WHO: Dick and Peter WHAT: Chill salvage time + Tornado dodging WHERE: Abandoned Convenience Store World WHEN: March 4th & 5th RATING: Low
After discovering that he wasn’t as unique as May always liked to claim he was, Peter was a bit on edge. Maybe going through a door again wasn’t helping his nerves but after a few minutes of walking down a quiet, empty country road next to a guy who seemed to radiate kindness and calm, he eventually allowed himself to relax.
The world beyond the door didn’t seem too bad this time. It was still, but it wasn't an oppressive or a worrying stillness. It simply was. The sun was shining, the temperature was comfortable, really there was nothing wrong with the place, it just felt empty. Peter didn’t sense any imminent danger so they’d picked a direction and hoped for civilization, coming across a few parked cars that looked like they were fresh from the 90’s. Not long after that they came across a convenience store and pried the doors open, discovering that while the power was off the place was fully stocked.
“This packaging, it looks older than me but this place looks like it was open an hour ago.” Peter said, picking up a box of toothpaste, reading over it before shoving it and the four other boxes into the large bag he’d picked up. “Weird.”
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Dick honestly wished they would’ve gone in street clothes instead of their uniforms, but that was okay. “It reminds me of Smallville,” he said as he put some snacks in his bag. “Do you wanna see if we can borrow a car and head into a proper town and see if we can find a Target or something? Bring some clothes and basics back?”
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“We should probably take whatever we can from here, just to make sure we don’t end up with nothing.” If things went bad they could at least bring back what the place had, maybe it wasn’t the best of what the world had to offer but it was better than what they had back in their new home. “I just wish the door was bigger. Though, I wonder if a bigger place will have shopping carts. We could probably fit one through the door.”
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“Pretty sure a bigger place has luggage and we can probably find something else to tie all of that to your back once we get back to the door.” Peter seemed to be able to carry an absurd amount and there wasn’t any reason for him not to make use of it. “Ratchet straps or something. Jam stuff full of non-perishables and underwear, soap, basics.” There were generic clothes in the dressers and stuff, but none of them were very good or comfortable. Worst socks he’d ever worn in his life and he’d been a regular in hospitals.
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“I’ve got no problems playing the packmule,” Peter said, his mask peeling back as he grabbed a bottle of water and unscrewed it. “Just gotta figure out how to strap it all to me so I can fit through the door.” Provided they found a bigger store.
After taking a long drink he nodded to Dick. “So, uh, do you know how to hotwire a car or should we be looking for keys?”
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“Do I know how to hotwire a car?” Dick said, smirking as he grabbed a tool kit from one of the racks. “That’s the easy part.”
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“I didn’t want to make assumptions about people from New Jersey.” He admitted, before having another drink. The water tasted fine, Karen didn’t put the mask back on him and announced that he’d been poisoned or anything so he assumed he was safe. Safe enough to put another bottle in his bag and go for the first aid kits.
“Hey, uh, Nightwing?” They might have been the only people around but he didn’t want to take chances. “Thanks for coming out with me, and I don’t just mean because I don’t know how to hotwire a car and I really haven’t driven since I got my license.”
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“One of my little brothers is a terrible delinquent,” Dick said. He looked over at Peter and walked over to him, offering an arm for a hug. “Always.”
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Dick was a hugger. Peter had figured that out fairly quickly and he was still getting used to it. Sure, Peter could be a hugger too, with May or Ned, sometimes even with Mr. Stark if the guy was feeling particularly emotional. He’d known them for a while, much longer than Dick, so he was always a little surprised when the guy offered them up so easily.
He came in for that hug, patting his back three times before letting go. “Yeah. I- I mean, I love that quantum stuff, you know? It’s the coolest. Just finding out that there are other yous, older yous out there, it’s trippy.”
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“Yeah,” Dick agreed. “I’ve been in that position before too. And clones and so many other ridiculous sci-fi scenarios that I don’t even wanna recount all of it. It...other yous will always fuck you up a bit. It gets easier but it takes time and there’s not much at all to say to make it easier.” He squeezed Peter’s shoulder. “I’m here to listen to you vent or have a distraction or whatever you need, okay? And to teach you how to hotwire a car old enough that you can’t hack it instead.”
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“I think the suit could probably do the hacking.” He said, pulling away with a nod. “It could probably hot wire a car too. Wouldn’t surprise me. Mr. Stark thought of everything.”
Clearly Peter had gone with the distraction option.
He grabbed himself a candybar that looked promising before nodding to Dick, “Let’s pick a car then.”
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“Probably, but there’s something to be said for learning to do it for yourself,” Dick led him outside, picking a minivan that looked like it got decent enough mileage and would be able hold whatever they were going to try to bring back with them.
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After the candybar and quick lesson on how to hotwire a car, they were headed down the road again. While Dick drove Peter kept his eyes out for any signs of life, somehow resisting the urge to put his feet on the dash or roll down the window. “You know, I know this is like the least weird thing on the whole list of weird things for me today, but the fact that there aren’t even birds is weird. Like I could get everybody being gone, you see that in all the movies right? But there are usually like animals or something. There hasn’t even been a bug on the windshield.”
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“Yeah, no it’s definitely weird,” Dick agreed, having picked up on that too. “But, hey, at least it absolves the guilt of scavenging?” Try to look on the bright side, right?
