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Adrian woke up and instantly regretted it. The clock read 5:15, but he couldn't tell if it was morning or evening, or tell what day it was.
He was living a nightmare at the moment. He always expected that one day he might be outed, but he hadn't expected the circus that surrounded it. Former supporters distanced themselves, rumor mills and tabloids tore apart his social life, dissecting it for public consumption, work suddenly dried up. Going out as Apex Man was nearly impossible, as he was swarmed by paparazzi that made it difficult to do his job. There hadn't been an out gay superhero in Grey City in decades, and the story was ripe for the picking.
He stood up and shuffled like a zombie through morning (evening?) ablutions, then headed for the kitchen. While his alien physiology didn't necessarily require food, it was a nice pastime in which to partake.
He entered his apartment kitchen and stopped dead in his tracks.
"Oh, good," said his archnemesis, who was sitting at the table. Dr. Astor von Doomenkill looked much as he always did, hair mussed and sticking up in all directions, lab coat stained, sharp eyes challenging. His slender hands were busy with something, which he slipped into his pocket.
Adrian's heart jumped to his throat, but he attempted to swallow it down. This was the last person he wanted to see. "What are you doing here?"
Astor stood up. "I came to check on you." Adrian scoffed, but Astor continued. "You haven't been seen in weeks, I was really worried."
Adrian turned away back down the hallway. "You should leave."
Astor followed, stepping briskly to catch up. "A-" he started, but suddenly Adrian slammed him against the wall. Astor was momentarily breathless. He gulped at the dark look that marred Adrian's face. He was reminded of just how powerful his rival was, pressed against the wall as he was.
Adrian's heart raced. The startled look on Astor's face, the way his heart rate jumped, his heat that seemed to burn at him. This was where he wanted him, this is where he always wanted him. "You should have left."
Astor's eyes flashed with the challenge. "And leave you to wallow in self-pity?" Adrian went to argue, but Astor barreled on. "You're gay, Adrian, not dying. Let those idiots say whatever they want."
Adrian scoffed. "Easy for you to say. It doesn't matter what they say about you-"
"Rude."
"-because you're a villain. It's part of your brand. But it matters for me. Reputation is everything in this business. People feel like I've betrayed them, like I've lied to them. Not the way to get sponsorships or keys to the city."
"Lied?" Astor's face twisted in confusion. "How?"
Adrian frowned. "Don't play dumb. Radiashawna, Merle the Magnificent, Princess Dreyu, our recent mutual paramour Ashley Andrews? All those high profile girlfriends?"
Astor’s eyebrows went up at Adrian’s mention of Ashley, but he didn't argue. Instead, he scoffed. "You haven't lied, though. So what if you had a bit of a straight streak? I've been on one myself. I mean…if two is a streak. Still bi."
"Perception is everything, you know. Besides-" He pinned Astor in place with a harsh look, and the other's interruption died on his lips. "I'm not bi. I was lying." He dared Astor to object, staring him down. "To everyone."
Astor blinked at him slowly, unimpressed. "Yourself included, then?"
Adrian shook his head, scoffing in frustration. "I don't expect you to understand."
"And I didn't expect you to be such a baby! Who cares if you're gay? Who cares if you spent some time hiding? You're still a valiant hero and a damn good man. You haven't changed. If you would just face it, then it wouldn't even-"
Adrian grabbed Astor's throat, and he gulped, his words dying on his lips. Adrian tried to ignore his baser instincts. He knew Astor was right. He knew that he should keep his head up and ignore this. But he had been so careful for so long. What about all the time that he had wasted? Did it mean nothing?
He suddenly remembered the first time he had really looked at Astor. It was after their first tussle, and he was loading him (bucking and struggling) into a waiting police car when some reporters broke through and swarmed them. He had plastered on a smile, pausing with Astor still in his hands, while they peppered him with questions he had no intention of answering. He had said something vague to move on, when one voice had cut through.
"Apex Man, what do you say to the rumors that you're a fag?" Adrian's jaw had clenched, the other reporters had turned in shock. He had been preparing to brush off the whole group without responding, but before he could, Astor had twisted in his grip and slammed his forehead directly into the reporter's nose. Blood had bloomed between them, and Astor was kicking at the reporter as he fell back in shock and pain.
