Forget Me Not

Summary:. Stephen’s spell had worked better than he’d expected.
Warning(s): M/m; sex; Spanking
Pairing: Peter Parker (Amazing Spider-Man)/Stephen Strange

###

It had been a while...a few months...since Peter had found himself in a different universe, had discovered that the multiverse existed, and met two different versions of Spider-Man, or Peter Parker. And being in the other world had changed him; not so much due to the relationship he'd ended up forming (which had unfortunately been suddenly and abruptly cut short) but meeting the other two Peter Parkers had resulted in him changing once he returned to his own universe. Or perhaps not changing... but going back to the way he used to be.

He was pulling his punches again. He was holding back, giving the bad guys a chance for redemption. He still didn't really have time for Peter Parker stuff...but he was feeling pretty good about today. He'd stopped a bank robbery in process and left the goons tangled in webbing, a note pinned to the webs addressed to the police.

Of course, there was still one person he wanted to try and reach out to. To help. If he had any idea where Harry Osborn was...maybe, he could repair things with the person who'd once been his best friend. Maybe he could find a way to bring Harry back. Doing so in the other universe had given him some hope that he might be able to save his best friend...if only he could find Harry.

In any case, Peter was walking down the street in his civilian clothes, eating a burrito and talking to his aunt. "I'll be home soon, Aunt May," he promised the woman who'd raised him. "I've just got to get a few more photos for the paper."

"Just make sure you're here in time for dinner," his aunt responded. "I hope you didn't get into any fights today."

"No fights," Peter replied. It wasn't exactly a lie. He hadn't had to fight. Actually, as soon as he'd shown up, the goons hadn't put up more than a token protest. It was like they'd known they were outmatched.

Shaking his head, Peter swallowed another mouthful of the burrito and allowed his eyes to shift towards the people moving along the street in front of him. Then, he paused.

The figure was familiar. Really familiar, right down to the red cloak he was wearing. Probably to most people who weren't familiar with the multiverse, with people with powers and abilities, they'd think he was just wearing a strange costume, if they even noticed him at all. But Peter recognized him...even if he didn't recognize the teenager with the man.

"I'll call you back." Peter quickly disconnected the call and moved over to the man. "Stephen?"

Stephen was just gearing up to start lecturing America about not assuming she knew everything about every universe, because they couldn't afford to draw the wrong kind of attention- making the vendor who'd come after her begin hitting himself repeatedly wasn't the best response, but at least it kept him occupied so that they could get away- when he heard his name. Looking up in confusion and thinking it had to be another Stephen being called after, he looked toward Peter.

"Do you know him?" America asked in confusion. Stephen hadn't mentioned meeting other dimensions before.

"I don't know..." Stephen's face twisted in confusion. "I don't remember meeting anyone like him, but he looks familiar." He took her arm, pulling her so that he was between her and the stranger.

Peter paused at the protective way Stephen moved between him and the teenager who was with him. He darted a glance around, wondering if maybe there was a threat he hadn't seen or sensed approaching. Then, he refocused on Stephen. "Why did you come here?" he asked, his own confusion obvious. He knew that Doctor Stephen Strange didn't exist here in his own dimension. He'd looked already, after how things had gone and then he'd ended up back here...not quite as abruptly as he'd been taken, but still.

"Do you know me?" Stephen asked, not answering the question. Saying I didn't choose to, it was an accident would only invite more questions he couldn't or shouldn't answer. But if this person knew him, maybe he could direct him to himself in this dimension.

America shifted to hide behind Stephen, keeping a good grip on him. If she jumped again, he needed to come with her.

Peter's confusion faded, slightly, into a faint feeling of sadness that he pushed away. Okay. So, it wasn't his Stephen. He shouldn't be surprised. He'd learned the multiverse existed, after all, and he'd run into two different versions of Peter Parker. Admittedly, neither of them had looked like him...but given the probable size of the multiverse, it was likely there were some versions who did look exactly like him.

But he already knew Doctor Strange didn't exist in his world, which meant that this was a version from another dimension, even if it wasn't his version. Of course, he couldn't be entirely certain of this Stephen's intentions...but since the sorcerer was asking questions and not attacking, he would assume there wasn't a threat until proven otherwise.

