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

Peter watches him, though it's not so obvious with his mask still on, and the way his head is tipped down to the pie. Fiyero does seem alright, which is heartening. It means they can tackle this together, as a team. Relying on each other, in all ways, is the only way through - and if Fiyero is confident enough to rely on him, Peter wants to do his best to be there.

"Daredevil might have." Peter admits, pushing a flake of crust around with his fork before he scoops it up, popping the sugary goo into his mouth. He's glad Fiyero is bringing it up - it makes it feel less taboo, indicating that Fiyero is ready to talk about it, despite how fraught it is. If they can do that, maybe it can get better. Maybe they can start to deal with it, and make some progress.

Peter knows they're going to need to, if they have any chance of pulling off what he hopes to against Oscorp.

"I don't think either of them clocked it too hard. And I discouraged them from asking any further questions." Peter taps his fork idly against the carton, thinking over it. It's almost like Fiyero's influence could be chalked up to a blind spot, with the way it functions. Luckily it wasn't more overt. "I... can't say I understand what happened, exactly. Like, what... sparked it? Do you know, or did it just... happen?"

It's not exactly great that it keeps happening without Fiyero's conscious thought. In a high-stress situation, it made more sense, but it seems like it's happening more and more. Or is Peter just getting better at noticing it? Is it just because it wasn't affecting him? He has so many questions, and they know relatively little by comparison.

Fiyero's not thrilled to hear Daredevil might have noticed - but he's also glad Peter isn't lying about it. He really is earning the trust that Fiyero dares to put in him when it comes to these things. He's reassuring Fiyero, without pretending like everything is totally fine. At least what he's saying matches up with what Fiyero's impression was at the time... Or at least he thinks so. He was pretty stressed out.

"Um..." he answers at the question. He's not sure how to phrase it, but... "It wasn't intentional. I just remember wanting them to stop laughing at you, and.. they did."

He feels immediately slightly awkward at the fact he included the 'at you' bit, like that's an almost embarrassing detail. Maybe he could have chalked it up to the stress of the situation, being overwhelmed by their laughing and joking, but... No, it really was because it felt like they were teasing Peter. He can't deny that to himself.

"Oh." Peter's not sure what he expected, but that's certainly different. He sits up a little straighter beneath Fiyero's arm, turning that over in his mind. He hadn't even registered it at the time, beyond the usual bickering that happened when New York's Sassiest Vigilantes got together.

"They didn't... mean anything by it." Peter's tone is gentle, hand lowering to squeezes Fiyero's knee lightly. He can feel the heat rising in his own cheeks, slowly connecting it back to their conversation form before. Fiyero didn't mean anything by it either, and if Peter had been in a better headspace - like he is now, when he's just baseline - it would have been different. "But..."

"I appreciate you looking out for me," His smile is small, but genuine, and Peter bumps their shoulders together again, tucking himself against Fiyero's side more intentionally.

Honestly, it's not like Peter even seemed that upset. Annoyed and embarrassed, but not.. upset. Not hurt or insecure. Or at least not as far as Fiyero could tell, and Peter's not acting like it now, reassuring him. He glances up at Peter, and - is he starting to match the colour of his mask, just a tiny bit? Maybe.

Fiyero smiles as Peter's appreciation and the way he bumps into him. Fiyero's arm tightens a little around Peter's shoulders in return, giving him a one-armed squeeze.

"I dunno. I guess I was just worried about everything, and it was just making it worse listening to her laughing and joking," Fiyero continues, which is probably also a large part of it. Or at least why he unintentionally resorted to using his powers rather than actually speaking up or anything like that instead, like a normal person would. Defending Peter was just the specific trigger. Which seems to be a pattern.

"It was a lot happening at once," Peter empathizes, head tilting as he leans into Fiyero's grasp. More proof that he's okay, unbothered by both Kate's comments and Fiyero's powers. It's not the power itself that worries him - and it doesn't make him view Fiyero any differently. "Kate doesn't exactly have a great grasp on reading the room."

