Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The elf started to smell different in the recent months. Now Logan didn’t care who Kurt wanted to fuck. He's even had a couple turns with the guy. What could he say? Kurt was a good lay. But it was the way the smell pervaded his nostrils that infuriated him with teasing familiarity. It was slowly driving Logan insane with who the fuck Kurt was starting to smell like. 

Logan had been drinking late one night when he’d tried to kiss Kurt. Not his best seduction method but it worked. Usually. At the time it was just them, shooting the shit and laughing at something Scott did earlier that day. There was a moment of quiet between them before Logan had leaned in to start some fun. Preferably, that fun would continue into his bedroom and late into the night. Kurt pushed him away with a finger against his lips and a smile.

“I’m sorry, but I’m seeing someone.” said Kurt, firm in tone as he pushed Logan back.

“Someone I know?” asked Logan as he sniffed that familiar smell that lingers on Kurt’s skin. It smelled chemically, close to rubbing alcohol, and a hint of cheap lavender shampoo. Kurt only smirked at that question.

“Perhaps,” said Kurt, before he disappeared with a single bamf. The cheap shampoo with sulfur invaded his nostrils and suddenly he’s at the end of a battle with a waft of that smell coming off brown curls. The smell was from the man in the webbed suit, torn in places, forcing Logan to inhale that scent. Logan’s eyes widened as he steadied himself from his drunk revelation.

He’s fucking Spider-Man?! Logan shouted in his head and he isn’t sure whether to laugh or make sure Kurt isn’t suffering from brain damage. If someone told Logan that Spider-Man was shacking up with The Human Torch, Daredevil, or hell, even Deadpool, it wouldn’t have surprised him. He’d probably congratulate the poor bastard. But Kurt? That was an eyebrow raiser. He’d hoped he had better taste than that. Standards, at least. Nothing against the webhead or anything, but it was Spider-man. Kurt could’ve done so much better. 

He wondered briefly if Spider-Man was the reason Kurt’s been running off to New York City any chance he got recently. Probably.

***

There aren’t many reasons Logan comes to New York City outside of missions or class trips. It was too loud, the people were fucking annoying, and it smelled like piss and shit everywhere. So, no, not much of any reason to go into the shit hole city. The trip is a mission – technically speaking, a personal mission --but a mission nonetheless. Logan just wanted to ruff up Spider-Man a little; try and get an idea of why on Earth Kurt would jump in bed with him. Nothing too serious.

 It was one thing to finally confirm what everyone already knew about Spider-Man – it’s another to find out that Kurt was the one Spider-Man was shacking up with. Now it was time to find out the why.

Logan steps outside of the train station and into the late spring air of New York City at night. He takes a deep breath of polluted air and starts to track Spider-Man. He pulls up the @Spideysightings Twitter page, which makes tracking a lot easier with reposting pictures every couple of minutes. Last sighting was just outside of Queens. 

In his civilian outfit, Logan blends in well with the city folks. Their apathy to his presence makes it easy for him to waltz past the cooing night walkers, staggering drunks, hollering party goers, late night workers returning home, and lost tourists that crowd the streets. However, the crowds muddle the scent and he can’t seem to locate the spider farther than in a general direction .

Until he smells sulfur and brimstone nearby.

“Fuck,” Logan thinks aloud as he follows the smell to the top of a roof top. And sure enough, a puff of black smoke wafts in the air before being broken by the iconic red and blue suit of Spider-Man.

With no other choice, Logan pursues. He doesn’t care about the shouts of pushed aside pedestrians. He wasn’t sure if he should even bother. All Logan wanted was to mess with Spider-Man a little. Kurt complicated that. He signed up for quips and maybe a little bit of good old fashioned friendly brawl. Not a pissed off Kurt. He’s the only one who knows where to get the good cigars. Kurt refuses to tell him on account of being able to bribe him. Asshole. So no, he almost gives up. 

Then again, this might be his only chance to see what was so special about Spider-Man. What was it about him that made Kurt go to him? If he could observe them a bit. Plus, when was he one to give up so easily?

So, driven by curiosity and pride, Logan pursues. 

As he follows them, he can’t help but marvel at the flips and tricks they do. Kurt’s form is far more performative, with graceful back flips, somersaulting from rooftop to rooftop. It really shows off his circus training. It’s a show only for Spider-Man. And a passerby or two.

Spider-Man, an acrobat of sorts, tries to match Kurt by running along the rooftops, back flipping from one roof top to the next. But he performs more like an Olympic gymnast than a circus trapeze artist. It was almost as if Spider-Man was trying to perform for Kurt as well. 

They finally stop on one rooftop, one high enough that they disappear from sight. Logan goes into the alleyway.

 Even as he carefully climbs up the rusted escape ladder, Logan can hear whispered voices. There is a shout of laughter that sounds like Kurt. As Logan reaches the top and peeks over the half wall of the rooftop. The first thing he notices is Kurt in Spider-Man’s arms. The elf has his arms wrapped around the web head’s shoulders, his legs dangle and his tail swings in the air. Kurt’s laughing and telling Spider-Man to stop but he doesn’t. He wasn’t one for listening, the bastard.

When Logan's eyes adjust to the darkness, he notices that Spider-Man is unmasked, making this much more interesting. The Spider spins Kurt around in his arms and is half singing, half talking lyrics to a song Logan hasn’t heard in years. Van Morrison, maybe?

 Logan tries to catch facial features from Spider-Man. But all he gets are a square jaw, pointy nose, and a bit of a forehead. It’s not enough for him to put a face together because the damn spider won’t stop moving.

Logan can see how saccharine Kurt’s smile is despite him telling Spider-Man he’s an awful singer. How his hands playfully finger the brown curls that smell like sweat and musky lavender. How deeply Kurt looks into webhead’s eyes with such love and affection, like the man holding him is the only thing in the world that matters.

It almost makes Logan want to gag.

When Spider-Man wobbles and stumbles before falling on his ass. Logan dips back out of their sight and listens to their concerns turn to laughter. When the laughter quiets down, there is a simple kiss heard from them.

“So good news! I’m almost all saved up for a round trip upstate.” Spider-Man says. 

“ Ach, Peter, I don't mind coming here to see you.”

Peter.

Peter?

Spider-Man’s real name is Peter? Who the hell names a kid Peter in this day and age?

Well– Colossus' name is Peter. But that just proves his point more, the old Fuck. 

“I know but I really want to! It’s not fair you always come see me,” Spider-Man complains as Kurt hums. He can almost see how lovesick Kurt must look and Logan can’t help but roll his eyes. “It’d be so much easier if I could just be invited back to the X-Academy. I’ve tried emailing Wolverine but he never responds to my proposals!”

Because Logan made sure all of Spider-Man’s emails went to his junk mail. He ain’t letting Spider-Man try to teach chemistry to the kids ever again. It took them weeks to scrape off the results of that accident off lab walls. Logan knew he should’ve just given Spider-Man the Professor’s email in the first place. He puts up with everyone’s bullshit. 

“It’s because he doesn’t read them.”

“Argh, I fucking knew it!”

Logan peeks again and sees the tops of Kurt and Spider-Man’s heads as Kurt pets the mess of brown hair. 

“I don’t mind the trip. I’d cross farther distances just to spend one hour with you.” Kurt says as he strokes Spider-Man’s – now Peter- brown hair. This time, Logan actually gags. Kurt always was a fucking romantic.

 Kurt laughs at what must be the spider’s expression. The spider rolls onto his back, raises his hands to his face and groans into them. When Peter’s hands fall away, Kurt climbs on top of him and kisses him. It lingers and the spider’s hands rise to rub Kurt’s back.

