Chapter Text
“Thanks for the hard work today, guys. Seeya tomorrow.”
Peter waved off his last few students as they collected their belongings, rubbing the soreness from his shoulder as he watched their parents collect whatever they missed. Far gone were the days where he didn’t have to remember all of his own things. He huffed a laugh at the sight before going to pack up for the night.
April was becoming predictable. The clouds didn’t stay away, even after winter’s departure the month before. Instead they made their return just when it became warm enough to forget sleeves when getting dressed. They waded in the sky as if for the right moment and subtly darkened as the month went on, threatening a trend for the season as the town made room for spring anyway. Today they were indecisive, greeting Peter as he stepped out of the rink’s front doors with his umbrella at the ready.
“That’s right, I’m ready for whatever you got today-” he warned the clouds under his breath and when nothing changed, his lips turned down almost in disappointment. If he packed his umbrella for nothing, he was gonna be annoyed. Before he could curse the weather gods for playing with his emotions again, his phone rang in his pocket. He fished it out to see it was May video calling him and immediately answered.
“Hey May”
“Pete, hon. You’ve got your umbrella right? It’s supposed to rain. Also guess what just came in.” She beamed at him like she was holding the secret to the universe and he noticed that she was still downstairs, in her shop. Peter was just relieved to hear no real alarm in his aunt’s voice. He hummed as he finally decided to try his luck and make his way to his car.
“What’s that?”
“The lineup and vendor list for this year! We were able to secure all of them in nearly record time. Everyone’s especially excited for this year’s festival, Pete. I can feel it.”
He heard it in her voice but there was something else there that reminded him why he was the only person in town that wasn’t very excited for the biggest festival of the year.
“I’m on my way to grab dinner. Need anything while I’m out?” he asked and she knew that was his way of checking in, smiling fondly.
“No, honey. I think I’ll make myself some tea once I close up for the night.” she assured and he hummed on the other end. “Guess who we secured for one of the spots?” She was already back to it and he raised a brow at her as she made her way to her laptop behind the counter.
“Uhh Spongebob?”
“Wha- no. No no- that one band you really like.” She laughed.
“Yeah?”
“Mhm, the one with that really cute lead singer you got to take a picture with last year. Oh he was a work of art, Pete.”
“May c'mon…” he groaned but the smile didn’t leave his face as she continued.
“Oh you come on. He is gorgeous. Tall, dark, and handsome. Heavenly voice. I mean it’s not my kind of music but I’d listen to him read Green Eggs and Ham for all I care.”
Peter laughed out loud, glad that no one else was in the parking lot at this point. He unlocked his car and threw the umbrella in the passenger seat before getting in and simply sitting for a moment, letting his body fully relax as he gazed at the thick clouds crowding the afternoon sun.
“You’re not kicking your feet and giggling. Why aren’t you kicking your feet and giggling? Oh- I didn’t even tell you the best part- that’s why. They’ll be the opening show for /your/ performance. Turns out, after you met that day and told him about your shows, he realized that he’d seen you perform multiple times before, at previous festivals. Then he did some digging and found out that you were famous way before he was.” She was too pleased with herself right now.
“Famous is a stretch, May.” Peter sighed but he did feel something swell in his chest at the thought of being looked up by someone who he listened to daily.
“Still famous. You might not be traveling the country in that cute little spidey spandex suit anymore but you are the gem of the renowned Webber Falls Summer Ice Festival.”
“That sentence is going to haunt me.”
“All I’m saying is, you’re still front page news and now this?? He. Looked. You. Up. He’s obviously interested.”
“Oh my God…”
“Well I will be excited enough for the both of us.”
“No, May, I’m really happy. I mean, I feel like their willingness to perform has more to do with the opportunity for media attention and less for some sort of hallmark moment with a smalltown youth skating instructor but I’m happy.” he reassured. “I think today was just a long one. How about Thai tonight? I’ll grab your favorite and then we can watch a movie?”
She agreed but was cut off from whatever she wanted to tell him about next by the chime of the front door of the shop. They waved each other off before hanging up and Peter was left to think about this new information on his own.
