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Up at this altitude, the air was frigid. It beat against Sam's skin as he dove down. Redwing mirrored him, swooping upwards just above him. The rushing air beat against the goosebumps that had raised, deliciously painful. Sam loved the feeling of the wind flowing past him, around him. It was like being underwater. He rolled onto his back with a laugh, looking up at the bird above him. Redwing looked down at him, screeching victoriously. Sam could feel his joy through their telepathic bond. Their joy, truthfully. He loved flying with the falcon as much as Redwing did. So high off the ground, without a villain around, it felt like it was just the two of them. Dear friends. 

Sam rolled back over, suddenly diving. Redwing followed after him, catching speed much faster. They plummeted beside one another, hair and feathers beaten back. Sam counted down in their shared mind. Three, two, one ! And they both snapped their wings back open, jerking out of the free fall. Sam let himself simply catch air, holding that altitude. Redwing didn't stop flying, rather circling Sam while he caught his breath. The adrenaline of the fall was addictive. So many years of heroics had dulled the rush for him, but there was still a thrill to a free fall. Especially when none of that adrenaline was credited to a fear for his life or the citizens of Hero City. He could almost recreate that joy from his first flight when it was just him and Redwing up where the people of the city were just shapes on the grass and pavement. Sam couldn't identify any of them this high off the ground, and he surely seemed like just another overgrown bird to them. It was a rare place of anonymity. 

Redwing called again, though not to Sam. He looked up to see the bird with another that happened to be flying through their airspace. Their conversation was friendly, Sam could tell before he tuned them out. He tried to respect the falcon's privacy when he could. Keep their mind spaces separate. There were instances where it couldn't be helped, like when they were fighting. In situations like that, the more you became one, the better your chances of survival. This was not a fight however. This was the avian equivalent of a water cooler conversation. Sam reclined back again, falling for a brief moment just to feel the rush of the wind against his bare sides before he caught himself. He could at least make out who the people below them were at that height. He began to climb again. 

“What are you doing?” Sam swerved to his left so hard he nearly spun out of control. Another person, not a bird, had popped up beside him from seemingly nowhere. The rocket start to Sam's heart eased when he recognized the silver face he met. 

“Don't do that!” He put a hand to his chest to breathe in deeply before he slowed his ascent. The Silver Surfer slowed with him, going from laying down on his stomach on his board to sitting on his knees. “You nearly gave me a heart attack, space man.”

“Do you need to go to a hospital?” His face twisted in concern. Sam shook his head. 

“Just an expression, Surfer. You just scared me.” Silver Surfer nodded in understanding. 

“I am sorry I scared you. I wanted to know what you were doing.”

“We were just doing a free fly.” Redwing flew between the two of them, clarifying who he meant by we . He went on before circling back, landing on the surfboard. “Let Redwing get some exercise in while Doom gives us some time to breathe.”

“For once,” Redwing added inside Sam's mind with a roll of his eyes. Sam chuckled. Silver Surfer smiled at the bird.

“I did not know you fly with him. Is this normal for falconry?” Sam folded his arms over his chest, shaking his head. 

“Most humans can't fly, buddy. Or have a jetpack.” Sam gave a look to Redwing for the insult he muttered Surfer’s way in their shared mind. 

“They cannot be as close as you two then, if one of them is stuck on the ground.” Surfer nodded sagely.

“Not necessarily. I was always close with my birds, even before T'Challa gave me these.” He gestured back at the wings behind him. Their brilliant red was reflected by Silver Surfer's body and board. It was almost blinding to look at him up where the sun was so unobstructed. It was like looking directly into it. Redwing tucked his head under his wing, picking at some bothersome feather. Silver Surfer smiled at Sam. 

“How many birds have you had?” Sam chewed on his lip, running through the years. He had dozens of flocks of pigeons growing up. There had been a few birds of prey that weren't Redwing. Some parrots, though he had to give them up when he really dedicated himself to the role of Falcon. A pet was a difficult thing to keep as a hero, especially one that needed as much long term dedicated care as a parrot. They were better off with regular people. 

“Think I'd have to write it down to remember them all.”

“There have been many Redwings then.” Surfer nodded sagely again. Redwing took off in a huff. 

“Over my dead body,” Sam heard him grumble. He laughed, sending him some reassurance. No one can replace you, buddy . 

“Nope. There's only ever been one Redwing, and will ever only be one.” 

“You can grant such power to him?” Surfer's eyes went wide.

“Not like that. Mind if I..?” Sam pointed to the surfboard. While he could hover in place, it drained more energy than flying did. Surfer unfolded his legs, scooting to the other end of the board. He let his feet hang off the edge, kicking them childishly. The board, by the powers cosmic or whatever it was Surfer always said, remained perfectly even in the air. It always resolutely ignored the laws of physics and logic here on earth. Sam sat down on the other end of the board, wings tucked away. 

It was jarring to simply sit down this high above the ground. Sam wasn't afraid of falling. He could easily catch himself if he did, but there was still the sense that they were sitting on nothing at all. It was like walking over a glass platform above a massive drop. 

“I just mean that I wouldn't replace Redwing. When he can't come with me anymore, I'm not gonna go get another falcon and name him Redwing 2.”

“Would you call them a different name?” Talking to Surfer like this, with him leaning forward on his hands kicking his feet in the air, it reminded Sam of being a kid. Sitting on the bleachers with his friends back as a little boy in Harlem. It was a nice sense of nostalgia to have blooming in his chest. 

“I don't know if I'll get another one at all. I'm not sure if I'll be able to be as close to another bird as I am with Redwing.” 

“I might kill you if you do,” Redwing chimed in. Sam couldn't even find him in the sky anymore. Stop eavesdropping . 

“Hard not to.” Sam rolled his eyes, pushing Redwing out back out of his brain. 

“You cannot replace a teammate completely,” Surfer said, clearly thinking of all the times they were forced to replace one of the core squaddies. 

“Can't swap out Wolverine for Black Panther and not see some changes on the team,” Sam joked, laughing at the very idea. Tony's head would likely explode if he had to compete for control over the team with Black Panther. 

“It would be very different,” Surfer agreed with a smile.

“Right. Me and Redwing are like that. When he gets to retirement age, we'll probably just spend all of our time doing this.”

“You also enjoy flying,” Silver Surfer said, as if only just realizing. His eyes, from what Sam can tell, followed Redwing's flight. Sometimes it was hard to follow Surfer's gaze, with no pupil or iris to speak of. 

“Wouldn't be up here if I didn't,” Sam joked. Now that he wasn't moving, he really felt the cold of the high altitude seeping in. “Don’t you?”

“I do enjoy flying, but it is not as interesting here on the ground.” He looked at Sam. The human raised his brow. 

“Not cool enough for you down here, space man?” They both laughed at the tease, leaning into one another. Despite the board seemingly being made of solid silver, it wasn't ice cold to the touch. No matter where Sam rested his hands, he didn't startle away at the sudden cold temperature he thought it would be. It was as warm as his own palm. Surfer had clarified before that he was not actually physically silver, that it was only an extension of his cosmic power. Still, the brain made natural conclusions based on their appearance. 

“On the contrary. Earth is very fascinating. I only mean the act of flying itself.” Silver Surfer raised a leg so that he could be turned towards Sam. 

“It is like the wrecking car shows The Hulk watches compared to driving a regular vehicle.” He was referring to the demolition derbies and monster trucks Hulk liked to watch with Sam. Silver Surfer often watched the Squad’s TV shows with them, even if he failed to grasp them. He called them an integral part of his study of human culture. “Here on earth, there are rules I must follow when I fly. I cannot go too high, or I run into aircrafts like the hellicarrier.” He only had to set off the proximity alarms once before Ms. Marvel had banned him from certain levels of airspace. “I cannot go too fast, or I may crash into things, or disturb humans when I phase through them.” Sam shuddered at the idea. He had only ever had Surfer's arm phase through him once, but it felt grotesquely invasive. All of the atoms that made up the Surfer finding the cracks between Sam's own to slip between. All so he could reach the spoon on the counter behind him. Immediately, a new rule was added to the endless list on the helicarrier that stated no hero should phase through another being unless strictly necessary . Sam rubbed his chest, still remembering the feeling. “Things on earth are so small that it is hard to notice them when you are flying. It is much easier to appreciate earth when you are walking,” Silver Surfer concluded. 

“I guess you've got a point. Flying, even with all its rules, is just more special to us since we can't do it at will.”

“My first flight is one of my favorite memories. I would not trade it for anything.” Surfer’s expression is entirely fond, warm.

“You mean you weren't born on the board?” Sam raps his knuckles on the surface under them. Surfer shakes his head. 

“No, it came with my powers. I was only able to fly after I became the Silver Surfer. I had never done anything like it.” Sam smiled, recognizing that awestruck tone in the Surfer's voice. 

“I get that. I still think about the first time I put the wings on. You just feel…”

“Free,” they finish in unison, chuckling when they realize. 

“Jinx.” 

“What is the highest you have flown?” There's an element of giddiness when Silver Surfer asks. Sam shrugs. 

“We can only go about 20,000 feet up before the air is too thin.” They were hovering nowhere close to that at the moment. While both Sam and Redwing could reach those heights, it was overkill for a simple Sunday flight. “I've probably been a little higher than that with Steve in jets and stuff.” Sam looked up as Silver Surfer stood. The alien extended a hand, helping pull Sam up with him. His skin, or whatever it was, was the same lukewarm temperature as his board. 

“I would like to show you something.” He was beaming, even as Sam grimaced. 

“That doesn't sound scary at all.” Surfer slowly turned Sam around, stiff as the human immediately became with Surfer touching him. His back was now to the alien, feet shoulder width apart with his left leading. He almost fell back into Surfer's chest when the board started moving.  The alien's hands stayed on his waist, seeming to anticipate this response. They were gradually moving upwards.

“I'm not going to be able to breathe if you take me up too high!” Sam shouted over the wind. Silver Surfer patted his waist lightly. 

“Do not worry! My powers cosmic will take care of that.” Somehow, it didn't make Sam feel any better. While he was an expert aviator, he had no skills in surfing. He felt vulnerable the more speed the board picked up. Despite the perfectly smooth path of their flight, Sam still worried about his balance, as if he could knock Surfer off his course. The only time he had seen such a thing happen was when something else flew directly into the alien. 

“Relax, Falcon. Nothing will happen to you,” Surfer reassured. He didn't seem to have to raise his voice over the wind. Sam heard him just fine. The powers cosmic, surely. They truly seemed like a catch all, capable of doing whatever Surfer said they could at that moment. Sam felt his skin grow wet the higher they climbed. Moisture that hadn't yet grown into clouds gathering on his skin along with rapidly cooled sweat. The sky around them became darker and darker as the sun grew bigger and bigger. If he dared to look behind them, he would see the edge of the moon over the horizon as well, along with the rapidly fading city. With laughter clear in his voice, Silver Surfer instructed, “Close your eyes, my friend.” Sam didn't think of arguing, all of this moving far too fast for him. 

It all reduced to wind on his skin and in his ears, hands on his waist. It was almost like going to sleep. There was a level of weightlessness, like the apex of a swing set. Maybe it was apt that he was a Surfer, the way this all felt like floating in the ocean. Sam couldn't help a chuckle at the light feeling in his chest. He relaxed, trusting Silver Surfer to guide them to wherever they were going. He spread his arms out, feeling the air flow over his skin. Logically, Sam knew that he should probably start developing frostbite by now, that they were probably so far off the ground that the city would just be a blip, that the pressure this high up and at this speed should be crushing Sam's heart into his spine. He understood all of these things. However, none of them applied. Flying with the Silver Surfer was like being in a dream, completely disconnected from any grounds of reality that he knew. Anything felt possible. The feeling was so overwhelming, Sam didn't realize that they had slowed to a stop. He was simply standing on an alien surfboard with a silver man behind him holding his waist tens of thousands of feet off the ground. 

