Reveal
“Come on Pete, let me see some action!”
“Nope, you still have to recover.” Peter B. winced at the coffee cup tossed his way, catching it with ease. It had been about a week and a half since Noir had recovered enough to no longer need bedrest, but he was still weak. Peter B. had offered to help with the crime-fighting aspects, while Noir resumed the detective work side of things. At first, it had been received well, but now Noir seemed to be suffering cabin-fever, and it showed. He grew surlier as time passed, and forbade the younger three from visiting his dimension.
“I can’t just...sit here! I need to be out there!” He snapped, hands balling into fists.
“No, you’ll get your ass handed to you.” Peter sighed, shaking his head as he moved to sit on the edge of the private eye’s desk. He knew what it was like to be withheld from saving his city, and it had to be tearing Noir up. “Let the kids visit, I know they’ll be-”
“No. No, they will not come here until I’m allowed out.” Noir practically snarled, taking a deep breath before letting his shoulders slump. “No…”
“Peter.” The private eye looked up, only to see his counterpart giving him a pointed look. It was strange to hear his name coming from a similar look alike, but he had grown as used to it as he would ever be. “They can handle themselves, you know they can.”
“Says you!” Noir replied immediately. “Even you shouldn’t be here.”
“I think I can handle a few nazis.” The other scoffed, knowing exactly what was being referred to. Noir shook his head, turning slightly as a coughing fit overcame him. After taking a few breaths, he scowled and looked back at Peter B.
“If anything were to happen to them, I would never forgive myself.” He rasped, pushing some paperwork away from him. “My world is not meant for children.”
“Look, Peter, they aren’t normal kids.” The older sighed, running his hands over his face. “I would trust all of them with my life, and I bet my miserable savings account that you feel the same.” He cracked a grin when he heard a soft exhale from the detective, leaning closer to get into his line of sight. “Let them come, at least to say hello. Peni won’t stop asking to come by ya know.”
“Low blow Parker.” He grumbled, shaking his head. “Sitting pretty over there while I’m nothin’ more than what feels like a dewdropper.”
“A what?” Peter B. tilted his head.
“Basically I’m sittin’ on my heels being useless.” He explained, forgetting his terminology often confused the others.
“I mean, you’re still solving cases.” He suggested, the scathing look sent his way letting Peter know he was rather annoyed. “Fair point, I would be just as restless as yourself. Peni would be a great distraction you know.” The other Peter sighed in annoyance, giving the older Spiderman a bit of a grin. “See?”
“Ah lay off you live wire.” Noir crossed his arms, flicking a finger. Peter B. just chuckled and went to call for Peni to join them. Noir could be a grumpy pain in the ass for someone who was younger than he was, but in his world, it was figured as such. The Japanese girl was so happy to finally be allowed a visit, giving Noir the biggest hug she could manage after she launched into his office. The scowl and gloom seemed to lift in an instant, the detective smiling as he moved her up onto his lap.
“I’m so happy I finally get to see you!” She gushed, those eyes growing to an impossible length.
“Sorry sweetheart, I’ve been busier than a speakeasy since I got back.” He smiled, feeling a bit guilty. Peni seemed to accept this, launching off into tales of her city while he sat back to listen. Noir still hadn’t told her that his communicator had been broken purposefully, having heard she had nearly had a panic attack making him a stronger one. An intense feeling had overcome him at hearing that. It made Noir’s stomach churn, and a weight settled on his chest until he had seen her smile once again.
Guilt.
Of course one of the first emotions he would feel in years would be that. Guilt had followed him at the beginning. It had settled in his very bones, always seeing that face, always hearing that gun. It was different this time though, something that he had been mulling over for some time. This guilt was...stronger, the type that made him anxious. He didn’t like this guilt, it wouldn’t go away when he willed it to. It only receded whenever Peni would regale him with stories, or when Miles showed him his art and taught him colors. Or when Gwen would play music for him to pass the time. Or when Ham and Peter B. would tease him with corny jokes and puns that got the softest of chuckles. Those times made the guilt settle in whenever he picked up his razor, or when he hoped for a shootout of old.
“Peter?” Blinking, Noir looked down to see Peni, a frown on her face. “Are you listening?”
“Of course doll.” He gave a nod, the mask covering his grimace. She raised an eyebrow, putting her hands on her hips with a huff.
“You weren’t! What were you thinking about? You’ve been doing that a lot lately.” She felt the detective beneath her stiffen, clearly off guard with such a question. Tension began to fill the air, Peni keeping her gaze on Noir, with Peter B. watching on with his own frown.
“You’re too much of a spitfire.” Noir eventually spoke, gaze settled on the wall above Peni. “Too young, and too good ta be in our line of work.”
“I’m still a good Spiderwoman.” She replied, noting Peter B’s cautious motion to pull back.
“You should be playin’ with kids yer age, not fightin’ biscuit boxers with half a mind ta bump you off without a thought.” He kept talking, as if not having heard her. “Here I thought only I had that burden, yet now I know there are just...endless versions. Now I know how small I am, how much my work might mean nothin’.” Looking down, he very carefully put his hand on Peni’s head. “Ah kid...sometimes, I think it would have been better had I not met you all.”
“Peter...what do you mean?” His older version asked, a familiar feeling of dread coiling in the bottom of his gut.
“It’s...the little Jane shouldn’t hear this.” He shook his head, removing his hand. “Please, go home Peni.”
“Mr. Noir, what are you saying?” She asked, gasping a little when she was lifted and set on her feet. She didn’t like the way he was talking, it reminded her of someone she knew, and that scared her.
“Noir, that’s not a good idea.” Peter B. spoke up but stopped when a loud crack rang out. Peni had slapped the other Peter, who was staring at her in shock.
“I won’t leave!” She yelled, big tears going down her cheeks as she hugged him tightly. “I know what you’re saying, and I won’t let it happen!”
“Oh, kid...you shouldn't,” Noir spoke up, that feeling of guilt almost overpowering him. “No, no no...not you.”
“I won’t lose you. I promised that I would bring us all back, and that means you too.” She sniffled, looking up at the man she basically considered father. “Please don’t go, we all love you.”
“I-I...I love you all too.” Peter spoke, wiping away some of her tears with his gloved hands. “You shouldn’t...I should have…”
“No use hiding it now.” Peter B. spoke up from the corner, shaking his head slightly. “How long?”
“Since the night I bumped off my first piker.” He replied quietly, hoping Peni wouldn’t understand. “Too long.”
“Yea…” The older man ran a hand over his face, watching Peni get back up in Noir’s lap and hug him tightly. Ham was right, it was gonna be a hell of a road to get Noir to realize he wasn't alone in this. It would be worth it though, he was part of their Spider-Family, and no one hurt their family, not even one of their own.