#pepperphil

“Didn’t know you were big inta Skynyrd,” Phil mumbled under his liquor-ridden breath, lazily turning his heavy head to glance at Pepper, who responded with a light chuckle as he glanced back at Phil, finding his flushed face quite the sight to see.

“Really? You’ve known me for forever now, and you’re just now realizing that Skynyrd’s my favorite band?” Pepper was driving in his truck after their show, his hair tied back in a tight bun as his bare arms still slightly glistened with remnants of sweat, beer and water, his shirt a bit damp with sweat and water and the light denim of his jeans drying with the cool air conditioning. Since Phil had drank significantly more than Pepper, even way before the show had started, Pepper took over the wheel responsibly to get the both of them home safely. At Pepper’s light chuckle, Phil’s lips curled into a lazy, drowsy grin as he chuckled back breathlessly, raising an arm to cover his eyes from the passing lights alongside the road, the unbuttoned sleeve of his loose, open plaid shirt helping block out more of the light.

“Am not just realizin’, all ‘m sayin’ is I didn’t know ya were a big fan, man.” Phil exaggerated his words by making a large gesture with his hands before sinking back into the reclined passenger seat, groaning lightly at the dull ache at the base of his spine and how the world felt as if it were moving beneath his feet. Pepper could only shake his head in amusement, finding his friend’s drunken behavior as entertaining and endearing as usual. He gripped the top of the steering wheel in a loose fist as his free hand reached over to lightly pat Phil’s thigh over the fabric of his cargo shorts in a light display of support, his voice lowering just a bit in an effort to try and soothe his friend as he kept his eyes on the road, thankful that their house wasn’t too far now.

“Don’t worry, we’re almost home now. Once we’re there, you can finally get some rest, yeah?”

Phil remained still in his seat, only nodding his head with a low hum in response to Pepper’s words. He wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol coursing through his veins, but the cool temperature and rough texture of Pepper’s hand on his thigh had his skin rapidly warming underneath it. Pepper was accustomed enough to Phil’s drunken behavior, usually being the one to drink less of the two to keep a watchful eye on Phil and ensure he wouldn’t get himself into trouble or danger. Damn, why he looked after his friend so much, why he worried so much and was so protective of Phil, he thought he may never know.

-

“You’re sure all you drank was that bigass bottle of Jäeger?” Pepper questioned carefully as he sat on the edge of Phil’s bed, keeping an eye on his friend as Phil laid on his stomach over his sheets, his face buried into his pillow that he clung to almost possessively, like it was the only thing keeping him afloat amidst his liquor-ridden body. Phil grumbled into his pillow, his eyes not even trying to remain open anymore than they barely were as his slurred voice came through the fabric of the pillowcase, his deep southern drawl more prominent, which only warmed Pepper’s heart further.

“Yes, Pep, thas all I had ta drink t’night. I didn’t even get ta finish the rest of it, damnit…”

Pepper chuckled quietly at Phil’s complaint about not finishing the last bit of alcohol that was apparently left in the bottle, finding his situation both pitiful yet slightly adorable. He gently patted Phil’s back as he noticed his breathing starting to slow and even out, lowering his voice to a near whisper with a small grin on his face.

“Alright, I believe ya. Now just get some sleep, you fool.”

Phil almost wanted to fall asleep in Pepper’s embrace, enveloped in his warm arms and surrounded by the warm water around their bodies. Phil was sat between Pepper’s legs with his back against his chest, his fingers loosely tangled with his and his head resting against his shoulder, allowing him enough space to turn his face and bury it into the side of Pepper’s neck. Pepper held him against his chest as he gently scrubbed their bodies, cleaning their skin of all sweat and other fluids from their first sexual experience with one another. Phil hummed deeply against Pepper’s skin as he dragged the wet and soapy washcloth up his bare torso, his lips curled into a warm and content grin and his voice low and hoarse as he mumbled.

“You nearly put me to sleep in there, y’know that?”

Pepper had his head gently resting against Phil’s while he listened to them, letting out a quiet chuckle as he recalled the way Phil was a mess just a few moments ago. He pressed a soft kiss to Phil’s temple before nuzzling against his shoulder, taking in his natural scent mixing with the clean smell of body soap and the warm water as he spoke.

