Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Hughie was learning, very quickly, that nothing in the compound was ever as simple as it first

looked.

That, unfortunately, included this... equipment.

“I think this thing might be older than I am.” Hughie muttered quietly, crouched halfway under a panel, trying to squint at the mess of wires that looked like they belonged in a tech museum rather than an actual functioning system. “Like, and I’m not saying this to not work at it, I don’t think I should be allowed to touch this.”

From somewhere behind him, Peter snorted.

“Come on now. It works, doesn’t it?” He said, sounding far too unbothered for someone who had willingly trusted Hughie with what looked like important hardware.

“Barely? I don’t know why you keep trusting me with this shit.” Hughie shot back, grunting as he nudged one of the wires with the end of his screwdriver. “And I’m pretty sure I just keep making it worse.” He moved the wire around to what might be its rightful place.

Then the machine let out a sad, mechanical whine. As if agreeing with him.

“…Yeah.” Hughie added. “Definitely worse.”

Peter laughed, the sound echoing easy and familiar now, like it belonged in the room as much as the mechanical hum of the old electronics. “You’ve been saying that for the last two weeks.”

Turning to look back at Peter, he gave him an unamused eyebrow. “Because I actually have been making things worse for the last two weeks.” Hughie said, dragging himself out from under the panel with a groan. He wiped his greasy hands on the front of his work shirt without thinking, leaving smudges of it behind. “I mean, I know this stuff, at least most of it! But just... not like this. Back home it was all...” He gestured vaguely around the room, searching for a word that didn’t make him sound insane. “Less… ancient?” He said, going for an easy-going tone to not annoy Peter.

Peter had stopped reacting to that sort of phrasing a while ago.

The first time Hughie had tried to explain it, that he was actually not from this time... Which he knew was a hard pill to swallow, he still didn’t believe it himself most of the time. So, it had not been a fun conversation, but he had started trusting Peter. And he had to get it off his chest, to talk to someone about it, besides... Well, he’d gone quiet. Not even disbelieving, just sort of… recalibrating.

It had taken a long conversation, a barrage of questions, a headache, and more than a few “You’re messing with me, right?” before he’d finally accepted it. Or at least stop looking at him like he was mentally ill at least. That part hadn’t been fun.

Now though? He mostly just rolled with it.

Peter tilted his head, amused. “You call this machinery ancient one more time Hughie, and I’m gonna report your ass for emotional damage. Some of these systems are newer than me.”

Hughie blinked at him, subtly giving him the side eye, trying to stop the curling of his lip.

“Goes to say a lot about your case now, doesn’t it grandpa?”

Peter grinned, fully bitchy and completely unapologetic.

Hughie huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he pushed himself to his feet using the console above. It still felt... more than a little strange, how easy that came now. The talking and the easy joking around. Even the space between them was casual and unguarded now. As if Hughie hadn’t spent his first days here feeling like a lamb brought to slaughter, looking for the nearest exit every five minutes. And that was understating it.

He rolled his shoulders once, trying to work out a knot that had settled there somewhere between frustration and habit. “Okay sure, but I’m telling you right now, if something explodes, it’s going to be entirely your fault.” He said with a smile that felt more like a grimace.

“Alright Hughie, noted.” Peter said, raising both hands in mock surrender. “I’ll make sure to look very shocked if that happens.”

“Hey, you said if and not when! Does that mean I’m getting better at this?” Hughie asked with a teasing tilt to his voice.

Peter just shook his head out of exasperation. How he got a friend, out of time mind you, to be as exasperated with him as his father, just in a few months was a mystery.

Hughie snorted under his breath, reaching past him to grab a tool off the workbench. His fingers brushed Peter’s sleeve in the process, light and unthinking.

“Hey, can you pass me that?” Hughie started, glancing down at the scattered mess of parts before leaning in a little closer, squinting at the tools. “No, not that one, the one that looks like- yeah, that.”

Peter handed it over without question, their hands knocking together briefly.

Hughie took it, trying not to get in his head about it and focusing again, muttering under his breath as he crouched back down. “God, this would be so much easier if we had all the amenities and the... everything else we had back then. Or... if half of this stuff wasn’t held together by what I’m pretty sure is just desperate hope and duct tape.”

“Hey!” Peter protested lightly. “That’s high-quality duct tape right there. Put some respect on it.”

“Of course it is.”

The room settled back into its steady rhythm after that, quiet and sort of peaceful. Just the low buzz of machinery, the occasional clink of metal, and the kind of silence that Hughie had to admit, he was growing a little fond of. He found himself relaxing into it without meaning to.

That had been happening more and more lately. He breathed it in even gladly, anything to take his mind off of everything else. He didn’t think about the way people didn’t stare at him as long anymore. Whether that was because people were actually getting used to him or... Nope, he refused to think about him right now.

He also didn’t think about how he’d stopped counting the exits every time he entered a room

anymore. Or how he could laugh, like actually laugh, without immediately second-guessing himself and feeling bad about it. It had been… what, weeks? A few months?

Time moved weird here. And it was a terrifying thing to think about for a second, that he was almost starting to feel settled here.

So, Hughie, in true Hughie fashion, pushed the thought away before it could settle.

“Alright.” He said after a moment, leaning back on his heels to look at the progress he had made. “I think, key word being think though, that should fix it.”

Peter leaned over his shoulder, to take a peek into the open panel. “You also said that last time.” He said, giving him a look, this time free from judgement.

“Yeah, well, this time I might actually mean it.” He held his breath, hoping this time it actually worked.

The machine hummed for a second. It didn’t whine, or spark. And, it didn’t explode.

Hughie blinked. “…Oh.”

Peter blinked too, seemingly as shocked as he was.

“…Oh,” he echoed.

They both stared at it for another second.

Then turned to look at each other.

“Holy shit.” Hughie said, half-laughing, half in disbelief, his voice getting louder as he spoke. “Holy shit, I did it! I actually fucking did it!”

Peter let out a low chuckle. “I never doubted you.”

Hughie turned to him fully, shoving him a few inches. “Yeah yeah, for sure you didn’t.”