“NO! Fuck no! I can only take so much of this.” Logan shouts as he jumps over the edge and lands on the rooftop. The two men scramble away from each other and Logan. He glances at the young unmasked hero. Finally getting a good look at the young handsome twunk of a man that calls himself Spider-Man.

 Yeah, he looked like one of Kurt’s types. 

“Logan?! Did you follow me here?!” Kurt asked, teeth barred as he stood up to Logan. Oh right, Kurt. 

“Not intentionally.” Logan shrugs as he pulls out a cigar, chomping down at the tip while looking at Peter. Spitting out the bitten part at Peter’s feet, yet the spider’s anger never subsides. “Was following yer little boytoy here. Wanted to... talk .”

“Mein Gott, about what? What could you possibly want to talk to him about? It had better be X-Men related!” Kurt yelled.

“I was just here to talk.” Logan repeated and the spider got between them. Logan could feel that rage building behind those brown eyes. That made him raise an eyebrow. The anger that simmers inside such a nerdy frame could rival the Hulk. Is this a glimpse of the infamous quiet Spider-Man? Would he have to fight a Spider-Man who won’t hold back? That might be fun.

“About how you tried to kiss him? Yeah! Don’t think he didn’t tell me about that!” yells Peter as he pushes Kurt away from Logan, as if he was the danger. Not the man about to pounce like a mountain lion at a wounded deer. In this case, a deer who could fight back.

Logan takes a moment to eye this Peter, the maskless Spider-Man. Despite his nerdy appearance, he knew what the spider was capable of. He’d seen that man tear through metal like it was tissue paper with nothing but his sticky bare hands. 

There had been whispers in the superhero community that Spider-Man even had contingency plans for everyone, even the Hulk. That he researches how to take down anyone if they ever went bad. According to the rumors, he had one for Wolverine.

Maybe if they fought tonight while Spider-Man was nice and angry, he could get an idea of what such a plan might entail. He flexes his hands. That'd be fun. 

Logan lit the cigar and flicks the match near Peter’s feet. Who doesn’t move but looks ready to pounce at any moment. Logan turns his attention to Kurt, he holds Peter’s arm and whispers something to him. Peter sighs and steps aside as Kurt clenches his fists and walks to Logan. They’re eye to eye when Logan is pushed back by a single large finger.

“If you’re here to fight him to ‘see if he’s worthy’ or whatever made-up excuse you have. Stop it. You didn’t do this with anyone else, so don’t start with him.” Kurt says with grit in his words.

Logan looks back at the spider then Kurt then the spider again. Kurt was really trying to pick a fight. For Spider-Man? 

Kurt is serious about him.

“You really like this guy?” Logan asks Kurt with some apprehension. Kurt glares back at him as if he’s about ready to punch him.

“Ja. I do.”

“Really?” Logan can’t help a single laugh that comes out of him. “Elf, buddy, you can do so much better. You’ve dated people better than him.”

“I’m right here!” Peter yells and Logan smirks at him.

“That’s why I said it, bub”

“James!” Kurt yells and gets another push back for it. Wow, he got his first name. Kurt wouldn’t use it unless he’s really pissed. 

When Kurt loved someone, he put everything into it, even if it was a simple fling. Kurt loved so much and so hard that it worried Logan sometimes. Because Kurt’s heart also breaks like fine china. He’s willing to sacrifice everything if it meant the people he loved were safe. So if Kurt was this willing to stand up to him and protect Spider-Man from him, that meant he really cared for the guy.

It almost impressed Logan how dedicated Kurt could be for the one he loved. With a thrown back head and a loud grunt, Logan gives up.

“Fine, I’ll back off,” Logan says as Peter walks closer to Kurt. “But there’s one thing I gotta know.”

“What?” Peter asks as he puts his hand on Kurt’s hip. 

Logan sits back and finally takes a real good look at the two of them. Really sees how odd they are together. Kurt’s more demonic appearance against what looked like a man who stepped out of a Rockwell painting in a Spider-Man suit. Yet there they stood, ready to take Logan on if it meant they could keep their hands on each other.

In all honesty-he’s seen weirder couples in his life.

Logan sits on the edge of the half-wall and takes a big inhale from his cigar. 

“How the fuck did you two get together?”

Chapter Text

Now, Peter is the smartest guy Flash has ever met. But for whatever reason the guy could not remember to change his address when shopping online. So, here he was about to knock on the door and carrying some package –which was probably full of chemistry supplies or camera tech or whatever it was that Peter was up to that week.

The door creaked open and Flash sighed. How Peter ever made it past 25, he'll never know.

“Yo Parker! Learn to close th-”

THUD

Just as Flash opens the door, he is hit with sulfur and smoke as Peter is scrambling to pull his hoodie down. Peter doesn’t smoke, but if he’s picked up the habit then Flash better step in and get him a new supplier. 

“The fuck?!” Peter yells. He’s red in the face.Flash rolls his eyes. 

“Close your stupid door,” Flash says as he enters the apartment to toss the package to Peter. Like always he catches it perfectly in his hands and is grumbling to himself. Something about his landlord. 

“Yeah! Why dontcha come on in!” says Peter with sarcasm woven into each word. “Not like I have company or anything,”

“Company?” says Flash as he scans the room before looking into the hallway of Peter’s apartment and sees yellow eyes staring at him.

“HOLY SHIT!” Flash screams as he stumbles back, not looking away from the yellow eyes that disappear in a single puff of smoke.

Flash catches himself on the table as Peter jumps over the couch and grabs Flash by the collar of his shirt.

“You need to go.”

“That-that-that- What was that!?!?” Flash's voice shakes as he speaks. A demon or something, from hell, and it was in Peter’s apartment! But Peter glares at Flash like he’s the offending spirit.

“I said you need to leave.” Peter’s voice is almost a growl at him as he drags him up to his feet with ease. Sometimes Flash really forgets how strong Peter is. Because no matter how much Flash tries to keep his feet planted on the ground, he’s still dragged away by Peter. 

“Who-Are you like being haunted? Pete! What’s going on?” Flash yells and Peter stops. He turns to glare at Flash but there’s a creak of the floor boards and Flash looks to see a blue demon with pointed ears, wearing some goofy science t-shirt and messy blue hair. 

Flash meets the yellow eyes of the demon, who looks terrified of him. Him, a good Christian boy. Okay, he goes to church for Easter and Christmas only, but he still goes to church!

There’s awkward silence that settles between the three of them. Flash doesn't move, unsure of what to say. Flash stares at the demon and at Peter. It's the first time since he opened the door he noticed some things. That Peter has some red hickeys on his neck. That the demon is wearing one of Peter’s shirts. That the demon was a man.

Oh.

Oh no.

“Okay before you kick me out. Peter, listen I'm extra sorry about calling you fruity in high school. I was just ignorant and-and- You know me! You know I'm not like that anymore! I just donated like $100 to the Trevor Project!” Flash rambles as Peter stares at him, the most dumbfounded Flash had ever seen him.

“What are you talking about?” Peter asks in an exasperation.

“I uh, I mean...Your uh...uh..” Any words he could think of die as Peter finally lets him go and rushes to the demon. They whisper to each other in low tones while Flash can only stand there and gawk. Peter rubs the demon’s shoulders as the demon speaks to Peter. He isn’t able to understand what either of them are talking about but judging from the glances Flash is getting. It seems he’s the topic. Peter then closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. 

“You sure?” Peter asks.

“You said he doesn’t hate mutants.” The other man says, his voice European, German maybe? He couldn’t tell.

A mutant. Peter is dating a mutant. Somehow, Peter dating a demon-looking mutant was easier to digest than an actual demon. 

The mutant walks up to him and extends his hand to Flash, who is amazed at the two fingers and thumb of the blue hand. The hand is steady as he speaks.

