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There was a loud beeping that was starting to piss Peter off.
It had been happening rhythmically for what felt like hours, but Peter was to dazed to stop it. His limbs felt heavy, like some strapped weights to them, and his body ached throughout. What happened?
He was finally brought out of his daze when his enhanced senses picked up on the faint sound of somebody…crying? Weakly opening his eyes, he was immediately blinded by a bright overhead light and winced. More of his senses slowly came back to him. The whole room was a filled with a disgusting smell of cleaning solutions and rubbing alcohol, and he felt a pressure on his stomach and arm.
Taking a deep breath in, Peter panicked a bit when he felt something on his face, it was a bit heavy and constricting. His hands went up and tried to drag it off him, they caught on the edge and he pulled it off. Peter's gaze went down, it was an oxygen mask?
"Whoa, hey!"
Someone finally seemed to noticed Peter was awake and jumped up to stop him, but he didn't care much and sat up. Letting his eyes adjust a bit more the blurry silhouette came into focus.
"Frank?"
"Lay back down. I shot you remember?"
Peter frowned at his blunt tone but then everything came back. Jean, he had helped her right? Then…
"Jean! Is she okay? Frank I need to know did—"
"Calm down! She's fine okay? She's fine."
That did help settle down Peter a bit, and he slumped into the hospital bed. He was tired, so tired. The bullet must've hit something vital, cause his healing was still catching up. He looked down at the IV he noticed in his arm, how long was he out? Couldn't have been more then a couple hours right? Anyways if he was here then—shit! His mask, his mask wasn't on!
"Frank where's my mask? Who saw me?"
The man sighed. "Just hospital staff," Then he pointed at the bright red colored mask hanging on the edge of the bed. "They had to cut the rest of your suit off."
Peter breathed a sigh of relief, that would be okay. Doctors had a patient doctor confidentiality right?
"By the way…I'm sorry. You had everything covered."
Peter recoiled a bit and turned with a bewildered look to match Franks gaze. Did he just apologize? Frank, Punisher, ruthless killer, apologized?
"Uh, yet it's okay I mean—" There was a small shine in the corner of Franks eyes. "Were you just crying?"
"What? No! I wasn't—"
"You totally were! I can't believe I caught you crying over me!"
"I wasn't! There was something in my eye!"
"You totally were crying!"
Frank scoffed and looked away. They both sat in silence for a minute before Peter picked up on the sound of yelling outside. His brows furrowed.
"What's that sound?" He got out of bed despite the slightly worried looks the man gave him.
Frank followed him to a window and pulled the blinds down just enough to get a look. "That? It's everyone here begging for you not to die." It seemed like thousands of people, they had signs, Spider-Man outfits, chants. Even the news stations were here.
"You ready to make a break for if?" Frank looked towards the younger man. "I have an idea you know, I could put on your mask and distract those idiots while—"
"No."
Frank looked at him strangely. "What do you mean no? Need more time in bed? Those people aren't leaving till they know you're alive."
By now, looking out at everyone there, thinking about all he went through in the past few years, in the past month even, Peter had made up his mind. He got on some basic clothes the hospital had for him, and grabbed the mask.
"You know, if you go through the front door you'll be there answering questions for hours."
"That's okay Frank, I'm hoping for that actually."
Frank was confused, but Peter wasn't. He had decided, just like he did with Jean Grey. He wasn't just Peter, he wasn't just Spider-man. He was both.
"Thanks for everything Frank." That made Frank mumble under his breath that Peter was an idiot, thanking the guy that shot him. Peter just chuckled, his enhanced hearing catching that. He waved goodbye and left the hospital room and made his way down, his mask in hand.
A few staff members caught his gaze, and he gave them a small smile which made them freeze. He got to the front of the hospital, and took a deep breath before opening the doors and walking out. It was surreal, seeing all the people that came here for him. It took a second, but as more people in the crowd noticed the man holding Spider-man's mask they silenced, and all eyes went on him.
People had wide eyes, some whispered to their friends, news cameras went on him, but he didn't run away anymore. Looking straight at everyone he took a deep breath.
"Hey everyone, I know you've all been worried, but there's no need too, and this must be a bit confusing and…"
Peter looked down at the mask in his hand, before looking up and a warm smile crossed his face.
"Hi, my name is Peter Parker, and you don't know me but—"
He felt the last tension from being alone for years leave him.
"I am Spider-Man."