Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Arthur had a problem, the problem was in the form of his giant, blue, possibly alien, roommate. But more so his feelings towards said roommate, he’d long since come to terms with the fact that The Tick would be living with him. And that the hero had become a huge part of his life quite some time ago. He accepted, some might argue eagerly, The Tick as his crime fighting partner, and life partner, though he wasn’t sure just how much of his life The Tick wanted to share.

It started one night, after a particularly long day and most of the night filled with crime fighting, the duo returned to their(Arthur’s) apartment. As most nights went, The Tick would get ready for bed on the couch, Arthur wasn’t even entirely sure he needed sleep but he also stopped pondering a lot of questions of the like a while ago. The Tick would bid Arthur a loud ‘Goodnight little buddy, Just because Evil never Rests does not mean that Justice may never sleep!’ And Arthur would respond with a too fond, ‘Goodnight Tick’. Arthur would then go to his bedroom, change into more comfortable clothing, and collapse into his bed.

Arthur woke up to sunlight peeking through the curtains, he blinked away the sleep from his eyes slowly, a warm heaviness in his bones. ‘This is weird! Where was The Tick barging in at 6am to carry Arthur off to wherever Destiny’s plan took them!’ Arthur thought. Just as Arthur went to roll out of bed in search of his missing roommate, he was stopped by an arm wrapped around his midsection. Now that was not unusual, some of the battles they had fought had left them more than bruised, some nights Arthur awoke to his large roommate trying to carefully slide into his bed beside him. When Arthur asked ‘Tick, what are you doing in my bed?’ He simply responded, ‘You were shouting and wriggling about! Looked like you were having a Nightmare! I rushed to save you from the grips of the fearsome villainy! What kind of hero would I be if I didn’t help my sidekick when he was in need!’ And Arthur couldn’t argue with that logic, well he could but he didn’t because it was 3am and he was half asleep, and in all honestly it was nice to be held. It became sort of a routine, if Arthur was having a nightmare, The Tick would ‘save him’.

The Tick snuggled closer at Arthur’s slight struggling, it seemed the hero was asleep. Arthur slowly rotated in his partner’s grasp, turning to face the bizarre man(pending) wrapped around him. Such a strange sight, usually Arthur was waking up to The Tick shaking him or shouting an inch from his face. It was rare that Arthur was the first to wake up. This morning was so calm and quiet. Like everyone in The City had decided the two heroes had earned a break, a morning to sleep in. Arthur was pulled from his musings by the springs in the bed shifting with his room/bedmate’s weight. The Tick was waking up, and when his eyes finally fluttered open, they met Arthur’s. 

‘G’morning,’ Arthur rasped softly, voice slightly gruff from sleep, trying not to break the sweet quiet that laid over them like a blanket.

‘Good morning little buddy!’ The Tick rasped back, the usual enthusiasm was there but it was soft, dampened.

For a long moment neither of them said anything, simply basking in each other’s presence. This was again quite odd, as typically the second The Tick knew Arthur’s eyes were open, he hauled them both out of bed and into the kitchen. Usually with the request that Arthur help him with the coffee pot. Instead The Tick pulled his sidekick in closer, nuzzling into the crook of Arthur’s neck with a mumble of, ‘You’re so handsome and soft.’ 

If it was anyone else, Arthur would probably feel insecure at the soft comment. But it was The Tick and he didn’t have an insulting bone in his body, if he had any bones at all. Arthur was still not 100% sure if he had an exoskeleton or not. Now The Tick calling Arthur handsome was new. Not that Arthur thought he was horribly unattractive or anything, but the word didn’t seem accurate to his lack of muscle definition or any defined traits. Especially in comparison to The Tick’s chiseled body, all strong muscles and sharp angles. 

But Arthur didn’t have it in him to argue or question it, he was comfy in his personal blue straight jacket. Though all of this was strange, living with The Tick was strange, and this was a nice sort of odd. Unlike the murder robots or sentient plant people,  kind of weird that Arthur’s day to day life had become. If The Tick wanted to call him handsome and keep him in bed till noon, that was fine by him. 

Then there was a soft kiss placed on his shoulder. ‘Tick, buddy, what was that?’  Arthur asked quietly, he was a little startled. Not because he didn’t want The Tick to kiss him, in fact he thought about it frequently. He just always assumed The Tick was an asexual being, and if he wasn’t, that he definitely would not be interested in someone like Arthur.

‘A kiss!’ Was the short answer Arthur received in response.

‘Yes, I know that, but why?’ Arthur reiterated, sometimes it was easy to forget that talking to The Tick required a certain level of patience and clarity that most people didn’t require. 

‘It’s what partners do, did you not like it?’ The Tick pulled back to look Arthur in the face. He was slightly redder then when The Tick had last looked at him, but he didn’t look necessarily uncomfortable. 

Arthur took a pause at that, how did he explain to the Tick the differences and intricacies of partnerships, ranging from superhero duo partners to the kind of romantic and sexual partners that kiss. But before he could get himself started on a tangent that could go for hours The Tick spoke again. 

‘I know not all partners kiss, but we’re partners and I want to kiss you. Do you not want me to do that, little buddy?’

Arthur thought about it, and all the implications it might have for them, but  settled on a response rather quickly for maybe the first time in his life of constant overthinking. 

‘ I like it when you kiss me and I want to kiss you too,’ Arthur replied almost nervously, as if at the reciprocation The Tick would have decided this was a mistake and reject him.

Instead The Tick smiled, before slowly leaning forward to plant a gentle kiss on Arthur’s lips. After a short moment of shock, Arthur kissed back. It was warm and sweet. They stayed like that, gently moving their lips against each other in a slow waltz until Arthur needed to pull away for air. Once Arthur managed to catch his breath, though the heat in his cheeks didn’t cool, he leaned back in. This time he tentatively poked his tongue against The Tick’s soft, slightly tasting of coffee lips, and to Arthur’s surprise The Tick parted his lips. Their tongues met, before The Tick pressed in closer, sliding his tongue against Arthur’s and into his mouth. Arthur felt as The Tick thoroughly explored the inside of his mouth, gently prodding at his teeth and gums, before eventually settling with trying his best to curl their tongues together.

The Tick shifts Arthur to lay on him, if it was anyone else Arthur would have been worried about crushing them as he was not a light man. Arthur has little time to dwell on that fact as the Tick’s large hands were slowly exploring his exposed chest, having forgone a sleep shirt the night before. The Tick hummed against his partner's mouth, followed by a soft gasp from said partner as Tick’s hand had found Arthur’s nipples. Arthur had never thought he was particularly sensitive there, but clearly he had been doing it wrong, as with every brush from the Tick’s thumb electricity was sent down his spine, the heat pooling in his groin.

Arthur pulls away slightly, biting his lip to try and keep any other noises from escaping. A flush settles across his cheeks, partially from embarrassment and partially from the arousal he feels swirling inside him. All because of The Tick. The Tick himself doesn't seem too distressed about not kissing Arthur anymore, instead his focus turns down to the other man’s chest. Arthur opens his mouth to ask what’s on the large blue man’s mind but before he can get a word out, The Tick leans forward and licks across Arthur’s nipple. As The Tick does so he looks up curiously at Arthur for approval. He gets it in the form of the shorter man crying out, an almost wounded sounding whimper. But it doesn’t hurt, not at all, quite the opposite. Arthur collapses forward, arms lazily bracketing The Tick’s head. His chest heaves with panting breaths, forgetting to keep his hips angled away from his roommate’s chest as The Tick slips his mouth around Arthur’s pert nipple. One of the superhero’s hands shifts to play with the neglected nipple, while his mouth and large tongue laves over the other. The bigger man’s other hand slides down Arthur’s side and across his back until it’s able to cup and grope and squeeze at Arthur’s plump ass. Arthur can’t help himself, hips trying to both grind back into the huge warm palm gripping at his backside and thrust forward to hump his now aching cock into the delightfully hard planes of The Tick’s abs. He knew it’d been way too long since he’d gotten laid, his delirious mind struggling to remember a time when it had been more than just his hand or a nice piece of silicone. It was hard to think about anything other than the deliciously warm mouth and hands on him along with the hard and strong body under his.

The almost delirious feeling didn’t leave Arthur, not even after The Tick pulled his mouth off Arthur’s nipple with a soft pop. The sidekick took his chance to try and breathe but was once again quickly overwhelmed as The Tick switched his mouth over to the other nipple, before picking up his ministrations again. Arthur gasped out a cry, dipping his head as one of his hands shot up to cradle the back of his partner’s head, wanting to watch as the Tick seemed to lose himself in the feeling of Arthur’s flesh in his mouth as much as Arthur was losing himself to being in The Tick’s mouth.

