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[She quit. After what she saw, what the tower was trying to make her do again, she refused to go any further. Gwen took the door that let her leave the tower, and like she was never even there, she woke up in their apartment. Her mind spun for a moment, clearing as she processed where she was again, but as soon as clarity struck her, she was up on her feet, pushing back the privacy screen they had put between their beds.
Her eyes landed on Peter, and even if he wasn't green, or in any kind of distress at all, she was at his side immediately, shaking him awake.]
Peter? Peter, are you alright??
Her eyes landed on Peter, and even if he wasn't green, or in any kind of distress at all, she was at his side immediately, shaking him awake.]
Peter? Peter, are you alright??
(he jolts up, startled - nothing incredibly bad has happened to him, it had been more enlightening than scary.
sounds like that wasn't the case for gwen, he can hear the fear and frustration in her voice, the way she rushed to check if he was breathing. he sits up, pulling her gently to sit next to him.)
I'm fine, relax, I'm okay. You're fine, it's just you and me, okay? Breathe.
sounds like that wasn't the case for gwen, he can hear the fear and frustration in her voice, the way she rushed to check if he was breathing. he sits up, pulling her gently to sit next to him.)
I'm fine, relax, I'm okay. You're fine, it's just you and me, okay? Breathe.
[Gwen doesn't resist his pull, sitting on his bed with ease. But once she does another once over look at him, she can't help herself-- she throws her arms around him, burying her face into his shoulder.]
That tower-- I saw you there.
[He knows this, at least part of the way. But the decathlon challenge was just one part of her trip through the tower.]
Only it wasn't you, not really-- I mean, it was you you, and you-- it happened again.
That tower-- I saw you there.
[He knows this, at least part of the way. But the decathlon challenge was just one part of her trip through the tower.]
Only it wasn't you, not really-- I mean, it was you you, and you-- it happened again.
(it's easy to wrap his arms around her, a rock in times of need. clearly, she's too shaken to explain whatever happened behind her doors, and truth be told, she doesn't have to.
even if she makes no sense, it matters very little. she's safe, he's safe, and one of his hands go to her head, as to wordlessly tell her he's got her.)
I'm here though, okay? Try to breathe, okay? Can I breathe with you? Wanna it this together?
even if she makes no sense, it matters very little. she's safe, he's safe, and one of his hands go to her head, as to wordlessly tell her he's got her.)
I'm here though, okay? Try to breathe, okay? Can I breathe with you? Wanna it this together?
[She'd be lying if she said it didn't feel good in his arms. She nods, relaxing a little at his words, trying to not think about what she experienced all over again. She hates feeling so weak and helpless. She's always had to be so strong. When she lost her mom, when she lost Peter, when she got separated from Miles and Peter B..
But Peter knows, and understands, and feels comfortable in a way she hasn't felt in a long time, so it's easier to let her guard down more with him.]
Yeah--- breathing. Got it.
[She's trying to settle, but it's easier said than done right now.]
But Peter knows, and understands, and feels comfortable in a way she hasn't felt in a long time, so it's easier to let her guard down more with him.]
Yeah--- breathing. Got it.
[She's trying to settle, but it's easier said than done right now.]
(the best way he can guid3 her breathing is by putting her hand against his chest, up, down, up, down. she will naturally follow.)
Better?
Better?
[Her face grows warm as he guides her hand to his chest. She leaves it there, relishing in the warmth she can feel against her fingers. It's...nice. To feel how alive he is. A reminder that he's real, he's there, right there, and everything is okay.]
Better.
[Her thoughts are still busy, still processing what she went through (and her Murdock could fight hello??), but it's hard to focus too much on the bad things when she can hear his heart beating in his chest, and it's such a lovely sound to focus on.]
Better.
[Her thoughts are still busy, still processing what she went through (and her Murdock could fight hello??), but it's hard to focus too much on the bad things when she can hear his heart beating in his chest, and it's such a lovely sound to focus on.]
Would it help you if you talked about it? What can I do to help?
(little does he know that just staying alive, as much as 'alive' in this place might mean, is exactly what she needs. gentle fingers move along her head, through the strands of hair, as another attempt to soothe.
she must be really hurt, so just being there feels what he should do - that's what his instincts tell him. the hand from the arm that embraces her touches the one against his chest, as to recenter her focus to the breathing.)
