Chapter Text
“YOU LOST PETER 3?!”
“I Uhh-..did,” Tiny Peter took a nervous breath, his legs shifting weight back and forth constantly like a seesaw. “Look, I can explain-
“HOW DO YOU LOSE A 5’10 GUY??! HES REALLY HARD TO MISS-
“I FELL ASLEEP, OKAY?” Peter 1 was starting to pull at his hair, “Because he was actually quite heavy to swing around and not to mention I had to do it fast because he was calling peoples attention because he thought he lost his tongue but didn’t- could people actually bite their tongue off and lose it since they can’t feel it when their numb? Maybe? A-Anyways, we came back and he got upset, I changed his gauze and we were both sleepy since we got under a blanket because when I woke up he was gone and I swore I checked all over the apartment and scaled the building-
Peter 2 simply took a deep breath and gently gripped Peter 1’s shoulders. He was pretty sure his brain was still on the “I LOST PETER 3” part.
”PETER!” He finally got to the rambling nervous boy, light brown eyes staring directly into his baby blues. “Look, I’m sure he’s around here. I can feel him with my tingle.”
”You can?” Peter asked with a smile that quickly turned into a frown. “I can’t…”
“Hey, maybe only big brothers have it to find their baby brothers,” Tobey quickly gave a reassuring ruffle to Peter 1’s messy hair. “Let’s go find him, okay?”
Little Peter nodded as they both began their search in the not so familiar apartment of Peter 3’s, looking for their loopy brother.
They looked everywhere, calling Peters name in the apartment. The apartment wasn’t even big to begin with, but they made sure to search every inch, including scaling the building to make sure he didn’t run off. But as they kept looking in the cupboards and even the bathtub, there was no sign of Peter 3.
The peters tried not to invade so much into peters apartment for the sake of privacy, but the time they finished searching, they were probably sure they figured out his whole life story already.
30 minutes later, tension began to rise.
“You should have sent me to the store instead!” A frustrated Peter 1 groaned, opening the same cabinet he just checked a minute ago.
Peter 2 sighed tiredly, not wanting to argue. “You know there’s a reason I didn’t! Did you think the pharmacist was going to believe that you’re actually 18?”
”What are you saying?”
”You have a baby face, Pete! You wouldn’t have been able to get Peter 3’s medicine!” Tobey shook his head as they continued to scour the hallway for the 100th time. “I told you he was going to be a hassle swinging him home..”
“Well! You still wouldn’t have been there regardless if me and him took a taxi or not!”
Peter 2 gently walked over to his upset brother and looked at him with knowing eyes. “Yeah, but maybe you wouldn’t have fallen asleep. Swinging Peter 3 and taking care of him took most of your energy, bud.”
Peter 1 frowned.
“But- it’s okay Pete. I probably would have done the same thing..okay no I would have taken a taxi but that’s all done now, okay?” Peter 2 felt small arms wrap around him.
“There I go, screwing up again,” The smallest spider tried to make it sound humorous, but it came out defeatedly. “What if he’s out there getting hurt? I don’t want him to get hurt-
“He won’t; I know he’s still here.” The oldest Peter just rubbed the peter 1’s back. “Let’s keep looking, okay-
HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEH
“What the hell?” Both Peters turned in the hallway to the closet. “Did you hear that?”
Peter 2 nodded as he listened to the faint giggling was behind the door. “I think I know the source of those maniac giggles."
Didn't we check here already? Peter 1 immediately opened the closet door, after turning on the light and analyzing the closet again, as everything seemed to be the same.
“I swore we checked in hear like 20 minutes ago Peter-
Drip. Drop.
The 2 Peters watched as blood dripped to the ground. When they looked up-
“BOO!”
“AHHHHHHHHH WHAT THE!!!??” Peter 1 jumped into Peter 2’s arms, their screaming immediately ceasing after seeing Peter 3 clinging to the ceiling laughing.
"You guys fell for it! Hahahahahaha!!!”
"Peter! Thank God," Peter 2 sighed while he took in the bloody mess. "Oh bud, what happened to your gauze?”
