010 Precious

Characters: Luke/Peter

Peter sat on the ground, trying to clear the ache in his skull. His head still hurt from the right hook that Edward had landed. It was kind of ironic really. He'd been hit because Edward had thought that he was trying to edge in on Emily. It was funny when Peter thought about it as he had no interest at all in the woman. He'd only been talking to her because he'd wanted someone to complain to about Luke.

Luke was a hard man to work with. Really Peter couldn't tell why they didn't get along. They should have. They both didn't exactly like doing what they were told, they both had similar senses of humor, and they both were more than happy to make the smallest thing an argument. The thing was Peter never hated Luke after these fights. With the things they said and the physical fighting it was logical that he would, but he just didn't.

In fact Peter found himself feeling closer and closer. He and Luke weren't angry teenagers looking for a fight with another guy, they were two dogs just fighting for dominance. Neither of them was particularly stronger than the other so they were always trying to see who was better on that day. It didn't tear them apart but rather brought the two of them closer together. Slowly they were growing closer and closer and at some point the bond that Peter shared with Luke had become precious to him. Something he wanted to do anything to protect.

The problem was that they weren't just becoming friends. Peter couldn't help it but he'd started to have feelings for his partner. He kept them to himself, not sure how Luke felt, of if he was even into that, or even how their squad leader would take it. He wasn't willing to risk his friendship or his place on the squad just because of his attraction.

Peter leaned back against the concrete side of the building and stared up at the clouds above. He took a deep breath and sighed as a shadow settled over him. "What do you want?"

"Well you didn't come back to the barracks and since you're my partner I went looking for you. You know we're supposed to watch our partner's back." Luke kicked Peter's leg a bit. "What happened to you anyway? You're a mess."

"Edward socked me." Peter's foot struck out but missed Luke's leg as he moved out of the way. "You know she only means you have to watch my back when we're in training or combat. You know, be a spotter for me in the gym and such."

Luke ignored Peter's last comment."You know you shouldn't pick fights with Edward. Why exactly did he knock you on your ass anyway?" Luke shook his head, apparently disappointed that Peter had made such a mistake as getting in a fight with Edward. Not that it had really been a fight. Peter hadn't wanted to fight, he'd just been hit. "Maybe you can stand a chance against me, but I think if you tick off Edward you might wake up with a knife in your chest." Luke leaned a bit closer toward him. "You didn't hit on him, did you?"

Peter forced himself to stay calm, to not answer too quickly. He really didn't want Luke to know that him hitting on Edward would be a possibility if the man weren't already attached to someone. "He hit me because he thought that I was hitting on Emily."

Luke laughed and Peter frowned at him. He didn't understand what was so funny about that. Luke shook his head and realized that Peter was glaring at him. "Sorry, but I can't believe he thinks you're dumb enough, or brave enough, to hit on Emily."

"See, now that sounds like a challenge. I bet you I can flirt with her." Peter couldn't help himself. He was always looking for another chance to gamble. He was more than willing to admit he was addicted, but that didn't mean it was a problem.

"What would you get if you win? We don't really have credits. What would I get if you didn't manage to do it?" Luke smirked at him, as though knowing that Peter couldn't do it.

It was a stupid bet, and Peter knew it, but he couldn't stop himself. "You can have whatever you want, of course within reason. Like no committing felonies or anything."

Luke stared at him for a moment and then nodded. "Deal." They shook on it and then headed across the base.

They found Emily in the gym, running on a treadmill. Peter gathered up his courage, checked that Edward wasn't around and walked over toward Emily. "Hey there." Emily looked at him, apparently confused by him talking to her. "You…You look good running." He cursed, not sure really what to say. "I mean, your body is very appealing." He sighed, not sure really what to do.

"Are you trying to hit on me?" Emily stopped on the treadmill and glanced over where Luke was standing nearby. "Oh, you made a bet with him, didn't you?" Peter nodded. "Do you even want to be hitting on me?"

Peter shook his head. "No offense but I'm just not interested. It's just that Luke challenged if I would hit on you, so I automatically made a bet."

"No offense taken. You're obviously playing for the other team." Emily returned to her exercise. "Maybe that's why you and Luke get along."

Peter stared at her for a moment. "What do you mean?"

Emily glanced over at him like he was stupid. "He's hit on like three guys since he got here. He hasn't hit on a single girl. Seriously, you're his partner and you don't know. You're blinder than Tym and Tobias with their friendship."

Peter ignored the comment about how blind he was and leaned against the bar of the treadmill, thinking. Come to think of it he'd never seen Luke even look at a girl. He glanced back at Luke and then back to Emily. "Sometimes you're close to a person and you can completely miss things about them. Like you don't realize that Edward probably was a hitman before he became a soldier."

"No, I'm well aware of the many violent things Edward could have done before he became a soldier. I am aware because unlike you I'm not an idiot," Emily snapped.

Peter decided that he didn't need to be hit again that day so he just walked away from it. He moved over to Luke and stood before him. "I flirted with her."

"She didn't seem very attracted to you. Are you sure you didn't just chat with her?" Luke didn't seem to buy it that Peter had tried to flirt.

"Hey, you never said I have to successfully flirt." Peter took a step closer to his partner. "Time to pay up."

Luke sighed and gave in. "All right, you won. What do you want?" He set his hands on his hips and waited for whatever demand Peter would decide on.

Peter paused for a moment deciding on what he wanted. He finally made a choice and he moved forward quickly. He brought his lips together, pressing himself against his partner. He had expected that Luke would push him away but he didn't. They stood in the gym, trying to pull each other closer until they broke apart, needing air.

Luke smirked at Peter. "You are so stupid." Peter frowned at him, not sure why he was being insulted. "Can't believe you thought you needed to win a bet to do that." He pulled the other man to him again and they kissed until a boot hit his head. They turned around to see an annoyed Emily. "I think that's her way of saying get a room."

Peter sighed and shook his head. "There's such a double standard. She can make out with Edward in the gym and no one gets mad. No one tells them to get a room."

"That's because a lot of the people on the squad like to watch or are too scared that Emily will scare them physically for disturbing her." Luke shrugged and started to move out. "Come on, it's not worth any bruises over. I think we can find a place to be alone." Peter moved after him.