“Please open your eyes,” Silver Surfer spoke. His voice was just as soft and calm as always. He took one hand off of Sam, but the other remained. Just a precaution. Sam turned to look out around them.

“Oh…” It was nothing but stars. Sam could visibly see the division of layers, the change from blue to the inky black of space. Clouds moving across the sky underneath of them. The moon and sun shining on either side of them. Stars that Sam wasn't even aware existed. The only hint of mankind were the satellites and debris from decades of space exploration and study. This was a sight only some of the most spectacular of human beings saw with their own eyes. Sam grasped Surfer's bicep, just to ground himself. 

“This is the reason I love to fly.” Silver Surfer gestured with his free hand to the universe all around them. “To see all of this.”

“This is amazing, Surfer…” 

“This is why I became what I am. I have always loved the stars. Now I can see them as much as I want, as close as I want.”

“Why would you ever stay on Earth?” The feeling of being infinitesimal compared to all around him creeped in. He was just one man from the earth beneath them. He was a drop of water in the ocean, completely imperceptible in comparison. 

“I enjoy learning about your culture.” Silver Surfer looked out beyond the distance. There was satisfaction written on his face. The joy of seeing someone experience something you love for the first time. “It is easier to have friends closer to the ground.” Sam finally faced him. His profile was jagged, as though he were a statue carved by a master artist millennia ago. He was back-lit by an entire wall of stars, some twinkling brighter than others. He looked like them here. He fit in much better so far off the ground. 

“You traded this for us?” Surfer met his eye. Even without a pupil or iris, Sam could see the kindness there. 

“I did not give up the stars. How else would I be showing them to you?” Sam blinked before he laughed. He wasn't sure why he did. There was nothing particularly funny about what he said. If anything, it was romantic. He just couldn't help himself. 

“You're amazing, space man.”

“Why do you say that?” He was not offended or hurt. He was looking at Sam like a fascinating study.

“Because no one else could show me the stars quite like this.”

“I thought it would make you understand me better.” He looked at the stars and Sam suddenly wanted to learn everything he could about the alien. There was a longing for kinship so strong it felt like a kick to the chest. “You fly to feel free. I fly to see everything I can.”

“I get it, man. I really do...” Sam looked back out at the endless space before them with a hand on Surfer's shoulder. There were things you saw that made life worth it. This, this could easily be one. “It's pretty cosmic, if I must say so myself.”

“So, Surfer,” Sam started as he saddled up beside the Silver Surfer, solo cup in hand, “you do anything like this back home?” 

“Earth is my home now,” he replied easily. He had the same cup from the stack as Sam, but he could swear he saw something horrid floating inside of it. He tried to pretend that he didn't, keeping his eyes forward on Steve at the grill. 

“I meant back on planet- wherever you came from.” Sam cringed. Had he ever even said where he came from? Sam couldn't recall much of anything about Surfer's life before the Squad. 

“My planet was called Zenn-La.” He looked to Sam, and a relief swept over him to see he didn't look offended. He was smiling, just as happy as ever. “We had many holidays and folk traditions like you Earthlings.”

“Even your own Fourth of July?” Surfer hummed to himself. 

“We did not have a July on Zenn-La, and there was not a fourth day of the month that was particularly special.” Sam nodded along. He was so focused on the Surfer that he didn't hear Cap call out that the burgers were ready. 

“What about a day dedicated to your country? Or planet? Like, today is all about America breaking free from the British. We just celebrate it with hot dogs and explosions.” Silver Surfer smiled again, nodding. 

“Yes, we have a holiday to celebrate the unification of the planet. It has many traditions and festivities of its own, like your hot dogs or fire works.” Sam tried not to chuckle at the stilted flow of his words, at his uniquely alien diction on words he didn't know were compound. 

“What were those like? Maybe we could try a few.” 

“Do you think so?” Sam nodded, completely disregarding what Tony, and Cap, and Ms. Marvel would have to say on the matter. “It would be most enjoyable to watch Iron Man and Reptil perform a Zennlian marathon, or see how many qcuthars Hulk could consume.” 

“Iron Man and Reptil don't seem like a very fair fight for a marathon to me.” The two were at a pair of reclining lawn chairs, Humberto rambling on and on while Tony soaked up sun with a reflective visor. Sam couldn't tell if he was even awake anymore, not that that stopped Humberto. 

“You misunderstand, my friend. It is not a test of speed. It is a style of debate where both parties speak until one yields. Marathons on my planet could run for days at the highest levels.” 

“What do they debate?” Surfer shrugs.

“Anything. The subject matter is not as important as accuracy and endurance. Many competitors have won by reciting whole epics.” 

“Have you ever competed?” Sam couldn't picture it. Silver Surfer asked many questions, but he rarely spoke at length about things he did know about. He often settled into the background while the rest of them spoke. Surfer nodded. 

“I have. I spoke for four hours before I had to yield to my opponents.” 

“Four hours?” Sam gaped. 

“Yes. I explained the birth of our home red star, the formation of Zenn-La, and how the star would decompose over millennia until it would eventually implode. It was a favorite study of mine.” 

“And you talked about just that? The whole time?” Sam couldn't think of a thing he could talk about for that long, let alone accurately. He'd get eliminated five minutes in. 

“I had studied it my entire life. It was very easy to talk about.” Silver Surfer released his hold on his board so that it may float in the air. It served as a seat for himself. He hovered there, perfectly eye level with Sam and held his cup in both of his hands. “I only gave up so that I could listen to the others.” Sam blew out a sigh. 

“Gotta say, that's really impressive.” Sam blamed the lurch he felt in his feet on the helicarrier, and not on how Surfer seemed to sparkle at the praise. More than he already did with the July sun beating down on him. “What about the thing with Hulk?” 

“Qcuthars! They are a delicacy from one of our neighboring planets. We hold contests to see how many one can eat in a time limit.”

“You guys had your own pie eating contests.” Sam laughed at the idea that the same group that competitively delivered TED talks for days at a time also had alien pie eating contests.

“They are not pies as you have here.” Silver Surfer raised a hand using his powers to turn his hand into a bizarre, oblong kind of shape. “They are a kind of fruit. They are notoriously difficult to eat because of the seeds inside.” Sam chose to say nothing about how the shape was reminiscent of an eggplant. Surfer wouldn't understand the joke anyway. “Many strategies involve snapping it open to drink the seeds first, then eating the flesh whole.” 

“Hulk would probably try to eat it all in one go.” Surfer's hand returned to normal, resting on his board. 

“That is why I would like to see it.”

“You wanna watch the big guy choke? That's pretty cruel, man.” Sam's smile was thankfully enough for Silver Surfer to understand that he was only joking with him. He shook his head lightly. 

“I think he would do very well.” 

“Hey, lovebirds!” Sam nearly jumped out of his skin at the shout, wings springing open unconsciously. Silver Surfer did not startle at all, only looking over where Logan was calling from. “Get your food before Hulk eats it for you!” Said green giant was looming over Cap at the grill, begging like an overgrown dog. There was a small chuckle that ran through the group gathered, obviously at Sam's fright. He cleared his throat as he snapped his wings shut. 

“Right. Course.” 

“I am not a love bird,” Surfer needlessly explained as he flew forward to the grill. Sam rubbed at his jumping heart watching him go. He hated the feeling that he had gotten caught doing something he shouldn't. He hated the longing to keep talking even more. 

“Hup! There you are, soldier!” Steve happily served the Silver Surfer, holding Hulk back with a spatula he brandished like a knife. Sam sighed as he ran a hand over his head and began to walk over himself. 

“It is good to see you have all broken free from Baron Mordo's control.” Falcon rubbed the heels of his palms into his eyes as Silver Surfer flew them both in the direction of the Sanctum Sanctorum. His head was pounding as if all the thoughts that had been kept from him were hitting him all at once. 

“I'm sorry for anything I did like that.” The wind was a small relief for his frayed nerves, keeping him cool. Surfer shook his head. 

“I understand that your mind was not your own.”

“Still, first the Enchantress and the helicarrier and now this.” He gestured in the direction he assumed the Stark Industries building was. “It feels like I'm always the one betraying you guys.” The board slowed as they came to the front steps of the eerie building. The sound of the traffic on the street did anything but help his headache. Surfer took his hands to help him slide off the surfboard. 

“We do not hold either against you, Falcon. You do not have protection against psychic attacks. It is not your fault that villains seek to abuse this.” Sam sighed. Surfer's expression was kind and understanding. The cosmic coating on his body made his hands impossibly smooth. Liquid mercury. 

“How come you're never becoming anybody's puppet?”

“I have trained my psychic resistance, and the powers cosmic also protect me from such attacks.” He released Sam's hands, heading for the front door. Sam thoughtlessly followed, still a little shaky on his feet. Doctor Strange had ordered they all meet him back at the Sanctorum to insure there was no lingering effect from the possession. As well as to care for any physical injuries. Sam often forgot that he was a surgeon before… whatever mental breakdown made him go and become the sorcerer Supreme. “I was once the slave of a great evil. Once I was free, I promised I would never become one again.” Falcon stopped moving, looking at Surfer with wide eyes. The alien knocked on the heavy wooden door before turning around to look at Sam, confused. “Falcon?”

“You were?” He nodded softly, almost seeming to be… ashamed. 

“Yes. It is an experience I do not wish on anyone.” 

“I'm sorry, Surfer. I had no idea.” Surprisingly, Surfer smiled and shook his head. 

“Do not be. Had I not lived through such a thing, I would not have the powers I do now. I would not have been able to help my planet, or the people here on Earth.” That smile ebbed, betraying his façade of someone who had learnt to live with his past. “I only wish I would have broken free sooner.” Sam took those last few steps so he could stand with Silver Surfer on the stairs landing. He tried to bring levity to the heavy air. 

“And what would the squad be without our space man?” Surfer’s smile retuned slowly. He chuckled and it made Sam brighten himself. 

“It would not be the same. Few heroes wield cosmic power.”

“And even fewer are as fun as you, Surfer.” Surfer set a hand on Falcon's arm. That ringing buzz in his skull seemed to subside, like Surfer had sapped it away with his touch. 

“It is most cosmic that you enjoy my presence on the team as much as I enjoy being here.” Falcon went to respond, but the ancient doors of the sanctorum creaked open. Falcon’s mouth snapped closed at the sight of Wong. He silently stepped aside to usher the Squaddies in. Silver Surfer's board followed behind them as they once again entered the eerie manor. 

Sam chewed on his words as he watched the back of Surfer's head while they walked. You're my favorite , he had wanted to say. Was that odd to say? None of the other members would have heard him. He was sure all the others had a favorite, a member they had the best chemistry with. He and Silver Surfer simply clicked. When they worked together, things tended to work smoothly. Surfer didn't understand people, and often they didn't understand him, but he and Sam had a synergy. It was a little like Redwing. 

“Please don't start comparing me to him.” Redwing ruffled his feathers on Sam's shoulder, voicing his offense. 

“I only said he's like you,” Sam corrected in their shared mind. “No need to get jealous.”

“I am not jealous ,” the bird scoffed. Sam smiled to himself, reaching a hand up to ruffle the feathers of Redwing's chest affectionately. 

“Maybe I should tell him. Redwing thinks you're trying to replace him.” Silver Surfer would probably try to earnestly apologize to the bird, say he didn't intend to cause any sort of rift between the two. Redwing flew from Sam's shoulder, moving instead to Surfer's. The alien looked confused, but charmed. Redwing was facing Sam, managing to glare without any eyebrows or lips to speak of. 

“Hello, my friend! Is everything okay?” Surfer's gaze moved back towards Sam, making sure Redwing wasn't acting as a support animal. Sam shrugged, folding his arms over his chest. 

