Forgetting
Pairing: College!Peter Parker x Fem!OC
Word Count: 1k
Warnings: Angst, fluff, Mentions of smut, IW Spoilers
Summary: In which Peter’s super SO survived Thanos’ snap and succeeded in bringing back everyone who was lost, but had to live five years without him to do it.
Sydney shook herself awake from the dream. No, not a dream, a memory. She glanced at her side and Peter was fast asleep. His curls were splayed across the pillow, his chest rising and falling in a gentle rhythm. She reached out, gently brushing her hand against Peter’s face. Relief washed over her. He was real. Peter awoke, squinting at the sun that poured in through the window. He yawned, stretching his arms above his head and promptly wincing as they hit the headboard behind him with a smack. Sydney chuckled, and Peter turned his attention towards the girl beside him, a smile lighting up his face. “G’morning.” He greeted, muffled by yet another yawn. “Good morning.” Syd ran her fingers through Peter’s curls, smiling as he leaned into the touch. Lazily, Peter reached over, pulling his girlfriend over top of him. … Where she promptly fell over. Sydney blushed. Balance was difficult when her left leg wouldn’t play ball. The brace that allowed her to move her paralyzed was uncomfortable to sleep in, but without it, her left leg was essentially useless. Occupational hazard. “Sorry.” She apologized, lifting herself onto her elbows above Peter. “My leg… I can’t…” She began to move off of Peter. Muscle was dense and she knew she wasn’t light. “I’ll…” “Don’t.” Peter interrupted, holding her still against him. “This is almost better.” He nuzzled his face into her shoulder, relaxing there a moment. “We’ll flip in a minute so we can get to business, but for now I like this a lot.” “Peter!” Syd scolded, slapping his shoulder and fighting a laugh. “What? You took the proposal from me, and now a man can’t even enjoy a morning in bed with his fiance?” Syd rolled her eyes, but smiled in spite of herself. Her proposal the night before had been hasty, but it carried the same weight. Peter had agreed to marry her, but only if she let him propose with a ring before they told anyone else. “You think you’re up for the challenge, Parker? When was the last time you took the lead?” “Hey, future-Parker, that was not nice of you. How dare you underestimate my skills?” “Uh, do you not remember the first time? Or the second? Or the third?” Peter’s spidey senses had made getting intimate... Uniquely challenging at the beginning. Since then, however, things were drastically improved. “And who says I’m taking your name? Hm?” “Ha, so you doubt your own teaching then? And I happen to know that you will jump at any chance not to be Alice Andrews.” “What did you just call me?” Sydney hated her birth name. What was it with superheroes and dumb alliterative names? Bruce Banner, Bucky Barnes, hell even Peter Parker. Disgusting. “Alice.” Peter leaned into the name. “That’s it. No wedding. I’m done.” Syd tried to sound serious, but Peter’s lips against her neck were making her giggle. Peter flipped the pair over, continuing his assault across Sydney’s neck. “Peter…” She whined. “Stop…” “Okay.” Peter agreed before capturing her lips with his own. Kissing Peter felt like coming home. Like a long awaited breath after standing for so long at the precipice of drowning. When they pulled apart, Peter just smiled. “How’s the view from up there?” Sydney teased. “Beautiful.” He complimented before diving into her again. Sydney took the opportunity to slide her hands along his back. Her fingers slipped under his shirt, tracing each muscle as it flexed above her. Her fingers brushed over a small divot in his back, a minor imperfection, a scar. Sydney paused, going over the scar multiple times. Had that always been there? Surely it had. She had just forgotten. She had forgotten. She was going to be sick. “Peter.” Her voice was short and insistent. “Peter. Stop.” Peter stopped immediately, moving beside her and giving her space. “Syd, what’s wrong?” Sydney sat up, breathing rapidly and grabbing at her hair. “Sydney…” Peter frowned, even more concerned now. “I-I’m sorry. Peter, I-I’m so sorry.” Tears were in her eyes now, dry sobs violently wracking through her body. “Sydney…” Peter’s voice was soft, holding her close against him. “It’s okay. It’s all okay. We’re here now, you’re with me-” “N-no.” Syd shook in his arms. “P-Peter I… I’m so sorry.” “Sorry?” Peter whispered. “What for? There’s nothing to be sorry about…” “I forgot, Peter. The scar, the freckle here on your arm, Peter I forgot-” “Shh…” Peter held her closer. “It’s okay.” “I-I almost had a life. I-I was almost moving on. They said we couldn’t bring everyone back, and I-I almost believed them…” She couldn’t help but think about the people she met, the things she’d done. None of them would remember. Gavin wouldn’t remember Saturday nights spent at the theater, she would never know how Anna’s new kitten was doing.
Would Anna even have a kitten? Now that her girlfriend hadn’t died?
Peter sighed, holding his girlfriend against him as her body trembled. “Hey. Look at me.” Peter lifted her chin slightly so that they were making eye contact. It was so strange looking at Syd now. Physically, she looked nearly the same as he had left her under the rubble. But her eyes were different. There was a haunting depth to them now. She had seen years without him. She grew up, had birthdays, she made friends. Hell, maybe even more than friends. She’d had an entire life without him in it, a life she’d spent knowing that she may never see him again. “You did nothing wrong. Absolutely nothing. I cannot even begin to understand what that was like. How you felt, the decisions you made, but you did nothing wrong. You are so strong. So, so, strong.” Peter ran his fingers through her hair. “But we’re in this together now. I love you. I accept you for the incredible person you are and the choices you made. It is okay.” Sydney was silent for a long moment, but slowly her breathing returned to normal and her body stilled. “I love you too. More than anything.” Peter kissed the top of her head, rubbing her back gently. “Now, why don’t I go make us some breakfast?” “Are you gonna burn it this time?” Sydney teased, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Just for you, I’ll try not to.”
