Outside World
Mar. 4th, 2013 06:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spongetasticOriginally written in 2008
Though Adam had made sure to keep track of the day and year during his imprisonment, he had completely lost track of hours. He didn't know what to expect when he and Peter emerged from the building. The sunlight, though it was late afternoon, made his eyes burn and he lifted his hand as a shield. He'd grown so used to artificial light that the real thing was overwhelming at first.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Peter asked, glancing around. "We were in New York this whole time."
"Yes, fascinating," Adam agreed. "We need to keep moving, Peter. They're sure to notice our escape." Peter slipped his hand into Adam's so they could stay connected and summoned his invisibility. That made it much easier for them to maneuver their way safely from the Company property.
New York thirty years later... For once Adam became the follower, as Peter was much more familiar with the city. The older man was quiet as he was guided along. His senses were busy taking in the life surrounding them. The blaring of car horns, the brilliant lights of Broadway, the feel of people bumping up against them... God how he missed this. He felt a sudden rush of hunger for the human race, and for him that was very unexpected.
"Peter, where are we going?" he asked, once he was a bit more adjusted to being out again.
"To Nathan, of course. We have to help him right away."
"No." Adam pulled the empath to a stop. "I know I promised to help your brother, but we need to be smart about this. We can't just go barging into your brother's hospital room." He gently stroked his thumb over Peter's knuckles, squeezing the young man's hand.
"Then what do you think we should do?" Peter asked. Adam could see in the boy's eyes how much he trusted the older man. But it was more than that. Peter's cheeks flushed under Adam's stare and he continued holding the other man's hand, though there was no need for it.
"I wondered if perhaps you can indulge a selfish desire of mine," Adam said quietly. "I have spent the past thirty years locked away with nothing but white walls to stare at. Could we watch the sun set?" Peter looked surprised at the request but really such a desire was no surprise for Adam. He had seen it so many times in so many different places. It seemed only fitting for him to watch it as celebration for his escape.
"Sure," Peter agreed, smiling. "Of course. I know the perfect spot." He wrapped his arms around Adam-- the older man stiffened at first, not used to such close physical contact-- and started to rise.
Peter's body heat was intoxicating. If they weren't steadily moving away from the ground Adam would have taken advantage of the closeness. As it was he simply enjoyed feeling another body pressed so close against his. Peter's cheeks were still flushed. Adam would have brushed his fingers against that heated skin, if he weren't concerned that such a gesture would break his companion's concentration.
"Adam, look down." He did, tearing his eyes away from Peter rather reluctantly. The city spread out below them in a beautiful array of colors, cars looking like toys and people like little insects. He had never seen anything so marvelous. He stared hungrily, wanting to take it all in. He barely noticed that Peter set them both on the ground again.
They were on a rooftop. A very familiar rooftop, in fact. Adam knew it instantly as belonging to Charles Deveaux. But of course he couldn't show Peter that he recognized the place.
"This place belonged to a patient of mine," Peter explained. He moved to the edge of the roof and took a seat, motioning for Adam to join him. "It was the best place I could think of to watch the sun set." Adam sat down next to his young friend, so close their shoulders nudged against each other.
It truly was a beautiful view of New York. Adam closed his eyes for a moment, taking in a deep breath. Natural air felt good in his lungs after thirty years of breathing that stale circulated Company air. The light breeze felt good against his skin, and even the soft cooing of the pigeons was nice to his ears. He opened his eyes again to find Peter watching him. The empath glanced away but not fast enough.
"What is it?" he asked, gently brushing his fingertips over Peter's jaw line. They were so close he could see the boy's Adam's apple bob as he swallowed nervously.
"I can hear what you're thinking," Peter confessed. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop; I was just curious. Your thoughts are... so peaceful, yet sad. I take all of this for granted but you... I can hear how much you missed it." Adam was taken aback by this. He didn't like that Peter had nosed in on his private thoughts and felt a bit angry that Peter didn't tell him about this power before. It was lucky that recently the empath had consumed his thoughts-- which explained why Peter was so shy around Adam.
"So, can you hear what I'm thinking now?" Adam wondered, purposefully concentrating on a certain thought. Peter blushed and nodded shyly. Smirking, Adam continued to lovingly caress Peter's jaw line. "And...?"
Peter lifted his eyes to look at Adam. The nurse never felt so young as he did staring at this man. Aside from his many years of life, he seemed so sophisticated and intelligent. The sadness and longing he'd heard from Adam all day made him believable as a human, and made Peter want to help him even more. Carefully he leaned forward and pressed his lips against Adam's.
At first Adam didn't respond. Peter could hear his confusion and surprise. Then he softened, pressing back against the younger man's advances. Peter's hands eagerly slid up to thread through the man's short hair before settling behind his neck. Their thoughts shared the same pleasant excitement. Adam suddenly took over as he sought for deeper, more intimate kisses. Peter allowed it. No, he wanted it.