(little does he know that just staying alive, as much as 'alive' in this place might mean, is exactly what she needs. gentle fingers move along her head, through the strands of hair, as another attempt to soothe.
she must be really hurt, so just being there feels what he should do - that's what his instincts tell him. the hand from the arm that embraces her touches the one against his chest, as to recenter her focus to the breathing.)
Maybe.
[Gwen closes her eyes again as she feels his fingers through her hair. It nearly sends a shiver down her spine at his touch, but she tries her best to keep her composure. She has a lot of feelings right about now, and his touch is definitely amplifying those feelings.
As his hand reaches for hers, she shifts it, intertwining her fingers into his, and pressing it to his chest. This is nice. Calming. But also...exhilarating? Yes. Definitely.]
After the Decathlon, one of the rooms I found... it was you, only you became the Lizard, just like he did, and I-- I was supposed to fight you, but I couldn't. I couldn't do it again.
[Gwen closes her eyes again as she feels his fingers through her hair. It nearly sends a shiver down her spine at his touch, but she tries her best to keep her composure. She has a lot of feelings right about now, and his touch is definitely amplifying those feelings.
As his hand reaches for hers, she shifts it, intertwining her fingers into his, and pressing it to his chest. This is nice. Calming. But also...exhilarating? Yes. Definitely.]
After the Decathlon, one of the rooms I found... it was you, only you became the Lizard, just like he did, and I-- I was supposed to fight you, but I couldn't. I couldn't do it again.
(he couldn't ever completely understand what she is going through. he can logically comprehend that he's a real reminder of what her peter could have been, and from many items on the list, alive makes the top. grief is a strong thing, he's seen it in may, he's seen it in himself, and he sees it in her right now, as she presses against him.
there isn't a whole lot he can do, but he's going to do the little bit that he can do the best way he knows how.)
Hey, but that wasn't real, yeah? I'm not going to-- You're not gonna have to really fight me, it's not going to happen again, okay? It's just this place playing with you. I'm here, alright? Like I said, it's you and me. Here, see? No scales. You're okay.
there isn't a whole lot he can do, but he's going to do the little bit that he can do the best way he knows how.)
Hey, but that wasn't real, yeah? I'm not going to-- You're not gonna have to really fight me, it's not going to happen again, okay? It's just this place playing with you. I'm here, alright? Like I said, it's you and me. Here, see? No scales. You're okay.
[She knows he's not her Peter, but there's still a part of her that clings to the idea that this is almost like a second chance. But he's different, and has powers, so it's very much not the same. Her Peter was way more awkward, way more shy, but it's still sometimes hard to separate all the Peters. They're still him, even when they're different.
Still, he's so very Peter. He's smart, and witty, and he makes her laugh, when she hasn't laughed in so long. It's a nice feeling, to have such a connection that she has with him, with them both being spider-people.
And she had to admit, that kiss they shared before wasn't half bad.]
I know. It just-- felt so real. It doesn't help that that was one of my worst memories. [which was probably intentional. throwing it in her face, to test her. and she failed, miserably.]
Also, Matt Murdock can fight? My Matt. Matt #2, or whatever you're calling him now. He was there in the challenge with me.
Still, he's so very Peter. He's smart, and witty, and he makes her laugh, when she hasn't laughed in so long. It's a nice feeling, to have such a connection that she has with him, with them both being spider-people.
And she had to admit, that kiss they shared before wasn't half bad.]
I know. It just-- felt so real. It doesn't help that that was one of my worst memories. [which was probably intentional. throwing it in her face, to test her. and she failed, miserably.]
Also, Matt Murdock can fight? My Matt. Matt #2, or whatever you're calling him now. He was there in the challenge with me.
(they just got here, after all. there's so much to unpack about this place, and if this is what happens just as they did, it means they're gonna have to fight harder. have thicker skin. stand up, even if they fall down a million times. the last one, though, seems like a theme for being a spider. he has faith they'll come out on top, but the road there has never been easy.
both know that.
without much thought, he presses his lips to the top of her head, another attempt to tell her they both are fine, as if they had just woken up from a horrible dream.)