Peter gave him an unapologetic, shit-eating grin. “Not even for a second, I assure you. And look at you now! Fully integrated member of society and everything.” He pretended to wipe a mock-tear out of his eye. “My baby is all grown up now.”

“Don’t jinx it.” Hughie shot back quickly, but he was grinning now too, wide and unguarded in a way he didn’t even try to hide.

Peter bumped his shoulder lightly. “I’m serious. You were already good, but now you’re getting even better at this.”

The contact was easy. Natural even. Most of the time he forgot how tactile he used to be before all this.

Hughie leaned into it just slightly, still riding the small rush of success. “Yeah, well. Let’s not get used to it. At least until it becomes a regular thing.” He said, feeling a little bashful now under the praise.

Peter smirked. “Too late.”

Hughie rolled his eyes, but the smile stayed.

“Come on.” Peter added after a moment, pushing off the workbench and grabbing Hughie’s shoulder. “Let’s grab something to eat before you decide to fix something else and accidentally shut down the entire compound.”

Hughie made a face as he pushed Peter’s arm off his shoulder, out of pettiness. “First of all, rude. Second of all, I would never do that.”

When Peter didn’t say anything back for a second and only looked at him with a raised eyebrow, he let out a sigh. “...Again, I mean.”

“Once was enough.”

“Alright! I get it.”

Peter snorted, already heading for the door. Hughie followed a second later, wiping his hands again on his shirt to get it at least somewhat cleaner.

The hallway outside felt cooler and quieter.

And weirdly enough, familiar nowadays, in a way that still surprised him if he thought about it too long.

So he didn’t.

He fell into step beside Peter, their conversation picking back up effortlessly as they turned the corner and for a moment everything felt almost… normal.

He tried to hold on to that feeling as long as he could, knowing that in a few minutes, that normalcy would fade into the background as easily as it had come.

The cafeteria was noticeably louder than the tech room. Warmer, too.

Not just because of the temperature, though it actually was warmer here too, but in the way everyone's voice overlapped, chairs scraped as people moved around, trays clattered, and people talked over each other like it was a party where everybody was there to socialize.

Hughie hadn’t liked it much at first. There was always too many people, too many eyes and way too many variables to feel safe. Now… it was somewhat easier to not feel like he was going to get attacked every few minutes.

It still was not normal, absolutely not. But it had gotten easier to ignore all the looks and whispers directed at him.

“By the way, not to take away from your big moment and all that, but I’m telling you, that thing should not have worked. Sorry.” Peter was saying, sliding onto the bench across from him with a tray that looked like it had seen better days. “But not sorry. You moved one wire and suddenly it decides to cooperate? You know what its called when something like that happens?”

Hughie sighed in fond exasperation, but decided to give it back as good as he got. “What? You mean skill, you big baby?”

“No actually, its called luck.”

Hughie scoffed, dropping into the seat opposite him. “Oh, wow. So we’re discrediting my achievements now? And you know damn well I didn’t just ‘move’ a wire around now.”

“I’m just trying to protect you from getting a big head about it.” Peter shot back easily, shaking his head in mock sympathy. “It’s a real issue you know? Because what if you volunteer to fix the main grid as your next project?”

“Oh god, don’t even joke about that.” Hughie said quickly, grabbing a piece of bread off his tray and shuddering like it had personally offended him. “I think Mallory would skin me alive, and I happen to like being alive, so no thanks.”

Peter grinned. “Thought so.”

Hughie rolled his eyes, but the smile tugged at his mouth anyway, stubborn and uninvited.

He reached across the table without thinking, nudging Peter’s wrist lightly when he tried to steal something off his tray. “Hey! Can’t you just eat your own? Or- Come on!”

“I have my own.” Peter said, completely unapologetic as he tried again. “And yours.”

Hughie leaned forward again, quicker, catching his hand mid-motion and taking his fries back. “Peter! Dude, oh my god...”

Their hands bumped, fingers catching for a second before Hughie let go, pushing him back with a huff. “You are unbelievable.” He muttered, shaking his head.

Peter just laughed. “Thank you, that I am, yes.” Then settled back like he’d already won something.

Hughie joined in on the laugh, shaking his head.

The noise around them after that blurred a bit at the edges, fading into something more... echoey and softer. A steady buzzing instead of an assault on his ears. Hughie found himself relaxing into it without meaning to, his shoulders loosening and his posture less rigid than it used to be. Even though he was annoying and irritating most of the time, Peter was kind of his best, if not only, friend here. And it was easy to relax into the banter with him. He never had siblings growing up, but from what he had heard, he had a feeling it was something close to this.

He didn’t notice how close he was sitting when he leaned forward again, this time to brush something off of Peter’s hair, lint, maybe? Or nothing at all.

When Peter moved his head out of reach he just ‘tsked’ at him. “Just hold still, will you?” Hughie said absently, reaching out. “Still.” He added when Peter moved again in confusion.

Peter blinked at him but didn’t pull away this time. “What?”

“You had something in your hair.” Hughie frowned slightly, fingers brushing over the fringe, light and careful. “There.”

He then smoothed it down once, then twice, without thinking about it. It felt easy, natural.

But something shifted just in that moment. He didn’t know what, but an unsettled feeling in his chest made itself known, making him pause.

He let his eyes move around to understand why he felt weird all of a sudden. Whatever it was, it also wasn’t in the noise, or the lights. Not even in the people moving around them.

It felt like something in... him. Which he did not understand at all.

Whatever he was feeling though... it was subtle, but only in the sense that if subtle was an elephant stepping on his chest. It was like something behind him had moved, or maybe always been there and he’d just… become aware.

Hughie stilled even more, tense. His fingers paused where they had slowly came to rest on Peter’s shoulder.

He didn’t pull away, not yet, but it wasn’t a fully conscious thought on his part either. It was almost like he’d froze in place with no idea why.

Peter was still talking, something about how if Hughie broke anything he was personally filing a complaint and not taking the blame, but the words just didn’t quite land the same anymore. They felt… farther. Thinner, like he was submerged underwater.

Hughie’s focus slipped. He looked up. And finally, his wandering eyes stopped across the room.

Found him already looking.

