newyorknative | Yes I want you, and that’s the way it is

Now that Peter knows the real Fiyero, he’s reasonably confident that the fake one would feel fake. That he’d be able to tell the difference… probably. There’s only one way to find out, but luckily their policy of honesty has been working out okay since they implemented it. Peter can’t deny it’s scary, sometimes - there’s so much they both still have yet to discover about each other - but it’s easier knowing there’s a hand to hold through it all.

“Hmm… so you’re saying you want a cut?” Peter’s smile brightens with playfulness, glad that Fiyero seems alright. He’s still eyeing him, and Peter will still be watching… but maybe Fiyero will tell him in his own time, what exactly he was feeling. Peter doesn’t want to push too hard, either. He pretends to contemplate their deal as the elevator stops to let a few people on. Peter shuffles them into the corner, hand sliding down to Fiyero’s neck instead, palm settling over his pulse. “You are capitalizing on my established professional brand so… how’s 20%?”

“He was very generous,” Peter beams, and he can’t help but be a little excited. So this is what it feels like to not be worried about next month’s rent! With the TA checks coming in and now this, they were set, at least for the next month. Rent, food, new clothes for Fiyero, webbing ingredients and the reinforced posts - they had to be a little economical, sure, but they wouldn’t have to pick and choose what was most important, and sacrifice the others.

"Well, you're still my faithful treasurer, so I'll leave the math to you," Fiyero answers, voice softening further as other people step on the elevator. At least Peter can hear him almost no matter what - Peter is the one who needs to speak a bit louder to be heard.

Fiyero really just trusts Peter to take care of money things. He's the one who knows what things cost. Perhaps he can just give Fiyero an allowance to spend however he wishes? Peter has explained percent to him, that hundred meant all, so fifty was half. Then going on about how the word came from cent meaning one hundredth, which is why the coins were called that, and Fiyero just let him talk. Anyway, he's pretty sure thay twenty hundredths of six thousand would be... a lot. But really, Fiyero didn't do much, in the scheme of things. He's not arguing for being given loads. Peter is already paying for room and board. It's just nice to actually help out.

"I didn't do it on purpose, by the way," he adds after a moment, very quietly. Peter thanking him, saying he didn't have to do that - well, no, of course he didn't. But try and stop him? Fiyero certainly couldn't. Though maybe the first step is realising it's happening in the first place.

Peter smiles at him, eyes crinkling in the corners; yes, of course he’ll take care of Fiyero. Even when he has very little, he’ll share it with Fiyero. He has, from the very moment they met. Sometimes that’s how Spiderman saved the day - buying a well-placed bagel.

Regardless, it’s well established that Fiyero is welcome to everything. Peter will make sure they don’t starve and have enough to function, budgeting, and whatever remains… he’s sure they’ll find a use for it. Frankly, Fiyero did a lot - he took the pictures and influenced Jonah, whether he meant to or not. Peter just had to swing by and say cheese.

But the quiet revelation that Fiyero didn’t mean to do it does stop Peter short, gaze cutting up to Fiyero’s. A few people get off at another floor, and they keep going down, down, down.

“It just… happened?” Peter ventures, squeezing Fiyero’s hand. The elevator finally makes it to the bottom, people filtering out, dispersing into the lobby. Peter shifts the briefcase in one hand and lets them spill out, off to the side of the elevator. “What were you thinking about?”

"Sort of," Fiyero answers, speaking quietly. Not that anyone would have any idea what they're actually talking about at this point, but some of it still might sound weird. That, and... well, it just feels private. It's obviously a pretty sensitive subject for him, for a wide variety of reasons.

"I guess it was sort of.. accidentally on purpose," Fiyero elaborates, with an amused huff. The more it happens, and he shares with Peter to help them both make sense of it, the more it does seem to make sense. "I was just getting really annoyed at him, and wanted him to treat you better. I wasn't trying to make it happen, I just... noticed when it did."

It wasn't just Jonah's reaction though. He did feel something, but he wasn't really paying attention to it at that point, so he's not sure he could describe it very well. Nor figure out how much was annoyance - probably his heart rate going up a little, and some tension - and how much was... just, the power working. Like a slight shiver or something, a tingly sensation - he doesn't quite remember, because then he also got lightheaded.