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“Yeah, we’re saving things from a dying world.” It hadn’t come out as cheery as he’d meant it. “Well, there are still flowers and whatever so it must not have happened too long ago, right? Whatever happened. I- I need to get home. I need to get Mr. Stark and Cap home somehow. Maybe home doesn’t look like this, but I’m pretty sure it felt like the universe ended for everybody. That needs to be fixed. And I, well, I’m riding around in a mini-van, eating candy and looking for a Target like it’s my weekend off.”
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“You’re riding around in a mini-van looking for a Target to help make sure everyone can survive long enough to make it home,” Dick corrected gently. “Not every act of heroism looks like a big gesture. We’re here right now doing what we can.”
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“Yeah, I mean, I get that. I do. We gotta survive here if we’re gonna make it back home. But I don’t know, how are we supposed to even get back home? I don’t think Mr. Stark’s ship is gonna fly again, are we just waiting on the right door?” He let out a sigh. “I just hope May’s okay.”
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“We’ll figure it out, yeah? Every Peter Parker in their place once again.” He pat the boy’s thigh. “Stressing yourself out is just gonna make it harder to think. I know it’s really, really hard, but if you can work on letting go of that anxiety little by little, find some calm, you’ll be able to work better at helping figure out a way home with that brain of yours. For now, this is what we do. I’m worried about everyone back home too, y’know? It’s...it’s always there. No matter how calm and easy I make things look.”
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“Yeah.” He swallowed hard then let out a sigh. “I- I hope she isn’t alone. It’s been just me and her since my uncle died. He- He was just gone one day, you know? After that she had a hard time letting me out of her sight. It took her a long time to let me go to school by myself again. Made her really cry when she found out about the Spider-Man thing, I felt so guilty. I made her a promise I was always gonna come home. That was probably stupid, especially now.”
He was going to get emotional if he kept going and he had to clear his throat to keep from saying too much more. “Looks like we’re coming up on a more built-up area.”
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Dick stayed quiet, obviously thinking. “One of my little brothers died horribly. I’m not gonna go into detail ‘cause I don’t want you to feel like this is a grief contest, and because if he was here, he’d be reminding everyone that he died once. About your age when it happened. After...after that for a while, Bruce got even more protective over me. Not like any more hands on or anything, but he’d be watching more, making sure more ‘cause he felt like he’d let Jason down. And, well when Jay came back…” Dick shook his head. “We’ll get you home to May. No matter what happens.”
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“He came back from the dead?” Peter frowned, looking to Dick. “How- I guess I did too, didn’t I? Or whatever. And I seem to be mentioning it like a lot. Guess I can’t blame him. It’s weird. Didn’t feel great either, if I’m honest.”
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“Yeah the difference between you and Jay is that it’s been years and he basically uses it as a way to deflect anytime things get uncomfortable or he’s trying to find an excuse to get away with something. You’re coping and healing.”
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“Maybe? Maybe it’s all just so new that I haven’t really taken the time to think about it.” He shrugged. “Though I guess when I wanna deflect I make jokes, but not like serious ones. I feel like talking about death all the time is probably a downer.”
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“Imagine it with a big ol grin where he knows exactly what he’s doing and then puts his helmet back on and jumps off a roof flipping you double middle fingers,” Dick explained. “That’s Jay.”
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“Sounds like Star Lord.” He said though he did find himself smiling a little. “Thanks. I mean for everything, but especially for this whole wise big brother thing. It means a lot.”
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“God that sounds like a name Jay would pick for himself, please never tell him you know someone called Star Lord.” He gave Peter a charming smile, retracting his lenses so they could make proper eye contact. Another affectionate squeeze of his thigh.
--
It was a little easier to talk to the guy when he could see his eyes and he relaxed a little when he saw them. It was an easier thing to focus on than the thigh touching. He was just glad he had his mask peeled back as he didn’t need to see how high his heart rate was now. “He went all dust too, though he comes back like I did, I wonder if he’s gonna be like your brother and make it one of his things.”
--
“Based on the very little I know of him, that wouldn’t surprise me.” He slowed as they rolled into town, just in case. “Wow, a Woolworths,” he said, “That’s...well if anything was going to date this place I guess there’s that.”
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“What’s a Woolworths?” Peter asked, glancing at the store in question. “Sounds like a clothing store, or one of those bespoke hipster suit places.”
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“It’s like a Sears only out of business longer,” Dick explained. “About as old as Sears too, I’m pretty sure. A true American relic.” He winked at Peter, pulling into the parking lot.
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“Like a sad department store? I get you.” Peter nodded, sitting up straight. “Might be able to get some clothes I don’t feel like I’m swimming in.”
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“Basically, yeah,” he said. “Though it might not be too sad, depends on how close to closing it is.” He got out of the car, shutting it off. There were enough others in the parking lot, he was sure they’d just grab another to head back. Easier than hoping there was power enough to pump some gas somewhere. “Maybe we can get you a kitschy coffee mug with your name on it.”
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“Not as funny as having a mug with your name on it, man.” Peter smirked, hopping down out of the mini-van, bag in hand. “What’s the priority? Tools, clothes, that sorta stuff?”
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“Tools, clothes, whatever supplies you can use to make your web stuff. We’ll swing by a grocery store and pick up some non-perishables and then head back. We’ll wanna make sure we grab screws and nails and everything like that too. Maybe see if we can’t find a sewing machine so we can help sort of tailor clothes?”
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“Sounds good. Shoes probably wouldn’t be a bad idea.” He added, going up to the front door and easily pushing the sliding doors open.
