Extra Time Chatting At the Bar
“How was your week?”
“I had midterms,” Peter said, while trying to think of something actually interesting to say. He really led a boring life so he didn’t have anything to add. He could lie and say he did something interesting, but he thought he’d done enough lying for the night and he didn’t want to have to remember another lie in case it was brought up later.
“How was that?” Steve asked. Peter thought it was adorable that he was pretending to care. What more could he ask for in a boyfriend?
“I think I did well,” Peter answered confidently. “But I don’t want to count my chickens yet. I just hope I did as great as I feel I did. I really want to make my aunt proud.”
“Your aunt?”
“Yeah, my Aunt May. She’s the reason I’m here. She’s paying for college. I just want to make her proud and get my degree as fast as I can so I can pay her back.”
“That’s really great of you. And of her. Is she uh...supportive of you? Being gay and all?”
Peter was caught off guard by the question but Steve looked genuinely curious. “I uh...I’m bi.”
“Oh, sorry,” Steve said with an embarrassed smile. “I didn’t mean to assume. I haven’t met a lot of bi guys. Well, I’ve met a lot of guys who claim to be straight. But not a lot of out bi guys.”
“It’s cool,” Peter said. “But uh...I’m not out to my aunt. Not yet.”
“Oh, I’m sorry again,” Steve said, this time sounding more apologetic. “I don’t mean to ask such personal questions. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s fine,” Peter said before he could stop himself. “Ask away.” He wanted to share as much as he could with Steve, and hoped Steve would share as much back.
“Alright...what about your parents?”
That was something Peter hadn’t spoken too much to anyone about. “They uh...they’re dead.” That was as much as he’d ever told anyone he asked. He didn’t like to think about his parents. His real parents were May and Ben, even if they were his aunt and uncle.
“Shit,” Steve said, frowning. “Sorry again. I’m really batting a thousand here, aren’t I?”
“It’s fine,” Peter repeated with a forced smile. “What about you?”
Steve chuckled before answering. “I don’t know my parents. Grew up in the foster system. It was rough, but I had my best friend Bucky. He’s practically the only family I had.”
“Had?” Peter didn’t like the sound of that.
“He’s still alive,” Steve replied. “I just haven’t heard from him in a while.”
“That sucks,” Peter said.
“Yeah,” Steve said with a sad smile. He sipped his drink and then took a deep breath. “But I’ve got other friends now. Bruce...Well, you know him as Hulk. And Natasha, who’s my roommate. They’re kind of my family too now.”
“That’s great,” Peter replied. “So you’re not doing too bad.”
“Nah, my life’s great. Love life could be better, but that’s on the back burner for now.” He laughed and took another sip of his drink.
Peter wondered what that meant. Was he not looking? Did he not have a chance with Steve? Peter took a sip of his drink and had to shake the thoughts out of his head. Even if Steve was looking, why would he want to be with him? He didn’t have a chance in any situation.
“How has your week been?” Peter asked.
“It’s been okay. I’ve gotten some new clients at work, so that’s good, but that always means that I have to find the time to work out for myself. Can’t really train someone and work out at the same time.”
“Why not?”
“I feel like it would be unprofessional. It’s different if it’s me and a buddy working out because then we both get work out of it and we can spot each other. But I can’t even find a workout buddy. Hulk won’t do it, and Natasha does more of a core workout than any weightlifting.”
“I’ll do it,” Peter said quickly. He had never been the type of person to work out. He wasn’t even into sports. But the thought of being around Steve outside the bar and watching him lift weights and get all sweaty...He couldn’t say no to that.
“You want to lift weights with me?” Steve asked.
“Well, I’m not going to be lifting as much as you, obviously,” Peter answered. “But it’s something I’ve always thought of. It would be nice to bulk up a bit. I’d hire you as a trainer, but you probably cost a lot so...being your workout buddy kills two birds with one stone. Three birds if you think about it.”
“Three birds?”
“You get a work out, I get a work out, and it’s for free,” Peter said. He took another sip of his drink, hoping he had been convincing enough.
“Hmm…” Steve said. “I might have to take you up on that offer.”
“I hope you do,” Peter replied with a smile.
Just then Hulk came out of the stage door, which Peter could only hope led to a dressing room. She was dressed in something more sensible than she had been in her performance, but was still in full hair and makeup. Peter noticed she was wearing crocs instead of heels. She walked directly toward them and sat at their table. “I’m tired,” she said.
“Then why are you still dressed up?” Steve asked.
“I have a date later,” she replied.