Already watching. Hughie didn’t think it was possible, but he tensed up even more.

The man in question wasn’t even moving.

He wasn’t doing anything, really. Just sitting near the far end of the cafeteria by the window like he had every right to be there.

But his attention... Now that? That was fixed, and purposeful. It was on Hughie.

And it felt... unwavering. Heavy in a way that Hughie had felt it before he even saw it. Distinctly, his mind recalled ‘spidey senses’ as either a comfort or a cruel joke.

For that split second though, nothing happened. But Hughie still didn’t dare breathe.

He barely even let himself think.

Didn’t even fully register the fact that his hand was still resting against Peter. Not until Ben’s gaze dropped to his hand for just a moment, before returning to his eyes, slow and measured. Something like amusement danced on his face as his eyebrows raised slightly, in question.

That look made something in his chest felt like it… tightened. It wasn’t out of fear, but it was just- It just felt wrong.

The thought barreled into his head without warning.

That this, this feels-

He didn’t even get to finish the thought before his hand dropped back to his lap, almost subconsciously.

He leaned back in his seat, putting just enough space between himself and Peter that it could be written off as nothing. It was nothing.

His gaze flickered when he saw Ben’s lips curling into a satisfied, smug smirk.

Then it just broke and dropped down to the table, to his hands, to anything that wasn’t that look still pressed against his skin like heat. Hughie swallowed. Or at least, tried to.

He didn’t know why he’d done that. Or worse yet, he knew why but... What he didn’t know was, why his pulse had just picked up, or why his face felt warmer all of a sudden, or why it felt like he’d just been caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to do.

Which was stupid. He hadn’t done anything wrong. Right?

Because he really, actually hadn’t done anything.

Right?

“Hey.” Peter’s voice cut through, closer now.

Hughie blinked, and all of a sudden the noise of the cafeteria rushing into his ears all at once, overwhelming him and dragging his attention back like it had been pulled too far out.

“…What?” He asked, a little too quietly.

When he raised his head just enough to look at Peter, he found that he was looking at him funny.

“You just-” He started, then paused with his brows furrowing, like he was trying to piece together a puzzle in real time. “Are you okay? You seem...flushed.”

Hughie frowned, forcing his expression into something normal and willing his cheeks to cool down. But the observation only made them burn hotter. “Yeah? I- uh. Uhm. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Peter didn’t answer immediately. Just turned around slowly, as if to assess the danger.

His eyes flicked past to where Hughie’s had been a second ago.

Toward the far end of the room, toward him. And he just stilled.

Hughie kept his eyes down, his fingers loosely curled against the table, trying to act like nothing had happened.

He exhaled quietly through his nose, trying to calm his racing heart. The act oddly reminded him of how he acted when he would make eye contact with his crush in high school, though never this intense. He shook his head to clear that thought away.

Peter shifted back in his seat after a second, slowly turning back like he was forcing himself back into the moment, back into normal.

“…Huh.” He muttered under his breath, like something happened that he didn’t anticipate.

Hughie frowned faintly. “What?”

“Nothing.” Peter shook his head once, easy, dismissive, but it didn’t quite land the way he intended it to. “Just-” He cut himself off, like he wasn’t sure whether to say it or not. “Forget it.”

Hughie didn’t like that, not at all. He shifted in his seat again, shoulders a little tighter now.

He told himself it was just the noise. The heat. The way the cafeteria always got a bit too much if he sat in it for too long. That he was just caught unprepared.

His thoughts stalled again before they could finish, because across the room, there was a movement.

Hughie didn’t look up immediately. But he felt it, the sudden shift of his inner attention, the subtle pull of it, like something in him was already tracking the movement whether he wanted to or not. Instinctive.

By the time he did glance up, Ben was standing.

His gaze caught once more, albeit not as heavy as before.

But it was still there. Deliberate and as strong as ever, his attention once again held.

And the worst part of it was that, now that Hughie knew what it felt like, he had no way of pretending he didn’t.

There was something faintly amused in Ben’s eyes. Something knowing and assured, like he’d watched the whole thing play out exactly the way he’d expected it to. Smug even.

Hughie’s throat felt dry as hell when he tried to swallow, and he caught the way Ben’s eyes followed the movement of his throat working.

He dropped his gaze first, feeling a fresh wave of warm mortification all over his face and neck.

He took a few more deep breaths. And by the time he looked back up, Ben was already turning away. He let out a quiet sigh of relief as he saw Ben finally leaving through the doors.

He slumped back on his chair, the tension seeping from his shoulders.

“Ohh...” Peter said under his breath beside him.

Hughie let out a quiet huff. “What?” He asked, even though he did not have any face to save.

“Nothing.” Peter said again, shrugging, but this time there was a slight edge of disbelief under it, like he wasn’t entirely keen on believing what he’d just seen.

A pause stretched between them, not awkward, but definitely not not awkward as well.

Peter didn’t look at him right away. Neither did Hughie at him. When he finally did, it wasn’t the same as before. There was a sharpness around the edges now.

“…You sure you’re good?” he asked, more grounded this time.

Hughie shrugged one shoulder, aiming for casual and missing it by a mile. “Yeah... Uh, like I said. I’m fine.”

Peter studied him for a second longer than necessary, just… checking, while Hughie shifted around his seat under the heavy scrutinization. Then Peter leaned back slightly, exhaling through his nose.

“Right. Yeah.” He said, like he’d reached some sort of conclusion he wasn’t sharing just yet.

Hughie had a feeling that was mostly for his sake rather than something else. He didn’t ask though. Because some part of him that he was refusing to pay attention to,

already knew what this was about. Or at least, he had an idea.

Peter drummed his fingers lightly against the table, then glanced at Hughie again. “…You know.” He started, tone very obviously and deliberately kept casual. “I don't think you realize how fun you’re making this for him when you keep doing that.”

Hughie frowned faintly, looking over. “Do what? I’m not doing anything.”

Peter gave him a look. It wasn’t accusing, not exactly, it was just… pointed.

“The whole-” He gestured vaguely between Hughie’s face and the space where Ben had been sitting a second ago. “... I don’t know. Deer in headlights thing? Blushing and not being able to make even eye-contact?”