And, well, the queasiness he's not sure was because of it happening, or because he was upset it was happening. For however deserved it may have been, and how good it is for Peter, it didn't feel great. There's things happening to him that he can't control or anticipate, things that are a result of very bad people doing very bad things to him without his knowledge or consent. It makes sense he doesn't feel comfortable with it, but he also doesn't know if that's all there was to it...

Things are weird all the time in New York; it seems to be the natural order of things. Peter doesn’t seem worried about anyone eavesdropping, or what they’d get if they do - each person in this elevator is a stranger, with their own story they’re following. But it is a sensitive subject, and Peter listens with concern as Fiyero expounds once they’re not packed in the metal box any longer.

He’s glad they can talk about this now - it makes his next question easier, as Peter leans in, voice lowering to accommodate Fiyero’s hesitation. “And… the other night. At the club, when you… what were you thinking about then?”

It was the most Fiyero had wielded his power, and intentionally so, too. Well, sort of - maybe not at first, but definitely when they gave chase. Moments of heightened emotion seemed to activate it, but what about more subtle expressions of will?

“Maybe you need to practice,” Peter suggests sympathetically, running a soothing hand down Fiyero’s side. “When I first - when what happened happened, it took a while to get my senses under control.”

Learning to pull it back had been a process. Even now, he still sometimes had issues; fewer and further between, but he would never been fully free of it. That… might very well be the case here, too. Nothing indicated that what was done to Fiyero could be reversed… if it was power granted by what he’d been given, or innate potential tapped into. There was still so much they didn’t know.

Fiyero considers Peter's question, then smiles wryly. "Same sort of thing, only.. more urgent," he answers, shrugging with one shoulder and giving Peter's hand a squeeze. He had felt aggressively defensive and protective of Peter - and then it had sort of kick-started a secondary objective, of getting those guys. "And on behalf of both of us, I suppose."

It was a lot angrier, obviously. Fiyero had been furious, because he'd been scared, and it was built from a lot of pent up anger. He had vengeance on his mind, a little - more than he'd like to admit, probably. But mostly he just wanted them to leave him alone.

It was sort of what he had experienced when he'd fled to the roof, too. He was upset and wanted to be left alone, to not be hurt anymore. It was different, but the same. Like he lashes out, either when he feels threatened, or when he feels protective...

"I suppose so... It's not.. I don't like it very much though," Fiyero admits quietly. Probably not a surprise - it's born from anger and hurt and strong emotions, at least as far as he knows. Even the times it's been from lust, well... Then it was generally making him force his will in ways he doesn't want to.

Well at least they know what it’s triggered by? In part, anyway. And it wasn’t like Fiyero would be able to avoid strong emotion for the rest of time, so there really only was one option. Fiyero would likely feel protective or threatened again - clearly, if today was any indication, if Jonah registered as enough of an annoyance to trigger something. Besides, if forcing Peter into something is one of his main fears, then Fiyero needs to practice control. It’s the only way to develop any, even if that’s frightening, and unfair.

Peter smiles sadly, squeezing Fiyero’s hand tightly. “I’m sorry, ‘yero. It’s not fair to you, and I wish you didn’t have to go through this.”

“If you practice… you still won’t like it. But it’ll be less scary. You’ll know that you can control it.” Peter looks up at Fiyero for a long moment before he admits: “I shattered the door at May’s, my first week. I was angry, and I slammed it shut and the glass just - broke.”

He could end it there, but the honest truth is sadder. Fiyero might need to hear it, though, so Peter presses on, even as his gaze lowers to their interlocked hands. “My uncle was killed that night. And May - I was so angry, I was so full of grief, I didn’t dare touch her. I didn’t want to risk hurting her.”

“I know you don’t like it,” Peter finally looks back up at Fiyero, almost imploring. “But until you learn how to control it, it will control you. And you deserve better than that, baby. You deserve not to have to live in fear.”

Peter lifts Fiyero’s hand to kiss the back of it, before cradling it against his chest, just over the beating of his heart. “And I’ll help you. You’re not alone in this.”

