Chapter Text
There's someone in front of him. They're not facing him, but Peter can feel it again. Hope.
They have the same hair color, and the jacket they're wearing looks oddly like the one Gwen was wearing when she died.
And so, Peter is thinking again…
He's thinking about the past and what could've been until ...
« Hi, Peter… »
It can't be...
For one moment, he feels like his dreams finally came true. For one moment, he believes that miracles can happen.
For one moment only…
Because when he does look up, there's no one there.
Gwen isn't there. He just hallucinated the whole thing.
He bends his head and can feel the tears streaming down on his cheeks. Peter doesn't even try to stop them. He's so tired, but he knows that he can't rest. There are other villains to fight. Other people to protect. Another world to save.
So, he lets his tears fall, hoping that it'll somehow ease the pain he feels.
It doesn't work.
Another explosion sound snapped him out of his thoughts; he refocuses, puts his mask back on, and starts walking towards the noise. He has a job to do—responsibilities to honor.
He doesn't make it very far before collapsing again. The last thing he sees is someone running towards him, screaming.
This time when Peter wakes up, he's not in the street but on a couch. He's a little dizzy, and for a few seconds, his anxiety skyrockets because he doesn't know how he ended up there, and there is someone above him.
He tries, with difficulty, to get up and free himself, but he is quickly slowed down by his injuries and by this person.
That's when he sees her.
It's Gwen...
His Gwen...
Am I hallucinating again? He thinks.
None of them talk; the silence is tense but not awkward.
She gently grabs the hem of his shirt, and Peter lifts with some difficulty his arms, letting Gwen pull it off, to inspect the damages. He suddenly feels shy. It isn't like Gwen hasn't seen him like this before; hell, he's not even naked. But still, it feels just so intimate, and it's been so long.
Gwen gets a towel full of ice from behind her, and delicate hands rub it over Peter's torso, arms, and face. It's cold, but he doesn't notice. He's too busy looking at her.
Once she's done, she helps him put the suit on again. Peter feels a little bit better, though he is still trembling a little.
Gwen, always the caretaker , he thinks.
He keeps staring. He has dreamt of this moment for so long, and now? Now he's paralyzed. He doesn't know if he's dead, if he's dreaming or if it's real. If she's real.
Peter can feel her moving again. She touches his cheek so softly as if his face was made of porcelain. This moment of comfort is more than welcome after everything that happened.
There is little space between the two, but for both of them, it's not enough; Peter and Gwen need to get closer to each other. So they do.
The kiss is unsurprisingly desperate. They have both been waiting for it for so long, and slow isn't an option, not when the fight is still going on.
The kiss feels like the first rain after a drought. And it makes Peter forget everything else, including his injuries. It's fast, messy, and all over the place, but it's perfect.
It's also over way too soon.
They stay close like this for a few minutes, eyes closed, foreheads touching, both gasping for air, and Gwen still stroking Peter's cheeks. So close, it seems like they're sharing the same breath. He says nothing but hopes the blonde can feel just how much she means to Peter.
He doesn't dare speak nor move, fearing that it will make her disappear if he does. He also can't put his feelings into words right now. It's too much.
He doesn't say anything, but she does.
« What happened? » Gwen whispers as if she's afraid he will break right there.
« You should see the other guy" He smiles but sobers up quickly when he sees the look on Gwen's face. "I'm fine... I promise... I had worse,» And Peter knows she knows he's not referring to physical injuries.
Peter's about to say something else, but screams from outside stop him.
Now that they're paying attention, they can hear noises from the streets: people running away, windows breaking. It's enough for Peter to tear his gaze away from Gwen for the first time since they met again.
He can't see anything from where they're sitting, and it makes it even more anxious. He doesn't know how close the danger is and if he can do something about it.
Peter's never been so conflicted.
He knows that going back outside is the right thing to do. The others need help. But God, Peter's so afraid of losing Gwen again if he leaves her behind. It's something that he wouldn't be able to bear. Not for a second time.
He's aware that there's a probability that her being there is not permanent, but he has hope that maybe... just maybe… if they saved Max/Electro and co ... they can save Gwen.
They haven't even had a proper talk yet.
Gwen ends up deciding for him because she knows him well enough, and she can see his struggle: "Go..." she says simply with a small smile. "They need you."
I need you too ... Peter's thoughts are interrupted by another kiss...
"We will talk about everything later, alright?"
God, she's perfect, and Peter loves her so much…
And she sounds so sure of herself that Peter tends to believe it. But still, he feels the need to ask, « Do you promise? ». But he also knows her well enough to know that she won't be able to give him an answer.
He was right.
He looks at Gwen again and sees her mouthing "Go," and so with her help, he stands slowly, walks towards the exit, and, with a last look at Gwen, he leaves.
Minutes (more like a few hours) later, Peter is back on the 82nd street.
Despite Peter's state, the fight was surprisingly more manageable than the one against the rhino. Maybe it was because he wasn't alone this time, and he wanted to go back to Gwen as soon as possible.
He also feels a lot better, not physically but mentally.
Doctor Strange managed to send everyone back to the universe they belonged to (except for his counterparts and Gwen), and New York City didn't suffer that much: there was no collateral damage besides some broken windows and cars. The sorcerer also sent Peter 1 back to MJ and Ned and left with the other two spider-men to find Gwen. Peter somehow convinced the sorcerer to wait before sending her back.
Peter is seconds away from passing out (again) from exhaustion, but he has to find Gwen. He needs to.
He doesn't have the time to fear Gwen is gone again because he sees her as soon as he looks at the building.
She's standing by the main door, waiting for him. With that smile, he loves so much.
He can finally breathe. Gwen's there, and she's beautiful.
They hug, and Peter doesn't care about his injuries and that Strange and Peter 2 are there. Gwen, who will be alive in their universe, is the only thing that matters. Peter wants to kiss her so badly, but before he has the chance, Peter 2 and Strange introduce themselves.
Once again, he is at a loss for words near Gwen, but his two companions are there and take over to tell the story.
Gwen listens without batting an eye, asking one or two questions here and there, trying to understand how she ended up there. He can feel the tension leaving her body as the conversation goes on.
She still hasn't let go of Peter. She, too, needs to be close to him. Because while she's been told that everything is fine, she still has some doubts. So she stays in his arms, her hands occasionally brushing over his ribs as if to ease the pain. Not that Peter minds.
The conversation is short.
Everyone is tired and wants to go back to their home. They say goodbye to each other, and Peter feels a deep sense of gratitude towards his two acolytes. Thanks to them (and Peter 1), Gwen is somewhat back to life after all.
He takes one last look at the New York City of this universe, takes Gwen's hand, and BAM...
Just like that, they're back to their earth.
They are finally alone, and it's finally quiet. (Well, as quiet as New York City can be, but you get it.)
By leaving this other universe together, and realizing that Gwen was still there, it's as if all the pressure has been taken off. And Peter can't help crying again (he can't count the number of times he's cried today. It's a wonder he still has tears).
He is not the only one, though; as he takes Gwen in his arms, he realizes she is also crying.
He was so happy, anxious, and a little lost to have found her that he didn't fully realize she felt the same way. Maybe it was even more confusing for her.
He stops the kiss and, without moving away much, asks, "Are you okay?"
"Me? I should ask you instead."
"I'm sorry..." she cuts him off with a kiss. "I know I said we'd talk later, but can we wait until tomorrow?"
"We can do whatever you want."
Peter still feels the guilt of not saving her the first time, and he's still a little bit anxious about it being a dream. They also have a lot to talk and worry about, but it's a problem for another day. And as they leave together hand in hand towards god knows where he can finally say that he's happy again.