“Hello, I’m Kurt Wagner. I know my appearance is frightening but I assure you. I’m perfectly friendly. I’m Peter’s -” He looks to Peter for a second then back to Flash with an unsure smile. “Friend?” 

Flash glances at Peter who is just observing. So he takes Kurt's hand to shake it.

“Hi-Hi Kurt,” Flash says as he gives him a firm shake. He’s shaking hands with a mutant that looks like a demon. Who might actually be Peter’s boyfriend.

Wait until Betty hears about this.

“I’m Eugene Thompson. I-I–uh. I’m Pete’s friend from college, high school really but we didn’t become friends till after. Anyway! Most people call me Flash. You can call me that too, if you want!” He’s been shaking and holding Kurt’s hand a little too long and smiling a little too much. But the last thing he wants is for Peter to think he’s not supportive. He is, he’s very shocked but he’s supportive.

Flash lets go of Kurt’s hand before Peter pulls Flash by the collar of his jacket.

“Okay great, you’re an ally. Love the support, Flash, but you need to leave. I’d really like to spend some time with my boyfriend without any more interruptions.” says Peter as he pushes him out of his apartment. “And thanks for the delivery.”

“I’m not your personal delivery boy!” Flash says as loud as he can without yelling. Peter waves him off and just before the door closes, he sees Kurt stare at Peter with his mouth hung open and blue face blushing violet.

There are voices behind the door and Flash can’t stop himself from pressing an ear to the door. Their voices are muffled but he can hear boyfriend? Followed by a single  yeah. It’s quiet for a moment before there is more muffled noise and the distinct sound of kissing and some light moaning.

That was Flash’s cue to leave. His face flushed at the resulting embarrassment. Flash’s mind swirled with all this new information about his oldest friend. Peter was definitely bi.  Or gay? Would it be rude to ask? And dating a mutant that would make anyone do a double take?

He had to admit that Peter was a braver guy than he thought.

When he exits the apartment building, Flash looks up to see Peter closing the curtains of his apartment. Flash could only shake his head but smile and begin his trip home. As he walked he started to wonder about the biggest question he had about Peter. How the ever loving hell did he bag a guy like Kurt?

Chapter Text

Rogue didn’t like to pry or needle in Kurt’s love life too much. She tolerated a lot. What she didn’t like, though, was Kurt being so secretive about it. Everyone at the academy knew that Kurt was seeing someone. No one knew who it was. Top of the line gossip right there. Originally they thought it was a girl from the nearby town, because Kurt was the kind of guy who enjoyed convenience. Then Logan came back from an impromptu trip to the Big City with only one comment about Kurt’s mystery lover.

“He’s just some guy from Queens.”

When that little tidbit got out. The Man from Queens became the subject of speculation. Who was he? What was so special about him that Kurt would try to bamf off so far away just to see him? Was he a mutant? How cute was he? 

A smaller scale rumor began to spread that Kurt’s lover was actually Spider-Man. But that was only because Kurt was seen with the wall crawler a couple times in the Daily Bugle. That rumor made Rogue laugh at how ridiculous it was. With how many times Kurt had run off to the big city, he was bound to team up with Spider-Man at least a few times. Didn’t mean they were banging headboards as well. Besides, Rogue had it on good authority that Spider-Man was from Brooklyn. 

When Rogue mentioned the ridiculous rumor to Logan, he spat out his beer and laughed so hard he almost fell off his chair. A rumor so ridiculous that it made Logan laugh. So she knew it wasn’t true.

But Rogue was asking the most important question of all.

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me about your lover boy from Queens?” She asks as Kurt is gathering supplies from the kitchen, namely marshmallows and graham crackers. All afternoon Kurt had been collecting firewood, had borrowed a telescope from Jean Grey, and Rogue had even seen him setting up a spare mattress with sheets and a comforter before bamfing off into the forest.

“You never asked. Besides, you’re going to see him very soon.” Kurt says before a large bamf and Kurt is gone. Rogue waited in the kitchen, staring at the sticks he forgot. The second Kurt came back she grabbed the sticks and held them away from him.

“Please Anna,I promise I’ll explain later but you got to wait till tomorrow.” Kurt assures her but she rolls her eyes.

“Why’s he a secret to begin with? There somethin’ we should be knowin’?” Rogue demands and it’s Kurt’s turn with the eye rolling.

“I’ll explain later. I promise. But I wish for tonight to be perfect,” Kurt says with the anxious energy of a possum trying to cross the road in the middle of the night. He pulls the sticks out of her hand and she can’t believe him. “and I want it to be private.”

BAMF

Rogue stood there with a face full of sulfur and anger stirring within. If Kurt didn’t want her to be suspicious, then he was doing a pretty shitty job of not making her suspicious.

***

It was a beautiful night for a meteor shower as Remy and her sat on the rooftop of the academy. The back yard was full of students, cuddling couples, and even Logan looking through the spare telescope at the night sky. When the last meteor fell, disappointment could be heard from the grounds below and Remy laughed his deep throaty laugh.Rogue stirs uncomfortably for a moment. The warm summer air makes her sweat in her full body suit. But without it, she wouldn’t be cuddling Remy now.

“Beautiful show, wasn’t it, chère?” Remy asks and Rogue can only hum. Her eyes now watch the single light that is far off in the forest. Smoke billows out of the trees, a sign that Kurt is right there with his Queens boyfriend.

“Hun? Everything okay?” Remy asks and it causes her to stir.

“I’m gonna take a peek at Kurt’s lover boy.” Rogue declares before Remy grabs her arm.

“Or, now hear me out, leave the lovebirds alone,” Remy smiles and pulls her into an embrace but not kissing her. “And spend some time with me?”

Rogue rolls her eyes with a smile as she pushes him back “Later hun, I’m just gonna take a peek.”

“That’s a terribl’ idea, chère.” Remy calls after her as she flies up. 

“It’ll be a quick peek.” Rogue promises with a kiss to her finger tips, a tilt of her hand and blows it to him. He raised his hand to catch the imaginary kiss.

“Alright, but don’t be surprised if you get caught.” Remy calls after her. She flew down to the forest floor and zoomed through the path to the clearing. Jean and Scott claimed they made the clearing for outside classes during the spring and summer. Really it was a private meadow that got invaded by Rogue and Remy and a few other couples for cuddling and … more than cuddling. 

What made Rogue giddy a little is how Jean and Scott clearly had to scramble to justify the clearing’s existence. But she couldn’t complain since it was a nice picnic spot for her and Remy. And now Kurt and his lover boy from Queens.

She plants her feet on the ground and far enough away that she wouldn’t be noticed but close enough to see into the clearing. The dense trees carefully keep her camouflaged. The fire is burning low but is bright enough to show Rogue the scene before her. A man is cuddling Kurt while he wraps the large comforter around them. The back of Kurt’s head is to her and the man is sitting up on his side, wearing a gray and very tight shirt.

Rogue takes a good look at the man from Queens, he’s handsome, a beautiful pair of brown eyes and a lopsided smile that could make a school girl’s heart skip a beat. A nice square jaw that compliments a pointed nose. The man laughs and blushes at something Kurt says and Rogue can’t help but feel some jealousy at Kurt.

“This has got to be one of the most romantic nights of my life.” The man from Queens says, his voice tickling a memory in her mind.

For a moment, Rogue remembers leaning in for a kiss when Spider-Man told her to follow her heart. A kiss she never got.

Remy comes to mind so Rogue pushes the memory away. Then wonders why the man reminds her of Spider-Man. That would be something to investigate later.

