Chapter 6
“Ugh!” Wade moaned dramatically, rubbing his stomach. “I’m so full right now.” Peter couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up from Wade’s display. He slouched down, his head resting on Peter’s shoulder. Peter laughed quietly when Wade’s breath tickled his ear.
“Well, that’s what happens when you eat your weight in diner tacos,” Peter teased, yelping when Wade settled his head more firmly on his shoulder while tugging him closer.
“Hush, now, Peter Pumpkin,” Wade growled playfully, clinging to him like an octopus.
Peter blushed and cleared his throat. Looking up, he saw how MJ, Ned, and Logan were staring. Becoming even more flustered, he nudged a nearly comatose Wade a bit. Whining, the other boy reluctantly lifted his head from Peter’s shoulder. He didn’t look happy about it, at all. Peter shot him a smile and that seemed to calm the other a bit.
“Peter’s right, son,” Logan said, cocking an eyebrow at Wade. “There is a thing as too many tacos.”
“That’s a lie,” Wade pointed a finger at his dad and then wagged it, “There is no such thing as too many tacos, pops. Because Mexican food is a glorious thing.”
Rolling his eyes, Logan stood from the booth. Stretching out, he grimaced and muttered something under his breath about ‘getting older by the damn day’. Looking down at his son, who was still holding onto Peter, he waved his hand in a ‘come on’ motion. Reluctantly and not without a pout, he stood from the booth, too. Peter blushed yet again while MJ and Ned chuckled at him.
“It was nice seeing you, kids,” Logan said, nodding. His hazel eyes settled on Peter and he smiled. “It was nice to finally meet you, son,” he said warmly. “Good to be able to put a face to the often-spoken name.” He dropped a wink and shrugged at his son’s glare. “Ms. Jones, Ned,” he pointed at them, “you two stay out of trouble now. Let’s go, son,” he clapped Wade on the shoulder and turned away.
“This was fun!” The captain said, happily. “We should do it more often.”
“Sure, man,” MJ shrugged, Ned nodding in agreement.
With one last happy (beautiful) smile, he turned, took a step, then turned back to them. Pointing a slim finger at Peter, he said, tone much too serious, “Text me when you get home, baby boy.”
Nodding dumbly, Peter stared wide eyed as Wade strode out the diner’s door with a backwards wave. Finally, he tore his gaze away and settled it back onto his friends. They wore identical knowing smiles. Shrinking down, Peter groaned and covered his face with his hands. Ned laughed and MJ snorted at his antics.
“Sooo,” Ned began, Peter peeked between his fingers at him, “I think Wade likes you.”
“I second that,” MJ said, nodding and staking their plates neatly. “He’s definitely got a crush.”
Sitting up, he fiddled with a straw wrapper. “He’s just a natural flirt,” Peter tried. “He acts like that with everyone, guys,” he laughed uneasily.
“Oh, yeah. Totally normal,” MJ sassed, an eyebrow arched, “he calls all his friends ‘baby boy’. Typical Wade.” She shrugged, all too casual.
“Exactly!” Folding his arms, Peter huffed. He hated all this attention. “We’re friends, guys,” he stressed. “That’s all.”
“Uh huh.”
“Yeah, dude. Whatever you say.”
“Shut it, you two! Just take me home!”
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Aunt May wasn’t home when MJ dropped him off. The space where she usually parked her Subaru was vacant. Must be working really late, Peter thought to himself as he opened the front door. It’s almost eight. Letting out a sigh, he stripped off his jacket, hanging it up on the honest to god coat rack that came with the house.
Tiredly, he climbed the stairs. His shoes scuffed against the carpeted floors as he dragged his feet. He collapsed face first on his bed, his phone digging in uncomfortably from his jean pocket. Grunting at the discomfort, he rolled onto his back. Whipping out his phone, he brought up his last conversation with the handsome captain. He smiled widely when he saw the heart Wade had sent.
Hi, Wade. Just texting to say that I’m home. Have a great night- grimacing, he erased the last part. Hitting send, he let is phone land next to him. He didn’t expect Wade to answer. Gathering some pjs, he headed to the bathroom to take a shower.
Looking at himself, naked, in the mirror, he let out a snort. God. He looked so…twinkish? Peter blushed at the word but couldn’t deny that the word held some truth in it. He was small. Not really skinny. When he flexed there was some muscles there. So, he wasn’t entirely not muscled. He just looked like a twink compared to Wade.