He’d never technically had an opener for his performances. There was always live music for the last day of the festival but it was just sort of ambience. Having an actual act felt above him. May using the word “famous” to describe him was an overstatement unless the word “formerly” was added in front of it. He may have been the face of the festival in his small town but his days of making international headlines were long over. It had been nearly five years since he’d come home from the U.S. National Championships with an IM rod in his leg instead of a medal that would qualify him for the Olympics and he’d finally started to come to terms with the change in trajectory of his life. The Summer Ice Festival was a comfortable fame. One that kept his name alive (at least in the northeast region) but didn’t make him push the limits. He shook off the thoughts and finally started his car, stomach already growling.
By the time he made it to May’s favorite family-owned restaurant, the rain had finally come but made the merciful decision to keep it light. He skipped his umbrella on the way into the brightly lit Lotus on The Lake, only a few feet from the door and slipped in with a warm smile to greet the host behind the counter.
“Aye Peter- Good to see you!”
Peter didn’t even get a chance to open his mouth, his order being yelled in a familiar old but strong voice to him from someone in the kitchen. Her voice came again, asking for ten minutes and Peter beamed gratefully before turning back to the host.
“How’s school been, Jay?”
Jay gave him a shrug as he restocked the counter with utensils and sauce packets but he raised his gaze with a warm smile and offered Peter two pairs of chopsticks.
“I think mom is having more fun with all of this first year experience stuff than I am. She even made a T-Shirt with my face on it and wore it on campus.”
“Ooh” Peter winced playfully.
“I was surprised she didn’t show up on my spring break trip.”
“Aw she’s just proud of her baby boy.”
“Yeah well there’s such a thing as videocall now.”
“This is your first time living out of the house. Campus may not be states away but you’re still leaving the nest. Give her some time. May visited so much, I thought she’d move in at one point. It’ll get better.”
Jay chuckled at that and folded his arms, pointing his chin toward the window where outside, there was a group of young people carrying boxes in the sprinkling rain and hanging blue and silver banners along Main Street. They hung strings of lights between streetlamps and arranged flower boxes at the foot of each.
“Festival season is already among us.”
“Oh yeah. No doubt about it.” Peter turned to follow his gaze and leaned against the counter with a sigh.
“We’ve already started doubling our orders.”
“Prepping for the crowds?”
“Mhm, and the food competition. Mom’s planning to try something new this year.”
“She finally gonna bust out that super secret family recipe this year?” Peter grinned.
“Actually, yeah”
“Woah this is a big deal then.”
“Not to toot our own horn but I think we might even have Cap’s pies beat this year.”
“Oho you’re talking a big game. I’m definitely not missing that.”
“You better not.”
They laughed easily for a moment before it faded into a comfortable silence as they watched the volunteers outside of the restaurant.
“How’s May these days?”
Peter sighed and kept his gaze out the window. “Stubborn.”
“Ah the usual then.”
“Mhm.”
“I delivered lunch to the festival committee's last meeting. She looked exhausted.”
“She was.”
“Yeah but she won’t let them see that. I think they’d been there for like three hours that day.” Jay informed.
“Yeah she fell asleep at the kitchen table that day.” Peter crossed his arms and leaned his elbows against the counter. “Shoes on and all.”
“Lupus won’t go ignored.”
“Well you wouldn’t know that with her. I can’t tell if she thinks the committee can’t handle one day without her being there or she just can’t help herself in general. Her doctor wants her to slow down.”
“And that would make sense.”
“And that would make sense but she just says she’ll slow down after the festival.”
“Right. That sounds awfully familiar.” Jay tilts his head toward the kitchen where his own mother was multitasking over a hot fire without having to even think about it.
They both sigh before the front door chimes and Peter steps aside to let Jay work. He’s only waiting a couple of minutes before he’s greeted with two full bags of takeout.
“Thank you, Mrs. C.” Peter immediately takes them, noting how heavy they are with a lifted brow and she simply winks at him.
“Tell May that she doesn’t have to string every light herself to make the festival perfect.”
“I will.”
“And you stop worrying so much. She’s one of the strongest women I know and she knows her limits. And you’ll get early wrinkle lines.” She touched his face with a knowing smile and Peter returned it with a huff before nodding along and going to fish out his wallet. She stopped him before he could open it and ushered him out of the front door.
“Go on and get home before it starts pouring.”
Peter called his goodbye to Jay and left without argument, feeling the tiredness in his body lifting just enough to get him home.
