Resolution

Disclaimer: They aren't mine, they belong to Marvel. I'd be nicer to them than Marvel has been, I'm not embarrassed by the obvious love XP. Also, arguably, Ric may be seventeen in this fic, trying to work out continuum ages sucks. I'm assuming he is just legal.

---Resolution---

Ric groaned as he managed to shuck his uniform, kicking it aside and stepping under the hot stream of water with a contented sigh.

Training had been hard, and he was feeling it now. Aches in his side where he had crashed into the wall, caught by one of Tabby’s stray blasts. Naturally, even though it was Tabby who had been careless with her powers it was Ric who got chewed out for getting hit.

“Are you all right?”

He opened his eyes again, looking sideways at Star. “Si. Just tender.”

Star said no more, just kept on washing. Ric watched for a moment, focusing on a single curl that had escaped from being pinned up and was going dark in the water.

“Ric?”

He blinked. Realised he’d been staring and coloured, ducking his head under the water. “Nothing, amigo, just spaced out for a moment.”

“Did you injure your head in the landing?”

He didn’t laugh like he wanted to. He shook his head and sighed. “Just my shoulder. Don’t worry, I’m just tired.”

“All right.” Back to running the soap over his chest and Ric made himself look away this time.

Not that there was any harm in looking. Star was made for looking at, everyone watched him. No matter how mundane his actions were intended to be, they always came across as perfect.

“Ric? You are staring at me again.” Star was facing him, looking down at Ric with an expression torn between concerned and questioning. It was a look that usually heralded either a temper tantrum or a killing spree. “Are you injured? Have you been drinking? You look at me like that when you have been drinking.”

“No, I’m fine. I’m sober, just tired and mostly comfortable. Dios, I can be spacey and stare absently, Star.”

Star didn’t seem convinced but he stepped back into his shower again. This time Ric made sure he was staring at the wall before he started washing.

He heard when Star shut down his own shower and moved past him towards the lockers. He ignored it and continued trying to scrub down his sweat slick back, to get rid of the grimy feeling.

He didn’t mean to gasp as his shoulder protested the movement, and he stifled the noise as much as he could but Star was already looking up from where he was getting towels; enough for the both of them, Ric dimly noticed.

“Ric?”

“Just tender.”

“Do you want me to clean your back?”

He didn’t manage to hold the chuckle. From anyone else it would seem like the world’s worst come on line, but it was Star, and he meant it in the most sincere way. “Si. It would be appreciated, amigo.”

Star folded the towels, put them on a bench and stepped up behind Ric, reaching half around him to take the soap from his hand. Ric tensed for a moment, aware of the sudden increase of heat that radiated constantly from Star’s body but then slick, hot hands pressed themselves into his protesting muscles and he felt like melting.

“Madre di... that’s good.”

He felt the hum more than heard it; he had just ducked his head under the water, letting it hang there, good hand braced against the wall as Star rubbed over his back with his large hands.

Thumbs pressed in under his shoulder blade, he hissed as the pain hit but it ebbed away, the area feeling looser. One thumb continued to poke and prod the sore spots, pressuring the knots into releasing as the other rubbed soothingly over his good shoulder and down his ribs.

He closed his eyes and just felt. Easing pain, heat and gentle fingers playing his muscles like a well tuned guitar. It was good.

Star’s hands slid down, pressed into all the tender spots down his spine, fingers brushing his sides. He lifted his other arm to lean against it, only half surprised that the pain of moving it had eased off under Star’s ministrations.

It was so easy to just stand there and bask in Star’s attentions. Strong fingers clearly no longer cleaning, just massaging firmly, down his spine, across his back, digging into every problem area and relieving the ache before gently stroking instead.

No noise but the steady thump of his heartbeat and the drum of the water. Just him and Star and the nice, hot water.

He didn’t realise he’d moaned until Star paused, leaning against his back to give him a questioning look. His eyes shot open when he felt the muscled chest against his back, suddenly all too aware of his own flushed body.

