It's Not A Date...But It Is

[chimeramimicry]

"It's Not A Date...But It Is"
Who: Hesam & Peter


It hadn't been Peter's intention to show off.  He didn't think along those terms, despite being an exceptionally attractive young man who often drew errant glances from more than just the opposite sex.  When he pulled off his shirt in the locker room, he wasn't trying to recreate the poses of fashion models.  Purposefully.  It was just hard not to hold himself with confidence.  He still thought of himself as a hero after all.

Peter didn't notice if Hesam was staring or not.  He was too excited about their 'actual' date which might not even be one.  At least it made him smile.  Peter was not exactly known for smiling lately.  Or for taking time out of his busy New York City patrol schedule to do something human.  Like eat.

Comments

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

Hesam dutifully continued to wash behind his ears. He had no intention of picking up Peter's washcloth and bringing it back to him. If he started doing that, Peter would develop a nasty habit of playing fetch.

"Shoulda thought of that before you threw it over, man."

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Peter frowned and finished up with just his hands. Not ideal, but it would do. He shut off the water and wrapped a towel around his waist before he went to retrieve his missing piece of laundry.

Unfortunately, not only was it on the floor at Hesam's feet, but another pair of EMTs were just ending their own shift. "Woah! Need privacy?" one joked and Peter glanced over his shoulder, not quite getting it.

"Huh?"

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

Tensing at the joke, Hesam just put it out of mind. To save both of them, he kicked the washcloth out of his stall and closer for Peter to grab.

"Don't worry Jackson, Petrelli is keeping his hands to himself," Hesam called back before shoving his head under the water to drown out a possible reply.

He really didn't need any of the guys once again giving him a rough time for the amount of time he spends with Peter. It would look better if Peter actually joined them out for drinks as a group. Instead it's just him and Peter doing these dinner outings.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Twice! And no one even had to know! Peter really wouldn't have understood the problem. Despite everything he'd seen and experienced, sometimes he was a bit naive.

In a man his age, that really wasn't cute anymore.

Snagging his washcloth, Peter headed over to his locker to get changed while Jackson and Oliver laughed it up.

He dressed quickly and yelled over to Hesam that he'd wait outside. Peter left, but the other two men didn't let up. "What's he waiting for you for?"

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

Peter goes ahead and leaves him with Jackson and Oliver, forcing him to babble out some ridiculous excuse that he's teaching Peter to be 'normal' and 'sociable'. There's the usual eye rolling and knowing looks but Hesam easily derails their thoughts by bringing up discussion of girlfriend troubles.

He finishes his shower and gets himself dressed, halfheartedly listening to the other two discuss breast implants before he's finally free and able to leave as well.

"Hey, Peter," he calls out pointlessly, nodding at the other in acknowledgement.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

There's that grin. The impossible to ignore one. If Peter knew about his charm, he'd probably be able to rule the world with it alone. He had more of it than his brother did, and that man was doing pretty well for himself, wasn't he?

Another walk ahead of them and the restaurant Peter picked out came into view with little white lights adorning the windows and doorway. It was cute.

It was romantic.

It was perfectly suited to Peter. He ordered wine to go with their antipasto, candle light flickering in his eyes as he glanced over the menu. It was hard to tell if this was intentional or not.

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

Hands in his pockets, Hesam awarded himself points for not opening his mouth and calling Peter out as a girl. Again.

The place looked like it would be better suited for a marriage proposal. He hoped the fact they both weren't all that dressed up would help them look like just friends and nothing more.

"You're ordering for me since you're the expert," he said, not bothering with the menu. Besides, he supposed Peter wanted revenge for the satay incident.

He poured himself out some wine, not much since he wasn't a huge wine drinker, but enough to offer a taste. Peter could pour his own damn wine. And what was with those candles?

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

The candles were for atmosphere. This was a classy joint, and they did this up properly. Polo shirts were not exactly suit jackets, but though the place looked glitzy, it wasn't expensive. Peter lived on his own dime. He couldn't exactly afford the places his brother use to for his affairs.

Not that Hesam was an affair..

Peter belted his mind down before he went off in a very wrong direction. "All right, my pick then," he said as the waiter came back around with bread and oil. "How about the family style lasagna and chicken Parmesan?"

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

He poured himself some water too, just to keep his hands busy. "Those sound great. I trust you," he replied, smiling a little.

It kept playing on his mind though, how ridiculous the two of them might look. If they really did appear to be on a date. Not that this was a date. This was more like a re-run of the last time. Except hopefully less alcohol and less confusing emotions.

Unless it was a date. He gulped down water, a little nervous.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Peter certainly thought of it as a date. It was a date wasn't it? Hesam was acting...well. Awkward. Because it was a date. Oh God! How he was confused. Concerned...hopelessly lost.

Picking off pieces of bread to dip nervously into the oil and oregano, Peter realized that the silence was becoming uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry," Peter said, eyebrows scrunching up on his forehead. Ah, the Catholic guilt complex, rearing it's ugly head.