“Ah, married or straight?” Steve asked with a cheeky smile.
“Yes,” was all Hulk replied and the two of them laughed.
This was something about the gay community that Peter didn’t understand. Why were guys so desperate for sex that they would find a man that wasn’t out of the closet? And even worse, a man that was already married. He couldn’t help but feel bad for all the wives that were being cheated on who thought they were in a happy marriage. Peter supposed it wasn’t just in the gay community but at least the gay men who were afraid to come out had the option of coming out. To Peter it felt unnecessary to be in a hetero relationship if the man didn’t want to be. There were other options.
However, he didn’t want to seem rude by saying any of his opinions out loud to Steve and Hulk who were both older and more mature than him. Maybe in ten years he would feel a different way. And he didn’t really think he had much of a case since he still wasn’t out to his aunt. He understood that coming out was scary.
“What about you, Stevie? Got any dates?” Hulk asked.
“Not for the foreseeable future,” the man answered, taking another sip of his drink. Peter didn’t know how to feel about that. Did it mean he didn’t want to date anyone or just that he hadn’t gotten any offers? If Peter was brave enough, he would have asked him out then and there. Except, Peter had never asked anyone that he liked out. And Peter knew Steve would probably say no, so why even bother asking?
“And you?” Hulk directed at Peter.
“Nope,” Peter said. He wanted to say he had a huge crush on someone and was hoping he would get asked out, but he didn’t want to seem too obvious.
“Wow,” Hulk replied. “I never thought I’d ever see the day when I was getting more action than a hunk and a twink.”
“That’s ‘cause we have standards,” Steve joked. He pat Peter on the back. “Right, Peter?”
“Yeah,” Peter said. “I also don’t need makeup.” Peter had learned to be a bit quippy by being around Michelle. She had been voted as a comeback queen in the school yearbook. Peter tried to be as nice as he could around people, but Michelle brought out a competitive streak in him. It had only ever worked around her unfortunately. He had tried to come up with quick retorts whenever Flash had said something about him but he could never one-up him. Peter’s retort towards Hulk had just come out naturally and he slightly panicked as he wondered how Hulk would react.
Steve raised an eyebrow and Hulk’s mouth opened wide. “Oh my god,” she said. “That was unexpected. But funny! Nice one!” She raised her arm up for a high five and Peter returned it with a smile. He was never sure he’d be able to be part of the gay community, but he thought he was off to a good start.
The three continued talking for another hour or so until Hulk said she had to go to get ready for her date. She hugged Steve and Peter goodbye and then went back through the stage door. Steve checked the time and turned to Peter. “Do you need a ride home?”
“Uhh sure.” Peter was happy that he didn’t even have to try to convince Steve to take him home. The fact that Steve had just offered just made Peter like him even more. He loved a considerate man.
Peter followed Steve to his car and they got in. Peter felt cozier in the front seat than he had in the back, if only because he was that much closer to Steve. Steve put in the directions for MCU and started driving.
“So, will you be at next week’s show?” Steve asked.
“Yeah, I’m gonna try to make it,” Peter said, trying to sound casual about it. He also didn’t want to commit to going every week, though he knew seeing Steve would be worth it.
“Well, hey, if you don’t, usually someone will record the performance on their phone and tag Hulk on instagram. She usually puts it on her story.”
“Oh, that’s cool. I follow her so I’ll take a look at her story more often.”
Steve then put on some music and told Peter to put it on whatever station he liked. Peter told him the station it was on was fine. He liked alternative music and Steve said he did too. They spent the rest of the ride listening to the music and then Peter gave him directions to his dorm.
Peter didn’t mind the silence since he was a pretty quiet person. He also thought that Steve was more attractive because of it. If he could spend time in silence with anyone without it being awkward, that person was worth keeping around.
“Thank you for the ride,” Peter said as he got out of the car.
“You’re welcome. If giving you a ride back home means we get to spend extra time chatting at the bar, then I welcome it.”
Peter smiled. So he wanted to spend extra time with him. “I’ll see you next week maybe?”
“Next week maybe,” Steve replied and smiled back.
Peter watched him drive off and then walked back to the dorm. He was in such a state of butterflies-in-stomach that he almost forgot that he was meant to be in bed. He remembered once he got to the door of his dorm. He quietly went in and quickly checked to see if Scott was there. He wasn’t. He breathed out a sigh of relief and then got ready for bed.
The next morning, Peter woke up and checked his phone. He’d gotten a notification from instagram that said, “CapSteve started following you.”