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“Yup. Practical ones, I think. We’ve got a whole lot of potential situations we might need to protect ourselves from.” He smiled, glad to see that Peter was easing himself into things now.
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“Should have asked Jan to come with us, I bet she could have just shrunk the place down and we could take it back in one of our pockets.” He said, stepping inside. His mask reformed over his face, allowing him to see better in the low light and get Karen’s help when it came to spotting things.
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Dick flicked his lenses back on. “Yeah, you all might be okay with being open with each other on this hero business but that’s not how I was trained.”
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“She knew I was Spider-Man before I met her, apparently she knows a version of me too.” There was a whole universe of Peter Parkers out there apparently. He tried not to think about it. He grabbed a cart and started toward the aisles. “Hard to keep a secret identity when everyone already knows who you are, dude.”
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“I’m not chastising you. Just letting you know that no one but you here knows about this.” He gestured to himself. “Nice as Jan is.”
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“The suit is dark and people seem to have a thing against looking up. Makes sense. I won’t mention it, don’t worry.” He headed for small appliances since he spotted them first.
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“Thank you,” Dick said, looking past small appliances to see luggage. “I’ll stay in ear shot, I’m gonna check out our transport options.”
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“Super hearing, my dude, you’re good.” Peter said, already closely inspecting boxes that were likely older than he was.
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“Your super hearing doesn’t help me if something happens to you,” Dick pointed out as he headed the short distance away.
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He briefly considered explaining that he’d know and have the time to shout if something was after him, but he knew that would have been pointless. He really didn’t want Dick getting too far away from him anyway. The last thing he wanted was worrying about being stuck there alone. “Okay.”
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Dick knew all too well that some things just didn’t give you warning. He found a few large suitcases on wheels, enough to hold quite a bit if they jammed things in there well. Something about this place set him on edge. He really, really didn’t want to drift too far away from Peter. Just in case.
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“I feel like everything should be covered with dust, it’s so old.” He called to Dick, picking out a few things before going over to the next aisle.
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“It’s new for this place,” Dick said back. “Stop making me feel old!” he teased, smile clear in his voice.
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“Please, you’re like, what twenty something-ish?” Peter chuckled to himself picking out the nicer, more useful tools because there was no point in trying to save a penny if you weren’t paying for it anyway.
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“Yeah, but I’m pretty sure I got pulled out of my life a few years before you did.”
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“So you could be really old then.” Peter said, loading his cart with nails, screws and wood glue. “Like super old.”
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“How old do you want me to be here? I’m hurt, Peter. My poor heart can’t take this.”
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“That’s what happens with age.” Peter quipped, climbing up on the shelf. “I don’t know man, I don’t know if I should think of you as bro, dad or grandpa.”
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“Wow, I can’t believe a literal child just called me dad. Is that what you kids are into these days?”
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“You kinda act like a dad though, that’s not my fault. That’s all you, my dude.” He carefully dropped a few more things into the cart. “And yeah, it is. It’s to combat the slightly older kids who walk around calling everybody son.”
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“Yeah, well someone in my family had to be a decent role model.” He came back trailing suitcases and carrying a sewing machine. “Not anyone’s dad, I promise,” he said, gently flicking near the back of Peter’s ear in his mask.
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“You sure about that? I mean, you’ve got the kind of smile that suggests that you’re never lonely.” Peter wasn’t going to grumble about that not being fair. He was cute, a lot of people said so. Not just May.
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“Peter Benjamin Parker, are you attempting a flirtation?” he teased, setting the sewing machine in the cart.
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“What? No. No, man. No.” He squeaked a little. He hadn’t been trying to do anything, just to make a point. Now he felt all flustered and awkward and tried to save his flailing with some kind of joke. “Peter Benjamin Parker is apparently the other guy, so maybe he’s been flirting with you.”
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“Mmm, no, I’m pretty sure I don’t wake up in the morning with that guy burrowed against me like a puppy,” Dick teased.
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Not that he would make the joke aloud, but a part of him did long for being dust again in that moment. He was just grateful that the mask was still on so Dick couldn’t see him blushing and cringing. “Yeah, well, I get cold.”
He grabbed the cart and tried to drag it into the next aisle.
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“Mmm,” he said. “Come on, let’s get some clothes and shoes.”
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“This doesn’t mean you have another excuse to take your shirt off.” He said, it coming out of his mouth before he could think to stop it. He was sure his ears were bright red by now.
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Dick looked back over his shoulder at Peter. “You’ve never seemed to mind it before.”
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“Nope. No. We’re not having this conversation. Nope, nope, no.” He shook his head then pushed the cart a little faster, hopping up on one of the bars so he could ride it into the clothing section.
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Dick laughed, honest and rich as he let Peter pass him. “Whatever makes you happy.”
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“Sixteen. Literal child. Your words.” He hopped down from the cart and started looking through the racks. “Should we worry about weather gear? Like heavy coats or shorts or whatever? Does home or whatever we’re calling it, even have weather?”
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“And yet I have a smile that says I’m never lonely even though you know where I am mostly all the time,” he countered. “Probably at least get some. Maybe now that we have power, grab some electric blankets? I don’t wanna load up on too much and-” Dick cut himself off. “Tampons. Tampons and Pads. We absolutely need to pick those up when we go to the grocery store.”