His gaze flicked up to Star’s just as Star looked down, silver eyes going slightly wider. Too slow, he tried to take a breath, to dismiss the hardening flesh as a natural reaction to being touched.

Choked when Star looked back up at him and slid his hands further around, to caress his chest and stomach, ducking slightly to press his lips to Ric’s jaw.

It wasn’t like when he stared at Star and wondered, hypothetically, how it would feel to have Star wrapped around him, to feel those hard muscles pressed against his body. It was infinitely hotter, burning skin pressed all along him; one muscled thigh pushed between his own, making him feel weak, making him tip his head back to let Star keep licking the water from his neck, wet kisses down his throat.

He should not be doing this. Not here, not now, not with Star. Definitely not with Shatterstar.

He reached up with one hand and grasped at Star’s head, finally finding purchase in the thick, red hair. He knew he should push him back and tell him no, that best friends don’t make out in the shower.

He pulled Star closer with another moan, rubbing his other hand along one of the arms wrapped around him, encouraging the big hands that were stroking him in all the right ways. Rubbed his foot along Star’s calf, back to the tiled floor.

This was going way too far.

Fingers teased the top of his thigh and then swept across. The other hand stopped to rub gently at one nipple; Ric barely managed to contain the small cry that wanted to escape his lips.

He didn’t manage when Star’s fingers delicately traced up his cock, from base to tip. He cried out, suddenly left wanting when Star’s hand hurriedly retreated.

“Did I do something wrong?”

He should have said yes. He should have said it was wrong.

“Dios, no.” Pulled on Star’s hair, drawing him back again. “Give me more.”

And then Star was curling around him once more and his hand was tracing along the thick vein of Ric’s cock and when he cried out, Star did it again, firmer and with more confidence.

He wrapped his hand around Star’s, closing his fingers. Star let go of his neck, nuzzling their cheeks together as he watched his hand move on Ric.

Ric couldn’t watch. He had to keep his eyes closed and his arms tense, trembling with each slide of Star’s hand.

“Tell me what you like, Julio.” A soft nibble on his ear and where the fuck had Star picked up this stuff, because he sure as hell hadn’t known anything when they went clubbing.

He struggled to get his voice. “Star... more.”

“More what?” The hand tightened and he cried out again and bucked upwards, wanted to force Star closer. He rocked back, trying to breathe and even the obvious erection that pressed into his back wasn’t enough to deter him, not now, not when Star was pumping him almost right and talking in those low tones in his ear.

“Kiss me...” He turned up to Star, seeking contact. “Please, Star...” So close, too close and not close enough. “Kiss me.”

The hand left his chest and cupped his face, and then he felt lips descend on his own, burning hot and so chaste, obscenely innocent in contrast to the hand that was jerking him off.

He shuddered, tensed and cried out against Star’s mouth as he came. Rocked back and felt Star, painfully hard against him.

“Julio...”

A soft plea, and Ric was certain that Star had no idea what he was even pleading for, just that he was.

He turned, the water cooler than Star’s body, his front suddenly too warm as he leant in and kissed Star again, moving his lips gently until the other started to respond.

He didn’t think about what he was doing when he pushed his hand between them and curled it around Star’s erection, but it was worth his discomfort to see the expression on Star’s face, the look of shocked pleasure as he bucked up into Ric’s hand and came with a soft gasp.

He couldn’t hold Star when he buckled and sank to the floor. He could only lean and flick off the water, sliding to kneel beside his friend.

Star watched him with wide eyes, his expression filled with awe and something else, something Ric didn’t want to think too hard about, so he leant up and cupped Star’s jaw with his hand and kissed him again.

It was good. This time he just parted his lips and Star got the hint, letting Ric thrust his tongue into his mouth lazily. He tasted sweet, which was seemed strange but right.