“What!” He asked, spluttering, and realizing he might’ve said that a bit too loudly when a few heads turned his way. Hughie blinked and tried to stay calm. “I was not-”

“You were.” Peter cut in easily, not even letting him finish, that confident in his point. There was a hint of a smile tugging at his mouth, like he wasn’t trying to make it a big deal. “A little.”

Hughie scoffed under his breath, looking back down at his tray, pushing a fry around like it had personally offended him. “Okay, well. How about... You try looking at him directly the next time, okay?” He shuddered. “I swear, it’s... He’s just so... intense, y’know? And I’m already like, very awkward by nature.”

He decided to graciously ignore Peter’s quiet ‘don’t I know it...’ and just keep going.

“Anyway... I didn’t think I was making it that obvious though.”

Peter snorted quietly at that, shaking his head. “Buddy, if that was your intention... Let’s just say you didn’t exactly nail it.”

He paused for a second after.

Then, a bit more quietly, he added. “Just… don’t let him see that he gets to you that much, okay? I know he’s intense, trust me, I’ve worked with him longer than you know. Just... try to stay your ground.”

Hughie’s fingers stilled. “…I don’t though.” He started, then hesitated, because that didn’t feel entirely true. “He…he doesn’t get to me that much.”

Peter didn’t call him out on it. Just hummed, unconvinced.

“Yeah.” He said, dragging the word out a little. “Sure.”

Hughie shot him a look for that, but it didn’t have much bite behind it.

Peter leaned back slightly in his seat, stretching his arm along the back of the bench like he was settling in, tone slipping back into something easier again.

“I’m saying it for you, Hughie.” He added. “You keep reacting like that every time he looks at you, he’s gonna start treating it like a game.”

Hughie’s brows pulled together. “A game? How would he even do that?”

Peter shrugged one shoulder. “You know. Push, pull. It’s a classic. You pull back, he pushes more. Honestly, if it wasn’t him, I’d even say this is all kinda sweet but, alas.”

He tapped his fingers once against the table again, absent. “It’s so basic, rudimentary predator shit that it’s more... Disgusting.”

Hughie let out a quiet breath through his nose at that, something in his chest tightening again.

“That’s...” He huffed, shaking his head a little as he tried to respond. As if those words didn’t leave a weird feeling fluttering inside him. “That’s a crazy way to describe a person. You know that right?”

Peter tilted his head, like is it though?

“Is it? I feel like sometimes you’re forgetting about the whole...” He twirled his fingers around the place, vaguely trying to spell something out for Hughie.

When Hughie didn’t get it and kept looking at him, he gave Hughie a blank look. Shifting on his seat, he pushed his chair closer to the table, leaning in the middle, leaving Hughie to do the same.

“Forgetting what?” Hughie asked, his brows furrowed.

“The fact that you’re an omega? And that he’s an alpha?” He shook his head, groaning as he did so. “I swear to god kid, you’re gonna give me grey hairs.”

Hughie didn’t answer that, embarrassed. Truth is, he did sometimes forget it. Mostly because a lot of the times when he remembered it, he pushed the thought aside and tried to think about something else, to escape from the reality of it.

So, that is why he ended up, “Don’t call me a kid. You’re not that much older than me.”

“Really?” Peter raised one eyebrow. “That’s what you're going with?”

At Hughie’s continued deflection and refusal, he rolled his eyes. “Because if you wanna play it like that princess, we can also do that. Technically, you won’t even be born for another... what? 18 years? So, yeah. Kid.”

Hughie leaned back slightly in his chair, dragging a hand over the back of his neck, still warm.

“…He hasn’t even done anything.” He muttered, more to himself than to Peter. “Like, actually done anything.”

Peter’s gaze flicked to him again, listening.

Hughie frowned, staring down at his hands like they might give him answers. “But it still feels like...” He stopped, exhaling shortly. “I don’t know. Like I’m always… on

edge or something. Almost like he’s... waiting for something.”

He let out a small, awkward laugh under his breath. “Which is stupid, because he hasn’t even tried actually talking to me ever since I moved into my own room.”

As soon as the aftermath of everything had settled down, Mallory had found Hughie and had asked if he wanted a private room of his own. Stating that as an omega, he was entitled to it. And that he might be more comfortable having a bit of privacy.

It’d seemed like a no-brainer at the time.

So that’s why, when he’d brought it up to Ben, thanking him for being so gracious, but that he didn’t have to put up with him anymore, Ben’s non-reaction had confused him to no end. He’d expected some extreme word choices, some teasing definitely. Anyhing.

But he hadn’t expected Ben to be mostly silent about it, giving him long looks and amused smirks, like he’d found it cute or funny. He’d only said one thing, with a smirk.

“Sure, sweetheart.”

It had made Hughie feel like he was running away from Ben. Which, if he had to be honest with himself, he was. But the realization that Ben had understood that, and still just...let him, made him feel off about it. Not knowing what the other thought, or why he let Hughie off the hook so easily and readily had made him defensive and hyper-vigilant almost.

Which was kind of the whole point of what had happened just a few minutes ago.

Peter didn’t interrupt when he kept going.

“He just...” Hughie shook his head, searching for it and not quite finding it. “Looks at me, and suddenly I feel like I stepped into a room I’m not supposed to. Like I did something wrong.”

He paused.

“Or more like... I’m about to.”

Silence stretched a bit at that. Peter shifted slightly beside him, expression unreadable for a moment, like he was putting pieces together and deciding which ones to say out loud.

“…Yeah. I think that’s at least... Fair.” He said finally, quieter than before, acknowledging it.

Hughie huffed again, shoulders dropping a fraction.

“See? That’s what I mean though.” He muttered. “He doesn’t even have to do anything. All this pent up stress is making me go crazy. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. Because I have a feeling he didn’t just forget about me.”

Peter’s mouth twitched faintly at that, into a wry smile.

“Mm. You could say that again.”

Then, a little more lightly again, nudging the tone back up just enough, he added. “Which is exactly why you shouldn’t make it as obvious.”

Hughie let out a half groan half chuckle, dragging his hands down his face.