"Your power is tied to your emotions." It's obvious at this point, but saying it out loud defines it in a very specific, unavoidable way. Peter chews on his lower lip, fussing with another scoop of pie as he tilts his head to glance up at Fiyero and gauge his reaction. "I think we need to find ways for you to practice safely."

It's the truth, even if it may be daunting. But if Fiyero is going to keep on as he is, and if they're going to have a chance at defending themselves... it's probably paramount that they get it under control. Fiyero doesn't have to do it alone, though.

At this point, it would probably be pretty hypocritical if Peter was bothered by Fiyero's powers, while he's sitting there in his colourful skin-tighted suit with giant bug eyes. Fiyero's self-conscious about his powers because he can force people to do things, but, well, so can Peter, just in a different way. Fiyero can do it more subtly, but at least Peter notices, and that's what's important, really.

Fiyero gives a soft hum of acknowledgement at Peter stating it's tied to his emotions. Yeah, it is obvious, and it has been for a while. Emotions that are tied to wanting to change something. Not just when he's happy. Not even when he's upset, not in itself. When there is something he wants different, something urgent.

And yeah, as Peter might expect, Fiyero doesn't look thrilled at the idea of practicing. But he's also not objecting, just... not very subtle in his reluctance. 'Safely' is also an important keyword there. Not that he thinks Peter would want Fiyero to risk anything if it wasn't necessary.

"Seems kind of challenging," he points out. "I mean. Figuring out a way to make me emotional, but in a way that's actually going to trigger it?" Doesn't sound like something either of them wants to do. If he could make it happen from fun and happiness, sure, but so far it's only really been bad emotions.

It is a little bit different, in the way Fiyero's powers can affect free will. Both can be alienating in different ways, and it's one thing for Fiyero to feel awkward and other - and a completely separate thing for him to be worried about being dangerous. Peter's trying to gauge where on the spectrum Fiyero falls, and get ahead of the most obvious points of concern.

"I don't think we need to make you emotional. We just need to figure out how to tap into the emotions that are already there." Peter assures him, finally setting his fork down so he can gesticulate properly, the way he does when he's picking up speed on an idea. "And yeah... it might not be easy. But pre-empting it might give us some insight on how it works, you know?"

"I don't know that it's necessarily just when you're experiencing a heightened emotion, either." Peter continues, head cocked in that owlish thinking pose of his. "I've noticed... I think it activates at different level of severity depending on the perceived need. Tapping into those lower levels might help you get a handle on the higher ones. If we think of it like another muscle, you have to train it, right? Rather than just... letting the adrenaline surge take over when it needs to."

Fiyero hums at Peter talking about tapping into the emotions rather than making him emotional. He supposes that makes sense... Fiyero's still idly eating the delicious pie, which is a good sign he's not too upset by the conversation. It helps that there's nothing urgent going on, no huge guilt or worry over another recent crisis or involuntary use of power. Yes, he did use it, but nothing bad or even notable came of it, it wasn't a big deal. And it's easier when he's snuggled up with Peter eating good food.

"I suppose that makes sense," he answers, still a little hesitant. "It was a lot stronger at that bar, when someone tried to drug you..." He'd affected dozens of people it seemed like, some quite strongly. Especially the one guy who wanted to get away, but who seemed rooted to the spot. Whereas just... making Kate and Daredevil stop laughing because he was annoyed, that's very different. And apparently gently nudging Peter into things sometimes too.

"I can imagine that it would be," Peter says softly, bumping their shoulders together comfortingly. He knows exactly what it feels like, the cold, awful certainty that something terrible is about to happen to someone you care about, right in front of your eyes; the desperate wish to do something to be able to stop it. It's just, for Fiyero... he can, truly, even faster and more effectively than Peter's heightened reflexes.