He finally pulled back, feeling flushed. Star licked his lips, so obviously tasting that Ric felt his heart – and his cock – twitch.

He wanted more. More of Star, more of this, more of that sweet taste against his tongue. He leant in again, met Star part way and they kissed again, rougher, more desperately, hands reaching to one another’s bodies and grabbing at slick skin and hard muscle.

“Upstairs,” panted between kisses, “we need, upstairs.”

Star nodded, standing slowly. Ric climbed to his feet, looking around for the towels Star had left earlier.

It was nothing short of a miracle they’d not been seen already. Ric wrapped the towel around his waist, trying not to grimace at the rough material rubbing uncomfortably on tender areas. Next to him, Star was already covered, staring at Ric with a hungry intensity.

It was hard to just walk towards his room – he never once considered that they would go anywhere else – but he managed it, even with Star only half a step behind him. They saw no one by the time he was opening his door and stepping inside, another relief.

He was part way in when Star nudged him from behind, pushing them both in and kicking the door shut after him.

He turned to face his friend, looking up at him. His cheeks were faintly flushed, hair still piled back off his face except that one damn curl.

“C’mere, Star.”

He approached, wrapping his arms around Ric’s neck when Ric slid his hands to Star’s hips. It was easy to just lean up and kiss Star again, catching the full bottom lip in his teeth and tugging gently.

Star moaned quietly, finally taking some initiative and kissing Ric, tongue tracing lips before he shifted to start kissing and nipping at his jaw.

Ric gripped Star’s hips for a moment, trying not to rock and instead fumbled with the towel, pulling it until it dropped and he could get his hands onto Star’s thighs, shifting closer until they were pressed against one another and he could shamelessly grope at Star’s butt without having to give up the lips on his neck.

One hand slid down from around his neck, teasing along the edge of the towel he wore. The mouth on him moved to the other side and the other hand slid to his waist and tugged to towel open.

Back across again and focusing on his collarbones and the hollow of his throat, tip of his tongue softly tracing the shape. Ric threw his head back, moaning, relinquishing his grip to give Star better access to continue.

The hands on his hips tightened again, slid a little and the only warning he got was Star’s biceps tensing before he was being lifted into the air with what was definitely not a shriek of surprise escaping his lips.

They were twisting, Ric realised Star was carrying him to the bed just before he was hefted to bounce on the bed, falling into a sprawl with Star standing at the end of the bed, gaze hungrily running over him.

It was... hot. Even hotter when Star bent down, placing one hand on the bed. Dropped one knee down and then the next hand and slowly crawled up the bed, up Ric until he had a knee either side of his waist, hands either side of Ric’s shoulders. Dipped his head to desperately kiss Ric’s mouth.

Ric kissed back, pushing up, reaching to the knot of hair and tugging until the tie came free and red gold tumbled about them, the long curls teasing his shoulders, his chest, his cheeks as he moved to nuzzle and lick at Star’s ear.

It was terrifyingly sexy, having Star bearing down on him, desperate and hard and hot. And he was pinned, on his back under Star, and suddenly he was caught... what if Star wanted to take him? Would he be able stop him? Star was like a drug, impossible to resist since the first touch hooked him.

“Julio,” whispered in his ear, hot breath making him shiver. “Relax. Let me pleasure you.”

“Dios... Star.” And if he hadn’t been hard as a rock he was now.

“Stop talking, Julio.” Star sat up, shifting until he was straddling Ric’s thighs, their erections brushing one another in ways that made Ric’s toes want to curl. “Do you have lubricant?”

“Huh?” He didn’t want to think about that, just wanted to stay like this, closer than this.

“I need lubricant. To ease you in. Some form of lotion will do.”

“In the drawer.” Said before he comprehends what Star said. “What? I’m, ah, taking you?”

Star didn’t respond at first, too busy rifling through the drawer. He finally sat back, shifting back to where he had been, the bottle of lotion in one hand. “Unless you have a problem with that arrangement.”

