more like BIder-man
While Peter was working on his cure for Dr. Connors, he couldn’t help but watch Peter - the younger one, god they needed to figure out a new way to distinguish themselves - and MJ as they comforted each other, leaning into each other's warmth.
It reminded greatly of him and Gwen, and broke his heart all the same. Listening to Peter talk earlier about the death of his aunt, how he blamed himself for it and that she died for nothing, it resurfaced the deep, dark feelings he felt for so long after Gwen's death.
What Peter and MJ shared seemed so magical. A young, sweet love that left you with butterflies and blushing cheeks. And of course his brain then drifted to Wade.
Older Peter must’ve seen his bittersweet smile as he watched the young couple, because he approached Peter with his comforting, big brother presence.
He waited a moment before speaking, clearly thinking over his words. “You got someone?” older Peter asked.
Peter thought about lying. He thought about brushing it off, saying he didn’t have time for relationships. But his features thought otherwise as he couldn’t help as his lips turned up in a soft smile.
“Uh… yeah. I do,” he responded hesitantly, his eyes drifting up from the table to the other man.
His boyfriend had been on his mind ever since that bright yellow light pulled him from his dimension and into this one. He missed Wade. He missed his warm presence and his witty remarks. Peter wondered if Wade was looking for him. They rarely spent more than a couple hours apart, unless one of them was on a mission, of course. But if Peter up and disappeared without a note or a phone call, he knew his boyfriend would be sure to worry.
“What’s her name?” younger Peter spoke up from where he was sitting close to his girlfriend - apparently he had joined in on the conversation. “Is it another MJ? Cause I don’t know if I can handle another one,” the brunette joked, earning a look of disdain from his MJ.
Peter internally cringed at the female pronouns but tried not to let his anxiety get the better of him. He knew himself and he knew the other Peter’s would be nothing but supportive, but he couldn’t help but contemplate lying again. He quickly brushed those thoughts away. His love for Wade was too strong to deny.
“No, no,” he chuckled, looking down at where he was playing with his hands atop the table. “Definitely not an MJ… His name is Wade.”
Younger Peter gasped excitedly, not a hint of judgment in his tone. A huge grin grew on his face and he practically began vibrating on the stool he was seated on. “His name!? As in… a guy!?” he gasped again, his voice getting higher with every word. Peter couldn’t help but grin at the boys apparent enthusiasm, and MJ was smiling along as well, “Are you bisexual too!?”
“Too?” he looked at the boy and blurted out involuntarily. Peter felt his heart grow with the thought that he wasn’t the only queer Spider-man. “Uh, yeah. I’m bisexual.”
Peter swore he could see stars gleaming in younger Peter’s eyes. “Wow,” he breathed out, smiling, “That is so cool. I’ve been wondering if I was the only one, but I’m glad to know I’m not,” the boy looked from Peter to older Peter curiously, “Are- are you… bisexual? Or- or… something?” he finished lamely, seeming to be more nervous talking to the older man.
With a soft smile, older Peter shook his head, “No, I’m not,” he paused in contemplation, “but I can appreciate a handsome face. You should have seen my best friend Harry.”
“Wow,” younger Peter repeated, seeming lost for words. He turned his attention back to Peter and began rambling excitedly, “So… tell us all about him!? What’s he like? How’d you meet? What’s his favorite-“
MJ cut him off with a harsh whisper, “Peter! You can’t just bombard the man with questions.”
Young Peter looked from his girlfriend over to Peter with wide eyes, “Oh! I- I’m sorry! Just- just ignore me,” he stuttered out.
Peter smiled at the young boy's kindness, “I- I don’t mind… sharing.” He looked over to older Peter who gave him an encouraging nod of his head, “Yeah… Wade Wilson is his name… alliteration buddies-“
“Alliteration buddies!” Younger Peter blurted out at the same time. The two Peter’s paused and held eye contact before bursting into a fit of giggles.
Peter continued, “He’s a super, too. Uhm… not quite a hero, more of an anti-hero… but… he’s uh- trying to be better. Well, uhm… I see him as a hero,” he smiled at the thought of his boyfriend. His eyes lifted from the floor to see young Peter smiling brightly, MJ attempting to hide her smile, and older Peter listening on in consideration.