"He must have lost it cause I changed it earlier,” Peter 1 grumbled, his narrowed eyes still watching as Andrew Peter watched with amused eyes. Peter 2 gently set Peter 1 as they took in the situation. “Are you okay though..Peter? Why did you hide from me?”
“Cause…I wanted to. Heh, surprise!” A string of bloody drool splashed onto the ground, the peters grimacing. “Whoopsie, don’t step into the bloody pool!”
“Let’s get down and clean you up Peter, okay? You know you’re not supposed to be upside down while your mouth is bleeding, right?”
Peter 3 made a questioning noise.
”Nope bud, pressure will irritate your mouth. Lets get down so you don’t irritate your gums, okay?” Peter 2 carefully tried prying his younger brother off the ceiling, but struggled as he found Andrew Peter resisting.
”Pete, aren’t you gonna come down?” Peter 1 asked in confusion.
"Mmmh…no. No no no.” Peter 3 immediately crawled out of the closet and continued crawling along the ceiling, blood dripping down the hallway as he was smiling. "Gotta catch me first!”
"Peter!"
Peter 3 was a giggling mess, crawling faster as Peter 1 and 2 ran after him (or more so, one crawled after him on ceiling while one stayed on the ground)
When Peter started feeling his knees pop, he mentally berated himself after not thinking to just use their webs!
Im dumb. He shook his head as he immediately aimed and webbed up Peter 3 in a somewhat tight cocoon. He chuckled when Peter 1 facepalmed for not doing the same thing and simply helped the giggling Peter off the ceiling.
"Alright, Pete. Lets go lie down, okay?” Peter 1 handed him the precious cargo as he carried him bridal style to the couch. “Wowie, I’ve never felt my age till now. You’re a fast crawler, you know that?”
“You got me!” The troublesome spider simply snuggled into the cocoon. “That means you’re fast, Pete twoooooo.”
Peter 1 couldn’t contain his own giggle. Alright, he couldn’t be mad at his older brother anymore, as long as he was safe, everything was fine. “Okay, I'm gonna go clean up the blood before it looks like a murder mystery in here."
“Thank you, Petey. I appreciate that and I’m pretty sure Peter 3’s floor will appreciate that as well,” Peter 2 sat on the couch as he looked around at the tuned over furniture from the search earlier and blood puddles. “Hey, if you can bud, can you also put the rest of the groceries away? I didn’t get a chance to.”
“Sure! Do you want me to get dinner started too?”
“Please,” As Peter 1 started to clean up the apartment, Tobey Peter grabbed a nearby remote and turned it to a random channel to ease the quiet silence. As he began to think about everything that just happened, he felt his younger brother wiggle and squirm slightly in his arms. As he looked down, he couldn’t help the warmth that filled his heart.
“Cozy, I hope? I didn’t want to tie you too tight. How are you feeling?”
"I feel snuggly. Like wrapped lettuce. Or a burrito!" Andrew Peter let out a sigh as he curled closer to his older brother. “Feels good cause no one hugs me anymore.”
Peter 2 stiffened. “W-what?”
“I know you guys do. Cause your my brothers and I love you, okay?” Peter 3’s voice began to shake. “But…nobody else does. Only…only Aunt May. Cause I don’t have anybody else at home.”
“Pete…”
”Gwen usta hold me, and- and I miss that. I miss her.” Peter 2 watched helplessly as Andrew Peter tried to fight back tears. “I miss her so much.”
“Pete…”
“And- and when I’m not at work I’m just…sitting in my room. Alone. That’s what I feel all the time when I’m at home. Shouldn’t my home feel warm? Why does it feel so cold when you guys aren’t here? Don’t go, please!” Peter 3 tucked his head into Peter 2’s chest as he sobbed.
Peter 2 tightened his hold around the bundle and rocked back and forth slowly, hearing the heartbreaking sobs of a man who never has time for himself…
Like him when he was at his age…and sometimes now…
Tobey mumbled reassurances against Andrew’s fluffy head, trying to give him the warmth and care that his brother needed right now. They stayed like that for a couple minutes before they both heard pattering footsteps coming towards them.
