Chapter 4
Peter B. Parker was mildly concerned.
The weekly gathering of the Spider-team had been one night ago. Obviously, with hectic schedules, not everyone could make it every time. Peni missed the one before, citing company vacation day policy, and Ham had missed the one before that, due to his running low on anvils. Even he had missed a couple of meets, although those circumstances were... extenuating. But still, Noir had never missed a meet. He was always there, in his quiet, morose way, drinking in the camaraderie like a man dying of thirst.
It was at Miles' Aunt May's place, same as usual. She never said anything about it, but Peter was pretty sure she got lonely, not having anyone around. So, they always tried to schedule it there, unless something came up in Miles' world. Noir loved spending time with Aunt May, was always helping her around the house. Apparently, he came around even on off days to check up on her.
Peter knew something was... off... with Noir's Aunt May. He'd never heard him mention her, ever, to anyone. Peter assumed it was because she had died. Noir's universe had a funny-not-funny way of constantly killing people off. Either way, Peter didn't want to mention it, because he knew if he brought it up, Noir would stop visiting May altogether.
So, to have Noir pass up an opportunity to hang out, plus talk with Aunt May, plus the fact that everyone *always* gave a reason for why they weren't coming that day, made Peter mildly concerned.
Okay, a lot concerned.
He had tried to reach out, but Noir hadn't answered the interdimensional call. Not when the party was about to start and Peter wondered if they should wait for him, not halfway through when Peter felt anxious about leaving him out, not the morning after when Peter began to worry, not five minutes after that because he was starting to get concerned.
Peter fiddled with his fancy-magic phone that Peni had rigged up, and weighed in on calling again. Noir was probably busy, he reasoned. Working a case, going undercover. Hell, maybe he just wanted to be left alone, and Peter's pestering was getting on his nerves.
Heh. Peter did have a tendency to do that, didn't he.
The others hadn't seemed to concerned, blowing it off as work or, as Gwen pointed out, a lovely lady to keep him company.
Peter sighed, sticking the phone back into his pocket. He'd call later, and then, if it was still radio silent, swing by and see if Noir was alright. He was being irrational, he knew. Spiderpeople had to go off grid all the time. Noir more than others, probably. Still, he couldn't shake this sinking feeling that something was wrong.
Peter promised himself he wouldn't check up on Noir yet. Give him some time, he's just busy. He'd call him that night. No biggie.
Time had never passed so slowly. Peter wandered around aimlessly, checking the clock every few minutes. The phone felt heavy in his pocket, and he couldn't get his mind off of Noir. Somehow, someway, he knew something was wrong.
Peter didn't make it to nighttime. In fact, he didn't even make the hour-mark before he had pulled out the phone, and dialed up Noir.
It rang in his ear, and then beeped.
"... Oh! It's blinking. Peter speaki-or well- uh- Noir, I suppo-beep"
Peter felt a little smile twitch at his lips. Noir had a way of doing that. As did the whole Spiderteam, of course, since that was what he meant.
"Hey man, it's me. PB. You missed our date night. Not cool. Swing on over if you can. Or send a message, yeah? I'm- We're all getting kinda worried about you. Yeah. So, uh... bye."
Peter stared at the phone, as if willing it to ring in his hand. It did not.
Somehow, he had thought calling would have made him feel better. It did not.
He told himself to calm down, that there was no need to worry. He did not.
Noir could take care of himself. He wouldn't want Peter - full of color and modernity - to come bursting into his universe. Noir would be upset, Peter was sure. But Peter was more than a little concerned, now.
It only took him a few seconds to make a decision. He wanted to make sure Noir was safe, regardless of how much Noir would dislike him for it.
Besides, if Noir doesn't like him, so what? Pretty much everyone he knows can't stand him. Noir... Noir would be no different.
Yeah. It would be fine.
Peter opens up a portal, takes a breath and wills his nerves to calm, and jumps through.