... I know. They did say rehabilitation, like we did something wrong. I think... I think this is just gonna be the start. We gotta find whatever evil lair these people plan these things in and take it down.
(as if everyone hasn't been trying...)
... Really? That's, uh, unexpected...
(it is not...)
both know that.
without much thought, he presses his lips to the top of her head, another attempt to tell her they both are fine, as if they had just woken up from a horrible dream.)
... I know. They did say rehabilitation, like we did something wrong. I think... I think this is just gonna be the start. We gotta find whatever evil lair these people plan these things in and take it down.
(as if everyone hasn't been trying...)
... Really? That's, uh, unexpected...
(it is not...)
Which...makes sense. That's my crime, after all. ["Murder of Peter Parker". It still stings to hear, no matter how many times she hears it. She never would have fought him, if she had known it was him. Almost like now, where she refused and gave up the fight. But even if she had, what would have happened? What if he had hurt someone else? What if he had hurt her dad? It was one of those questions you could never really answer, but would always wonder.
The kiss to her head makes her face feel warm, and there's a part of her that wants to tell him he missed, but she holds back. Even if their kiss has lingered on her mind, she doesn't want to mess this up, doesn't want to make it something it shouldn't be, when they're already both dealing with so much.
Too bad his answer about Matt was Not convincing at all, and she has to pull back a little to give him a questioning look.]
...Did you know that already? Can your Matt fight too?
The kiss to her head makes her face feel warm, and there's a part of her that wants to tell him he missed, but she holds back. Even if their kiss has lingered on her mind, she doesn't want to mess this up, doesn't want to make it something it shouldn't be, when they're already both dealing with so much.
Too bad his answer about Matt was Not convincing at all, and she has to pull back a little to give him a questioning look.]
...Did you know that already? Can your Matt fight too?
(he gets the what-ifs. what if he had just stayed on that bus. what if he had managed to get that gaunlet back. what if he didn't fade into specks, and what if they were not in that one chance. what if being here is jeopardizing everything? peter has his share of anxieties that keep him up at night, that make him drown into what he can do to feel useful.
hence, why he's never home. if he can equip the others, and learn about this place, maybe he can do something. maybe he can go back home just before quill snaps. maybe he can get there earlier, and tell stark all he knows.
maybes. he's working so hard on the basis of maybes, but if it's a one change out of millions that he's facing at home, then it's enough to keep him going here, too.
but, god, he's bad at the lying.)
Not that I have ever seen?
(see, not a lie!)
But it seems like Aldrip pulls real capable people in, right? Maybe he can throw a punch?
hence, why he's never home. if he can equip the others, and learn about this place, maybe he can do something. maybe he can go back home just before quill snaps. maybe he can get there earlier, and tell stark all he knows.
maybes. he's working so hard on the basis of maybes, but if it's a one change out of millions that he's facing at home, then it's enough to keep him going here, too.
but, god, he's bad at the lying.)
Not that I have ever seen?
(see, not a lie!)
But it seems like Aldrip pulls real capable people in, right? Maybe he can throw a punch?
[And she's noticed. She has a hard time sleeping too, so it's been impossible to miss his empty bed, the late nights out, him getting so lost in his work. She gets it, because she's been there. She's still there, trying to occupy the pain part of her brain so everything doesn't hurt so much. It never really goes away, but it can be numbed sometimes. She just hopes whatever he's trying helps him.
But lying? Definitely not it.]
You are a terrible liar, you know that, right? [shaking her head!!] So you haven't seen it, but you know it?
But lying? Definitely not it.]
You are a terrible liar, you know that, right? [shaking her head!!] So you haven't seen it, but you know it?
(DON'T DO THAT... LET'S JUST GO BACK TO SLEEP... LOOK HOW NICE AND WARM THE BED IS... SHE CAN SLEEP ON HIS BED, LOOK HOW NICE AND SOOTHING...)
Hey, come on, why would I know anything? No idea.
(GWEN...)
Come on, no interrogation mode, it's late, we gotta work in the morning. Wanna sleep here? I'll stick to the wall or something.
Hey, come on, why would I know anything? No idea.
(GWEN...)
Come on, no interrogation mode, it's late, we gotta work in the morning. Wanna sleep here? I'll stick to the wall or something.
[god, he's so bad at this. how has he lasted this long with a secret identity?]