“Great. Awesome. I’ll try not to.”

Peter snorted.

“Relax.” He said, nudging his foot lightly against Hughie’s under the table. “Don’t work yourself up so much. I’m sure everything will be alright.”

“…Probably.”

Hughie dropped his hands just enough to glare at him. “You’re so helpful. Really.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere.” He said wiggling his eyebrows.

Hughie huffed a quiet laugh despite himself, shaking his head as he leaned back into his seat.

Peter reached for his drink, letting him off the hook for now, like nothing had happened, decidedly moving on. Hughie let him let the conversation die where it was instead of poking at it again.

Because if he did, he had a feeling it wouldn’t stay light.

And he didn’t really… want to think about it too much, not right now. Hopefully for a while.

After dinner, Hughie stayed a few minutes longer after Peter left, mostly just to prove to himself that he could. That nothing was wrong, and that he could sit there by himself and eat, breathe, exist in the same space without... reacting.

It was stupid, when he put it like that. What was he trying to prove here? And to who?

So he forced himself to take another bite, chew, swallow. Normal. Everything was normal.

He wasn’t going to keep acting like... like some-

Hughie exhaled sharply through his nose, dropping his gaze to his tray again.

“Get it together, Campbell.” He muttered.

Seriously.

The walk back to his room, just getting fresh air and letting his worries drop from his mind, was good, peaceful even.

Unfortunately, it did not last long.

His new room wasn’t that far from where...Ben’s was. It was even in the same building, just in the west wing. So it was easy to let muscle memory take over.

Hughie dragged a hand over the back of his neck as he turned corners in the grey halls, frowning faintly to himself as he kept walking. He couldn’t tell if it was the cafeteria getting to him again or something else. He'd started feeling fluttery all of a sudden.

He exhaled sharply through his nose. “You really need to get it together, dude.” He muttered under his breath, more annoyed with himself than anything now.

It had been one weird moment. That was it! He needed to get over it already.

Hughie turned the corner.

Well... Apparently, getting over it wasn’t going to be super easy.

His steps faltered for a second, because he wasn’t alone.

Ben was already there. Waiting, for him.

Hughie’s stomach dropped a little before he could stop it, but before he could accidentally take a step backwards and make himself look even more of a coward than he already was, he soldiered on and stepped forward.

Although, for a second, neither of them said anything.

Hughie became very aware of his own breathing as they just stared at each other. To the way it hitched just slightly before he forced it to even out again. God, was it awkward, he thought.

Normal. He should just act... normal. Right?

He shifted his weight around instead, and decided to be brave. “...Didn’t realize this was such a...” Hughie started, then cut himself off, huffing lightly as he gestured vaguely toward the hallway. “Popular spot or whatever.” He finished with a chuckle that sounded more nervous than anything.

He really was so smooth.

He resisted the urge to wince at himself.

Ben didn’t answer, instead, his gaze moved slowly, in a deliberate way. Dragging all over Hughie in a way that felt almost physical. It was not rushed, nor at all subtle. He took him in piece by piece like he had all the time in the world to do it.

Hughie felt it. All of it.

God, he felt it.

His jaw tightened slightly as seconds passed by, something stubborn coming alive inside him despite the way his pulse had picked up again. “...What?” He added, a little sharper now that the silence had stretched too long.

“Did you just come here to stare at me again?”

Ben’s eyes flicked back up to his, just as slow.

There was something there, something faintly amused. Something that said he’d already seen enough. Hughie wondered again in that moment, how this man could make him feel so... nervous with just a look.

“Been a while...” He said finally, like that explained anything. “Hasn’t it?”

Hughie blinked, thrown off just enough by the normalcy of the question that it took him a second to reply back.

“…Yeah, I- uh... I guess so.” He said, dragging the word out slightly as he straightened a bit,

folding his arms loosely like that might anchor him back into himself.

“Hello! How have you been?” He said in a fake cheerful way, feeling the steam rising in him.

He enjoyed the way Ben seemed tense for a split second at his loud tone.

“Other things you could have opened with, by the way. But sure, yes it’s been a while. Funny how that works when you stop showing up, or talking to me, doesn’t it?”

He didn’t miss the way Ben’s mouth twitched at that, not like he was annoyed.

Maybe interested.

When Hughie tightened his arms, almost hugging himself, that faint interest sharpened. Like Hughie had just done something worth paying attention to.

He took a step forward.

It wasn't even a long one. Not enough to be threatening or anything, at least not on paper. But it still made something in Hughie’s chest pull tight all over again, his body clocking the movement before his brain could catch up.

“Funny?” Ben echoed, like he was tasting the word rather than responding to it. His head tilted just slightly, like he was confused. “Is that what you think this is?”

Hughie scoffed under his breath, rolling his eyes like he wasn’t hyper-aware of the way the distance between them had just shortened.

“I don’t know what it is exactly that you’re talking about,” He shot back, shrugging one shoulder like it didn’t matter. “But you’re the one who disappeared, so-”

He stopped, interrupting himself when Ben took another step.

That was definitely closer now.

Hughie didn’t move this time, he wouldn’t. He reminded himself of the conversation that he had with Peter.

So, he stayed where he was, setting his jaw just a little. Very deliberately, to not give him the satisfaction of seeing Hughie pull back.

“…Did you miss me, sweetheart?”

The question landed... weird.

Hughie blinked at him, thrown off for half a second before it caught up to him. And he rushed to answer, even as he felt his cheeks getting warmer at the question.

He tried letting out a short, disbelieving scoff first, shaking his head. “No!” He said quickly. Maybe a little too quickly. “Why would I- I mean, no. Obviously not.”

Ben hummed, like he hadn’t expected any other answer. But he didn’t step back.

If anything, his gaze dropped again for a brief second before coming back up, way slower this time.

“No?” He repeated, mildly.

Hughie crossed his arms tighter again without realizing it. “No.”

Another step. Now they were close enough that Hughie could actually feel it, the shift in the air, the space between them not feeling like space anymore.

Ben’s mouth twitched, like he was fighting a smile. “So you didn’t notice.”

Hughie frowned, now confused. “Notice what?”

