Oliver

[nola_cyclops]

Sam had started the drive from Westchester to Connecticut quietly, shifting between X-related rumination and affection for Oliver. He would drift away on some thought or memory or other (a softball game, a funeral, a moment with a student, playing chess with Charles) and then return back to reality -- back to Oliver -- and reach out to him with some topic of conversation or other.

But as an hour turned into two hours, Sam was feeling more solid. His shoulders loosened, the knots in his muscles gradually uncoiled, and he found his smile more frequently. He even, at one point, sang along to the car radio. It was good to be going home, to be chasing a tricky Scott moment with a positive Sam one.

And now it was time for Oliver to meet the Scotts. When they arrived (they had pulled over to cast critical eyes over their appearances; Scott had changed his shirt and combed Oliver's hair), it was like stepping into a sunny patch of day, even though it was getting late.

Sam had grown up with just his mom and his aunt. His mom had bought the house when she was pregnant with Sam; they had lived here his whole life. It had never been weird that he raised by his mom and her sister; they loved him like parents and loved each other like best friends, and they were fun, outgoing, loving people. They were women quick to laugh, women who played board games like they were the coolest thing in the world, women who owned a karaoke machine and who still, even without Sam, hung out at the piano in the living room and sang songs together.

When they arrived, it was all a happy blur. Sam's aunt ("Call me Sarah", she had ordered Oliver with a hug and a kiss on each cheek) had greeted them with cocktails. Well, more specifically, a cocktail called "The Oliver," which was minty and zesty and disturbingly accurate. She was talkative and friendly, and she managed to take Sam and Oliver on a tour of the house -- excluding Sam's room -- in which she lovingly made fun of Sam in every single room. (If Oliver had been nervous about fitting in with this family, maybe this introduction would make him more relaxed).

And then Sam's mother had arrived home from work, and Sam, who now remembered a life where he had lost a mother in a horrific way, hugged her a little too hard and too long. But he was comfortable here at home, and he held Oliver's hand under the table at dinner and laughed as he accused his mother and aunt of cheating at a brisk game of monopoly (Oliver had been given first pick of player piece, because he was the guest).

Finally, though, they were alone again, and now, Sam could show Oliver his room. It was exactly as it had always been: neat and orderly, clean, a slate of neutrals. There was a Top Gun poster on the door, of course, and a keyboard stand and guitar stand next to it in the corner (the keyboard was in New Orleans, the guitar was exactly where Sam had left it). His bookshelf was stacked with books and model planes, and a few model cars; there was a framed photo of Sam, his mother, and his aunt on his desk (his mom must have kindly removed the photo of Sam and his ex that used to sit beside it). There was a corkboard with old pennants, photos of Sam in baseball uniforms or costumes, an invitation to a wedding he'd attended with his ex, his college acceptance letter, little slices of his quiet little life. The room was an oasis from the colour and happy noise of the rest of the house, and it was here that Sam leaned against the wall, finally fully loose-limbed and comfortable, and watched Pietro-Oliver meet baby Sam through his things. For once, there was a free and uncomplicated smile on his face. "So this is it."

Comments

[nola_quicksilver]

That took some thought. "I...guess I assumed I'd end up with a woman, because I didn't really—I was drawn to some of the boys, but it took me a little while to realize those were crushes too? So as a kid I thought I'd meet a girl who was pretty and fun and wanted to have adventures, and we'd get married."

[nola_cyclops]

Sam smiled. Swing and a miss. “I guess I at least think adventures are exciting in theory?” Also he was a superhero and didn’t know how to live his life without adventure. “What about older, wiser, Oliver? What did he want?”

[nola_quicksilver]

"As a teenager I thought everyone I had a crush on was going to be my soul mate. Then for a while I thought I might never meet anyone, and pretended to be okay with it. And then I met you." He ran his hand into Sam's hair, kept it there. "And I finally understood what an adventure was."

[nola_cyclops]

Sam closed his eyes and smiled, enjoying the touch, committing the sensation to memory. "Four words I'll never forget: 'You're my big adventure, okay?'"

[nola_quicksilver]

"It's true," Oliver said quietly, watching him. "Even knowing now how much I've seen and done as Pietro. You're still my big adventure."

[nola_cyclops]

Well, Sam had to open his eyes and look back at Oliver. And smile, and touch his beautiful face. "That means everything to me."

[nola_quicksilver]

He stroked Sam's forearm. "An added bonus. I'd feel this way even if you were lukewarm about it."

[nola_cyclops]

"My heart breaks for the Oliver who thought he'd never find love. It really does." There were endless things about Oliver to love.

[nola_quicksilver]

"It's okay. I really lucked out on my first try, so it all evens out." A pause. "First try as Oliver, of course."

[nola_cyclops]

“Oliver’s first ideas of love don’t seem all that different from Pietro’s, right?” Sam asked. “Beautiful and adventurous sounds like Crystal.”

[nola_quicksilver]

"She was. Is." Oliver smiled faintly. "I swore I'd never lose myself in another whirlwind romance, you know. But here we are."

[nola_cyclops]

“That seems like an impossible task for a person who is a whirlwind,” Sam pointed out kindly. “Waiting and drawing out what you know is already there would be torture for you.”

[nola_quicksilver]

"Yeah, I really needed to tap that," and the smile became a grin.

[nola_cyclops]

Sam laughed quietly. “Yes, on Valentine’s Day of all days.”

[nola_quicksilver]

"Because we're so romantic." And because both of them happened to have that night off. He kissed Sam's smile before asking, "Tell me about how you thought your love life would turn out."

[nola_cyclops]

“When I was small, I thought I might be a pilot in the military, and I would marry a ‘lady soldier.’” Tiny Sam had definitely used that phrase, and Sam said if wryly. “I’m pretty sure that was about the uniforms for both me and my imaginary wife. When I got older I guess I still thought it would be someone who shared my interests. I thought my ex might be the one, at first, even though he really wasn’t, because I felt very strongly that we should be in each other’s lives. After that ended so badly, I thought I’d probably end up with a woman, and maybe the reason it hadn’t worked with him was that I wasn’t very good with men, so I wasn’t looking for one.” And Scott had a very different story, of course.

[nola_quicksilver]

"Your ex sounds like a tool. I'd rather you end up with literally almost any woman but him." And Oliver before anyone else, naturally.

[nola_cyclops]

“He has some great qualities. We just brought out the worst in each other.” Sam could be generous, lying here with someone he loved tremendously. “You seem to bring out the best in me.”

[nola_quicksilver]

"A tool," Oliver said firmly. "And you put the best in me tonight." Because he was classy, and also starting to feel the after-effects of their lovemaking.

[nola_cyclops]

Sam was surprised by his own laughter as it bubbled over. God, they had been through a hundred different things since then! “You remember.”

[nola_quicksilver]

"Like I could forget!" Oliver rolled his shoulder a little, feeling a faint ache. Not the mention the aches in other parts of him. "You went to town on me, sugar."

[nola_cyclops]

Oh boy. “Are you okay?” Sam had to ask!

[nola_quicksilver]

"Yes," Oliver said immediately, honestly. "I loved it during and I love how I feel now." And he loved that Sam cared enough to ask.

[nola_cyclops]

“I loved it too.” Sam kissed Oliver’s cheek, lingering there a little. “How do you feel now?”

[nola_quicksilver]

"Just a little achey, for me to remember it by. Like I might have to move carefully first thing in the morning." Oliver curved his neck, leaning toward him. "A hot shower will help with that, though."