Notes:

Hi, everyone! We are finally back! Yay! :D
We are so sorry for not uploading before... We've been very busy with University and stuff. We promise that we will try to bring you new chapters more often.

This new chapter is Peter-centric, for you to understand him a bit more. Enjoy! ^^

Chapter 10. Memory (II).

"Victor… Victor… Say something"

But the one with brown skin and black eyes wasn't moving yet. He simply stayed still in his place, with his sight fixed on the floor, his fists clenched and a grin of terror in his face. Peter wanted to throw himself through the window. He knew it, but he didn't want to believe it. He knew that exposing his secret would get him into trouble, but he really trusted that Victor would accept him. His world fell apart when he realized that the opposite took place.

"You're just like the others. Narrow-minded. You complain about your father, but you're doing the same."

Peter wasn't aware of his words. They left his mouth, without further ado, and straight away he regretted saying them, because Victor started to tremble, it was almost like a shiver. Peter wanted to get closer to warm him but, the tears on Victor's cheeks stopped him. He knew that he hurt him badly, but he also knew that damage was already done and that there weren't turning back. He caressed one last time the ring that he was hiding in his fist, before hiding it again in his pocket. That was the end.

"And you are just right there. Standing still. Doing nothing, like a statue." The gate was open and now, the words were leaving his mouth with no filter. Contained rage after years of silence, discrimination and glances of fear and pity were talking instead of him. "You know what? I am so wrong. You are not the same, you are worse!"

Nothing. Victor was answering with total quietness. He had one and a million things to say, to ask, to digest and, however, his lips were sealed. Fear and surprise blocked him. Silence of one and words of the other one were poisonous weapons which were tearing them apart.

"I was going to leave everything behind for you. I was going to run away from home and from my family. From the ones that accepted me! All for you. All because your homophobic father wouldn't accept us. But you're thousand times worse! You fooled me. You gave me hope, you let me see that you accepted me and at the first setback you pull me apart. "

"Ta-take me ho-home." Victor Yates babbled with tears burning his cheeks.

"And you run away without giving me any chance. I HATE YOU!"

Ten minutes later, both were inside the green sedan. The atmosphere was cold and full of tension. They were stuck, right in the middle of the dense traffic that characterizes New York city. Not a single word spoken, at least not out loud, but their minds were full of activity.

The knot in Victor's throat went tighter, he wanted to talk to him, tell him that he needed some time to think, some space. Perhaps it shouldn't have to be the end. He loved him, and he realized that he could accept him just as he was. He didn't care at all about Peter Taft being…

A thunder pulled him out of his thoughts. The whole city stopped while the sky darkened. Big black clouds were approaching over the well-known Stark tower and some strange creatures were descending from them. Just a second was enough for the aliens to reach the floor and start spreading chaos.

Victor and Peter stirred, terrified and confused. Without even realizing, only following his instinct Peter moved his hand towards the pocket where the ring rested. Right before the car went flying after a thrust of the monster known as the Chitauri, their eyes met in a last look of farewell.

"Are you listening to me?" Victor's warm brown eyes were substituted by some other dark eyes that observed him with a gaze that showed the insanity hiding beneath them.

"Yeah, I'm listening," Taft answered.

"Why do I even bother explaining anything to this fool?" His voiced raised its tone, squeaky and imposing, more like an internal monologue that an actual question. Vexed, he stood up, concluding the reunion.

"Wait! No, I wasn't paying attention, but it's the seventh time we reviewed this. Is it really necessary?"

"Perfection is the key of success. Any loose end, no matter how insignificant and unlikely is, means failure and I do not FAIL," the unknown answered smiling. The show was just beginning.