#so this is the awkward conversation about boundaries that i hadn't written yet.

[brumiramybeloathed]

They Both Leave AU Snippet 9

Bruno dreaded having this conversation. He preferred to not bring up serious issues and would rather quietly change and sweep the issue under the rug without ever bringing it to light. This time... this time is different.

Bruno tried to quietly pull away from Mirabel, tried to not be in physical contact with her, tried to not be as affectionate. Mirabel always looked confused and sad when he did so, however, and some of her mannerisms from the beginning of her stay in Santa Laura returned. Retreating into her room, looking around as if making sure there is no one to criticize her, taking on all the responsibilities of the household. She had noticed his changed behavior and not knowing why he changed had really hurt her. It probably reminded her of her family changing their behavior towards her after her failed ceremony. Mirabel doesn't talk much about the Encanto, neither does he, but she did mention it in passing.

So Bruno took a deep breath and entered the apartment they shared.

"Hey, Bruno! Welcome home from work!" Mirabel greeted him as she put dinner plates on the table.

"Mirabel. Dinner looks good, as it always does."

They sat down and ate in silence. It was awkward and strange, and it distracted Bruno from his thoughts, especially since Mirabel looked so sad.

"Mirabel, I would like to explain why I've been so distant lately."

Mirabel's full attention and stare rested on Bruno's face as he continued, his own eyes dropping to the table, unable to meet Mirabel's.

"Some members of the community have talked with me and made mention of a rumor that you and I are... in a romantic relationship. At first, I did not put stock in these rumors. It... it was only with watching couples in the town and examining our relationship that I noticed that there might be reason for these rumors."

Bruno paused, not knowing how to go forward and not willing to look up.

"While part of our closeness can be explained by the fact that we are family and shared very similar experiences with our family, as well as the fact that we live together, some of it... some of it can't."

"You're worried that the nature of our relationship is outside what is normal for an uncle and niece," Mirabel's soft voice finished the thought he had been struggling to convey.

Bruno nodded.

Mirabel sighed. "Anna mentioned the rumors to me a few days ago. I see the concern, but I truly do not see anything wrong with it. What exactly is leading you to pull away from me?"

Bruno had hoped Mirabel would not ask this. But he cannot tell her the full truth.

"Because I fear that by being as close as we are, we are inviting trouble and the potential desire to go further than long hugs and long glances."

Because he can see it going further and, on some levels, wants it to go further.

"Bruno, please look at me."

He does. Mirabel's eyes are soft, not hard as he feared, and there is both a sadness and a peace on her face, a type of caring look, that makes his breath stutter.

"If it eases your fear, we can cut back on the physical affection. Spend more time apart and with other people. I do not think there is anything to worry about, but I understand wanting to cover all our bases. Thank you for talking with me about this. I know these types of conversations are difficult for you."

A weight is eased from Bruno's shoulders and he smiles for the first time that week.

They finish dinner and clean up. Bruno sits on one end of the couch to read and Mirabel sits on the other to work on a personal project. At the end of the evening, they say goodnight and head to their separate rooms.

Bruno laid down to sleep, satisfied that he has prevented a horrible tragedy of incest and sin and yet...

Bruno fell asleep cold.

[poweringthroughthis]

dominated by my boss | matthew kim

nsfw, mature content, mdni

ship: big matthew(BM) x male reader

desc: m/n has spent way too long fantasizing about his hot boss, Matthew Kim. Despite being on friendly terms with the muscle hunk, he can't help but dream about being ravished by the giant god.

m/n knows it's completely unethical of him, but maybe he's luckier than he thought.

warnings: dirty talk, strength kink, body worship, anal fingering, anal s*x, hair pulling, consensual hitting, manhandling

˜”*°•.˜”*°

The office was alive with activity, the sounds of keyboard strokes and phone conversations filling the air. In his cubicle, m/n sat staring blankly at his computer screen, his mind elsewhere. His heart raced as he imagined BM walking past his desk once again. He couldn't help but steal glances at his attractive boss whenever he got the chance. Each time their eyes met, m/n felt a jolt of excitement shoot through him. It was evident that BM noticed him too, despite his attempts to remain discreet.