“That I stopped coming by.” Ben said it easily. “That I wasn’t in the usual places that you looked at. That I wasn’t...” He breathed out slowly, pausing, probably to be a dick. “Checking in.”

Hughie’s stomach did something stupid at that.

He forced his expression into something unimpressed. “I didn’t say that I didn’t notice.” He said, defensive now. “I noticed, and I just didn’t care.”

He was starting to think about his decision to stand his ground a little though, when he saw the look Ben shot him at that. Nervous about the careless way he’d said that. He didn’t want to forget that this man could be very dangerous, very quickly.

He needn’t have worried.

“Mm. Really?” He just said.

Hughie nodded, stubbornly.

Ben didn’t argue, or call him out. Which somehow, sort of made it worse.

“You didn’t care.” He repeated, like he calling Hughie out on his lie. Then, a beat late, with a raised eyebrow. “That’s why you’re picking a fight about it now?” 

“I am not picking a-” Hughie stopped himself, his forehead scrunching in thought as he realized how loud that had been. “I’m not picking a fight.” He continued, reigning himself in. “I’m just saying. You don’t get to act like nothing happened.”

Ben’s brows lifted slightly at that. “Nothing happened?” He repeated again.

Hughie opened his mouth, then closed it again, because...fuck, technically nothing-

No, that wasn’t the point.

“I think you know what I mean. Stop trying to play with words.” He muttered, looking away for a second but forcing himself to look back when he realized he was doing it. “You were just- there. All the time before. And then you just... weren’t.”

Ben watched him for a moment, quiet now. Really watched him, with this... softening look to his eyes that was far too analytical to be called that.

“You kept looking for me, didn’t you?”

It wasn’t a question, however it sounded.

Hughie’s face heated instantly. “I did not-”

“But you did.” Ben cut in, sounding certain. “I know you did. In different rooms, at different times. Probably didn’t even realize you were doing it, did you?”

Hughie stared at him, something between offense and panic flashing across his face as it burned even hotter. “That’s- no. That’s not at all what I-”

Ben took the last step that closed the distance just enough to matter. But close enough that Hughie had to tilt his head to slightly keep eye contact.

“Or...” Ben went on, voice dropping just a little, still calm, almost even conversational. “Maybe, it’s this.”

His gaze dipped again briefly, and pointed. Toward Hughie’s throat, his collar, and the space just beneath it, like he was tracking something Hughie wasn’t even aware off.

“This? What- What are you talking about?”

“Two months.” He went on without answering, quieter now. “And you’re finally starting to get there.”

Hughie’s breath hitched before he could stop it.

“…Get where?” He asked, and this time it came out lower. Not at all sarcastic like he hoped it would’ve been.

Ben looked back up at him, with that same faint, knowing smirk settling in.

“You really still haven't realized.” He said, sounding like he was elated at that. "Oh, this is gonna be so much fun."

Hughie, most certainly did not think it was going to be fun though. Because somehow, that made Hughie feel more exposed than anything else he’d said so far.

Ben didn’t look away.

If anything, that faint smug little smirk, and his amusement only deepened, settling into something more certain. More… Assured, like he’d just confirmed something he’d been waiting on.

“Yeah.” He said quietly. “Thought so.”

Hughie swallowed, his throat suddenly feeling way too tight. “Thought what? You want- Uh... you want to elaborate on that?”

Ben didn’t answer, but at this point, Hughie was getting used to not getting answers from him. Which said a lot, for how little he knew him.

Instead, Ben's hand lifted slowly, and for a split second, Hughie thought he was just gesturing again. But he so wasn’t.

His fingers brushed lightly against the edge of Hughie’s collar. And it was a barely there, whisper of a touch. More like the promise of it than anything.

But it was enough to make Hughie freeze up.

The contact itself wasn’t rough, or forceful. It was almost absentminded, like Ben had every right to be there right in his personal space, like it didn’t even cross his mind that he shouldn’t just-

“…You feel that?” Ben asked again, softer now. Tilting his head to catch Hughie’s eyes when they started wandering around again.

Hughie’s breath stuttered, his body reacting before his brain could catch up. “I- no, I don’t know what you’re talking-”

Ben’s fingers shifted then, just slightly.

Just dragging slow, lazy patterns along the line of his collar, like he was tracing something only he could see.

Hughie’s back hit the wall before he even realized he’d stepped back.

“…You do.” Ben murmured, almost amused. He sounded like he was happy at confirming something. About him. “You just don’t know what you’re feeling yet.”

“That’s not what’s hap-” Hughie started, but it came out thinner than he meant it to.

Because something was actually happening. That same restless, fluttery feeling he had felt earlier had come back, except now it wasn’t subtle. Now it sat heavy in his chest. Warm.

Too fucking warm.

He dragged in a breath, sharper this time, like that would fix it.

It didn’t. But not only that, it also made it worse. He tried not to sway when he inhaled deeply.

But Ben noticed anyway.

His gaze dipped again, tracking the inhale, the way Hughie’s chest rose, the way his shoulders tensed.

A slow, knowing smile started pulling at his mouth.

“There you are.” He said under his breath.

Hughie frowned harder, trying to push through it. “Why won’t you just tell me what you mean? That doesn’t mean anything!”

“It does, you just don’t realize it.”

Ben’s hand moved again.

This time not just brushing the fabric. His knuckles grazed just under Hughie’s jaw, slow and deliberate as he tilted his head up a fraction.

It didn't have any strength behind it, but Hughie was still letting it happen before realizing he was.

Frustration rose in him quickly at that.

“Will you just stop?” He let out a breath.

“Stop what?

Letting out a groan, he gestured with his hand to Ben, and the lack of space between them. “T- Touching me... Like-”

“Like what?" He asked. "And hate to break it to you doll, but you’re not pushing me away.” He added, almost idly. “You don’t move. You don’t even

try. Do you?”

Hughie’s defenses rose up at that. “Maybe this is me trying now. Maybe I just don’t like being manhandled by you.” Trying to rationalize it in his mind, that he was scared. That's why he wasn't pushing him away.

That got something.

Ben’s eyes flicked back up, interest sharpening just slightly.

“…That so?”