Arthur felt so close, his cock dribbling a wet spot in his boxers where it was pressed against The Tick’s chest. He let out a pitiful sound as he slowly led Tick from his nipple up to lock lips with him again. Before making a descent down his blue roommate’s body, a trail of kisses, licks and bites following. The Tick gently ran fingers through Arthur’s short hair, making soft deep sighs and sounds of pleasure. He watched as his sidekick made it to the place where a bulge in blue lay, throbbing in anticipation. Arthur was extremely pleased. Nuzzling the bulge and mouthing at it, enjoy the scent of The Tick’s arousal and the warm weight against his lips and tongue as he showered his hero’s cock in gentle affection. As he buried his face against the throbbing warmth, hands creeping up with the intention to unveil the cock he desired so desperately, he closed his eyes to focus on and memorize the sensation…

Chapter Text

As Arthur’s eyes blinked back open, he blearily realized he wasn’t face first between The Tick’s thighs, but face first in his pillows, alone. His skin was hot and flushed, sweat making his sheets and sleep shirt stick to his skin. He lets out a few quick, quiet breaths in an attempt to call his rapidly beating heart. He couldn’t help but feel ashamed of what his sleeping mind had concocted for him. He shifted slightly, moving to peek over at the alarm clock sitting on the end table beside his bed. He lets out a soft groan as he stretches over to see the bright red numbers and to ease the sleepy ache nestled in his spine. The softly glowing numbers read 3am, blinking silently back at the dark haired man. This time when he lets out a groan it’s in annoyance instead of the sweet bliss of joints popping. He still had at least 3 hours before Tick would be barging into his room to wake him. Arthur rolls over onto his back, bringing his hand up to scrub loosely at his eyes, it’s at that moment he’s reminded of the result of his dream. He’s tenting his boxers, he can feel the damp spot near the head of his cock, dragging against the sensitive, flushed skin there.

Arthur lets out a sigh, the sound a blend of annoyance and exhaustion. He’d need to take care of that one way or another before The Tick came barging into his room and got too curious for his own good, as he often did. Arthur really didn’t feel like potentially having to explain erections to his roommate at 3 in the morning.  He weighs his options carefully, either a cold shower, or a little self pleasure. If he went for a shower, he’d have to leave his bedroom, meaning if The Tick was still home, Arthur could be caught on his way to deal with the problem, leading back to the initial issue of it being too early to explain his arousal to his partner in crime fighting. He didn’t really want to leave the warmth of his bed. As he considers his practically already decided choice, one of his hands makes the slow journey down his body, to lightly palm at his erection. Arthur hadn’t really felt this brand of relief in quite some time, living with the Tick didn’t really afford him much privacy. So the answer was clear, he is gonna jerk off.

It’s not like Arthur hadn’t ever touched himself before, but it had been some time since he’s had the chance to. He considered rushing through the whole ordeal, concerned that if he took too long he may be interrupted, but he had roughly 3 hours. So he figured he’d be able to take his time and truly enjoy some self pleasure. He lets himself stretch out comfortably across his bed, spreading his legs slightly. Arthur trails his hands down his body, closing his eyes and allowing his mind to drift away and fantasize. He tries to keep his mind off his big blue roommate and the dream that had lead to his predicament in the first place. Arthur would feel guilty and ashamed for using The Tick as spank bank material so he tried to focus on something else, anyone else. 

Arthur’s mind conjures up American Maid, on account of him and Tick having teamed up with her recently.  She was an attractive woman no doubt, but she wasn’t really his type. As in women weren’t really his type. He had known he wasn’t straight for a long time, never really had an interest in women, as a teen he was more interested in comics than he was girls. It was an old habit, one left over from those teen years of denial and internalized disgust, leading to him trying to conjure the image of a woman at all. Arthur frowns to himself slightly, his erection flagging slightly at the thought of his teenage years. He shakes his head slightly trying to loosen himself back up and remember he’s supposed to be enjoying this. Maybe if he just got started the fantasies would follow. Arthur rubs himself through his boxers, his right hand stroking himself through the cotton, bringing his cock back up to full mast. His eyes flutter shut again, letting out a quiet sigh at the pleasant feeling. 

His left hand comes up to gently pinch and twist his nipple, letting out a soft sound of pleasure at the dual sensations. His mind starts to wander, finally in the right direction. A pale set of hard abs, a deliciously flushed cock, full pecs. Arthur’s mind fills not so much with a fantasy but a collection of disjointed points of attraction. But it’s enough, imagining large hands, that make him feel small running across his body, caressing and squeezing in fond appreciation. Arthur’s hands pause their ministrations to slip his boxers down his hips until he can kick them the rest of the way off, becoming lost in the blankets that trail down with them. He picks up his previous actions, switching his left hand to fondle the other side of his chest, right hand now stroking without the cotton barrier in the way. The skin to skin contact feels divine or maybe Arthur just hasn’t been touched in too long. 

He tries his best to get lost in the feeling, trying to find that edge, but it always seems out of reach. After what feels like hours but must only have been a few minutes, Arthur sighs in annoyance at himself, at his mind and body. His hands go lax, laying limply across his body for a moment. He briefly wonders if he should just call it quits, give up and roll over and try to get a few more hours of sleep.

 But then Arthur remembers a purchase he had made in a fit of drunken desperation that he still feels hot with shame about. He crawls his way over to the edge of his bed carefully hanging over the edge to peer into the darkness underneath. One of his hands comes down to the floor to hold himself up, the situation was already embarrassing enough, the last thing he needs is to topple over and have to wait for the Tick to barge in and find him with a broken bone, naked save for his shirt, on his bedroom floor. Arthur carefully scrounges around, shoving old shoe boxes and a suitcase out of the way until he finds it. A simple black case with a latch on it, it didn’t look dissimilar to a travel makeup case, it was almost innocuous. But what was held inside was much more embarrassing than some beauty products. 

Once Arthur finally managed to drag the case and himself back up onto the bed, he shot a glance at the door to his bedroom, as if his roommate would come barging through the door and rip the bag out of his hands and shame him for what lay inside. That didn’t happen though. Instead nothing did, the apartment was still and quiet save for Arthur’s quietly panting breaths. Finally Arthur undoes the simple latch, more for show than actually keeping anyone out, revealing a decently sized bottle of lube and the more embarrassing item, a large, blue, silicone dildo. As Arthur looks at it his face feels like it’s on fire, a heat of humiliation burning in his gut, but more so than that arousal. The toy was at least 9 inches long and girthy, decorated with ridged rings, giving the appearance of eight segments from the proportionate balls to the round, slightly hooded tip, two columns of small bumps lined all the way up, two on each segment until they converge to one dot right under the head. Arthur couldn’t help but pick the toy up, lightly stroking the hand that had not moments ago been on his own cock, up and down the silicone, mimicking the actions he had performed on himself. 

Arthur bought the dildo knowing what it would make him think of as he used it. Knowing it would only invoke thoughts about The Tick. He let out a defeated sigh as his cock throbbed, it was a losing battle to pretend he didn’t want this or his roommate and maybe in the quiet of his room, all alone, he could accept that. If it was anyone else, maybe he wouldn’t feel so guilty. Arthur carefully laid the toy up against his pillow before snatching the bottle of lube out of the case. He positioned himself using one of the many pillows on his bed. Now his fingers had easier access to his hole. It had been quite some time since Arthur had done something like this so he knew he was gonna need quite a bit of prep, at least three fingers, but he always liked to go up to four to be safe. There was nothing fun or sexy about tearing his hole. 

Arthur generously lathered his hand with lube before clicking the bottle shut and trailing his lubed up fingers down his body towards his awaiting entrance. He gently rubbed the lube all around his hole, making sure it was thoroughly coated before beginning to carefully prod and press into his opening. Slowly beckoning it to open for his finger, Arthur let out a soft sound as he slid one finger in until the second knuckle. It didn’t really feel like much of a stretch, his hole opening rather easily to the intrusion. Arthur began to lightly move his finger, wiggling it around inside himself, slipping it almost all the way out before pressing back in until the last knuckle was swallowed. He hummed softly at the sensation, it had been quite some time indeed. He quickly moved onto two fingers, pulling the one out before pressing back into his entrance with two. The stretch  burned more, but it also felt much better, already Arthur could start to taste the delight of being filled, just on the horizon. He let out a soft gasp as he too pressed those fingers as far as he could inside himself. The pleasure was so much more tangible as he spread them apart, doing a scissoring motion to persuade his walls to welcome more. Followed by Arthur giving them a few slow thrusts, his fingertips barely brush that spot deep within his gummy walls. 

Arthur slightly jolted at the barely there brush against his prostate, the pleasure tingling up his spine and causing him to let out a soft moan. He allowed himself a few more almost touches, before he pulled his hand away entirely, reaching back over with his clean hand and squirting more lube onto his fingers, he knew there was no such thing as too much. Before he proceeded to stuff the third finger in alongside the first two, letting out a soft whine at the stretch. The burn was more apparent now, but Arthur pressed on, thoroughly stretching himself out as he thought about what it may be like, if he wasn’t alone. If the hero he’d been pining after for so long was here, stretching his hole open around large, thick fingers, with the promise of something more filling to come. The Tick’s deep voice, rumbling into Arthur’s ears as he promised him pleasure and adoration. Before he knew it Arthur was rocking lightly back onto four of his own fingers, grinding roughly as his mind conjured images and sounds of his roommate inside him instead of his own hand. The teasing brushes against his prostate combined with the mental show could have been enough to let him reach his peak. But not tonight. No, tonight Arthur wanted to cum from the imitation of his partner in crime fighting, and wanted to give in fully to his fantasy. His shame fell away in favor of his desire.