"I don't know you specifically." Peter picked his words carefully, since there were still people moving along the street. He hoped Stephen would read between the lines enough to know what he meant. He should do. He had to know this wasn't his home dimension...right?

Stephen's eyes widened and he glanced around, trying to find a place that was more private so he could talk to this stranger. If he'd met another Stephen, then maybe he knew how to find them. He needed to find his other self to get help for America.

He began heading toward an empty side street, glancing toward Peter to see if he'd follow.

Peter didn't hesitate, beginning to follow Stephen towards the side street. He did have the brief thought that maybe he shouldn't trust a counterpart he hadn't met...but he hadn't been that different from his own counterparts, appearance aside, so he didn't think he was wrong to trust this version.

"My aunt's apartment isn't far from here," Peter said quietly. "If you need a bit more privacy."

"No offence, but I'd rather keep it as public as possible. I don't know you, even if it feels like I should, and I've already been burned a couple of times by people I thought I could trust, who I did know..." Stephen shook his head.

Peter nodded. "Okay. Well, here works. Or one of the smaller cafes. Still public, but less people."

"Here's good. Open is easier to escape if needed..." Stephen uttered the last to America. She was nodding in agreement.

Peter nodded. "Okay, well...I know you're not from this dimension. Do you need help?" he asked.

"We have to stop Wanda. The only way to do that is by finding and destroying the Darkhold before she gets hold of it..." Stephen shrugged.

America was holding tight to him.

"Wanda?" Peter frowned in confusion. "I don't remember that name being mentioned when I dimension-hopped...though maybe she didn't exist in that one? Do the Avengers?" he asked, recalling learning about them. "They don't exist here...none of you do. I already tried looking."

Stephen eyed Peter consideringly. "You dimension hopped? Wanda was part of the Avengers. She's lost a lot and, in her effort to regain some of what she lost, she is trying to kill this girl to take her power and is risking numerous incursions to do so."

Peter nodded. "Not deliberately, though. Your counterpart in the dimension I travelled to cast a spell. It was supposed to make everyone forget that Peter Parker was Spider-Man. Instead, it started bringing everyone who knew Peter Parker was Spider-Man to his dimension." He looked around worriedly. "Will Wanda follow you here? There aren't any defenses against magic...."

"If she figures out this is where we are, probably..." Stephen glanced around with worry. "Why would my counterpart cast a spell like that? I mean, in my dimension, no one knows who Spider-Man is... But most people like him...."

America had become visibly agitated at the idea of Wanda following them to a non-magical place, her grip on Stephen tightening.

"Because everyone found out who he was. I don't think he would have cared if it had only been him affected, but his friends were going through stuff too." Peter shifted a bit closer to them without thinking about it. "I somehow ended up in a pocket dimension with Stephen. Still not sure how, since as far as I know, the other Peter Parker didn't...." He was distracted, though, trying to see if he could see or sense any threats. His Spidey sense wasn't giving him anything, but that didn't mean they were safe.

"A pocket dimension?" Stephen shifted so America was now between him and Peter, sensing the other man would protect her and more worried about Wanda.

America nervously shifted.

"Yeah. I'd never realized there were other dimensions before, even pocket ones." Peter shifted automatically so that he was in a protective stance, pushing his sleeves up for better access to his web slingers. "You have magic as well?" he asked Stephen, to confirm what they currently had on their side. In case the worst happened, and they were attacked.

"Yeah. I do..." Stephen sounded distracted. He was watching for Wanda, but Peter's words had also got him thinking. Was there a reason the other man seemed familiar to him? "When you were stuck in that pocket dimension... How long were you there?" he asked.

Before Peter could answer, though, one of Wanda's creatures abruptly appeared. America screamed, grabbed hold of Stephen, and Peter, and bamfed them away... To yet another dimension.

Taken aback by both the creature's appearance and suddenly ending up in another dimension, Peter yelped. It was so much more disorientating than the last time...and as soon as the world returned to normal (or some semblance of it), he stumbled like he was drunk. "Oh...that's not fun..." he groaned.