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“I just meant that guys like you, well, you know. Girls are all over that. I mean, your name might be Dick but you’re like super wholesome.” He said, grabbing a few shirts. “And probably condoms too, right?”
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“Yeah,” he said, opening one of the suitcases as he grabbed several packs of underwear in as many sizes as he could find and doing the same with bras. “People are all over that, yeah, charming wholesome young man heir to the richest man in the city with a tragic backstory? Problem is with this life, I don’t get to be close to anyone else not in this life because I can’t put them at risk. People try to kill me on a regular basis, try to hurt people close to me.” He looked up at Peter from where he was putting things into the suitcase with the compact precision of someone who had grown up knowing how to pack everything into a tiny place to move on. “I’m often very, very lonely.”
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“What about the people in your life? I mean, you’re not the only guy running around in a suit fighting for justice or whatever. You’re not close with them? And you know, since you really don’t need to wear the suit back at base or whatever, you could get to know some folks just as Dick.” He said
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“Yeah… I’ve tried that, y’know. Been engaged the whole jazz. It just didn’t work out. I’m not-” He pressed his lips together in thought. “I’ve been doing this since- For a very, very long time. Batman’s all...all doom and gloom and shadows and gravelly voice. A nightmare for criminals and even civilians didn’t much want a visit from the big man. Gotham’s a fucked up place. It’s always been my job to be the light, y’know? To keep the smile and the optimism no matter how much I hurt, all the emotional labor for other people and to bury my pain deep so that people could still have what they needed from me. Doesn’t exactly make for great boyfriend material.”
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“Bet it doesn’t really make you happy either.” He said with a nod. “I’m sorry though, I’m sure it’s rough.”
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“No, it’s pretty isolating.” He threw a pack of socks at Peter’s head. “So thanks for staying with me.”
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He caught them easily, those Spider-Man reflexes had no trouble saving him from socks. “Well, you know, sticky hands. I guess I’m good at clinging.”
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“Pretty good at cuddling, definitely. I wouldn’t call it clingy.” He finished packing up the large suitcase and zipped it shut. There were needles and thread and scissors for the sewing machine jammed in the front pocket, a couple of cheap tape measurers too, though even he wasn’t super fond of them. They’d do. He looked at the other two large suitcases he/d grabbed.
“I say we move onto a grocery store right about now. Grab toiletries and everything else. What do you think?”
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Once again he was glad his mask was hiding his blushes. “Yeah, hang on. Just want to grab one more thing.” He left the cart and disappeared into the toy section. After some searching he returned carrying a pair of boxes marked ‘seven in one gaming set’. “I figure if we don’t have some kind of distraction everybody is gonna start getting upset.”
He really hoped he could get Mr. Stark and Cap to sit down long enough to at least play something together. Maybe their relationship was rocky but if they could keep it together and maybe laugh a little bit, they might be able to be friends again. Or at least friends enough to make getting home easier.
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Dick smiled. “Look at you,” he said. “Come on, back to the car with you.”
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“Friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Might not be in Queens anymore so I’ve got a new neighborhood to look after, one that is full of people with superpowers or advanced tech or just advanced training. If everybody starts getting difficult I don’t think me and the rest of the Spider-Men could really handle it.”
He followed after Dick, pulling the cart along. “Just be glad I didn’t monopoly.”
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“Why would you bring poison like that into our home?” Dick said. “There are children, Peter.”
He opened the hatchback of the minivan and loaded in his three suitcases. There were some cargo straps in the back that they could just attach to the cart to keep it still.
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“I am that child, Dick.” He said, the mask peeling back once they were outside. “I meant what I said before, you know? Getting out and meeting people as Dick, it probably wouldn’t hurt.”
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“It’s going to take some time for me to unlearn almost an entire lifetime of being unable to trust like that.” Why he was doing it with Peter, he didn’t know. There was just something about the kid that reminded him of himself.
Once everything was in the back of the minivan, he shut the gate and hopped back in front to get it started and get them back on the road again. “Looks like a storm’s rolling in,” he said, looking at the sky.
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Peter watched the clouds with a frown, “Yeah, we should probably make the grocery run quick. The pressure is all over the place. It’s gonna dump a lot of rain on us.” He wasn’t a weather expert but he did pay attention to the weather back when he was in Queens and how different it felt once he had his super senses.
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Dick shook his head. “The door’s in low ground and far enough away that we’re not going to outrun that,” he said. “Best bet is find somewhere with a parking garage, get the car up high and ride it out. Maybe that mall over there?”
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“Yeah.” He glanced at the mall and then back at the storm. “Don’t like the idea of staying so long, but it’s better than possibly drowning or losing the stuff we grabbed.”
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“There’s a Younkers, they’ll have beds there.” He watched the lightning flick from cloud to cloud and sped up, using all those years of driving in gotham to get them up next to the door in the garage that led into the mall proper. Inside. Inside seemed like a great place to be.
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“Another department store?” He asked, wanting to make sure. The place really did seem vintage. “Is it wrong that I’m hoping for a Lovesac?” He hopped out of the van and went to open the door for them again.
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“A little more higher end, think like Kohl’s or Macy’s. I think this place is a little too early for Lovesacs, but we can take every pillow in the place and make a giant nest if you want,” he said, waiting for Peter to get the sliding doors.
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“Lord and Taylor kinda place, got you.” He nodded, pushing the doors apart easily. “Shame about the power, but yeah, that sounds nice. I’m not sure how far the temperature is gonna drop but at least we won’t get cold.”