“I’m just happy you’re finally here.” Kurt coos at the man. They’re silent as Kurt knuckles drag down the side of the man’s face. Even with the back of his head to her. She can just picture the doe-eyed expression like a groom seeing his bride in her wedding dress.

“Yeah, this was definitely worth the 4 hours by bus. Even if I had to  sit next to a man who smelled like onions.” The man says and pushes Kurt back onto the mattress. They kiss for a moment before the man pulls back and looks around at the surroundings. The fire, the telescope now pointed down, the lights that are strung around them, music playing some old jazz singer off a bluetooth speaker.

“Seriously Kurt, this is a lot, I mean don’t get me wrong, this has been amazing. You’re amazing. But-.” He says, the man’s face looking around and Rogue can’t tell if he’s impressed, overwhelmed, or scared. If there was a word for such an expression she certainly didn’t know it. “I can’t top any of this”

“I’m not asking you to,” Kurt says while guiding the man to look at him by the chin. “You already do so much for everyone in your life. I know life hasn’t been kind to either of us, but I’m glad I get to plan and share moments like this with you. Especially if it makes you happy”

“I-I-I um...thanks?” The man stammers and whispers something Rogue can’t hear but Kurt laughs. The man’s face becomes redder than a stop sign. He buries his face into Kurt’s shoulder. Kurt held the man and seemed to whisper sweet nothings into his ear.

Rogue is simply gobsmacked at the display. She knew Kurt was a romantic, always going above and beyond for someone he was seeing. Because if her brother was anything, it was an overachiever in love. But the man in his arms was acting like he’d never even been on a date fancier than some local diner in a small town.

The man looks back at Kurt and his eyes are wet with unshed tears. He smiles gently at Kurt while he strokes the man’s face. On the other hand, Kurt looks at him like the man personally hung the stars above him then came back down just to be with him.

“I do this because I love you, Peter.” Kurt says. The man from Queens is redder than before. The man – Peter- cups Kurt’s face and sighs lovingly before taking him in for a kiss that is far too passionate to be chaste. 

She’d been watching them longer than a quick peek.

Rogue ducks behind the large maple tree. Heat from embarrassment rose in her faster than heat off the pavement in the middle of July. Rogue takes a step but there’s a loud snap beneath her foot and her body cringes inward.

“What was that?” asks Peter.

Rogue stills.

“Hopefully an animal,” says Kurt.

Rouge levitates herself off the ground carefully and slowly moves along the trees.

BAMF

Kurt stands in a large hoodie and shorts while glaring more daggers than probably deserved.

“I can explain!” She says before Kurt grabs her arm and with a single BAMF they’re in her room.

Kurt starts swearing in German, some Rogue knows and others that are new to her. She sat on her bed as humiliation continued to rise in her, heating her up worse than the warm summer air and making the body suit even worse to sit in. Yet a voice in the back of her mind that sounded a little bit too much like Remy reminded her. You were the one who wanted to peek.

“I just wanted one night without an interruption! First Logan, Now you! You couldn’t wait until tomorrow morning?”

Rogue stopped listening after Logan’s name was mentioned. That was why he went to the big apple a while ago? To spy on Kurt and the man named Peter?

“Wait, back up a sec hon. What’s that about Logan interruptin’ you guys?”

Kurt only rolls his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“That’s not important,” Kurt says, glaring at her that heats up the shame and suddenly Rogue is boiling under her suit. “I just asked for some privacy with Peter. That’s all we ask.”

“Well then why go to the clearing in the first place?”

“Kitty and Jean recommended it to me.” says Kurt with another rolling of his eyes. 

It clicks that it would explain why Jean kept people away from the clearing. How Kitty was seen helping Kurt bring in supplies. So Kurt was willing to tell them but not her? Now she was pissed.

“Well then why didn’t you tell me he was coming up?”

“You wanna know why? Because he was only supposed to be up here for the meteor shower but saved up enough for an extra day because he wanted to meet you!” Kurt shouted as before letting out a long frustrated sigh before sitting down on the bed. “He wanted it to be a surprise!”

Rogue’s stomach dropped and she played with the inside of her gloves. Guilt stabbing her right in the chest. A surprise, just for her? 

“Well what did you expect? You were being so shady about him that I thought that the guy was someone you shouldn’t be seein’” She fidgeted with the insides of her gloves. Rogue was still a little mad but thought it best to drop it for now. “. But…he seems real nice.”

Silence falls between them as Rogue looks for the right thing to say.

“That lover boy of yours is pretty cute. Ya sure know how to pick ‘em,” says Rogue, hoping that complimenting Peter would ease Kurt a little. Kurt stares at her for a moment, like he couldn’t understand what she had said. Then he chuckles a little before looking out at the forest.

“He’s amazing,” Kurt says in a relenting tone. “and really nervous to meet you.”

“Cause of my powers?” She asks, knowing that’s why most people are nervous about meeting her. Her energy sucking powers. Can’t shake a guy’s hand without her gloves on, cause without them, Peter would either be in the hospital or Kurt would need to find a new partner.

“Because he thinks you’ll disapprove of him.” Kurt says with a shaking of his head. Rogue smiles because Kurt made it sound like that was the obvious answer.

“Gotta meet him first before I disapprove.” Rogue laughs at the awkwardness and Kurt can only shake his head. But he’s smiling.

“I’m still mad at you,” Kurt informs her. “But, I really do want you to meet him at breakfast tomorrow.”

“Kurt sweetie, if he can survive breakfast with a bunch of mutants who’ve been gossipin’ about him for like a month. He’s gonna be a keeper.” Then she smiles while thinking about the blushing Peter. “but judgin’ from how cute he is. You might wanna carry a stick around.”

Kurt tilts his head in confusion.

“Cause I get the feelin’ a lot of girls ‘round here are gonna try ‘nd steal him from ya,” She winks teasingly and Kurt starts laughing at her insinuation.

“I’d fight for him.” Kurt declares and she knows he means it.

“I know you will,” Rogue says before carefully pulling Kurt in for a hug. Making sure her bare cheek doesn’t touch Kurt’s face. “I’m sorry,”

“I’m sorry, I may have overreacted.” Kurt admits as he hugs back. Also careful not to touch her face.

“Are you kiddin’? If you tried pulling some shit like that on me ‘nd Rem, I’d be pissed too.” Which was something Rogue should have considered before trying to take a peek at the love birds. But as the saying goes, live and learn.

When they released each other Kurt wiped a falling tear from his eye and smiled “He’s really nice. You’re going to love him.”

“Probably not as much as you.” Rogue corrects and Kurt can only nod.

“I’ll see you in the morning.” Kurt says before he disappears in a puff of smoke.

The door opens and in comes Remy, who enters the room as if he was expecting to see Rogue there.

“You have fun being a weird voyeur, eh?” Remy asks smugly and she smacks his arm.

“Shut up, I’m takin’ a shower.” She says with a flip of her hair. As she enters her private bathroom, Remy calls from the other side of the door.

“So, any guesses on how Kurt met this mystery man from Queens?”

“Nope”, Rogue says before finally removing herself from her bodysuit. Releasing the night’s humiliation and guilt into the cold air. “Should be one hell of a story.”

Chapter Text

The date was a bust. The guy, who’s name Mary Jane can’t remember, seemed nice enough but as enthusiastic as he was. Mary Jane felt no different from when she first shook the guy’s hand to when they said goodbye. 

As Mary Jane walked alone through a local park. Couples surround her and she remembers when she and Peter would have late night walks through Central Park. They’d talk, they’d laugh, he’d rig up a web net for them to do some light stargazing.

