Sam watched as Scott moved around in the kitchen while Ava leaned against the counter. She was pretty, with her dark hair and dark eyes. Sam, however, didn't much care for her outside of being a teammate and occasional friend.
"-bathroom, I will be locking both doors. I don't want the two of you thinking you can look when-"
"I thought you and Summers were a couple now."
"We're not," Scott said.
"Just blowing off steam," Ava agreed. "But even if we were, I still wouldn't want you coming into my room. Which leads me to you, Scott."
"I take it we're done?"
"I don't feel comfortable with broadcasting things to our teammates. No one was supposed to know-"
"My dads knew." Ava gave him a look. "What do you want me to say? I'd agreed with Tony that I'd talk to him once I-"
"We just had sex this morning."
"Yeah?"
"Scott."
"I didn't realize it was supposed to be this huge secret. Yes, I informed my parents."
"Great. Now I'm the team slut-"
"No one said that," Scott said, looking at her while trimming the fat from the chicken. "I explained why, and they were grateful if nothing else. No one thinks of you like that, Ava, I promise."
"Good, because I'm not. And now our understanding is over. I'm switching rooms with Danny." She took the steps up to the main level and Scott sighed.
"So you… weren't together?"
"No."
"But you had sex."
"I really don't see how this is any of your business, Nova."
"Hm. You need any help?" Scott gave him a look.
"Why?"
"Because I should learn, right?"
"Sure. Take the strawberries and cut the green part off and then cut them up smaller. Put them in this bowl right here," he said, gesturing to the bowl with his elbow.
"Ok." Sam took a carton of strawberries and started cutting them per Scott's specifications. Scott looked over and saw the neatly sliced berries and gave Sam an annoyed look.
"Of course you do that well."
"I can carve well, remember? I'm good with a knife."
"Right. I almost forgot about… What did the project get?"
"Perfect score. Only one in the class to get it, too. He was impressed we chose somewhere that wasn't Asia or Africa like everyone else."
"I called it." Sam smirked.
"You call me cocky, yet you say stuff like that?"
"If you can back it up, it's not arrogance. I can back up all of my claims. You can't. Ergo, you're an arrogant, brash, frustrating-"
"I'll grow on you," Sam said.
"Like a fungus, I'm sure."
"Mushrooms are a type of fungus and lots of people love those."
"I don't." Sam rolled his eyes as Scott put the marinating chicken into the fridge.
"What now?" he asked, the strawberries all capped and diced.
"Pour some sugar on it." Sam nodded and did as Scott ordered.
"So," he said conversationally. "You're not seeing anyone?"
"No. Pete, can you send Shila down?"
"How'd you get her?" Sam asked as the door opened and Shila darted downstairs.
"What?"
"Shila. Tony doesn't seem like a pet guy, and Shila's clearly a puppy, so I know you haven't had her for that long."
"My uncle breeds huskies," Scott said, kneeling to pet his dog. "My mom's brother, I mean. He's supposed to be visiting in a couple days."
"That's right. The one who lives in Nome."
"Yeah. Him." Sam knelt beside Scott and reached out to pet Shila, who eagerly allowed the affection.
"Are you interested in anyone?" Scott looked hard at Nova.
"No." Scott went to pet Shila again and his hand bumped into Nova's as he was pulling away from the dog. Another jolt went down his arm. "You need to get a hold of your powers-"
"If I'm not wearing my helmet, there are no powers." Scott yanked his hand away and stood up.
"I've got to go."
"Scott-" Sam said, standing as well.
"No." Sam grabbed Scott's hand and pulled him to him, kissing him. Scott jerked away and pulled his fist back, punching Sam's jaw.
"What the hell?!"
"Don't touch me!" Scott demanded. "Or I swear to God I'll blast you to Canada!" Scott heard footsteps thundering down the steps.
"Scott Christopher Summers!" Chris said, grabbing his son while Tony went to check on Nova.
"You good, kid?" he asked. Nova nodded.
"He's hit harder during drills."
"Are you out of your mind?!" Chris asked, shaking Scott. "Do you not remember the last time you punched a teammate?!"
"He-"
"I don't want to hear excuses," Chris said, seething. "Go to your room-"
"Hold on, Bear," Tony said, putting his hand on Chris' arm. "You boys want to tell us what happened?"
"I kissed him," Sam admitted. Chris' grip on Scott loosened.