Stephen was bent over double, breathing deep. "How does it get worse each time?" he quietly complained, before throwing up in a nearby trashcan.

"Sorry..." America whispered to Peter.

Peter winced and kind of sank to the ground, putting a hand to his forehead. "It's okay," he said quietly...breathing deeply, because he was worried he might throw up as well. "Did we end up back in your home dimension?" He didn't really know who he was addressing...America or Stephen...but assumed they both came from the same dimension.

"I don't think so..." Stephen said, looking at a huge statue of himself with a memorial plaque.

***

At the end of it all, he'd managed to stop Wanda; and break through to the person underneath the rage and pain. He'd saved America, saved the universe, somehow saved himself and Wong and Peter. It wasn't easy, and he knew he'd feel repercussions. He thought he'd convinced Wong there was no need to worry. He had everything under control. Wong had taken America under his wing, to teach her how to control her ability, while Stephen was taking Peter Andrew back to his own dimension.

Using the Darkhold had loosened the magic binding Stephen’s own memory. "We were lovers..." he whispered, just after opening the portal and leading Peter through. They were alone on the street.

Peter blinked and focused on Stephen. He hadn't really had much of a chance to fully take in everything that had happened...though at least returning to his own dimension wasn't as jarring and disorientating as America grabbing hold of him and teleporting him.

Peter glanced away and at the empty street. "I figured you were from a different dimension. Not that you forgot." He felt...unsettled, maybe. Unhappy. He'd accepted not being able to see Stephen again...at least sort of. Seeing him again, but the other man completely forgetting who he was...?

"Yeah... Well... At the end, there wasn't really time to make sure I wasn't included in the forget spell. We had to close the rift and the only way to have that happen was to make sure Peter Parker was forgotten. I didn't realize it would make me forget every Peter Parker I knew, though...." Stephen swallowed, not sure what else to say.

"You had time to at least tell me, if nothing else," Peter said quietly. "I mean, your dimension's Peter was able to say goodbye to both me and the other Peter, so...." His voice trailed off and he took a deep breath, unable to help feeling hurt.

"I didn't know it was going to make me forget! I figured I'd be able to contact you after..." Stephen frowned unhappily, not liking the guilty feelings Peter's obvious hurt was causing.

"You know I looked for a version of you, here in my dimension?" Peter asked. "It wouldn't have been the same, but I still tried." He rubbed a hand over his face. It was late enough now that his aunt would be worrying about him, but returning to the apartment would mean having to separate again...and while Peter was pretty certain that needed to happen, he selfishly wanted to hold on for as long as possible.

"Maybe it's good there isn't. Now that I remember..." Stephen swallowed again. Returning to visit wouldn't be hard. If he didn't stay without ever returning home to his own dimension, he could come and go easily now.

"Now that you remember...?" Peter prompted, since Stephen hadn't finished his train of thought. The evening air was cool, and he shivered a little, thinking he really ought to have brought a jacket...not that he was expecting to be out so late.

"If I don't exist here, there is less chance of my being here causing problems. I could visit... If I don't stay permanently. Visit four days, go home for three... Or something like that. Maybe go to a pocket dimension with you, if I occasionally need to stay away from here for longer than three days," Stephen offered hesitantly. Maybe Peter didn't want to continue a relationship.

"Continue where we left off?" Peter asked. "Being in a relationship?" He bit his lip. "I do still want to be with you. I missed you. But you also made a decision that affected both of us without considering my feelings. And...it's not exactly the same, but it kind of seems like you have a pattern of doing what you think is right without really considering other paths. Based on what happened in that other dimension." He pushed aside that image of how creepy that dead dimension had appeared.

Stephen frowned at that. "I didn't have time to consult you... The universes were imploding. I thought I'd have time to explain after, but..." He wrinkled his nose. "I do tend to do what I think is right without discussing it. But that's only because there usually isn't time. When a universe is ending, acting quickly is important!" He was attempting to defend himself, but it wasn't vehemently. Wong had argued with him about his quick to act attitude before, as well. And Mordo had become outright adversarial because of it.