-
May yawns loud enough to get the attention of Bootsie who opens one eye from her napping position on the recliner. They’d made it to the end of their movie for the first time in many movie nights but just barely. Peter stretched so hard, his body shivered and then stood to start putting away their leftovers. May made to help but he refused it with a warm smile and collected nearly everything in one go. As he worked on putting the food away in the kitchen, She tiredly switched apps and scrolled her Youtube feed for something interesting. Landing on an interview video that had been posted six hours ago, she sat back and offered Bootsie the spot on her lap.
The video started with the particular channel’s intro before transitioning to their interviewee sitting in a director’s chair in front of a white backdrop. He smiled bright and charming, relaxed in a way that said he’d done this a million times. May cooed and Peter looked up to see a screen full of none other than the captain of the NHL’s own New York Baxters, Johnny Storm. He huffed a laugh at her reaction and went back to cleaning, setting their dishes in the sink as she curled up with their kitten with a giddy expression.
“Oh that color is perfect for him. He looks like money.”
“He /is/ money, to be fair.” Peter reminded her.
Johnny and his family were big money. They might have been Webber Falls' natives but for the past decade, their name and reputation preceded them across the nation for multiple reasons. Even if Johnny weren’t a hockey superstar, he’d probably be beyond comfortable.
“He’s always got that classy retro style, y'know. It fits him so well.”
“Mhm.” Peter acknowledged, washing the plate in his hand and setting it on the rack to dry.
“The Baxters have been destroying this season. They’ve got like three games left but I predict right now that they’re gonna blast through the competition. Even the Guardians.”
May had been a Baxters fangirl longer than Johnny had been playing on the team so having a player from her own town on the team made her even more intense about it every year. That’s how it was for most people in town. If Webber Falls was known for anything, it was putting people on the ice.
Peter finished up in the kitchen and shuffled back into their living room to watch the screen with tired eyes, leaning against the back of the couch.
“It’s been a long season but we’re just taking it one game at a time.” Came Johnny’s easy response to one of the interview questions before he read the card with the next question on it out loud. “Are you nervous for the Empire Classic?”
May hummed like she wanted to ask that question herself and to be fair, it was a good question. The “Empire Classic” was the most anticipated game of the season. The New York Baxters versus The Westchester Guardians. It was pretty much a New York tradition at this point with a rich history. Though they played each other multiple times in the regular season, the very last game was always designated as the Empire Classic, becoming one of the NHL’s biggest attractions. What made it even more special in recent years were the team captains. Johnny Storm versus Bobby Drake. Both drafted in the same year. Both perennial all-stars. Fans called them fated rivals. Like Fire and Ice. It made for perfect drama and here it was, seven days away.
“Nervous is not the word, nah.” Johnny sat back in his chair as he held up the question card. “Bobby’s very smart. One of the smartest players I know. I know we can’t give the Guardians even a single inch or they’ll make us pay for it.” He grinned like it was something he was looking forward to.
“Good answer.” May said like he could hear and Peter shrugged, refraining from bringing up the fact they’re media trained to give good answers.
The next couple of questions seemed to all be about the Empire Classic.
“Do you get tired of hearing Human Torch versus Iceman? Mmm not really. If people are buying tickets because they want to watch the two of us go at it every year, I can’t really complain.” Johnny replied cheekily. “Also I’ve grown fond of that little nickname.”
Peter leaned heavier against the back of the couch, rubbing at an eye with a small yawn.
“Is Bobby Drake the best player?” Johnny acted like he had to think about it before shrugging. “The best player on the Guardian’s bench.”
May laughed at that and it nearly startled him.
“I don’t know how the game is gonna go but I do know one thing.” Johnny offered. “It’ll be loud.”
Peter scrunched up his nose.
“Ah he’s impossible not to like.” May sighed.
“Yeah he seems nice enough.” Peter offered and that earned him a look.
“Nice enough.”
“What’s wrong with that??”
“He’s an absolute angel. Funds scholarships, visits children’s hospitals and soup kitchens. Heck- he even comes back for the youth hockey clinic when he has the time.”
“Alright so his agency makes sure he keeps busy in a good light.” Peter shrugged. “Also you do most of those things too, May. That means you’re an absolute angel too.”
May opened her mouth to argue but when she couldn’t think of anything, she squinted at him and he grinned.
“I don’t know, I just haven’t followed hockey much in a long time and he’s not someone I keep on my radar. Plus every time I do see him, he’s got that cocky, superstar aura like it’s all gone to his head. This interview is honestly the mildest I’ve ever seen him but I bet you he’s gonna say something that changes that in the next five minutes.”
