Chapter Text
"You are the worst brother ever."
"Yeah man, how could you scare us like that?" Peter 1 grumbled bitterly, avoiding the puppyish look their oldest brother was giving them. "We thought you were dying!"
Peter 3 nodded next to One, brows furrowed. "And I thought you were already dead! You think curling up next to a pile of dirty clothes and undies is known code for "oh, by the way, I hibernate like a freakin bear, because I do that."
Peter 2 was going to rebuttal, but his body was urging him to finish Otto's homemade soup so he could go to sleep soon.
No surprise there. The only Spider-Man with organic webs, and hooks on his feet and hands, should have been the best indicator to them that he is the closest to inhabit "The way of the Spider".
That didnt stop him from being annoyed at the interrogation. He brought the bowl to his mouth.
"I didn't think it would be that big of a deal..." he muttered between sips.
Peter One scoffed. "What? Okay, but if I were the one hibernating you would have been mad without a heads up!"
Three shook his head, "Are you even hibernating correctly? Shouldn't you be asleep already? You look super pale. Should we make the house warmer? I- augh you should have told us! We could have went to the corner store-"
The brothers continued to argue at the poor Two, who was trying not to head dive into his soup from exhaustion until a familiar hiss and gruff voice was heard.
"Yes, it isn't normal the way he handles his sleep cycles," Otto tapped his foot and nodded, "But what's not okay is bothering him before he re-enters hibernation." He tutted as the actuators gently pushed the two younger Peter's out of the way as Otto approached the table.
He held a disappointed look at the younger boys who were now awkwardly shuffled to the side. "Now look, he's refusing to eat."
Peter sighed, rubbing his forehead. "No...Otto. They're right. I should have told them, i- would have freaked out too if they hid something as weird as this from me..."
And again, he tried to ignore the pitiful glances at him, reddened cheeks and all. He was trying to avoid this much attention...
Peter Three approached slowly and rubbed Two's back. "Yeah...but we also over-reacted. You are not on any measurement the worst brother ever. I'm just worried. I'm sorry dude."
"I'm sorry too, man. Brothers?" The youngest hugged both of them.
"Brothers," Two croaked out, managing a weak smile. He knew they were just being protective as always, and....he appreciates the doting...sometimes.
With a yawn, he rubbed his eyes and looked up at Otto. "M' not hungry anymore...I think I'm ready to sleep."
Otto sighed softly, "Alright, alright. I suppose it's time." He checks outside, the sky now dark, "Come on, let's not delay any longer." Flo moved the soup bowl away from Peter and the older man tried to help Peter up.
"Thanks, doc, but my legs still work. I'll walk there." Peter gently waved him off as he wobbled towards the hallway, his vision shaking. He grabbed a nearby stool and groaned.
I probably look more like a grandpa than Otto...
He shakes his thoughts away as he continues to waddle to his room. He heard quiet footsteps, realizing his little brothers were trailing behind him.
He turned around with narrowed eyes. "You guys don't have to hover over me. I'm almost there-"
His knees suddenly buckled, and he faceplants on the floor. Honestly, if it wasn't for the humiliation of everyone watching that, he would have just curled into fetal position and sleep there.
"Two?" One and Three stepped forward again, stopped as Otto held out a hand and shook his head.
"I...got this."Peter huffed quietly as he got on all 4's and crawled like a newborn kitten, finally managing to get inside his warm, dark room.
As soon as he entered the room, Peter's knees buckled yet again and he flopped on the carpet with a small oof.
The familiar sound of slippers plopping on the floor soothed Peter's head in an oddly weird way. Whirrs got louder until he felt a larger presence over him.
"You were close, my boy. Closer than last winter."
"The nest is more to the left, isn't it?" Peter murmured into the ground, not caring that the carpet fluff was touching his lips. "I still don't remember what happened last year..."
Otto squatted down as much as he could and gently ruffled his hair with his calloused hands.
"It's alright, it's only been a month lad. But I think it's time for you to rest."
Everything felt like a weird mesh of flashes and wakes. One moment, he was being lifted in the air, with flashes of cool, gentle touches on his face and body, and the next, he was snuggled into the warmest clothing possible. The pillow he was lying on felt like temperature-regulated ice against his warm cheek.
He vaguely remembers starving before his hibernation cycles. But now, his belly was full, in a good way of course.
Instead of sleeping in sweaty, smelly clothes, he felt like he was wearing skinned clouds from heaven. The freshly washed material danced on his skin, indicating that he wouldn't get a rash from his bodily fluids.
"Ahh..." Peter kept his eyes closed and stretched out his body.
"Almost done, lad," Otto cooed, sliding on the last of Peter's sleeping garments, which were his fresh sweats and socks. "I also brought some clean blankets and water bottles when you wake up." He set down the warm blankets as he opened a worn-out but well-kept book titled. "Caretaking 101 for My Pet Spider"
"Let's see, warm habitat, nearby water, snacks, and clean environment. Alright, yes. I believe you're seconds away from starting your cycle again...I better leave you be." Flo ruffled Peter's hair as Otto began to leave the room, his actuators reluctantly scrunching back to their master.
Alone. Peter let out a whimper.
"W-wait!" Peter grabbed onto Moe. "Otto..can you stay? Until I...umm-I just...please." he begged.
Otto stepped back in with wide eyes, clearly surprised.. "I would, son, but the book states you should be in solitude-"
"Please?" He widened his eyes and pouted. "I'm not gonna wake up for another two weeks, remember? I just want..I..."
A beat. Otto's worried expression softened.
"Oh, you know I cannot say no to those baby blues." He lays down in the nest of warm clothes and blankets.
Like an instinct, Peter immediately latched onto Otto's side, curling to a fetal position. The older scientist began to wrap the blanket to cover both of them, rubbing Peter's back with his calloused hands. . "Comfy?"
"Very. I feel like I'm sleeping on clouds." He blinks softly, his muscles relaxing. He let out a cat-like yawn.
"Someone is ready for beddy bye..hm?" Otto lowered his voice, kissing Peter's forehead when the younger man hummed. "Good. I'll be here. And so will your brothers. You'll sleep soundly, and before you know it, your hibernation cycle will be over."
Peter felt his consciousness begin to fade out, his eyes were closed and too heavy to open. "Mmm..okay."
"Goodnight, Peter. Sweet dreams....I love you."
Peter succumbed to sleep, his eyelids could take no longer. He wasn't even aware what he said next. "Kay...Night dad."
Otto blinked, looking at his actuators with disbelief.
Did Peter just...?
He totally did not cry that night.