The sun was setting, and neither of them noticed.
Though Adam had made sure to keep track of the day and year during his imprisonment, he had completely lost track of hours. He didn't know what to expect when he and Peter emerged from the building. The sunlight, though it was late afternoon, made his eyes burn and he lifted his hand as a shield. He'd grown so used to artificial light that the real thing was overwhelming at first.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Peter asked, glancing around. "We were in New York this whole time."
"Yes, fascinating," Adam agreed. "We need to keep moving, Peter. They're sure to notice our escape." Peter slipped his hand into Adam's so they could stay connected and summoned his invisibility. That made it much easier for them to maneuver their way safely from the Company property.
New York thirty years later... For once Adam became the follower, as Peter was much more familiar with the city. The older man was quiet as he was guided along. His senses were busy taking in the life surrounding them. The blaring of car horns, the brilliant lights of Broadway, the feel of people bumping up against them... God how he missed this. He felt a sudden rush of hunger for the human race, and for him that was very unexpected.
"Peter, where are we going?" he asked, once he was a bit more adjusted to being out again.
"To Nathan, of course. We have to help him right away."
"No." Adam pulled the empath to a stop. "I know I promised to help your brother, but we need to be smart about this. We can't just go barging into your brother's hospital room." He gently stroked his thumb over Peter's knuckles, squeezing the young man's hand.
"Then what do you think we should do?" Peter asked. Adam could see in the boy's eyes how much he trusted the older man. But it was more than that. Peter's cheeks flushed under Adam's stare and he continued holding the other man's hand, though there was no need for it.
"I wondered if perhaps you can indulge a selfish desire of mine," Adam said quietly. "I have spent the past thirty years locked away with nothing but white walls to stare at. Could we watch the sun set?" Peter looked surprised at the request but really such a desire was no surprise for Adam. He had seen it so many times in so many different places. It seemed only fitting for him to watch it as celebration for his escape.
"Sure," Peter agreed, smiling. "Of course. I know the perfect spot." He wrapped his arms around Adam-- the older man stiffened at first, not used to such close physical contact-- and started to rise.
Peter's body heat was intoxicating. If they weren't steadily moving away from the ground Adam would have taken advantage of the closeness. As it was he simply enjoyed feeling another body pressed so close against his. Peter's cheeks were still flushed. Adam would have brushed his fingers against that heated skin, if he weren't concerned that such a gesture would break his companion's concentration.
"Adam, look down." He did, tearing his eyes away from Peter rather reluctantly. The city spread out below them in a beautiful array of colors, cars looking like toys and people like little insects. He had never seen anything so marvelous. He stared hungrily, wanting to take it all in. He barely noticed that Peter set them both on the ground again.
They were on a rooftop. A very familiar rooftop, in fact. Adam knew it instantly as belonging to Charles Deveaux. But of course he couldn't show Peter that he recognized the place.
"This place belonged to a patient of mine," Peter explained. He moved to the edge of the roof and took a seat, motioning for Adam to join him. "It was the best place I could think of to watch the sun set." Adam sat down next to his young friend, so close their shoulders nudged against each other.
It truly was a beautiful view of New York. Adam closed his eyes for a moment, taking in a deep breath. Natural air felt good in his lungs after thirty years of breathing that stale circulated Company air. The light breeze felt good against his skin, and even the soft cooing of the pigeons was nice to his ears. He opened his eyes again to find Peter watching him. The empath glanced away but not fast enough.
"What is it?" he asked, gently brushing his fingertips over Peter's jaw line. They were so close he could see the boy's Adam's apple bob as he swallowed nervously.
"I can hear what you're thinking," Peter confessed. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop; I was just curious. Your thoughts are... so peaceful, yet sad. I take all of this for granted but you... I can hear how much you missed it." Adam was taken aback by this. He didn't like that Peter had nosed in on his private thoughts and felt a bit angry that Peter didn't tell him about this power before. It was lucky that recently the empath had consumed his thoughts-- which explained why Peter was so shy around Adam.
"So, can you hear what I'm thinking now?" Adam wondered, purposefully concentrating on a certain thought. Peter blushed and nodded shyly. Smirking, Adam continued to lovingly caress Peter's jaw line. "And...?"
Peter lifted his eyes to look at Adam. The nurse never felt so young as he did staring at this man. Aside from his many years of life, he seemed so sophisticated and intelligent. The sadness and longing he'd heard from Adam all day made him believable as a human, and made Peter want to help him even more. Carefully he leaned forward and pressed his lips against Adam's.
At first Adam didn't respond. Peter could hear his confusion and surprise. Then he softened, pressing back against the younger man's advances. Peter's hands eagerly slid up to thread through the man's short hair before settling behind his neck. Their thoughts shared the same pleasant excitement. Adam suddenly took over as he sought for deeper, more intimate kisses. Peter allowed it. No, he wanted it.
The sun was setting, and neither of them noticed.