Arthur slipped his fingers out of himself shifting again to be comfortably laid on the bed, on his back, he carefully picked up the blue silicone. Before he went to lube it up, he gave a brief pause to lick and kiss over the toy, slobbering all over it, letting his eyes close and for a moment allowing himself to believe he was worshiping the cock he had dreamed of for months. But he was impatient, wound up so tight at this point Arthur could not spend as much time as he would have liked laving attention on the dildo. He quickly lubed it up properly and began to slide it into his well prepped entrance, even so it was still a tight fit, a bit of a stretch. He let out a long low groan at the feeling, he felt stuffed already, and the toy was only halfway inside. Arthur wondered if the Tick was of the same size, or maybe even larger, he drooled thinking about what it would be like to be stuffed near to the point of bursting. 

Slowly but surely Arthur began to thrust the toy inside himself. Every time the silicone cock was pulled out only to be shoved back inside he let out a punched out moan. It was so deep, pressing against the little bundle of nerves inside his walls with every inward thrust. It felt the closest to divine as anything Arthur had ever experienced. His eyes were tightly shut as he let the images in his mind take over. The Tick, leaned over him, hands on his hips, thrusting into him and grunting out his pleasure and praise as he took from Arthur’s body. Occasionally Arthur’s eyes would pop open to watch as the large blue cock disappeared into his entrance, before the pleasure would overwhelm him again, leading to his eyes squeezing back shut. But it wasn’t enough, so with a slightly annoyed sigh, followed by a slight gasp as Arthur slipped the toy out of his hole. He pushed himself up onto his knees, gathering up a few pillows, stacking them carefully before balancing the silicone cock between them. He then mounted them and the cock, sitting down on the toy with a drawn out moan as it returned to it’s place deep inside him. Then Arthur began to bounce, moaning softly as the toy now hit his prostate with every grind and thrust. He was starting to get louder unknowingly, it just felt so good. The sensation of being stuffed over and over mixed with the sights and sounds inside his mind was intense, it was heaven like. It was mind numbing, almost. 

Arthur was almost completely lost in the combination of pleasure and his fantasies when he heard it. The sound of the apartment’s front door closing meaning, someone had come inside. The Tick was home. Arthur froze momentarily, panicked at what his roommate may have heard, only now considering how loud and unabashed he had become. But he quickly kicked into action, knowing he had moments before the Tick would burst into his room, he was rushed as he tried to dismount the toy and pull the blankets to cover his nude body. Pulling the blankets up from where they had been kicked to the edges of the bed in his fervor to be filled. Arthur frantically pushed the pillows back near the headboard in a less suspicious manner to how they had been piled towards the center of the bed. Just as he had barely managed to get settled, the door to his bedroom swung open, and his roommate wandered in cautiously. 

Chapter Text

The Tick was careful as he stepped into Arthur’s room, expecting his small roommate to be fast asleep in his bed. But what he found instead was somewhat puzzling. Arthur was not asleep, instead he was sitting up in his bed, blankets pooled around his waist. He was flushed from the apples of his cheeks down his shoulders and chest, coated in a thin sheen of sweat. His short dark, slightly curly hair was a mess atop his head, more so than usual, as he blinked owlishly at The Tick. What was originally confusion on the blue man’s face morphed into understanding. He carefully came to the side of Arthur’s bed, setting a paper bag from their favorite bodega down on the end table. He then turned to face his flushed, panting roommate, and offered Arthur a comforting smile.

“Bad dream, little fella?” The Tick asked softly, quelling his usually boisterous tone. 

Realization hit Arthur like one of the many villains they’d faced together. Tick thought he’d had a bad dream, he was none the wiser to the fact that Arthur had just been getting off to the thought of him. The shorter man let out a small sigh of relief, relaxing slightly. He hated lying to his roommate but it would save them both from some dreadful embarrassment so he just silently nodded his head. 

The Tick let out a hum of understanding before opening his arms wide, inviting Arthur to place himself inside his embrace. Arthur welcomed the excuse to hide his face against his partner’s broad chest, feeling large strong arms quickly wrap around him. He had shifted up onto his knees, giving himself better mobility to burrow against The Tick. The larger of the two men gently held his roommate close. One of his hands gently swipes up and down along Arthur’s spine, in a soft comforting gesture, hoping to chase away any lingering feelings of unease the nightmare may have wrangled up.

“I’m sorry, pal.” The Tick breaks the silence, sounding genuinely remorseful, though for what Arthur didn’t understand.

Arthur slightly pulls back though, still remaining in his partner in crime fighting’s hold, just enough to look up at his face. 

“Wha-” Arthur pauses to clear his throat, “What do you have to be sorry for, Tick?” He manages, he feels distantly guilty, like he has caused The Tick this grief. Even if he has no idea what he could have done, unless The Tick somehow found out about what he’d been doing mere moments before. Maybe The Tick had realized and didn’t want to be partners with someone so perverted. Anxiety slowly built inside the pit of Arthur’s stomach as the thoughts began to pile up.

“I wasn’t here to protect you.” The Tick says it with that same quiet self-directed disappointment, as he gazes down at Arthur. The Tick was rarely regretful or self conscious, there was a long time where Arthur didn’t even think he could feel anything but full confidence and a thirst for justice. But he supposed in moments like this it was even more clear how deep The Tick’s desire for wrongs to be righted went, no matter how small anyone else thought they were. Arthur couldn’t keep the charade up even if he wanted to, he couldn’t let The Tick feel a guilt that didn’t belong to him. The shorter of the two let out a resigned sigh before speaking.

“Tick, I wasn’t having a nightmare,” He says as he pulls slightly out of The Tick’s hold, looking away from his partner’s face, unable to bear whatever expression of disappointment or betrayal that he was sure would cross it.

The Tick’s hands shifted lower along Arthur’s back, confusion written loosely across his sharp features. It was at that moment that Arthur remembered his state of undress, his cheeks flushed but he tried to be subtle as he pulled the blanket more securely over his naked body.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed, little buddy, there’s no shame in having nightmares. No need to deny it,” The larger of the two finally spoke, tone aiming for comfort, knowing his partner often felt shame and embarrassment over things The Tick himself would never feel.

“No, Tick, I’m serious, I wasn’t having a nightmare. I was…” Arthur’s slight frustration at The Tick not understanding was swept away by a wave of shame at what he’d have to admit to. Not just that he lied, but what he was lying about. He swallows down the lump that formed in his throat before continuing.

“I was touching myself,” Arthur mumbles, staring down at the sheets pooled in his lap, embarrassment coating his whole body like ice water.

The large blue man pauses at that, his confusion only growing. Why would his pal touching himself make him all flushed and sweaty, why would it make him look so panicked? Surely Arthur wouldn’t be embarrassed about The Tick knowing such things, they both touched themselves and each other all the time. The hero truly didn’t understand.

The Tick lets out a chuckle, “ah, you almost had me there, my comedic chum,” he voices as he feigns wiping a tear from his eye, shaking his head in humor. “Why would touching yourself leave you so sweaty and panicked? You didn’t want me to know?” The Tick continues in jest, as if the idea is ludicrous.

Arthur on the other hand looks mortified, now realizing he’d have to explain what he meant, he was going to have to explain to his potentially alien roommate and best friend what masturbation is. This must be some kind of nightmare, maybe he never woke up. Arthur moves to rub at his face with both hands as if he can rouse himself from this nightmare with that alone. When he pulls his hands from his face, The Tick is still sitting on his bed in front of him, face alight with mirth, and he’s still naked.

“No, Tick, I meant I was masturbating… I was touching my penis, for sexual pleasure.” Arthur sighs out in defeat, he knew there was no way to beat around the bush with The Tick, he doesn't know why he tried in the first place.

The Tick is quiet for a long moment, long enough for Arthur’s anxiety and shame to build, The Tick was hardly ever quiet for long.

“Like sex?” The Tick finally asks, his face twisted in confusion as he glanced around the room curiously. As if the answer was tucked behind the blinds or hidden in the corner of the room. 

Of all the questions Arthur had mentally prepared for, it wasn’t that one. Though he really should have. “...I guess, sort of? But, like with myself?” Arthur states though it comes out sounding more like a question rather than the explanation it was supposed to be. The shorter man’s face tightened up like he ate a lemon, confusion and shame an aggressive mix on his features.

“You’re able to reproduce by yourself?!” The Tick cheers quizzically, practically radiating excitement at the concept. 

Arthur lets out a baffled huff of a laugh, as he slowly shakes his head, almost disbelieving. The Tick is practically vibrating as he considers the possibility he’s created in his own brain.

“Um, no Tick, I can’t reproduce on my own. I… I wasn’t doing it to reproduce, I was doing it because it feels good.” Arthur explains as one hand makes a vague gesture in explanation, not quite able to find it in himself to be frustrated with The Tick’s misunderstanding. “Have you… Have you not ever pleasured yourself, Tick?” Arthur only thinks of how dumb of a question that is to ask after it has fallen from his lips.

The Tick considers the question for several moments, before shaking his head. 

“No, I can’t remember ever doing something like that, but being around you and saving folks pleases me quite a bit.” The Tick hums thoughtfully before nodding as if he finally understood. Arthur had a suspicion he didn’t actually understand, because if the Tick had, that would mean he was implying that he felt sexual pleasure from saving people and more unbelievably from being near Arthur. As much as the latter would be Arthur's deepest desires realized, Arthur shook his head again. 