“Chinga... no, none.” Swallowed, mouth suddenly dry. Watched as Star popped the lid and squeezed a generous amount onto his fingers and dropped the bottle to the bed with a click of the lid back down.

Looked up at Star’s eyes as one slick hand wrapped around him, twisting efficiently to smear lotion on him. So difficult to not thrust and let himself go now, but he wanted, so badly, to take Star, to see him lose control on Ric’s cock.

“Star, fuck, stop. Stop.” Pulled the hand off of him and tries to get control of himself before he ends this prematurely. “Fuck, gimme a moment, I need to calm down.”

“Julio...” Moaned and caught between their lips as Star kissed him again, his hand flat on Ric’s chest but not caressing, just there as they make out and Star moans against him again.

He was about to pull Star closer again when his friend suddenly wrenched away with a small cry, eyes half closing, lips parted and panting. The hand on his chest shoved him back and he briefly realised why Star was getting so enthusiastic, the hand that he had almost certainly been fucking himself with reaching to grab Ric’s cock.

Star sat up on his knees, shifting until Ric could feel hot, slick skin against his erection. They stared at one another for what felt to Ric to be forever.

“Mi amor, Star.”

The blinding smile Star gave him was worth the pain that saying those words caused. “I love you too, Julio.”

And then, in one fluid motion, Star slid down onto him.

Ric thought he might have screamed, but it was caught in his throat. Without thought he was scrabbling, bending his legs, trying to get better purchase with his feet.

Star stayed where he was, pinning Ric’s hips where they were. His hands moved to Ric’s chest where they lingered, the warrior leaning down slightly, face curtained by his hair.

“Star?”

“A moment.” Star twisted slightly, and Ric wanted to die right then and there before it got any less perfect. One hand twitched, he grabbed it and threaded his fingers with Star’s, squeezing back.

“You okay?”

“I feel...” A pause and another twist. “Exquisite.”

He flexed his hips up, just enough to rock Star slightly. The red head gasped, looking up through his hair at Ric with wide eyes. “Yes.”

“Yes?”

“Mm.” And he drew himself up, slowly, pausing when just the head was still in him and staring down at Ric with growing heat.

The first downward slam made Ric scream aloud and claw at Star’s hips. The second he thrust up into and everything was so much better when he did that. The third made Star cry out and fling his head back, hands going to Ric’s shoulders for balance.

Beyond that he couldn’t count, could only grip onto Star and thrust up hard into the tight grip of his body, listen to their half muffled cries, Spanish and Cadre and the rare word of English in the middle of it.

It was so much more than he ever imagined, their frantic thrusts and cries driving them on, harder and faster and he wanted to touch Star’s weeping cock so much but he couldn’t let go of the narrow hips, couldn’t think enough to do anything but growl and try to snatch a brief kiss when the other came close enough.

So close, he slammed hard and Star actually shouted so he did it again, and again, just to make Star lose it, to watch him with wild hair and bared teeth, untamed and beautiful and his.

He was shaking with pleasure when Star tensed around him, and he thought it would push him over but it didn’t, it was the wide eyed look of awe and pleasure and hearing his name hoarsely cried out that suddenly had him coming, hard, pumping into Star even as Star jerked on top of him and came across his stomach.

Ric felt like he’d died and he was quite okay with that, as his limbs felt like they were dissolving, unable and unwilling to move. He felt Star relax and shiver, opened eyes he hadn’t realised he had closed to watch him.

As though aware of Ric’s, Star suddenly looked up and smiled slightly. Not the awkward teeth baring he normally managed but a shy quirk of the lips that seemed much more natural on the big warrior.

He closed his eyes again as he Star rolled off him and to the side with a small hiss. “Hey, you ‘kay?”

“Muscle stiffness.” Felt the pillow shift and grinned when one heavy arm came across his chest.

“Hey?”

“Hm?”

“What’s Cadre for ‘I love you’?”

