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Peter Parker hangs up on the woman after a lengthy phone call despite her not even knowing what he looked like, but it was nice to knwo someone at least sort of still cared.
Despite Spider Man's love for helping the city, he was glad he didn't have to take care of this bank robbery. Maybe he did want a break, maybe he kind of needed it, he would not admit that to the head of police though. Besides, this was the first time the police could handle it. It was probably just some reckless criminal, Aunt may always said he needed to take more breaks.
Peter walked towards his favourite convenience store a few blocks down, he felt, well not fulfilled with how everything had gone with Jean Grey but it went better than he had expected in the beginning. He hadn’t lost another loved one, even if some said loved one didn’t care for him back. He knew his aunt would have been proud of how he handled things despite that.
Peter Parker had lost someone but that didn’t mean he had to do this alone.
He could make friends, get some form of social life, maybe even a part time job. Really though inside of all the webs fogging Peter's brain, he wanted his old friends. He wanted them to have their memories of him back, he wanted the love of his life, his Mrs Spider man and the one guy who had stood next to him through everything all of shitty highschool and then him becoming a literal spider. his Bestfriend Ned and MJ, how could he live without them?
Peter could not choose to be greedy however, he could live a bit longer alone, he could stride through life letting them move on and finding peace with a part of his own heart missing.
Peter Parker needed to do this.
He was on the street about to get flowers for his trip to aunt Mays Grave, he was thinking of getting his favourite flavour of smiths, salt and vinegar, though he kind of felt like sour cream and chilli.
Distracted by his sudden predicament he didn’t look up when he entered the store, he automatically grabbed the first flowers he saw and turned to the chip aisle.
THere sitting on one of the chairs by the window snacking on what looked like 2 burritos a drink and consumed by some sort of video on his phone was Ned. Peter's Best friend was just sitting there, with no idea who he was. Peter was often overwhelmed by the idea that Ned had completely forgotten ever having a friend. Throughout most of high school the two friends only had each other, Peter and Ned. They didn’t really interact with other students much, sure they had acquaintances but no one piqued an interest in them and they didn’t mind.
They had found platonic soulmates in each other. Now though, until MJ came along Ned likely thought he had been completely alone, similar to how Peter was now. The idea was depressing. To be honest without need, life had been empty, he had missed MJ more than someone else could imagine, but now he knew MJ didn’t want him in her life. Maybe Ned would give him a chance. Though Peter Knew he Shouldn't do it he knew it would just put Ned in more danger all over again.
Suddenly he was back in his old bedroom sitting on his side of the bunk bed, when aunt may then sit down next to him putting her arm around him in a half hug, just like she had in all his other dreams.
“Peter” She smiled, the smile lines she used to have radiated as always, making her even more beautiful “You deserve love, those who love you are willing to be in danger to be around you, they know you will try your best to protect them” Peter looks down at his lap in guilt.
Because Peter could never protect Aunt May, she had died because of him, it was all his fault and he just could not do that to his Best friend.
“And Peter” He looked up at her “I forgive you”
So he redirected his route from the chips, he turned to bed, when he finally got close enough Ned looked up from his phone screen that was now emitting a purple light.
“Uhh Hi” Peter says to say the least nervous about seeing his best friend again.
Ned looks a bit weird out but that was fair “Uhm why” realization floods Ned's eyes “Flower guy from the party right?” Peter smiles, he's glad Ned remembers even one interaction between the two, no matter how recent.
Peter extends his arm to shake hands “Peter” he says to tell Ned his name.
Ned returns the gesture and they hold hands, this position familiar to Peter, he wishes he could say the same for Ned,
Nonetheless though Peter feels the need to finish their handshake they have had for years, he claps Ned's hand, the worst that could happen was his friend thinks Peter has a weird way of shaking hands. Weirdly enough though Ned clasped his hand exactly like how they used to.
With pure muscle memory Peter removes his hand from neds and comes back with a swoop in a wing formation, Ned perfectly copying the motion, excitedly Peter continues bumping hands with the other man, winging, clappinging hands together and finally finishing off with their signature gun move, completely mirrored by Ned.
Peter smiles, that type of lip muscle where you can’t stop smiling and it hurts like shit, but Peter wasn't paying attention to that, he was looking at Ned who was slowly looking at Peter with recognition until finally he smiles too and says “Peter!”
Ned stands up and looks at Peter eye to eye, Peter had seen Ned recently as Spider Man but it felt completely different, suddenly it felt just like they were back at Peter's house building lego and talking about how annoying Flash was.
“Oh my god Man” Peter exclaimed “Do you know who I am? Dude I have missed you so much, all these years I wanted to tell you but I knew you would think I was insane and I wanted to keep you safe because well i though you would be better off without me i even watched all your videos I know that creepy but Oh my god i missed you so much" This time even Spider man knew he needed to stop talking, he stepped forward and grabbed Ned into a hug, he cried.
Nothing could make a now grown man cry like missing his Best Friend again and being reunited. The Best part was Ned hugged him back no matter how loosely.
“Sorry dude” Ned sighed “I am like dis computing, there are a lot of things flooding back into my brain right now” Then suddenly Ned feels loose in Peter's arms, he steps back holding Ned by the shoulders to check if he's okay testing his pulse.
He passed out from the overload.
Peter felt like blacking out right now too, he tried to wipe the tears from his cheek with one hand, which proved a struggle when he was like a watering hole right now.
Peter thought he was doomed to be alone this lifetime.
But Ned was his Platonic soulmate.
Those types of friendships truly can last a lot more than one stupid spell of amnesia.