As they shared a quick glance, their eyes locked, and m/n felt heat spread throughout his entire body. He could feel his cheeks flush red as he tried to focus on his work. But no matter how much he told himself to stay professional, images of BM dominating him kept flashing before his eyes. It wasn't just lust that filled him; there was also fear mixed in there - fear of rejection perhaps? Despite these conflicting feelings, he knew he had to try somehow.

"Hey," he said nervously, catching his attention. BM turned slowly towards him, raising an eyebrow quizzically. "Um...well you know...we should probably discuss something." m/n's voice faltered slightly, causing him to blush even more deeply. He couldn't believe he was trying to get his boss to sleep with him. His boss with huge biceps, that seemed to rip through the fabric of his dress shirt every time he folded his arms, his boss with thighs so thick they left no room for air in BM's grey linen pants, his boss with a height of over 6 ft that made m/n imagine how it would make him feel as he towered over the younger male, most importantly; his boss with a chest so big, m/n wanted nothing but to squeeze and suck on it for hours.

Matthew smirked slightly, clearly amused by m/n's awkwardness. Yet there was something in his gaze that made m/n hopeful – a glimmer of interest perhaps? Determined to find out if there was any possibility of them becoming more than just boss and employee, m/n gathered his courage and continued speaking. "I think we might have some things to talk about outside of work..." BM raised an eyebrow in surprise at this suggestion. It seemed like he hadn't expected such forwardness from him, despite the both of them having numerous subtle touches for the past few weeks.

However, instead of dismissing him outright, BM listened intently as the seemingly shy male revealed his deepest desires. He admitted how he longed for someone strong and confident enough to take charge completely. Someone like BM, who could make him submit entirely without ever hesitating or showing mercy. At first, BM looked surprised by this admission, but gradually, a smile started forming on his lips. He found himself intrigued by the thought of taming this meek young man who turned out to be extremely freaky underneath. Finally, he replied with determination written all over his face, "Alright then.

I accept your offer." The words fell like sweet music to m/n's ears, as he allowed himself to imagine what exactly BM meant by accepting his proposal. As they walked away from the office together, both men couldn't help but exchange glances that spoke volumes about the intensity of emotions running through them. It was clear that both parties were eager to explore the boundaries of their newfound connection beyond the confines of their workplace. Inside BM's car, the silence hung heavy between them for several moments. Both men were lost in their own thoughts while anticipation built up inside them.

Suddenly, BM broke the silence by asking softly, "So where do you want to go?" m/n swallowed nervously before replying, "I don't really care. Wherever you want to take me will be fine." This statement only served to fuel BM's desire further. With determination etched across his features, he drove swiftly towards his destination. All along the journey, neither of them uttered another word, allowing tension to simmer beneath the surface.

As soon as they arrived at their destination, BM took charge without hesitation. He yanked m/n forward roughly, pressing their crotches together, successfully arching m/n's back and proceeded to tear m/n's top into pieces.

He moaned shamelessly at BM's manly display of strength. His boss could easily throw him around like a rag doll and it turned m/n on to no end.

BM grabbed m/n by his wrist and dragged him towards the bedroom. Without breaking stride, he slapped m/n's face, making him stumble. The words coming out of BM's mouth about what he was going to do to his innocent employee almost made the younger cum already.

BM made sure to cover every inch of m/n's face and chest with spanks, leaving him bruised and red. m/n could hardly believe what was happening. BM was mercilessly beating him up, without even trying to hide it. And yet, he couldn't stop himself from wanting more. Noticing the change in the smaller's expression, BM grabbed his hair forcefully and pulled his head backwards, forcing him to look him straight in the eye. There was no doubt in BM's mind now. He was not letting m/n escape this time.

m/n pressed his hands against the older's chest, realizing why exactly he was called 'Big Matthew'. He began fondling it and latching his mouth on his nipples, sucking aggressively. BM threw his head back in pleasure as the younger continued to worship him.

This lasted for about 20 minutes, during which m/n made sure to cover every inch of Matthew's Adonis-like body with his tongue.

Stimulated enough, BM wrapped his thick hand around m/n's throat, the other hand going around his waist. He had the younger's back pressed into his hard chest as he growled out in his ear. 

"You'll get fucked so hard and so good that you won't even remember your name after this. You'll beg me to fuck you harder, even though you can barely breathe! You'll say that I'm the only one who understands you!" My dick will create a bulge in your stomach as you'll feel like I'm breaking you into two. Then I'll slam my cock down your throat, even though you haven't finished breathing properly! Then I'll turn you over, put my weight on you, and force myself deep inside your asshole until you're literally bursting.

And I'll never let you cum until I decide it's time." BM released m/n's throat, grabbing him by his hair again and smacking his face. "Then I'll grab onto your ass and spread your cheeks wide open, fucking you in that tight little hole until you beg me to stop. But I won't stop. Instead, I'll pull your ass apart even more and shove my finger into your tight little anus while my cock is still buried inside you!

I'll fuck you until your muscles start shaking uncontrollably. I'll keep pounding away until your body starts to tremble and you can feel my cock all the way up in your throat. Just wait until I rip your hole apart, leave you sore." The hunk seethed, all while m/n's cock twitched uncontrollably at the giant's lewd words.

BM gropes m/n's ass, squeezing it harshly in his large hands. "I'm going to destroy this ass, so much that you'll beg me to carry you since you wouldn't be able to walk." BM lifted him by his ass, as the smaller remained in a standing position, feet now dangling in the air. m/n was so turned on by BM's strength that he spurted a few shots of precum untouched.

He all but dragged m/n to the bed and flipped him over so that his subordinate was lying face down on the mattress. He lifted m/n's abdomen and buried his face into his little, round ass, eating him out like a madman, making m/n's breath hitch in his throat.

He thrust his large fingers in and out, stretching him, preparing him for what was to come. m/n squirmed and whimpered, rocking back and forth, grinding his hips against the mattress. BM hooked his forearms under his knees, his biceps flexing as he lifted m/n in the air and stood up. He knew that the skinny male loved to see how easy it is for BM to hold him up and fuck him senseless. "you like that, you little whore? you like being handled like a doll?"

m/n moaned a "fuck yes daddy, give it to me" breathlessly. BM growled and spat on his face, continuing to devour him.

He pulled his fingers out and tossed m/n back onto the bed. He crawled onto the mattress, straddling him, holding him down. He grabbed a fistful of hair and forced his head up, exposing his throat, making him look at him. "Now beg for my cock," BM commanded, his voice low and dangerous.

m/n's eyes widened and his heart skipped a beat. "Please fuck me, Matthew. Please. I want you inside me. I need it. I need to feel your cock in my ass. I'm yours. Take me. Fuck me. Do whatever you want with me." He pleaded desperately, tears forming in his eyes.BM smiled wickedly, releasing his grip, allowing his head to fall back onto the pillows. "Good boy."

He reached between them, lining himself up, pressing the tip against m/n's entrance. "Relax," he whispered, pushing forward, entering him slowly, inch by inch.

The h/c-colored male whimpered, arching his back, trying to take him deeper. BM's cock was huge, filling him completely. It stretched him wider than anything he'd ever felt before. It burned a little, but he welcomed the pain, knowing it would soon give way to pleasure. He gasped, clinging tightly to BM's shoulders, digging his nails into the thick muscle. BM kept filling, un-filling and refilling the horny male's hole for hours on end.

After what seemed like days, BM roared, slamming into him one final time, emptying his load deep inside of him. He collapsed on top of him, breathing heavily, kissing his forehead softly.

"That's right," he whispered, stroking his hair, soothing him. "You're mine. You're so perfect for me baby. I fucking love you."

"and i'm sorry if i went too overboard. next time, we'll set safe words and talk limits" he assured the smaller male underneath him, who seemed to enjoy the larger man's weight on top of him.

"don't sweat it. i loved it so much. all of it."

˜”*°•.˜”*°

[rabbitf0ot]

Chains and tears

husk x gn!reader, fluffy, meetings, Husk and reader becoming friends. tw: ownership, Alastor being a huge prick, short of panic attack, SPOILHERS!!

Important!!

Alastor, Husk and Charlie will speak, each one of them being represented by a color, each color being the color of the names written above. Alastor’s influence over reader will also be written in green

You hadn’t been in the hotel much, being a new resident, around just enough to see Angel’s “fight” with Husk and to meet Lucifer, the king of hell itself and father of the hotel host, Charlie, the worst representation of a demon you had ever seen, being more of angel then anything else. Although Charlie’s reception had been nice and warm, you hadn't made any friends yet, you’ve tried to, really hard, but you had always been a social awkward, both as a human and a demon. Not being able to make friends didn’t mean that no one had caught your eye, being an observant person- demon? You don’t know anymore has its qualities, when you weren’t being overwhelmed with Charlie’s group activities and what she called “Welcome to your new home” gifts, you were analyzing the others, not in a creepy way, just in your own oddly curious manner. It didn’t take you much to have mental notes of all of the Hazbin residents, Charlie being classified as a sweet and “innocent” demon, that probably didn’t had many struggles during her life or that at least hadn’t been fooled during her lifetime, or else she wouldn’t be that trusting. Well, that’s what you assumed. Sir Pentious wasn’t far away from Charlie’s description, just less innocent with an ego a little way too big when it came to his machines, but with a low self-steam. Vaggie was said as Charlie’s girlfriend, someone who balanced Charlie’s innocent and childish personality, someone more mature and suspicious, Angel wasn’t very different from your old college classmates, always going to many parties and using their humor to avoid thinking about their problems and traumas, somewhat unstable people that could be triggered out of sudden for refusing to set their boundaries until it was too late. Lucifer, you hadn’t been with him much, the best information you could take about him was when Charlie had a phone call with him and you heard their conversation. Absent parent, maybe even a negligent one. Alastor, you didn’t want to think of him, ẏ̶̮ö̶͇́ȗ̴̻ ̵͇̒c̴̢̛ǫ̴̕u̴̩͌l̷͋ͅd̶̹̉n̸̛͈’̵͔̊t̴͉̆ ̷̡̽t̵̢̃h̵̠̀i̸̮͆n̸̠͑k̸͔̅ ̷̯̕o̵̜͠f̵̼͂ ̸̟͂h̷̛̪ï̵̖m̶̢̋. And Husk, Husk in your eyes, was rather.. charming, having your attention since the start, you didn’t know why though, maybe it was due to his older age, or due to the so familiar but oh, so good smell of cheap booze mixed with an expensive perfume, or maybe the way he talks and the small cute and endearing cat sounds he makes, you’re not sure, either way, the extra attention you had over him bought you to where you are right now, keeping a long distance from the others, just a few feet in front of Alastor as you follow the hotel residents that do the same, following Charlie as shows the place to her father

“So, once we have the proof that redemption is possible, this whole hotel will be full of demons wanting to check out into heaven, we just need a little more time to prove it-“ Charlie’s words were cut off by a background sound, Husker’s voice. “Hey boss” all that Charlie and the others were saying became nothing more then simple buzzers, “boss”. That called your attention. Why would Husk call Alastor boss? Why was it so hard to think of a reason? You follow the others, just a bit longer, long enough simply to turn in the hallway and disappear from Husk’s and Alastor’s view. You stood there, listening, the others not even noticing that you were behind, but it didn’t surprised you, they didn’t notice when Alastor and Husk also did. “Uh.. can I have a word?” You hear a rather creepy cracking noise followed by Alastor’s voice, that sounded rather annoyed and snappy “what is it?” “You and I both know that Mimzy only shows up when she needs somethin’. That bitch is trouble and who knows who kind of demon she fucked up with to come run into you this time?” “It’s nothing I can’t handle! Don’t worry Husker, who in the right mind would cross me?” The cockiness on Alastor’s voice makes you insides twitch, the submissive tone Husk used after it just made everything worse “I-I mean, you’ve been gone for a while and it’s not like anybody knows why” “they don’t need to know!” Alastor says before adding in a “pet like manner”, and the fact that he’s talking like that with a conscious being, a grown ass man, the person you wanted to be friends with made the hair of your neck stand up “and don’t you worry your fuzzy head about it” a low growl indicates they’d you’re not the only one disgusted “you may owe my soul but I ain’t your fucking pet!” You shiver at another cracking noise and Alastor’s convinced chuckle “but you are!” “Big talk for someone who’s also on a leash” and these were the last words you heard before the lights of the hallway started to fail and the place to get a reddish atmosphere, weird radio noises polluting the ambient “what did you say?” You flinched and took a step back when hearing a groan and chain noises followed by something heavy hitting the floor, a green light coming from the part of the hallway that alastor and husk were “nothing!! I- uhh-“ a chocking noise, another painful groan, your hearth aches, barely having time to recompose, “if you ever say that again, I will tear your soul appart and broadcast your screams for every other disrespectful wretch who dares to question me” “u-understood” “lovely!” You don’t need to see husk to be aware that he’s shaking, even you, who isn’t the one being threatened is at the very edge of shaking “good talk my good man” the atmosphere stars coming back to normal “always nice to catch up” alastor says and walks pass you, not bothering to do anything other then smile at your threateningly.

You shake, mentality cursing yourself for not having interfered while Husker was being threatened, but the fear you felt was overwhelming. You can only imagine what was going on Husker’s mind. Forcing your shaky legs to move, you walked towards the cat demon, you were going to speak, say something, ask something, probably something stupid like “are you okay?” “Do you need to vent?” But you stopped yourself once you saw the Bartender form laid on the floor, shaking, the fur of his neck and back standing on end while his tails furiously flicked around, in a mix of shame and impotence with an undertone of fear. Seeing that, the first thing you do is to crouch and take one of his paws while you gently wrap an arm around him, trying to give him the support he needed -emotionally and physically- he looked at you, his eyes shining with fear and shame while his lips instinctively curl into the form of a growl, showing his fangs. You don’t let go. You keep holding his paw (taking that opportunity to discreetly squeeze his paw beans that were so cute!) and helping him to stand, after a few moments of silence you ask, your voice barely above a whisper “are you okay?” He doesn’t answers, all that he does is to look at you and growl loudly, you don’t feel intimidated, you actually feel bad for him. Imagine just being threatened and having to comfort you a random person who you had never spoke properly with before? It must be just.. depressing. That makes you ignore his growl, his snarl, his rude mumbles and his tail flicking around and casually hitting your legs from time to time. You ignore, giving him supper as you ask “apartment or bar?” Husker looks confused for a second, but soon lets out a “tsk” noise while looking down and mumbles “bar”. He accepts your help, for a while, at least, before the hallway before the bar ended, reaching the hotel lobby, where he pushed you away, loosing his balance for some seconds due his shaky legs before he regained it, forcing himself to walk normally and come back to his spot at the bar, immediately coming back to clean some cups, griping on them rather tightly to hide his shaky paws.

You didn’t talk with Husk anymore, but you kept yourself around, distant from the others, like usual, watching the residents of the hotel, the souls Husk called friends to not notice -or to ignore, you can’t tell- the way his tail would flick around him, or how he would tense up when Alastor’s name was mentioned, how his ears would move constantly, searching for any noise, footsteps, radio static, anything, not noticing even the most clear signs like Husker unconsciously scratching cups with his claws as he cleans them with a thin dark red rag.

You wait, sitting on the sofa next to the bar, by yourself, sometimes refusing Charlie’s asks to join the group. You wait, reading a book, using your phone, doing anything, anything that wouldn’t take you away from the bar. You wait one hour, two hours, three hours. No one but Husk is at the bar anymore. Still cleaning bottles. Once you notice that no one is coming back, you walk towards the bar, getting a loud snarl out of him. It doesn’t makes you back off, you just walk behind the bar balcony and grab one of the rags the bar had and start to clean the bottles with Husk. He’s staring at you the whole time, and as much as it bugs you to the point of starting to sweat, you stay firm. “What are you doing?” Husk asks, his tail flicking annoyedly behind him, but lower and in a calmer peace. Less annoyed “helping you to close everything” he looks at you, in a mix of anger -probably for thinking that you’re pitying him- and confusion -why would you help him anyways?- “why” he asked, no, demanded an answer. You shrug and simply says while putting the cup you were cleaning away “bc I can”

And that’s how you spent 2 hours cleaning everything on the bar in an awkward silence with your bottled up crush.

I hope you all enjoyed it!! I wanted to make a more detailed meeting with Husk, how reader got close to him since in almost all the fanfics I’ve read, Husk and reader already date or are really close to. I plan on making this history last more 2 or three parts, one of them (probably the last one) being spicy. Anyways, hope you all liked it

[petersmparker]

Clutch pt 7 (Peter Parker x Reader)

Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader

Summary: This is the first time Peter has spoken to you since he’d kissed you in the alley, and he can’t help but be surprised.

Word Count: 1868

A/N: woo! long time coming, huh? thanks to everyone following this series for their patience! we’re one week into the semester and college is already beating me into submission. did someone say “five classes that assign almost 50 pages of reading due for every class”?? Love you all for sticking w me!!! I’ll promise the next one will be out faster- it’s already written for editing!! ps, tumblr literally won’t allow a cut, so I’m sorry to anyone who has to scroll past this

INTRO PART 1 PART 2 PART 3 PART 4 PART 5 PART 6 PART 7 PART 8

It's nearly a week until Peter sees you again due to careful avoidance in the halls and an unfortunate streak of petty crime a distance from your usual routes. Even despite the heated kiss that had been exchanged and his decision to share with you the name behind Spider-Man, he worries that it would be unwise to approach you outside of the suit, and the sight of you in school makes his heart do flips that leave him flustered and distracted for an admittedly embarrassing amount of time.

Because of this, the week passes with some anxiety and nerves. Peter isn't exactly sure how to make odds or ends of what had occurred between you. The kiss had been wonderful- something he had dreamed of without the nerve to actually hope for it. Moreover, it was his first. He wondered if it was yours too, or if you minded that it was him.

Well. Not him, he supposed. Spider-Man. He knew that you felt nothing for him personally, but rather his superhero alter ego. You knew very little about him, after all, besides his name. There wasn’t much he’s been able to share. But if you did, Peter wondered, would you see something in him worth caring about?

Five days in, as Peter goes through the motions of dinner, he fights the urge to admit to May what had occurred. To just talk about it, maybe get some advice. The thoughts rattle in his brain nonstop, keeping him in a near-constant state of “What now?”. But he meets her eye over her container of takeout as she digs a piece of broccoli out from under her rice, and can’t seem to do it. Not yet. Not until things are clearer.

As he climbs into bed, he once again replays the kiss in his mind for the millionth time, hoping to hell that his fixation isn’t breeding false hope.

The next day, Peter decides to swing through the street where his fight had occurred to survey the damage repair. It was something he, unfortunately, was becoming accustomed to doing after putting himself on the radar of higher level criminals the year before. The guilt always struck him when he viewed a shattered glass storefront or a torn apart corner of a building. No matter how hard he tried, sometimes the damage control got away from him.

Seeing the closed-up mini mart is just like every other time, and it feels terrible.

Despite that, the guilty thoughts circling Peter's brain come to a dead stop the moment he lays eyes on you again. Overcoming them was nervousness. Embarrassment, even, as he recalled just how much you'd been at the center of his mind for the past week.

You’re walking along the far side of the street, gazing up at what is left of the shop. The busted-out window is covered in several layers of plastic, wood planks, and cardboard. While the police tape is long gone, the word CLOSED is clearly displayed on the front door- as if the mess of a window isn’t enough of a clue.

As Peter watches, you move on toward a telephone pole to read a sheet of paper that had been stapled to it. After a few moments, you tear it off and stride, agitatedly, in the direction of an alley that he knows all too well. For a brief second Peter wants to assume that you’ll just walk past it. Surely you aren't going to return to The Place It Happened and cause the impending conversation to be even more awkward than it was already going to be.

You turned into the alley, and with a sigh, Peter jumps from the roof he had been perched upon to meet you there. He touches down next to you, startling you only slightly when he attempts to casually say hello and reach for the flyer in your hand.

"Jesus," you gasp, yanking the paper away from him in your exasperated surprise, "Part of me had a feeling you'd show up, but I still wasn't prepared. Maybe you need a bell around your neck."

Peter accepts the now-offered flyer and tries not to shiver when you gently brush a finger against his throat for emphasis. "Ah, well," he starts, somewhat awkwardly, "That might ruin the element of surprise a bit, you know? The bad guys would hear me. Mr. Stark might have to fire me. And in this economy?"

"Spider-Man gets paid?" You ask, bewildered.

"God, no," he says quickly, "This suit is payment enough. And he gave me all this nice stuff I couldn't afford, I- I'd never ask for more."

With a gentle laugh, you place a hand on his arm. "You're a good guy. Really. It makes the shit this reporter is spreading all the more ridiculous," you say with finality, gesturing toward the flyer he still hadn't read.

Pictured was Spider-Man in the midst of his criminal sendoff. Shards of glass are flying across the whole photograph, and the look on the man’s face is one of complete terror. The caption reads, SPIDERMAN: HERO? OR PUBLIC MENACE?

"Oh," Peter says, dejectedly, "I can't really argue that, can I?"

In a quick movement, you rip the flyer out of his hands, crumple it, and toss it toward the open lid of the nearest dumpster.

"Spider-Man," you say firmly, commanding him to hear you, to listen, and Peter’s surprised by the seriousness of your tone.

Your voice lowers in volume when you say, "Peter," and take his hands in your own, and he nearly melts.

"Everything you do is for the good of others. You've saved people's lives before. Put your own in danger to do it. That flyer is slander. Nothing more. No one in their right mind will believe this, and you, you damn intelligent boy, you should know better than to buy into it, either."

"The damage-" Peter starts, before you raise a hand over the mouth area of his mask.

"Nothing was destroyed, Peter. The infrastructure is sound. It was a single window. It can be replaced. Lives can't be replaced,” you assert, squeezing your  eyes shut tight when you continue to say, “With the way I was reacting, I- I probably would have been shot. You stopped that from happening.”

"But. . ." he starts, muffled against your hand, before he realizes that he doesn’t know what to say.

Your other hand comes up so that you can gently hold the sides of his face. The touch sends shivers up Peter’s spine. He’s sure you can feel it when it shakes him, and he’d be embarrassed if he weren’t so entranced by your eyes now that they’ve reopened. You stare into the eyes of his mask, almost as if you can actually see his face.

Your voice fills with what Peter thinks is gratitude when you say, "I would be dead if it weren't for you."