Nudging Peter, but also the people on the subway, giving them a wider berth than normal. Or sometimes not, when it seemed like Fiyero wanted to have Peter up in his space - it was still not uncomfortable, the way a normal train car can be packed at certain hours of the day. The way the crowds of New York never moved to separate them - no harried businessmen barrelling through their linked hands, skirting around them as they continued on their way, none the wiser to Fiyero's influence.

"We'll practice." Peter promises, lips pulling into an encouraging smile. "We'll pick something small, and you can practice on me. You won't hurt me, 'yero. I trust you."

Even if Fiyero's not sure whether or not he can trust himself... he can trust Peter. Let him bear the weight of it, too.

Fiyero smiles a little at the comforting bump. Peter really doesn't find it scary or bad that Fiyero can do this, he just appreciates Fiyero wanting to help and protect him. Well, just after that, Fiyero watched Peter do rather worse things to that guy, and as uncomfortable as it was, Fiyero can't say he blames him for it either.

In some ways, Peter might have noticed it more than Fiyero did. He doesn't notice it's weird. Fiyero isn't used to the hustle and bustle of New York, so he doesn't have the comparison. People do part to let him through, they always have. But before, it's been because he was a prince, and because he was popular and admired. So he didn't really notice anything was different, besides people not looking at him.

The way Peter is encouraging him, trusting him, it makes Fiyero feel warm inside, heart swelling. That cute smile, Fiyero wants to lean in and kiss it.

He almost leans in, but then he pauses, looking at Peter. And then he wishes real hard that Peter would lean in to kiss him first. Come on, Peter, kiss him. Kiss Fiyero.

Fiyero might be squinting a little, brow slightly knit in concentration, and it probably looks a little confusing and strange. But then again, it might also be cute enough that Peter will want to kiss him anyway.

There's something in Fiyero's expression Peter can't quite place - puzzlement? Worry? It seems too relaxed for worry; at least, the worry the two of them are used to. The burst of fondness that follows is all Peter, but he doesn't quite catch on to the way it amps - his grin widens, pulling at the edges of his mouth, and Peter reaches up a hand to draw Fiyero in, pressing a warm, reassuring kiss to his lips with zero hesitation.

Did it work, or was Peter primed to do that anyway? Was the fact that he was already inclined to kiss Fiyero making him more susceptible to Fiyero's powers? Either way, it seems slight enough that Peter hasn't noticed he was affected, at first. His hand starts to drop, body shifting to settle back in his seat, before the wave hits him ~~(perhaps Fiyero's enthusiasm at potential success?)~~

Kiss him, kiss him, kiss him right now -

"Oh." Peter gasps quietly, fingers catching and fisting in Fiyero's shirt of their own accord, as he drags his mouth eagerly to Fiyero's. It's a powerful, irresistible wave, and the intensity of it catches him off guard. Peter makes a soft sound at the back of his throat, lips parted obligingly, pliable and, at the same time, deeply fervent, like Fiyero reached in and dragged the passion right to the fore.

Fiyero definitely has a surge of triumph mixed in with the usual happiness at Peter leaning in to kiss him, making him that more excited about the kiss, and thereby probably intensifying his powers. He doesn't even do much physically beyond just pursing his lips happily, fighting a smile.

Still, he's not expecting it to work quite so well, and he makes a small sound of surprise as Peter's lips suddenly again collide with his, with much more fervor than the first one. The intensity catches him off guard too, returning the kiss a little messily, his hand rising to wrap around Peter's wrist.

The influence abates as quickly as it came, as Fiyero had never intended for Peter to keep kissing him, or really do much more than lean in once. As much as he loves it, he won't love it if he feels like he tricks Peter into it. He makes a small noise of pause into Peter's mouth, his other hand rising to rest on Peter's chest, through his over-sized sweater, very gently pushing him away.

Peter appreciates the assistance, because there's a moment where he's almost not sure what to do - where the free will floods back in, because the nonverbal instructions weren't particularly defined, and it's disorienting - doing something involuntarily like that. It's not a bad feeling, necessarily, but it does explain why people keep stopping and blinking in the wake of Fiyero's powers.