“Think he's starting to like you, space man.” Silver Surfer's face bloomed into a grin. He put a hand to Redwing's body. 

“I am fond of you as well, Redwing!” The bird sent thoughts of mutiny and murder Sam's way, making him laugh. 

“There you are. Sit, sit.” Falcon was all but pushed into a dusty old armchair by Dr. Strange. The other members of the squad were already there, and had seemingly been looked over. Wong and Silver Surfer and Hulk remained back, giving Dr. Strange space. The room was full of equipment, magical and medical. Before Falcon could even assure that he was fine, the sorcerer was holding open his eye and shining a light into it. “I was about to send one of your teammates after you.”

“We apologize, doctor,” Silver Surfer spoke. Strange switched to the other eye, then his ears. 

“How did you all get here so fast?” Sam asked the team.

“I've been in the suit piss drunk with a broken rib and made it out fine,” Tony explained as he examined what looked like some kind of medieval torture device, “a little possession is nothing.” 

“He did not make it out fine,” Strange muttered to Sam. “I could see where they failed to set properly.” Tony waved a hand in the doctor's direction, blowing him off. 

“You don't have to do all of this, doc. I feel fine.”

“Don’t even try. He checked me over just as much as tin can.” Wolverine’s healing factor was no secret or joke. Sending him for a check up was like gifting Hulk Shakespeare. 

“A healing factor can protect your physical body, but not your spiritual or mental one.” Strange brought his hand over Sam's eyes, forcing him to close them. “Deep breath, relax your mind.” He commanded in a bizarrely gentle voice. Almost hypnotizing. “I would think the Professor would instill such an idea.” Logan snorted. 

“Yeah no, Chuck doesn't go banging around in here.” He tapped his temple. “Learnt his lesson after the first time.” Sam faded out before he could hear any more of the conversation. 

“What… is this?” Sam was no longer in the room surrounded by his squad members. He was in the middle of a strange jagged prism, standing on seemingly thin air. He was no longer in costume. Rather just the clothes he had worn to get his mail that morning. Dr. Strange was in front of him, only looking a little more translucent. If Sam looked at the right angle, he could see straight through him. 

“We are in your mental space. It is easier to assess any damage here.” 

“Did the guys have any?”

“Iron Man had some minor damage left from the possession, but that was simple to fix with the possession being so relatively short.” Strange extended his arms and rose from his feet. He held Sam's head in his hands. 

“You're flying.”

“The mindscape only obeys what rules you set. It is much more akin to a dream.” Strange had his eyes closed, seemingly concentrated on whatever he was doing to Sam's brain. Reflecting off the many walls of the prism they stood in, Sam saw his memories. The majority were only from the past few hours, distorted like a reflection in rippling water. The clearest were from before and after his possession. The brightest, the one that took up the largest facet on the prism, was from only a few minutes earlier. Surfer turnt back to look at Sam on the doorstep of the Sanctorum. It was jarring to see the image that Sam had only seen with his naked eyes blown up tenfold. Surfer's large white eyes on him, his expression of mild confusion or concern, the way sunlight moved across his reflective surface. Falcon couldn't help staring at it in awe. Surfer's words that he was once a slave to evil. All the past that was still a mystery to the human. The feeling that the closer to Silver Surfer he got, the further he felt. Strange's hum broke Sam out of his revelry. 

“The Silver Surfer occupies a great expanse of your mind.” Falcon cleared his throat, forcing his eyes away from the projected memory.

“Sorry, we've been spending more time together,” Sam apologized reflexively. He wasn't sure why he felt the need to. Strange was the one that was inside his mind. Sam didn't necessarily ask him to be there, and he couldn't exactly control how much space someone took up in his mind. He saw the man's mouth turn up at the corners.

“I am afraid not without great risk.” Oh God, Strange could hear him thinking too. “I do not mean to pry into your affairs, I must wade through them to ensure there's no lingering damage.” 

“Got it.” There was something people said that the more you tried to not think of something, the more you inevitably did. Sam tried to focus on the events of the days that he could remember. Surfer kept coming back, however. He heard the memories of him bouncing off the walls of the prism all around him. Surfer had been so steady and gentle as he placed a dazed Falcon onto his board and brought him here. This was the second time he had ridden on the surfboard with him. Almost as sweet as the first. In the corner of his eye, he saw that memory projected too. How he imagined he looked up in the thin atmosphere with the alien. He shut his eyes to keep himself from turning his head to look at it properly, see Silver Surfer holding him steady while they stood in a sea of stars. 

“You may open your eyes, Falcon.” He blinked them open, finding himself back in that study again. Wolverine and Hulk were inexplicably missing, but the rest still remained. Silver Surfer was sat on his board, watching the examination. Strange smiled at Sam with a clap to the shoulder. 

“You're in fine condition.” Sam sighed, pushing himself up to his feet. 

“Thanks, Dr. Strange.”

“You all managed to come out on the other side with very minimal damage. If anything does change, please return to the Sanctum Sanctorum.” 

“Got'cha. Go ahead and send the bill to SHIELD and we'll be on our way.” Iron Man was already heading for the door, typing on his phone. Strange smiled to himself. 

“I'm sure I could charge anything and he would be none the wiser.” Sam laughed, nodding. 

“He might not, but Miss Marvel certainly will.” 

“She will tear him a new one,” Surfer chirped in, making Sam laugh harder. “That is what he and Wolverine would say.” Dr. Strange chuckled lightly.

“I'm certain they would.” 

Strange's focus fixed onto the Silver Surfer, beginning to look rather amused. 

“Thank you for taking such diligent care of Falcon, Silver Surfer.” Sam knew that the sorcerer knew exactly what he was doing. Surfer just smiled at Strange. 

“Thank you for helping us, Doctor! It was most cosmic of you to lend your assistance.” 

“Baron Mordo is our responsibility.” Strange gestured for Falcon and Silver Surfer to follow him, heading for the door. Wong walked silently beside him. “It would be reckless for me to not involve myself.”

“You checked Black Panther and Storm too then?”

“Naturally, though both insisted it was not necessary in the same way your squad did.” Sam couldn't say he was surprised. Both halves of the couple were remarkably independent and self-sufficient. 

“We're heroes, if we saw a doctor after every life or death situation, you'd never have any time to be sorcerer supreme.” He heard Strange chuckle. 

“I will concede that point.”

“On my planet, the spiritual healers and the doctors were very close. You must be very efficient at helping people.” Sam perked up at the mention of Zenn-La. 

“My days in the surgery bay are long behind me. The events of today are a rarity.” Strange had led them back to the front door of the Sanctorum. The door pushed itself open as Strange and Wong stood to the side. “But I do try to be efficient where I can.” Redwing fidgeted on Falcon's shoulder at the sight of the outside world. He was always eager to leave the bizarre building. 

“And no one is more grateful for that than me.” Sam crossed the threshold so he could stand on the safety of the front steps. Surfer followed to join him. 

“Silver Surfer.” The alien stopped at Dr. Strange's voice and raised hand, perking up. Sam clenched his jaw at the smile he saw on the sorcerer's face. “Do make sure that Falcon relaxes. It would be best for him to take the time to recuperate.” Silver Surfer diligently nodded, completely missing Strange's true intent. 

“Of course, Doctor.” Strange nodded to him before turning his attention to Sam, who was scowling. 

“Falcon, I believe you may find great use in this as well.” He twisted his wrist and a book magically appeared in his hand. The cover was blank, only simple brown leather. He bestowed it graciously. “Do return it when you finish it.” Sam nodded, focused exclusively on not jumping across the threshold to strangle the man. 

“Thank you, doctor,” he grit out. Strange bowed his head, and the doors swung closed once both squaddies stood on the steps. 

“What is it?” The alien asked as he tilted his head to try and glean a title off the book. Sam sighed, opening it in hopes of finding a title. It wasn't an ancient arcane tome, but it was certainly old . He considered throwing the door back open to chuck it at Strange's head when he saw the title written in swooping decorative font on the first page. 

The Secrets to Love.

“Surfer!” Sam cringed at how bright his voice sounded. Far too happy to see the man he saw and worked with every single day. He cleared his throat. “I made breakfast, if you want some.” The Silver Surfer strode up beside him, board under his arm and pink slippers on his feet. He played so very fast and loose with the idea of clothes. 

“Most appreciated, my friend!” Sam already started serving him up a plate, almost too eager to do so. “What is it?” 

“Eggs, grits, and sausage. There's still that fruit Reptil cut up last night in the fridge, too.” 

“A very balanced breakfast.” He took the plate Sam handed him, studying it curiously. The grits slowly oozed in every direction Surfer tilted the plate. “Have the others eaten already?” 

“Hulk tore open a few boxes of cereal and went back to bed. Tony grabbed some before he left on industry business.” Surfer nodded, moving towards the table in the breakfast nook. 

“Then I will eat with you while we wait for the others.” Sam played nonchalance, already making himself a plate to go sit beside the alien. 

“No pressure. I'm all good eating by myself.”

“It would be a pleasure to eat with you.” Sam looked at him over his shoulder, nearly getting blinded by the close-eyed smile he caught. 

“Don't have to tell me twice.” He sat across from the Silver Surfer. 

“This is a most interesting breakfast you have made.” Silver Surfer was poking at and playing with his food in a way only an alien could. He was obviously fascinated as grits slopped off of his spoon. 

“Wilson family tradition. We had this all the time growing up.”

“It must be just like moms then. That is what you say?” Sam chuckled.

“Kinda. And I'm not going to say it's just like hers. I don't want to summon her wrath from beyond the grave.”

“Would she not be proud?” Surfer poked at the egg yolk. Muttering a small cosmic… when it broke open and poured out onto the grits. 

“For everything but my cooking.” he watched Surfer take his first proper bite. He knew it wasn't bad. Tony had said so himself before he left, and it wasn't exactly difficult to get right. Still, he wanted to see Surfer's reaction. 

“It is very unfortunate that I lack taste buds.” Sam tried to not visibly deflate at the words. Right. That's why Surfer's cooking was so bad. He couldn't taste and he didn't understand how human cuisine worked. 

“I totally forgot you can't taste it.” Sam picked at his food. He wouldn't show how unreasonably disappointed he felt. 

“It is a beautiful and texturally fascinating meal, Falcon,” Silver Surfer reassured.

“Is that another part of being the Silver Surfer?” The alien nodded around another spoonful. 

“I was able to taste my food before I gained my power. I cannot say I quite recall it. It was surely nothing like that you have here on Earth.” 

“It's too bad we can't have some to jog your memory. I'm sure we'd all love to know what Zenn-La cooking is like.” 

“Perhaps if we ever have reason to visit space, I could procure some ingredients!” Surfer beamed at the idea. He lit up under the fluorescents of the helicarrier kitchen. “I would love to make a Zennlian stew again. It is like your Wilson family tradition.” He gestured at the plate in front of him. The food he could not taste. 

“What’s it like? Do you remember anything about it?” Sam leaned on his elbows. 

“I remember that it would take many days of work. We would make it for every special occasion.” Surfer's grin slowly shifted into something like a pensive frown, head tilted as he looked down at the table. “It has been so long. I'm afraid I do not remember much about it.”

“We'll ask a Skrull or one of the Guardians of the Galaxy if we ever run into one. I'm sure somebody has had it before.” Sam was making promises he couldn't even keep. He wanted to see Surfer have hope, have that piece of his past back.

“I am not certain. My planet is quite far from this universe.” Surfer held his chin in thought, considering the distance. 

“If you made it this far, I'm sure someone else has too.” He poked Surfer's hand with the end of his fork, smile reassuring.

“You are very sure of yourself. I did not think you would be so interested in my cuisine.” Surfer took another needless bite of his food. It was still a little nice. That he was eating it anyway. 

Behind them, Logan finally shuffled in. He had clearly just rolled out of bed. And on the floor, if his appearance was anything to go off of. He was only in his open robe as he silently went to the coffee maker.