Memories like that never fail to make her smile and then she has to remind herself why they couldn’t stay like that. Because Peter always prioritized Spider-Man over their relationship. Because she could only stay awake so long worrying if that night was the night Peter didn’t come home. That she would wake up to be told Peter died saving the city and leaving her behind.
Maybe she just wasn’t strong enough to withstand it all. The patching up, the blood, the broken bones and miraculous healing in the morning. Scars that didn’t stay, but the blood stains on their bedsheets remained.

She’d find herself envious of Reed and Sue Richards. They weren’t as perfect as they were often portrayed in the media. Peter had often talked about how they would have their fights. But they would always apologize, talk, or work it out. Then they would go back to call each other darling like nothing happened.
 
The power couple of the whole superhero community.

Mary Jane lets out a huff of a laugh when she remembers Johnny Storm calling Peter and herself a power couple. Then they broke up for the 3rd time a month later.

She pulls out her phone and hovers her thumb over the name of Peter. A number and name she can never really bring herself to delete. Mary Jane sits down on the nearest bench, contemplating calling Peter.
They’re friends. That would never change. But after so many bad or apathetic dates with random men on a dating app. It makes her yearn for the days with Peter at her side. Where they’d watch old sci-fi movies in their dingy apartment. Where he would take her swinging through the city and it’s in the air she truly understands what it means to be alive. Where he would hold her close when he comes back from his nightly patrols as Spider-Man. Trying so hard not to cry, and when he did, it was always when he assumed she was asleep.

But then again, what’s coffee between friends? It didn’t have to be anything else. Just coffee and maybe some light flirting. Nothing would come of it. If Peter happened to fall into bed with her again. Maybe one more try wouldn’t hurt.

She purses her red lips as the pad of her thumb touches the name Peter but before she can press call.

Bamf

Something smells like sulfur and brimstone as she wrinkles her nose. She turns around and there in the smoke were two kneeling bodies. She squints in the dark and saw one man who was holding his head and another looking over the other.Then Mary Jane notices the man’s pointed blue ears and she blinks. As if the image would change and it would just be a regular man. But every blink reveals something she didn’t notice before. Blue skin, pointed ears, yellow eyes focusing on the other person, and a tail.

Maybe it was because Mary Jane has dated a superhero on and off for 5 years, but she can’t seem to find any reason to be really shocked or surprised by the presence of a blue demon man with a tail.

She is shocked by the familiar voice of the man holding his head and looking at the blood.

“Are you okay?” The man who sounds a lot like Peter asks the other man in his arms.

“You’re bleeding!” The blue man yells with an incredulous stare. “They hit you with a brick  and...Mein Gott, you’re bleeding!”

“I’ve been hit with worse.” The other man soothes and Mary Jane stands to confirm her suspicion.

“Peter?” She calls and the man turns around. A black and blue mark surrounds Peter’s left swollen eye as blood tinkles down the side of his face. “Is that you?”

“Mary Jane?”

Suddenly the world only comes down to him and her. Not in a good way. Their last break up had a sense of finality to it. They talked about it and they promised to remain friends. But there was that lingering feeling of uncertainty. Of how to approach each other without the threat of romantic feelings re-emerging.

She huffs out a small laugh as Peter stares at her like he’s scared of her. Like he’s afraid of what she’s going to do next. Her eyes fall to the demon at Peter’s side, who is trying to get his attention.

“You’re hurt.” Mary Jane states as she looks at Peter again and he nods numbly. Mary Jane walks up to him and instinctively reaches for him before pulling away and keeping a safe distance from them.
Peter stares at her then finally looks back at the blue man. Who hasn’t taken his eyes off Peter since they appeared from smoke.

In the distance there is shouting and she sees a small group of people in the distance heading in their direction.

“W-We need to go.” Peter says to the demon. Mary Jane's heart stutters and she can’t stop herself from saying.

“Let me help!” She says aloud and the two men look at her.

“MJ You don’t hav-”

“Please.” Mary Jane pleads and she realizes that the demon has his arm around Peter, his tail wrapped around Peter’s waist and Peter is holding him like how he used to hold her when she was worried.

“How far is the apartment?” The demon asks Peter, he sounds German. Add that to the increasing list of interesting things about this mysterious blue demon lover of Peter’s.

“About 4 miles? Why?” 

The blue man’s eyes move like he’s quick estimates then nods his head. Then those yellow eyes look at her and he makes a motion with his arm, indicating her to come to them. So she does what she always does, goes to Peter’s side.  

“What are you doing? That’s too far…you’ll strain yourself.” Peter warns the demon who looks at him sternly.

“I’ve made farther jumps with three people before, 4 miles is nothing.” The demon assured before looking at Mary Jane. 

“I’m going to teleport us back to his place. Is that okay?” He asks her and Mary Jane has no other response than a simple nod. The demon puts a hand on her arm and pulls the three of them close.

BAMF

She coughs at the sulfur and smoke but she blinks and they’re in Peter’s new apartment. New to her at least. She looks to see the blue man slump into her and Peter’s arms. Along with Peter, they help him get onto Peter’s couch to rest. Once Peter and his friend were on the couch, she turns to look for the bathroom. Peter yells to her where to find the first aid kit, where to find some towles, and to be careful of the leaky faucet that sprays water if she doesn't jiggle the handle. 

Once Mary Jane dried off the water off her black dress. She overheard quiet voices and wondered what they’re talking about. Mary Jane wants to feel jealous and maybe she is. But she reminds herself that Peter and her have dated others in between their breaks, lest she forget about Felicia.

You were just on a date, Mary Jane reminds herself as she walks back to the couch with supplies in hand. She walks in on a tender moment of Peter at the demon’s resting side. He looks at Peter like he is the morning sun. 

“I’m sorry.” Peter apologizes. The demon says nothing but smiles at him anyway but Mary Jane can practically feel the love that emanates him. “I just wanted to take you somewhere nice.” Peter’s voice wobbles. Mary Jane’s heart breaks for him.

“I know.” Kurt says. As if he expected this very thing to happen.

“Hey guys,” Mary Jane said, feeling ashamed to break up the scene, but Peter’s blood wouldn’t heal itself, not without help at least. They looked at her as if they just remembered she was there. Mary Jane smiles and held up the kit to show. She hoped that would ease the awkwardness of the situation. It did not.

                                                                                                                                            ***
As Mary Jane helped to clean Peter’s wound, she noticed his eyes were avoiding looking at her. He’d glances back at the demon. Like she’s worried about his reaction. There is a tail wrapped around Peter’s waist and she ignored it. Once Peter was patched up, she backed away and rushed to get some water for the demon. 

“Does she know?” Asks the demon. 

“Yeah. She kinda figured it out.” Peter said as if he was proud of her for doing so. As if it was that hard. She simply smiled and turned the faucet off. 

“How are you boys holding up?” She asked with a glass of water in her hand and hands it to the blue man, who simply nods but eyes her suspiciously. His tail wrapped around Peter’s upper thigh. So she stepped back. 

“Good enough, thanks MJ. You really didn’t have to do that.” Peter says with his hands up. He placed a hand on the thigh of the man next to him and squeezed. “But I really do appreciate you helping us out.”

They’re silent for a moment as Peter coughed before looking at Mary Jane with a shy smile. 

“Um, MJ, this is Kurt Wagner.” He said suddenly, turning to Kurt, the man next to Peter and looking protective of him. “Kurt, this is Mary Jane.”

Kurt looked at her with a smile before extending a hand.

“It’s nice to meet you. I do wish it was under better circumstances.” Kurt said with a smile and she was taken aback by how handsome he was. Peter had good taste in men that was for sure. 
She took the hand and shook it politely before taking it away. Looking at Peter with a raised brow. He blushed as if he knew what she was thinking. Peter, he's very cute.