"Sorry," Peter finally settles on after a beat, sounding slightly breathless. He pauses, and it's hard to gauge what he's thinking, with only his jaw visible. At least it doesn't look tight, thick with tension - just contemplative, like he's still processing what just happened. "That was... how did you do that?"

His tone isn't accusatory - it's awed, fascination evident. No, Peter doesn't find it overly disturbing - of course, it's obvious that powers like Fiyero's could be used for truly terrible things, but it's also true that any kind of power could be utilized to such ends. What matters is what Fiyero actually chooses to do with his gifts.

Fiyero's hand still rests against Peter, coming to settle on his shoulder instead, the other one still gently wrapped around his wrist. Like he's just as much keeping Peter there as he is holding him at bay. There is, as always, a hint of nervousness at just having done something like that, like he's still scared Peter is going to pull away in fear or disgust.

But Peter was literally just saying that they should find a way to practice together, and that Peter trusts him, and Fiyero obviously stopped it immediately, so it's fine. Still, there's that shiver down his spine, something unsettled in his stomach whenever he does something like that. The way the world feels briefly sharper.

Peter apologises, and Fiyero smiles with a huff, shaking his head as if to say he has nothing to apologise for. He doesn't say anything though, just waiting for Peter's reaction.

"I, uh.. I don't know," Fiyero answers, giving a sheepish smile. His hand moves up to fiddle with the neckline of Peter's suit, touching his neck nervously. "Just sort of do it." He licks his lips, considering, having had a moment to actually try to feel it as well. "I mean, you don't really think about using your muscles, right? You just sort of do it," he adds, letting go of Peter's wrist to lift his hand, flexing his fingers as a demonstration.

"I suppose not," Peter snorts quietly, still with an air of being impressed. He is, honestly; it's one thing to know Fiyero's powers can act up when he's in a heightened state, and another to feel it directed so intently. He allows a hand to drop, resting reassuringly against Fiyero's thigh, squeezing encouragingly when Fiyero offers him a smile. He doesn't interrupt Fiyero's fidgeting, allowing Fiyero to touch him, unimpeded.

"Can you do it again?" Peter asks, curious. He tilts his head, lips pulling in a comforting smile. "Try something... different."

Peter leans in, pressing an innocent kiss to Fiyero's cheek, though he does let his head tip to murmur in his ear, teasing and light. "Something I don't already spend every minute of my time with you trying to resist, hm?"

He pulls back, watching Fiyero expectantly - wondering what it will feel like. If he'll be able to resist it, knowing that it's coming. How does the strength of Fiyero's compulsions work? Is it tied to the intensity of his emotions, or simply how much he desires the change? Fiyero didn't seem to be in a particularly harsh mood, but maybe it was a combination of factors.

...see, he doesn't even have his notebook, but he's still ideating.

"Mind wrestle me." Peter grins, lifting a hand to tangle his fingers with Fiyero's, capturing the flexing digits. He fits their palms together, letting them drop into their collective lap - proof that he's not going anywhere, no matter how weird it gets.

Peter's fine and they're alright, and that's reassuring, the way he's still touching him with comfort and affection. It soothes the worry, and it also lets Fiyero know that Peter really is here to help Fiyero through it. It may be something he's gained through unpleasant circumstances, but whatever happens with it, Peter is here to back him up.

He gives an uncertain noise at the question of whether he can do it again. Maybe. Something different though... Even as Fiyero's trying to think of something, he's distracted by the way Peter leans in, flirting right into his ear, saying how much he wants to kiss Fiyero. It's a little difficult to think of anything he wants besides that right now, admittedly.

Fiyero huffs with amusement as Peter tells him to mind wrestle, Fiyero squeezing Peter's hand a little, grateful for how supportive he is in this.

He stares out at the dark of the park, trying to think of something he could try to make Peter do. Something he'd want, right? He's not sure he can make himself want anything except what's happening right now, that's the problem. For a moment he tries to imagine Peter singing or something, something ridiculous that he wouldn't just do. But nothing happens - he can feel nothing happening.

