A Wanted Man
Title: A Wanted Man
Characters: Gabriel, Peter Petrelli
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Word count: 500
Setting: Shattered Salvation, future
Summary: Gabriel muses over the most satisfying part of having a partner.
Notes: This is my favorite couple - Peter and Gabriel, with all the wonky, truthful complexities of their relationship. I've written nearly a million words specific to the two of them working out their issues. They love each other dearly, but also with limits. Each has dumped the other when mistreated and each has grown and matured in order to earn and nurture the love of the other. They've saved one another's life and shown superhuman patience in dealing with the traumas and baggage that each brings to the partnership. More than any other, Shattered Salvation has illustrated the tolerance, devotion, and respect I think is required for true love.
Gabriel stroked the fine hair at Peter's temple, following the gossamer strands into the rest of his lovely mop. Peter sighed in contentment, prompting Gabe to lean in close, dragging his lips across the slight hollow of Peter's temple and breathing against his skin. Peter's pleased sound was louder, this time accompanied by a few petting motions of his hand. Gabriel went back to his previous position, just running his fingers through that beautiful hair and glorying in his access to it.
This was what he wanted so badly with Peter, and with Heidi - to be allowed to show his love. There was no harsh judgment, no refusal, and only rarely were there conditions. He could lavish affection and be appreciated, even welcomed. 'Let me,' he had said so often to Peter earlier in their relationship, unable to articulate what it was he wanted because he hadn't understood it himself. He didn't know if Peter had known either, but Peter would relax, stop contesting him, and let Gabriel show him love. It seemed to help Peter, too, like hitting a reset button, making him take a breath and realize Gabriel wasn't there to hurt him. He wasn't there to help either. He wanted to be allowed to love. He wanted to let that shy, tentative part of himself, so long carefully and tightly locked away, out to play at last.
By letting him please them, they showed they found him worthy. His actions were … okay, acceptable, the sort of thing they'd hold still for or even encourage. It was something they liked. He was welcome. He was safe. He was wanted. He sank his fingers into Peter's hair and dipped his face so he could rub the ends against his lips and nose. There were so many other things Peter could do with his time (or Heidi, when Gabriel did this with her) and Gabriel was very aware of that. He felt so privileged and lucky that they shared themselves with him. They generously let him indulge himself with their bodies.
He particularly adored Peter's hair. He knew Peter probably thought he was sifting through memories and occasionally he did, but his burning need to do that had faded as the months had passed and their relationship had stabilized. Gabriel didn't fear losing Peter like he used to and so there was no hunger to devour as much of the man's life as he could. He had relaxed enough to take what he was given, offered, and allowed, without lusting for more. He had everything he wanted, and that was the satisfaction of knowing that he was wanted.