Break Time
When Peter was safely locked in his room, laying in his bed, staring up at the ceiling, he finally allowed himself to think.
Flash Thompson. Standing up for him. Even after he came out.
Flash Thompson. Looking up to him. Even after he came out.
Flash Thompson. Getting in a fight for him. Even after he came out.
This was certainly news.
Maybe Flash wasn't as bad as he thought.
He was still a bully though, regardless of what he had said back there. He had still done horrible things. A simple apology doesn't make up for all of that. But if he stuck with it, and actually tries to be a good person, then that would be pretty nice.
If people like Flash can still look at Spider-Man, knowing who he truly is - not his identity - but who he is in his heart; and still be inspired, rather than disgusted, then maybe he isn't as hopeless as he thought he was.
Maybe he could come out in his personal life and still be okay.
He knows it would still be incredibly scary and dangerous, but at least he knows the entire student body doesn't hate people like him. That there are still a part of the school that doesn't want him dead.
Although, maybe it was still a little early. It still hadn't been that long since Spidey came out. It could still be suspicious.
Not only that, but he's been coming out to everyone so rapidly. In both of his identities. Aunt may as Peter, and the public as Spider-Man, and the Fantastic Four as both. All that was left now was his school.
He deserves a break. Even if he does have to suffer a little by staying in the closet, it's been a lot at once. And he's used to being in the closet anyway.
So he’ll wait a while more.
Peter likes it when he gets to follow his usual schedule. It keeps the stress levels lower, being able to follow a pattern. Watch TV with Aunt May. Dinner. Homework. Maybe more TV if they’re up for it. “Sleep.” Patrol.
It's a good pattern. Peter likes it. But for certain things, he's willing to disrupt that pattern.
Things like Johnny storm.
He convinced Peter to say he's going to bed early so he can come out on patrol early.
Which, Peter supposes, isn't such a bad thing. Getting to stop even more bad things from happening in this hectic town? That's pretty good. Getting to do it while he's with Johnny? Well, who’s to deny him of saying that that’s not a plus.
So after they’ve been out and around a few hours, they take a break.
Peter is in the middle of inhaling a hotdog when he starts spilling his thoughts about school out to Johnny.
He's his normal joking, snarky, sarcastic self, until Peter starts talking about MJ.
He tells him how they met, things they’ve talked about, funny things that have happened.
It's when Peter mentions that she’s ‘funny, smart, and talented, so how could I have not noticed her before?’ When Johnny snaps.
“So, what? She's a better friend than me? Are you gonna ditch me for her?”
“What? Dude, what are you so upset about?”
“I thought we were best friends.”
“Johnny, we are best friends. But MJ is my friend now too. Why is that a problem?”
“Because, Peter! You're going to fall in love with her, start dating, and stop hanging out with me. I’ll just go back to only having my big sister to talk to.”
Johnny was pacing around the roof they were on.
“Johnny. Look at me.”
He did.
“I would never just abandon you like that.”
“Well it's not like you would do it on purpose.” Johnny rolled his eyes.
“Johnny. Why are you so upset? Aren’t you glad I have another friend for once?”
“Well yeah. It's just-”
Johnny cut himself off.
“Just what?”
They both realized at the same time how close they'd gotten. How soft their voices had become.
Peter felt a shiver down his spine when he noticed the way Johnny was looking at him. Inches apart. How easy it would be to close the distance.
His eyes flickered to Johnny’s lips.
Johnny apparently noticed this.
Johnny was the one to step forward, but he didn't close the gap, only answering an unasked question. Peter leaned the rest of the way forward.
It was everything and nothing at once.
Peter knew, logically - what was he, Spock? - that it was just a simple press of lips against his. But that's not what it felt like. It felt like had actually had luck. Not the Parker Luck, not the sarcastic kind of luck, but real, simple, true luck. He was kissing Johnny storm.
It didn't last very long, and it didn't evolve into a full make out, but it was nice. It was sweet.
When peter opened his eyes, he saw Johnny stripped of his walls. He was reminded of when he looked at how peaceful he looked while he was sleeping.
But this wasn't peaceful Johnny. This was radiant, happy, affectionate Johnny.
Peter feels like the luckiest man in the world when he gets to see this Johnny.
Then, they both came back to their senses.
They had been yelling only a few moments ago.
Panic set in on Johnny’s face.
He looked like he was about to flame on, but Peter grabbed his wrist before he could do anything.
“Please don't leave.”
Even to his own ears, Peter sounded pathetic.
“Why?” Johnny asked, in about the saddest voice Peter had ever heard.
“Why do you want to leave?”
“Because I kissed you.”
“It was more like I kissed you, flamebrain.” Peter half smiled.
“You didn't mean it.” Peter frowned.
“Why wouldn't I mean it?”
“Because you don't love me.”
“How would you know?”
Johnny paused.
“So you aren't going to leave? Or hate me? For what I just did?”
“No.” Johnny smiled.
“In that case, you wanna be my boyfriend?”
“Yes, you absolute idiot.”
Later, Johnny apologised for getting jealous over MJ. Peter just laughed that he would get jealous over her.
They finished up their break, and went back to crime-stopping for a while more to tire themselves out.
As they decided to head home, Peter thought to himself that goodbye kisses were pretty nice.