They were wrapping up the interview at this point, and May clicked her tongue as she turned back to pay attention to the athlete across her T.V. screen. Johnny read the card in his hand before a smirk spread across his face.
“Drake has told us that he and the Guardians have spent plenty of time preparing for you. Do you think he’ll be hard to beat?” Johnny sighed and folded his arms like he really wanted to think of something good to say. “I’m glad they know they’ve got to be at their best against us cause if you’re not planning for me, you’re probably not planning to win. And yea, we’ve also prepared for them. It’ll definitely be a must watch but uhh I’m sure we’ll be sending the Guardians home with some things to think about.” He pointed at the screen playfully before laughing at his own answer and standing from the chair to end the interview.
“Told you.”
May giggled and let the video end in the background.
“Alright well maybe one day you’ll get to see him in a different light.”
“Yeah well til then, I’ll let you keep the number one fan title.” He grinned at her before settling a hand on her shoulder. “How are you feeling? Need anything before I head to bed?”
“No no, go ahead and get some sleep. I’m alright.” She assured him but she was fighting off another telling yawn and her voice was rough, earning her a gentle squeeze on the shoulder. “Alright alright, I’m turning in, I swear. You’re not gonna rest til you’ve got me in one of those bubbles.”
“I know you and I know there’s been a lot of exciting developments with the festival so I’m just keeping you from burning out on preparations, is all.”
“I suppose it can wait…” She sighed as she stood from the couch.
“It can.”
“Seeya in the morning, Pete.” She left to her room as Peter hummed in response and he dipped to give Bootsie a few pets before turning in to his own room for the night.
By the time he was freshened up and between his sheets, he was barely hanging on to consciousness, scrolling tiredly through his socials for anything remotely interesting. He didn’t see much worth lingering on but he noted how many posts were about the big upcoming Empire Classic with a click of his tongue. He didn’t have the energy to entertain the raving posts about Johnny and Bobby but he had to admit that they were the most interesting part of the entire rivalry. The “fated” storyline was believable when it came to the superstar duo who spent a decade trying to outdo each other.
Peter yawned hard enough to shake off the thought and locked his phone, setting it on the side table and getting comfortable before drifting to the sound of rain outside his window.
-
The universe was funny. And by funny, Peter meant absolutely unfair.
Apparently, Webber Falls was long overdue for some sort of reminder of that fact.
The collective fervor that came with the preparation for the Summer Ice Festival was palpable. It was almost like Spring was made solely for this reason alone. To serve as the planning season for the heart of the town. The week-long celebration brought tourists, former residents, and all kinds of attention to Webber. No matter what the next person’s day-to-day looked like, they somehow squeezed in time to arrange something special for the festival. Hotels would be packed, restaurants would be the busiest they’d get for the season, and the community would simply be at its best. Peter loved that he couldn’t step foot into any building in town without there being some sort of conversation about the highly anticipated event. To be fair, it was a small town so there wasn’t much else to talk about but he enjoyed it all the same. No matter if it were at work, out on the town, or even in his dentist’s office, It was always exciting to guess what the ice sculptures would be this year or gossip about who might win the frozen dessert contest. The festival brought out high spirits and not even the rain could dampen that.
Or that’s what he thought before he received May’s text at work that day. The text informed him that one of the major sponsors of the festival had dropped out. He knew May wasn’t taking it well from the fact that she texted instead of calling.
According to what he could learn from her string of texts, the company was purchased by a national corporation and the new owners were doing cuts on community sponsorships.
They spent that night at the dining room table, just sitting in it. She explained to Peter what the treasurer had explained to the committee. They’d already started spending and booking but without the money coming in from that particular sponsor, they were now nearly $150,000 short. The number stung just to hear.
“We’ve basically got two months to find a new sponsor or raise 150k…”
She had tried to convince Peter that they’d pull it off somehow but he knew she was really convincing herself and so he simply sat and listened and offered his presence. He sent her to bed right after dinner and spent the rest of the night in his own bed, staring at the ceiling. How the hell were they gonna come across that kind of money?
The second reminder from the universe that things could fall apart when you least expect it came just days later, on the day of the Empire Classic.