Fiyero is starting to realize he can't avoid it. And, well, he doesn't have much basis for comparison, but... could it be getting stronger? He wasn't feeling that intensely in Jonah's office. Unlike other times - where he was very openly upset or angry - he doesn't think he was showing much outward evidence of his emotions beyond perhaps an annoyed expression. Yet it changed Jonah's behaviour so drastically. Then again, it was focused on one person, rather than making a whole crowd react to his nudges, in the bar, or Peter's many neighbours...

But it's less than a week since they did things to him, and they've been intentionally avoiding people a lot of that time, sneaking around. There's still a lot they don't know. Another reason to be trying to practice it. As pleasant as it is to hide out with Peter, Fiyero would rather not become a hermit. And it's not just Peter he's afraid of influencing in a bad way.

Fiyero squeezes Peter's hand back, his comfort being both warming and also a little uncomfortable. Fiyero still isn't used to someone being so understanding of his struggles. The words he's saying still sound so foreign to his ears. When has anyone ever told him something isn't fair - without adding "so deal with it" at the end?

It's almost less uncomfortable hearing Peter talk about his own experiences - almost. It's heartbreaking every time, hearing him talk about his past struggles, the context of him losing people. If Fiyero's power could do anything to change the past, he probably would have anytime he saw Peter's face or heard his voice whenever he talks about his grief. But no matter how sad it is, at least Fiyero's subconscious doesn't have the instinct to send a 'cheer up' compulsion... As it is, the only thing he can really do is listen, and stroke his thumb across the back of Peter's hand as he looks down at their hands.

He can identify with it though... It's not the same, obviously, in his situation it was a lot more trivial - but Fiyero also withdrew from Peter out of fear of hurting him. He understands the fear.

And even if he didn't see Peter's point, he doesn't think he could deny him, when he looks at Fiyero like that. Telling him how much he deserves, making Fiyero's heart hurt. It's obvious on Fiyero's face how both meaningful and difficult it is to hear these things - he's not even thinking about hiding it right now. He's probably making people ignore them subconsciously - but they've also stepped off to the side, out of he way of people walking around and using the elevators, so perhaps it's just New Yorkers' natural inclination to mind their own business.

Fiyero finally looks down when Peter promises to help him, saying he's not alone. It's one of those sentiments that hurt because of how unfamiliar they are, yet how much he craves it.

He takes a moment before answering, nodding in acknowledgement. Taking a deep breath. "Well, there's a problem with you helping me control it," Fiyero answers softly, lifting his gaze to give Peter a small smile. "See, when I'm with you, there's not really much I want to change."

It's unbearably sappy. But it's also completely sincere. It's probably the closest thing to 'I love you' that Fiyero has ever said, in a way...

Peter would hope that the power isn't getting stronger so much as Fiyero is slowly unlocking his potential. Doing what he did at the club the other night was the biggest influence Fiyero's ever had over such a large group of people - and his radius has been steadily increasing. From influencing just Peter to the neighbors on their hall, to a packed subway car, all the way up to an entire club full of people. If Fiyero's powers are like a muscle, he's been strength training, learning how to release more and more power - if not control it, fully. The next step would be to hone that finer control, to allow him to more intentionally direct his powers. Without that, maybe it's not so unusual that an errant desire resulted in Fiyero nudging Jonah into such abnormal behavior.

Or it could be the drugs they gave him, the tests, the experimentation. Without knowing all the variables, how are they supposed to solve this problem? And the only way they'll learn all the variables is by break in or by testing it themselves... unpleasant though it may be.

Fiyero looks melancholy, perhaps slightly discomforted by Peter's honesty - but the hold Fiyero has on his hand, the gentle circles of his thumb - tell everything Peter needs to know, before he even opens his mouth. That he accepts Peter's intentions, at the bare minimum; that maybe Peter is saying things Fiyero wasn't sure he wanted to hear until after Peter said them. And then, of course, Fiyero has to hit him with the kind of intensely cheesy, sentimental line that makes him a little weak at the knees, proverbially speaking. Peter's concerned expression melts immediately - cow-eyed brown takes its' place, and Peter squeezes Fiyero's hand again, trying and failing to suppress his awed answering smile.

"Yeah, you know... I think you're right." Peter holds Fiyero's clear, blue gaze for a significant moment - maybe Fiyero is putting off a Do Not Disturb vibe, or maybe they've all resigned themselves to ignoring the mushy couple in the corner. "Seems pretty perfect to me."

