Secret Identity

Peter woke up in a hospital room in the Baxter Building. He still had his mask on, it was rolled up to his nose. Although he only had on a hospital robe on his body.

He wondered what had gone on, and what had been said while he was out. He was glad they left on his mask. Peter found that he was too exhausted to think about it and went back to sleep.

To say that Johnny had freaked out, would be the understatement of the year. Spidey had been stabbed. He had almost died in his arms. The Spider-man, his best friend, had called him at 1 o’clock in the morning because he was literally about to die. He would be lying if he said he hadn't cried on the way to the Baxter Building after he found him. He had thought he was dead at first.

Now, he was just numb. It felt as though everything was a movie with a sick sense of humor. He could only hear white noise. He was trying to process what had happened only a few hours ago. He only barely managed to save the life of his best friend. If he hadn't…

No. Don't go there. That isn't what happened.

He had freaked out, gone into shock, had a panic attack, back into shock, and now he was numb. He was completely drained of energy at this point.

At least he was alive. Spidey had been close to death, but he had saved him in time.

There was mass panic among the building when word got around that Spider-man could be dead. Especially with Johnny, Sue, Reed, and Ben.

Reed always does stuff just in time. He worked his magic again.

Johnny, Sue, and Ben all insisted on being in the room with Reed while he tried to help Web-head. So it was an all around shock when Reed ripped off Spidey’s shirt to find ace bandages covering his chest and bruises and cuts covering his stomach. At first Johnny had thought the bandages were for more injuries until Reed took them off. Even while he was passed out, you could see Spidey taking in larger breaths.

Johnny might like sex, but he’s not a pervert, so he turned around when he realized what he was seeing. He could hear Reed stop breathing while Sue gasped. Ben turned around as well after saying “holy shit”. Like Reed, Flame-brain stopped breathing for a minute. He didn't know what he was supposed to make of the situation. He didn't mean to find out. He hoped the guy wouln't be pissed with them.

Unlike him, Reed kept his cool and continued working. They knew Spidey would probably prefer Reed to work on him than anyone else, despite what his body looks like.

It's pretty cool that Spider-man is trans.

When Pete woke up for the second time, he had the sense to actually look at his wound. It was wrapped up in gauze, so he couldn't really see it, but he knew it had been done up well if it was fixed by Reed.

It was at this moment that Sue walked in.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Next to nothing with all the drugs you probably have me on.”
“Are you sure? You look pretty tired.”
“Yup, i'm doing just peachy. I have a healing factor anyway, so i should heal up pretty quick, even if it isn't the best healing factor out there.”
“Good, because we need to talk.”

Shit. He really doesn't want to have this conversation. Even if it is with Sue.

“Do you have any idea how stupid you are?! Not only using ace bandages to bind, but while in combat?!? You shouldn't have been fighting with so many bruises anyway! Where did they all come from? I swear to god if you tell me they all came from recent fights, i know you're lying, i know how good a fighter you are. You better tell me the truth.”

Damn, she can scare the shit out of you even when she’s trying to be caring.

“Yeah, i know i'm stupid. I know how stupid it was. That was a conscious decision i made. I can still fight pretty well in the bandages. I've used them almost every time I suit up.”
“Goddamn it.” she put her head in her hand. She stood there for a few seconds silently before speaking up. “Why, did you make that decision? And don't avoid my other question. Where did the bruises come from?”

Fuck. He guesses he can't get out of that.

“Well, i would rather hurt myself then feel the dysphoria, or be misgendered. I wanted to make sure i would be called Spider-man, and not Spider-woman.”

Sue still had her head in her hand. He saw her take a deep breath in and out.

“The other question.”
“Well… It's a long story.”

Please let him out of this.

She lifted her head and pulled up a chair.

“I've got time.” she said.

Shitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshitshit.

He stared at her.

She stared at him.

He begged with his eyes.

She didn't budge.

“Well, there are these guys at school, and i couldn't let anything change between before Spider-man and after, so i just kept letting them wail on me. Plus i didn't want them to move on to some other innocent person if when i beat them, they stopped beating on me.” He tried to say it as quickly as possible.

He saw her eye twitch. He would rather be getting beat up by Flash again than having this discussion.

She took long breaths. She looked like she had just got out of jail after 20 years and was about to go after the person that framed her.

The second it seemed like she was going to break the silence, Johnny burst through the door.

“What the hell! I was watching on the security feed and this is horse shit! You can't just let them beat the snot out of you just because they feel like it! I swear i'll-”
“Johnny.” she stood up.
“What Sue!? I'm going to beat those jerks to a pulp as soon as Web-slinger over here tells me who the fuck would beat on my best-”
“Jonathan Storm!”
“What!”

Johnny had flamed on he had got so upset.

“Flame off Johnny.” was all she said.

He did as he was told.

“How could anyone do that? Beat up someone who wasn't even fighting back?” Johnny looked so genuinely upset it made Peter feel awful.

“I don't know Johnny.” she replied.

Peter now realizes they both look like the haven't slept in a week. He tries not to feel like it is his fault, but it isn't really working out for him.

“Hey guys, you know i'm right here, right?” Peter says.

They both turned to look at him.

“You know you could have told us? We would have helped you. You know how we feel about this kind of stuff.” said Sue.
“Yeah, i know. I just… wasn't ready i guess. How many people know?”
“Just us. The four of us i mean. Me, Sue, Ben, and Reed.” Johnny said.
“Okay. Thanks for leaving my mask on, but where is the rest of my suit? How long have i been out?"
"We are having it fixed because there was a hole and blood all over it. Its been a few hours. It's 5 am." Sue told me.
"You know you guys really don't have to do that right? You have already helped enough."
"Well you have helped us in the past too. Even if you hadn't, we still would have wanted to save the life of our friendly neighborhood Spider-man." She gave a small smile as she said the last part.
"Plus, you're my pal, Spidey. How could we not help you?" Johnny said with a toothy grin.

What did he do to know such wonderful people?

Reed and Ben decided to come through the door as well.

"I was watching on the security feed, and you're even more of an idiot than i thought if you really think we wouldn't do just about anything for ya Webbs." butted in Ben.
"Who else is watching this room on a security feed? The whole Baxter Building?"
"I actually wasn't watching. I just had these specially made." said Reed.

He tossed Pete two binders. One was a tri-top, and one was a tank top.

"Reed, I... I don't know what to say." He felt absolute joy at the thought of a real binder. It was too good. He didn't deserve this.
"You don't have to say anything. It was a pleasure." He smiled gently.
"I love you guys. I love you guys so much."
"Love you too Spidey-poo." said Johnny with a smirk. Ben elbowed him.
"We love you too. You'll always have a family with us." Sue followed up.

They were all smiling down at him. Peter could feel the tears coming. He blinked them back the best he could, but if you looked close enough, you could see them threatening to spill over.

"I'll go get you some clothes, instead of that hospital gown. But after you get dressed, you really need some rest."
"Alright."

Just as the gang was about to walk out the door Peter said "Wait."

They all stopped and turned to look at him once again.

"After all this, you guys at least deserve to know who I am."
"You don't have to do anything you don't want to buddy. We don't need to know if you don't actually want to tell us." Johnny said. Johnny didn't want Spidey to tell them his identity just because he felt bad or whatever. He wanted him to do it when he was ready.

Peter decided he was ready. He had waited long enough. They already knew everything else about him, so why not just show them his face?

"No. I want to."

Peter pulled the mask off the rest of his face. He smiled at four of the most wonderful people he had ever met. They smiled right back.

"Hi. My name is Peter Parker."