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“We’ll be okay. No different than the first few days back on the other side of the door.” He went into the mall. At least the gates were all up.
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After scoping the place out, with no signs of the storm slowing, they had decided to attempt making their temporary home more comfortable. They went shop to shop collecting everything soft and or comfortable, dragging it out to one of the middle halls that had a kid’s play place with a decent sized ball pit. Eventually it was covered in pillows and blankets and everything else they could find, and Peter happily flopped down onto the pile.
He kept his eyes on the skylight overhead, listening to the sound of rain and wind outside. “It might be time for a nap.”
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Dick flopped back nearby, also watching the way the storm streaked across the sky. “Probably. You want me to keep watch?”
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“You can rest first if you want, I don’t mind.” Peter said, glancing at him. “That is, if you can relax for a minute and not worry about trying to take care of me.”
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Dick frowned. “Did I piss in your cheerios this morning?”
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“No man, I’m not being mean. It just seems like you’re always running around, trying to look after me and do things for people. That’s got to be exhausting, right? You know it’s okay to take a break every now and then, or I feel like you know that intellectually, but deep down you don’t wanna believe it.” There was probably a reason but he didn’t want to pry.
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“Alright, but wake me up if you need to,” he said, giving in only because so much of him ached. He curled up in their pillow pit, hunkering down for a rest.
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“I’ll wake you if the weather changes.” He promised. There didn’t seem to be anyone or anything else left so Peter was fairly sure Dick could get some good sleep and he could just enjoy being still and listening to the storm.
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“Thank you,” he said, feeling safe enough with Peter to let himself drift off.
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Peter had tried to behave himself, he really had. Relaxing had been nice and he laid there enjoying it for at least a good hour by his calculation, which in truth meant it had been something like ten minutes before he got up. He moved as quietly as he could until he was out of the pit, even holding his breath so Dick wouldn’t be disturbed.
He stayed relatively close, making sure he was still within earshot as he ducked into the odd shop or two. He wasn’t really looking to salvage anything, this was more like what he used to do with aunt May, window shopping, she called it. They would wander around, touch things, make jokes and pretty often not buy anything. It was certainly more fun when May was close, but he could picture what she would say about certain items.
When he found himself in a music store and brushed his hand across a keyboard he could picture her laughing when the noise it made had Peter jumping back.
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Dick hadn’t gotten very good sleep since arriving in the place. He’d worked so hard to look after Peter and make sure he was eating and doing all the things he would’ve done for any robin in his care. Peter was less exhausting than Damian or at least less murderous.
There was a noise. His ear twitched, but he remained properly asleep. Even a bat needed rest.
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Peter leaned backwards out of the store, squinting a little at Dick to make sure he hadn’t woken the guy up. When he was satisfied he went back to exploring, trying to make less of a mess.
About an hour later Peter returned to the pit and put a hand on one of Dick’s very muscular arms. He gave him a light shake and spoke softly. “Dick, we need to move.”
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Dick groaned under Peter’s touch, shifting and finally opening his eyes and looking up at the boy. “You sure we can’t fit this through the door?”
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“We can worry about that later, we need to get away from the windows and skylights.” He said, hand lingering a moment before he pulled it away and climbed from the pit.
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“Tornado,” Dick said, catching on quick. “Bathroom? Movie theater?” He pushed himself up.
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“Yeah, around that corner and down a few there’s a theater. Had a look at the lobby, it’s in a good spot, food and comfortable seats with bathrooms.” He grabbed one of the pillows before stepping away entirely. “I don’t think it’s aimed at us but it’s close enough to set off my danger spider whatever sense.”
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Dick grabbed a pillow too and followed Peter until they were deep in the mini-labyrinth of the movie theater in the special private showing room with the recliners and couches.
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“Did you ever see that really old movie, Twister?” Peter asked, flopping down on one of the couches and opening up a box of candy he’d grabbed on the way in. “My aunt used to love that movie. I didn’t like it much. They made the tornado growl, like actually growl.”
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Dick flopped back on a couch. “You gotta stop calling everything that happened before you were born old.”
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“You think I say that because I actually think stuff that was around before me is old?” He shot Dick a wink, sure it was all the better for the mask still being up. “Everybody calls me kid, like all the time. Only seems fair, right?”
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“I think you say that because you’re trolling.” He wasn’t smiling, or looking at Peter to see the wink.
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“And you don’t appreciate it.” He said, nodding to himself. “Sorry.” He let the mask peel all the way back, not minding the lack of light as he ate his candy, staying quiet after that.
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“Not trying to be a grumpy old man about it,” he said, reclining his overstuffed seat . Even he could hear the storm getting angrier. He just hoped nothing happened to the stuff they’d already scavenged.
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“Yeah, I get it.” He said before leaning his head back and dumping all of the candy into his mouth. At least that way he couldn’t talk for a little and put his foot in it. Of course the candy did eventually get eaten and Peter could talk again, so he did. “We should have brought some candles or something.”
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“There’s a Yankee Candle next door, you could add some ambiance if you wanted.”
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“That’s a heavy smell, no matter what kind I grab.” And his nose wouldn’t have thanked him for it. “But we’ll see, I may go grab one if we have to stay much longer.”
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“Probably a while yet. Storms like this don’t tend to end quick.”