“I know it. Hell, you nearly knocked me out on the spot. Guess we know now for next time, huh?”

Phil laughed softly at Pepper’s response, humming and nodding in response to his question. Next time sounded amazing to him, maybe not right at this moment, though. Phil wanted to melt against Pepper's chest so bad, to just merge their bodies together and absorb all of Pepper’s touches and warmth for himself, but something on his mind refrained him from doing so. A large question on his mind worried him.

“You don’t think, uh… the guys’ll say anythin’?”

“I don’t see any reason as to why they would,” Pepper responded in a soft tone, taking a moment to scrub Phil’s legs and to think before he spoke again, his gaze following how his hand gently ran over his lover’s skin with Phil leaning into his chest, his head leaned back against his shoulder. “There’s no need for them to know if you don’t want them to…”

The guys didn’t have to know. Their relationship doesn’t have to be public, and they can keep it all to themselves. But Phil still worried if the others would sense anything different about him, as they were already aware of his heavy drinking. He had cut back on the drinking quite a bit, except the other night at their last show in the city. Sure, he’d drank more than he could’ve ever handled, but Pepper was the first to step up and take care of him. Pepper was always the first to make sure he was okay before asking anything.

Phil sighed softly through his nostrils and nodded, his hands finding Pepper’s on his chest and gently holding them there beneath his palms, pressing a soft kiss to the side of Pepper's neck before he spoke in a warm voice, a faint smile of comfort tugging on his lips.

“Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Maybe I’m just overthinking it all, ‘specially with how they already look at me.”

Pepper hummed softly at the brush of Phil’s lips against his skin, each kiss making his heart swell in his chest with how much he truly loved Phil.“Don’t worry about it, hon. I’ve always made sure they kept to their own business, and that won’t change a bit when it comes to you.”

The clock on the wall above the opening wall to the kitchen read as 9:34 PM, the house illuminated by the dim warm light of the overhead stove light in the kitchen, the buzzing streetlights on the street outside their house as cars passed by with their bright lights on to see clearer, and the living room a light blue from the ending screen of the VHS film that had been playing before. The stillness of the house was especially apparent by the sleeping bodies of Phil and Pepper, still in each other’s embrace on the couch like it was nothing. They had been sleeping for the past few hours, barely having moved except the few times Phil or Pepper may have barely shifted to get comfortable against the other. Their light snores and sleepy mumbles were the only other sounds to fill the air, not bothered by the world around them as they were in their own worlds.

It seemed Phil was beginning to stir from his sleep as his arms tightened around Pepper, burying his face further into his neck to try and grasp onto the last bits of sleep he could. Unable to do so, he grumbled under his breath, feeling way more refreshed and rested than he did after his earlier nap. He carefully pushed himself up with his hands on the couch cushions, his arms on either side of Pepper’s waist. The weight of the other man’s arm around his waist surprised him, not remembering it being there before he fell asleep. Although the contact was new, it sent a feeling through him, something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

He was careful to not move around too much as he glanced up at the clock, although he did want Pepper to be awake alongside him so he wasn’t so lonely at such a late hour. Biting his lip softly in contemplation, he decided he’d try and wake his friend gently, knowing very well that Pepper was a bit of a light sleeper. Phil began by whispering his name, barely patting his ribs with his palm. Nothing. He began loosely squeezing his biceps, also as an excuse to feel them under his hands, but also to try and wake him. Nothing. Maybe Pepper was a heavier sleeper than he initially thought. Phil sighed softly though his nose as he looked up at Pepper from his place on his chest, admiring the relaxed expression on his face and appreciating the weight of his arm around his waist. His eyes then began trailing down, slowing down as they trailed down the smooth expanse of skin along the side of his neck. The sight reminded him of something. He remembered how earlier, when watching that horror film, Pepper’s skin faintly prickled when Phil’s breath barely fanned over his neck when he rested his chin atop his shoulder. That gave Phil an idea, although it was one he was almost terrified to do.

He began shifting carefully again, propping himself up on his hands on either side of Pepper and his knees, his legs still being intertwined with the others. He almost felt wrong doing this, not wanting to push boundaries or ruin the best thing he currently had in his life, but he decided it was about time he made his signs clearer. His head slowly dipped to the side of Pepper’s neck, just barely grazing his nose over the skin that smelled of cigarettes, faint hints of cologne, and something that was uniquely Pepper. His lips barely pressed against the skin, testing the waters for a split second to see if Pepper would react to that.