So he looks over at Peter again, once again met with that silly mask, the two bulbous reflecting eyes covering up Peter's real eyes, which he already misses seeing - and he just barely manages to catch that thought as it flows by, yes, that's something he wants, for Peter to take off his mask so Fiyero can see his face. Whether it's strong enough to actually do anything, he doesn't know - but if nothing else, Fiyero does feel that shiver run through him, subtly, like something itchy inside his veins.

They're a team, and they'll handle this the way they have everything else so far - together, facing it head on. Of all the mistakes they might have made before, trying to figure things out alone seems to have been the biggest one, for both of them. At least, by Peter's estimation; talking to each other, supporting each other, it's their biggest asset. Oscorp brought Fiyero here and set him loose for unknown reasons, but they expected Fiyero to be wholly alone, on his own in this strange world. It's the one thing that can't really be accounted for.

Their tangled hands fall into their lap, and Peter idly fidgets with them, thumb sweeping against Fiyero's knuckles. He tries to sit there, receptive - will it start subtle, or at the same level as before? How will he know, if it's subtle? Oh, jeez, he's been in his own head about it too much - zoning out on Fiyero's profile, Peter feels his nose start to itch, right on the bridge where his mask is just pulled over it. He twitches it, trying to get rid of it - not wanting to take off the mask any further just for a casual scratch.

...but it doesn't abate, and Peter catches his hand creeping up towards the mask as Fiyero stares at him, and it dawns on him what he's feeling - that push, the fact that it's not a real prickle, but a phantom one created by his incredibly powerful boyfriend. It doesn't make it any less real, less maddening, even as Peter tests his own resolve - tries to fortify himself, squaring his shoulders back against the seat and the warm line of Fiyero next to him. No. I'm not going to do it. I don't have to.

He thinks he could resist, if he had to. If he really, really wanted to - but it is more effort than he would have realized before, and Peters lets the opposition go after a beat of squirming. Something to explore later, when they're well-rested and ready to test this more thoroughly. One hand quickly reaches up to shuck the mask, hair flying every which way in a chaotic, staticky mess. The volume of it is almost shocking, too, unexpected with how smooth the suit is, like it shouldn't all reasonably fit.

As soon as it's off, the compulsion to itch his nose disappears. Peter feels that hollow wash again - free will returning, the urge to put the mask back on strong; that hunted, anxious voice at the back of his head reminding him that it's never safe to expose himself at ground level - before breaking out into an impressed smile. "Woah, 'yero."

Fiyero watches as Peter's hand lifts, the way he pauses, like he's resisting. Fiyero's not sure which urge is stronger, the desire to do what Peter is asking him to, to show off what he can do, to try to tame these powers? Or the driving desire, the one that chose the direction, the desire to see Peter's eyes, to see his face fully?

Either way, it doesn't fade, and Fiyero manages to keep pushing, not even sure how he's doing it. It's like he's clenching something in his core, making his breath tight for a moment, not sure if that's actually part of it or simply something he's doing because he's consciously trying.

It's not a surprise when Peter finally reaches up - but the mess of hair does catch him a little by surprise. He lets out a huff at the comedy at it, and even as he feels that slight queasiness, he can't help but smile at seeing Peter's face properly.

The journey Peter's face takes is amusing too, that squint turning to a blank, slightly lost look, then something anxious, and then a beaming smile. Fiyero's not sure what to make of all that, his own expression perhaps mirroring Peter's journey a little, but it's difficult not to want to smile when Peter smiles.

"I missed your face.." Fiyero explains, and it's maybe unnecessarily sappy. He reaches up with his free hand, brushing through Peter's hair with his fingers a couple times, before his hand settles on Peter's cheek, leaning in to give him a kiss now there's no mask in the way to stop him from seeing Peter's eyes up close as he leans in. He doesn't really need any sort of compulsion to kiss Peter, it's true. He's lucky enough that he can simply just do that.