Hughie held his ground this time. “Yeah. That so.”

Then Ben’s hand moved. But not away, up.

Sliding up, until his fingers brushed along Hughie’s jaw again,  this time making him feel how hot his palm was against his cheek. Ben guided him just enough to tilt his head. 

Just to… direct.

“…Stay.” Ben said quietly, when he got him in a position he liked.

And Hughie did. He didn’t know why, or how. He just knew it would take too much effort to move, and even if he did, where would he move to? Right?

But none of that answered why he was feeling almost drunk. Why he felt that, even if he wanted to move, he couldn't.

When a few seconds passed and Hughie still didn’t move, it seemed to settle something in Ben.

A low, satisfied breath left him as he leaned in. He wasn’t touching, but he was just close enough that Hughie could still feel the heat to him, that same heavy pull curling into his lungs.

Hughie’s head tipped slightly, dazed. He didn’t mean to lean in, but he couldn't stop himself. His forehead brushed against Ben’s collarbone like his body was chasing the warmth.

Ben didn’t move. Just let him.

“You always do this?” He murmured softly. “Get all grabby when you’re confused?”

“I’m not-” Hughie started, then paused, realizing at that moment that one of his hands had came up to hold onto Ben’s shirt. His voice sounded floaty when he admitted. “Okay, maybe uh... A little.”

Hughie’s grip tightened on his shirt at the admittance, shame and confusion circling through his mind.

“Y’know that thing you do?” Ben went on, voice low, almost amused. “When you stop thinking and just... react?”

Hughie’s breath came out uneven. “I- I don’t... I feel weird.”

“Yeah.” Ben said softly. “It’s okay.”

Their eyes met properly again. They were so close.

"Looks like you already love it, anyway."

There was no hesitation, or doubt in his voice.

Ben’s thumb shifted, just barely pressing against the side of his throat now, right where his pulse was beating too fast. The pressure against it felt...

Hughie sucked in a breath. And Ben’s expression changed into something more satisfied.

And his interest sharpened into something darker. 

“Yeah.” He said, almost to himself. “That’s new.”

Hughie’s brows pulled together, frustration flickering through the confusion he was feeling. “What? What's new? Can’t you just tell me? Instead of talking like I’m supposed to magically get what you’re talking-”

“Your scent.”

Hughie blinked. “My... My what?”

Ben huffed out something that might’ve been a quiet laugh, his thumb still resting there on his throat and slightly applying a bit of pressure every now and then, feeling every uneven beat under his touch.

“Come on sweetheart. You’re smart, you can figure it out.” He smiled at Hughie, making Hughie feel weirdly flushed at the praise. “Your body’s finally catching up.” He added. “Even though it took you long.”

Hughie’s stomach twisted. That shouldn’t have meant anything. But still, he felt a faint dread tugging at him.

“…That's not how it actually works, does it?” He started, but it faltered halfway through.

Because he didn’t actually know how it worked. Not really, not at all.

Ben watched that realization happen in real time. And yeah, it was obvious he liked it.

“You don’t even know what you’re putting out right now, do you?” He said, managing to sound almost conversational.

Hughie’s jaw tightened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! I’m not putting anything out!”

Ben leaned in just slightly. “You walked in here, all worked up over... Something” Ben winked as he went on, quieter now. “Heart’s racing, head all over the place…”

His thumb pressed just a fraction more firmly against Hughie’s pulse, making Hughie’s breath hitch again.

“…and it’s bleeding right through you.”

Hughie could only blink back, his head feeling fuzzy.

But Ben’s mouth curved anyway, slow and knowing.

“Relax.” He said, tone almost light. “I’m not complaining. It's even kind of flattering.”

Hughie let out a short, disbelieving huff. “Really?" 

“Mm.” Ben hummed. Then, softer, he added. “Because I know. And you know it too.”

Hughie’s face heated again, something caught between frustration with the man and something else he wasn’t even going to try to name. “I don’t get you at all.”

Ben’s mouth curved into a slow, dangerous grin.

“You don’t have to get it to feel it.”

And just like that, that same warm, heady smell from before hit him, but heavier now. Richer. It curled into Hughie’s lungs and settled behind his eyes like sleep and hunger wrapped together. Like the air had gone syrupy and sweet all at once. Hughie blinked, breath catching.

He blinked slowly. “Ben…”

“You’re still askin’.”

“…’cause you’re not explaining anything.”

“I am.” Ben said, reaching past him to rest his hand on the wall right near Hughie’s head.

“You’re just not listening.”

That scent shifted again. Darker this time. Comfort laced with something thick and wanting.

And Hughie swayed. Actually swayed.

He leaned even stronger to the wall, letting it support his weight fully as he stared at Ben like he’d just been tripped by air.

“Did you just- Are you doing that scent thing again?”

Ben raised his eyebrows. “What scent thing?”

“That! That thing where I suddenly feel like I’m melting into the floor and can’t think straight and everything smells like- like...”

“Like me?” Ben offered, voice smooth, eyes heavy-lidded.

Hughie’s breath hitched. “I- I don't know... I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

Ben leaned in, slow as sin. His other hand finding its place on Hughie’s hip, caging Hughie in, fully. They were so close, he could taste the air of him.

“I’m not doin’ anything to you you’re not askin’ for, sweetheart.”

“I’m not- When did I even- I’m not asking anything!” Hughie stammered, cheeks burning.

Ben’s grin sharpened. “No? Then why’s your scent crawlin’ all over me like you want me to bite?”

Hughie froze. “My... It's doing what?!” He screeched.

Ben leaned in, impossibly close. His nose brushing under Hughie’s jaw, tilting his chin up. Causing him to jolt up with a gasp he tried to keep quiet. Why was he...

"...What- What are you doing?"

“Poor baby.” He murmured. “You don’t even know what you’re givin’ away, do you?”

“I- I'm not-”

Ben hummed low in his throat. Hughie shuddered along, feeling the vibration of it against his body.

“Guess I’ll just have to show you.”

And before Hughie could even try to say another word, he felt Ben’s scent coil around him. And it was clear then, that the scent wasn’t intimidating, or aggressive. It was just... claiming.