The watch party was full of familiar faces and it felt like the whole town had paused their Thursday to watch this game. And for the most part it was as entertaining as it was pumped up to be. Both teams kept everyone on the edge of their seats, some people not even being able to sit down. Peter and MJ were probably the least invested people in the room but even they were watching with open curiosity as to how this would play out. May and Ned had worn Baxter jerseys like half of the other attendees. Everyone had brought a dish, potluck style, Peter having helped May prepare homemade “puck” cookies. The atmosphere was electric and intense, charged with energy and full of hope.
Then came the third period: the moment that doused the fire.
Neither team was giving an inch. Everyone was captivated by the way Johnny and Bobby lived up to their rivalry, putting on a game that no one could tear their eyes from. The excitement and anticipation was reaching a fever pitch, the room full of chatter and arena full of roars. There was nothing like an Ice-Torch showdown and they’d made sure to give the people what they came to see, Johnny keeping Bobby on his toes and Bobby making Johnny really work for it. Drake had been staying on Johnny the moment he became the headman but that didn’t deter Johnny, who protected their puck across the ice. He was on fire, quick and agile as ever and nearly everyone cheered him on the moment he’d split the defense with the puck still in his possession but those cheers became gasps just seconds later when an awkward collision with Drake sent Johnny crashing hard into the boards. Johnny had slammed into the glass and collapsed instantly, crumpling to the ice and for a moment, it was like time stood still.
Then suddenly the whistle blew and instead of watching a goal being made, everyone was watching Bobby skate over to where Johnny lay, the medical team being called over. Storm didn’t move, being instantly surrounded and evaluated where he lay and everyone held their breath as they watched him be questioned until he finally sat up slowly, steadied by the medical team and trainers. Everyone seemed to take that as a good sign and sighs were heard around the room as he was helped to a standing position, steadied on both sides as they led him off the ice and down the tunnel. The arena cheered for him as he left but the room’s atmosphere was different now.
“I hope he’s okay…” May sighed.
Chatter started again but it wasn’t the same as before. The game returned and the Guardians had won but the news now had a split focus as everyone waited for updates on Johnny’s condition.
None came until the next day where an interview with the team had informed everyone that after thorough evaluation, Johnny had been diagnosed with a concussion.
Peter scrolled through the article briefly that morning, reading about how he was under strict supervision until they could determine the extent of his injury and how he’d be taking a break to recover. Peter got a familiar feeling in his chest. One that was five years old and somehow still ached. Having to sit down when you were in your prime was hard no matter the length of time, he understood that. He could only imagine how Johnny was taking being told that he just had to step away and go through the process until he showed progress.
The universe was just so funny.
“Alright everyone bring it in.” Peter’s voice echoed across the rink to his students who were free skating until he blew the whistle to signal time to leave for that evening. They skated toward him as he idly slid to a stop near the entry of the ice.
“You guys ended the week so nicely, I’m proud of all of your hard work.” He informed them as they approached, cheeks pink from the hour they’d spent on the ice. “Hopefully you’ve got some cool weekend plans ahead.”
“Swimming at the lake!” Came an excited voice.
“We’re going on a trip to Florida.” Came another, less excited for some reason.
“My birthday is Saturday. My mom says you all can come.” That got everyone talking at once.
“Sounds like everyone’s gonna be plenty busy then.” Peter chuckled before glancing up to see the parents coming in.
“Mr. Parker, what are you doing for the weekend?”
“Ooh- are you practicing for the Ice Festival??”
Everyone stopped their chattering about the party to giddily wait for his answer and Peter shrugged, desperate to come off as someone who didn't know a very hard truth.
“Most likely.”
“Ooh are you going to do anything special for this year?”
“You think I can just tell you my biggest secrets??” Peter squawked playfully, earning him some giggles.
“My mom says she’s got a super secret surprise for the festival.” Informed one of his younger students.
“Looks like it’s no longer super secret, bud.” Peter laughed.
“My grandpa’s letting me practice baking pies at his shop and he says if I do a good job, I might be able to help during the big bake sale.”
“Oh I got to help string up lights on Main street.”
“My mom is making scarves to pass out during the festival!”
Everyone was talking at once again. Peter couldn’t help but smile fondly.
“Alright alright, since we’re on the topic of the festival, tell me- one at a time- what are you guys looking forward to the most?”
“The snow machines!”
“You already miss the snow?” Peter questioned with a laugh.
“The fireworks.”
“The ice sculptures-”
“The food!”
“Mr. Parker’s performance.”
Everyone agreed and Peter clicked his tongue before gesturing for them all to step off the ice.