"You think maybe the Stephen Strange in that dead dimension thought the same as you, before the Darkhold got its hooks in him?" Peter asked quietly...not being mean but trying to point to the dangerous path that could so easily be gone down.

"That..." Stephen paused, before continuing uncertainly, "That's not the same. He wasn't me...." Stephen didn't know what his own use of the Darkhold might cause, though. What if he ended up causing the destruction of his own world because he had been too proud, and in a hurry, to ask for others' opinions?

"Do you want to come back to my apartment with me?" Peter asked quietly. "We can talk. It's in the same building as my aunt's, but we don't share an apartment, so it would be private." Of course, he'd have to let her know he was safe, otherwise she'd worry.

"Yeah. I'd like to talk. Now that I remember..." Stephen gave a small smile.

Peter nodded and began to walk in the direction of his apartment. "I'll have to let my aunt know I'm okay. I was supposed to be having dinner with her tonight. She might want to come in to check I'm actually okay," he said.

Stephen nodded. "Understood. Should I remain out of sight?" He had no clue if Peter had told his aunt about him or not.

Peter shook his head. "She doesn't know all of the details, but she knows things changed when I came back from your dimension. And I admitted to her I'd fallen for someone...although she thinks we broke up. I haven't told her the whole story." He reached the apartment building and unlocked the door, leading the way to the elevator.

Stephen followed quietly, not questioning Peter's explanation. If his aunt knew about him, who was he to avoid her? Hopefully she didn't look at him as someone who hurt her nephew though.

Inside the elevator, Peter took out his phone and sent a quick message to his aunt, letting her know he was safe and that he'd just got caught up helping a friend. Then, once the elevator reached his floor, he led the way off and towards his apartment. "It's not very big," he said apologetically. "I haven't been able to get a larger apartment." He unlocked the door so that they could go inside.

"As long as there is a place to sit...it's been a very long and tiring day..." Stephen admitted, following him in.

"I can do that." Peter closed the door and led the way into the living room. It was small, though neat, with a couch big enough to seat two people. "Did you want anything to drink? I have tea, coffee, juice, soda, water...."

"Got anything stronger?" Stephen asked, with a hint of amusement. "Tea will work...."

"I do have wine...for special occasions." It didn't take long before Peter was bringing in a cup of tea. He passed it over to Stephen and sat down.

"Probably better if I don't get drunk. Not if I actually plan to be able to talk..." Stephen snorted.

Peter shrugged. "There's always tomorrow." He leaned back against the couch. "So...do you want this?" he asked quietly. "To pick up where we left off? Even though we'd be basically the definition of long distance?"

"I do... I haven't met or been with anyone since you. At first, I was blaming it on still being hung up on Christine, since I didn't remember you. But now I know it was because I love you..." Stephen admitted quietly. "Being together wouldn't be easy, but it isn't impossible."

"I love you too," Peter said softly. "And if I can be with you, I'll take it. Even if it wouldn't be easy. But I think a lot of the actions you've been taking are not good. Even if they end well...even if the results are good...it doesn't mean that the way you do things are always right."

Stephen huffed softly. "Noted. But as I said, there wasn't a lot of time and I had to act before it was too late..." He shrugged faintly.

"Okay, but it's happened twice that I know of," Peter said. "Has it happened other times as well?" If it had, it would be more of a pattern of behavior.

"What do you mean? There was the time with the forgetting spell..." Stephen hedged, obviously reluctant to admit to anything he didn't have to; and he wasn't sure what other time Peter was referring to.

"The Darkhold," Peter said. "I think it's a pattern of behavior and... we saw two different versions of you who clearly went down a path they couldn't come back from. I think that if you carry on doing those kinds of things, there's a chance you could go down that same path. And I don't want to see that happen." He reached out to place his hand over one of Stephen's, gently squeezing it.

"Yes, well... The Darkhold is destroyed now. And I'm still here..." Stephen smiled, turning his hand to grip Peter's and hoping his lover couldn't pick up on his unease at not knowing if he'd been negatively affected.

