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Peter is asleep on the couch, his body tilted to the side as he slumps over in his sleep, one arm thrown over the side of the couch. His head has slid off the back cushion, twisting his neck into a position that’ll leave him complaining for hours. Strands of blonde hair have fallen into his face and his mouth hangs open with quiet snoring.
Adam finds he can’t look away.
Mantis and Rocket stand on either side of him, leaning forward to talk around him. He doesn’t process anything they’re saying, too caught up in the image before him.
He’s always found Peter Quill to be attractive - bright blue eyes and blonde hair on a face sculpted by gods, and his body much the same. He’s powerful and skilled, and, as Mantis calls him, the biggest goofball he’s ever met. Not to mention his kindness or rebellious streak.
The point is, Adam has always been drawn to the other man. It’s hard not to be when they’ve grown closer and fight side by side, protecting each other. Adam has never really needed protection, but he finds he enjoys Starlord’s attention and care. If Peter is going out of his way to protect him like he does, it means Adam is important to him.
Much like how Peter is important to Adam.
He’s so absorbed in his thoughts he completely misses when Mantis tries to get his attention. That is, until she reaches out to touch his arm. “Adam?” He turns to her, startled, watching the tips of her antenna glow green as she scans his feelings. Her eyes widen. She grins at him as she pulls away, “Oh! I see.”
“See what?” Rocket asks, “Somethin’ wrong with goldie?”
“Nothing is wrong.” She says, pressing her palms together as Rocket huffs. “He is simply tired after the fight.”
“Aren’t we all? I mean,” Rocket snorts, “Just look at Quill.”
This time it is not only Adam who looks to the sleeping man on the couch. He hasn’t moved from his original position, still blissfully unaware. Mantis giggles, fingertips pressed to her mouth. She’s seen him like this more than Adam has, he thinks. This must be normal.
“Should we leave him like that?” Adam questions. “That cannot be comfortable for his neck.”
Rocket waves a paw. “Eh, leave him. Serves the idiot right. Besides! He looks ridiculous!”
He laughs and Mantis reaches around Adam to swat at the smaller creature. “Peter did his best to protect us today! Do not be cruel.”
“Hey! Quit it!” Rocket swats back at her.
“He took those hits for you earlier, Rocket. Be nice.”
“Not as many as he took for goldie!”
Adam decides not to say anything.
“Fine, whatever!” Rocket grouches after a pointed glare from Mantis. “I’m gonna go find Groot, don’t wait up.”
He turns to leave right as Peter shifts in his sleep, pulling all Adam’s attention to him once more.
Starlord slips further down the couch, his head now resting against the side of the couch next to his arm. One leg remains bent while the other has been splayed out. The thought that he looks like some star-shaped blob makes Adam smile, unbidden.
Mantis sighs. “If he stays like that he is going to be grumpy when he wakes.” She looks at Adam from the corner of her eye, “Perhaps you should help him.”
She says it innocently, with a matching smile, but Adam isn’t stupid. He knows what she picked up on when she touched him before. He was not subtle with his feelings.
“Perhaps not.”
Just because Adam has feelings for the leader of the Guardians doesn’t mean those affections are returned. And while Peter has always been affectionate and tactile, this feels like a step too far uninvited.
His hands flex at his sides and Mantis lays a gentle hand on his shoulder. Not reading him, just offering comfort. “Trust me, Adam, he would be pleased if it was you.”
He glances at her, taking in her sincere expression. She would know better than him, this is true. Mantis and Peter have always been close - like family. And with her powers, Adam supposes, he can take her word for it.
Mantis gives him a gentle, encouraging smile, and pulls away. She tilts her head towards the man on the couch before spinning on her heel and walking away, leaving Adam alone with the sleeping object of his affections.
Weighing his options, Adam steps closer to the couch. He could simply reposition the man and leave him be - his superior strength making it easy. Or, he could maneuver them both into a comfortable position on the couch and join Starlord in much needed rest.
Or, he could just leave.
He could go and find his own place to rest and not intrude on Peter’s personal space. That seems like the safest option. But if Peter stays like that the inevitable crick in his neck will leave him grouchy and distracted. So perhaps the best course of action is to move him into a more comfortable position after all and then leave him be.
Nodding to himself, Adam steps forward and carefully scoops a sleeping Peter Quill into his arms. It’s not exactly easy - the man’s limbs sticking out in all directions - but he eventually gets an arm under his back and the other under his knees to lift him to Adam’s chest.
Peter stirs in his grasp and Adam freezes. There’s a brief moment of panic in which he struggles to think of a way to explain why he’s carrying Peter but then the man settles, slinging an arm around Adam’s shoulders as he presses closer.
Warmth rolls through him, prickling at his cheeks. Taking a breath, Adam kneels down and lays Peter down on his back on the couch cushions. He goes to pull away but the arm around his shoulders tightens and slides up to his neck. It catches him so off guard he lets himself be pulled, landing face first into Peter’s chest.
Adam just sort of stays there for a second. He blinks, waiting for his brain to catch up. He should have known it wouldn’t have been this easy. Even in his sleep, Peter Quill is a menace!
Suppressing a groan, Adam gets one hand out from under Starlord and tries to push himself up and away from him and the couch. Peter doesn’t budge, though. He grumbles in his sleep, face pinched as he tugs Adam closer, trying to curl up against him.
And, well. Adam’s resolve of attempting to pull away is quickly crumbling. If Peter doesn’t want to let him go then why should he try? Especially when he’s trying to cuddle Adam. It’s adorable, really.
(He wasn’t even trying that hard anyway.)
Peter mumbles something that sounds like Adam’s name and it’s enough to make him cave. As carefully as he can, Adam manages to fit them both comfortably on the couch. It ends up with him laying on his back with Starlord laying half on top of him, half sandwiched between Adam and the back of the couch, their legs tangled together. Contentment washes over him as he brings a hand to Peter’s hair, lightly running his fingers through it. Peter buries his face in Adam’s bare chest, curling an arm around the golden man’s waist.
Adam knew Peter was affectionate, though he didn’t quite expect him to be so clingy. It’s not a complaint though. He’s more than happy to have this; curled up with a gorgeous man who’s charming when he’s not a pain in the ass. Besides, he’s got going to pass up the chance to witness a quiet Peter Quill.
Warmth blooming in his chest and exhaustion rapidly creeping up on him, Adam takes hold of the edge of his cape and drapes it over them both. The last thing he feels before sleep takes him is a squeeze around his middle, comforting and safe.