He got the jump on me once." Spider-Man didn't flinch when Johnny used his hold around their shoulders to pull them closer.
"It was a misunderstanding," Sam grumbled.
"Annnyway." Torch let Sam go so he could tug at Spider-Man. "DD and White Tiger have a training run setup, wanna join? Power Man said he might swing by."
Spider-Man shrugged. "Why not." He webbed off without a farewell, leaving Torch and Sam alone.
"Rude as ever." Torch turned back to Sam. "I'd invite you….but."
"I get it." He waved him off. "I'm the outsider your can-do-no-wrong friend hates."
Johnny sighed. "Kid, you're good. Don't tell jerk McWebs I said that. Keep doing what you do, this city needs all the help it can get."
What the what? He watched as the Human Torch jetted off to chase Spider-Man.
Sam hung his head now that now one was around to see. He would always be the outsider, wouldn't he? As a hero and a citizen… he didn't fit in in the city. He seethed, clenching his fists, and it was all Spider-Man's fault. It always came back to him.
With the city's lack of major crime, Sam flew back to his apartment hoping he would find Peter already home, ready to apologize for antagonizing him. But, the apartment was dark and quiet, with no sign Peter came home at all in the hours he was out.
Well, shit. He checked his phone again, no messages. Like hell he was going to apologize first, it was Peter's fault anyway. Sam sighed, he should at least clean up the mess he made from the lamp.
Sam fell asleep on the couch to bad tv., he didn't intend to, but emotional stress had a way of zapping all of your energy. It wasn't until the lights were flipped on, flooding the room, that Sam awoke from his impromptu nap. He tried to bury his face into the cushion, seeking the darkness a little while longer.
"Uh, Hey." Peter's wary voice carried to him from the entryway.
Sam was up, no longer fighting for more sleep. Peter was home. He came back.
"Did you, stay here all day?" He leaned his bag against the wall and walked towards Sam. As he approached, Sam saw the dark bruise along his jaw.
"Shit, Pete." He bolted up, gingerly touching the mark. "What happened?"
Peter shrugged and pulled his face away. "Failed mugging. Not like I have any money for them to steal."
"Fuck. Sit down, I'll get you some ice." He turned Peter towards the couch, then ran to the kitchen. Of all the days he took off…. But where were the other heroes? Where was Spider-Man?
"Sam, it's nothing." Peter laughed, when Sam came back with a towel filled with ice. "I'm fine, promise."
Sam sat sideways on the couch and pressed the makeshift ice pack to Peter's face without a word. He'd been so angry that morning, they both had been. But he let Peter leave, he stopped his patrol early, and shit- it could be so much worse. It could have been a phone call, telling him Peter was in the hospital, or worse-
"Hey, Sam." Peter reached up to cup Sam's chin. "I'm okay."
Sam shook a bit as Peter's face blurred. He might not have been okay, the last thing they ever did together could have been a fight, a stupid argument over novelty gifts.
"H-hey. It's fine, Sam." Peter pushed their foreheads together. "I'm here. The bruise will be gone by tomorrow." He reached up to cup the hand holding the ice.
"What if you weren't fine?" Sam spoke the words as his lips hovered over Peter's. "Wh-what if-"
Peter cut him off with a quick peck of his lips. "No 'what ifs', Sam. I'm fine. And," he pushed their foreheads back together, "I'm sorry."
"No," Sam said, "I'm the one who's sorry. I didn't mean for you to leave…"
Peter pried the ice pack out of Sam's hands and tossed it aside. "Hey," he pushed at Sam, "let's go lay down."
Sam nodded and let Peter lead him to the bedroom, too drained to argue. "You cleaned up the mess."
Sam only nodded against Peter's chest. "Hey… this is the first time we've cuddled on the bed."
Peter snuggled him closer. "About time too." He wrapped an arm around Sam's waist.
"Mmhmmm. Stupid rules. I'm sleeping here tonight." Sam breathed in Peter's scent, it surrounded him. "Sorry 'bout smashing your gifts."
"I'll stop." Peter kissed the top of his head. "Just one more I already got, though."
Sam laughed into Peter's chest. "You're such a dork."
"But, I'm your dork." He ran his hands along Sam's spine.
Sam smiled against Peter, "Yea, guess you are."
They laid together for a while, snuggled close, enjoying the sound of the other's breathing. Fighting, Sam decided, sucked, but it led to some awesome snuggles.
It was nice to be on a bed for once instead of the couch; they could intertwine their legs without going over the edge, lay side by side in comfort, no elbows to worry about. Peter continued to run his and up and down Sam's back, a soothing anchor reminding him Peter was there.
After what seemed like a lifetime, Peter spoke again, barely a whisper into Sam's hair. "You still awake?"
"Mmmhmm." How could he sleep with Peter so close? On Peter's bed.
"We still on for the museum tomorrow?" His hand didn't stop in movement up and down Sam's back- and okay, if he kept that up, Sam just might fall asleep.
" 'course." He shifted his head to nuzzle into Peter's neck. "Why wouldn't we?"
The hand continued it's up and down pattern on his back. "Thought you might still be mad I stormed out…"
Sam kissed his neck lazily. "I wouldn't be snuggling you if I was still mad." The hand on Sam's back dipped lower, stopping to caress the curve of his ass. "Mm, keep doing that and it'll be more than snuggles."
The grip tightened, "Is that so?" Sam could hear the smile in Peter's voice. "I gueeeeeessss I could be persuaded to stop, ya know, if you're too tired."
"Parker." Sam ground his growing erection against Peter's leg. "You are such a fucking tease."
"Hmmm? Me?" Peter continued his ministrations.
Sam gave Peter's neck another series of kisses, then pulled himself up to straddle him. Peter's hand followed his ass, and as Sam settled over him, his other hand also found its way, cupping the other cheek.
"Fuck, I love your ass." Peter gave it a squeeze for emphasis.
Sam answered by rolling his hips, pressing his ass into Peter's ready hands. He leaned down to whisper in Peter's ear. "How much do you like it?"
[sorry, ffn's rules please read on AO3 if you'd like the non-story part]
Eventually, Peter's breathing started to even out and he half rolled towards Sam. "That… was…"
Sam just kissed him, too tired to put words to how hot the whole thing had been. How hot Peter was.
"Shit," Peter said when they finally broke away. "Can we do this every night?"
Sam laughed, "Ask me again in the morning." He forced himself to sit up. "It was just two fingers, but you're prob going to be a bit sore…"
Peter raised an eyebrow like he didn't believe him. Then looked down at the mess Sam left on his stomach and scrunched his nose. He shrugged and fell flat on the bed again, too tired to clean it up.
Sam would think further on his feelings another time, but he was no longer worried about their sexual compatibility. Shit, he shouldn't have worried past that first night. He wiped his fingers off on Peter's him and snuggled closer. He didn't think he'd ever been more comfortable, or fallen asleep more quickly.
Next chapter is the turning point... hopefully it wont take me 6 months.