Aftermath
Johnny wanted to be angry. He really did. But that is kind of hard when you can't stop laughing.
When Johnny saw on the news that Peter outed himself, the recording was too funny. Because he was circled with reporters all the way around, he could see some of their faces when they processed what they had just heard.
There was a split second moment before any of them said anything, but then it was like a bomb had went off. They were asking questions so loudly and so fast that you couldn't hear what any of them were saying.
Not only was their reaction funny, but Spidey’s was even better. He just took off. He just swung out of there. Left them to let the information settle by themselves. Pete just came out to the entire world and left everyone behind like he hadn't just blown every conservative’s tiny little minds.
He might also have been laughing because he was worried about Pete, and how this would probably come back to bite him in some bullshit way.
Oh great, now Sue, Ben, and Reed were staring at him.
Johnny wiped at his eyes and tried to calm down.
“Did you see their faces! It was totally worth coming out here to see that.”
“Okay, it was a little funny.” Ben said as he cracked a few laughs and replayed it. As they all watched it again after the initial shock that Peter would come out like that, they were all laughing.
Soon they came back to their senses.
“Oh boy. I can't wait to see if anyone we know is a bigot.” Sue said grimly.
The thought of people they were close to being bigots was not a pleasant one. Especially if they were going to have to work with those people in the future. Of course, this is always a fear, but these are people who are respected and looked up to by millions. And the people who aren't straight and cisgender could be really hurt if their idol is closed minded like that.
“Hey, let's focus on the positive right now. Look at how much potential this has to help people! Not only could Spider-man be the one young trans kids look up to, but it could make people realize that not everyone is cis! Even superheros!” Reed started ranting. “Even if some people don't change their minds at this, some people will. I wonder how-”
Johnny started to walk back to his room. Reed was just saying some stuff Johnny already knew for once, and even if he didn't know what Reed was talking about he probably still wouldn't listen anyway. Johnny did need his beauty sleep after all. Oh, who is he kidding, he doesn't need sleep to look amazing.
Oh my god. Oh my god. Peter cannot believe he just did that. Why did he just do that? What is wrong with him?
He guesses it doesn't matter now since he's already done it.
Peter just swings home and immediately goes to sleep.
Peter doesn't remember what he did the night before until he has to decide whether to wear a bra or not. And when he does remember, it hits him like a ton of bricks.
Peter slowed down. A wave of dysphoria hit him suddenly, for no apparent reason.
He wanted to lay down and let this pass. He wanted not to have to feel like this.
He wanted to claw at his skin until it stopped hurting. Until he stopped feeling. Until he stopped feeling like this.
wrongwrongwrongwrongwrongwrong.
It played in his head like a clock ticking.
Like a bomb that was supposed to go off, but it just wouldn't stop ticking.
He needed to go. Get out. Leave this place. He needed to not be in this body. The wrong body.
Fuck. why was he like this? Couldn't he have just had some good luck for once? Not even when he was born?
He guesses it is always going to be like this. He is always going to have the Parker Luck.
He supposes he won't feel better if he just lies here and doesn't do anything.
Slowly, he sits up. He stares at the wall for a few moments. Eventually, he gets up and is able to get dressed.
In the wrong clothes.
Yes, of course in the wrong clothes. Because if he comes out the day after Spider-man did, then he’ll look like a fake.
Fuck society for making every little thing so hard.
He desperately wanted to talk to someone about this, but who was there to talk to?
Johnny? He wouldn't get it. He would try to understand, but he would never know how it actually felt to be in this exact situation.
A therapist? Peter didn't exactly have the money for that, and even if he did, his pride probably wouldn't allow for him to make it to the actual meetings.
It doesn't matter. He needs to get to school.
He arrives outside of the school’s front doors, and he hesitates before entering.
Will they know? Would everyone be able to tell, just from the look on his face, just from his clothing choices, that Peter is trans?
Of course not. It's stupid to think so.
Right?
He goes inside.
His shitty day continues as he gets his books out of his locker.
He can hear it. He can hear everything everyone is saying about what happened the night before. He really doesn't want to listen to this.
“Oh. my god. Did you hear about what happened last night? Apparently Spider-man is a tranny. It's actually Spider-girl.” “Wait what? Spidey is trans?” “Did you hear what I just said? It's actually a girl.” “Well, just because Spider-man is trans doesn't mean he's less than a boy. He's still a guy.”
Maybe not everyone at this school was so bad.
“Are you kidding? That… thing... is actually a transvestite!” “Hey, if Spidey can be trans, i don't see why other trans people can't be cool. Why does it make someone less of a person for being born in the wrong body?” “Ugh, what, are you one of those things yourself? Don't talk to me again you faggot.”
He heard feet stomping away.
Well. that was a rude ending to that conversation. Though, most of that conversation had been rude already.
“Hey Paula!” He heard someone say from further down the hallway.
Oh. Human interaction.
“Hey.” He responded to the offender. But as he turned around, he saw the redhead from yesterday. He was relieved.
“Did you do the homework for Mr. Milbrant’s class? I understand what he’s teaching us, but i just didn't have time to finish it.”
“Yeah, sure.”
He handed her the page of homework he did last night, and told her to give it back at lunch.
“So, did you hear the news about Spidey last night?”
Oh boy. Maybe if he faked innocence he could avoid having to voice his opinion.
“No. what happened?”
“It turns out, Spider-man is transgender.”
“Oh wow, really?”
He did not want to be here right now.
“Yeah. And assholes keep talking about it like it's the worst thing in the world. It's not even any of our business. He didn't have to tell us, but he did. All he does is try to save people, and help people, but what does he get in return? Nothing. Hate. It's awful.”
Well, that was… unexpected. He guesses he shouldn't have had that little faith in MJ. After all, she did stand up for him yesterday.
“Yeah, people can be so mean sometimes.”
He decided he liked MJ. Flash didn't even come up to him today, since he was too busy talking and arguing with his buddies.
The rest of the day, most of other people’s conversations were blocked out by MJ and his own voices. They got on easily. Like they were destined to meet, and be a part of each other's lives.
She made the day a little more bearable.