1fish2fish
Peter was ecstatic when Miles handed over the Cube, a smile on his face when he remembered just many people in his universe became just as enamoured as he was with it.
"I'm going back, to ask the kid if he knows how to make these things." "Alright, Peter. Be careful." He gave you a quick kiss on the cheek and a promise of being home sooner than you'd know, slipping on his mask as he walked back to the Collider.
"Dude–you..you can't be here! Get out!" "Kid, listen for a moment. I need those blueprints for that..doodad." "Wha..? I've got no idea what that means." Miles only brushed him off with a confused smile, going back to his notebook, but not before attempting to make Peter leave. "Kid, it's a serious emergency. I need that doodad's blueprints, the..the one with the colours!" "Okay, okay! Just give me a minute."
Now, Peter walked to his home, notebook paper in his coat and a smile on his face. All he could think about was you, how excited you'd be to know that there would be more of this mystical cube he brought home so recently ago. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he was taken off guard when he felt a hand on his shoulder, making him spin around. "Gimme that blueprint." Peter stood, confused. "Did ya not hear me? Hand over those blueprints, bub." He scrunched up his face in disgust, holding the blueprints close to his person, a light crinkling sound heard as he did. "If you think you're gonna even put your hands on these, then you're dead wrong, bub."
Now, Peter was in an alleyway, soaked in his own blood as the men beat him to a bloody pulp. "It would've been easier if you just gave up, spidey! Now look what we hafta do!" Their voice had no remorse, even sounding like they relished kicking Peter into oblivion. "Yeah, if you just gave up that damn crummy paper, we wouldn't have to do this!" His head starts to faintly ache, tingling and humming all the same as he receives a swift hit to his bones, and he swears he can hear a crack as his senses go wild with late warning. His brain ached and his head buzzed as the bat hit him over and over again, making his eyes glaze over, hissing in pain as he was shoved further into the alleyway. His eyes were closed, teeth gritted, and he laid there without any further assault. It felt like hours passed before the beating stopped, ending with one of the men spitting on Peter and snatching away the sheet of paper, punching him when he attempted to reach out for it and tear it from his hands. They left him in the alleyway to rot, blueprints in hand, and all Peter could do was watch.
It made his tongue sour with disgust as he tried to recover himself and stand, now concerned about how he was going to even make it home.
As soon as Peter fumbled with the keys, he felt tears sting his eyes. "Damn. Not now." He hissed, wiping them with his finger, dismissing it with a frown as he finally unlocked the door to his home. "Hey, Peter. The kid give you the prints yet?" You hadn't looked up from your cooking when he stepped in, keeping an eye on the pot and taking a moment to stir before you turned to him. "Oh–Jesus, what happened? I-I..I haven't seen you this bad ever since.." You turned off the stove, abandoning your food in favour for taking care of Peter, who only waved you away. "I..I got the blueprints for that doodads, then some guys jumped me. I feel so ashamed, I'm Spider-Man for Pete's sake. I should've been able to sense them, beat them blind, then string them up like usual!" "Sh, sh. C'mere, let me–" "I can take care of it. Just..get back to what you were doing, love." He plants a kiss on you, some fresh blood that was still trickling down his nostril landing your cheek, and you almost recoil in disgust before following your partner.
"Pete, just sit down let me run you a bath." "Don't need it. Just..need some time, need time to recover, like I always do." He didn't even look at you, too ashamed to turn around, feeling hot tears spilling as he sat on your shared bed. "Peter–" "I'm gonna be fine, doll. Like I always am, I'm Spider-Man." Peter feels himself go weak as he hears how you say his name, how worried you sound, and your voice. It's as broken as he thinks his nose is, but he reminds himself that this is normal for him, for Spider-Man. Peter suffocates himself in the thought of this being normal, being something that he should be used to, that he doesn't hear the familiar sound of water running and your feet thumping against the floor to be near him. "___, I'm f–" "No, you're not fine, Pete. Let me hold you, please." Peter could only nod as you whispered out those words, embarrassment filling him when he felt wet tears slide down his face and soak small portions of your shirt. "I'm sorry. I..I shouldn't be cryin' like this, this shouldn't have.." He begins to mumble out, voice small and frail as he hugs you closer. "I shouldn't be cryin'. Spider-Man shouldn't be crying, not when–" He begins to choke back tears, pitiful cries escaping him and he shakes in your hold. All you can do is press your lips against his forehead, and Peter clings to you, full on sobbing now. "Let's just worry about gettin' you cleaned up, okay? I don't..you don't look good being this beaten up."
"You really had me worried." "I know, 'm sorry. Promise, it'll–it'll never happen again, I'll train my spider-senses, be more aware, I–" You kiss him, hands on his back and holding him close in the warm water of the bath, and Peter starts to shake again in your hold. Small hiccups escape him when you pull away, looking at small droplets of tears on his face. You feel your eyes start to go misty as he lays on your chest, mumbling words you can't make out in the moment. All you know is that you start to cry too, holding him and telling him everything will be alright, that everything is alright, and he's still yours. Peter chokes on his sobs and you do too, eyes glistening as you look at the dried blood and bruises on your partner. "I'm so happy I made it home." He finally speaks, not bothering to wipe his tears as he scoots himself closer to your chest, pressing against it. "I love you so much. Love you so much that the world couldn't even compare. I..I wanna settle down with you, have a family, but.." You watch as Peter takes a moment to gather himself, your arms wrapped around him as he savours the soft feeling you give him before speaking again. "I always think about this exact situation happening, where–..where I'm hurt and there's nothing you can do, where my senses fail me and I..I end up worse for wear. I don't wanna give you a life where you need to always worry about me, worry about if I made it home safe or if I'm..if I'm–.." You kiss him once more, and Peter fully breaks, head close to your shoulder and salty tears rolling down his face and making his eyes puffy. "I love you. So much, I-..I want to grow old with you, want to hold you for the rest of my life, but what if I can't?" "Don't say that, please don't say that, Pete." You beg him, wiping away tears with a damp hand. Tears bubble over from you too, making you sniffle as you hold Peter close to you. "I swear, we'll have that life. We'll grow old, have kids. Whatever we want." "Okay." His voice was soft, a soft sigh escaping him as you held him. It felt like a dream come true, hearing you repeat the life that the both of you would share.