somebody
Insomniac!Peter Parker x F!Reader
summary - Peter is always saving everyone else, so for once you want to be the one saving him.
warnings - angst, hurt/comfort, Peter struggles to cope with loss, Peter physically struggling after putting Doctor Octavius away
Everybody needs somebody.
Peter often came home bloodied and covered in bruises. It was never surprising to spot him trying to sneak in through a window in the hopes of not letting you see him like that, but it always hurt you. His pain always hurt you, because he acted like it was nothing for the sake of everyone else. He was too selfless, too self-sacrificing, and every time he went out to face another supervillain you always feared that he wouldn't come home. And not because of a lack of faith in him, but because you knew he would go to any lengths to keep the city safe - to keep you safe - even if it meant losing his life.
So when you see the news of The Raft failing to contain it's prisoners, your heart almost stops at the sight of a familiar red-and-blue hero swinging to the rescue. Your heart sinks to the lowest part of your stomach as you watch the chaos unfold, and witness him being overwhelmed by all the big ones he put away.
And you can't help but cry when he crawls through your window hours later, banged up but okay because Yuri had found him and taken him to the hospital. You can't help but run to him and almost crush his bones again in a hug. You can't help but wet his neck with your tears as you mumble incoherently and tell him how much he scared you - how worried you'd been that you lost him.
And he holds you like he does every time, his arms secure around your waist as he presses several loving kisses to the top of your head. He rubs your back soothingly and tells you he's okay, he's here, and he's not going anywhere. He keeps you against his chest for what feels like forever, but neither of you complain. You're both just glad to be in each other's arms.
"You're so stupid," you tell him with glassy eyes when you finally look up at his tired face.
"I am?" He chuckles, "Why's that?"
"Making me worry so much..." Your hand finds its way to his cheek, and your heart flips as he leans into your touch, contentment on his face at your small but affectionate gesture.
"I'm sorry," he whispers, and you hear the sincerity in his voice.
"I know."
You know he won't stop until he's put every convict back in The Raft. You know he won't stop until he's put an end to Doctor Octavius's plans. So you do the only thing you can, you support him however you're able to. Whatever he needs you to do, you do it. If he needs you at home for the sake of his peace of mind, that's where you go. If he needs you helping out at the F.E.A.S.T center, you're happy to see May again. And you're happy to help the new kid, Miles, adjust.
But when all is said and done, and his heroics give way to tragedy, you're the only one who can stop him from spiralling. When he collapses over May, sobbing uncontrollably, you stand beside him with just as much pain in your heart at the loss of the most important person in both your lives. He blames himself, you already know, and the way he almost crushes your smaller frame in his despair makes your chest ache.
It was never fair to him.
He should never have had to choose.
He's been through enough. Not just in the last eight years, but just the last few days. Losing his mentor, having to fight him, then retrieving the cure only to find out he can't save May AND the city...
Many would be surprised that he's not broken yet.
But they don't see it.
You moved him into your apartment mere hours after he'd been evicted from his. So now that you were living together, you saw everything. The nightmares, the breakdowns, the episodes...you saw all of it.
"May!"
You jerked awake to the sound of Peter's scream, turning quickly to see the man sweating, shaking and in tears. You're quick to move closer to him, wrap your arms around him, and pull him to your chest. You're quick to murmur words of comfort in his ear, into his hair, wherever you can for him to hear.
They don't see him cling to you like you're his lifeline, like you're the only thing keeping him tethered to this world. They don't see how he soaks your shirt with his tears, how his body wracks with sobs as he's bruising your skin with his tight grip. You don't ever mind or care, his strength is the last thing on his mind in those moments and you would rather suffer through the pain than admit he's hurting you. Because he needs you, he needs to hold you, and you don't want to take that away from him.
"I'm here, baby," you reassure him, "It's okay. You're okay." And as you comb your fingers through his hair that you love so much, you mumble the very words he needs to hear. "I love you."
They don't see his hands shaking every time he tries to do menial tasks around the apartment - the way your expression softens and you move over to help him.
"There you go baby," you gently ease the omelettes onto the plates, setting them down on the table for breakfast. "You okay?"
"Yeah," he says shakily, trying to smile at you but you can see the way his lips tremble. "Thanks."
They don't see the way he struggles to deal with inheriting May's house, the way his eyes gloss over as a thousand memories slam into him with the force of a tidal wave. You're sitting on his old bed with him, his hand in yours and your lips pressing reassuring kisses to his shoulder.
"I don't think I could have done this alone," he admits quietly, before looking at you. "Thanks for being here."
"Always," you smile back, squeezing his hand.
He returns the smile, but it fades as he looks around again, "I don't think I can stay here alone either." He looks at you, and runs his thumb across the back of your hand. "Move in with me."
"We were already living together silly," you laugh, resting your head on his shoulder.
"I know," he smiles, "You can bring all your stuff here. Bye bye rent."
You laugh at that and turn to him, "I'll do just that." And then you kiss him, smiling wider when he mumbles 'I love you' against your lips. "I love you too."
No one sees that you're the only reason he's not broken. The only reason he hasn't gone insane. You're always there for him, always there to catch him. He saves the city, and you save him.
Everybody needs somebody, and he's eternally grateful to have you.
He proposes with May's ring, which was willed to him. You're overwhelmed with emotion by the gesture, your heart swelling at the fact that he wanted you to have her ring. And of course you say yes, you've been ready to marry him since before any of this started.
Slowly he starts to heal, and he puts the horrors of the Devil's Breath incident behind him. He chooses to move on, knowing his future looks good with you in it.
"And what would you like for dinner, Mrs Parker?" He teases you every night since you made it official, knowing just how much it flusters you. But that's only a cover, he really likes saying it.
"Hmmm, maybe your world-famous dumplings," you tease back, laughing as you sit at the small table in the kitchen.
"As you wish, my lady."
Slowly, the old Peter Parker comes back to life. He makes more jokes, he sleeps like a log, he's generally more lively and energetic. And you love to see it.
And then Harry Osborn returns.
"You have to meet my wife."
"You're married?! Was I gone for that long?"
When Peter introduces Harry to you, you can see how happy he is and the way his eyes light up is something you haven't seen in a long time. It warms you to see that things are getting better for your hero.
Unfortunately, that peaceful happiness is short-lived.