"Scott-"
"I didn't agree," Scott said, his face turning red. "I didn't- I wasn't going to not consent to being- I didn't hit him hard. I just-"
"No," Chris said, hugging Scott. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry," Sam said, accepting the quickly made ice pack from Tony. "I misread the situation."
"Go to your room," Chris said. "Cool down. Shower. Do whatever you need to do to get back to us." Scott nodded and ran off.
"I'm being kicked out, aren't I?"
"What situation did you misread?" Tony asked.
"I thought he was interested in me. He's not. Message received."
"He is," Chris said.
"Chris-"
"Tony. He's my son. Now I'm not saying he isn't yours as well, but you have to understand that sometimes I do know him better than you. I've seen the crushes he's had and how he acts when he's around that person. He likes Sam. But Nova, with what happened to Scott… He needs to make the first move. Just give him some space and some time to realize what he's feeling."
"I have been. But all day, he's been… different. He usually snaps orders, even out of uniform. Today, when it was just us, he was patient and explaining things, and he even let me help him prepare food for tonight. He said he wasn't interested in Ava, and that they were just helping each other out… I should have considered what happened and I guess I got caught up in… Should I apologize again?"
"Give it time," Chris said.
"He really didn't hurt me. I think it was an automatic reaction and he did his best to lessen the impact so he wouldn't… I've been knocked down by him before. I know if he wanted to hurt me, he could have."
"I should make sure he's okay," Tony said.
"T-"
"I helped him work through things last time. He trusts me to get him through it again." Tony went to the room Scott disappeared in and knocked before stepping inside. Seeing an empty room, he went to the bathroom door and knocked again.
"Just a second," Scott called. The door opened and he stepped out with wet hair and a towel around his waist. "Pop."
"Expecting someone else?" Scott shook his head and grabbed the outfit he'd set out on the bed, quickly pulling the boxers up under his towel.
"Is there a point to pants?" he asked sadly.
"Considering we have guests and you don't need to be walking around in just your underwear, yes." Scott looked at him.
"You're not gonna-?"
"No. This was different from fighting. You're not in any trouble, Slim." Tony nodded to himself, understanding Scott's confusion at seeing him. "You were expecting Dad in here to spank you."
"Yes sir."
"Ok. There's no punishment of any kind for this."
"Thank you. Is Sam ok?"
"He's fine. He said you've hit him harder during drills."
"I really didn't-" Scott sat on the bed, his elbows on his knees and his head hidden in his hands. "I didn't mean to react like that. I shouldn't have hit him, Pop, and I know that. But then all the control that I'd felt from earlier was gone in an instant and I-"
"Dad and I get it," Tony said, sitting next to Scott. "Sam said he realized he was at fault, and he wants to apologize."
"He doesn't need to. I should be the one apologizing."
"So you'll both apologize and then this'll be behind- Whose suitcase is that?"
"Nova's."
"Ok. Now I'm a bit confused, and I don't know if I should be pissed. Didn't he just kiss you?"
"Grandpa and Grandma said two of us had to double up down here to accommodate Jay and Penny. Ava and I were in these two rooms… She's pissed you and Dad know about earlier, by the way. Enough that she's called off any future happenings and decided to switch rooms with Danny. But I wasn't there to volunteer or pick straws or whatever Grandpa had them do, and Sam and I got the short straws."
"I don't think I like this arrangement if there are feelings between-"
"There aren't," Scott said, turning red.
"Sam seems to think there are. And so does Dad." Scott shook his head.
"I'm not interested in him. He's… Ok. I know I screw up a lot and I can have an attitude and disobey Dad when I think I know better. I'm fifteen, and I'm in the 'I know better than my parents' age. I'll own that. But when it comes down to it, I take things seriously. When we're running drills, I treat them like actual experiences and react accordingly. He doesn't. He's brash and he's arrogant and he treats my orders like suggestions. I can't-"
"I do that."
"But-"
"You're a lot like your dad with the serious attitude about things. I prefer to be-"
"But you know how to be serious when it calls for it!"
"And if you'd just seen Sam out there, you'd see that he could be serious, too."
"Pop-"
"Do you think maybe he's acting like he is because that's what gets him the attention from you?" Scott shook his head.
"He acted the same way in school."
"Because he couldn't have been interested in you then?"
"No. He didn't know me-"
"He did if he was there from SHIELD. It was his job to know you."
"But then we still run into the whole thing about how I am not interested in him. I don't like guys like that. I'm fine with the whole thing, but I personally only like girls."
