Chapter 12

Three Weeks Later - Peter's P.O.V

The sun was climbing lazily in the sky, casting a golden hue over the stark architecture of the base as I arrived bright and early at 10 a.m. I had woken up with a buoyant mix of excitement and nerves; today, I was meeting Bea for a day filled with adventure—a swimming outing with our mutual friends, Wanda and Petro. Over the last three weeks, Bea and I had forged a strong connection, practically inseparable in our shared moments. I found myself captivated by her beauty, the way her creativity flowed like an endless river, and her intelligence that sparked engaging conversations. But above all, she had that rare ability to bring a smile to my face, transforming even the dullest days into something special.

Just three days ago, we had made our relationship official, and the rumor mill had already churned into overdrive when Petro caught us in an intimate moment on the roof. Despite his promise of discretion, the news had spread like wildfire, igniting playful teasing from our friends.

As I settled onto the rooftop, spread beneath us was a soft blanket decorated with the remnants of a delightful picnic Bea had prepared. She nestled against me, her head rested gently on my chest, the comforting rhythm of her breath creating a peaceful atmosphere. It was a serene moment, but soon her eyelids fluttered as she drifted into a nap—an undeniable picture of tranquility. I gazed down, feeling a flutter of warmth as she stirred awake, her eyes meeting mine, twinkling with mischief.

"What?" I asked, both curious and amused by the playful expression painting her face.

"Nothing," she replied, a teasing smile creeping onto her lips. Her hand brushed against my cheek, sending a pleasant shiver down my spine. In a swift motion, she shifted positions, straddling me, drawing me dangerously close until our faces were mere centimeters apart. Time seemed to stand still as I cupped her face in my hands, pulling her nearer until our lips finally connected. It started gentle, a mere exploration, but soon morphed into something deeper, more passionate. My hands found their way to her waist, drawing her in closer as our kisses escalated in intensity.

Bea's lips danced from mine to my jaw, trailing down to my neck, and I couldn't suppress a soft moan that escaped my lips. Her knowing smile told me just how much she relished that reaction. We were lost in each other, wrapped in our own world, until the moment was shattered by an unexpected cough.

Wrenched from our bubble, we glanced up to find Petro standing before us, arms crossed and a grin plastered across his face, clearly reveling in the awkwardness of our situation. "Hey, guys! What are you two up to?" he asked, his voice teasing.

My heart raced. "Please, you can't say a word about this," I implored, my anxiety bubbling to the surface.

"Relax, I swear I won't. I actually came up to let you know that dinner is ready," he said with mock nonchalance.

"Okay, we'll be down in a minute," Bea said, her eyes narrowing playfully at him.

"Oh, and Peter, you seem to have something on your neck," he pointed out, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Oh, man! Sorry about that!" I exclaimed, running a hand across my neck and feeling the warm flush of embarrassment creep over me.

"You didn't," Petro remarked, clearly enjoying the moment.

"I'm really sorry!" I said, my cheeks heating up even further.

"Consider yourself dead," Bea shot back, her lips curling into a smirk.

"Looks like you'll need your hoodie back," I joked as we made our way downstairs, a flurry of playful energy swirling around us.

Entering the kitchen, we were greeted by the vibrant chaos and chatter of our friends, all seated at the long table that overflowed with delicious scents. Wanda, Vision, and Sam were the only ones absent, leaving the familiar faces of our other friends occupying every corner. Bea and I slid onto our seats, our earlier moment lingering in the air as we began to eat, but an uncomfortable quiet soon enveloped the room.

"So, how was your day, Bea and Peter? Didn't see much of you two today; where did you go?" Steve asked, breaking the silence, a hint of curiosity lacing his tone.

"We just hung out on the roof," Bea replied casually, glancing at me with a hint of mischief.

"Cool," Tony said, but there was an edge to his voice, a knowing look that passed between him and Natasha, who seemed to be stifling a laugh.

A strange tension hung palpably in the air; it felt oddly stifling. Every eye seemed fixed on us, and even Bucky had that familiar glare, his blue eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"What's going on? Is everyone okay?" Bea probed, clearly picking up on the unease.

"Right, I can't hold it in anymore," Tony declared, leaning back in his chair as he polished off his meal. "So, you two are hooking up."

"What?!" I blurted, the shock hitting me like a freight train.

"PETRO! I'm going to strangle you in your sleep!" Bea shouted, her voice echoing with exasperation as the faint sound of Petro making his escape could be heard in the background.

"Mr. Stark, we're not just 'hooking up,'" I tried to clarify, a mixture of annoyance and embarrassment bubbling to the surface.

"Just?" Bucky interjected, incredulity lacing his voice.

"What else could you be doing?" Steve's brows shot up, his expression a mix of surprise and curiosity.

"I sincerely do not want to know," Clint added, shaking his head, the edges of his mouth curling up in amusement.

"Fondueing?" Bea quipped, her face lighting up with mischief.

"I hope not," Steve replied quickly, his cheeks turning a faint shade of red.

"Is that some sort of code for something?" Bruce asked, visibly confused.

"Steve knows; he used to say it to Peggy," Clint remarked, shooting a teasing glance at Steve.

"I was kidding! We aren't doing that; we've just been kissing and hanging out," I clarified, feeling the heat of embarrassment flush my face.

"How long has this been going on?" Bucky asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

"Three weeks!" Bruce interjected casually, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"You knew," I groaned, feeling exposed as all eyes turned toward me.

"Well, you're not exactly subtle. Even the Hulk took notice last time he caught you two," Bruce playfully acknowledged, nodding toward the imposing figure of the Hulk lurking in the background.

"Look, Peter would prefer to stay and gossip, but he really has to go home," Bea interrupted, offering me a supportive smile.

We stood up together and started toward the elevator, our earlier connection still sparking between us. As we arrived at the door, I pulled her close once more, our lips almost touching when suddenly, a loud rhythmic knocking erupted on the window behind us.

Clint, Tony, and Bucky were pressed against the glass, expressions of mock seriousness plastered across their faces, eyes wide with excitement.

"Oh my god!" Bea exclaimed, her laughter bubbling forth as she leaned her head against my shoulder, thoroughly enjoying the absurdity of the moment.

"Well, see you soon," I said, a smile breaking across my face as I stepped back.

"Yep!" she replied, grinning back at me.

Just as I climbed into the back of Happy's car, I turned to shout to her, "Hey, Bea! Wanda, Vision, Petro, and I are going rock jumping and swimming later. You should totally join us!"

"Sure! Sounds like a blast! What time should I come by?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"How about around 10:30?" I suggested, lighting up at the thought of seeing her again.

"Perfect! I'll see you then!" she called as I closed the door, catching a final glimpse of her as she turned away, laughter and warmth spilling freely from her and Nat as they shared a moment of their own. The anticipation for the day ahead filled me with a sense of joy that was almost palpable.