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“Yeah, I remember the hurricane. I was like, eleven, I think. Spent like a good day or two in the building’s basement with my aunt, uncle and neighbors. That was before the superpowers so all I had was whatever the radio was saying if I wanted to know what was going on.”
---
“Pretty sure we don’t have the luxury of radio now,” he said. “Do kinda wish there was power so we could make some popcorn.”
---
“Yeah, all the cooking stuff in here is electric, even the food court.” He sighed. “But they do have all that candy. And those big pretzels if you don’t mind them room temperature.”
---
“Maybe we can warm them over some cinnamon mist or whatever ridiculous candle names there are,” he said, turning to give Peter a little smile.
---
“You joke, but I bet a cinnamon candle would be amazing paired with a sweet pretzel.” He smirked.
---
“It would, but it’d also smell like a fabric store during christmas.”
---
“I love that smell. Or like those rustic shops during christmas, the cinnamon and the wood and the hint of snow in the air. Or I guess I used to. Smelling things isn’t as fun as it used to be.” He admitted.
---
“Maybe you should find something better to smell with that super sensitive nose?” Dick asked.
---
“I’m open to suggestions.” He said. “You have something in mind?”
---
“I just woke up,” Dick said, smiling softly. “What sorts of things do you like to smell?”
---
“Nice things.” He said with another shrug. “Real stuff, not fake fragrance though there are some perfumes I like.” He felt himself frowning a little, trying not to think too hard about how badly he had screwed things up with Liz.
---
“The smell of rain,” he said, “Cold in the air just before it snows. Fresh cut grass. Alfred’s breakfast.” He turned his head to Peter.
---
“Boyfriend or- No, you said you were single. Single and rich. Alfred is your cook?” He asked. Dick didn’t talk as much about his home life as Peter did, he was sure there was some suit-related reason, but he was still curious.
---
“Butler,” he said, “Bruce’s butler. He was our nurturing influence.”
---
“Alfred.” He repeated with a nod, adding it to the list of names Dick had mentioned. “Food is always a good smell, well, when it’s done right.”
---
“He was very, very good at cooking. Still is, I imagine.” He held out his hand between them, offering it to Peter.
---
He wasn’t exactly sure what was going on but he did take the hand when Dick offered it. “It’s like you said, we’ll get you back home, don’t worry.”
---
Dick squeezed his hand gently, just needing to not feel alone and disconnected. “Yeah,” he whispered.
---
“And we’re just getting slowed down by the tornado, we’re not gonna get flattened.” He promised.
---
“I know,” he said. He squeezed his hand again. “I’m glad you’re here, Pete.”
---
“I’m here to help, always.” He assured him. “It’s meant a lot to me, becoming your friend.”
---
“Even if I am a flagrant hugger?” Dick teased.
---
“Hey, I’m a hugger too.” He said with a grin. “It’s okay.”
---
“Mmmm, I dunno, you always seem just a little bit wary about it.”
---
“Still getting to know you.” He said. “But I’m getting used to you. I’ll get better at it.”
---
“You like what you’ve seen so far?”
---
“Wha- What do you mean?” He asked. “Like as a person? You seem like a really great guy, totally don’t live up to your name.”
---
“You too,” he said, absently touching the side of his hand with his thumb.
---
Peter swore he felt chills running through him, even with just their gloved hands touching. He knew he was just being silly though. Guys like Dick, well, when they went for guys they didn’t go for guys like Peter. Still, it felt good to entertain that idea, even just for a little bit.
---
Dick was too used to other people’s too subtle body language not to notice that change in Peter. He looked over at the boy in the dark of the theater. “You okay?” he whispered.
---
Peter nodded, hoping that he could see him doing it. “Yeah, yeah, I’m good. It’s been a long few days or weeks or whatever I guess.”
---
“Mmm, good,” he said. “I think...I think I might need...might need a bit more rest.”
---
Peter nodded, gently squeezing his hand. “Go ahead and sleep. I’ll keep an eye out, make sure we don’t get flattened without knowing it first.”
---
“Can I steal a cuddle?” He murmured, eyes already slipping shut.
---
“That really a joke or do you want me to come over there?” He asked softly, not sure why he was feeling butterflies.
---
“What kind of asshole jokes about cuddles?” He gently tugged Peter’s hand before letting go of it.
---
“Flirts do. And you like to flirt.” Slowly Peter got up and moved over to join Dick.
---
Dick pushed up the arm rest between the recliners to make room for Peter. “All shy now that you’re not cuddling up while we’re already asleep?” he teased.
---
“Maybe.” He said. “I don’t know. I’m a shy kinda guy, you know? The suit usually gives me like confidence or whatever. I’m not fighting though so maybe it doesn’t work.”
---
Dick opened an arm. “Just me. Nothing to be afraid of. Good ol’ space heater Dick.”
---
“Yeah.” He said, moving closer as Dick seemed to want. “You’re a really great guy, Dick.”
---
“So are you,” he said, kissing the top of Peter’s head once he wa settled.
---
Peter swore he could feel his soul leaving his body, but in a good way. “Yeah, but I don’t have the face to match, you know? You do.”
---
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You have a perfectly handsome face and none of that has anything to do with you being great.”
---
“Yeah, but you having those things. Being great and having a good face. I think that’s probably why I’m a little, shy, you know?”
---
His forehead was resting against Peter’s messy brown hair and he reached up to touch what he was pretty sure was his cheek. “You’re very handsome, Peter,” he whispered, “even if you don’t see it.”