“Of course! It's your culture. You're the only alien on the team. We don't know anything about your home planet.”

“I did not think you would have the same interest in it as I have for earth,” Surfer was pleasantly surprised. Flattered, if Sam wanted to be hopeful. 

“Your past is a part of you, Surfer. I want to get to know you.” Logan grumbled something inaudible to the pair. Heat climbed Sam's face at being overheard. 

“Wolverine! Good morning! Feel free to some breakfast.” Logan waved a hand at Sam, not even bothering to look up. Sam sighed with relief at his seeming lack of interest. 

“It is excellent sustenance! Falcon made it himself and is quite proud of it!” Sam kept his head down and shoved some of his own food in his mouth. Logan was the last person who would care. And the very last person he wanted in the room when he was trying to get closer to Silver Surfer. 

“Shut your trap.” Surfer was completely unphased by Logan's dismissal. He ate more of his food himself. 

“I appreciate your interest, Falcon. I will be happy to tell you anything you like about my old life.” 

“Really?” Sam cleared his throat, hearing how eager he sounded. “I mean, that'd be great if you want to tell me. Maybe we can make this place feel a little more like home for you.” Logan scoffed from his place at the coffee machine. It began to audibly gurgle. 

“I already see Earth as my new home. You do not have to replicate Zenn-La.” 

“You can't tell me you don't miss your old home a little bit.” Sam gestured at nothing at all. “We live here in the city and I still miss Harlem some nights.” 

“Harlem is your home?” Sam shrugged. 

“More or less. I haven't lived there in a long time, but with some places it doesn't matter how long you're gone. It feels like you never left once you're back.” 

“I am not sure I understand this feeling.” Sam felt disheartened on his behalf. The Silver Surfer had no home, no place he remembered and walked in his dreams. He only had his place here with the Squad. 

“Bird brain has the pleasure of having stuck to one spot all his life,” Logan finally chimed in where they could all hear him. The coffee maker dinged. 

“You don't feel that way about,” Sam gestured at the mutant's person, “Professor's academy or whatever?” Logan tipped his head back in a laugh.

“That’s a good one, bub.” 

“I did not know Wolverine was so well educated,” Surfer murmured. Both Sam and Logan snorted at that. 

“I wasn't there to learn, chrome dome." Logan showed them his fist, his claws. The furthest thing from learning. 

“The Xmen are always at the school, even when they're not students,” Sam explained to the alien. He watched Surfer wave a hand over his plate. Food seemed to vanish into thin air as he did. 

“You were an educator then?” Logan gave a groan, tilting his head back and forth. 

“Not for long. Not exactly my area of expertise.”

“You don't have to magic it away,” Sam muttered, poking at Surfer's now empty plate. Surfer perked up before shaking his head. 

“I did not make it disappear, my friend. This is a manner of absorbing the nutrients. It is a much more efficient form of eating for me.” Sam raised his eyebrows.

“You mean that was you eating?” Surfer nodded. 

“Yes! It is quite helpful in situations where I have little time to eat.”

“Got sick of ass kissin’.” Sam heard Logan mutter under his breath with a snicker. Sam shot him a glare over his shoulder. 

“I am most grateful for the meal, Falcon. It would be a pleasure to do such a thing again.” Silver Surfer stood, plate in hand. Sam quickly did the same, taking it from him. 

“Let me get that! Don't worry about it.” 

“You have finished your meal?” Surfer looked to Sam's plate, still half covered in food. Sam quickly placed the Surfer's plate atop his so that he couldn't see his leftovers. 

“Yeah! Kinda filled up cooking it all. Don't worry about me, space man.” He chuckled as he went to the sink. Did he always sound this awkward? He cringed to himself as he turned on the tap. Surfer mounted his board. 

“I shall not worry then.” He stood, hovered, on the other end of the island from Sam. He shined just as brilliantly as the stainless steel faucet. “I must do my cleaning, but should you want to discuss Zenn-La later, I would be happy to talk.” 

“Really?” Sam's head jerked up, smile bright and painfully obvious. Surfer smiled back, nodding once. “That'd be great. We can- I’ll hold you to it.” 

“Have a good morning,” Silver Surfer wished both Logan and Sam before he breezed out of the kitchen. Sam sighed watching him go. 

“Fucks sake, you are pathetic.” Logan scoffed as he poured coffee into his mug. Sam tensed, slowly turning his head to look at the x-man. 

“Sorry?” 

“Just ask him out already. It's like getting teeth pulled.” Sam glanced back at where the Silver Surfer had been. Surfer obviously hadn't picked it up, so he hoped it was all just in his head. Of course the first one to notice was the worst one. 

“I-.”

“You're in love with Surfer,” Logan butt in. There was a strong sense of indignation that boiled up in Sam's chest. He wanted to bite back simply because Logan wanted to be such an asshole about it. 

“Me?” Sam laughs, but his eyes dart to the side, trying to drown the heat in his cheeks. “I don't know what you're talking about, Wolvie.” Logan groaned at the name, or the obvious lie. Probably both. He grumbled out as he began to twist the cap off his flask. He had to take his opportunity to drink whenever it came up, whenever they managed to get off episode. The frequency of those occasions were rare for him, even rarer than Falcon himself. 

“Listen, bub, I've been stuck on enough teams with people who would much rather be making out than punching baddies.” He had to have poured in just as much liquor into the mug as coffee. “They all act the same, so you're not gonna pull one over on me.” Sam crossed his arms over his chest. It was pointless to argue now. Better to just submit to the embarrassment. “Skip all the bullshit for our sake and just ask him out already.” He took a long drink from the mug. Just as Sam opened his mouth to reply, he held up a finger to silence him. He growled with satisfaction once he was finished drinking. “God knows he won't pick up on any hints.”

“Right…” Logan shoved the newspaper on the counter under his arm, leaving the kitchen. 

“You tell him,  or I'll have Thor do it!” He tossed over his shoulder before he rounded the corner. Sam deflated with a sigh. 

“I'll keep that in mind…” 

“It's ridiculous that we have to do this,” Sam complained as he sprayed down the pane of glass in front of him. Surfer was floating somewhere above him, dusting off the upper walkways on the helicarrier. 

“We must do our part if we're going to stay here,” Surfer quoted Miss Marvel, cheery as ever. 

“Sure, but the carrier has maintenance staff! Janitors! Why do we have to be stuck up here?” The squeegee noisily slid down the glass. 

“Iron Man said it is because we can get to the hard to reach places.” 

“He can fly too, but you don't see him up here,” Sam grumbled. They were both at least a couple dozen feet off the ground. A yellow bucket of cleaning supplies sat on Surfer's board with him while a small speaker hung on Sam's hip. The audio was shit, but the funky bass could still easily be heard.

“His thrusters are much less suited for indoor use.” 

“We need to teach you how to gripe, man.” Surfer looked down at Sam from between his knees. Dust dulled his usually perfect surface. 

“What is griping?” Sam hooked the bottle of window cleaner onto his belt loop, officially giving up on the entire wall of glass.

“Complaining. It's an essential part of doing menial labor.” Surfer tilted his head. Sam found himself rather fond at the way his expression looked at this angle. 

“I have no need to complain.”

“You've gotta have something we do that bothers you.” Sam flew around the walkway in front of Surfer so that he could stand on it. Now the alien was looking up at him instead. Sam crossed his arms and leaned on the freshly dusted railing, turning down the music so they could talk. “Something's gotta get under that platinum.” 

“Nothing is able to break the barrier it creates. The only thing under it is my own flesh.” Sam smiled. 

“It's an expression, space man. Just - what's something that upsets you?” 

Silver Surfer dropped his gaze to consider the question. 

“It is upsetting when any of you are hurt in a fight.” He looked back up at Sam, trying to gauge his approval of the answer. Sam busied himself trying to squish down the warmth in his heart. 

“Sweet, but that's not really what I meant.” Sam waved a hand, trying to grasp at a small example. The aliens' unrelenting attention made it hard to focus. “It's like how I get angry when Reptile empties the milk or juice in the fridge and then doesn't throw out the carton.” There had been numerous times he had threatened the kid after making such a discovery. “Or want to strangle Iron Man every time we work with a heroine.”

“It bothers the heroines as well.” Sam chuckled as he nodded. A montage of every moment a woman snapped at him played behind his eyes in comical fashion.

“Anyone with half a brain would be upset if they had to watch it.”

“Complaining about these things is griping?” 

“Well, not the second one. It has to be something small.” Surfer smiled as he nodded with understanding. 

“Like the cleaning.”

“Now you're getting it.” Silver Surfer looked at the duster in his hand briefly. His eyes returned to Sam with a thoughtful look. 

“What does one complain about with cleaning?”

“Other than we have to do it at all?” Sam pushed himself off the railing again and took flight again. He hovered beside the Silver Surfer, facing the same direction as him. “How about the fact we could be doing much better, much cooler hero stuff right now?” He waved falling dust away from his face. It was easy to see with the light of the windows behind them. “Or that we have to breathe all of this in and deal with the spiders that crawl up in the rafters?”

“Cleaning away dust actually improves air quality in the long run,” Surfer explained. “And the presence of spiders means a lack of other insects!” Sam sighed and hung his head. 

“If optimism could kill, you'd be the deadliest squaddie.” 

“You do not mean that as a compliment.”

“There's gotta be something that bothers you!” Surfer only gave him a blank expression. “Anything. How Hulk picks at his toes, Ms. M’s schedules, the fact Cap still sends letters instead of emails.” He swooped around to be in front of Surfer, crossing his arms. Surfer held his chin in thought.

“Maybe… Hulk can sometimes embrace me with too much strength?” Sam grinned and clapped his hands together,

“Yes! There you go! What else?” Silver Surfer smiled in return, happy to finally understand Falcon. 

“Reptile does not tell me when he puts stickers or notes on my board.” They all remembered the kick me sign put on the back of the surfboard that left the alien deeply confused and bruised by the end of the day. 

“Now you've got it.”

“Wolverine often makes comments I do not understand and laughs at my confusion. That is rather upsetting!” The eagerness in his voice suggested more that he was playing a game than upset. Like he was trying to one-up every statement. 

“Play along next time. It ruins the fun for him.” 

“Dr. Strange speaks to me in a very cryptic way, like he is keeping a secret from me. I don't enjoy the feeling that someone is not being honest.” Sam almost dropped out of the air in surprise. He quickly caught himself before Silver Surfer could notice anything strange. 

“He does?” Surfer shrugged, unaffected. 

“I do not know for sure, but his behavior is most bizarre. He asks of your wellbeing and any news every time we talk.” Sam was going to have to find a way to kill that wizard. 

“Me?” He cleared his throat at his nervous pitch. Surfer nodded. 

“I found it bizarre as well. He said you were in good condition after Baron Mordo.” His eyes went soft with worry. “Did that change?” 

“I'm fine, Surfer. Strange is just, well, strange.” Silver Surfer relaxed, nodding and taking Sam's words at face value. 

“That is true.”

“Do I annoy you?” Surfer seemed shocked by the question. He perked up and his eyes went wide. 

“What?”

“The rest of the team gets on your nerves. Do I?” He knew it was selfish to ask like this. If something did exist, no sane person would come out and say it outright. The curiosity was hard to resist, however. 

“You treat me very well. There's nothing I could say about you.” Sam cleared His throat, leaning against the side of the walkway in a play at casual. 

“Nothing? I'm that unremarkable?” He should have known better than to attempt a joke. Surfer quickly shook his head. 

“You are quite remarkable, Falcon! I only meant negative traits.” Sam sighed as he rubbed a hand over his mouth. He bobbed his head to the quiet beat, trying to ground himself. “You are a cosmic friend, and an excellent hero. You have introduced me to many things and shown interest in learning from me.” Surfer smiled to himself, almost looking shy for a moment. Sam felt like he'd swallowed a brick. “I am flattered when you seek to learn more about me.” 