Peter gently gripped Stephen's hand, squeezing it gently. "It doesn't mean that there are no negative effects. I think, if we're going back into our relationship, maybe we should consider what to do if one of us does something potentially dangerous...or harmful...without thinking, whether it's putting ourselves in danger or other people. I think there's a line neither of us should cross and maybe there should be consequences for either of us if we get too close to it."

"I don't take chances all the time," Stephen huffed, with an eye roll. "But if it makes you feel better, I'll agree. What consequences are you thinking of?"

Peter shrugged. "I mean, there are couples who use spanking in their relationship."

"For fun, yes. I didn't take you for someone who liked that..." Stephen blinked. "...I have never known anyone in a couple that used it to...correct? their mate."

"Maybe it doesn't happen in your dimension," Peter said. "Here, some couples are in discipline relationships. It's not really common...but it's not unheard of, either."

"I don't know if it is in my dimension or not." Stephen sighed. "Will doing it or not doing it change your mind about us?"

"No," Peter said honestly. "I want to be with you. Nothing could ever change that. But I don't want you to do something that could have disastrous consequences, even to save the world...especially if I'm not there and stuck not knowing if I'll ever see you again or not." He'd been in that position already...and while he'd tried to accept it, it had still hurt.

Hearing Peter's reason... the tone of his voice when he voiced his reason... a spear of guilt stabbed through Stephen. He hadn't felt the pain of separation because he hadn't remembered, but he knew if he had remembered and was left wondering if Peter was okay or still loved or wanted him... it would have hurt. "Okay... I agree. We don't have to discuss it anymore," he quickly interjected.

"Okay." Peter gripped Stephen's hand a little bit tighter. "But...I think if we're doing this, you deserve a spanking now. Because you made a decision for both of us without thinking or considering...and I saw you do it with the Darkhold too. Maybe knowing the consequences will help for when we're not able to be physically together."

Stephen gave Peter a startled and nearly nervous look. "Now?" He didn't pull away, though, and he still felt guilty about how he'd hurt Peter, even if it hadn't been intentional. Slumping slightly, he reluctantly whispered, "How are we going to...."

"I mean...I don't think the logistics of doing so would be hard to work out," Peter said. "So, I'm not sure what you're asking. Spanking is a really personal punishment, but I think maybe that's what's needed. Something personal that you can't ignore or block out."

Stephen shifted uncomfortably. "I meant... Where? Am I leaning over a chair? Are you using an implement? How?" His nerves manifested in a grumpily belligerent tone, probably not the best thing to occur when he was about to have his butt roasted.

Peter blinked. "No? I think leaning or bending over something or using an implement will have too many barriers. I don't think we need more barriers between us. We already had a big enough one as it is." Moving closer to Stephen, he took the man's other hand and said, quietly, "So it'll be over my lap. Pants and underwear down. Just my hand." As personal as he could make it because they needed to close the distance that had been between them.

The belligerence disappeared at the explanation and Stephen slumped, squeezing Peter's hands in relief. "Okay," he said softly. "I think I can cooperate... I might need help holding still...."

"That's okay," Peter said softly. "I can help you stay in position." He could do so easily.

Stephen swallowed. "Okay. Well... If... If we're really going to do this..." he said, with trepidation. "...Can we just get it over with?"

Peter nodded. "We're going to be okay," he said softly. Squeezing Stephen's hands gently, he then guided the other man into position across his lap.

"Yeah... We will..." Stephen relaxed at the words and let Peter position him. He could honestly say he never would have asked for something like this to happen. It wasn't a turn on at all and made him feel small and pathetic that he'd done something so horrible his lover felt it was necessary. At the same time... It reinforced the connection he had to Peter and let him feel the other man's love for him more deeply. Which was a surprise. Maybe it wouldn't be unbearable, even if it was mortifying.

Peter took a few moments to gently rub Stephen's back before he lowered the other man's pants and underwear. Keeping one hand low down on his lover's back, he continued to rub lightly even as he raised his other hand and brought it down firmly at the crest of Stephen's backside...making sure he carefully controlled his strength so that the swat would be felt, but not unbearable.

