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]

"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?"

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

"Nah, it's my turn," Peter insisted. He glanced at the total and grinned just a little. No one believed just how cheap this place aaa. He absolutely loved it.

Leaving a nice tip and throwing on his jacket, Peter headed back outside, hands in his pockets. He wasn't going to invite Hesam home. Nope. That led to making out and awkward mornings.

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

He followed Peter out, feeling more at ease than normal. The full belly definitely helped.

"So, what next? Or are you ready to head home?"

The day had left him tired but work had his brain still going a mile a minute. A trip to a bar or heading out somewhere wouldn't exactly be a bad idea.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

With a day off tomorrow, Peter wasn't exactly planning on doing much more than sleep. He had his own patrols to do. He had newspapers to clip. He had a hero to be. But that didn't stop him from asking, as nonchalantly as possible, if that meant Hesam was coming him with him again. He even grinned, as if to say that he could well be teasing.

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

Was Peter up to something?

"You got beer at your place?"

It was probably true that he sets himself up for a lot of these things but at that moment, he didn't care. Being out of work and off with a friend seemed better than going home to an empty apartment that still had expired milk in the fridge.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

"We had beer last night so unless it just walked off?" Peter grinned and hailed a taxi. He generally took the subway home, but it was cold out. And he didn't want Hesam to change his mind.

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

He crawled into the taxi, settling comfortably in the back with a sprawl. This had ended up being a really good start to the night - great food, good company. Some beers to finish it off and he'd consider the day to be a success.

"Anything on TV tonight?"

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

"Hmm..." Peter was more contained when he sat, the New York lights casting a glow across him as they passed on by. "The news? I usually just watch that," Peter confessed slowly. "Don't have cable."

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

"You too huh? I'm lucky if I even get decent reception," he mused, smiling as he looked out the window.

"There's a beat up radio back at my place. Previous owners left it there and I've been too lazy to invest in a new one. Don't need it so much with an iPod."

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

"You could use the parts to--" Peter was getting excited. Excited enough to talk with his hands about how he use to want to be an inventor when he was younger, but then he was afraid he'd be more like a mad scientist than a super hero.

Peter was serious. His eyes flashed as he spoke. He was still a dreamer under it all.

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

"To what?" he encouraged, curious to how Peter had planned to end that. "Ground up into coffee?" he drawled, trying to provoke an answer.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Peter just laughed. "You need to think bigger!"

After outlining the use of time machines and crime fighting robots not unlike Robocop, he turned more fully towards Hesam and tilted his head cutely to the side.

"I would probably find a way to make the ambulance fly. That would make us the best team out there. Can you imagine?". Evidently Peter could. He was grinning like an idiot.

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

"All I can imagine right now is how much spare time you must have to think up crazy crap like that, Petrelli," he mused, shaking his head. Honestly, part of Peter's charm was his childlike manner but sometimes Hesam really did have to wonder what went on in the other's brain.

He'd imagine that stepping into Peter's mind would be like looking at a kaleidoscope.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Hesam really had no idea and that was most likely for the best!

At his building, Peter paid for the cab and they headed up the really God awful elevator again to his apartment. Peter tried not to let it become awkward... Even as he got Hesam a beer. It was like last night's repeat.

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

He had a better attitude about it all this time. He accepted the beer, then made himself comfortable on the couch, digging for a remote and switching onto the news. Making sure to lower the volume, he looked over at Peter.

"How long you been here, in this area? They got any plans of renovating that old pizza place? Looks like new owners. Hope they open up a 24 hour delivery. Would make the late shifts easier."

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

"Moved in here half way through nursing school. Don't get my wrong, I love my parents, but my mom's a nitpicker. And Nathan was making fun of me for being twenty-two and still at home so..." Peter shrugged and joined Hesam on the couch with two beers.

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

"You moved out by yourself? No girlfriend or roomate?"

He'd never really tried to get to know Peter before. He had to admit, he was curious.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Propping his feet up on the coffee table, Peter shook his head. "Never really had a lot of friends. School friends and stuff, but nah, no roommates." He never even went away to college.

[hesam-bb.livejournal.com]

"Huh. Really? I always put you down as the social type. You're a good people person, dude. That's why I drive," he mused, glancing at Peter.

"I don't get you sometimes. You're the easiest person to get along with, you empathize with people immediately. Yet you avoid trying to come out with me and the guys. Do you ever kick back? Ignoring right now of course. Which I'm surprised you even agreed to."