Wade was just so, so huge. All encompassing with his sunshine smile and big, toned muscles that were wrapped up in tan, tan skin. He was so immense. So existing. Beautiful. With his loud laugh and raunchy jokes and cheesy lines that made Peter laugh and flush up to his ears all the way down to his toes. Wade was comfortable with himself, gorgeous and self-assured.
And Peter was…
Well, Peter was Peter.
Huffing out a sigh, he cranked the shower up to hot and stepped in. The water beating down on his back felt glorious. He let out relaxed groan and rested against the slick wall. Pumping shampoo into his hand, he lathered it in his hair; spitting out somewhen the substance snuck into his mouth. Humming, his fingers skimmed across the slightly raised flesh of the scar. He shivered and quickly moved his hands away. Pictures flashed in his mind of that night; the memory of Uncle Ben pushing him away from the burglar so hard that he had hit his hand against the coffee table as he fell, splitting his head open.
With shaking hands, Peter washed out his hair and added conditioner. Dr. Rogers had told him never to dwell too long on the memories of that event. It would only hurt him and wrench him back down into his depression. Peter always tried his hardest to do what his doctor said, knowing that the man was right. But sometimes, some nights, when everything was silent and he was alone, the memories and pictures just wouldn’t leave him be. He could hear Uncle Ben scream his name, could still feel the phantom push on his shoulder.
Peter could still hear the gunshot and Uncle Ben’s soft gasp of pain he had let out as he slumped to the floor. Stomach bleeding and staining the carpet Peter had played on as a child.
Unwanted, burning tears leaked down his cheeks. Drip dropping down his chin as he sniffled pathetically and tried to hold them back. Peter knew that crying was okay, Dr. Rogers voice saying in his head, “now, Peter, you went through an extremely traumatic event. It’ natural that you’re going to experience occasional breakdowns. There’s no shame in crying, son. Especially when everything hurts and feels so overwhelming. It’ll make things worse if you bury it. So, cry.”
So, he cried. With the water beating down on him where he was curled up on the shower’s floor. Peter sobbed, and whimpered, clawing at his chest. Everything just felt like too much. He hadn’t had a breakdown in a long time. He had thought he was getting better. And he had been! He hadn’t let himself think about that night, and he’d stayed away from anything that could’ve possibly made him. But he couldn’t have stayed away from the scar on his head. The only physical injury he had gained that night.
The injury that saved me.
The injury that killed Uncle Ben.
Peter stayed curled on the shower floor until the water turned frigid. Cold and shivering, he pulled on his pajamas, too tired to dry his still dripping hair. Miserable and sad, he climbed into bed, pulling his blanket around himself and burrowing into his mattress. Sniffling, he searched for his phone.
6 Text Messages from Wade greeted him when he turned it on. Thumbing his phone open, he read through them.
good. Thnk u 4 letting me no
I had fun tonight btw
Did u? u looked cute
U always look cute tho
U there bb? u usually txt bac by now
Peter????
Guilt bubbling up, Peter quickly responded.
Sorry, sorry. I was in the shower. Guess time got away from me, lol.
Yeah! Tonight was fun, and uh thanks, Wade. You did too.
Almost immediately, Wade responded. Peter smiled at his phone, wiping his nose on his shirt sleeve.
Time got awy from u, huh? ;)
And bb!!! was tht a compliment? im honored
Rolling his eyes, Peter texted the captain back.
Not like that, you perv! And it was but due to your comment, I take it back. You looked absolutely hideous.
no im srry! forgive me, peteypie? my baby boy
Biting his lip and the pet name and the possessive start, Peter responded:
You’re lucky you’re cute, Wilson.
2 compliments in 1 night? My ur feelin generous
and im not adorable. im fierce n gorgeous
You cried over a cute gif about a cat, Wade. That’s adorable and not fierce at all.
hey! that shit was so cute i cant be held accountable 4 my reaction!
Whatever you say, big guy.
U shdnt say stuff like tht petey could give some1 the wrong idea… ;)
Smiling hugely, he texted back while nibbling on his lip.
Perv. Goodnight, Wade.
Gn bb talk 2 u tmrrw gonna blow up ur phone
Sounds like a plan.
Feeling brave, Peter sent a heart emoji, too. And beamed stupidly when Wade sent back a heart eyes and kissy face.