“No, Tick, it’s not that kind of pleasure, it’s a special, um personal kind. Usually, well, most people will have some sort of physical reaction to… whatever the pleasing thing is.” Arthur’s face was flushed, trying really hard not to picture The Tick getting an erection, or whatever arousal might look like on his partner. He was especially trying not to think about the fantasies he’d indulged in earlier. 

The Tick hummed in consideration again, puzzling over the concept for a long moment. His hands shifted slightly, coming to rest gently on Arthur’s hips. Eventually The Tick turned his head back to face the shorter man.

“Could you show me?” The Tick asks curiously, seeming to not notice the way Arthur goes rigid and flushes the color of firetrucks.

Arthur really should have seen this coming, but he is still stunned into silence. A million thoughts race through his head at once, an argument happening within his mind. One part of him lights up at the idea of one of his greatest, if not equally greatly repressed fantasies coming to life, while the more realistic part of his mind questions the morality of teaching your giant blue roommate about masturbation through voyeurism while you are very much into him.

“-buddy?” Arthur manages to catch the tail end of whatever the Tick must have been saying in an attempt to get his attention, a very large blue hand gently waving in front of his face. Arthur manages to shake his head lightly as if to loosen some of the thoughts from his brain and into his mouth in the form of a reply.

“Um, yes? Sorry what? What did you say?” Arthur spits out finally, blinking rapidly at The Tick’s inquisitive face.

“I asked if you were alright little buddy,” The Tick repeated, concern dampening his curious expression slightly. His hand lowered to rest gently on the bed sheets between them. Arthur nods his head way too fast to appear as nonchalant as he was aiming for.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m good,” He manages to squeak out before addressing the elephant in the room. “And, Tick, well that’s not really the kind of things friends do together or for each other?” Arthur tries to explain but even to his own ears he sounds unsure.

“But we are not just friends, we are partners,” The Tick corrects, “Aren’t we supposed to help each other?” He asks carefully, pulling even further away from Arthur.

Arthur struggles silently for several moments, how was he supposed to explain all the differences between types of partners concisely to The Tick. And on top of that he couldn’t shake how disappointed The Tick sounded as he questioned their partnership. Upsetting The Tick was a bit like kicking a big blue puppy, it felt wrong on any level, like Arthur was a bad person for doing it. Not to mention how he was reeling from how much this line of conversation mirrored the one from the dream that caused all of this in the first place.

“We do, Tick, you know we do, it’s just that normal business partners don’t really do sexual stuff together. I don’t want you to feel like you have to learn these things from me, there are lots of resources online about it, I could set you up with some videos or articles?” Arthur offers, trying not to remember the last time he’d allowed The Tick internet access and all the questions that came with it. Maybe if he supervised or set it up it wouldn’t be like last time. Though the idea of finding porn for The Tick to learn from made Arthur’s skin simultaneously flush and crawl. But it seemed better than potentially taking advantage of the hero’s naivety.

“I do not trust the internet.” The Tick commented simply with an almost scowl on his face, and it was true, he wasn’t very good at navigating it and was still trying to understand the concept that most of the things he read and saw online were in fact fake, in one way or another.

Arthur sighed, staring down at the sheets racked up around his hips. “I know, but… Tick you do understand this isn’t the kind of stuff all heroes and sidekicks are up to? That this is the kind of thing reserved for romantic partners?” The shorter man finally manages to get the words out, feeling like he was relenting and feeling guilt and shame at the concept. He wanted to ensure The Tick fully understood before they continued, if they continued. He wouldn’t be able to stand himself if his roommate came out of this looking at him differently, or even didn’t want to work with him or live with him or generally didn’t want to share his life anymore. 

The Tick nodded solemnly, “I understand… you do not wish to continue? I understand that most romantic partnerships consist of a man and a woman, and we are both men. You must only want this from a woman?” He spoke quietly, attempting to sound unbothered but unable to manage to completely hide his dismay.

“What?” Is all Arthur could manage to spit out. At least he got confirmation that the Tick is in fact a man, but he was baffled at the idea that the only problem the Tick could find with them becoming a romantic pair is that he had assumed Arthur is straight.  “Tick, I’m gay.” Arthur said, snapping his gaze up to meet the hero’s eyes. 

“Oh. So it is me then? That you do not wish to romance with me?” The Tick says as if Arthur’s sexuality was of no surprise to him, but instead he was more focused and upset by the idea that Arthur wasn’t attracted to him.

“What? Tick, no!” Arthur spits out before he can really consider his words, anything to right this misunderstanding and heal the potential hurt he could be causing The Tick. “You’re the most handsome man anyone has ever seen, how could I not be attracted to you? You’re like most people’s walking wet dream.” Arthur barrels on, not stopping to notice the light flush covering his partner’s cheeks at the compliments spilling past his lips.

“I think I felt something for you since the first day you came crashing into my life.” He finishes lamely. His words finally caught up to him, and he’s left feeling a bit like he’d been speeding only to slam on the brakes and feel all the force catch up to  him. 

“Then why can’t we become romance partners?” The Tick says with a hint of his usual blinding smile, sneaking onto his face for what feels like the first time in days, when in reality it had only been a few hours at most. The Tick felt as though his adoration for his sidekick was obvious, at least if his interactions with Arthur’s mom and sister were anything to go by.

This felt like a natural next step for them, but he was still puzzled as to why Arthur seemed so hesitant. Though it wasn’t unusual for his partner in crime fighting to often become anxious and weary when there was no need in The Tick’s opinion. So he gave him time to think and gently placed a hand on his dear pal’s shoulder. He then gave an encouraging pat and offered a reassuring smile to the smaller man.

Arthur was floundering, the Tick suggested it so easily, as if it didn’t change everything. Arthur thought about it, silencing the part of his brain that just kept screaming ‘we can’t’ but when prompted why it just repeated itself. He really thought about it. They already shared an apartment, oftentimes even shared a bed. The Tick was no stranger to invading Arthur’s personal space, why not welcome him into it. The Tick was already quite touchy and affectionate. And then it hit Arthur. Was The Tick’s desire for physical closeness this whole time him showing his crush for Arthur? The thought stunned the sidekick for a moment, reanalyzing their relationship and interactions and realizing how he’d been the oblivious one this whole time or at least one of the oblivious ones. 

Time after Time the Tick had been practically trying to court Arthur, and he didn’t even notice, too busy trying to hide and disguise his own feelings that he couldn’t even see his roommate’s affections for him. Hell they were practically married at this point sharing every aspect of their lives but one. The one that The Tick was trying to show interest in and Arthur was trying to deny them both, for no good reason. Just because there was a small anxious part of him that said they shouldn’t. But Arthur was tired of denying himself things he wanted because he was scared. He trusted The Tick, more than anyone else in his life. 

When Arthur finally speaks, “Okay, let’s do it,” is what he settles on. The Tick beams at the shorter man, drawing him into his large arms in a tight celebratory hug. “But, you do want to be, like, boyfriends, right? Not just for me to teach you about sexual stuff?” Arthur asks breathlessly, feeling quite nervous for this next step, though now a quiet thrum of excitement underlined the nerves he was feeling.

The Tick released him for a moment tilting his head down to look Arthur in the face, “Yes, boyfriends! Romantic partners! Lovers! I would like to explore everything with you. But we do not have to explore the sexual things together if that is not something you yearn for as well,” The Tick explains excitedly but tamping it down towards the end of the sentence in hopes to convey to his partner how serious he was about his comfort. 

“I would!” Arthur spits out before he can really think his words through, “I mean, I would like that, if you want to, too,” He finishes lamely, nervously fiddling with the sheet slung across his waist. His mind is flooded with images of his dream and earlier activities, causing a flush to spread across his face and spill down his chest. “We could just start with kissing? To ease into it.” He tacks on, making it sound like he wanted to take it slow because of The Tick, but really it was for himself. He hadn’t ever really kissed anyone, definitely not someone he was actually interested in. He vaguely worried he’d be bad at it, that maybe the hero would hate kissing him so much that they’d never do it again. The Tick nods, smiling brightly, oblivious to his now boyfriend’s inner turmoil. “Yes, please, let’s!” He declares eagerly. The larger man gently brings his hands up to cup Arthur’s face, which just causes the blush to seep further down the smaller man’s chest and across his shoulders as he looks up at the Tick. 

The Tick still being taller than him even when they are seated, causes something to stir in Arthur’s chest. Not an uncommon feeling for him these days. Ever since The Tick made himself such a staple in Arthur’s previously boring life. Arthur for the first time in a while just relaxes as he looks up at his partner in everything now, and knows if it were anyone else this would be a mistake. But it’s The Tick, and as Arthur looks up at him, it’s impossible to think that this could be anything but the right choice. 

Arthur leans up and gently presses their lips together in nothing more than a gentle peck, barely a brush of the lips. But it’s enough to cause the hero to hum quietly in surprise, before he is leaning into it, even as Arthur tries to pull back slightly to gauge The Tick’s response. The Tick chases, leaning closer, curious and desperate for more of the affectionate gesture. The soft warm press of his partner’s lips against his, he had no idea something could feel so warm and plush, so welcoming. It was almost addictive. Arthur doesn’t leave him wanting for long, pressing their lips together more firmly and for longer. 