They looked up to see Peter 1, his cheeks wet with tears and a little runny nose, a small smile present on his face that was threatening quiver. Peter 1 bent on his knees and held gauze supplies, motioning Peter 2 to adjust 3 so he can fix him up. As much as Peter 2 wanted to stop One and just comfort him from the similar grief, he just watched.
“Can…can I flush out your gums really quick?” A small hiccup was the answer and with gentle care, Peter 1 continued with the procedure. “You know we’ll never leave you, right? Please get that clear Pete. We will always be here for you.”
Peter 2 watched with awe as the youngest Peter filled the syringe with saltwater and aimed it gently into Peter 3’s wisdom teeth wounds. Like he's done this before. “Alright, it might hurt but you gotta swish and spit it into this cup, okay?”
Peter 3 did as he was told, spitting the bloody liquid into a cup as he kept whimpering. “It h-hurts…”
”Only for a little bit, it’s okay,” Peter 1 offered a tiny smile he rubbed his older brothers cheeks gently. “But eventually, it goes away.”
Peter brought another cup with a spoon onto the table. “I was gonna give you an ice pack, but I think this should be replace ice packs honestly.”
Peter 3 gasped. “Ice cream!” He wiggled from his cocoon as his arms shot out free, messily grabbing the cup and eating the treat, his sore gums practically cheering at the coldness. Before he took another bite, he took a good long look at Peter 1 before setting his treat down and pulling him into a brother hug with Peter 2. “I don’t deserve you guys. I’m sorry I’m..too much work…”
“Peter, we came here because we want to make sure everything went well and we wouldn’t let you be alone to take care of yourself. You deserve care, okay? You’ve always been there for me, and for little Pete. We love you. Remember we said that at the scaffold? There’s no trouble at all for us.”
“I love you guys so much.” The emotional brother sobbed.
Peter 2 gently wiped the stray tears that were still present on both of his little brother’s cheeks as he said he loved them too. “Petey, you wanna sit down? I can get dinner ready okay? I really think you need a break, especially since you've been on your feet all day. What do you want for dinner?”
“Oh..okay,” Peter One sniffed, instinctively curling next to Peter 3 on the couch. “I opened a frozen pizza box if that’s okay with you…”
“Yeah bud, that’s more than okay.” Peter two watched with awe as the two youngest got comfortable on the couch together, Tobey Peter already hearing laughter as he began to prepare dinner.
***
After dinner was prepared and eaten(who doesn’t love pizza, and for Andrew Pete, sadly just had ice cream to eat) the brothers took time to rest on their couch, Peter two occasionally leaving the room to give Peter 3 some privacy every time he had to flush out his gums or get his gauzed changed (Peter 1 ultimately gave himself the job with the two older brothers thought was sincerely sweet) Tobey Peter used that time to subtly clean up Andrew’s apartment.
Eventually, the younger brothers were quick to take a nap, Tobey quietly humming as he cleaned up the kitchen and the living room as the sounds of tiny snores filled the room. He then a heard a yawn and turned to watch as Peter 3 sleepily blinked his eyes open.
“Since when did I leave my guests to do the housework around here? I forbid you to touch that broom.” He looked around and touched his head, groaning. “Ugh, I felt like I was hit in the head twice with a brick.”
The anesthesia wore off, finally heh. “Welcome back, Pete.” Peter two smiled as he brought some water over and some advil. “How you feelin? Well, other than your head.” He grimaced as he saw the yellow bruises on Peter Three’s face, still a bit chubby and sore.
Peter 3 sighed at his older brother’s grimace. “Eh, I probably had prettier and better days. Guess I needed that much anesthesia, huh?” His eyes were suddenly widened and he put his head down.
“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” Peter 2 was trying to rush over there but Peter 3 but a hand up to prevent him to come closer.
“Uh Uh. Please answer my 2 questions honestly before you proceed to come closer. First, why am I wearing different clothes and on a weird scale how bad was I?”
Peter 2 suddenly found his shoes interesting. “Uhh…”
”Peter.”