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

"For what? Ordering? It's no big deal, man."

Trust Peter to be bothered about something weird like that. Unless this was one of those moments where Peter was on a completely different page to him. Highly possible.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

"For...for being insistent." After mentally yelling at himself that he really, really deserved this for neglecting his duties as a hero -- again, spurned on by guilt and lack of anything better to do -- Peter went back to the bread. And broke a piece off for Hesam.

What he really needed was more wine drunk in copious amounts so that he blacked out before he got molesty again.

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

"Insistent? About the lasagna?" he asked, still confused. He felt like he was missing something obvious here.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Well, Hesam was just going to have to keep on missing it. Peter turned tactics and just let the matter drop, draining his wine before pouring himself another. At this rate, Hesam was going to think he was a borderline alcoholic. Two nights of drinking in a row? During a week day?

Yeah, bad news.

"Yep, about the lasagna," he agreed, offering Hesam another piece of bread. At least he wasn't feeding it to him!

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

He was at least man enough not to pout at Peter's weird behavior. Instead, he accepted the bread and chewed it thoughtfully.

"You don't need to drink the wine so fast, man. It's not running out anytime soon."

Though now he was worried. Did he do something wrong? Was suggesting a second dinner too much but Peter was just too nice to say no? He fiddled with his bread, frowning a little. He'd screwed up and he didn't even know how.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Peter glanced at his glass and then at the bottle and flushed. "I'm turning into the rest of my family," he said, not meaning to sound so put out. "My brother's a recovering alcoholic. My mother...I don't think she can conceive of herself being one, but...well this is what she does."

Peter put down his glass decisively and nibble on his pink stained lower lip.

"It seems like I can only manage bad ideas lately. I don't mean to pull you into my shit."

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

He shrugged, not bothered. "Dude, the only time I really mind is when you go running off during a shift and leave me stranded and a huge ass pile of paperwork and questions to answer to."

Because every time Peter did that to him it just made him feel used.

"But, if you're referring to what we're doin right now then, I dunno what to say. I don't even know what I'm really doing."

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

"I'm referring to...a little from each column." Peter had never wanted to tell someone about himself so badly before after Nathan. He wasn't exactly wide eyed with wonder about being able to fly. He'd tasted his own blood far too many times and been reminded of just how much people were worthless to trust.

Still, Hesam would be looking at him for answers after that answer, and what else could Peter do?

"This job is all I have. I'm really good at it too. Dinner... I'm not under any illusions. It's just for fun."

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

"Then what are you apologizing for, huh?" he pointed out. "Dinner is 'for fun' and you're a workaholic."

He reached for the wine, taking a tentative sip. Not bad.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Peter just smiled, tight lipped, closed mouthed. His eyes looked sad though, but he was never good at hiding his emotions. Despite having his power stripped from him and an artificial one in it's place, he still was empathic to a degree. He always had been, even if he was no longer a little boy that loved to give hugs or a hospice nurse that held the hands of patients about to pass on.

"I'll do better, man. I promise." Even if it killed him!

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

He sighed, putting the glass down.

"Peter, did it ever occur to you that maybe once in a while, you could just not try? All you ever seem to want to do is be 'better'. You know, sometimes I think you enjoy not living up to your self imposed expectations so you just set the bar impossibly high. I don't know where that gets you, but from my end? All I see is you getting tired."

Shrugging, he suddenly felt awkward. He shouldn't have spoken. It's not his place and Peter doesn't need the lecture. He thumbed distractedly at the tablecloth.

And...now it's time for work. ><

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

In a world of 'Peter, your brother needs my attention more than you' and 'Jeez Pete, grow up already,' having someone say different was a bit of a shock, like being dumped into cold water.

Peter didn't mean to stare at Hesam, but he couldn't help it. The smile came back to touch his eyes this time, glowing with some extra wine and the candle light.

"Not try, huh?" Hesam would be the first target of his not trying. As soon as he finished devouring the meal that just arrived.

*sends you off with your lunch*

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

Peter's staring made him feel awkward, a flush crawling into his face. The following smile from the other made the entire night worth it.

"Yeah, be lazy for once," he confirmed, watching the food being placed down before them. He waited for Peter to start before he started digging into his meal. He hadn't realized how hungry he was.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Saving lives took fuel, fuel that neither of them had much time to stop foe today. Holidays were coming up. It meant more accidents, more heartache. Thanksgiving was closing in too, and Peter already saw his day filled with burn victims and heart attacks.

Even if his mother would insist on a meal most likely. Peter wasn't looking forward to it. There was always a fight. And too much drinking.

Conversation was light across the rest of the meal and a competition for who could eat the most was accidently started when each went for the last slice of bread.

By the time the check came, Peter was stuffed. For a small guy, he certainly could pack it away!

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

"Dinner was a good idea, man," he said, finishing off his drink. He eyed the check off. "You want to split that?"