Pietro could work with what Evan had given him-- he had six days altogether, seeing as how today was Thursday. Now he needed a strategy. Since Evan was being given time to think things over before their next meeting, he'd probably be wary coming into it. So talking won't be the best thing at first, instead just leading to awkwardness and things Pietro preferred *not* to discuss for the time being.

...They could share a companionable silence while reading. Because Evan had been reading something earlier, so. It was feasible. Pietro idly wondered what class Evan had been reading for before deciding his musing should be incorporated into his plans. The awkward conversation he'd been envisioning would be gone when he and Evan discussed books. And Evan would be feeling comfortable around him again.

Pietro arrived home and checked the driveway for cars. The Jeep was sitting outside, which meant that Scott's convertible was parked inside the garage. Nice to know because he didn't like being surprised when he walked inside.

Pietro entered the house, snagged a bag of chips from the kitchen, and continued into the living room where someone was watching tv. He plopped down in the easy chair he'd reupholstered several weeks ago (It was now *his* chair since all the others were so old and tattered that he refused to sit in them.) and looked over towards the sofa to check who was watching tv. Ah, Lance and Scott. The couch was too short for both of them to stretch out along it comfortably, so they'd had to specially position themselves. Scott sat in the corner with one leg wedged in the crack between the cushions and the back of the sofa while the other rested on the floor, and Lance sat in the vee of Scott's lap with *his* legs perched precariously on the edge of the cushions. They weren't doing anything more serious than cuddling, since-- after all-- the living room was the main room of the household.

Pietro thought the couple looked cute but uncomfortable. "Where's everyone else?" he asked.

Scott was the first one to acknowledge him. "Boom Boom and Todd are out somewhere, I think. Freddy's up in his room though. Enjoy the park, Pietro?"

Park? Oh. Right. Scott remembered how he normally went running after school. Sometimes Pietro awed at how Scott picked up and took into consideration the quirks and preferences of everyone around him. "I didn't go to the park," he said dismissively. "I needed to write a paper, and it took longer than I expected."

Scott nodded and went back to watching Lance watch tv. ...They were sickeningly cute at times. Especially since he didn't yet have Evan. Ooh, idea! He could use his subtle powers of interrogation to drill Scott about Evan and thus be that much closer to winning his challenge. Hey, his powers had worked before.

"So, Scott," Pietro said between chips, "I didn't know Daniels was into computers."

"He's not. He needed another class to fill his schedule and figured that one might at least be useful." Scott realized what had been asked and looked askance at Pietro. "Why?"

Pietro shrugged and tried to sound dismissive. "Oh, no reason. I just saw him at the computer help desk while I was in the library writing my paper earlier."

Judging by Lance's succinct "ha!", he'd failed at being dismissive. Lance continued on. "You've got a reason, all right, and I bet I know what it is."

Pietro groaned inwardly. Damn it, he didn't need to deal with Lance's teasing *now* with Scott nearby. He wanted to keep this hidden from the bespectacled teen. "Drop it, Lance." And now he couldn't get any more information about Evan because of Lance. Fuck, and he'd thought things were going his way today.

"Sure thing." Lance grinned. "*If* you give me the chips."

Lance really could be simple-minded sometimes; satisfy his appetite, and he was satisfied. Pietro tossed the chips over. After snatching them out of the air, Lance leaned back into Scott. He ate a greasy handful tipping his head up to talk to Scott.

"Pietro's got something of a yen for Spyke-boy-- has for as long as he's lived in Bayville-- and I'm guessing he finally decided to do something about it."

Ah! How *dare* Lance! Certain things just shouldn't be shared with certain people (like ex-lovers), and Lance knew it. Pietro ran over, smacked Lance upside the head, and ran back to his seat. Then he decided Lance deserved more than that, so he did it again.

Lance muttered death threats under his breath. Nice to know that the leader of the Brotherhood hadn't completely mellowed. Scott ran his hand up and down his boyfriend's arm while addressing Pietro. "Was that really necessary?"

Pietro glowered at Lance. "Yes."

"Payback's a bitch, ain't it?" Lance responded.

What. The. Hell. This situation and the one Lance was referring to were completely different. At least Pietro had known how Scott would react when he'd told his then-fuck toy about Lance's jealousy. It wasn't the same at *all*, so it wasn't justifiable payback. And besides, his tattling had resulted in the syrupy couple currently sitting on the couch, which was a good thing. Lance really had no clue about appropriateness.

Pietro crossed his arms in front of his and stuck his nose in the air. "You're mean, is what you are."

Sensing the impending fight, Scott wrapped his arms tightly around Lance. "Actually, Pietro, that's all right. You and Evan would be an... interesting couple. And think about it, Lance-- it'd be much easier for me to sneak out if Evan had my back."

"I guess," Pietro and Lance said simultaneously. Pietro didn't see Scott's insistence in always playing peacemaker. Scott would keep doing his duty until he and Lance gave up though, so he'd learned not to fight it. He guessed it was Scott's X roots showing. Damned annoying at times, really, especially when he was spoiling for a good fight like now. Letting off some of his anxiousness would have been nice.