“What could you have possibly learnt from me?” Sam tried to swing focus. If they concentrated on how interested Sam was in the alien, it certainly wouldn't end well. He had never directly intended to teach Surfer anything. Silver Surfer perked back up. 

“Many things! I have implemented tactics you use for aerial combat! Your explanations of human culture have been most helpful.” He gestured to the speaker on Falcon's hip. “You have shown me a great range of music. You have many great attributes.” 

“You don't have music back on Zenn-La?” That caught Sam's interest, enough to knock him out of his flustered stupor. How could an entire culture never make music. 

“We did, but it is nothing like what you have played.” Sam snorted.

“At least someone appreciates it. Reptil always calls it Uncle music .” He rolled his eyes at the memory. Humberto always played the music when they were on chore duty together. 

“The way you dance is very unique.” And there was the embarrassment swinging right back. 

“Huh?”

“Your movements are very fluid. It's impressive to watch.” Falcon blew a puff of air, averting his eyes. If only Surfer could hear himself. 

“You haven't seen a real dancer. If you did, you'd be embarrassed to see me do it.” 

“You are much better than Iron Man.” That made Sam bark out an involuntary laugh. 

“That's a really low bar, Surfer.”

“I often wish I could do the same. You seem to enjoy yourself.” 

“What, you can't dance?” Silver Surfer shrugged. 

“I never took the time to learn.” Sam waved a hand. 

“You don't have to learn to dance. You just do it. You think if it was something you were taught that Tony would do it like that?" Seeing Tony a few drinks in was a nightmare for more than just the things he said. “Show me what you got.” 

“You want me to dance?” Surfer tilted his head. He glanced briefly at the cleaning supplies next to him on his board. Sam smacked the grate of the walkway. 

“Hop up here, space man.” He easily swung his body around, landing on his feet as Silver Surfer ascended on his board. He silently slid off to stand in front of Sam. “Dancing is just feeling the music.” 

Sam turned the dial on the radio again, letting the bumping disco music play. He understood why Humberto mocked his taste, even if he felt it was unjustified. The kid seemed to forget just how old the rest of the squad was. Sam clapped his hands as he bobbed along to the beat. 

“First step! Get a feel for the rhythm.” Surfer watched him intently. He didn't look that different from a curious puppy with his giant white eyes. “Keep the beat by moving your body.” Sam took both of the alien’s hands. He pushed and pulled them to the beat as his own shoulders rocked. Surfer quickly caught on and began to move on his own. “There you go. Now let it move down.”

“Down?”

“Into your shoulders, your hips. You've gotta use all your body, man.” Surfer watched Sam's own shoulders for a moment, the way they rolled. Sam couldn't help heat climbing to his cheeks at being studied. It was just dancing. Just dancing. Hesitantly, Silver Surfer's own began to move along with their arms. Sam nodded, grinning. Surfer smiled at him in return as his confidence grew. 

“Cosmic…” 

“When I lean forward, you lean back.” 

“What?” But Sam was already leaning into Surfer's space, still rocking along to the glittering music. For a moment, he was close enough he expected his breath to fog up the alien's chrome. He leaned away quickly. It wasn't a dance like Sam was trying to make it. 

“Gotta keep the rhythm with all your moves. Do what I did.” Sam pulled back. Surfer blinked before he copied Sam's move in a choppy fashion. He leaned into Falcon while Sam pulled away. It was more fluid the second go around, and Silver Surfer was chuckling by the third. 

“This is very entertaining!”

“Oh we just started, space man.”

Sam slid back, away from Surfer. His knees were still popping to the beat and his bent arms moved. 

“Gotta use your legs too.” He kicked to a hard drum beat. He let the music tell him what to do, what to show the other. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Surfer's legs begin to move too. Falcon moved like he was walking in place, feet never leaving the ground. They slid on the grate underneath of them. Not the most conducive space to dancing, but Sam didn't consider it for a minute. He let his arms move at his sides. Silver Surfer tapped his toes and his heel, back and forth, a bit like a hoedown. Sam couldn't help a snort. 

“Is this wrong?” 

“No, no. You move however you want.” Sam clapped and slid to Surfer's side, back to him now. He looked at the alien's awed expression over his shoulder. “Pretend I'm not even here.” 

“But that would make learning from you very difficult.” He seemed to have a far simpler time copying Sam's movements with them facing the same direction. Falcon couldn't hear him mimicking him perfectly behind him. 

“Like I said, not something you teach. Just something you feel.” 

“Then I am not used to such a feeling.” Sam rolled his eyes as he spun around. He took Surfer by the wrist. The alien startled as Sam swung them around, changing places. That look of surprise changed to a grin as Sam smiled at him. He followed the human’s lead as he began to squat, still bouncing to the rhythm. Their touch was broken as Sam sprung back up, clapping his hands together. Silver Surfer fumbled on his way up. Sam had to catch him under the arms. His heavy breaths got stuck in his throat at the sudden proximity. At Surfer’s glittering smile so close and his hands on the alien. Almost like how he had held Sam up on that first flight. 

“I am sorry,” Silver Surfer apologized lightly. He didn't pull away.

“Don't worry about it.” Sam sounded wrong, even to his own ears. The singer continued to carry on, unaware of the scene their music created. She’s poetry in motion, a beautiful sight to see.

“You finish up those windows yet?” A voice called from below them. Sam’s head whipped to look over the railing. Tony was looking up at the two of them. His smirk was clear, even from up on the walkway. He took a long, self-satisfied drink from the Iron Man branded mug in his hand. Silver Surfer replied without pulling away from Sam. 

“Not yet! Falcon was just showing me how to dance!” Sam was the one to break the touch between them. He felt something lodge itself right in the center of his throat. 

“Couldn’t wait until you were done to get your hands on each other?" Tony shot back. Sam could hear his brow arching under that stupid mask. 

“He-” Tony waved a hand before Falcon could even get the words out. 

“Not my place bird brain. Just glad Thor didn’t have to get involved.” Surfer frowned at Tony before looking back to Sam.

“Thor?” Sam was going to find the way to kill Logan, and he was going to make sure it was slow and painful. He’d start by talking to Scott and Jean. 

“Don’t worry about it, Surfer,” Falcon muttered. 

“He didn’t tell you, chrome dome?” Tony raised his voice to a degree where the whole floor could probably hear him.

“I do not understand.” Sam clutched onto the railing, glaring daggers down at Tony.

“Don’t you have a meeting to take care of?” Tony gestured to him with his mug. 

“You’re absolutely right. Let me get on that. I’ll have Thor come up there and help you while I’m at it.”

“Don’t you dare!” Sam barked as Iron Man began to walk away. The bucket of bolts was loudly cackling and patting himself on the back. Sam felt Silver Surfer step up to be just behind his shoulder. 

“What is wrong, Falcon?” he sounded so concerned. And given what he had said about secrets with Strange, Sam knew he had to feel hurt. Left out of the loop. There was no escape now.

Sam sighed, leaning away from the railing as he ran one hand over his face. No one on this team wanted to make this easy for him. No one but Silver Surfer himself. Sam glanced at him over his shoulder, at that puzzled little expression, before he turned around. He rested his back against the railing as he found the words.

“I have to ask you something.” Surfer raised his non-existent brows. “Before someone tells you for me.”

“Please.” Surfer stepped in again. Anyone could see the two of them up on the walkway, yet it felt like the two of them were tucked away in some corner of the room. Hiding just out of the spotlight. Sam ran a hand over his hair, hanging his head.

“I want to take you on a date.” 

“What?” 

“I want to take you on a date. Like a couple. Please.” Every clarification he tacked on felt like another shovel full of dirt into his own grave. 

“That is what you wanted to ask me?” He didn’t sound particularly shocked, nor disgusted. He sounded like Sam had said he wanted Surfer to make dinner that night.

“Yes, space man,” Sam grumbled. He finally dropped his hand and settled his eyes on the Silver Surfer. The alien’s eyes were averted, looking down somewhere below them. He nodded softly, seemingly to himself. Eventually, he met Sam’s eyes.

“I am happy that you finally decided to ask me.” Sam looked back at Surfer. Blinked at him and his serene smile. It wasn't sarcasm. Surfer didn't know what sarcasm was. And even if he did, it would require knowledge of Sam's feelings beforehand to make sense. 

“Huh?”

“I did not want to jump to conclusions on your feelings and ask you myself, in case I had misunderstood. So I resolved to wait and see if you would do so,” Surfer explained easily. Sweet as ever. 

“You knew?” Sam questioned, voice spiking up. “You knew the whole time?” Silver Surfer dropped his gaze. 

“I do not know if it was the whole time. I do not know when your feelings first began.” In truth, Sam didn't either. If he were forced to pinpoint a single moment, however, it probably would have been that flight together. His gaze returned to Sam's shocked face. “But I have been aware for some time.” Sam rubbed his hands over his face with a groan. 

“You should have told me.”

“It is a rather sensitive subject here, isn't it?” He did have a point. Every signal humans gave one another was inconsistent. His only hope of understanding people was to follow the pattern of the majority; and the majority of people wouldn't want to be told I have figured out you are in love with me. Please confess . 

“I guess,” Sam grumbled. He dropped his hands with a sigh, being met with Surfer’s concerned look and a hand on his arm. 

“I did not mean to upset you.” Sam waved a hand before rubbing the back of his neck with it.

“You didn't, space man. I'm just,” he huffed, “embarrassed. Feels kind of stupid now.”

“You are very intelligent, Falcon.”

“Thanks,” Falcon said dryly.

“You have taught me many great things,” the alien went on. “I would not fit in so well here were it not for our friendship and your patience.” Sam smiled faintly. “You have shown me many great examples of what it means to be human. I see in you the many ideals we would pursue on Zenn-La.” 

“Yeah?” Sam relaxed against the railing, marveling at the genuine nature of the Silver Surfer. Appreciating the steadiness his hold on the human gave him. The Silver Surfer nodded. 

“You are intelligent, you are strong, you care deeply for the members of your team. You have shown exceptional interest in learning about my past, in making me feel welcome. I can think of no finer embodiment of our ideals.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you can be really romantic sometimes?” Silver Surfer considered it for a moment. 

“I was called such in the past, when I would talk of the stars. They said my need to know the universe around me and the people in it made me very romantic.”

“Well, they weren't kidding.” 

“I did not consider their words then.”

“You’re saying this all comes naturally to you?”

“I would not tell you lies when you are in such a vulnerable state.” Sam groaned. He shook his head. 

“No, no. Not vulnerable.”

“There is nothing wrong with being vulnerable.” Surfer put a hand to where his heart presumably was. “I am honored you are showing me so many facets of yourself. It is most cosmic.” Sam sighed. He looked to the side, hearing steps coming up the stairway to the walkway. 

“Hope I don't regret showing them.” Silver Surfer stepped back as Sam eased himself off the railing. “Let’s not tell Thor about this, okay?”

“Your face is very red, Falcon.”

“Your outfit is most cosmic, my friend!” Surfer's smile was sparkling, eyes roaming over Sam. The man immediately wanted to tug at his silk shirt to cool himself off, shy. He went to look at his loafers before his eyes stopped on Surfer's chest. 

“Is that-?” Surfer gripped the open sides of his tropical shirt proudly, preening. 

“Wolverine said it would be the perfect thing to wear for a date!” Sam was going to find a way to kill the x-man. The shirt was garish, bright neon flowers. They bounced off of the Silver Surfer's surface, adding to the assault on his eyes. Surfer looked so proud, though. 

“Word of advice, don't take dating advice from Wolverine.” The alien frowned, looking down at his shirt. 

“He had said this was the attire he wore on dates with Phoenix and Cyclops.” 