...Aside from the people hunting them, and the nonconsensual experimentation, and a few other things that go without saying. Peter catches Fiyero's jacket between his fingers and tugs him closer, his smile dimming back to something soft and reassuring. They hang for a beat, the charged look passing between them once again, before Peter ducks his head, feeling ridiculously pink. "Come on."

Peter lets his hand slide down to wrap around Fiyero's waist, the position encouraging Fiyero to wrap his arm around Peter's shoulders. Peter bumps his hip against Fiyero's playfully, staying tucked against his side as he points them towards the exit. It's not far to some of the thrift shops they can hit on the way back home, and courtesy of Fiyero's powers, they can afford a modest gently-used wardrobe. Then they can form a plan, work together to figure out how to handle Fiyero's powers. It's frightening and uncomfortable, but at least Peter will be there to hold Fiyero's hand, the let him know he has at least one person in his corner.

"I wonder if..." Peter almost can't seem to stop himself as they walk, thinking on the occurrence, thumb casually hooked in Fiyero's beltloop. Peter tilts his head, regarding Fiyero as a gust of wind kicks up from a subway line below, ruffling his bangs. "...I wonder if it's not strong emotion that triggers it. But like... a clear one? An actionable objective. But then sometimes it's like... an overflow."

Peter averts his eyes again for a moment before they inevitably flit back, unable to keep them away for too long. "Like you're feeling so much you can't contain it anymore."

It makes Fiyero feel good inside, the way Peter just seems to melt at his words. When it's not Fiyero's normal weaponised charm, but a little piece of honesty, and that that's what has such an immediate effect on Peter... There's also the constant urge to make Peter smile, to wipe away those worries, to help him think of happier things.

They've suddenly got a lot less worries about money for a while, so it seems good to focus on happier things. Fiyero soaks up Peter's attentive eye contact - the way the whole world seems to sort of fade away for a moment. Just the two of them, not saying anything more, not even kissing, just sort of... lingering in the shared sentiment.

It's almost a shame to let it go, but if they had stood around here staring at each other much longer, Fiyero probably would have started kissing him, and that might not have been ideal for the building for a newspaper where Peter works.

Fiyero smiles as he fits in next to Peter, arms wrapped around each other, falling into step as they walk leisurely, Fiyero letting Peter lead. He's still sort of thinking about his powers and that Peter is right in that he needs to figure out how to control them somehow, so it's not too much of a surprise when Peter continues talking about it after a little while.

"I don't know," he answers thoughtfully. "I mean.. it has to be when I want something to change. Right? Although, if I were making people just continue as they are, I'm not sure how I would even notice."

At least not so far. Up in Jonah's office is maybe the first time he was aware of it as it happened. In the bar, it was obvious, and maybe part of him knew he was doing it - it wasn't a surprise, after all, that everyone did exactly as he wanted. But he was far too busy being angry and having a clear goal, that he didn't really question it.

Peter definitely has a pep in his step as they walk, just by virtue of being next to Fiyero. The nice things Fiyero says to him are just a bonus, words that Peter holds close to his chest, warmed from the inside out. Call it the honeymoon period if you will, but don't they deserve that, at least a little? Finding someone who makes them happy, who thinks the world of them?

"I don't think so. Not all the time, I mean." Peter hums thoughtfully, turning it over in his mind. It can be difficult to separate from his own heightened emotions, but he's pretty sure there have been a few times where Fiyero has influenced him. Not with a particular goal in mind, but just because Peter could feel him. But... how to explain that without freaking Fiyero out?

"It's two separate things," Peter explains slowly, turning them down another street, weaving them towards Midtown. "When you want something to change, or you want to intercede or... something like that. The hallway, with the neighbors. The crowd at the club. But then other times, it's like... I can feel you?"

"You weren't controlling me," He's quick to reassure, glancing up at Fiyero's expression. "But I could feel you. How happy you were. It didn't - it wasn't like it made me happy when I wasn't, because I was, but more like... it compounded how I was already feeling?"