“Okay, well. For starters about the clothes, you had some accidents,” the oldest suddenly retracted his statement after seeing Peter 3’s horrified expression. “Not like that though! I swear, no pee.. I meant like, you bled on your clothes from the gauze and we didn’t want you to sleep like that.”
Andrew suddenly pinched the soft sweats and t-shirt, grateful he didn’t have to sleep in his own filth. He felt a bit rude for being defensive about that. “Oh, um, I’m sorry. And thank you. You guys didn’t-
“But we wanted to, and we did.” Tobey smiled. “And, about the weird scale..well.. I guess the worse thing you did was throwing a fit on the ground after watching a SpongeBob episode that you particularly didn’t like.”
“No, no, please don’t tell me it’s the one where Gary runs away-
“It’s the one where Gary runs away. You told Peter 1 and me that if we didn’t reanimate the episode and fix it to a happy plot you would cry and scream into the ground.” Peter 2 pointed to a dark red stain on the carpet. “I’m still trying to wash that off.”
Peter 3 whimpered as he prepared to tuck his head into his knees and hide there forever, only to feel something tickle his hand. When he turned on a lamp next to the couch, a tuft of brown curly hair moved slightly and gave another soft sensation to his hand.
“Oh, bud…”
”Gonna be honest, he’s really good at the comforting part. He was with you the whole way when you had your gauze changes.” Tobey Peter looked at both of his brothers fondly.
When Peter 1 shuffled from the slight ruckus, Peter 3 simply cooed as he adjusted him in his arms so that the teen would be laying more comfortably. “Shhh, it’s okay, it’s okay. Go back to sleep.”
Peter 1 only babbled sleepily. “But…I gotta give..Peter 3 more ice cream.”
“I’m okay Petey. Now sleep, you need it bubba. Thank you for today…and always being there for me.” Andrew Peter couldn’t help but sigh fondly.
He really does have the best brothers, huh?
”I hope you don’t mind, but I made a web hammock to crash on.” Andrew Peter looked above as the oldest began to climb, peeking his head as he plopped on the hammock. “Oh, wait, I forgot something!”
Tobey Peter simply shot a web to the ceiling, sliding down spidey style as he gave two unexpected forehead kisses to his baby bros. What he didn’t expect was a kiss back on his head as he was about to slide up.
“Thanks for taking care of me, man. And us, basically.” He chuckled at the baffled / blushed expression he got from Tobey Peter. “I also really appreciate paying my brother having my back with the insurance. I- look, I can pay you back-
“Pete, ahh, ahh. You don’t need to pay me” Peter 2 shut off the light as he jumped back onto his hammock clinging to he corner of the ceiling. “You don’t need to becahse-
“it’s what we do. I know, I know, but you aren’t a bank!” Peter 3 yawned as he snuggled into a blanket, ignoring the pain in his mouth. “Sure- do we go for you when we need a couple dollars for ice cream or a new Xbox game? Yes, but 1500 dollars for 4 dumb teeth-
“I gave you guys that money to buy healthy snacks.” Peter 2 raised a brow. “And we don’t have an Xbox-
“Peter let me pay-
“Plus..I didn’t exactly pay Pete. The hospital didn’t charge us. Charge you.”
”What?”
”I think you may have told Clarissa some stuff- and well…they felt really really bad. So they told me, “don’t worry about the costs. We will cover it. But please give this boy a hug!”
Peter 3 made a questioning noise.
“But..anyways. Peter , even if the hospital didn’t cover your fee, I would in a heartbeat. I don’t care if you’d try to get my bank account frozen to stop me from paying. I would make sure I do it. I have your back, okay? It’s really what we do.”
Peter 2 let out a yawn equivalent to a lion, or as so Peter 3 thought. “Okay, it’s bedtime for all of us and it’s a miracle Petey is asleep this early. Goodnight Pete, I love you.”
Peter 3 let out a hum, gripping his brothers hands as the warmth kept him feeling safe. I really do have the best brothers in the world. “I love you too. Goodnight Peter.”
There was a bit of silence.
“Wait. I told the staff I was Spider-Man, didn’t I?”
Peter 2 simply snored in response.