“I’m a little surprised Pete. Why were you doling out vigilante justice outside the webbed tights?” She asks and the two grow quiet and share a glance that only they understand. Before Peter sighs.
“Some anti-mutant assholes.” Peter says. And suddenly that made far more sense. The other man was a mutant. 

“They attacked you?” Mary Jane asks as if it needed to be asked. Peter and Kurt are downcast before Peter takes Kurt’s hand.

“We were leaving the only mutant friendly restaurant I could find in the district. Something nice and quiet.” Peter explains as he holds Kurt’s hand. Rubbing his thumb on the back of Kurt’s hand. “Somewhere where he wouldn’t have to wear some kind of disguise or device or whatever.”

“At first it was just some guy yelling at us before we got in calling us names and stuff like that. Then, I guess, he got his friends and they followed us out of the restaurant. We tried to ignore them but they kept following us. Then…they tried throwing things at Kurt.”

Mary Jane glances at the unharmed Kurt, who looks downcast as Peter makes a line with his lips. He makes that face that trembles trying to hold back anger. That anger that made her fear Peter sometimes. He’d never hurt her, she knew that. But it was that anger that reminded her that Peter could rip the world apart with his bare hands.

“Oh Peter,” Mary Jane sighed as Peter shook his head.

“I was so pissed. I attacked the bastard but we were in public and I couldn’t go full vigilante on them. So one of them got a lucky punch before hitting me with a brick., I guess. Next thing I know, we’re in the nearest park and you were there.” Peter finishes and he’s huffing. Trying to contain and suppress his anger.

Again she feels herself wanting to reach for Peter. But instead the anger melts when Kurt touches Peter’s trembling face.

Mary Jane is silent, unsure if anything she could say would help their situation. She’d always said she supported mutant rights. She’d donate what she could to whatever organization supported mutants. She’d never been on a date with a mutant. Not that she knew of at least. A superhero sure, but Spider-Man was well known to be a mutate. A lab accident turned hero.
And Peter could take the costume off.

But she’d never known what it would be like to date a mutant like Kurt. One that can’t hide as human like most without something to make them look human. The mutants who get attacked for looking different. Looking at the blue hand in a pale one, she can’t imagine why anyone would have a problem with it.

“I’m so sorry that happened to you.” She says soothingly, a hand on Peter’s knee and a smile on her face.

“Thanks MJ. I just hate that this is not the first time our date got ruined or interrupted by something,” Peter sighs a frustrated sound and Kurt can only nod his head in anguished agreement.

“Oh! So you two are dating?” Mary Jane teases and takes joy in watching Peter’s face turn a little red. “Well Tiger, I should say you’ve got interesting taste in men. Can’t complain, he’s really cute.” She winks at Kurt who flushes violet and turns his face away from her. “I just can’t believe I turned you off women forever.”

Peter laughs before looking Kurt in the eyes and it’s like Mary Jane isn’t even in the room. It breaks her heart a little. But how many times can they break up and get back together before one of them finally moves on. It was only a matter of time.

“It was kinda a new development for me.” Peter says as he runs his hands through Kurt’s midnight blue hair. She wonders for a moment how soft it must feel because Peter can’t stop touching it.
Mary Jane removes her hand from Peter’s knee and really observes them. Despite first appearances, they were pretty cute together. All smiles and deep stares, a tail gently placed on Peter’s leg like a comforting hand. Never in a million years would she think Peter would date a mutant like Kurt. Then again, she never thought he’d date a man at all.

Looking back however, with how much Peter talked about Johnny’s attractiveness in annoyance, his embarrassment when she teased him about his closeness to Daredevil or his compliments on Captain America’s body. It should have been an indicator that Peter wasn’t 100% straight.

“Well, looks like you're in good hands now.” Mary Jane says and the two men gawk at her for a moment. Her voice reminded them she was there.

"Don't be like that MJ, We'd probably be too tired to take care of my head wound. I really appreciate your help. Thanks." Peter said with that same smile that makes her heart skip a little.

“No thanks necessary. Because you’re right, you’d be dead a lot earlier if it weren’t for me.” She jokes and picks up her discarded jacket. 

“You’re leaving already?” Peter asks, as if surprised she would. 

“I’m glad you’re okay, Pete. But I think you two deserve some alone time,” Mary Jane announces before heading to the door. She turns her head over her shoulder as the two men stare at her. “You boys had one shitty night. How’s about I treat you to coffee tomorrow morning?”

Peter blinks before he speaks.

“Coffee?” Peter asks as if he’s never heard of the word.

“Yes. Coffee.” She winks at Peter before opening the door. Who smiles, nods then looks to the man at his side. 

“Coffee with MJ okay with you?” He asks. Kurt looks at her and nods his head as well.

“That sounds lovely. Thank you Ms. Watson."

“Oh please, no need to be formal. It’s Mary Jane.”

As she closes the door behind her. There isn’t a sense of loss, not as much as she thought. It’s more of a happiness for Peter than jealousy. But now she’s got to know how Peter managed to get a guy like Kurt. Probably the same way he got her.

Chapter Text

“PARKER!” Johnny yells as he descends on top of the Statue of Liberty. As soon as Johnny lands, Peter freezes, he’s putting down two glasses of cheap plastic on the picnic blanket. There’s a basket of food at his side and some fucking lit fake electric candles. In Johnny’s hands are their usual taco orders. For when they meet up on Tuesdays for Tacos.

Which Peter forgot about. Again.

That’s what Johnny was originally mad about. Peter had been flaking on him a lot more recently. This usually meant that he was seeing someone, someone he wasn’t talking about. But now Peter was setting up a romantic picnic at the usual spot. Their. Usual. Spot.

Peter takes off the mask and he looks genuinely confused.

“Oh! All this for me? Why Petey you shouldn’t have,” Johnny’s voice is venomous with sarcasm. “How fucking romantic of you.”

Peter stands and holds out his hands to Johnny, like a lover who’d been caught cheating.

“I know. I know I got on your ass about taking dates up here.”

“Yeah. You did!” Johnny drops the tacos onto the ground and walks up to push Peter. Who barely moves despite Johnny’s best efforts to push him over. “But I guess were operating on ‘Rules for thee but not for me’ huh?”

For as long as Johnny has known Peter, longer than he should have known him, Peter never took dates up here. He could fuck Black Cat on top of any rooftop in New York City. But he never brought her here. As far as Johnny knew at least. But now he wonders how many times Peter and Black Cat have fucked on top of Lady Liberty. Knowing them, more times than Johnny’s kissed a girl up here.

Johnny starts looking for said sexy criminal, where she could be hiding or if she’d even arrived yet.

“Alright, where is she?” asks Johnny as he waits for the sexy burglar to emerge, flirt with him in front of Pete, then Johnny could leave and masturbate about the threesome that will never be.

“Who?” Peter asks as if he doesn’t know who Johnny is referring to.

“Black Cat, where is she?” Johnny asks as he glares at Peter. His mouth opening and closing to find the words.

“Feli-I haven’t seen her in months! I swear this isn’t for her.” Peter explains but it doesn’t prevent Johnny from rolling his eyes. That means it's some poor new girl that Peter won’t even remember the name of. Not unless her name was Mary Jane or Black Cat that is.

“Oh yeah? Then who’s so special that you’d bring her up to our spot?” Johnny asks. 

Then, as if summoned, There was a puff of black smoke and Johnny jumps back as a blue, familiar looking man appears next to Peter with a bottle in hand.

“Peter!” The man declares before looking at Johnny. Johnny has fallen on his ass and looks up at the man dressed in red and black. His tail flickering as he holds a bottle of wine. The expensive kind. Johnny squints at the blue man as Peter and the blue man stare at each other and look immensely annoyed at something that’s not Johnny or each other.

