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Peter genuinely didn’t know what to expect when he visited Johnny, as he’d only heard vague comments about his fiery friend being sick. After a week of silence, Johnny had gone from just “sick” to “very sick”. Updates from his family came in slowly.
One week passed.
“He’s… uh… been having some… uh… neurological issues,” Reed said.
Well, that could mean a variety of different things.
Two weeks passed.
“He’s in a lot of pain,” Susan said.
It sounded very serious, and Peter knew that he’d have to see Johnny as soon as possible. Luckily, he was on good terms with the Fantastic Four and could usually drop by any time.
Usually.
The last time he’d tried, they’d just told him to go away, saying that Johnny wasn’t feeling up to having visitors. On his way out, Peter had spotted some boxes bearing the logo for a medical supply company. Well, whatever was in those boxes, it clearly hadn’t been enough to keep Johnny out of the hospital, and now Peter was visiting him there today.
Bet this has something to do with all those nosebleeds he’s been having lately. And why he kept tripping and falling all the time. And the ambulance in front of the Baxter Building last week!
Lost in thought, Peter didn’t pay attention to where he was going, and he ended up crashing into a wall. No, wait. It wasn’t a wall. It was a person with hard, rocky skin.
“I’m s-s-so sorry, sir…” Peter stammered, as Ben helped him up.
“You okay, kid?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Gonna visit Johnny, aren’t ya?”
“I… I was.”
“Come back tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes. He’s tired. Still recovering from brain surgery.”
“Brain surgery?!”
“Is there an echo in here? Yes, he had the surgery. You can see him tomorrow.”
Peter spent the night wishing that he had visited Johnny anyways, instead of going home.
It wouldn’t have hurt, right? Just to see him for a minute?
Well, deep down, he had this fear…
The fear that Johnny really didn’t want to see him.
I mean, it is kind of weird that he hasn’t contacted me at all.
The last time they had spoken was right before the Fantastic Four started cancelling public appearances due to Johnny’s unexplained illness. Johnny had come over to Peter’s place, despite Peter’s warnings that there wasn’t much to do and that Johnny would be bored. They ended up just eating takeout and watching an old movie. Johnny didn’t eat much, saying that he would save some for later. Shortly after that, he had fallen asleep. And even though he could’ve sworn he wasn’t tired, Peter fell asleep, too.
Aunt May had seen the friends sleeping side by side and said they looked cute. Peter didn’t really understand what was so cute about it.
He immediately began apologizing to Johnny once they were both awake. “I’m sorry for being so boring.”
“I’m never bored when I’m with you,” Johnny smiled warmly.
No, I’m sure he doesn’t hate me or anything. He’s just been really sick. Too sick to even send a single text. But if he’s that sick… what if he’s dying?
Peter was overcome by an awful sensation that night. It was like his Spidey Sense… but worse. He had the feeling that Johnny was going to die.
The next day, Peter hurried down the hospital halls, almost wishing he could swing his way through. But he knew the hospital staff would not appreciate that. And even if he could, he didn’t want everyone to see him using his powers. Not when he was supposed to be boring old Peter Parker instead of Spider-Man.
When he got to Johnny’s room, Peter’s heart pounded at the wires and machines surrounding him, everything blurring into an indistinguishable blob. Johnny’s head was bandaged, of course. But he was sitting up, and his blue eyes sparkled upon seeing his friend.
Peter’s anxiety began to fade.
Maybe he’s doing not so bad after all.
Whatever’s wrong with him, the surgery fixed it, right?
He just needs some more time to recover.
He’ll be alright now.
Won’t he?
“Hey, Johnny. Uh… how you doin’?”
Johnny only blabbered incoherently in response.