“Honestly, I don't even know if that part is a joke,” Sam muttered to himself. He sighed as he shifted the bouquet to his other hand. “Just be yourself, Surfer. That's the person I want to go out with.” God knows he had stressed about this night enough for the both of them. It took him half an hour just to get himself together enough to get dressed. Silver Surfer met his eyes with a smile. 

“You are right, Falcon.” Sam chuckled as Surfer slipped the fabric from his shoulders. 

“I usually am, space man.” The alien placed the shirt, folded, on a bed that seemed to have never been touched. He took his board under his arm and returned to Sam. 

“I am ready now.” 

“Why don't you leave these in there? So you have free hands.” Sam offered the bouquet. It was a colorful mix of white and blue and yellow. The colors bounced off of Surfer when he took them. 

“How do they stay alive with no roots?” He examined the flowers curiously, head tilted. Sam just chuckled as he leaned against the door frame of the bedroom. 

“I'm gonna be an expert on this thing soon!” Sam joked as he stepped onto the surfboard. This felt much safer, the board hovering barely an inch off the ground in a closed room. It was the fastest way for them to get down to ground level. Sam wasn't wearing his wings, so Surfer had to fly them both down. The alien held Sam's hand as he righted himself on the board. 

“You are an excellent Surfer and flier, my friend!” His pride was obvious. He didn't let go of Sam, and the human wasn't about to do so himself. 

“You know just how to flatter a guy.” He jerked his head back, gesturing out the entry point of the helicarrier. “Fly us down to the boardwalk?” 

“Of course.” Sam barely stumbled at the jerk. It was not unlike standing up on a train going backwards. He didn't turn around, choosing to face Surfer. If guiding their flight took any effort from him, the alien didn't show it. He looked as lax and happy as always as they flew through the late summer evening. The sky had a pink tint to its edges as the sun was only starting to set. Surfer shone like a star in the sunlight again as they moved away from the drone of the helicarrier and to the buzz of the traffic on the street. Silver Surfer met Sam's eye briefly, suddenly making him shy. The human chuckled as he ducked his head. It felt stupid to be this lovesick at his age. Maybe you never grew out of it. 

“What is happening at the walking board?” The buzz of traffic mixed with the rush of the ocean on the sand.

“Boardwalk. And it's like a fair. Lots of food and games.” 

“It will be like Notebook!” He was proud of himself for making a connection to human pop culture. Sam raised his brows. 

“You've seen The Notebook?” Not that he couldn't see him watching such a thing, but Surfer had seen so few human movies that that being one he had was a surprise. Surfer nodded. 

“I watched it with Captain America and Iron Man and Reptil. Iron Man was very upset that the three of us had never seen it.” Sam laughed.

“And what did you guys think?” 

“It was a very emotional movie. Captain America had cried many times.”

“How about you and Humberto?”

“I am not able to cry as I am, but I was very moved by their romance. Reptil had fallen asleep before the end.” Sam laughed, nodding. 

“Yeah, that sounds about right.”

“I hope you do not try to hang from the ferris wheel. It would be very dangerous without your wings.” Sam shrugged, trying to play nonchalance. 

“Don't have to do all that if you already agreed to a date with me.” Surfer eased them down to the sidewalk leading up to the boardwalk. It was already bustling with civilians looking for a fun night out. 

“That is true. You did not need to convince me to say yes.” They stopped moving, but neither stepped off the board. They stood atop it a good foot off the ground. Silver Surfer oblivious while Sam's heart swept up in his chest. Surfer was happy to say yes. 

“I'm happy you did,” Sam said, uncharacteristically soft. 

“I would not have said no.” 

“No?” Surfer shook his head, decidedly sure.

“It is an honor, my friend.” 

“Everyone freeze, and things won't have to get ugly!” A voice cut through the crowd. Sam's stomach dropped as both he and Surfer turned to the shout. 

“You've got to be kidding!” Sam groaned as his eyes settled on two baddies armed and poised to strike. While one only had his hands extended in a way that suggested magic, the other was a more visible threat. His metal arms were sheathed in a thick layer of spiked ice. The citizens around them began to scurry and panic. 

“It appears that we're being interrupted,” Silver Surfer supplied. His board moved into a horizontal position, ready for the alien to climb atop it. “And the cameras are about to start filming.” Sam wiped his hands over his face. 

“Just one night, that's all I asked for!” Surfer's hand on his back was a small solace. 

“He said freeze!” The walking fridge shouted. An ice cold beam blasted from his palm, freezing a man's feet to the boardwalk. 

“Thanks, Blizzard,” the other muttered. He carried himself with the confidence of a wet rag. 

“No problem,” Blizzard stoically responded. Silver Surfer raised a hand as he walked forwards to the pair. 

“There is no reason to attack the citizens. They are only trying to enjoy the festivities.” Sam sighed, stripping off his jacket so he'd be ready for a fight. 

“You're interrupting a lot of people's night out! So if you could buzz off, it'd be greatly appreciated.” Silver Surfer glanced back at him, offering a smile. He was enjoying himself too, before all of this. Sam pulled his cowl over his head, ready for the cameras. 

“Oh, um, Falcon. Silver Surfer. We didn't- we didn't think any heroes would be here.” Blizzard seemed to be their charisma factor. His blasters pointed right for Sam's head were much more intimidating than the other stumbling. 

“That's what you get for thinking,” Sam grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. He hoped this didn't ruin his shirt. He had tried his best to look good for tonight. 

“I know this man, Falcon.” The Silver Surfer pointed at the timid d-lister. “The Fantastic Four have faced him before. You are called Molecule Man.” He seemed to preen at his title being known by a Superhero Squad member, before he deflated again. 

“The Fantastic Four? You're not- they're not coming, right?” 

“We can take them,” Blizzard reassured the smaller villain confidently. Molecule Man didn't seem so certain. 

“I'm sure they'd be happy to come down and join us. I should call them right now.” Sam put a finger to his ear, as though he were turning on a comm link. He was wearing no such thing, but d-listers like this didn't tend to be the brightest tool in the shed. Molecule Man looked visibly panicked. Surfer put a hand on Sam's shoulder. 

“Let me take care of them, Falcon. You did not bring your costume. It would be most unfortunate for your date attire to be tarnished.” Sam was happy his cowl hid the heat climbing up his cheeks, not that any of them would recognize it either way. He smiled at the Silver Surfer. 

“And let you have all the butt kicking? No way, space man. A gentleman always throws his coat down so the lady can cross the puddles. Or baddies, in this case.” 

“But I am not a lady, and you left your coat back that way.” Surfer pointed at the lump of brown corduroy, visibly confused. Sam rolled his eyes in good natured exhaustion. 

“I don't mean it literally, Surfer.” 

Molecule Man inched back away from them, looking visibly uncomfortable. 

“Are we, um, interrupting something?” 

“It seems like a date to me,” Blizzard suggested. He was starting to seem much less interested in a fight. Sam could feel all the civilians standing on the sidelines, watching to see if there would actually be a fight. Sam scowled. 

“Yeah, Mr. Fantastic? Could you and your team make your way down to the boardwalk?” Sam spoke into his non-existent comm link. Silver Surfer nodded at Blizzard's comment, to Sam's dismay. 

“That is correct! Falcon was taking me on a date when you called everyone to freeze. I have been told this is a very popular location for dating!” 

“ Surfer ,” Sam hissed with a joyless smile that was all teeth. He dropped his hand from his ear. “We don't need to tell them everything, you know.” Just in time, Redwing arrived. The falcon had been left on the helicarrier for the night. Sam had, wrongly, assumed that he would be able to have one peaceful night out. Summoning the bird was as simple as nudging the sense of danger across their telepathic link. Redwing settled on his place on Falcon's shoulder, glaring at the baddies. Molecule Man held up his hands, nervously smiling. 

“We're so sorry! We had no idea! Really!” Blizzard frowned at his partner's retreating form. 

“What about the mission?” While they were distracted, Silver Surfer threw out a ball of cosmic energy to melt the iced feet of the civilian Blizzard hit. He gave a thumbs-up to them as they stumbled away from the spot to safety. Sam would have to call a medic to make sure they didn't have frostbite. 

“Have you ever seen what happens when you interrupt a hero's personal time?” Molecule Man stage whispered, trying to pull Blizzard by the metal gauntlet. “It starts with The Invisible Woman blasting you out of a fourth story window!”

“She should be here any moment now,” Sam chimed in, grinning at how easy this was playing out. “But you probably just interrupted their family dinner.”

“You cannot be intimidated by this bird man and walking statue.” Blizzard dragged Molecule man back into his place beside him like he weighed nothing at all. Molecule Man squeaked. 

“Hey! Surfer here is just as organic as he is cosmic!” Sam argued, internalizing his grimace. He hoped that joke was coded enough that he wouldn't get in trouble with Cap for being indecent on camera. “And don't be intimidated all you want. We'll still whoop your butts.” Surfer nodded, mounting his board with a determined set in his eyes. Fear painted itself across Molecule man's face as Sam got into proper stance. 

“Do you wish to make the call, Falcon?” 

“You can have the honors, space man.” His grin might have been a little too affectionate for going into a fight, but who could blame him? Silver Surfer matched it easily. 

“Time to hero up!” 

“Man, what!?” The floor beneath them had vanished into thin air the moment they were ready. While Surfer remained on his board, Sam fell through the hole, clinging onto the boards around him. Redwing attempted to lift him up by the nape of his shirt. Now there'd be talon holes in it. Great. 

“Molecule Man is capable of manipulating atoms into any state he sees fit.” Surfer pulled Sam out of the hole with a hand. Sam tried not to be giddy at holding it. “It appears he turned the boards into water.” Said villain was now trying to run from the scene, Blizzard holding him back effortlessly. Silver Surfer repelled an ice blast from him before it could reach the couple. “Are you alright, Falcon?” 

“Fine, just really ticked off now.” He charged at Blizzard, going for his waist. Redwing's talons tangled into Molecule man's hair, what was left of it at least. The villain howled while Blizzard tried to fend off both Silver Surfer and Falcon. “Let's throw this ice cube in the water!” Falcon didn't have the strength factor to lift the man up, but Silver Surfer could push him off the edge of the boardwalk if he flew into him. It would be like hitting him with a car made out of solid magic space metal. 

“You got it!”

“Stop it! Get it off me!” Molecule Man shouted as he thrashed and flailed his arms, trying to smack away Redwing like an overgrown bat. There were blasts of cosmic magic flying everywhere, turning every object they hit into a different state entirely. A cotton candy machine melted onto the wood planks of the boardwalk while the cotton candy itself evaporated into a pink dust. One blast managed to hit Surfer's board. The alien flew forward, suddenly standing on nothing. He crashed into Blizzard, sending him backwards with the force. 

“Surfer!” Dread hit Sam, this stupid squabble suddenly becoming serious. 

“Do not worry, Falcon! I am okay!” Surfer had his legs wrapped around Blizzard's neck, blasting cosmic energy at his helmet. With him distracted, Sam swung a low kick to take his legs out. Blizzard toppled, Sam just barely able to catch Surfer in time. The alien managed to fall in his arms like a metal alloy bride. “Thank you for the assistance,” Surfer said, smiling at Sam with his arms around his neck. Sam tried not to drop him at the sudden rush of feeling at the scene. 

“Don't worry about it, Surfer.” He tried for his most suave of smiles. 

“Put me out of my misery,” Redwing grumbled in their telepathic connection. Sending the mental equivalent of a long eye roll. Sam had to laugh. Silver Surfer chuckled as well, although having no idea why. He extended a hand, cosmic energy dancing about his fingers. Nothing seemed to happen. That is, until his presumably destroyed board flew in from nowhere, zipping around the scene and clapping both Blizzard and Molecule Man in the head before stopping in front of Falcon. The villains immediately toppled over onto the ground, unconscious. Redwing stood atop Molecule Man's body, cleaning his talons. 