Johnny had a passing familiarity with the X-Men, so he knew the blue demonic-looking man was none other than Nightcrawler. He’d seen him every so often with a raised brow of fascination. He’d seen some weird Mutants but none like Nightcrawler. He’d just never bothered to talk to the guy.

But there was Nightcrawler, standing close to Peter, closer than friends should be.

“Wait. Nightcrawler?” Johnny asks as he gets up. “Like, X-Men Nightcrawler?”

“Y-Yes?” Nightcrawler holds out his hand, he’s stiff and nervous.

“I’m Kurt Wagner.” He introduces himself and Johnny looks at Peter who shrugs. A wave of conflicting emotions came crashing into Johnny all at once.

The romantic picnic, the bottle in Nightcrawler – Kurt’s- hand, Peter reaching for and wrapping an arm around the blue elf’s arm. Johnny just breathes as he stares at them. Johnny extends his hands and rubs his own face trying to get his thoughts straight. Everything is overwhelming him all at once as he makes frustrated sounds. He must look ridiculous but he doesn’t care.

A guy. Peter was breaking his own rule for a mutant guy. Somehow, despite the crush, it didn’t bother him that Peter was dating a guy. He never bothered to ask Peter out. He could be mad about that later.

What pissed him off was that he could have always had that dream date with Peter if he had just asked. Johnny always harbored a crush on Peter, but it was small and Johnny tried not to nurture it too much. But there was always that hope that Peter liked guys, and would like him enough to make their meetups at the usual place actual dates. 

Yet that was one leap Johnny could never take. Because of his hesitation, someone did make that leap and now he’s enjoying Johnny’s dream date.

“Johnny. You're smoking.” Peter says, Johnny breathes, inhales, and exhales. He waits till he can cool down and looks over at Kurt and Peter. Both stiff and Peter standing between Johnny and Kurt.

“Johnny. I don’t know why you’re mad...but if...if me seeing Kurt is the problem…”

What? What?!

“Peter. Come on! It’s. Me. I’ve dated guys too, you know that! I don’t care that you’re seeing a mutant or a guy. I mean you being into guys is new.” Johnny stares at Peter who shrugs “That’s not why I’m so fucking pissed at you.”

“I was gonna tell you and the four, really, but I just wanted-”

“Pete!” Johnny yells. “That’s not the point.”

“Then why are you mad Johnny?”

Johnny points to the statue of Liberty beneath their feet.“This is our spot.”

“Yeah?”

Why did he like Peter again? Oh right, the tightest ass he’d ever seen and making him feel less alone. That did it for Johnny.

“Our. Spot. The place where we first teamed up, where you first opened up to me about Gwen, where we met up to relax after a tense battle. The spot you got mad at me for taking a couple dates up here.”

“Because you wouldn’t stop bragging about it.”

Ah yes, Johnny’s first attempts at making Peter jealous. Predictably, it only resulted in annoying him. If Johnny could go back in time, he’d slap his younger self for not having a better gameplan.

“And then I never did it again. I never brought anyone up here because of you. Yet here you are romancing one of the X-Men!”

“What do you want me to say? I’m a hypocrite? Okay fine.” Peter raises his right hand and places his left over his chest “I, Peter Parker aka Spider-Man, am a hypocrite for wanting some fucking privacy with my boyfriend.”

Johnny rolls his eyes and ignores how Peter calling another man his boyfriend stings his heart.

“This place is really that important to you?” Kurt asks as it turns their attention to him. He sits down on the picnic blanket and hangs his head low. “I’m so sorry. Had I known how important this place was. I never would have suggested it.

Peter is swift when he goes to comfort Kurt, holding his hands and crouching down to meet him at eye level.

“No. No. No. I-This is my fault. I should have been more honest with you Kurt.” Peter explains to Kurt and suddenly it feels like Peter completely forgot about Johnny. “I know what you were trying to do and I didn’t tell you cause I know how difficult it is to find some privacy.”

“You should have just said something. I don't want to defile-”

“Kurt, mien Schatz, it's okay.” Peter coos and Johnny can't help but squint at Peter. Because it sounded like Peter just spoke German.

Nightcrawler lets out a huge frustrated sigh and says something in German before hitting the back of his head on the back of Lady Liberty’s crown.

“I wish we didn't have to hide. I wish you could be seen with me without an angry mob forming.”

It’s then Johnny notices a small healing scar on Peter’s forehead. A bandage on Kurt’s own head. Peter’s protectiveness.

Suddenly, Sue bemoaning the lack of mutant friendly places in New York City rings in Johnny’s head.

Right. 

Johnny remembers a time Ben and Alicia came back to the Baxter Building having been chased by a group of Anti-Mutant protesters. Ben’s back was pelted with splatters of red, blue and yellow paint that contrast his stony orange skin. The mob were so convinced that Ben was a mutant that they didn’t listen to Sue, who spent a half hour getting the mob to go away without resorting to violence, using her powers or calling the police. Reed had to hold Ben physically back from breaking up the mob with his fists. Johnny still remembers how hard Alica cried that night. 

All that hatred at Ben who wasn't even a mutant.

But Kurt was.

And neither of them could hide how they looked.

“Are you kidding? How can you stand to be seen in public with me?” Peter says. That gets a snort out of Johnny and a laugh out of Kurt. 

“We're not good at hiding. Are we?” Kurt says wistfully.

You two shouldn't have to hide. Johnny thinks to himself.

“You know, considering our luck. We’ll get interrupted during dinner with Aunt May tomorrow.”

Both Johnny and Kurt must have the same look of shock at the mention of her name. Peter’s eyes widen when he realizes what he’s said. And that’s when Johnny realizes that he shouldn’t be witnessing this.

“Dinner with your aunt?” Kurt repeats and Johnny just blinks, having been completely forgotten by Peter and Kurt.

Aunt May. Basically Peter’s mom. And he was going to introduce Kurt to her.

“I was going to ask you to meet her a while ago but… you remember when I asked to meet your sister?” Peter asks and Kurt nods “I was originally planning on asking you to have dinner with me and Aunt May, but I chickened out. Then you mentioned the meteor shower and I thought ‘If I can meet his sister, then he can meet Aunt May.’”

“The Aunt May.” Kurt says in astonishment as Peter nods. Johnny mouths it to himself in disbelief. Johnny could count the number of women he knows Peter introduced to Aunt May on one hand. The most important person in Peter’s life and Kurt was going to meet her. That’s a reaction Johnny wouldn’t mind seeing. If only to see how much of a Hallmark movie moment it would be.

“Yeah. I told her we’re gonna be at dinner tomorrow. I was gonna tell you tonight but uh.” That’s when Peter and Kurt look at Johnny. Who really felt like he shouldn’t be there.

“Pete.” Johnny says and Peter looks at Johnny like he’s decided something important. As he stands, Kurt stands with Peter and never takes his eyes off him. Peter holds Kurt’s hand and inhales before letting out a large breath.

“Johnny.” Peter says and Johnny stiffens for a moment as Peter motions to Kurt at his side. “I want you to meet...my boyfriend. Kurt Wagner, or Nightcrawler of the X-Men”

Johnny and Kurt stare at each other and unsure what to do. Kurt holds out his hand again and Johnny stares at it. This time he takes the other’s hand and shakes it.

“Kurt, this is Johnny Storm, The Human Torch of the Fantastic Four. One of my best friends.”

“Spider-Man’s #1 best friend.” Johnny corrects and they smirk at each other.

“Sure you are, hothead.” Peter says and Kurt actually smiles. It’s there that Johnny can see why Peter likes Kurt so much. While not Johnny’s type, he could tell the guy was handsome.

There is a bit of an awkward silence before Johnny coughs and backs away, picking up the forgotten tacos.