Nothing.

Phil couldn’t handle anymore; he couldn’t keep being a coward like this. If he really wanted a chance of anything with Pepper, now was his shot to prove it. His lips began leaving slow, almost lazy kisses against the side of Pepper’s neck, occasionally whispering his name in a deep rasp of a drawl that was only ever more apparent when he was riddled with fatigue. Pepper’s head twitched slightly at that, a soft sound of sleep rising from his throat. Phil took that as a sign that he must’ve been doing something right. He was too far deep to stop now anyway, even if he tried to. He couldn’t back out of this now.

“Pep… C’mon, get up…,” Phil mumbled against Pepper’s skin, moving his kisses down to the crook of his neck, his hands slowly sliding up from the couch to Pepper’s chest, loosely grasping at the fabric of his shirt. Phil’s flannel threatened to slide down his arm from his shoulder, though he was far more focused on the feel of Pepper’s skin beneath his lips. God, Phil had better hoped Pepper wasn’t a grouch when he got woken up from a nap, or he’d really be in hot water and would really be embarrassed-

“You’re too good at that…” Pepper’s deep, raspy voice filled Phil’s ear, sounding almost a bit breathless as both of his hands gripped onto his hips, his legs stretching out slightly as he tilted his head back, exposing more skin along his neck in silent offering.

Phil nearly stopped at the sudden knowledge that Pepper had woken up so suddenly like that, not at all expecting it. The sound of Pepper’s voice rumbling in his ear, his warm and calloused hands against the soft flesh of his hips under his loose flannel, fueled the sudden heat that had begun coursing through his veins. He hadn’t even realized that Pepper’s own skin grew hotter beneath his lips, but as he trailed kisses to the front of his neck, he definitely noticed it now. The flutter of Pepper’s heartbeat against his chest was felt through Phil’s chest as he allowed himself to lie back down against him, his hands slowly inching beneath Pepper’s shirt to meet the warm, firm muscles of his abdomen. The new feeling made his breath hitch in his throat, letting out a small gasp that fanned over Pepper’s skin. In response, Pepper’s fingers began to gently rub his hips, almost in a soothing manner as soft gasps and hums of his own began to escape him with each brush of Phil’s lips.

“Damnit, Anselmo, you’re such a sap..,” Pepper huffed softly with a small chuckle, barely opening his eyes to try and glance down at Phil, who was too focused on showering every inch of skin he could reach with his affection. Phil smiled warmly with a hum in response against Pepper’s skin, pressing a light kiss to his Adam’s apple before picking his head up to hover over Pepper’s, simply looking down at him and admiring the light flush that dusted over his cheeks. He snickered quietly, his voice coming out a soft whisper.

“Yeah? Well, you’re blushin’ pretty hard, y’know.”

Pepper raised an eyebrow at that, raising a hand from Phil’s hip to gently cup his cheek, brushing his calloused thumb over his high cheekbone as a teasing yet affectionate grin tugged on his lips, his gaze dropping down to Phil’s lips as he spoke.

“Says the one who’s as red as an apple right now. Somethin’ tells me you’re a little more affected by… whatever that was than I am.”

Phil couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him at Pepper’s response, not even sure himself as to what possessed him to turn into a mushy mess and go so soft on Pepper. He could see the small shift in Pepper’s gaze as it dropped to his lips, feeling his throat go a bit dry as he instinctively licked his lips. Pepper wasn’t sure what exactly came over him either as to what reverted him to something so soft beneath Phil, but he didn’t bother to worry about it now. He only gently pinched Phil’s chin between his thumb and index finger before slowly pulling his face closer, pressing their lips together in something that seemed to drain all the tension and stress from both their shoulders for what felt like an endless minute. Phil hummed softly in appreciation against Pepper’s lips before reluctantly pulling back, burying his face into the crook of his neck. Pepper wrapped his arms firmly around Phil’s waist under the loose fabric of his unbuttoned flannel, either of them still too tired from the late hour to do anything further. Instead, they laid there for several more minutes, simply relishing in each other’s warmth. A silent question hovered between them both in the tender moment, either too afraid to ask it as to avoid ruining the warmth of it all: