return_to_nola

Oliver had a headache. Wasn't that cute? He and Sam were sharing afflictions now!

After brushing his teeth—because he probably smelled like a lot of wine right now—he took the bottle of Advil out of the medicine cabinet, shaking a couple into his palm. As he swallowed them down with faucet water (he wasn't fancy), he mentally went over the current situation.

1. He was Quicksilver, a superhero.

2. In this universe, he was a fictional character.

3. He also had a twin sister, a version of whom also lived in New Orleans.

4. This Wanda wasn't his Wanda and the differences were sort of killing him, even as the similarities were comforting him in a way he could barely understand.

5. There was a Jean Grey in town too, which he'd just found out over coffee shop e-journal (what), and she was also from another universe.

6. Through it all, he was still Oliver Lindqvist. Who was going to go into his boyfriend's room now, finally, and make sure he was alive, if he was even there at all. God, how was he going to explain this to Sam?

Oliver took a deep, steadying breath before he crossed the apartment and quietly opened Sam's bedroom door. At first sight of Sam, he could feel himself warm with affection, but then immediately went tense. Because for the first time in all the months they'd known each other, Oliver recognized him.

"Are you freaking kidding me," he muttered.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

nola_cyclops

That movement -- the hand covering his eyes -- was startling and, unexpectedly, Sam started to laugh. And laugh. And laugh.

From:

nola_quicksilver

"This is what's going to break you?" Oliver asked incredulously.

From:

nola_cyclops

"It's just--" Sam was still laughing "--Absurd! I mean, the headaches I was having felt like Scott's headaches, I'm mad that everyone can see into my eyes now, Quicksilver doesn't know what my eyes look like but you do..." It all wasn't funny at all, but the familiar gesture, the ridiculousness of the situation, god, at least he could laugh at it right now.

From:

nola_quicksilver

"Well, Quicksilver knows what your eyes look like now." Oliver had by now dropped his hand and was looking at Sam with astonishment. "And he loves them, but he'd rather have the rest of you."

From:

nola_cyclops

"I guess he also knows what I look like when I laugh." Sam had finally stopped (what a weird reaction to the moment), but he was smiling. "You can't stand me, but that's not new."

From:

nola_quicksilver

"No, I love you," Oliver replied stubbornly, but then he had to concede, "I used to think I couldn't stand you."

From:

nola_cyclops

Sam lovingly stroked the side of Oliver's face. "You used to think a lot of things."

From:

nola_quicksilver

The touch was the first thing that wasn't full of mixed messages and confusion since Oliver had walked in the door. He had to blink back tears, trying not to be angry at himself for them. "But I got you off on the living room floor."

From:

nola_cyclops

Sam saw the tears, of course he did; he dropped his hand to Oliver's shoulder and squeezed. "I remember," he said, and it was kind of like a promise. "I remember everything that happened with us."

From:

nola_quicksilver

Oliver turned his face so he could brushed his lips against Sam's fingers. "I'm not going to forget."

From:

nola_cyclops

"Our memories might be wiped at the end of all this," Sam pointed out despite himself.

From:

nola_quicksilver

"Sounds like something a quitter would say," Oliver shot back.

From:

nola_cyclops

"Yes, that's me, a legendary quitter," Sam said dryly.

From:

nola_quicksilver

"You better prove me wrong." He kissed Sam's hand again.

From:

nola_cyclops

Sam wanted to live in the moment, but he couldn't stop thinking. "I guess we could use the apartment as a headquarters."

From:

nola_quicksilver

"How? There isn't a lot of extra space."

From:

nola_cyclops

"I know, but there aren't that many of us right now, and I could give up my room." They didn't exactly have a lot of resources. "I've worked with worse."

From:

nola_quicksilver

Oliver gave him a look. "This is how you're going to ask to move in with me?"

From:

nola_cyclops

"No, I--" Sam hadn't thought that far ahead; the team needed space, he would give his own. "I wouldn't presume like that."

From:

nola_quicksilver

Oliver smiled and shook his head, eyes full of affection. "Sam, just ask me."

From:

nola_cyclops

It was the worst possible time to do this. They related to space so differently. Their entire life together was up in the air. "Will you let me move into your room?"

From:

nola_quicksilver

Ah, romance. "Sam, I would love to share a room and bed with you and turn yours into a command center or something."

From:

nola_cyclops

Sam broke into a small, impossible, hopeful smile.

From:

nola_quicksilver

"Is it okay if I say goodbye to your bed first, though?" Because he was so, so tired. It had been the longest day in the history of at least two universes.