How Hughie could make those distinctions in emotions, he had no idea. It was like his brain could interpret Ben’s intentions just from his smell.

And it was such a slow drag of warmth and heat that it made Hughie’s fingers curl up and into the Ben’s shoulders, made his thighs press together.

With his fingers gripping Ben’s shoulders to steady himself, he could feel how solid he was. How warm and broad and just... Right there.

His mouth parted like he was about to say something.

But no words came out.

Just a soft, desperate sound he couldn’t swallow.

Ben leaned back to smile at the sound he knew he had caused. Then leaned back in so close, that their noses nearly brushed. “You feel that?” He whispered. “That little

ache you got building in your belly?” His fingers grazed Hughie’s stomach just to punctuate what he was feeling. “That rush under your skin? That’s me, sweetheart. That’s what you are. When I let you feel it.”

Hughie’s lashes fluttered. “How- How could you know all that? Why- Jesus, why the fuck does it feel like this?” He asked, can’t help but sound like he was whining now. "Ben..."

Ben chuckled low. “’Cause you’re... Well, I think we both know, don’t we? Doesn’t even matter if you know it yet. Your body knows.”

Hughie blinked at him, flushed and dazed, lips parted like he was still trying to catch a breath.

Hughie swayed again slightly, lashes fluttering. His whole body radiated this weird... tension, like it didn't know whether to go boneless or stiff as a rock. Much like him, who didn’t know whether to run or lean in. But the way he stared up at Ben, throat bobbing, fingers digging into his shoulders like it was the only thing keeping him grounded...

And just as he felt his mind completely blanking, the sound of a loud gasp brought him back.

“Hey! Where the hell did he run off-”

Someone had just walked into the hallway.

They both froze.

In the doorway, there was one of the compound guards, some low-rank supe with wide eyes and no sense of timing, just standing there. His sentence died halfway out of his mouth as he registered what he was looking at: Soldier Boy, towering over Hughie, practically on him, while Hughie looked utterly wrecked, flushed and glassy-eyed and smelling like...

The guy blinked. Once. Twice.

“...Wow.”

Ben didn’t move. Just turned his head slightly, fixing the guy with a slow, dangerous smile.

“Problem?”

The guy took a half-step back. “N-no, I just- Uh. We were supposed to stop by that briefing but... I’ll tell ‘em you’re… busy. Sir.”

“Good call.” Ben drawled.

And the guy left, almost faster than he’d arrived.

Hughie groaned and dropped his face onto Ben’s shoulder to shield his face. “Oh my god.”

Ben smirked. “What? Can’t blame the guy. Walked in on a fuckin’ painting.”

“Oh my fucking god. I can’t believe that just happened.” Hughie muttered, voice muffled, but still plenty mortified.

“You look real pretty when you’re scent-drunk, y’know.” Ben said, casually brushing his fingers through Hughie’s hair at the base of his neck. “Would’ve been rude not to admire it.” Hughie let out a relieved sigh at the feeling, it had been such a long time since somebody had played with his hair. His mind went hazy again for a second. He was sweatier now than he had been, and he was so tired too. Why wasn't he in his bed already? He groaned and pushed his head further into-

Then, he realized.

Hughie shot him a look as he leaned back, grumbling as he rubbed at his neck to erase his touch. Not wanting the comforting warmth on his neck to prolong this moment even longer.

He’d just wanted to go to his room.

Now, he was mortified, flustered and trembling with something he didn’t know yet.

Ben leaned in again, grin turning slow and wicked.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. He won’t say a word. Not unless he wants a much more intimate scenting next.”

Okay.  So uh... What the fuck was that?

“Scenting?” He asked, confused. “Is... Is that what you were doing?”

Ben’s hand came up to Hughie’s shoulder to brush off an imaginary lint. “Did you want it to be something more?”

Then he laughed at Hughie’s glare, as if he hadn’t surprised Hughie enough with all of... that. After two months of nothing too.

“Yeah, that was scenting. Gotta make sure you smell like me, don’t I sweetheart? And not like... What was his name again?” He asked, tilting his head as his face scrunched up.

Hughie thought for a moment. But realistically, with how little people he knew, he already had the answer on who he could only mean. “Do you mean... Peter?”

"Yeah, he smells like he's been all over you. Now, I'm all for you having friends, but..." The look in Ben’s eyes intensified for a second, before he coughed and shifted his eyes. When he looked back, it was back to normal. “You two must be close.”

Hughie's forehead scrunched as he made a face. “...Yeah? He’s a good guy. What does he have to with anything?” He asked, genuinely confused.

Ben didn’t answer. Just mumbled out an affirmative sound instead, as his hand came up again.

His palm settled briefly against Hughie’s cheek, before he could pull back. And it was warm and grounding. His thumb brushed once, then twice under his eye in something that almost felt fond.

If anything, it felt… approving. However fucked up that was.

“Figure it out.” Ben murmured, like he wasn’t in any rush at all for Hughie to catch up.

Then he pulled back. Like he hadn’t just turned Hughie inside out with just a few words and touches and was leaving him there.

Hughie blinked at the sudden space between them, still half-leaning forward to chase the warmth before he caught himself.

Ben stepped away, already moving down the hall like this had been nothing more than a quick stop in his day.

“Ben-” Hughie started, but it came out weak, like he wasn’t even sure what he was trying to ask anymore.

Ben turned back just slightly to look at him over his shoulder, and he smiled at what he must have seen in Hughie's expression. “Don’t overthink it. Looks like you're very intuitive with it.” He called out, his tone easy, amused. “You’ll get there.”

And then he was... gone. Just like that.

Hughie stayed where he was for a second longer than he meant to, staring after him like his brain hadn’t caught up yet.

Then his back hit the wall again, slumping against it.

He dragged a hand down his face, breath coming out uneven as everything caught up all at once in his head.

“…What just happened?” He asked the empty hallway.

Because seriously. Two months of nothing.

And now this?

He let out a short, disbelieving huff, tipping his head back against the wall as he shut his eyes for a second.

“Yeah.” He muttered to himself, as he pushed up on the wall to stand up. “…I need to lie down.”