---
Yep, soul gone. Skin tingling. He was sure he was going to faint or drool or something to ruin this. “Yeah? You think so?”
---
“You have warm, compassionate eyes, the best kind of brown- sweet like melted caramel. You have a smile that lights up your whole face and everything about you is expressive and genuine. Your moods are infectious and there’s nothing better in this new world than watching you laugh with your whole body all unrestrained joy.” He moved his hand from Peter’s cheek back to his waist for that proper cuddle.
---
“Dick, I- Well, I’m not nearly as poetic as you are. But I, uh.” He blushed. “You, uh, you get that I’m like into you, right?”
---
“I know,” he said. “And I want you to be free to make your own decisions and not feel like the weird older dude is pressuring you into something.”
---
“I’m- I don’t know, you know? After everything that happened I don’t feel much like a kid, but everybody keeps calling me one anyway. And yeah, I know, I am young, but maybe it doesn’t matter so much when you’ve died before and all that.” He wanted to shout that he wasn’t a kid, that he could prove it, but even in his own head that seemed stupid, especially when Dick was so close.
---
“It starts to feel like if you’re old enough to risk your life like that you should be old enough to find some comfort,” he said, understanding all too well.
---
“Exactly.” He said softly, turning his head to look at Dick. His heart was already beating hard, which was saying something since his heart rate was generally pretty high. Dick got it. Dick understood and was handsome enough to make the angels cry. It was perfect, really, this thing between Dick and himself. He decided to let himself be brave and give him a very gentle kiss on his lips.
---
Dick returned the kiss just as gently. “This is what you want?” he whispered, wanting to be completely sure.
---
“I- I think so. It feels right.” He said, resting a hand on Dick’s chest. “Never been with another guy before. Guess I could never find a guy I really liked, you know? Then I met you.”
---
Dick happily wrapped Peter up in his arms, glad to have a proper cuddle to start instead of waking up in one. “The reins are in your hands,” he said. “Wherever this goes, you’re in control of it.” He didn’t want for a second to have Peter or anyone else thinking he was taking advantage of him.
---
“Probably gonna need a lot of reassurance.” He said softly, moving his arms around Dick. “I’m not good at- Well, I don’t have very much experience. And nobody like you has ever given me the time of day before, so, yeah. Okay.”
---
Dick stole a gentle kiss. “I’ll do my best to keep your heart safe too.”
---
“You know, people talk about swooning. Didn’t get it until just now.” He whispered. “Kiss me again?”
---
“Whenever you want.” Dick kissed him again, still making sure to keep it gentle and easy for now, feeling very much like he was in Titans Tower.
---
“If I take your mask off, is there still light enough for you to see me?” He asked softly, his hand moving over Dick’s side, feeling the muscle that was hidden under his suit.
---
“No,” he replied. “Maybe you wanna go get those candles? And something else to sleep in that isn’t our uniforms?” The storm wasn’t anywhere near over. He could feel it in every place he’d hurt himself over the years in and out of the suit quietly reminding him that there wasn’t anything super about him in the slightest.
---
“I was thinking that maybe it wouldn’t be a bad thing, you not seeing me. But you’re probably right. We should get some candles and bed down.”
---
“You go pick out a smell that doesn’t overwhelm you. I’ll grab us stuff to bed down with.” He really didn’t want to get up.
---
“Okay.” He whispered, feeling like he was walking on air and he wasn’t even moving yet. But some part of him did eventually get himself moving again, giving Dick a last kiss before getting up to his feet.
---
Dick smiled softly at that kiss and squeezed Peter’s hand gently before heading out with him to the main part of the mall again. He let Peter handle candles while he popped into another store to grab an air bed, a pump and more of the pillows they’d left in the ball pit. None of the rain had gotten in yet, but looking up through the massive skylight didn’t offer much in the way of encouragement that the weather was going to change any time soon.
---
It took Peter a little but he did eventually find a few candles his special nose could tolerate and returned to their chosen theater. He took the time to set the candles up in the most effective spots and was lighting the last of them when Dick finally returned.
“Do you need any help with that?”
---
“Nah,” he said, pulling out a batarang to get the box open once he’d tossed the pillows onto some of the chairs. “I probably should’ve grabbed blankets though. I could start to see my breath out there.”
---
“All the candles should warm up the place a little.” He said. “I can run and grab some blankets though.”
---
“I’d appreciate that.” He gave Peter a quick kiss on the cheek and set about using the manual pump to get the bed inflated.
---
He really was going to need to learn how to cope with kisses like that if he was ever going to get anything done. It took a moment of him shaking his head before he snapped out of it and headed off to get the blankets.
A few minutes later Peter returned with a couple blankets and a gourmet snack box. “I guess this was a time before all that pricey bottled water started turning up because I couldn’t find any. But there are some jam cookies and stuff in there that look good.”
---
“Seems about right.” He’d gotten the bed finished and was working on getting out of his suit by the time Peter got back, ready to change into the comically loose pyjamas he’d grabbed on the way back from bed hunting.
---
And there was skin. Lots of skin and scars and Peter’s brain just decided proper function was too much effort. He’d seen him shirtless plenty, Dick seemed to love getting his top off, and that was something much harder to ignore now. He knew he was pretty built too thanks to the bite, but Dick was all hard work, all of that sculpting had taken weeks of his life. Weeks that had been very well spent in Peter’s mind.