Stephen grunted as the first swat fell. Peter was obviously holding back, which Stephen was grateful for. At even a fraction of his full strength, the swat hurt like hell and made his eyes water. To Stephen's annoyed embarrassment, he knew it wouldn't take long before he would start reacting in what promised to be a completely unheroic manner.

Peter continued to gently rub Stephen's back, pushing his shirt up enough to allow better access to bare skin. At the same time, he continued to swat at the same strength and speed of the first smack, covering Stephen's entire backside from the crest to mid-thigh before he started over from the top. "I know it feels like you're doing the right thing. I know it feels like you don't have another choice. But sometimes, there's another way...even if that might not be obvious. And you need to include others in those decisions you make, because it's possible someone else might see something you didn't."

"Wh... What if there really is no time?" Stephen asked in a strained voice, obviously holding back tears.

"You haven't been in the position where there is no time," Peter said quietly. "Even when your dimension was at risk, there was some time to consider the best options. And the same again this time, with the Darkhold. Both times, you didn't need to make choices that could have disastrous consequences. I know you don't want to go down the same path your two counterparts went down." He was continuing to swat as he spoke, completing the second circuit and beginning a third, beginning to go a fraction harder and faster.

"N... No. D... Don't want that," Stephen had to agree, even though his pride wanted him to argue. "I can... Can't always talk to you first, though... Even if I had time... I'm not always in a position where I can contact you...."

"It's not just me," Peter said. "You have other people in your own dimension. People who could help if you give them the chance to. You shouldn't make those choices without considering if those are the right choices. Without considering if the cost might be too great. If the Darkhold got too strong a grip on you, you could become the very thing you're trying so hard to fight."

"Wong... he is the only one I could trust with that information..." Stephen gasped out, beginning to squirm.

"Okay. That's what you need to do next time," Peter said. "You need to talk to Wong. Not try and do it alone. Not make a decision that could cause so much hurt and pain when it might not even have been necessary." The spanking was as much about the other actions Stephen had taken...but if he'd talked to someone, Peter thought that maybe they wouldn't have had to have months apart. "I didn't even know if you were still alive," he said out loud, without even thinking about it.

Stephen squeezed his eyes tightly shut. If he’d been in Peter's position, he knew he would have been heartsick with worry. That he'd done that to the other man was unforgivable. He couldn't stop the tiny, choked sob from escaping as he responded sorrowfully, "I'm sorry...."

"I can't go through that again." Peter couldn't help the very real note of pain in his voice, remembering how it had felt to be back in his own world, not knowing what he'd left behind...not knowing if the other dimension was destroyed, or if the man he loved was even still alive. "I never wanted to lose you, or leave you, Stephen. I love you. Even when I was back here, that didn't stop. I missed you and I thought about you. Every day."

Stephen began to cry louder at those words. "I love you too... And I'm sorry... Never wanted to hurt you."

Peter didn't want to pile on the guilt, since he could tell Stephen already felt bad, so he didn't point out that Stephen's actions had hurt him. By this point, the other man's bottom was a dark pink, shading to red, and Peter lessened the force of the smacks, so that they were more like firm pats, not wanting to risk bruising. "I know you're sorry," he said quietly. "And I forgive you. But the behavior still needs to change. You don't have to make those kinds of decisions on your own...and you need to stop doing that. Because what if something happens again...but there's no way to reverse it? No way to come back?"

Stephen slumped at those words, just crying softly, and accepting whatever punishment Peter felt was necessary. "I'll try to remember, talk to Wong..." he promised through tears.

"Thank you." Peter finished with a final few swats to Stephen's sit spots and thighs and then carefully pulled the other man's clothing back into place, before helping him up and wrapping his arms around him in a tight embrace. "I love you," he whispered. "And I forgive you."

Stephen normally wasn't a clingy person, but something about having been draped over Peter's lap while his lover blistered his bared backside... He felt very clingy at the moment. He wrapped his arms around Peter and held tight, hiding his face against his mate's shoulder.

Peter hugged Stephen a bit tighter and kissed the side of his head. "I love you," he repeated. "And I am really glad you're here." Even if the circumstances had been less than ideal.

