Peter landed back the moment he disappeared, in the middle of stopping a petty car thief. After everything it took him 2 webs and a witty line to stop the guy, leaving him webbed to the blaring car.
Peter lazily swung back to his apartment, comparing his city to Peter 1, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride at the younger Spider-Man. He was the best version of Spider-Man in Peters opinion, way better then Peter 3 had been at his age.
With a soft thud he fell from the roof onto his bed, he glanced at his desk to see the unfinished work project and decided it could wait after all he needed to process the last few hours.
The scariest thing was seeing Peter 2 laying there in pain, he thought Peter 2 would have died.
He decided there was a lot to take away from meeting his counter parts. The one that stuck was MJ, not Michelle —she was great— but the fact that both Peters had a soulmate names MJ.
Peter 2 had told him to try and find love again, that thought alone scared him, it terrified him.
It was really hard to think that maybe Gwen isn’t his forever soulmate, she definitely was his soulmate but who said you can’t have more than one soulmate?
Peter shot up stripped off his suit and ran out, skateboard in hand as his leaped from the fire escape, his board hit the ground loudly startling the people walking on the streets.
Speeding down the road, using his webs as leverage when no one could see him.
Within seconds he pulled up to the one place he spend way too much time.
He left his board at the gate and glanced at the plants, “shit. Flowers.”
He glanced around looking if there was a place to get flowers before he noticed a cafe, there was a lone rose at the outside table.
Peter got back on his board, zoomed passed the table flipped his board and heading back, rose in hand.
He wasn’t stealing it, he was simply borrowing it and made a mental note to replace the rose later.
He let out a breath to calm himself as he fixed his disheveled appearance, like muscle memory he walked to Gwen. Peter took a seat on the ground and brushed the dust off her headstone, gently placing the rose next to the other wilting flowers, he had left there.
“Hey Gwen. I really missed you today,” he missed her everyday and always began with that, “something crazy happened. The Multiverse exists and I went through and met some amazing people. There was Peter 1, he’s graduating high school. Remember our graduation?… I was late but I made it up to you.” He grinned to himself recalling the kiss they shared in front of everyone, back then he believed he would’ve had a chance to do it again. Maybe in a church or on a beautiful beach, but life had other plans.
“He’s an amazing Spiderman and the most selfless person I’ve met, he saved the day.” Peter couldn’t help but feel pride for the younger boy, he didn’t feel like a doppelgänger, he felt like family.
“Then I met Peter 2, he’s older than I am. Also an amazing Spiderman. He seems so mature and put together.” He let out an exhale unsure where to start with his point.
“Gwen. My love,” he hesitated trying to articulate his thoughts, “they both have an MJ... I love you truly and believe you’re my soulmate but I can’t help but wonder if I have an MJ. While it hurts to say, I’d like to think I have another soulmate out there. And even if I met them you will always be my Gwen Stacy, my first love, spider-mans saviour. I will always love you Gwen.”
He placed the rose on the ground taking a quiet moment before standing up, for the first tie he walked away feeling something other than guilt and pure heartbreak, he still felt the pain of losing her but it was different now.
With one last glance he picked up his board and headed to a nearby flower store that was just opening, he knew the lady quite well. He remembers watching Gwen buy flowers for her father here and Peter couldn’t visit her or Mr Stacy without stopping at the small store.
“Peter, hi!”
The short woman grinned widely soft wrinkles formed at the end of her eyes, Peter always thought it made her look so inviting and kind.
He reached over the counter pulling her into a one handed hug, “Mrs Baker you look amazing.”
“Aw that you Darlin’. Are you headed to see Gwen?”
“Just came from there, I need a red rose.” Peter shook his head slightly feeling bad for taking the flower in the first place.
“I have a small bouquet, would that work?”
He nodded handing her the money, “see you soon Peter?”
“Of course, my week is very dull without seeing you.”
Peter lifted the roses to his nose inhaling deeply as he walked to the cafe, she always had the best flowers.
As he placed one of the roses in the little vase a man walked out, a wide grin spreading across his face lighting up his features, Peter froze for a moment letting his eyes wander.
The captivating man before him snapped his fingers in Peters face with a mesmerising smile making him drop his board along with the remaining roses.
He cringed visibly, cursing his Spidey senses. What the hell was that? He just smiled.
He bend down to grab the roses as the guy snapped his board up tucking under his arm, it was done quickly as if he’d done it hundreds of time before Peter wondered if he skated as well.
He shook off the strange feeling as he stood up, roses in hand and an embarrassed grin on his face. The guy made no move to hand Peter his board simply glancing at the single rose at the table, Peter was captivated, from the glint in his brown eyes —that was currently glowing from the sunlight— to the bright smile, to the perfectly sharp jawline and everything else about the man made him feel something he hadn’t in a long time.
“Rose theft is no joke.”
Peter sighed softly, even his voice was perfect, “sorry, what?”
“I was about to report you to the flower police.”
A cheesy grin spread across both of their faces, “would another rose convince you otherwise?”
He hummed in contemplation, “make it two and you have a deal.”
Peter quickly picked handed the rest of the bouquet to him, it was more than two but he didn’t care, “I’m sorry about the rose.”
The guy shook his head gently twirling the roses, “I had a feeling you’d return it. Besides I got a fewmore in return.”
They began laughing again and it felt effortlessly easy to be around him, to joke with him and not worry about his stresses.
He’s amazing.
The thought rang in both their minds and they fell silent keeping their eyes on each other, admiring and observing the other.
Just blatantly checking each other out.
After a moment of peaceful silence, Peter stuck out his hand, “I’m Peter. Peter Parker.” The man placed the skateboard —which both had forgotten about— along with the roses on the table reaching out to hold his hand.
“I’m Micheal James but everyone calls me MJ.”