Arthur lets himself sink into the feeling, the warm strong hands cupping his soft jaw, and the insistent press of lips against his. Letting himself truly enjoy and revel in the feeling. The feeling of being wanted even in such a simple way, able to feel the adoration as it’s pressed onto his own lips. The sidekick’s hands creep up to rest upon The Tick’s broad shoulders, gently urging him closer, even if it isn’t physically possible. Arthur can’t help the way he yearns for this closeness with his partner. 

The Tick lets out a soft hum of delight before, Arthur barely pulls back to breathe again, not letting either of them pull away too far. Arthur breathes softly against his boyfriend’s lips, vaguely wondering if The Tick even needs to breathe the way he does. But he’s quickly distracted by the temptation of leaning back in to feel him again. Reuniting their lips, but this time The Tick dares to be slightly adventurous, curious as he’s always been, he barely parts his lips this time. But Arthur follows his lead as always, for maybe the first time without hesitation, parting his lips and pressing closer. Urged on by The Tick’s soft sigh of pleasure, his tongue flicks out lightly against the hero’s lips. Arthur’s desire to taste the taller man temporarily satiated. 

The light caress of Arthur’s tongue on The Tick’s lips causes him to open his mouth slightly wider, a soft gasp escaping. The new sensation causes something to light up in his brain and send a surge of delight through his stomach. He never knew exploring such things could bring so much enjoyment, though he figured a large part of this was due to it being Arthur he was kissing. Arthur got bolder with every positive reaction his partner gave, licking more fully into his mouth, tilting his head slightly to get a better angle. Allowing himself to become truly lost in exploring and memorizing The Tick’s taste and feel. 

Finally pulling away, Arthur pants roughly against The Tick’s mouth. Upon this small reprieve Arthur notices their slight change in position. The shorter man having made his way to sit in the hero’s lap, The Tick’s large hands having shifted to have one poised on Arthur’s hip and the other wrapped around his waist. Arthur’s own arms have looped around his partner’s neck, holding him close. The Tick didn’t even seem to realize that his partner was without any clothes, instead looking too dazed to notice, a thin strand of saliva keeping them tethered together.

That is until Arthur breaks it, “Um, h-how was that?” he asks quietly, suddenly remembering himself and feeling quite shy as a result, he’s never behaved like that before. He wonders if maybe it was a bit too much, if maybe he overdid it. 

The Tick seems to snap back into his brain, smiling brightly with slightly swollen lips. A deep chuckle rumbling in his chest. “You never cease to amaze me, my chum,” He murmurs out happily, his fingers making gentle circles against the bare skin in his reach.

“Oh!” Arthur says with a soft laugh of his own, that was not anywhere near any of the responses he was mentally preparing for. “Thanks?” He huffs out, before letting himself collapse his head against The Tick’s broad chest, smiling softly to himself. Even this was better than he could have expected or hoped for. “You’re really good too, a fast learner,” He tacked on, speaking it into the larger man’s chest, and he meant it. The Tick always seemed to pick things up so quickly for a man who sometimes just seemed clueless.

“Oh my! You are not wearing pants!” The Tick observes out loud, seeming to have just made the realization, his eyes drawn to the exposed pale skin of Arthur’s hips. 

Arthur’s whole face flushes a deeper red than before, so much so that for a moment he fears he will faint from the amount of blood rushing towards his head, but even more humiliating is that he’s half hard. Most of his arousal from his ‘me time’ had died down when the Tick had first barged in, but now it was fighting its way back all thanks to some making out. Arthur felt a bit like a teenager at the thought. His hands come to quickly over himself, while also attempting to remove himself from The Tick’s lap. 

“Now hang on, where are you going?” The Tick sounds genuinely confused, but holds fast regardless, hands quickly tightening around Arthur, preventing him from escaping. The hero was flushed too, something about holding his sidekick nude in his lap, was causing a heat to pool below his stomach. This was a sensation he wasn’t really familiar with, but it excited him.

“Tick, if you let me go and look away, I can put some pants on.” Arthur explains, a little panicked again that The Tick may look down and notice that despite the stress and anxiety the shorter man is currently experiencing his erection isn’t flagging. That the hero will think Arthur is some kind of pervert or quickshot who can’t even handle a little kissing.

The Tick gently shakes his head, “Why would you want to do that, pal? I don’t mind, in fact, I think I quite like being able to feel all of your soft skin. You are very nice to touch.” The Tick admits easily, his hands easing their grip to rub gently up and down the sides of Arthur’s hips as if to demonstrate his pleasure at being able to feel Arthur without any hindrances in the way. 

Arthur looks at The Tick’s face, slightly disbelieving, half expecting the hero’s words to be some kind of joke. All he finds written across the taller man’s face is genuine adoration and delight, and the hands on his hips don’t stop in their motions. Arthur flushes, laughing awkwardly before relaxing, it was just the Tick, and he had never been unkind to anyone, even those that may have deserved it. So he settles. Offering a quiet smile to The Tick with a singular short nod of agreement, fearing any words would come out choked by anxiety.

“May we continue?” The Tick asks beaming at Arthur, happy that he gets to keep access to all the plush skin he’s able to reach.

“Yes,” Arthur breathes out softly, before leaning forward to settle his hips fully against The Ticks and press their lips together again. Letting himself become lost in the feeling that was growing wonderfully familiar to him. The delicious feel of his partner’s lips on his, it made him want to melt. 

The Tick was overjoyed at the reconnection, vaguely wondering why they hadn’t done this sooner. Picturing all the time he could now fill with Arthur pressed against him. Especially with the way he was currently wiggling his hips while their kiss progressed. Small, almost unconscious half aborted thrusts up against his abs, the soft sounds the movements were causing Arthur to hum out. The Tick couldn’t help but use the hands gripping his sidekick’s hips to help guide the motion into full rolls. Leading to Arthur breaking away from the kiss but not going far this time, instead panting out against the hero’s throat and shoulder. Then the sidekick was pressing kisses against the blue that was there, as if he couldn’t help himself, all the while his hips continued their grind against solid muscle. 

The Tick glances down as Arthur marks a path along the blue expanse available to him, noticing Arthur’s flushed cock as it ruts against his flat stomach and abs. Arthur mumbles something where his mouth is pressed against the larger man’s shoulder at the same time The Tick speaks. 

“You’re gorgeous, so soft and pretty all over.” The Tick lightly rasps, his voice slightly abused from the prolonged kissing and the rumbling groans he was letting spill out of him caused by his sidekick pressing his affections into his neck.

Arthur just hummed soft and pleased, distracted by all the delicious sensations he was feeling, for once his mind  was blissfully quiet, focusing on the hero in his grasp. The Tick smiled softly at the almost response he got, curiosity getting the better of him as he gently touched a finger against the head of Arthur’s cock, it was swollen and wet from where it was leaking precum. Arthur let out a sound somewhere between a gasp and a whine, bucking against the contact and finally letting his attention shift. The sidekick looks down at where The Tick was now starting to run long thick fingers along his dick, exploring him. Arthur in turn lets his hands wander, running them along The Tick’s broad body, across his thick hard chest and down his abs.

The taller man lets out a soft hum at the feel of hands roaming his body, he pauses his own exploration to grip Arthur’s hips as he moves to sit properly, leaning back more fully against the pillows resting against the head of the bed. Allowing his partner more room to explore, and more room for him to explore his partner in turn. The Tick’s hand returns to grip Arthur’s cock, gently wrapping his fingers around it, experimentally. He realizes he quite likes the way he can hear how good it feels based on what kinds of sounds each touch gets Arthur to make. 

The shorter man is having a hard time focusing on exploring The Tick’s body when one of the large hands he’s dreamed of for years is currently stroking him so gently, almost lovingly. In a way that Arthur has never been touched and certainly never touched himself. When he was alone it was always something dealt with like a chore, a task to complete as quickly as possible just to get it out of the way. But this was different, it almost felt like a form of worship. He could hardly think around all the heady thoughts dripping out of his head.

“Is this how you do it? When you masturbate?” The Tick asks softly, glancing up from where his eyes were trained on his hand wrapped  around Arthur’s length. He takes in his sidekick’s face for a moment, flushed and open, mouth slightly agape as sounds quietly spill out. 

It takes Arthur a moment to respond, all the blood in his body rushing south as he sinks into the experience fully, if he wasn’t so high off the sensations he might have laughed. It was so like The Tick to even when so focused and in the middle of something so intimate to ask questions and treat it as a lesson to learn. But instead all Arthur manages is an eager nod, urging The Tick to continue touching him the way he was. 

The sidekick lets himself get momentarily lost in the warm hand wrapped around him, thrusting his hips into the strong grip. Before settling back down into The Tick’s lap to continue his exploration of his lover’s body. Running his hands across the blue expanse in his reach, before it clicks that maybe he should be asking some questions of the Tick as well.

“Uh, Tick?” He asks after a minute more. 

The Tick pauses his stroking, loosening his grip around Arthur’s length. “Yeah, little buddy?” 

Arthur tries not to cringe at being referred to as ‘little’ at this point in time, and succeeds as he remembers that this is The Tick, and it likely wasn’t meant as a jab at his size. 

“Is… Is this a suit?” He finally manages to spit out bluntly, forgoing any tack or careful wording. “Nope!” The Tick answers with a confident smile, offering a quiet chuckle, as if Arthur asking was a ridiculous notion.