"What, this old thing?" Peter makes a joke out of it, keeping things light. Fiyero's powers are obviously a very fraught subject, or have been up until this point, and Peter knows it can't be easy for Fiyero to address them like this. For as long as they can keep things easy, Peter will do his best to do so.

He can't help but feel a twinge of guilty relief, underneath it all. Maybe this is only comparatively easy because these are things Fiyero wants anyway - things he knows he can have, that Peter's resistance is largely performative - but the idea that Fiyero could employ his powers to stop someone from attacking him is not an unwelcome one.

"Let me guess," Peter smiles into the kiss, returning it sweetly. He tucks their tangled hands into his side, keeping them warm - without the mask, the sting of the cold air is fresh, losing the heat in his face he'd managed to keep with the mask on. "It was the eyebrows, wasn't it?"

He waggles them teasingly, big, bushy brows drawing low over chocolatey brown eyes. Fiyero's gaze is even more vibrant without the lenses tinting the world darker - it helps Peter focus, dulling the input when he's moving at a million miles an hour, barrelling down the city streets - but it makes the world seem loud by comparison. Peter leans in to bump their noses together, wordlessly affectionate.

"We'll practice more later," Peter promises, breath warm between them. It's as much about sharing heat as it is how much they share the space as well. "We've probably got...mm, ten minutes? Should spend at least five of those kissing my boyfriend, necking like teenagers."

"Feeding you pie," He free hand finds one of the forks to raise it in offering, gooey apple speared on it. Peter's eyes crinkle at the corners, that soft, besotted look saved solely for Fiyero. No interference required. "You know, all the perks."

Edited (DON'T LOOK AT MEEEE) 2026-03-02 17:35 (UTC)

Fiyero grins at Peter's stupid jokes, the way he's making sure to keep things light and easy. It doesn't solve the queasy feeling in his stomach, the way his veins feel strangely cold. It doesn't solve the worry or the guilt or the violated feeling at having been changed like this in the first place. But it does make it a lot easier to face all that. And that matters.

At least there's not an issue of Fiyero wanting to stay safe. Depending on how he ends up doing it, it may make him feel like shit. But wanting to not be kidnapped and experimented on, well. There's few things he has more motivation for, really.

Sitting here like this, it's a little easier to forget that that's the purpose of this, or at least part of it. Peter's kisses and stupid jokes and adorable smile is like a warm blanket against worries like that, and there's a smile stuck to Fiyero's face, his eyes crinkled up with warmth.

"Yes, definitely," Fiyero agrees about the eyebrows, hand moving up a little so he can stroke one of Peter's eyebrows with his thumb.

He definitely feels a relief about Peter deciding that's enough practice. He's already feeling strange about it - physically, and mentally. He doesn't want to make it worse, not when they're having such a nice time. He chuckles warmly at Peter's plans of kissing, although the word 'necking' grants him a slightly confused look.

Fiyero accepts the bite of pie, but even with Peter's adorably heart-shaped eyes, he finds his appetite has waned. "You have the rest," he says after swallowing. "Make sure you've got energy to not crash us on the way home," he teases. "And I'll cover the kissing." With that, he leans in to nuzzle against Peter's neck, covering it with soft little kisses.

Peter's heart does something complicated in his chest when Fiyero's thumb grazes over his eyebrow, smoothing out a few out of place strands of hair. It's not the kissing or the sex that gets him - though it's all, without a doubt, completely fantastic - but it's the little intimate moments that hit him the hardest. Fiyero reaching for him, taking possession of him the way he's already taken possession of Peter's heart, all of his waking thoughts. It's hard to remember what he was even doing before Fiyero came into his life, what else he was occupying his time with. Sure, patrols and work were a routine, but what was he doing?

Nothing. Endless nothing, just waiting for the day he took a few too many hits and went down for the last time.

Peter smiles and just shakes his head, gaze softening at the gentle confusion. There is plenty to be confused about, Peter finds, but maybe he's a nerd - he likes that. He likes figuring things out, and however scary this must be for Fiyero - Peter's just grateful he gets to be here to help him through it.