A tension-filled moment passes in which he reels, mind flitting to a hundred different places, before it lands on a terrible thought.

"Is that why you were willing to kiss me?" Peter asks, tentatively.

Surprised, your hands fall away for a brief second, before coming back, holding him tighter than before. "No," you say, definitively, "I would have kissed back no matter what you had done. I'm glad you gave me the opportunity."

With your words, the anxiety slips away from Peter all at once. The fear of rejection is sapped out of him, the concern that he had overstepped his boundaries, the sinking feeling he got every time he thought about how he left afterward. He is left with a balloon in his chest inflating too quickly. It fills with happiness, relief, and affection. It takes his breath away.

In his joy, Peter forgets who he is. Not unlike the first time, he surges forward, arms wrapping around your lower back to pull you forward. He leans in to kiss you, and realizes once he meets your mouth with his own that he's Spider-Man. Not Peter. The mask is still on. His embarrassment is horrific, and had you not burst into delighted laughter Peter may have left the country then and there.

"That- that was so dumb," he says, awkwardly, reaching up to hide his face as if the mask didn't always hide his blush, "I'm sorry. That was- oh man."

You pull him down to plant a kiss on his cheek, paying no mind to the mask that has thwarted his attempt at affection. "This is why," you explain, stopping to press a second quick kiss to the mouth of his mask, "You ask if I kissed back because you saved me? I kissed back because in the little time I've known you, you've been funny. And you've been kind, and brave. What more could I have done, besides feel something for you?"

Peter calms slowly, the heat of embarrassment being replaced by a different kind of warmth. A lovely, comfortable one. The urge to tell you who he really is- more than just his name- bowls him over like a tidal wave, potential ramifications be damned. He opens his mouth to do so when a voice at the entrance of the alley says, "Hey, it's Spider-Man!"

Peter turns to see someone who appears to have stumbled upon the alley at the worst possible time. While you hadn't heard them speak, his hearing is far better. You don’t turn until after he’s faced the unwelcome arrival.

Luckily, thinks Peter as he attempts to emote as much disdain as possible without moving, it's just you. Ned waves at the scene you’ve made in the alleyway, unaware of the context of your meeting or the true presence of you in his life.

"Hello there," he adds, when neither of you respond. His tone implies that he's picked up on something, but Peter isn't sure what that is.

"Uh, hello," Peter answers, unsure of what to say.

Ned looks between the two of you slowly. "Is... everything okay?" He asks, seemingly unaware of how odd it is for a civilian to ask if Spider-Man is alright, whether or not he secretly knows him personally.

His eyes flick downward to your hands, still cupping Peter’s jaw.

"Yes!" Peter exclaims, backing away from you, "Everything is fine! In fact, I should probably be going, now that everything is fine."

"Oh?" His best friend questions in response.

"Absolutely," you say slowly, picking up on Peter’s tone.

Ned nods, but his expression clearly states that he is both skeptical and confused. In a moment of eye contact, Peter realizes that you know there's something going on, too. Maybe even that the person who has stumbled upon you and him knows something. The prospect of it is vaguely terrifying. He can feel you continue to stare at him long after he’s turned back to Ned, searching for the words to say, and is sure that you’re searching his body language and the squint of his eyepieces for answers. His posture falls from rigid to defeated.

Peter turns to look back at you, reaching toward you to grab your hand. He stops halfway, thinking better of the action before he’s spoken to Ned. You almost reach out to meet it, but you stop too, centimeters away.

"I have to go," he says, voice laced with apologies and explanations he can’t fully give to you right now, "I'll... I'll see you. I'm sorry."

You smile reassuringly. "See you, Spider-Man."

After a long moment, he turns away. After nodding toward Ned, still watching from the end of the alleyway, he takes a huge leap into the air and swings away. Maybe he’s mistaken, but he’s sure that he can hear Ned offer a quick, I guess I’ll see you later? to you before he runs off.  

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