"I don't think that had a goal. I think you were just... feeling so much, it was like the water in your cup spilled over." Peter diverts them to a storefront, shouldering open the door and pulling Fiyero with him. Cramped rows of clothes greet them, one other shopper in the back - but otherwise empty, surprisingly. What? Peter might know a few secret city gems; it's not like there was any writing on the window indicating what this store was. "Either way, there's only one way to figure it out, and that's practice. Lucky for us, I volunteer as tribute."

Fiyero looks up as Peter shares his thoughts, and... if definitely feels like he's choosing his words carefully. Whether that's because he's not sure himself, or.. What seems more likely: that he's worried about how Fiyero will take it. Trying to discuss it gently.

It does work though, Fiyero not freaking out this time, and Peter is quick to reassure. However, it is a surprise, what Peter describes. It sounds like the difference between control and communication, almost.

Although it does sound a little like influence, still. Compounding... At least it was happiness spilling over? Peter already has so much empathy, he feels awful when Fiyero feels sad anyway. He would probably feel devastated if Fiyero's panic or sadness spilled over, as Peter phrases it. Then again, maybe that has happened and Peter just doesn't want to point it out.

It's such a complex thing to be thinking about, Fiyero is being pulled along on autopilot. It takes him a second to realise Peter has pulled him into a clothing store. It's an abrupt adjustment, part of him definitely wants to break off to search for new outfits, while the other part of him is still stuck in the conversation. And it isn't a light subject suited for multitasking.

"And you're sure that's.. not just you?" he asks curiously, unwrapping himself a little from Peter. "You know, how you sense when people need help?"

There's just unfortunately no one else to ask about this sort of thing. How would they know whether if affects Peter differently than it does other people, giving his own abilities to sense things?

Peter has definitely felt other things from Fiyero... but none as intensely as his happiness. Whether that's because his powers weren't as strong yet or because Peter was paying more attention by that point... well. That remains to be seen. Was it his powers, or Fiyero's, or both that contributed to the incident in the bathroom?

"I'm sure." Peter says gently, releasing Fiyero so he can look at the clothes. It's not like Peter's going far in the tight aisle, still hovering close enough - but he can see the way Fiyero's interest has been piqued, and shopping is why he brought him here in the first place! "It feels different. I don't know how to explain it, like... a shiver down my spine? But more intense, more innate. More absolute. It's almost a physical sensation, when it's... me."

"My point is," Peter glances idly at the rack of clothes, gaze sliding to the bored cashier manning the counter - they're not listening to them. "Tomorrow, we should try to practice. We'll start slow and small, simple. If I can figure out... you know, what happened to me, we can figure out you too, 'yero."

"I just need you to trust me." Peter smiles softly, raising his head to push his glasses up his nose as his warm gaze finds his boyfriend. Maybe it makes him look like a total dork, but Fiyero seems to like him anyway, full of optimism it shouldn't still be possible for him to have, after everything he's been through, and yet. "Do you trust me?"

Fiyero's attention seems to drift towards the clothes, though not entirely. He's scanning them idly as he mostly focuses on Peter's response, taking in his explanation. It is reassuring, every time Peter affirms that yes, he can tell the difference. Even if Fiyero doesn't know if he likes what he hears - at least it's something more solid, more definite. The less guesswork, the more they have to work with, Peter is right about that...

And Peter's had his own powers for a long while now. It makes sense he'd be more familiar with them and able to tell the difference. Practicing would let Fiyero also get better at recognising it, of being able to tell stuff like that - whether it's more physical or emotional. Maybe when he gets better at noticing when it happens, he can also stop himself from doing it.

He nods a little as Peter suggests they practice tomorrow, unable to feel fully enthused about it, but agreeing. He doesn't like it, but he knows they should, and he prefers practicing in a safe context than more instances of him just sort of exploding with it.

Peter asks him the question, and Fiyero answers "Of course I do," so automatically and off-hand, not even looking away from the clothes. He realises after a second that it might sound insincere, like a casual platitude - when really it's just feels like such a given. So he smiles and looks over at Peter, stepping closer to sneak a hand around his waist, pulling him closer for a quick but sweet kiss. "Of course I do," he repeats, softer, warmer - making sure Peter knows he means it.

It’s probably a combination of both, but they won’t really know until they try. And it’s nerve-wracking, Peter’s sure - the idea of mastery over powers Fiyero never wanted in the first place is daunting. Peter was pretty freaked out by his own before he realized how cool it was - and that was an accident, not intentional, non-consensual experimentation.

