8 + Extra™ angst spideytorch; make it as 💔💔💔💔💔 as possible or with a happy ending, it's up to you.
(When I think “unrequited spideytorch” I also think “Ultimate Marvel” sooo)
Ah, unrequited love. When your best isn’t enough. (Participation medals of the heart.)
Johnnycrashed the attic after dinner, lounging around on the couch up there andgenerally making a nuisance of himself as Peter worked. After a while he turnedtowards Peter, eyes shadowed by the fall of his blond hair. He was taller thanlast time Peter had seen him, and skinnier too, and he wouldn’t talk aboutwhere he’d been or what he’d been doing or who’d given him that bruise on hisface beyond a noncommittal shrug.
“Hey,”he said, reaching one long arm out to poke Peter in the shoulder. “Heyyy,Spidey.”
Peterbatted his hand away. “What?”
“Soyou’re with Gwen now?” Johnny said, raising his eyebrows. “What happened to MJ?”
Peterfelt himself turn faintly pink. “I thought you were Mr. Little Black Book.”
“Sure,but that’s, y’know,” Johnny said, stretching his hands far above his head andlinking his fingers together. “Different. You and MJ were like that.”
“Thingschange,” Peter said. “Look at you, living in Queens.”
Johnnylaughed, but it was a little nervous.
“Yeahbut is it like… do you, y’know, is it because she’s blonde?”
“What?”Peter said, finally looking up. “Were there even words in there?”
“Becausethere’s plenty of blonds in the sea,” Johnny said, staring intensely up atPeter’s ceiling. “If that’s your new thing.”
“Likewho?” Peter said. “If this is some weird way if asking if I know if Liz isstill single…”
“Likemaybe someone who collapsed in your arms earlier,” Johnny said, finally lookingback at Peter. Peter stared back, stunned speechless.
“Johnny,I don’t…”
Johnnysnorted, suddenly, shooting up. He aimed a friendly kick Peter’s way. “Kidding,dude.” He laughed, but his face was all red. “You are way too easy.”
“Don’tdo that!” Peter said, laughing, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasmissing something. Or that he was trying, too hard, to keep missing something.
“Yeah,whatever,” Johnny said, leveraging himself up off the bed. He hung his head alittle. “I’m gonna go check out the new digs.”