"I would never crash with a VIP customer on board." Peter doesn't need to be told twice, scooping up a forkful of pie for himself. He pops it in his mouth, easily digging in, tucking the bite in his cheek like the ridiculous spider-chipmunk he is. "Are you trying to make me fat? It's workin-hey!"

Peter devolves into laughter when Fiyero nuzzles at him, shivering pleasantly and squirming in his seat. There's not much room to go anywhere to escape, unless he were to get up, and why would Peter want to be anywhere else? It's ticklish in a light, fun way, and Peter retaliates with a sugar-sweet kiss to Fiyero's temple, jutting his arm at an angle to keep the pie fork out of Fiyero's sweater. "...okay, you're pretty good at that - "

Fiyero's the same, when it comes to what really gets to his heart. Kissing is nothing special, although kissing Peter is just by the sheer fact it's Peter. The sex, yeah, that's been a mind-blowing road of discovery all of its own. It's not just the intimate moments though, the little gestures of affection and closeness and trust. It's how Peter knows him, accepts him, encourages him. Peter wants Fiyero to be himself, fully and safely. That's what really has Fiyero's heart.

He wants the same for Peter too, and he also wants Peter to be safe and happy and take care of himself in ways he doesn't seem to have done in a long time. And yeah, forcing him to eat pie is part of that.

"I'd like you fat," Fiyero answers playfully, smile and hot breath against Peter's neck, his hand sliding around the back to weave into Peter's hair. "Would mean you actually ate enough."

He keeps pressing soft little kisses against Peter's neck, up along the underside of his jaw, right below his ear... Just showering him in quiet little affection, not truly trying to distract him from the food, but possibly having that effect anyway. And probably also distracting him from the guard that's making an early walk up the path towards their spot...

"I honestly don't know if it's physically possible for me to keep up with my metabolism," Peter jokes, obligingly digging into the pie, enjoying the snuggling. The air is taking on the bite of winter, especially at this hour of the morning - it will worsen into the morning dew, eventually morning frost. But they'll keep each other warm, be it here, tucked against one another, or at home in their bed. Their bed. It belongs as much to Fiyero just as Peter does. "You do love to see me try, though."

Fiyero's lips are very distracting, mostly from how pleasant everything feels. Not just the thrill of having someone he cares about close to him, blanketing him with gentle affection, but also the physical input. The goosebumps that rise on his skin, a mix of cold and the tickle of Fiyero's warmth in contrast, hot, little kisses searing into his skin. The sugary pie, just as sweet on his tongue - Peter clears about two thirds of the remaining pie before he's sufficiently distracted, tilting his head to allow Fiyero as much room in his neck as he wants to claim, for the visible patch of skin between his messy hair and the skintight neckline of the suit.

In retrospect, it was unbelievably stupid of them to be doing this out in the open.

"Fiyero - " Peter murmurs, turning his head to try and coax him into a kiss, when his spider sense activates. Lights up like a Christmas tree, and Peter suddenly goes rigid in the seat, stiffening against Fiyero's side. His mask. Fuck, he can hear footsteps - there's not enough time.

"Hey!" The guard has caught sight of them now as he approaches, and Peter curls in closer, drawing the sweater around himself that Fiyero had wrapped him in, trying his best to keep all of the red and blue out of sight. If the guard makes them get up - and he surely will, he sounds pissed - it's game over. Peter's hands disappear into the space between the two of them, hidden in Fiyero's coat. Peter's eyes are wide as he looks up at Fiyero, panicked - they both know he's not a great liar, and in this moment, he has no idea how to get out of this.

Fiyero's enjoying snuggling into Peter's neck, keeping his face warm, partly by his own breath. Even his hand isn't that cold, his fingers hidden deep in Peter's fluffy hair. He could stay like this for ages, it's a fantastic distraction from everything scary and serious. He's kissed every inch of his skin several times by now, some of the time just snuggling against him, resting.