“He, uh- he loves Mexican food, and- and the Golden Girls, and anything pink and sparkly.” Peter could feel his smile growing with each word he shared about the man, a blush growing on his cheeks. God , he missed Wade. “He’s so, so kind and really perceptive and like, the most selfless person I’ve ever met… His favorite superhero is Spider-man, obviously,” he gestured to himself with a joking roll of his eyes.
“Obviously,” MJ chimed in, looking over to her Peter who crunched his nose up with a smile in response.
“I gotta say, he’s gonna be really jealous when he hears I got to hang out with a bunch of me’s,” Peter rubbed the back of his neck, “Then again, he’d probably try flirting with all of you,” he chuckled, so did the other Peters.
There was a break in the conversation where older Peter spoke up, “Does he make you happy?” he asked sincerely.
“Yeah,” Peter answered immediately, “Yeah, he really does… After Gwen-“ he cut himself off, sucking in a deep, steadying breath, “I was… really lost, for the longest time, and… he was the first person to make me feel… whole again,” he finished with a sad smile.
Peter looked around the room to see warm smiles and glistening eyes, and his sensitive hearing picked up Ned across the room muttering to himself, “Oh my god, that is the saddest and cutest thing anyone has ever said.”
Older Peter took a step forward and placed a hand on Peter’s shoulder, “Then that’s all that matters,” he smiled, and Peter smiled right back.
“Enough about me,” Peter croaked and rubbed a hand down his face, brushing away invisible tears and turning to the older man next to him, “What about you? Do you have a someone?”
“It’s complicated…” Older Peter shrugged, “But, were making it work… in our own way,” he smiled softly, “MJ… my MJ, of course. Not the one in this universe,” they chuckled, “We’ve not exactly sorted out our relationship yet, but… we’re getting there.”
***
During a quiet moment alone, young Peter snuck his way up to his slightly older counterpart, fiddling with the mask he held in his hands, “Uh, Peter? Can- can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” he responded genuinely, “What’s up, short stack?”
“Don’t call- whatever, man, you’re like… freakishly tall,” younger Peter rubbed his neck and looked off before snapping his attention back to Peter, “Anyways, I was wondering… should I like… keep an eye out? For the Wade Wilson of this universe?”
Peter looked at the young boy and felt his heart swell with gratitude. He took a moment before responding, “Yeah, I- uh… I think he could really use someone in his corner, looking out for him.”
Young Peter nodded along, looking slightly nervous but like he was invested all the more.
“And he’ll listen to you,” Peter continued, “He doesn’t take orders from anyone, but, uh, he’ll listen to Spider-man,” he smiled, “Wade’s not the most… sane person. But, he’s got a really strong moral code and he makes a great patrol partner.”
“Yeah, okay,” younger Peter smiled back. He took a moment where he appeared to be thinking it over before turning and beginning to walk away.
“Hey, Peter,” Peter called after him.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you,” he spoke, “from me and from him.”
The boy ducked his head with a bashful smile.
“Seriously, though, he’ll be stoked to find out the Spider-man of his universe already knows who he is,” Peter chuckled, “He’s like, our biggest fan… He spent months chasing after me on rooftops, trying to woo me with greasy take-out and romantic gestures. He can seem like a bit much when you first meet him but he’ll grow on you.”
“Is he- uh, is he cute?” younger Peter asked hesitantly, a blush rising on his cheeks.
“Is he cute?” Peter repeated, giving him an are you kidding me? look, “You have no idea…”
Younger Peter gulped.
“He’s 6’2”, built like a linebacker, thighs the size of tree trunks, Peter,” he gestured wildly as if trying to convince the other boy.
“Wow,” the boy gasped out, his cheeks and the tips of his ears bright red.
“Yeah… wow,” Peter smirked at the younger boy's flustered expression. Maybe both Peter’s had the same type? “So, if things with you and MJ don’t work out-“
“Which will never happen,” young Peter stated, cutting the man off.
“Which will never happen,” he parroted, “But… worst case… you got options, kid.”
“Really? You think so?” he squeaked out, still picking at the mask in his hands.
“Oh, I know so,” Peter cocked a hip and crossed his arms over his chest, “Just bat your pretty little doe-eyes in his general direction, and he’ll be on his knees, I’m telling you.”
“Uh- oh, okay. I’ll, uh, keep that in mind,” younger Peter smiled but paused, looking a little shell shocked, eyes wide and skin still pink.
“No problem, Pete,” Peter winked and watched the boy shuffle away with a knowing grin on his face. “You’re welcome, Wade,” he mumbled.