---
Dick pulled on the loose plaid pants and v-neck, taking off his mask and going to put the pillows they had on the bed. Four now. That seemed like almost enough.
He looked over at Peter. “You okay?”
---
Peter waved his hand in Dick’s general direction before putting everything down. “Abs. You’ve got like, lots of them.”
---
“No more than you do,” he pointed out, doing his best to straighten his suit out and keep it close. It didn’t feel like they were going to need it. It was safe enough here, just empty.
---
“Eh, I kinda feel like that’s debatable.” He said, spreading out the blanket. “You like, work out and everything. These just sorta happened.”
---
“Just means next time i get shot in a place that sidelines me for a while you can help take care of me and make fun of me when I get a little softer,” he said, winking at him. He laid back on the mattress, stretching and yawning.
---
Peter made a face, “Let’s try not getting shot first. I don’t think I’d be that great of a caregiver.” Since Dick had changed Peter didn’t see the harm, letting the nanotech suit peel itself back all the way, leaving him in his regular suit.
---
“There’s pyjamas for you too over there,” he said, nodding to the pile of clothes on one of the recliners.
---
“Pajama party time, I got you.” He said, stretching a little before strolling over to give them a look.
---
“Only if you want to.” He rolled onto his side to let Peter have whatever privacy he wanted.
---
“Might as well.” He said, hitting the spider on his chest, making his suit go loose around him before he stepped out of it and started putting the pjs on.
---
“I’ll even let you blow some of the candles out if you’re concerned about me seeing you,” he teased, happily snuggled under the blankets.
---
“Figure that ship sailed a while back.” Peter said, pulling the pajamas on. “That’s okay.”
---
“You’re allowed to be shy if you need to be.”
---
“Oh, I’m shy. I’m super shy. But just not with my body. High school locker rooms, you know? You get over that quick.” After getting the top on he returned to Dick, joining him on the air mattress.
---
“Some people never do,” he pointed out. He kept his eyes gently closed so Peter didn’t have to worry about his blushing.
---
“Yeah, I guess so.” He sighed softly as he made himself comfortable. “Well, this should be over in a few hours, I think. Gives us time to really rest.”
---
Dick made a soft noise of agreement, clearly able to make himself cozy comfy right where he was. “And to wake up smelling like vanilla.”
---
“Might have gone too heavy with the vanilla, probably should have thrown some clean linen in there too.” He shrugged.
---
“I like the vanilla,” he said, finally opening his eyes to look across the pillows at Peter.
---
“It’s not too strong?” Peter asked, feeling his heart beating hard again.
---
“Not at all.” Dick kept his voice low and calm for the young man next to him. He reached forward and moved some of his hair out of his face with a gentle brush of his fingers.
---
He was still dead, he had to be. No one ever looked at him that way, no one as incredible as Dick. If it weren’t for his racing heart he might have believed it completely.
“Dick…” Peter whispered.
---
“Peter,” he whispered back.
---
“Kiss me again?” He asked.
---
“Always,” Dick said and then he did, closing his eyes to lean in and give his companion a gentle, slow kiss.
---
Peter could feel his toes curling at the kiss alone. It was sweet and wonderful and everything Peter had ever wanted from a kiss. Maybe he was a little slow on the uptake but he did eventually start kissing Dick back.
---
Gradually, Dick let Peter take over where the kiss was going, letting him build confidence without needing to have it pointed out to him.
---
That kiss, it warmed him even as he very gently, almost tentatively pushed it deeper. It was an incredible, amazing kiss, at least for him but he wasn’t going to let his inexperience get the better of him.
---
Dick’s hand moved to Peter’s waist, gently caressing it, encouraging him with those touches and soft little sighs between them.
---
He was sure this was what the nice parts of being drunk felt like. He leaned into Dick’s touches, wanting more of all of it. He wasn’t sure how far he wanted this to go, but it was hard to stop kissing him in order to discuss it.
---
Peter might not have had the restraint to pull himself from kisses to check in, but Dick absolutely did. He eased them to a stopping point as gently as he could with increasingly softer kisses before their foreheads were pressed together.
---
Peter blinked a few times, swallowing hard after wetting his lips and tasting Dick here. It really was the best kind of overwhelmed. “Wow.”
---
“Yeah,” Dick agreed, just basking in the closeness.
---
“I don’t know if I’m ready for more than that, but that, that was like, really great.” He said.
---
“You have the reins,” he reminded him gently. “Everything at your pace.”
---
He nodded, “Thanks. Uh, you can tell me when I’m doing something wrong though, right?”
---
“I absolutely plan to, yes. So far, you’re doing very, very well.”
---
Peter found himself blushing, “I- Yeah, great. You’re, uh, a good teacher.”
---
Dick smiled and kissed his cheek. “How do you wanna sleep tonight?”
---
“We, uh, we could do what we always do.” He offered. “Maybe just start cuddled.”
---
“I’m asking if you want to be against my side of if you’d rather a big spoon.”
--
“Side.” He said with a nod.
---
Dick stole a brief kiss and rolled onto his back to let him close.
---
Once he was properly settled he glanced up at Dick’s face. “Thank you, for all of this. I know I’ve said that a lot today but I mean it.”
---
“Thank you for trusting me,” Dick said, looking lovingly down at Peter.
---
“Always.” He smiled, tilting his head up to kiss his cheek.
---
Dick snuggled Peter as close as he could and settled in to sleep, letting the dim sound of the rain and the other man’s presence lull him there easily.