Peter’s already smiling fondly at Fiyero’s automatic response, how quickly he says it without even thinking about it, but the repetition sealed with a kiss and a hand on his waist to reel him in make him grin. He nods, briefly resting his palm on Fiyero’s chest - just over his heart, feeling the reassuring flutter beneath his palm. “Thanks, babe.”

“Now I’ve got two good hands and some cash to blow, courtesy of a very generous boss.” Peter lets his other hand come up to Fiyero’s shoulder, long fingers spread wide over his joint. Peter beams at him, still full of that dorky confidence, eyebrows rising playfully towards his hair. “You shop, I’ll carry? There’s a changing room in the back, too. There are a couple more stores we can check out on the way, if you don’t find anything here…”

Peter’s pretty hopeless when it comes to shopping - he buys pants that fit and a lot of random graphic tees. He cycles through four different button-ups and always manages to pick the one with a stain, at any given moment - but he thinks this is a place with a decent selection for Fiyero to peruse?

For all the worries about powers and Fiyero's safety, about work and money and everything else... Fiyero does feel surprisingly light today. Maybe courtesy of the mind-blowing sex? There is something very cathartic about something that intense. Like letting off a pressure valve.

Fiyero grins brightly in return, giving Peter's waist a squeeze before letting him go again. "That I can do," Fiyero agrees happily, before turning back towards the rack of clothes to start perusing for real.

He pulls out a lot of different things, holding them up towards himself, evaluating for a second, then either putting it back or draping over Peter's arms. Occasionally he will hold something up towards Peter, and no, he's not accepting any argument on that front. Peter has accepted and encouraged Fiyero's styling help, and he doesn't seem to prioritise his own wardrobe, nor necessarily know what to do if he did. So Fiyero will make sure Peter gets a few new fresh things as well. (Maybe something nice for seeing Aunt May tomorrow too?)

It's a sizeable heap of things as they make it to the dressing rooms. Fiyero changes quickly, trying on new things. Some gets discarded quickly, others require more consideration - with both money and space being limited, Fiyero knows to pick favourites. He tends to prefer a smaller collection of really good outfits, rather than having a large collection anyway.

He urges Peter to try things on too, of course, and some get discarded there too, but the ones he likes, Fiyero is quite vocally complimentary about.

"I wish this fit better.." he comments over a pair of jeans he's trying that have intricate floral embroidery going down one leg. It's an inch or two too big in the waist, more than can be fixed with a belt. "Do you have tailors?"

Today does feel pretty light, and that's good. They deserve a break from feeling hunted - even if Peter's gaze does drift to the door anytime anyone gets too close to it, snapping there instantly the split-second before the bell rings anytime someone actually enters the shop. The constant vigilance will no doubt exhaust him later, but it's necessary. After Fiyero's been snatched once, after Peter himself was almost drugged at the bar so they could escape with Fiyero again? It's hardly paranoia if people really are out to get you.

But no one comes after them, and no familiar faces interrupt their shopping. Peter watches curiously as Fiyero picks up different articles of clothing, silently trying to guess which ones Fiyero will take a liking to. He never seems to guess right, which is amusing to Peter, at least - though he quickly becomes bogged down with things for Fiyero to try on. A few for himself, as well, though his hands are too full to do much more than vocally protest, which Fiyero happily ignores. They're here for Fiyero, not him!

The cashier eyes them with amusement as Peter trails after Fiyero towards the dressing room, and he ducks his head to avoid the creeping flush in his cheeks. Yeah, maybe he's whipped, but he can't rightfully say he'd rather be anything else.

Peter's got a half-buttoned dress shirt on when Fiyero draws attention to the jeans he's sporting, and Peter pauses, pushing his perennially-slipping glasses back up his nose. He shifts over to examine the jeans, tucking two fingers in the waistband to estimate just how much bigger they are, then tilting his head to look at the seam on the leg. It avoids the detailed embroidery, which will make it much easier to take in. "We do, but you don't have to worry about that. I can fix these for you. Get them, if you like them."

Peter leans in to kiss Fiyero's cheek, then turns back to the mirror to keep buttoning up the dress shirt, like what he just said is in any way normal - and may be a given?