He doesn't notice the guard until he speaks up. What he does notice is Peter's sudden tension, like a second-hand spider sense just from being close to him like this. It's only at the voice that he realises the reason, and Fiyero's eyes dart over to the guard, then back at Peter's panicked face.

Peter clearly has no idea what to do.

Lucky for him, this right here? Getting caught somewhere you're not supposed to be, snuggling and flirting with someone? This is practically Fiyero's speciality. For once he's not the one panicking - or at least not more than he can handle. Fiyero quickly squeezes Peter's knee reassuringly.

"This place is off-limits!" the guard yells, a short, squat man with a big mustache, practically the stereotype of grumpy old guard. He's kind of jogging to get over to them - they could easily outrun the guard, but that's not really the problem. Fiyero's hand is on the problem, which is Peter's suit.

"Sorry, sorry!" Fiyero says, standing up and holding out a calming hand. Drawing the guard's eyes to him, not to Peter. "Sorry, we didn't mean any harm."

"It's still off-limits. Come on, get out of there," the guard orders gruffly - but maybe slightly less angry than he was a moment ago. Fiyero is doing his best to try to impose calming vibes, to make the guard relax, to know this isn't a threat, not a problem, they're gonna leave, it's all good, all fine, they didn't break anything. Just calm down. "Come on, out you go," he says, gesturing with a flashlight.

"Right, yes, we'd love to," Fiyero answers, still with his hands out, like trying to calm a wild animal. "It's just.. We were having a romantic little moment, so could you please, just give my boyfriend a moment to put his trousers back on."

The guard blinks at him, and Fiyero tries to tell him, turn around, just give them a moment. And the guard does, huffing and turning to look off towards the tress. "Just hurry up! You're not supposed to be there," he says, his voice having taken on a different kind of tension, far more awkward now. But given Peter's panicked look and the way he remained seated, it was probably fairly convincing. Fiyero gives the backpack a little kick towards Peter.

Peter's trying to figure out how they can escape - did the guard see his face? Could he whip his mask on fast enough to get them out of there? There's nowhere to web away to, trapped in the tight space of the carousel. Peter's brow knits in frustration, fear evident as his gaze cuts up to Fiyero when he squeezes his knee. Fiyero, who doesn't seem nearly as worried about the fact that Peter is dangerously close to getting arrested for far more than some harmless late night trespassing.

"Fiyero," Peter hisses, voice low, as the guard huffs and puffs his way over to them and Fiyero slides out of the carriage, away from him. Away from any potential grab-and-run scheme Peter had half-baked in the back of his mind - he carefully keeps his gloves hands out of view, refraining from reaching, fingers pressing indents into the seat by accident. He ducks his head, trying to keep the guard from getting a good look at his face, just in case it all goes pear-shaped. Fuck. Fuck.

...but Fiyero handles it - albeit with a hideously embarrassing excuse - but beggars can't be choosers, and it certainly beats attempted arrest. Peter looks up, surprised, when the guard turns away, and quickly scrambles for the backpack.

Quickchanging in small spaces is something of a skill for him at this point, and Peter manages to wrestle on the pair of sweats whilst still in the carriage, cinching them tight to avoid any potential peek of red and blue beneath. He ensures the sweater is bundled tightly over his chest, wishing he had brought a hoodie to hide in, and hastily stuffs the pie in the backpack as he slings the bag over his shoulder so he can hop off the carousel.

"Sorry," Peter says, cheeks red, sidling up next to Fiyero. He threads their fingers together and ducks his head again - both out of embarrassment, and a genuine desire to hide his identity as much as possible, just in case. It's not the worst of his embarrassing moments by a long shot, but it's still not exactly dignified, having this man think he was getting a handjob on a public carousel. "Sorry, sir."

"Don't let it happen again. I should write you both up for public indecency." The guard turns back around, suitably annoyed, though he seems to have written Peter off, addressing Fiyero more directly out of the two of them. "Plenty of other places in this city that aren't here for - that kind of thing."

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