Silence followed. Ric opened his eyes again to watch Star’s face, taking in the sweat damp hair and rosy cheeks.

“There is no Cadre word for love.”

“Oh. No... I guess there wouldn’t be.”

“Julio? I am very tired.”

He couldn’t not grin at that. “Go to sleep, Star.”

“All right.” He actually sounded tired, another first for the day. “Good night.”

“Night.”

For a few minutes, he was content to just lie there, feeling Star’s slow and even breaths as he fell asleep, watching his face. It was very easy to shift down and closer, pressing into the warmth of Star’s body.

Even asleep, the arm around him tightened for a moment before relaxing again. Like holding him was the most natural thing in the world.

He dozed. Not quite asleep, not quite willing to give up the chance to remember lying here in Star’s arms, seeing his friend calm and tranquil for-

His friend.

Shatterstar.

A cold chill crept over Ric. He felt his muscles tense.

A warm – too warm – arm squeezed him lightly. Star’s arm, with his too perfectly pale skin and light dusting of freckles just visible on the shoulder. Across his ribs and arm he could feel the red gold hair curl and tickle as Star sighed slightly in his sleep and relaxed again.

It felt so naturally good. Too good, too right; the hard, flat planes of Star’s body nothing like the soft feminine curves of the girls he’d danced with, of the girls he’d kissed before now.

His breathing picked up.

Star shifted again, brow furrowing slightly. He stirred a little closer to awake and Ric realised that even in his sleep, Star was doing everything he could to make Ric content.

Like it was instinct. Make Ric feel good, not matter what.

“Mi Dios...”

Star crawling up him, like some sex kitten from a porn movie. Sliding down onto Ric’s cock, white knuckled and tense. Kissing him when he demanded it, giving in to him the moment he pushed, doing everything to make sure that it was as good for Ric as he could possibly make it.

Ric wondered how much porn he had intently studied. Wondered when Star had realised that Ric was fucked up like that, fucked up and wanting his best friend and he had decided he needed information to make sure he could please Ric when he eventually showed his true colours.

That sultry whisper of “Let me pleasure you,” suddenly made Ric’s stomach churn.

How often had Star told him sex didn’t interest him? That it was a distraction and a waste fo time?

He’d let Ric fuck him. Because he cared for Ric and Star was insane and would do anything to make Ric happy.

Even if that meant letting Ric vent his own perversions on him.

“Chinga. Madre di chinga Dios.” He’d as good as taken someone who didn’t want it. No matter how compliant, he hadn’t actually wanted it. Just...

Wanted to make Ric happy.

He didn’t deserve a friend like Star. Not after this.

He couldn’t stay here. The heady smell was turning his stomach, Star’s soft expression driving home what he had done.

He had taken Star. The only innocent he knew. His best friend.

He rolled away from Star’s embrace, sick to his stomach. Only froze on the edge of the bed when there was a low noise of loss and a soft, “Julio?”

“Si?” His voice sounded steadier than he felt.

“Are you leaving?” And it was so sad, questioning and hopeful at once.

Ric swallowed.

“Stay with me?”

He held the... something that wrenched in his chest and throat. “Course.” Rolled back over, snuggling himself into Star’s arms more thoroughly.

If him staying the night with Star would make him happy, he’d do it. Anything for this precious, bright soul that loved him more than he should be loved.

He too easily found himself comfortable, Star’s arm pillowing his head, their legs tangling together. He closed his eyes, gently stroking Star’s hair where it fell over them, bright against the pale sheets.

He couldn’t let Star keep doing this to himself. Because he would. The next time Ric’s sick obsession rose, Star would smile and tell him he loved him and because he loved him would let him do it again.

“Mi amor, Star.”

And because Ric loved him, he wouldn’t let him. This night could never happen again.

With Star sleeping contentedly next to him, Ric managed to claw his way to a fitful sleep, comforted only by the knowledge that he’d never fuck Star up again.