Fiyero doesn't find it odd that Peter leans in to examine the jeans, but he does blink at the reassurance that Peter can simply fix them. It takes him a moment to remember that Peter had said he made that Spider suit himself, and that was excellent craftsmanship - at least as far as Fiyero could tell, being unfamiliar with the tools of this world.

"Thank you," he answers warmly, then steps up behind Peter to look at him in the mirror, evaluating the shirt he's trying on. A bit shinier than Peter's button-ups, but just in a way that makes the fabric look more luxurious. More subdued than some of what Fiyero picks for himself, simple and elegant. He wants Peter to look good but also feel good, so he's not going to put him in anything crazy he doesn't feel comfortable in.

Fiyero leans in and slips his hands around Peter's waist from behind, resting his hands on Peter's stomach and his chin on his shoulder. "You look hot," he murmurs sweetly into Peter's ear.

Peter hasn’t had to veto much - aside from the fact that Fiyero was picking anything out for him when he didn’t need any new clothes (and it probably doesn’t help that the clothes he has, he repairs until they’re all but rags) - but the ones Fiyero has picked out, Peter had to admit look good. The shirt with fringe was a bit of a stretch… but this one is nice, a deep green color that looks dressier than his normal, but could probably also be dressed down with a pair of decent jeans.

Fiyero’s chin presses against his shoulder, and Peter lets one hand fall to Fiyero’s, brushing gently against his arm, while the other fusses with one of the buttons. He smiles, ducking his head a little at the compliment, letting his cheek brush Fiyero’s. “Yeah? Well if my… if my boyfriend likes it… guess I have to get it.”

He might be testing out the term, but it’s clear he likes saying it. He doesn’t think Fiyero will mind - he did say they could call this whatever, and he might have heard Peter using it with Betty… but it’s the first time he’s addressing it directly.

Admittedly, the shirt with the fringe was maybe put in there specifically assuming Peter would turn it down. Sometimes you have to ask for something you know is too much, so that the other things seem more reasonable in comparison. Admittedly this probably doesn't work if Fiyero asks for something he wants, because - apart from when Peter is trying to be the voice of reason - Peter doesn't seem capable of denying him much.

Fiyero smiles as Peter ducks his head - and then he practically glows as Peter calls him his boyfriend. Yes, it's safe to say he approves. "Good!" he answers, and smacks a kiss on Peter's cheek before letting go of him to continue trying clothes.

Despite his inexperience in some areas, Fiyero has dated quite a bit. And he's seen the way his girlfriends light up at being acknowledged like that. But he's never felt it for himself. It's strange. Like a warm, fluttery feeling inside that lingers.

Hey, he still tried it on! Dutifully, even. But it's definitely something that would look better on Fiyero than on Peter, the kind of thing you need a certain type of confidence to pull off. If it was a strategy to make the rest of it look reasonable, Peter has taken the bait hook, line, and sinker.

Fiyero definitely seems to like Peter using the title, and Peter smiles, cheek tingling from the enthusiastic kiss. It feels right, for what they're settling into now. In the same way the hickies that dot Fiyero's neck - shown off, as he slips in and out of the clothes he's trying on - claim him, this is another way of claiming that Peter won't deny he enjoys.

...now how to tell May, after he'd denied it so vehemently...

By the time Peter finishes trying on the pile Fiyero pulled for him, Peter has selected a few items - shirts and a pair of form-fitting jeans that Fiyero really seemed to like him in - with a few in the no/maybe pile that Fiyero might be successful in talking him into buying, provided they have enough in the budget to get Fiyero everything he chose, first. While saving enough for the other things they wanted to buy, of course...

Fiyero's going through the clothes with surprising efficiency, considering how much he delights in being lazy and procrastinating. The 'yes definitely' pile is small, compared to how many things he's trying on. He's mentally trying to calculate what he actually needs - what sorts of different occasions he'll need clothes for, and having only a few options for each one.

It might be surprising for being a prince who could have as big a wardrobe as he'd like - but he's actually pretty practical on that front. He prefers having a few staple outfits, so this is actually him being rather experimental with this new world's style and options. When you add the considerations for money, storage and having to do their own laundry, Fiyero only chooses the things he really likes.