"You homophobic piece of shit! I'll suck your father's cock in hell!"
Adrian had thrown Astor into the car and shut the door, cutting off the tide of filth he was still directing at the paparazzo groaning on the sidewalk.
It hadn't been for him, it wasn't even about him, but Adrian couldn't help it. He wanted more. That night, he had dreamed of kissing Astor, of that bloody and bruised face looking up at him with defiance and adoration.
Astor hiccuped a soft gasp, and Adrian's attention snapped back to his rival pinned under his hand to the wall. Astor knew, now. He knew and he didn't care and he came to Adrian's apartment alone to console him.
"Why are you here, Astor?" He stepped in close, not releasing his neck.
He squirmed under Adrian. "I told you-"
Adrian slammed his other hand into the wall next to Astor's head.
Astor's hips stuttered. Adrian raised an eyebrow. "You're hurting me, Adrian."
"Mmmm. I'm honestly a little afraid I'll keep hurting you-" He leaned down to Astor's ear, his voice low and rough. "-because I like it." Astor shuddered, closing his eyes. Adrian's breath skated over his skin. "Mmmm, your heart rate just jumped. Scared? Excited? Maybe a little bit of both…I guess you can't get into this business without being at least a bit of a masochist, hmmm?"
"Th-that's not fair," stammered Astor.
Adrian leaned back, raising an eyebrow. "Fair? That's a bit rich coming from you. It's not like you're strong enough to stop me, anyway. I could do whatever I wanted with you, and you'd just have to take it."
Astor swallowed heavily, his heart fluttering in his throat. Their eyes bored into one another's. "But you won't," he said evenly.
Adrian absently stroked Astor's face. "No," he finally conceded. "I want you to want it. To need it. I want you to be enthusiastic. I think I'd be happiest if you begged me."
Astor bit his lip, and it wasn't lost on Adrian how he pressed his thighs together. “Adrian…”
Adrian pressed in closer. “Why are you here, Astor?” he repeated. Astor’s lips parted, but Adrian didn't give him a chance to answer, claiming his lips in a rough kiss. Their tongues tangled, and Adrian swallowed down every little sound that Astor made. Astor started struggling and it occurred to Adrian that humans need to breathe. He pulled away, some dark part of his heart singing at how wrecked Astor already looked as he gasped for air: his hair even more mussed, his skin flushed, his eyes hazy. Adrian gave him no quarter, kissing and nipping down his neck. His hands skated over his hips, his thighs, anything he could reach. He needed Astor for himself, needed to rip him away from Ashley and anyone else that might stand between them.
“A-adrian,” Astor gasped, arching into him. He gripped Adrian’s broad shoulders. “O-oh, God~”
"Ashley's a homophobe. She's against gay marriage," Adrian gasped between kisses.
Astor laughed, but Adrian cut him off with his tongue. They both moaned, their hands ever more frantic. "You're definitely lying." Astor's breath was short. "That is so fucking hot."
They kissed down the hallway, and Adrian tackled Astor onto his bed. He was handsy, impatient, pushing Astor's labcoat off before ripping his shirt off his slender body. “Oh, shit,” Astor gasped, his cock jumping in his slacks. Adrian had distant thoughts that perhaps he should slow down, be more careful. But it wasn't possible, not with Astor on his back underneath him looking like a wet dream.
“Adrian-”
But Adrian cut him off with another hungry kiss, his hands exploring every bit of newly exposed skin.
Astor’s hands pushed up under Adrian’s T-shirt. He huffed a soft whine as Adrian yanked his own shirt off over his head impatiently before shucking off his sweatpants. “God, you're beyond perfect,” Astor breathed, his hands sliding over Adrian's cool skin once more. “It shouldn't be allowed, my heart can only take so much…”
Adrian chuckled and pinned Astor's wandering hands, caging him in. “Flatterer.” He kissed Astor’s sensitive neck, just to hear him keen and feel him shake. “Turn over. I want you ready for me…”
Astor didn't question, merely rolled onto his stomach, arching his back. Adrian fondled Astor’s narrow hips, sliding his hands around to grope at his thighs. He toyed with him, his strong hands straying close to Astor's groin without touching him while kissing and nipping at his exposed back. “A-adrian…” Astor whimpered needily, quivering.