Arthur pauses for a long moment, a million thoughts piling up in his head, ‘had the Tick been fighting basically in the nude this whole time?’ being the main one. But he mostly just shrugged it off, he supposed it wasn’t that surprising, he’d never seen the hero take it off or make any hint that it wasn’t a part of his body. But it did beg the question, what was he packing, if anything at all. Arthur wouldn’t mind if all they could do was kiss and stuff involving The Tick’s insanely large hands, wouldn’t see an issue at all if The Tick was as flat as a ken doll. They could and would make it work. 

As those thoughts float around in his head, The Tick starts up his attention on Arthur’s cock again. Arthur manages to notice something. Right along where the taller man’s crotch connects to his abs, up to where a belly button would be if he had one, is a slightly misaligned piece of what Arthur now realizes is The Tick’s skin or exoskeleton or maybe carapace, Arthur wasn’t sure. What he was sure of, is that this had never happened before, or he’d been really unobservant. It was like the codpiece on a piece of the outer armor had been slightly pushed up and away from the rest of The Tick’s body. Arthur couldn’t help his curiosity, bringing a hand over to trail a finger right along the lip of the protrusion, and that gets a response out of The Tick, a gasping sound leaking from his lips as his hand stalls. 

Arthur glances up at the hero’s face to make sure this was okay, that it didn’t hurt. But as he glanced up at his partner’s face all he saw was slightly confused delight. Like even The Tick wasn’t expecting it to feel good, but it did seem like it felt good to him. So Arthur let himself continue tracing along the rim of the misaligned section. Until eventually with enough gentle coaxing the section seemed to pop open fully, revealing a segmented slit, matching the rest of the new discoveries. And right as Arthur was reconsidering his thoughts about being the one to get fucked and instead mentally preparing to be the one to do the fucking, the slit slipped apart making way for a similarly segmented protrusion that Arthur couldn’t imagine was anything other than a cock.

The sidekick is momentarily shocked by how much it resembles his late night, drunken  impulse buy. Arthur was stunned into silence, staring unspeakingly, before his hand moved of its own volition to explore the new discovery. Before he makes contact he pauses, his hand hovering over the segmented appendage, looking up again to check in on The Tick’s feelings about the newly transpiring ordeal. As he gazes up at the hero’s face, he notices that he’s already being stared at. The taller man is looking down at Arthur and the phallic shape only centimeters from his hand with an awestruck expression, somewhere between shock  and amazement.

“Has this ever happened before?” Arthur finally voices, he sounds slightly raspy, finding himself a bit shocked at the sound of his own voice.

The Tick takes a moment to shake his head, as if to bring himself back to the here and now, instead of wherever his mind disappeared to. “No, can’t say it has, my chum.”  He speaks, his voice taking on a high almost reedy quality as he does.

Arthur hums out an acknowledgement, his eyes flickering back and forth between The Tick’s face and the appendage. “Is it okay if I, um, touch it- you?” The shorter man asks softly, nerves seeping slowly back into his tone.

“Yes, explore away, pal.” The hero says after several careful deep breaths, his gaze never faltering from Arthur’s face. He offers his partner a shy, yet reassuring smile, his cheeks flushed and his pupils dilated. 

Arthur gives one quick sure nod. His fingers moving to trail from base to tip, gently exploring the ridges and bumps, a mix of curious and cautious as he explores. The sidekick glances up from where his gaze had been trained at a sharp intake of breath coming from The Tick’s lips. Arthur makes a decision in that moment, letting his fingers move away from The Tick’s arousal. Instead he places them on the mattress either side of his partner’s hips as he shifts his body down the bed, leg brushing against the long abandoned silicone toy from earlier as he moves. 

Finally he comes face to face with The Tick’s cock. It’s blue, much like the rest of the taller man, segmented and slightly curved upward. A shiny, almost clear liquid beads slowly out of the tip, drawing Arthur’s attention to a small divot in the center of the head. He feels a strong desire to lick it, vaguely wondering what it would taste like. And for a moment he wishes he had practiced using his month more with the toy. Arthur didn’t want to simultaneously disappoint The Tick and embarrass himself. 

The sidekick eventually succumbs to his curiosity, leaning forward to lick at that divot, swiping up the liquid with his tongue. The fluid is tangy, but not unpleasant. He closes his mouth around the head this time, wrapping his lips around it. Arthur swirls his tongue across the ridge that separates the head from the rest of the segmented length. A whining groan sounds from above him, causing him to quickly glance upwards. Light eyes meeting darker ones, Arthur had been so lost in chasing the interest that called for his curiosity to be stated that he had, for a moment, forgotten where he was and who he was with. That the cock he was currently suckling belonged to someone, more specifically his partner in all aspects, The Tick. 

The hero looked dazed, like Arthur had seen him look many times before when having taken an especially rough beating from a villain. But this time there was an almost dopey quality to his expression, mouth slightly dropped open to pant out little gasping breaths. It was like nothing the shorter man had ever seen on The Tick’s face. A flush trailing from his cheeks down his heaving chest, his eyes trained downard on Arthur. Never wavering, even as heavily lidded as they were getting, they remained focused on his sidekick. A look of overwhelming adoration pouring from the look he was giving Arthur.

The smaller man was stunned, he had always thought The Tick was very handsome, most people would agree. He was a real stud, tall and broad, all rippling muscles. But in this moment, with that expression painting his features, the only word that could describe him was gorgeous. And in that moment Arthur was simultaneously sad and maybe in a more selfish way, glad all those other people would never get to see the hero like this. All laid out and vulnerable, a vision of poetry in motion. Arthur would gladly be selfish this once and keep The Tick all for himself. 

And with that thought, he kicks back into gear. Wrapping his mouth back around The Tick, tracing his tongue along the ridges and bumps. Arthur breathes deeply through his nose, trying to remember that breathing is  something he needs to do. He never thought about how meditative giving blow jobs could be. Not that he ever seriously considered this a thing he’d get to experience or explore. But now that he had, he wasn’t sure if he could give it up. He sunk further down his partner’s length, not even halfway down and feeling as though his mouth was too full. 

But he was starting to get used to the sensation of his cheeks being stretched past theirlimit. Arthur was starting to almost enjoy the stretch, the ache in his jaw. About halfway down The Tick’s length he gagged harshly, having to pull off of the other man. He kept one of his hands loosely wrapped around the base as he lightly coughed and panted trying to remember how to get air into his lungs, as drool slicked down his chin. A large hand came to cup the back of his head, tilting it up slightly until the concerned, though laxed face of The Tick came into view. “Are you okay?” His rumbling and reedy voice asks.

Arthur nods as he uses the back of his other hand to wipe at his mouth. He tries to make himself a bit more presentable, after he had eagerly thrown himself into working the hero’s length with his mouth. Arthur went to dip his head back down to return to his work, when the hand at the nape of his neck stalls him. The hand gently urges him upwards, until he’s practically straddling the taller man again. The Tick offers a lazy smile, before almost shyly admitting, “I can’t take much more of that before something happens.” He speaks almost vaguely, though Arthur assumes that’s more likely due to The Tick not knowing the exact words to use for the situation versus not knowing what would happen. 

Arthur preens under the subtle praise, he almost made The Tick cum using only his mouth. He momentarily wonders how the hero will act when Arthur gets even more skilled. But before he can dwell on the thought his lips are being firmly pressed against by The Tick’s own. The Tick’s hands wandered from his sidekick’s neck down to cup his plump backside. 

The Tick was truly amazed by Arthur’s body, how different it was from his own, how  wonderful that is to him. He had never truly felt anyone or anything like Arthur before, even though he frequently came into physical contact with other people, none of them felt the way Arthur did. Now that The Tick had permission to touch, he was going to. Without the invisible barrier that once existed between them the hero could explore all he liked. 

The Tick let his hands grab and grope at all the soft shapes that made up Arthur’s body. All while he got to feel the delight of his sidekick’s lips against his own, the slick slide of the shorter man’s tongue inside his mouth. The feeling so shockingly arousing that The Tick still couldn’t wrap his head around it. But he was okay with not understanding how something so simple could feel so good, he knew he could simply enjoy it. 

Though eventually Arthur did need to pull back for air, The Tick didn’t mind. Instead letting his lips wander from his sidekick’s lips down his neck, along his cushioned collarbone, trailing kisses down until the taller man’s mouth found its way to Arthur’s chest. The Tick had never really understood the appeal around women’s breasts, how much people lusted after them. But in this moment with his mouth pressed against the soft flesh of the shorter man’s pecs, he understood. He licked and mouthed at the warm skin available to him, obsessed with the plush feel against his lips and tongue. 

The Tick couldn’t think of anything better, until his mouth landed on Arthur’s nipple, the sharp sound Arthur let out in tandem with the pert nipple entering his mouth may have been the best thing the blue man had ever discovered. The hero was like a man starved, desperate to make Arthur feel good, to chase the feeling of a warm receptive body, the taste of warm skin. The sidekick wrapped a hand around the back of The Tick’s neck, holding him tight against his chest, letting his mouth explore all along the skin of his chest. 