(It's not even about not knowing how long he'll be here. Whatever he gets, Peter can just sell again, right? The thought pops into his head uninvited and Fiyero pushes it aside, not wanting to imagine it...)

Fiyero does talk Peter into getting two cheap tank tops, one black and one white. Something he can still wear under hoodies and shirts, but that shows off his physique much better than those tired t-shirts he wears. Fiyero wants to show off his boyfriend, after all.

They leave with only a few bags all in all - but Fiyero's ready and eager for the next store. He'll have a good haul by the time they're done.

Peter is honestly surprised by how economical Fiyero is being when the purchase pile they end up with is pared down as much as it is. He was mentally setting aside a decent chunk for Fiyero's new wardrobe - and there's more to get still, of course. Perhaps he'll want to spend it on a couple good pairs of shoes. Everything Fiyero picks goes well together - he looks incredible in just about anything, but it's obvious Fiyero is tailoring an interchangeable wardrobe, and he's incredibly good at it. Maybe he'd be able to make a decent living as a personal stylist, people use those, right?

They pack away their spoils in a few bags and wander to the next store, hand in hand. It's edging towards the afternoon now, and the second store they visit is definitely busier. Again, Peter plays the coatrack, and they leave with a select pile of items. There are a few articles that might need some alterations, but Peter only has to veto one or two things for impracticality - not enough fabric, or one sewing project that would ruin the design of the coat.

Peter buys them a soft pretzel to share and guides them to a shop that smells very strongly (well, at least to him) of bleach, purchasing a couple bottles of the chemicals he needs to restock for his webbing. So what if he's blushing furiously the whole time, knowing what it will be used for? He ties the bag securely and tucks it away with his clothes, guiding them back out to the street.

There's one more thrift shop they can hit on their way back before they pick up food and stop for the rebar, but of course, the chemical shop isn't in the best alley in town. A neon red sign with XXX written across it points a curly arrow towards a storefront, and as they come up on it, the glass window shows off a mannequin in bondage gear. The rest of the store is obscured with frosted glass from the window display, but red silk lines the window, a few other toys scattered there to entice passerby. Peter seems ready to walk on past, hand folded in Fiyero's as he leads the way.

Peter is a very patient coat rack, and Fiyero knows by now just how strong Peter is, so he's not worried about overburdening him. Mostly he just tries to be careful about balancing things, and not poke Peter in the eye with any coat hangers. In return, Peter gets rewarded with sincere compliments and affectionate touches.

Fiyero does pick up on Peter's blushing, though it takes him a while to realise why. So he's very amused (and quietly excited) when he actually makes that connection. Considering sex is already on his mind at that point, perhaps it's not that surprising that Fiyero stops in his tracks when he sees the bondage gear.

Of course, Fiyero has definitely stopped at other shop windows. Peter being patient every time something catches Fiyero's curiosity, explaining all sorts of things to him, constantly making sure Fiyero learns about the world he's trapped in, so that he can feel more secure, and so he can discover all the exciting things. Mostly though, after the explanation, Fiyero doesn't need to go inside.

This time he definitely pauses long enough to glance at Peter, jerking his head towards the door in a wordless request, a cheeky smile growing on his face.

At least his glasses shield him from the worst of the hanger attacks? Peter’s sure they make quite the pair, his dorky self trailing after his gorgeous boyfriend, blushing beatifically every time Fiyero graces him with warm affection. It’s nice, doing something so normal, so domestic with someone - but especially Fiyero, who makes it fun. He makes everything fun, with jokes and smiles and just… being himself. Getting to experience new things with him is fun too, explaining the storefronts they pass, all the niche specialty shops hidden throughout New York.

“Fiyero…” Peter trails off, shifting his weight awkwardly - but he doesn’t stop them from pushing through the door, into the sex shop. The interior is not quite as tasteful as the exterior - colorful toys line every aisle, strappy bits of leather on the display directly in front of them. The cashier eyes them as they walk in, hair dyed a bright green color. She pops her bubblegum, eyebrow rising when Peter looks away quickly, glancing at Fiyero to gauge his reaction.

“…I guess we can get that rope,” Peter tucks the bags on one arm, gesturing to the shelves. The shop is deceptively deeper than the storefront would suggest - toys, BDSM equipment, and a far wall with adult videos lining the sleek shelving.

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