Oh well. Time to make due with what he had and forget about delicacy in broaching the subject. "Can you give me any dirt about Evan, Summers? Clock's ticking, tick tock tick tock." Pietro snapped his fingers in time to the clock he was imitating.

Scott laughed. "Come on, Pietro, that takes all the fun out of watching this all unfold. Besides, if you're truly serious about Evan, you shouldn't need any 'dirt.'"

"Sure I do. I need to plan my frontal assault against Evan's defenses. And possibly a way to sneak in through the back." Lance snickered. Pietro, knowing how Lance's mind worked, said, "That wasn't necessarily a reference to sex, pervert."

Scott, joining his boyfriend, smirked. "You mean that Evan *doesn't* get you all hot and bothered? Or has it been so long since you've gotten laid that you've forgotten? I might be able to help remind you if it's the latter."

Ew. Even worse than Scott being an X-Freak was Scott giving in to the debauchery. It just didn't jive with his leadership and seriousness. Besides, he doubted that Lance would enjoy having to share his boyfriend for whatever Scott had in mind, even if it was something as innocent (Yeah, right.) as talking about old times. He didn't need Lance avalanching the house down, thank you very much.

"So. Info about Evan only, please."

Scott and Lance continued on in their own conversation.

"Hey! What d'you mean by that?" Lance asked, incised.

"Nothing like what you're thinking," Scott said, comforting Lance. "Just that there's this one book in the Institute library that a lot of the male students like to 'check out,' if you get my drift."

"Oh yeah." Lance grinned wolfishly. "I like that book."

Ew again. Lance was as good as a brother to him. Less thoughts of Lance and sex together was a good thing.

"But it'd probably be missed eventually if you brought it here. I know *I* wouldn't want to return it."

"True. Video?"

No. Nonononononono. Pietro was *not* hearing this.

"We're so great together Pietro couldn't help but learn something, even if all his boasting's true."

He was *not* hearing this, and he was going to change the conversation right *now*. Pietro cleared his throat loudly. Once he had the horny couple's attention again, he repeated (in a voice that invited no defiance), "So. Info about Evan only, please."

Scott put on his thinking face. "Like, what sort of stuff do you want to know?"

Lance butted in before Pietro could say anything-- a rarity by itself. "Maybe you should ask if this 'plan' of yours even has a chance at succeeding. If Daniels is on the straight and narrow, then you're sunk." Lance cackled. "Though there wouldn't be any *physical* sinking of course."

That was, quite possibly, an even worse pun than the rock ones Lance used in battle. No, on second thought, this was definitely worse. Because at least the rock ones didn't involve sex.

Although-- second rarity-- Lance made a point Pietro hadn't thought of yet. Evan might have been uncomfortable with the flirting because he enjoyed it or because it truly made him uncomfortable.

"Much as I loathe to admit it, Lance is right. That's something I hadn't even thought to consider-- the fact that Evan might be one of the rare, few people able to resist me."

"I really shouldn't betray Evan's confidence like this..." Scott trailed off.

"But?" Pietro prodded.

"He told--" Scott began.

"Hold up, wait." Lance interrupted, waving his arms wildly. It was amazing he didn't knock Scott's shades off with all that movement. As it was, Scott had to avoid one near miss. "Scott shouldn't say anything."

God, if Lance had picked now to become noble, it was the wrong time. "Why can't he say anything?" Intel from the inside didn't just drop in one's lap everyday.

"Because then he'll angst about breaking his precious word and won't screw me."

Good of Lance to put his own sex life before others. And, judging by how Scott's hand had delved beneath Lance's shirt and how Lance's neck now obscured Scott's face, Scott liked to put Lance's sex life first too. When Lance arched up, gasping because of what Scott was doing to him, Pietro decided that the couple needed to take the display to the privacy of Lance's bedroom. Fast.

"A-hem!"

Scott released Lance's neck only to have Lance twist and start suckling the crook of Scott's neck, but at least Scott still had the presence of mind to stand and drag Lance up with him.

"Um, sorry, Pietro. We're--" Lance chose that moment to wrap his arms around Scott's waist and press closer. Scott gulped. "--going."

The couple kept the show up on the stairs as well, hands disappearing all sorts of places underneath clothes and mouths latching on to the nearest available skin. Scott did manage to get out a final piece of advice for Pietro while leaning against the banister.

"Evan can be-- ah!-- flighty with his emotions if he, mm, thinks you played him."

With that said, Scott ran the rest of the way up with Lance and vanished from sight.

Damn, now he was horny. Scott still looked hot and arousing when he was flushed and horny and eager for contact-- any contact-- so long as it was skin-to-skin, even if he was off-limits. Too bad; he'd just have to make do on his own, preferably before Lance's earth-shaking tendencies kicked in.

~End Ch. 3~