In early years, Arthur might have been embarrassed, he’d always been a bigger guy, softer where others were strong and sharp. But with the way The Tick was so thoroughly enjoying himself it would be impossible for anyone to feel self conscious. Not with the way that the hero was letting out these little barely suppressed sounds of delight as he switched over to the other side of Arthur’s chest.  It felt so good, like nothing the shorter man had ever felt, even when he touched himself there. It had never felt like this. He was sure that if it was anybody else it still wouldn’t have felt this good. Arthur knew that only The Tick could make him feel like this. He could feel himself twitching where he was pressed against The Tick’s chest in tandem with each suck along his bust.

Arthur pulled The Tick away, not from lack of enjoyment, no, far from it. He just wanted more, finally being open about his desires now that he finally had The Tick in the way he had been fantasizing about for months. In a selfish way he wanted The Tick’s large, warm mouth elsewhere on his body. But instead he settles for dragging  The Tick back up to press their lips back together, licking his way into the hero’s mouth to taste the back of his teeth and the flavor of his own skin on his tongue. 

The smaller man lets one of his hands drift up to gently trail along the thin almost velveteen feel of The Tick’s antennae, receiving a shudder from the blue man as he does. Arthur hummed at the reaction, curious to what other feedback he could draw from the taller man’s body. While in the back of his mind wondering how he’d never noticed how sensitive the little flagellums are. The sidekick gently wraps his fingers around the feathery antenna, it twitches in his hold, causing a whimper-like sound to spill against Arthur’s lips from The Tick’s own.

“Your body makes me feel like the inside of my head is lit with pure deviancy. You’re so soft, and warm and good,” The Tick gasps out softly, looking up at Arthur with a wet bottom lip, he looks almost reverent as he gazes into his sidekick's eyes.

Arthur flushes, The Tick had always been so earnest, so genuine. Sometimes the shorter man found the concept hard to contend with. The hero was so pure, in so many ways, and yet, in this moment he seemed to desire nothing more than to ruin Arthur. Though Arthur was sure he’d been long since ruined, since the day that the large blue man came crashing into his life, his chance with anyone else disappeared. Arthur couldn’t find it in himself to be upset about that, not when he had The Tick here, looking up at him like that, like he held the whole world in his palms, Like Arthur was his key to sovereignty. The shorter man wanted to give The Tick this feeling forever.

“You’re sweet, you’ve always been so handsome, and kind.” The words roll off Arthur’s tongue before he can think much of it, his hands gently cupping the taller man’s sharp cheekbones, looking equally taken with the hero. “I want you, Tick.” Arthur admits, sure of himself for one of the first times in his life. He wished he could be bolder, could say he wanted the hero to spread him out and take him apart, to fill him and make him anew, but he couldn’t so his simple, vague words would have to suffice. 

The Tick’s eyes widened, somehow, his eyes were always so wide open already, like he was trying to take in everything at once, but now his eyes widened in quiet surprise, his cheeks flushing darker. Before he nods, eagerly. He then pushes himself up, careful not to draw too far away from Arthur. The hero makes sure to keep their bare bodies pressed close. When he’s moved to sit up, he looks down at Arthur laid out before him, and he looks a little lost.

“Do you want me to show you what to do?” Arthur asks carefully, hoping he’s reading The Tick properly, that he’s unsure in a ‘I don’t know what’s expected of me’ sort of way and not a ‘I am full of regret and don’t know how to exit’ way. 

“Yeah, little buddy, I’ll be honest, I’ve never done this before, but I want to learn,” The Tick states with a stern nod, which makes a light laugh bubble up from Arthur’s throat. Leave it to The Tick to make sex, no, love making, sound like a mission.

“Okay, are you familiar with the basics?” Arthur asks with a hand raised to slightly cover his mouth as the last of his laughter slips out of him. Hiding his nervousness and embarrassment at the idea of having to step by step explain to his partner and bedmate sex. But thankfully The Tick nods in understanding.

“Do not fear, my chum, I do know about copulation. The library has many great resources on the topic!” The Tick boasts with his wide grin stretching his features in that familiar way.

Arthur returns a smaller grin of his own, nodding along easily. Arthur gently moves to sit up, both men now sitting across from each other in the bed. The shorter man swipes a hand under the sheets in search of the earlier abandoned bottle of lube. After a moment of scrounging around his fingers catch along the cap of the bottle, dragging it out of the bedding and into the light of the early morning sun peeking from the cracked curtains of the window. 

The Tick watches studiously, as Arthur shifts, moving to switch positions with the hero, until the smaller man is laid back against the headboard. He reaches over to stuff a pillow under his hips as he draws his legs back to spread them apart, trying not to be embarrassed as his hole is now on full display to the hero. His hero. The cold air against such sensitive skin causes goosebumps to raise along the skin of his thighs. 

Arthur avoids looking up at The Tick’s steadily darkening eyes, instead keeping his gaze trained on where he’s balancing the bottle of lube against his hip with his hands. He slicks up the same fingers he’d used earlier to stretch himself out. He figures he won’t need to take much time to open himself up, not with all the prep he did earlier. Just some quick fingering to get some lube inside before he gets stuffed by his lover. 

The thought both terrifying and exhilarating, he allows himself a deep breath as he relaxes fully against the pillows, closing his eyes to avoid The Tick’s intense gaze. Arthur slips three lubed fingers down between his legs, avoiding his aching cock knowing he wouldn’t last long and wanting to at least get to feel the taller man inside him before he combusts. He huffs out a soft breath as his fingers circle his still loose hole, before gasping quietly as they sink inside. 

Arthur startles slightly when large palms grip his thighs, they hold gentle yet firm. His eyes blink open, his stare catching on the spot The Tick has carved for himself between his legs. He’s crouched carefully, eyes flickering between where Arthur’s fingers are set to work inside his hole and the shorter man’s face. The latter of which The Tick pauses his scanning on, offering Arthur a stunned, awed smile, it’s small and quiet, not anything like his typical beaming. A smile just for Arthur.

Arthur’s own hand stalls at that look, that smile, it causes something in his chest to catch. Not to mention the way it causes his lower stomach to swirl with arousal, his arousal  twitching violently. The sidekick squeezes his eyes shut, it all becoming too much, pushing him too close to the edge. But his shut eyes don’t afford him much reprieve, because shortly after, a hand gently slips  around his wrist pulling his fingers from his opening. Arthur lets out a confused hum as his eyes shoot open and downward to peer at the man perched between his thighs. 

Before he could utter a question, the hands that had rested on his thighs now each took a handful of his ass, keeping him spread out. While Arthur was busy trying to sort between his personal spike of arousal and shame, a warm slick tongue is pressed against his stretched hole. Arthur jolts letting out a sound somewhere between a shout and moan, but he doesn’t get far as the hands gripping his ass hold fast and strong. Keeping the shorter man right where The Tick wants him. 

The Tick had never once in his life considered putting his mouth anywhere near anyone’s rim, but in this moment he couldn’t imagine wanting to be anywhere else. He was euphoric, wrapped up in pale, soft skin, buried as close as he could possibly get to the one he loved. Not to mention the sounds spilling endlessly from Arthur’s mouth, the way that such an act could bring such pleasure to him, that The Tick could fill him with such pleasure. It truly was a heady experience. 

The hero had never been one to lack enthusiasm and it seemed obvious that behavior would carry over into the bedroom. He lapped at the outside of Arthur’s hole, switching back and forth between laving his tongue along the rim, before diving into the opening. The sensanton was nothing like anything Arthur had ever felt before. Whines and moans alike tumbled from his lips, his hands flailing for several moments before anchoring along the crown of The Tick’s head. He kept his eyes tightly closed, fearing if he looked down he’d come undone. 

The Tick moved one hand from Arthur’s backside to reach for the bottle of lube that had rolled away from the two amidst their shift in activities. He managed to get a hand on the bottle without moving away from Arthur and his delicious body. In fact Arthur didn’t even seem to notice the hand missing from his body, instead too lost in the whirlwind of pleasure the hero had swept him up in. But that was fine by The Tick, he was able to multitask. He carefully popped open the cap before, regrettably pulling away from his partner for a moment to coat three of his own fingers, as he had seen Arthur do moments ago. 

The Tick was quick to reunite with Arthur’s puffy rim, placing a sloppy kiss on his flushed opening. Then he was shifting his mouth enough to make room to wiggle a finger alongside his tongue. The whimper that Arthur let out was an impossible mix of sinful and angelic. The Tick had much thicker and longer fingers than the sidekick’s did, and his mouth was downright divine. The sounds Arthur had been letting out picked up in frequency and volume, but he couldn’t care about the potential noise complaints they’d be getting at that moment. He was only able to focus on the overwhelming pleasure his roommate was giving him. 

The Tick was equally overwhelmed, especially as he slipped a second finger inside all while keeping up the motion of his tongue lapping atArthur’s rim. As the hero crooked his fingers on the next inward thrust, several things happened simultaneously. One, Arthur let out a sharp wail. Two, his thighs clamped tightly around The Tick’s head, and three, both of Arthur’s hands gripped both of The Tick’s antennae.

All of this caused The Tick’s actions to stall for a moment, the larger man needing a brief moment to calm his suddenly spinning head from the wave of pleasure that burned through his body like a heatwave. But before he could figure out what had caused the wondrous reaction, Arthur’s hands moved to his shoulders, while his thighs fell  open again. Which allowed the shorter man to tug the hero up to him, all the while apologizing profusely. 