Sam gently set Surfer down atop his board.

“I thought he de-atomized it, or whatever.” Surfer nodded. 

“He did. I am capable of re-atomizing my board at will.”

“You are?” Silver Surfer nodded, looking like a proud bird perched on his board. 

“I can also de-atomize it. The board is an extension of my power.” 

“But not other stuff, right?” Sam felt sweat gather at his nape at the idea of Surfer being able to do that to him. 

“As if you'd be against it,” Redwing quipped in their shared mind. Sam smacked the bird off his shoulder. He flew up, but landed back atop his head. Silver Surfer shook his head.

“Only my board. You do not need to be worried, Falcon.” Sam chuckled with a sigh. 

“Just making sure. We should probably call the cops for these guys.” Sam nudged Blizzard's knee with his shoe. He was out cold. “You're all safe, folks! Sorry to interrupt your night!” The people left on the boardwalk eased out of their covers, hesitantly returning to their day at the boardwalk. A few voiced their thanks as they passed the two members of the Superhero Squad. They both bowed in appreciation at each statement while Sam dialed emergency services. Sam made sure that Surfer checked on anyone hit in the scuffle. They remained with the two on the ground until SHIELD agents arrived to gather them up. 

Surfer flew over to the spot that Sam had dropped his coat, brushing it off as he came back to the man's side. He held it open to him, waiting for him to slip it on. 

“I am sorry your night was ruined.” Sam sighed as he pushed his arms, fixing it around his shoulders as he turned back to face the alien. 

“Not your fault, man. It would just be nice to have one normal day, y’know?” Silver Surfer nodded. He gently stepped off his board, returning it to the crook under his arm like he had it before all of this happened. 

“It is an unfortunate part of being this city's defenders.”

“Small sacrifices to keep everyone safe, I guess.” Sam shrugged, watching the villains dragged off the boardwalk cuffed together. He could feel the cameras fading out again, allowing them their limited privacy. Sam pulled off his cowl, Redwing flying midair beside them. “You did great out there. Very chivalrous to offer yourself up like that.” He punched the Surfer's shoulder. Silver Surfer shrugged. 

“This night was of great importance to you. I did not wish to see it ruined.” 

“I was that obvious?” Surfer held Sam by his arm.

“You wear your brain on your sleeve, my friend.” 

“Heart,” Sam softly corrected. He probably looked like Ms. Marvel when she was under the Enchantress’ spell. 

“You express your feelings very well, Sam Wilson. You were exceptionally happy all night to be in my presence. I did not wish to see that happiness tarnished by bad guys.”

“Did,” Sam faltered under Surfer's unblinking, curious gaze, “Are you happy too?” 

“I have had an excellent night. Spending this time with you has been very enjoyable.” 

“Is that code for goodbye?”

“Do you wish to return to the helicarrier?” The alien tilted his head, and it took all of Sam's strength to not explain how much that sounded like an innuendo that he didn't understand. He chuckled and darted his eyes away instead. 

“Was kind of hoping that we could catch the fireworks.”

“Then we must stay and watch them,” Surfer agreed, mind made up. 

“I'll leave you two to it.” Redwing's voice in Sam's mind startled him. Surfer looked at the bird, even if he didn't hear it.

“Sorry to interrupt your alone time, your majesty,” Sam humored as he swatted the falcon away. Silver Surfer waved as the bird took off. 

“Thank you for your assistance!” he called after him. 

“We should probably get to the rail before all the good spots get taken up.” Night had finally fully settled over the city. It was hard to see any stars, but the moon was clear and the rainbow bridge to Asgard continued to shine, even in the lack of sunlight. Strange Norse God magic. The fireworks would be starting at any moment. 

“I had an idea,” Surfer said as he stopped walking. Sam took a few more steps before he realized and stopped as well. 

“What’s that?” The board was once again horizontal. Silver Surfer climbed atop it to straddle it. He patted the space in front of him with a smile. 

“Hop on, my friend.”

“I'm not really dressed for flying like this, Surfer.” Still, he did as he was told, sitting down in front of the alien. The hair on the back of his neck rose at his voice right behind his head.

“You will not need to fly.” The board eased forward. Sam still jerked at the motion, even with how slow the start was. He thought it was better than last time. He didn't even fall back into the Silver Surfer. The alien took them out over the water. If they were to slip off, it would be into the ocean, and deep enough where they were unlikely to hit rocks. The noise of the boardwalk faded into a faint hum just out of reach. Now, more than the voices of the awaiting audience, it was simply the roll of the waves. Surfer turned himself around so that his legs hung off the board, just like on that flight with Redwing. Sam carefully did the same, far more concerned with slipping off the perfect surface of the surfboard. The lights of the boardwalk bounced off of Silver Surfer, making him shine like a bauble on a Christmas tree. He looked out across the ocean. Sam enjoyed looking at him. 

“I thought this would be a much better way to enjoy the show,” Surfer explained. Sam nodded limply. 

“Great idea, Surfer.” The alien looked to him. His expression was soft and it had Sam at ease. A breeze that smelled distinctly of sea salt and popcorn and funnel cake blew past them. 

“I had another name, before I was the Silver Surfer.” Sam raised his brows, not expecting that to be his next words. 

“Really?” Surfer nodded. 

“I was once Norrin Radd, long before I gained my powers.” 

“Norrin…” Sam chuckled. “Its a rather nerdy name.”

“It is?” 

“I like it!” Sam quickly clarified. He wasn't trying to mock him. “It suits you. I just- I never would have guessed.” Surfer, Norrin, nodded. He turned his head back to the night sky, looking far above them. 

“It has been a very long time since I have used that name. It is strange to hear.” 

“I don't have to call you that.” It truthfully felt bizarre for him as well. Surfer was just… Surfer. He had never thought he even had a more human name. 

“I do not mind you saying it. I thought it may feel more natural to you, to call me by my given name.” 

“Does that mean you're going to start calling me Sam?” Surfer shrugged with only his head. 

“If you would like.” 

“I…” Sam fixed his shirt around him, looking for something to busy his hand with. He looked out at the sky as well, watching a stream of orange shoot up. The first firework. “I think I would. You probably shouldn't when we're in the middle of an episode or something. But when we’re like this,” he gestured at the two of them on the board, “yeah. Just call me Sam.”

“Okay, Sam.” He thought he was far too old for the flutter that happened in his chest. Especially at the simple call of his name. Yet here he was. The firework burst into a shimmering display of oranges and reds. The colors bloomed across Norrin's reflective surface. 

“Thanks, Norrin.” Surfer frowned at him. 

“For what?” 

“Coming with me, saying yes. Just- being good to me. It means a lot.”

“It means a lot to me as well.” Sam looked at him just as another firework burst. This time, Norrin was speckled in royal purples and golds. “I am happy you asked me. I am happy that you feel this way about me.” 

“You are?” How stupidly frail Sam felt at those words, nothing more than a  little boy from Harlem again. Norrin nodded. 

“I have not been this close to another person since I was only Norrin. I am... not sure what to do with the feelings I have.” Sam chuckled.

“Trust me, I'm in the dark too.” Norrin held up a hand, palm up. It waited patiently. Sam only hesitated a moment before placing his hand in it. 

“I do not understand romance on your planet; but if that is what you're seeking, I would be willing to learn.” Another burst turned him a light blue. They met each other's eyes. 

“You would?” Norrin only nodded. His smile was reassuring. Sam had to suck in a deep breath. “I would like that. I'd like to teach you.”

“I will do my best to be what you desire.” 

“You already are,” fell out of Sam's mouth before he could even consider it. He didn’t have the strength to be embarrassed by it. Another shot of red that looked pink on Norrin, almost like he was  blushing. He squeezed their joint hands gently. 

“I believe this is the part in movies where the couple kisses? Or proposes?” Sam blew a breath of a laugh. 

“One step at a time, space man.”

“Just this then,” Norrin said simply, looking down to their joint hands. Perfectly content. Sam took him by the jaw and turned his face back up. 

“Not what I meant, Norrin.” He kissed the silver Surfer just as another firework bloomed across the sky. One of the kinds that came in waves. It exploded with every breath, covering them in sparkling golden light. The crowd still on the boardwalk cheered distantly. Even now, The Surfer's skin wasn't cold, wasn't as hard as steel. He was just as human as he was alien. 

“How long do you think we can go without telling the squad?” Sam joked. Norrin considered it with a frown that Sam was starting to adore. 

“Wolverine is already aware of your feelings. It may take time for the others.” 

“I'm sure Hulk wouldn't get it even if I said it to his face.” He could see the big guy now, trying to puzzle out what Sam meant by them being a couple . Having to explain it to him like he was a child. He hoped one day they would figure out how to break him free from Hulk mode. 

“Ms. Marvel may tell us that there is a paperwork we must fill out for this.” Sam groaned as he rested his head on Surfer's shoulder. HR, the real villain of SHIELD

“Let's just make sure she never finds out.”

“Captain America says honesty is the cornerstone of teamwork.” Sam turned his face out to watch the last few fireworks burst in the night sky. 

“She's not technically a part of the Squad. It'll be fine.” 

“If you are certain.” Norrin wrapped his arm around Sam's back, holding him close. 

“What brings you in, soldier?” Steve dropped a file on his desk. His smile was as square and sparkling as ever. He dropped himself in the chair across from Sam, tugging off his cowl. He ran a hand through his blonde hair to straighten it back out a little. Sam was glad he never had to deal with that with his own.

“I just had a hypothetical I wanted to run through.” Sam tried to exude easy confidence with his body language. This was just talking with his best friend, with the man who trusted him so much he promised him the shield one day. There was nothing to worry about. Even so, Steve frowned, raising a brow. 

“Everything alright, Sam?” 

“I'm fine, Steve.” Better than fine, if he was being honest. That was why he was here in the first place. Steve nodded, clearly not convinced. He gestured in front of him. 

“The floor is yours.” Sam cleared his throat, fixing his position in the chair. He couldn't meet those honest blue eyes. He had to rip the Band-Aid off. Steve's spare time was a rare commodity these days, and the longer Sam took, the more suspicious he'd seem. 

“Let's say, hypothetically, while you were working with the Captains, you found out that, I don't know, Captain Brazil and Captain Australia were a couple. What would you do?” Steve chuckled to himself. 

“I would question if I was dreaming.” He cleared his throat when he saw Sam simply stare at him. He shrugged. “But, okay. Members of my team are dating.” He considered this. Sam tried to not seem as though he were sitting on pins and needles. Steve pulled open a drawer of his desk, pulling out a hefty tome that banged as it hit the desk top. Steve rested his hand on the hard cover. “According to the Captain's League regulations, I would be required to have them fill out the proper forms and establish a list of boundaries for their relationship. Were they to ignore those boundaries when we're on duty, I would have to exert my power as Captain and punish them accordingly.” Sam couldn't help gulping at the idea of having to discuss his relationship with Steve of all people. Steve, who still struggled to grasp that this was no longer 1945. “But that is only in the case of the Captain's League. We're a very by-the-book group, you'll know.” Sam snorted. 

“Yeah, Logan filled us in.” Steve chuckled in return. He had no ill feelings about Captain Canada's brief tenure. 

“Each team should have its own rules in place for such a scenario. It's unavoidable really.” Steve gave an apologetic smile and Sam could feel a tangent rising up. “The thrill of a battle is a mighty thing. Back in the war, it wasn't uncommon to see men come together that never would have in other circumstances. Granted, for them such a thing had to be very hush hush back in the day. We were a far way from the progress you've all made today.” 

“I get the picture, Cap.” Sam grimaced. It was reassuring that Steve didn't care about people's sexuality, but hearing him talk about it always felt a bit like talking to one's grandparents. If Sam told him about his relationship with Norrin now, Steve would surely meet him with a humiliating amount of enthusiasm. 