"Ok," Tony said. "That's fine, Slim. But if there's absolutely no chance between the two of you, you need to let him down gently, and then probably move into a different room."
"Yeah. I'll just room with Alex," Scott agreed.
"I'll drag Dad out and let you talk to him alone, then."
"Yes sir. Thanks, Pop. I really… Thank you."
"Anytime. And now I'm going to tell your dad that apparently he doesn't know you as well as he thinks he does," Tony said, standing.
"What?"
"He has it in his head that you do like Nova because of the way you're acting, how it's the same way that you were with every other crush in your life." Scott shook his head.
"No I don't."
"I've only ever seen you interested in MJ, so I can't throw my two cents in-"
"Like you have two cents to give. Do you even carry coins like that?" Tony gently pushed Scott's head down.
"Hush, Voldemort." Scott looked up and smiled at him.
"I should finish getting dressed and then move my stuff up to Alex's room."
"Alright. Let me know if you need me or Dad, ok?"
"Yes sir." Tony put his hand on Scott's shoulder.
"Let him down sooner than later."
"I will." Tony tapped Scott's cheek and left the room.
"Bear. Let's go." Chris frowned.
"What-?"
"I'll explain upstairs. Come on." Chris followed Tony upstairs and Sam heard the door latch shut, just as his and Scott's door opened.
"Scott," Sam said. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that."
"I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have reacted-"
"No, you were right to do that. And I know you were more gentle than you could have been." Scott ran a hand through his damp hair.
"About what happened. I think you should know that I'm not-"
"You're not?" Scott shook his head. "Is it me personally or-?"
"I'm not into guys. But if I was, I still don't think it would work between us. We're too different-"
"Because I'm an ass, right?"
"Something like that," Scott admitted.
"Ok. Thanks for letting me know. I'm sorry I misread your actions-"
"What do you mean by my actions?"
"The, uh… way you keep touching me and the jolt is a big one-"
"I'm not doing that."
"Mmhm. You also sent everyone else away who tried to help with the food but me."
"I…"
"And you talked to me about your life at the store, and even asked about mine."
"Yeah, but you're my-"
"And other than what's out there about Danny, you know nothing about him. You barely know Ava. Clearly you know Peter, but he's your brother. But no one else knows about Rocket. No one else cares to know about how I was raised."
"That doesn't mean any-"
"You say it doesn't, and maybe it really doesn't, but I saw it differently."
"You-"
"Look Scott, I like you, ok? I've liked you since Midtown, but I was doing my job. Plus you were with MJ. So when we got put together for that project, I thought I finally had the chance to show you what I could offer. And then I saw what you had to offer and… But is my asshole personality really enough to not even give me a chance?"
"No, but you having a dick is enough to-" Sam gently grabbed Scott's face and kissed him again. Scott pulled away, panting and wiping his mouth with the back of his arm. "You've crossed a line."
"I just said I liked you. You like me, too, or else I know you would have thrown a bigger fit about rooming together. You throw a fit about everything else you don't like. You brooded for days when-"
"I don't brood."
"Yeah, and I'm not the best looking guy on the team."
"I'm glad we agree on that." Scott shook his head. "You're a good teammate, Nova. But that's the extent of the relationship between us. I think it'd be for the best if I went upstairs and roomed with Alex."
"Don't. I'll move into the room with Danny."
"No, you should have your own room. It's fine." Scott went back into the room and started packing up the things he'd pulled out.
"You didn't punch me that time," Sam noted, leaning against one of the walls in the room.
"I was expecting it that time," Scott said, unplugging his phone charger.
"You expected it, but didn't stop me?" Scott stood up straight and turned.
"I-"
"You could just try it," Sam said. "I'm not a bad guy, and I do know how to be serious, despite what everyone might think. I'm part of the Nova Corps. Do you really think I could have graduated at fourteen if I couldn't be serious?"
"Unless they were just trying to hurry up and get rid of you." Sam walked to Scott, who kept backing up until he was against the wall.
"I think you're afraid to admit to yourself that you like me," he said quietly. "The first kiss was a delayed reaction, like you knew it was supposed to be expected of you. You just admitted that you allowed the second one. And now I'm telling you that I'm going to kiss you. If you pull away, that's the end. But if my lips touch yours, I'm taking that as permission to pursue you."
"Sam-" Sam leaned forward and Scott shifted his head, took a deep breath, and then turned, allowing Sam to kiss him.