Chapter Text
Simon and Peter were at brunch.The cafe was large and empty,delightfully so,and the two drank and chatted while grazing on the fear spilling steadily from the kitchen.
Peter’s wrist was bruised.Self inflicted,Simon knew,the same way the captain’s nails were down to the quick because he never kicked the habit of biting them,or how his hands got stiff far,far too easily because Peter was always tense;
Peter was hurt because he’d never been taught how to soothe himself with anything but enough pain to smack him across the face and remind him that his mask was slipping.
And Simon knew who was responsible for that fear.The anger was coming off him in waves no matter how calm he pretended to be,Simon didn’t need to be a thing of the Watcher to know that.Peter’s anxious glances were enough.For an utter mountain of a man whose face did little else than smile or remain carefully neutral,Peter was as skittish as a bunny rabbit.His heart pounded just as fast.The captain needed to be lured,slowly and gently,into any situation or he’d bolt.
Simon was a master at this.Elias was not.Elias practically just lifted Peter by his neck and threw him into the deep end.A party?Well,surely herding Peter into the middle of the crowd would be the way to have fun!A meeting?Well,why ever would Peter need something to keep in his hands?He wasn’t five.
And so on,so on.But,back to this specific,inconsequential moment.Simon cleared his throat.Motioned to the bruises.Peter hid them and claimed they were nothing.Simon tried to coax him.Peter snapped that he didn’t need charity.
And ‘round and ‘round the cycle went…how often was this now?No matter.What mattered was that Peter was,once again,refusing help.
Simon sighed and sipped his tea again.
“Peter,we’ve been through this song and dance a hundred times in the past-“
“I’m not a princess in a tower,Simon,I’m a grown man-
“-and every single time we talk about it you don’t even admit anything’s wrong with- with this!”
“Because nothing is wrong,you’re just dramatic!”
Simon inhaled deeply.
“Fine.Fine!I’ll drop it.”
A pause.Then,as though Peter didn’t really believe it was;
“Good.”