“I personally see no problem with romance on a team, so long as the couple are professional. Bonds such as that can actually make a team even stronger. Look at the Fantastic Four, or the Xmen. While they all have their internal dilemmas, they are strong teams that are lifted up by the couples within, not dragged down.” Sam knew that Steve had immense respect for Mr. and Mrs. Fantastic and their ability to be both renowned heroes and married with children. Deeper down, Sam also knew there was a tinge of envy to Steve's respect. 

“What about SHIELD?” Sam worries his lip, shifting again in his seat. “What are their rules on it?”

There was  a look Sam didn't like on Steve's face. He raised a brow and the corner of his lips. Sam considered flying out of the office the moment he saw he'd been found out. 

“Entirely hypothetical, right Sam?” He could tell Steve was trying to hold back a laugh. Still, Sam nodded. 

“Completely.” Steve shook his head lightly. He opened another drawer to pull out a slightly thinner tome. He held this one up to show the SHIELD emblem on the front. 

“The rule set depends on the department you work under. There's an entire subsection for secret agents and heroes.” He knew what Steve was doing. He was trying to get Sam to just come out and say it. Steve, above all things, valued honesty and communication. It made Sam want to tear out his hair sometimes. 

“What's that like?” Steve chuckled. He set down the book and flipped to the page, seemingly on pure instinct. Sam knew he didn’t have to read it to know what it said. Steve was a notorious rules lawyer. 

“Agents must fill out the proper forms with human resources. Agents will report any developing relationships to their team leader. They will hold themselves accountable for any actions taken. For secret agents, relationships are not encouraged and if one does develop, they are to remain private affairs. That's for our agents' safety, so that neither half of a couple may be used as a form of blackmail or bait,” Steve explained. He didn’t want to seem cruel in forbidding a relationship amongst his agents, not that Sam ever would have thought he was. “For public agents, such as the Squaddies, it is up to the team as a whole if the relationship is known to the public. There's several lines on the balance of power, that a relationship amongst teammates can not lead to a prioritization of one member's well being.” Steve raised a brow at Sam, who was sinking into his seat. “Would you like me to keep going?” 

“I get the picture,” Sam grumbled, holding his head. Steve shut the book and quietly tucked it back into his desk. 

“In this, entirely hypothetical ,” Steve reinforces it just to pick on Sam a little more, “situation, is it you forming a relationship on the squad, or another member?” Sam glared up at Steve, earning another laugh. The captain was gleaning far too much joy from this. “Because if it were you, I would have to admit to my own curiosity. I don't think I've seen you like this before.” 

“Because I don't act like this.” Steve leaned back in his chair, studying Sam passively. It was quiet for a moment as Sam considered how the fuck he would have this conversation with Tony. Or God forbid, Ms. Marvel. 

“Who is it, if you don't mind me asking? Your team all have very… strange dynamics between you.” Sam laughed dryly at Steve's attempt at being polite. 

“Can I trust you with that information?” Sam knew he could, and Steve knew that he knew.

“Did FDR pull this country up by its bootstraps?” Sam shook his head. Maybe it would be good to tell someone. He hadn't talked to anyone about this except Redwing. Maybe you could count Logan, but he saw that more as getting mocked than actually having an honest conversation. Logan didn't quite do feelings . Steve was leagues better at such a thing, and the look he was giving Sam now was begging for answers. And when it came to the people Steve cared about, he could actually keep quite the secret. Sam didn't think Nick knew about Bucky yet. 

“It's Surfer,” he finally admitted. He looked up at Steve to watch his eyebrows raise. Whatever answer he had expected, it didn't seem to be that. 

“The Silver Surfer. Does he… feel the same way?” Sam could see him trying to picture it in his mind. “You've told him?” 

“He knows, I told him the other night.” Sam took a moment, still surprised by the fact himself. It was his first time actually speaking it into reality. “And yeah, he feels the same.”

“Stars and stripes, that's great news to hear.” Steve was beaming with pride. Sam tried to keep his own smile to himself. Not seem too giddy, lest this all blow up in his face for being too happy. 

“Thanks, Steve.”

“I have to say, despite everything, you two seem to be the most normal members of the team. Strange as that sounds to say about a man from outer space. I think the two of you together would be a great way of keeping the rest of the group down to earth. Pardon the joke there.” Sam let out a breath as Steve chuckled at his own pun. “And I saw you two talking at ol’ uncle Sam's birthday barbecue. This explains all those lovesick looks I was reading off of you.” Steve waved a finger at Sam, who groaned. Great, another person who could tell. At least he had the decency not to say anything. 

“You were watching that?” 

“Captain always keeps an eye on all of his team.” Some of that Captain America bravado returned. “It was a treat to see you seeming so happy.” 

“It’s nice to be happy,” Sam answered earnestly before he cleared his throat and pulled his eyes away. “It's, ahem, weird of course. Can't say I know what I'm doing with a man, let alone an alien.”

“Do any of us know what we're doing in the throes of love?” Steve looked off nostalgically before he focused his gaze back on Sam. “But I could find someone to give you some advice. I know a few heroes that have experience with inter-species relationships. And we have a gay straight coalition here at SHIELD that I'm sure would be happy to help you with this transition-”

“Thanks, cap,” Sam interrupted before Steve could keep rambling on. “But I think I'm good on that. I'd rather just work this out on my own.” Steve nodded. 

“Good on you, soldier, but keep it in mind. If you ever need help or advice, it's here and ready for you. I want you to live the best life you can, Sam.”

“Thanks, Steve. Really.” Sam rose from his chair. He knew what he had to do now, the conversations he had to prepare himself for with the people above him. They would take far more strength than Steve. Cap rose as well, coming around the desk to shake Sam's hand. He pulled him into a hug as he did, clapping him on the back. 

“I'm happy to help. Happier that you trust me with this.” Sam chuckled. 

“If I can't trust Captain America with something, then I can't trust anybody.” 

Sam shouldn't have said anything at all.

He had summarized his conversation with Steve for Norrin once he returned to the helicarrier. He was obvious with his displeasure of talking to Tony, if Surfer was able to notice it. 

“If you do not wish to speak to Iron Man, I could do it for you,” he offered innocently. There was not a doubt in Sam's mind that he would; that was not his concern when he hesitated. 

“I don't know…”

“If speaking to him would make you uncomfortable, I could do it for you. I am also a part of this relationship.” There was no spite in his voice. He spoke as if Sam could genuinely forget that a couple took two. Sam deserved an award for how well he was recovering from comments like that now. He barely even tripped on his words when Norrin expressed affection for him anymore. 

“I know, Norrin. I'm just worried about how you would,” Sam tried to put it delicately, “phrase it.” Norrin nodded, fixing his seat on his board, folding his leg into himself. He was considering it. 

“It is not enough to say we are in a relationship?” 

“It's Tony, man. He'd never let it be that easy.” He wouldn't be able to embarrass Silver Surfer, which means whatever his response was would have to humiliate Sam instead. He wasn't sure he had the strength to endure it. 

“Perhaps you can come with me. I can start the conversation, and you can keep it under control!” Surfer grinned and Sam felt pieces of his own will flake off like dry paint. He was going to regret this. 

“You know what, sure.” He should have expected Surfer to start to drag him from the room then and there. Straight to Tony's office. Sam couldn't be allowed the time to brace himself for this. 

“Iron Man, I have news to tell you.” Tony looked up from his screen when the pair appeared in his doorway. His eyes returned to his work just as quick. 

“What'd you set on fire this time, Surfer?” Sam shifted his weight. It was a small mercy he was behind Surfer. 

“Nothing is on fire, my friend!” Oh good lord, he was gesturing back at Sam. Tony glanced at them again with a brow subtly raised. “Falcon was told by Captain America that all relationships must be reported to the team leader.” Now Tony was actually paying attention. He sat up a little straighter. Took in the image of the two. Sam was practically hiding behind the alien. Surfer was just as chipper as ever. “It is our duty then to tell you of our relationship so that the papers can be worked.” Sam considered flying out of the office as Tony's eyes went back and forth. He had fought aliens and interdimensional wizards and insane reconstituted nazis, though. Surely he was brave enough to handle one awkward conversation. 

“Hold on.” Tony held up a hand before pointing between the two. “You and bird brain? You're together?” Surfer nodded. Sam regrettably did the same. 

“Yes.” 

“How does that even…” his eyes skated over Silver Surfer before seeming to think better of himself, “you know what? Nevermind.”

“Let’s not forget the Mystique incident,” Sam grumbled as heat rose in his cheeks. Surfer might not have understood where Tony was going, but Sam did. Tony frowned. 

“Hey, we all fell for it! I was nowhere near the worst offender.”

“You seemed to be affected the most by her charm,” Surfer chimed in, much to Sam's enjoyment and Tony's shame. He was the one who led her straight into the fractal vault.  

“So you two want to be together,” Tony changed the subject as he pushed himself away from his desk. He began to dig through a filing cabinet that had enough dust to have never been opened in its lifetime. “Can't say I saw you liking boys, bird brain. Or whatever Surfer is.” Sam crossed his arms as Surfer looked back at him. Letting him take the reins. 

“Is that going to be an issue?” Tony waved a hand at Sam before cheering as he procured a slip of paper from the depths of the drawer. 

“Aha!” He returned to his desk, though didn't sit. “Don't get your panties in a twist, Sam. I'll have you know Stark Industries is top in its field for supporting the LGBT community.” He jabbed at Sam with a pen in the air before using it to write something on the sheet of paper. It was a contract of some sort. “I would just think if you were going to choose a guy, I would have at least been asked first.” He offered the paper to Silver Surfer with a flourish, grinning. Norrin silently read the words. “I'm a little offended that I wasn't.” 

“A bit too egotistical for my taste,” Sam shot back flatly. Tony laughed, clearly not taking anything to heart. Norrin looked up from the paper. 

“This is all?” 

“Oh, I'm sure Capsicle would love for me to give you both a whole speech and then a pep talk for the whole team for good measure.” The very thought of it made Sam's stomach turn. With Surfer holding up the paper as he was, he could read over his shoulder. Inter-teammate relationship agreement . “Not my style. Don't care who you're cuddling up with at night as long as you do your jobs.” He tilted his head back in the direction of his desk. “JARVIS, remind me to bring this to Miss M tomorrow morning.” 

“Of course, sir,” the AI replied. Norrin handed Sam the paper. 

“We do not sleep together, Iron Man,” he corrected. Sam refused to lift his eyes from the paper as Tony barked out a laugh. 

“Should have went for Iceman if you like them that frigid.” His laugh grew even louder at his joke. Sam was doing a very good job at not tearing the paper apart with his teeth. 

It was the same jargon Steve had already explained. No discrepancies other than the general title of leader being changed to Iron man and Miss Marvel. There was an interesting stipulation that if the couple should split, there was little chance that either would be removed from the team. 

“None of your business,” Sam muttered as he took the pen from Norrin and signed the paper atop his board. He handed both to the alien once he was done. Tony held up his hands. 

“Hey, if Silver Surfer feels like sharing.” Norrin signed the papers, a printed Silver Surfer underneath of Sam's practiced signature. He looked to Sam with a frown. 

“Did I say something wrong?” Sam sighed, crossing his arms. 

“No, he's the only problem.” Tony winked at Sam before plucking the paper from Surfer's fingers. He tucked it away in his desk drawer, plopping down in his spinning chair. 

“It's been a pleasure gentlemen.” He pulled a holographic screen back in front of him, obscuring him from the couple's sight. “Congrats and what not. I'll pass the news onto Miss M after our meeting.” Norrin rested a hand on Sam's shoulder. 

“Thank you for your support, Iron Man. Falcon was - oh!” he stopped at a pinch to his skin. Sam had had enough embarrassment for one afternoon. Tony gave them a distracted salute. 

“I know, I know, I'm the greatest. Don't worry about it, space man.”