“Well I’m excited to see you all having fun and making memories. We can talk more about it next time. You guys get home safe. Remember your skate guards!” He called as they rushed to get changed out of their skates and to their parents.
One kid lingered, sitting down to undo his skates next to Peter as he spoke.
“What are you most excited for, Mr. Parker?”
“Mmm if I told you, it’d reveal my super secret surprise.”
The boy laughed along with him before accepting the answer with a fist bump and going to meet up with his parents.
Peter watched as the rink emptied before skating away from the boards and sighing heavily. He wasn’t tired today, feeling almost restless and in need of a workout. It was painful to know that the kids may be getting excited for nothing. He couldn’t help that downward spiral in his thoughts but he was determined to muscle through it. Just as he did all those years ago when he first came home.
He did a lazy loop around the ice as he let his work brain switch off and built up speed until he was going fast enough to match the speed he needed for a routine he’d long since memorized from his days as a national competitor. No difficult jumps or tricky footwork, just a graceful dance along the ice that made him feel free of burden. He let his thoughts drift away from their financial woes and glided with practiced ease, precise and expressive as he crossed from one side to the next. There was nothing but the cold ice beneath him and he twirled and spun like it was breathing. He ran through the entire routine before he even realized that someone had entered the rink and by the time he was finished, panting as he slid to a stop, they were at the gate, watching from behind the boards with their hands stuffed into their jean jacket. Peter didn't startle but shock and confusion battled for dominance as he registered who he was looking at.
He skated toward the boards with a tilt of his head and greeted Johnny with raised brows that earned him one of those toothy grins.
“Uhh hi” Peter offered.
“Hi”
A beat passed because Peter was struggling with how to ask how the hell he was seeing Johnny when he had just seen the news about him that morning.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Spidey.” Johnny laughed. Peter hadn’t been called by the nickname he’d earned from skating fans in years and it caught him off guard but he rubbed his nape, trying to school his expression.
“Sorry- I just… You just… Well you know-”
Johnny nodded along knowingly before shrugging like it wasn’t a big deal.
“How?”
“How what?” Johnny blinked.
“How are you here?”
“Car, mostly.”
Peter clicked his tongue.
“I guess the news has been making a big fuss.”
“After what I witnessed, I wouldn’t necessarily call it a fuss.” Peter suggested. “Do you always travel after major injuries or..?”
“Can’t deprive the people of this face, now can I?” Johnny joked.
“Oh of course not” Peter’s eyes rolled but he was smiling. “I guess I wanted to know if there was any reason why you’re in Webber of all places when you should be somewhere under the supervision of those fancy league doctors.”
“Webber has doctors.”
“Right…”
“Haha there’s nothing else to it, Webs. It seemed like the best choice when it came to getting out of the spotlight and I guess I was feeling nostalgic or something when my sister told me she’d recently bought a place out here so the moment I was cleared to rest, I didn’t spend too much time thinking about it and hopped on the next plane out. Much to my doctor’s dismay, probably.”
Peter huffed a laugh and shook his head. “So a few weeks on an island just doesn’t cut it these days.”
“Nope.”
“Are you even supposed to be near a rink right now?”
“Nope.” Johnny grinned and Peter sighed.
“You’re a piece of work, Johnny Storm.”
Peter moved to step off of the ice and sat down to undo his skates as he looked up at the hockey player in front of him. Johnny was dressed in an all jean outfit and a fitted white tee, hair having seemingly been styled by a helmet.
“I was on my way to my sister’s place when I figured I’d stop in. I didn’t even bring skates, I promise-” he held up his hands in surrender.
“Alright alright, I’ve finished my questioning.”
“Thank you, officer.”
“Mhm. I’ll be leaving you to it then.” Peter smiled politely as he stood.
“You headed out? You looked like you were in the zone a minute ago.”
“Ah yeah, I was just trying to clear my head a bit and now I’m probably gonna grab dinner and head home.”
“It’s Friday. You’re turnin in already?”
Peter chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. “Guess we don’t all live that work hard, play harder lifestyle. Some of us like turning in early and enjoying the peace of being at home and in bed with enough time to watch something cheesy over greasy takeout.”
“How domestic of you, Spidey.” Johnny smirked.
“You should try it.”
Once he collected his things, he gave Johnny another polite smile before turning to leave. He paid no attention to Johnny watching him walk away, even when his voice called after him.
“Enjoy your night”
“Get some rest” He called back before exiting the rink.