"I love you too... And I can stay for a few days at least before I'll need to return home. Make certain being here too long doesn't cause problems..." Stephen snuggled.

Peter nodded, nuzzling and then gently kissing Stephen's neck. "As long as we can find a way to safely be together...even if it can't be all of the time...I'll be happy."

"Now that I remember, I will do whatever possible to make certain I can be with you as often as possible." He nuzzled.

"Good," Peter said, quietly but with obvious emotion. "I can look at getting a bigger place, so it doesn't feel as cramped when you're here."

"We could be in a closet as long as it was together," Stephen said vehemently.

"At least it's a bit bigger than that." Peter snorted softly. It was obvious he was happy with Stephen's comment, though. "We can get you some clothes and toiletries tomorrow...but you can use some of mine overnight," he suggested. He knew Stephen could summon items he needed, but since it had been a long day, he figured the less strain on his lover, the better.

"If we are not leaving the house... If you have a washer... I can wash my clothing. I don't have to wear anything," Stephen said drolly, but the look on his face was teasing.

"Oh, that's a much better idea." Peter grinned at Stephen. "And yeah. There's a washer in the kitchen," he added.

"Will your aunt be coming by at all?" Stephen asked, just to be certain.

"Not until tomorrow." Peter checked his phone, just to be sure.

"In that case..." Stephen quickly stripped naked, before padding into the kitchen so he could wash his clothes. "You have anything you need to wash?" He grinned over his shoulder at Peter.

"You know, I could probably do with washing my clothes too." Peter removed his own clothing, following Stephen into the kitchen. He looked over the other man's body appreciatively, making no attempt to hide the fact he was attracted to Stephen.

Stephen let his own gaze travel over Peter's body before giving a wolf whistle. Beginning the wash, he took Peter's hand and tugged him in for a kiss. "Your home; take me where you want..." He wiggled his eyebrows to make it clear he intended the double meaning.

Peter returned the kiss, pressing close to Stephen so that his lover could feel his erection. When he pulled back, he laced his fingers between Stephen's and led the other man into his bedroom.

Stephen followed as close as it was possible to follow and not trip them both. His own erection was obvious. "You have lube?" he asked, in a breathless voice.

"Yeah." Peter's cheeks turned a little pink. "I never planned to use it...I never wanted to be with anyone other than you, but...maybe I was hoping?" Inside the bedroom, he quickly headed over to the bed, pulling Stephen down onto it with him.

Stephen grinned crookedly. "Even if you had, it wouldn't change how I feel about you..." he admitted, as he fell onto the bed next to Peter.

"I still wanted to be with you...always loved you...even when I thought I'd never see you again." Peter pressed closer, kissing Stephen hungrily...almost desperately. His hands began to touch and explore the other man's body, familiarizing himself with his lover once more.

"I'm fully yours..." Stephen groaned, letting his own hands explore Peter.

"I'm yours too." Peter shifted enough to open the top drawer, where the lube was, then returned to kissing his lover. "Me inside you? Or you inside me?" he asked between kisses. They'd done both ways before, after all.

"You in me...?" Stephen said hopefully. After being punished by his lover, he wanted to feel Peter's control in a more pleasant way.

Peter nodded quickly. He gently tugged Stephen down onto the bed with him, beginning to kiss over his lover's shoulders...down his chest and over his stomach. As much as he wanted them to reconnect in this way, he was also content not to rush it; to take time and ensure both of them got as much pleasure as possible.

Stephen let his own hands explore Peter, kissing wherever he could reach. He wasn't in a hurry, happy to spend as long as possible.

Peter continued to kiss his way down Stephen's body, until he reached his lover's member. He kissed the tip of it and then gave it a slow, leisurely lick from base to tip.

Stephen shuddered from need and moaned softly. "S'good..." he whimpered.

A soft smile at the response spread across Peter's face, though he didn't say anything. Instead, he engulfed Stephen's member in his mouth, beginning to suck...but one hand grasped the base of his lover's member, just firm enough to stop any release.