Adrian unzipped Astor’s slacks slowly, careful not to give his lover any more stimulation than exactly what he wanted to give. “Oh! I… I want…” Adrian paid no mind to Astor's halting attempts at words. It was almost cute how he was trying to gather composure. “Ahhhnnnn, Adrian… So you know the type of man I am~ Mmmmm… A-ashley-” Adrian froze, a snarl rising in his throat. “Ashley broke up with me already-!”
That was too much. Caution be damned, he basically ripped the last of Astor's clothes off. He pulled his cheeks apart and wasted no time licking into the tight furl of Astor's entrance. Astor wailed, back bowing as Adrian attacked and teased him with broad licks and stabs of his tongue. Astor couldn't even form proper words.
“That's it, take it,” Adrian growled smugly. “You love this, don't you? This is just what you fucking need.”
“Ahhhnnnn… y-yes, yes!”
Astor pulled away, licking his lips. Astor looked back at him, eyes glittering with overwhelmed tears. His eyes went wide as Adrian reached over his back and grabbed a bottle of lube off the nightstand. He whimpered, burying his face as Adrian poured the cold liquid down his crack and across his own fingers. “Don't bury that sweet face. I want to hear you.”
Astor shivered, but obeyed, lifting his face as Adrian pushed his fingers into him, stretching and stimulating him. He bit his lip, trying to stem the truly indecent and embarrassing noises he was making. But then Adrian’s questing fingers found the little bundle of nerves deep inside that they were looking for. Astor wailed with pleasure, his tears flowing over his cheeks. Adrian hummed, licking his lips. He sped up his fingers, varying his intensity and depth, keeping Astor on the knife’s edge of surrender.
"Adrian, fuck. I need it. Please. Please, I need more, need you inside me, please." He choked as Adrian toyed with his prostate again. "Fuck," he moaned, his legs shaking. "Adrian, please, I'm begging you."
"Oh, are you?" Adrian's voice was flat, almost disinterested, even as he continued to work Astor's tight ass, even with his blood roaring in his ears. "And what are you begging for, Doctor?"
"Apex Man?" he whined in confusion, arching his back. He panted, shivering all over. "Are you sure you want to do this, Adrian?"
Adrian leaned over, skating his teeth over Astor's shoulder. "For years," he whispered. Astor moaned in response. "Every time I had you underneath me, every time you left me in defeat, this is what I wanted, Doctor. I wanted you a shaking, begging mess who needs my cock more than anything."
"A..Apex Man…" stuttered Astor. He bit his lip, then reached up, pulling Adrian into a kiss. He touched his face gently, looking into his eyes. "Not this time, Adrian, not tonight. Please, I need you to fuck me. I want you, Adrian, dear. Please."
"Fuck," Adrian breathed, his eyes darkening. His heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest. He buried his face against Astor's shoulder. His shaking hands tightened on Astor’s hips. "Fuck, Astor, you have no right being this good.”
Adrian kissed Astor's neck then manhandled his nemesis onto his back, taking in his flushed skin, his dilated pupils, his leaking dick. “Astor. God, Astor, you're beautiful. I want to mess you up, I'm going to take you apart…”
Astor whimpered as Adrian pushed his thighs back, as he kissed him deeply, as the head of his dick teased his rim.
The dam had burst. They spent all night entangled. In the early light of dawn, Adrian held Astor in his arms, sweaty, covered in love bites, his eyes closed and his breathing deep. He was stroking Astor's hair absently, admiring his face, slack with exhaustion.
“Mmmmm… Is it what you imagined, Adrian, dear?” Astor asked hoarsely without opening his eyes.
Adrian hummed, chuckling. “Better. So much better.” Astor hummed at that, his lips twitching. “And what about you, my heart? Was it everything you always thought it would be?”
Astor opened his eyes, looking into Adrian’s keen gaze. “Mmmm… Well, to be honest I always thought I would probably have a black eye.” He laughed at the sheepish flush on Adrian’s face. He draped himself more dramatically in his arms, reaching up to run an exhausted hand over his chiseled jaw. “There's always next time.”
Adrian pretended he hadn't shuddered in anticipation by kissing Astor's laughing face until they were making out again.