“Okay, just this once, I’m gonna let this slide,” Johnny scratches the back of his head. “Soooo, you two enjoy your date and I’m…going to leave.”

“Thanks flamebrain.” Says Peter with a smirk.

“Ooooh buddy,  you’re not off the hook for forgetting Taco Tuesday again. That’s like the third time Pete!” Johnny flames on except for his arms holding the bags, before tossing Peter his order. “You owe me!”

“Next Tuesday!” Peter calls out to Johnny as he leaves. But as he flies away, he stops to look out at Peter. Holding Kurt in his arms and looking at Kurt like he’s the most beautiful treasure in the world. If Johnny looked hard enough, he could read Peter’s lips as saying “I love you.” before Kurt pulls him in for a kiss.

Johnny flies off, both happy for Peter and letting tears of a broken heart sizzle off his face.

                                                                                                                                          ***

When Johnny walks into the dining area, everyone is finishing up their dinner as Ben chuckles at Johnny’s return. He tossed the cold and uneaten tacos on the table to be heated up later. Johnny plops himself down on the couch, where Val and Franky go over some formulas and calculations for whatever their little super-genius brains were conjuring.

“Peter forgot about Taco Tuesday again?” Reed asks as he sips his drink.

“Yeah,” Johnny admits. “The jerk ditched me for a hot date with one of the X-Men.”

“Oooh? he’s datin’ an X-Man?” Ben says and whisper-talks to Sue “$20 bucks says it’s Rogue.”

“Isn’t she married?” Reed asks with a head tilt.

“I think so? I’m not actually sure,” Sue says as she taps her chin in contemplation “if we’re betting, then I think it’s that Shadowcat girl.”

“Oh! Maybe it’s Storm!” Franky said, looking up from his formulas.

“She’s married too.” Val corrects in her haughty tone. “If anything, I agree with mom. It must be Shadowcat.”

“Reed! Which X-Men ya think bug boy shackin’ up with?” Ben asks with a smug grin Johnny can hear. Sue and Reed both slap Ben’s arm. As if the kids aren’t old enough or smart enough to understand the term ‘shacking up’.

“I don’t think it’s polite to speculate on our friend’s love life,” Reed says before finishing the rest of his drink “But. If I had to guess. I’d think that he and Jubuliee would be a nice fit.”

The other three members of the Four laugh at the guesses they and the children have made; but Johnny holds his tongue. Knowing that when Peter comes walking in with Nightcrawler, hand in hand. While accepting Johnny knew they'd all be thinking the same thing as him. How the fuck Peter did ended up with Nightcrawler?

Chapter Text

Ding goes the timer and on goes her oven mitts. She pulled out the dessert for tonight and looked at her creations. May never made anything called Apfelkuchen, but the pictures did look amazing and she could follow the recipe easily enough. What she hoped was that Peter’s special friend liked it. Though the apples cut and stuck into the cake did seem a little odd, but the result looked delicious so she couldn’t complain.

Over the last few months, Peter has been talking up his new special friend, one that May knew wasn’t a girl. Someone May was both excited and nervous to meet.

She always loved meeting the women Peter brought over. When Betty Brant went to prom with Peter, she was just happy that Peter had a good time in high school. Gwen Stacey had her charm and her smile, May still felt a little sad when thinking about her.

Then of course the one May thought Peter was going to marry, Mary Jane Watson. They were a good match but they could never make it work.

Then there was that poor Felicia Hardy. All stiff and uncomfortable the entire dinner. Like she was ready to run the first chance she got. May never knew why the poor girl didn’t like being there. Never shaking the feeling that Felicia felt undeserving to even be in May’s presence.

It didn’t really surprise her that Felicia and Peter didn’t work out. Yet he was heartbroken and she comforted him all the same. 

Yet this Wagner person was different, in that Peter was very vague on their gender. Always avoiding She or Her. And Peter still was convinced May hadn’t noticed. Now her and Ben were always open to the possibility that Peter liked men. Something they both, previously, thought wasn’t going to happen, but agreed that if it did, they’d be supportive.  

Because no matter who Peter brought home to her, the only thing May wanted was for him to be happy. 

May fixed her hair, put on her nicest earrings and adjusted her blue dress, the one she’d save for occasions like this. Dinner would be a pot roast with steamed asparagus that was on sale and some potatoes roasted. The best she could do on such short notice but Peter would never complain. 

Ding Dong

May looks at the door and takes a deep breath. She makes one glance at the photo of Ben that hangs in the kitchen. His handsome smile and comforting twinkle in his eye. If he was here, he’d probably already greeted them inside with that same welcoming smile.

“Let’s greet them,” May says to herself as she opens the door. 

When May opened the door, she didn’t mean to shout. She was just surprised by the nervous yellow eyes that peered through the flowers that were held up to her face.

“Hi Aunt May,” Peter greeted with a nervous chuckle. She smiled and took the flowers hesitantly, sweet and floral and didn’t hide the fact that the man standing next to Peter was blue, had a tail, and was dressed in a nice button up shirt with matching slacks and a large pair of black loafers. Peter held the hand of the blue man tightly as May searched for the right thing to say. The man smiled and showed large fangs. 

Oh. Well. This was new.

“Kurt, this is my Aunt May,” Peter says as he gestures to her and May smiles and nods. Unable to look away from the demon looking man on her front porch. “Au-Aunt May. This is..Kurt’s my…” He pauses and takes a deep breath. Peter is silent for a moment and looks her in the eyes as he speaks. “Aunt May, this is Kurt, he’s my boyfriend and a mutant. I-I know he’s not the type who I usually bring to meet you but I love him and I wanted you to meet him.” Peter says it all in one breath. 

Peter is trembling and his breath is shaky as he looks at her. May eyes the man named Kurt. Who is also waiting for something like a bad reaction, a scream, a slamming of a door, or something worse. She’s quiet and looks at the flowers. They're the one Peter would get her sometimes. Iris, roses, and daisies. But they aren't arranged professionally. Almost like the bouquet was handcrafted just for her by a clumsy and a first time florist. So Peter probably handmade these for her. Or maybe it was Kurt. She’d have to ask later.

May puts down the flowers on the porch railing and opens her arms to Kurt, who freezes at the gesture, as if he’s never been hugged before.

“Don’t be like that, come here,” May soothes and brings Kurt in for a tight hug. She was surprised to find he has a pleasant smell of cherries and campfire. Kurt hesitates but then returns the hug. She hears a sound of shaky relief against her ear and something inside her heart breaks for him.

The man named Kurt smiles and pulls her hand up to his lips. Suddenly she’s 23 and Ben has just kissed her hand and told her she deserves to be romanced. May laughed at Ben and called him ridiculous then, but it was also the moment she decided she was going to marry Ben Parker.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Mrs. Parker. Peter has told me so much about you.” The man - Kurt- says and she looks to Peter who has tears about ready to fall from his eyes. 

“The pleasure is all mine really. I do apologize for my reaction earlier. I was - You see I was- Oh dear.” She pauses and takes the flowers again. “I guess I was a little surprised to see my nephew bring home such a handsome young man”

Both Peter and Kurt both sigh as a heavy weight of nerves is released from their shoulders. 

“Now what are you two still standing out here? Come in, come in.” May says, welcoming them both into her home. “Now for dessert I did try something new so I’m not sure how it turned out. But I know you boys are going to love it!”

The entire dinner was perfect, May asked the obvious questions, where was Kurt from, how long has he been with the X-Men, and if Peter has ever tripped on Kurt’s tail. 

Then of course she asked.

“I must know, Peter, how did you meet such a charming young man?”

Peter smiles as he takes Kurt’s hand “Do you want the long version or the short version?”