Stephen quivered as Peter took him to the edge but didn't let him fall over. It was an exquisite torture and reminded him exactly who he belonged to. Who belonged to him. "Please..." he begged, unable to help himself.

Slowly, Peter released Stephen's member. "Not yet," he murmured. "Not until I give permission." He used the lube on his own member, already fully hard and leaking pre-cum. Then, grasping Stephen's hips firmly, he pushed inside his lover.

Stephen shivered at the order. "Yessir..." he agreed, pinching the base of his member between thumb and finger so he couldn't release.

"Good," Peter whispered, a note of pride in his voice. Still holding Stephen firmly in place, he began to thrust...at first slow and gentle, but gradually increasing the force and timing of his thrusts.

Stephen groaned more loudly as Peter's shaft stretched him and rubbed inside. It felt so good. So perfect, being filled by his lover. Being pounded relentlessly. He squeezed around Peter tightly. "Love you... So much..." he gasped.

Peter leaned in, capturing Stephen's lips with his own, pressing in deep. "I love you." The words were a low, intense whisper. He was nearing his own release, his member fully hard and on the brink inside the man he loved, but he wanted to make sure they released together. He waited, teetering on that edge for as long as he could stand...as long as they both could stand. Then, he gave the order. "Let go."

At Peter's command Stephen immediately obeyed, letting go with a soft cry as his body began to quake under and around his mate. His release sprayed both of their bellies and chests in spurting, forceful bursts. When his body finally calmed, he lay limp and boneless under Peter, a sated and contentedly tired look on his face. "I love you..." he whispered again. "I must... You are the only one I have ever willingly and quickly given such complete control over me...." He didn't mean Peter topping him; that didn't require giving up control, no matter what some might think. He knew Peter would understand, though.

Peter's own release had come over him at the same time, more forceful than he'd ever experienced before, and his body slumped over Stephen's. He kissed his lover's chest and whispered, "I love you too. And it feels good that you trust me enough to give me that control. It feels good to have you here with me, where we don't have to worry about the universe imploding because there are too many of one of us in the dimension."

Stephen smiled at that. "If I couldn't be here, I'd find a way for us to go to the pocket dimension..." he admitted. "Might do that anyway. Put a hidden door to it in your apartment. Another hidden door in my room back home... But then if you moved that could cause a problem..." And Stephen was distracted trying to come up with a way for Peter to have a permanent access to their pocket dimension so they could be with each other every night. Even when they weren't at home.

"If you think you'd be happy staying here in this apartment with me, when we're living here, I don't need to move," Peter said. "I just know it's not very big...so it would be a bit harder if you felt the need for space. But then, I guess if you felt the need for space, you could go either to your dimension or to the pocket dimension."

"What?" Stephen blinked, before his confusion cleared and he smiled sheepishly. "No. I was... If we had a permanent door to the pocket dimension, nothing done there would affect either of our dimensions. We could do our usual stuff during the day, but at night, step into our own little world where we could be domestic. And as only us would have access, even if we left a way for our loved ones to contact us, we'd be safe. Could fully relax." He paused. "But I don't know if that is possible. I need to speak with Wong. It might not be safe."

"If it can be done safely, I think we should do it," Peter said quietly. "I want to be with you. And we were in the pocket dimension before, so...when you go back to your dimension, you should talk to Wong," he agreed. "It might be possible to set up some kind of interdimensional communication. I don't think I can do it on cell phones, but maybe email would be possible? I'll have to experiment."

"That would be good to do anyway. Even if I can't get the pocket dimension idea to work. We need a way to contact each other if something happens." Stephen wrapped his arms around Peter and held tight, uncaring of the mess between them. Mostly uncaring. "Shower?" he asked, as shifting caused an obscene squelching noise.

"Probably a good idea," Peter agreed, a trace of amusement slipping into his voice as he added, "I love you, but I don't think either of us would be comfortable being stuck together." Kissing Stephen's shoulder, he carefully stood from the bed and held his hand out to his lover.

Stephen took Peter's hand and followed him into the shower. After everything that had happened the last several days, he was more than ready to relax with his lover.

The End