The taller man was deeply confused, his face saying as much as he boxed Arthur in with his hands, burying them in the pillows either side of his sidekick’s head. “What happened? Do not apologize, little buddy, did I do something wrong?” The Tick spoke softly, his eyes swirling with confusion and concern.

Arthur was flushed, panting heavily, but holding The Tick close with firm hands even as he avoided eye contact with the hero. He was quite embarrassed by his own reaction. He’d never managed to reach that spot within himself, even with his toy. “You hit my prostate?” Arthur explains, unsure  of his phrasing and himself in general at the moment.

The Tick hums in response, “Did it hurt?” he inquires quietly, shame beginning to coat his features. It was an unusual expression on the hero’s face, one Arthur had rarely seen, but the idea of ruining this or causing his sidekick discomfort was enough to draw it out of him.

Arthur shook his head vehemently, “No, it felt good,” He paused a moment before tacking on, “Really good.”

The shorter man brings a hand up to gently trace along The Tick’s antennae, checking for damage from his earlier and almost violent grab at them. The hero sighs in relief, relaxing slightly, allowing his chest to rest along Arthur’s, their breaths rising and falling in sync.

“Then what is there to be sorry for?” The Tick asks, as he nudges his antennae further into the shorter man’s touch. The hero lets his eyes fall closed, thoroughly enjoying the sensation and the closeness it brought to his partner.

“I thought I hurt you, that I hurt your antennae,” Arthur’s response causes the hero to let out a soft chuckle, followed by a shake of his head, another one of those quiet smiles spreading across his face. 

“A yank of these guys,” The Tick gestures a hand up towards the antennae which were twitching lightly in his sidekick’s hold, “From pleasuring you couldn’t hurt me, you should know, pal, that it takes way more than that to hurt me,” He finishes as he uses the same hand to turn Arthur back to look at him. 

Arthur let out a soft embarrassed laugh as he finally looked at The Tick again. “Oh, yeah, I suppose you’re right,” Arthur speaks softly, now feeling quite silly for his earlier panic. The Tick leans forward to press a gentle kiss to Arthur’s lips. The sidekick sighs softly after the peck. “Would… would you want to continue?” Arthur asks after several more soft kisses shared between the two of them.

The Tick smiles eagerly, nodding enthusiastically. Arthur nods back, as if to reassure himself. Before he gently presses along The Tick’s shoulders, pushing him back to give himself the room necessary to shift into a better position, for the both of them to move onto the next step. Arthur shifted back onto the pillows, laying down along them, followed by him spreading and lifting his thighs apart, in almost the exact position he took to demonstrate minutes before, though at this point it felt like hours had passed since then. 

Unlike before though, The Tick did not stay sat back, instead choosing to crowd against Arthur. The front of the hero’s thighs pressing along Arthur’s ass and the backs of his thighs. His arms come to rest on either side of the chubbier man’s head, ensuring they remain face to face. Arthur breathes out a nervous breath as he makes eye contact with The Tick, one of his hands slipping down between their bodies to grip the taller man’s arousal. 

The Tick lifts one of his own hands to drag his sidekick’s hand back up, retrieving and squirting some lube into his hand before releasing him, in favor of that hand coming up to trace along Arthur’s face. The hero’s fingers lightly curl through the shorter man’s loosely tangled locks. The Tick smiled softly down at Arthur, his eyes shining with so much adoration it was almost too much for the sidekick to contend with. 

Arthur stretches up to kiss the larger man, keeping them pressed as close as possible as his now slicked hand returns to its spot between them to transfer the slick onto The Tick’s cock. The hero groans softly against his lips, but before they can dwell on that much Arthur is leading him to his prepped hole. Both men let out a twin gasp as finally, The Tick presses in. They pant in each other’s air. Both were overwhelmed. The feeling was simultaneously familiar and alien for Arthur, it was akin to the toy and also nothing like it, The Tick was warm, so warm. The Tick on the other hand, had never felt anything like this before, the tight heat and pressure, it was unfathomable. 

For several minutes they just breathe together, could be hours, neither could say. Arthur eventually remembered how to get his body to operate. “You can keep going,” Arthur says, his voice already taking on a raspy quality and The Tick wasn’t even fully in him yet.

The hero nods, closing his previously gaping mouth before sinking another inch deeper. The sensation doesn’t lessen even as he presses in further. He’s not sure he’ll ever get used to the feeling, and silently hopes he doesn’t. 

Arthur feels gutted when The Tick finally slides all the way home. Like the hero had carved out his insides and nestled himself a home where they once were. It had the sidekick vaguely wondering just how big the taller man is. But before he can ponder that thought too much, The Tick is leaning down to press a kiss to his lips, the shift in position causing a gasp to shudder out of Arthur and into the hero’s mouth. 

The Tick had Arthur practically folded in half, the shorter man’s legs spilling out over The Tick’s lap, while the hero was sheathed fully inside his sidekick. Their chests brush against each other with each breath. The moment was so intimate it made Arthur want to cry, but then he glances down and becomes distracted by something. The Tick draws back a little just enough to follow Arthur’s gaze. The sidekick whines out as the hero traces lightly over the small barely noticeable bump poking up from the smaller man’s chubby stomach. 

Arthur thought just that was overwhelming but then The Tick starts moving, slowly drawing out only to thrust back in, he wasn’t rough or aggressive, but he was huge and it was impossible not to feel every little drag and push like a punch to his guts. Arthur made sounds he’s sure he has never made before, practically screaming and chanting like a possessed man. But The Tick was no better, his sidekick was so warm and tight, like the most tantalizing vice. The Tick has been close ever since Arthur first wrapped his hands around him, but there was no way he could stop now. Not with the mind boggling rapture he was experiencing and giving to Arthur.  

So he pressed on, wanting to make sure that when he fell over that precipice that Arthur would fall with him. And from the way Arthur’s body was tightening around him, that didn’t seem like a tough task to achieve. The shorter man’s hands gripped at The Tick’s shoulders, his blunt nails digging into the blue expanse of the hero’s shoulders and back. Right then he let out a choked scream, his muscles tensing before releasing, his body going lax save for a few lazy drawn out spasms. 

Arthur’s head dropped back against the pillows, his chest heaving rapidly. The Tick gave one more sharp thrust before stalling, buried inside him. He let out a strangled, raspy groan before almost collapsing atop his sidekick. Arthur could feel as he twitched and spilled inside his hole. A sleepy smile gracing his sweaty face. They didn’t move for a while, both just trying to catch their breaths and remember where they ended and the other began. 

After some time, The Tick finally pushed himself up from where he’d dropped to his forearms, glancing first at his partner’s flushed face and then down across their still intertwined bodies. Arthur leaned forward to drag the hero into a soft peck of the lips, before slowly pushing himself to sit upright, wincing slightly as The Tick slowly pulled out of him at the same time. The warm gush that followed the taller man’s exit, told the sidekick they’d need to change the sheets before either of them got back to sleep. Arthur sighed, sleep really did sound nice, but first they needed to clean up unfortunately.

“Shower?” Arthur rasped in his wrecked voice, with a head tilt towards The Tick.

The Tick nodded, wearing that quiet, personal smile again. He stood stretching carefully. Arthur let himself look, now without the shame or worry about being caught that usually plagued him. The hero had taken it out of him, too pleasantly exhausted to worry about much of anything. As he gazed he noticed that The Tick’s cock had already disappeared back into the sheath it had appeared from. He’d have more questions about that later, but for now he was okay with those questions going unanswered.

“You start up the shower and I’ll take care of the bedding?” The shorter man spoke after several moments of admiring his partner’s physique.

“Yes, sir!” The Tick spoke, loudly as ever, but Arthur still noticed the slight crack in his tone, all thanks to all the noises he’d dragged out of the taller man. The hero turned to head for the bathroom, while Arthur stood from the bed on shaky legs to begin stripping the bedding so it could be swapped out for something clean. 

As he yanked the sheets and blankets off, The Tick had rounded back to the side of the bed he stood on. The hero leaned down to press a kiss to Arthur’s cheek right as something hit the floor between them with a solid thud. Both men paused what they were doing to investigate. Arthur hoped for a moment that the ground would swallow him up, remembering himself and all his humility, just as The Tick’s large hand wrapped around the bright blue silicone of the forgotten dildo. The taller man held the toy up carefully, looking it over before turning towards Arthur with a curious look. Arthur laughed nervously, swiping the toy from his partner’s hands and quickly shoving it into one of the nightstand drawers. The Tick laughed too, his sidekick could be so silly sometimes. 

The hero pulled the smaller man into a gentle kiss, before placing another on his forehead, and then he was bounding off to the bathroom, to do as he’d previously agreed to. Arthur on the other hand stood, covering his face for a moment. The sidekick then shook his head with a huff of laughter, thinking about how he likely wouldn’t be needing that toy anymore, not with the new developments between him and his partner, his lover. He quickly finished changing the sheets before making the short journey to join his boyfriend in the shower. 

Living with The Tick had always been filled with new experiences. But for once, the new experiences on the horizon didn’t shackle Arthur with anxiety and dread, but instead excitement. If it was anyone else, Arthur was sure it’d end in disaster, but there was no one he trusted more than The Tick, for better or worse. He loved him, and nothing would change that. And he was happy with that.