Chapter Text
“Red Leader, do you copy? Over.”
“I’m right beside you,” Sally frowns, turning to the boy on her right.
Charles’ shoulders sag, the device in his hand dropping low. “But the walkie-talkies—”
“And why am I Red Leader, anyway?”
Charles gestures to her blouse. “Red.” He moves his hand up to her head and down to her toes. “Leader.” Shrug . “Red Leader.”
“…Kiss up,” Sally says, pursing her lips.
“One of my many great qualities.”
“I don’t think that’s true,” Abe says, sneaking up behind them, juice in hand. He passes the glass to Sally. “Order up.”
“Thanks.” Sip. “Anything?”
“They were talking on the couch, but we lost them after the third song,” Abe says, frowning. “Peter looked sick.”
“Betty?”
“She’s looking for them.”
“And you say you’re not a Red Leader,” Charles hmphs. “Classic Red Leader move, Sal.”
“Come off it, weirdo,” Sally says, rolling her eyes.
“Gosh, why look for MJ when she already lives through you?” Charles says with an exaggerated gasp.
Cindy pops her head between them before Sally can strangle Charles. “Anyone see Ned?”
“He’s checking upstairs,” Abe says.
“What is upstairs?” Sally asks, frowning as she looks up. “Heard Betty saying something about a reno?”
“The roof,” Cindy says, nodding knowingly. “I heard it’s tricked out.”
“Wasn’t it always?”
“Yeah, but now…”
“Isn’t MJ scared of heights?” Abe asks, scrunching up half his face. “Why check up there?”
“Because that’s where the bedrooms are and I heard from Suzie and Carlos that Betty’s older brother has this, like, massive Lego installation in his room, and he’s away at college,” Charles says, in his usual conspirator way, and that’s when they start ignoring him for the night.
(“I’ll help Cindy look,” Sally says.
“I’ll pretend to help Cindy look,” Abe says, shaking his head at Charles in disappointment.
Charles whines.)
(Really, they should've checked the least obvious place.)
Betty finds them outside, sitting on the front steps of her house, too close together and too far from everyone else.
She steps lightly.
“You guys know the party’s inside the house, right?” she asks, head tilted in innocent curiosity. The sugar-saturated drink in her hand sloshes from her abrupt stop, the sound echoing in Peter’s ears.
“Peter needed some air,” MJ says, turning to her and keeping her volume low. She has a hand on Peter’s shoulder, squeezing gently. “Your sound system is a little too excellent.”
Peter’s hunched over on the step, rubbing his ears with his palms. Tch, as he covers his face and stretches his jaw, the soft sound of air pockets releasing bringing comfort. “I don’t know what frequency Flash is using, but it sucks.”
Curse, as Betty sneaks a glance behind her, checking for passerby. “I’m sorry, Pete, I totally forgot. You want me to grab you some earplugs?” she asks, apologetic as she steps forward. “I’d tone it down, but that’s—”
“Kinda sus, yeah,” MJ nods, half-smiling. She leans down, hair spilling forward as she attempts to catch Peter’s eye. “How ‘bout it?” she whispers, rubbing circles on his shoulder with her thumb.
Groan. “Worth a shot.”
“I hope they work,” Betty says, wincing. “Do you want me to get Ned, too?”
MJ ducks lower, closer to Peter’s face. “Want Ned?”
A wince and another muffled, cut-off groan as Peter nods stiffly.
“I’ll be right back,” Betty says gently, glancing at MJ. “Text if you think of anything else he might need, okay?”
MJ nods, smiling tightly. “Thanks, Bets.”
Betty throws up an OK sign, and her drink sloshes along as she makes her way back inside.
Ned brings Peter home to a waiting, concerned May.
“He’s doing better,” Ned says quietly, handing off the hero to his aunt. “MJ got him to eat something and I found his backup earplugs in my car.”
“Aw, sweetie,” May coos, hugging Peter tightly and kissing the side of his forehead as he slumps into the hug. “It’s okay now, hun. I did the laundry so you can sleep with the mask on tonight, if you want.”
Peter nods into her shoulder, hugging her tighter.
“Night-night, Pete,” Ned says with a half-smile, patting his friend on the back. “Get some rest, dude.”
“Thank you, Ned,” May smiles, and Peter silently waves back as the two walk into the building.
Ned gives her a salute and walks backwards to his car, phone open to a group chat.
dj khaleeds
ay mj ya boyfren’s home
o captain my captain
not my boyfriend
BETTY BOO <3
Not YET
o captain my captain
Betty…
BETTY BOO <3
Yes?
o captain my captain
youre on thin ice
BETTY BOO <3
I love you too!
And, of course, in the morning hours, Peter says:
THWIPTHWIP
Did u guys forget im in this chat
dj khaleeds
nope!!!
BETTY BOO <3
No
o captain my captain
if only