You do realize you just keep making it even more obvious. But fine. I won't push it.
[she just. rests her head back on his shoulder again, almost in defeat. she knows it's late, but she can't bring herself to get back up either.]
I don't think I could go back to sleep now.
You do realize you just keep making it even more obvious. But fine. I won't push it.
[she just. rests her head back on his shoulder again, almost in defeat. she knows it's late, but she can't bring herself to get back up either.]
I don't think I could go back to sleep now.
(he would do the same for her if they hadn't decided that keeping the secret here was a little useless. it's fine if he messes up and people find him out, it's not fine the other way around.
so, okay. she's not going to sleep, so he'll drop both on the bed and stretch a little bit.)
We can watch a movie.
so, okay. she's not going to sleep, so he'll drop both on the bed and stretch a little bit.)
We can watch a movie.
[She appreciates his commitment, since he's terrible at protecting his own secrets. He obviously knows something, and if that means he's keeping Matt's secret, then she isn't going to push it.
When he flops back onto the bed, she moves to lie next to him on her side, tucking her arm under her head in somewhat of a side fetal position while facing him.]
Yeah, maybe.
[or they could just stay like this. this is nice, too.]
When he flops back onto the bed, she moves to lie next to him on her side, tucking her arm under her head in somewhat of a side fetal position while facing him.]
Yeah, maybe.
[or they could just stay like this. this is nice, too.]
Hey Quill
I'm fine man
The tower wasn't so bad for me but it did suck for some others
You good over there?
I'm fine man
The tower wasn't so bad for me but it did suck for some others
You good over there?
good! just checking in on you, man
I actually had fun
it was like fighting out of a trippy puzzle room or something
reminded me of that time knowhere got hit by the promise and me and my friends had to fight our way through the city
well I mean it wasn't totally like that but it had kind of a similar vibe
less brainwashed people though
I actually had fun
it was like fighting out of a trippy puzzle room or something
reminded me of that time knowhere got hit by the promise and me and my friends had to fight our way through the city
well I mean it wasn't totally like that but it had kind of a similar vibe
less brainwashed people though
YEAH mine were like too
Gwen and I had academic decathlon that was great
Also whats knowhere again
You guys gotta get that confused all the time right
With nowhere? Or no
I wanna hear your stories man they seem all super great
You wanna sleep over sometime?
Gwen and I had academic decathlon that was great
Also whats knowhere again
You guys gotta get that confused all the time right
With nowhere? Or no
I wanna hear your stories man they seem all super great
You wanna sleep over sometime?
a decathlon??
wow, I almost forgot you guys were such nerds
i'm kidding obviously it's cool you guys are into the same stuff
nerdy stuff
knowhere is this space dock on the edge of the universe
built out of a celestial's head
there's no laws besides "don't cause scut and there won't be problems" so it's like big in the mercenary world
my buddy cosmo is in charge of security there, he's great
runs a tight ship
well, space dock
and kinda!! i mean if I had to guess it's less confusing if you don't speak english
[ Aw peter... a sleepover? That's so cute. He's Gotta. ]
sure thing, dude!!
I haven't had a sleepover since I was even younger than you
plus I've got stories for days
weeks, even!
wow, I almost forgot you guys were such nerds
i'm kidding obviously it's cool you guys are into the same stuff
nerdy stuff
knowhere is this space dock on the edge of the universe
built out of a celestial's head
there's no laws besides "don't cause scut and there won't be problems" so it's like big in the mercenary world
my buddy cosmo is in charge of security there, he's great
runs a tight ship
well, space dock
and kinda!! i mean if I had to guess it's less confusing if you don't speak english
[ Aw peter... a sleepover? That's so cute. He's Gotta. ]
sure thing, dude!!
I haven't had a sleepover since I was even younger than you
plus I've got stories for days
weeks, even!
No it's fine
It's true
We go to nerd school back in our respective homes
It's only fair
A celestial's head
Like Thor??????
Don't take Thor's head
We kind of need him
Man I wanna go one day
Yeah let's do it
I'll make snacks
It's true
We go to nerd school back in our respective homes
It's only fair
A celestial's head
Like Thor??????
Don't take Thor's head
We kind of need him
Man I wanna go one day
Yeah let's do it
I'll make snacks
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