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The last thing Peter expected to hear when he woke up in the morning was the buzzing of his phone.
It was something new he hadn’t gotten used to—people reaching out to him, that was. Since the whole incident at Roosevelt Island, Peter had been trying to be better. He really had! The proof of that was the fact he’d given MJ and Ned his number! Which promptly explained why he was being awakened at a time way too early for him to comprehend for some unspecified reason.
Rolling over in bed with a grunt, Peter reached for his phone on his bedside table. He rubbed at his eyes with his spare hand, struggling to sit up with the sheets tangled loosely around his lower body. The bright light emanating from his phone as he opened it was enough for him to let out another wince as he pointedly ignored the date and time displayed.
Waiting for him was a series of messages sent in one short burst, it seemed. All from Ned.
ned!
hi peter!!! happy birthday!!!
you didn’t think i’d forget my best friend’s special day, did you?
.
actually don’t answer that.
poor choice of words
it is today, though, isn’t it?
i’m like 98% sure, but with all this memory stuff, you can never be too certain
anyways, mj and i have planned out the whole itinerary for you today!
stop by the apartment sometime this morning when you can!
there will be gifts and cake :)
and you’re not allowed to feel anything other than happiness.
i mean it.
Peter couldn’t help but snort at the messages, a smile tugging on his lips despite the empty feeling unfurling in his chest at the stark reminder. His birthday. He’d almost actually managed to forget about it this time, what with everything going on and a lackluster will to care. If he had kept track correctly, he was pretty sure he’d just turned 23. The revelation was promptly ignored in favor of responding back without hesitation.
peter 🕷️
yes, ned, it is today
don’t you guys have work?
Almost immediately, his message was met with bubbles in response.
ned!
we both called off
it is LITERALLY the first birthday we’re getting to spend with you in four years.
peter 🕷️
that’s not you guys’ fault, though
and you really don’t have to do that
i don’t want you guys getting into any trouble or something
ned!
dude.
ever heard of a family emergency?
i literally said you weren’t allowed to feel guilty
i’m expecting to see you over here in the next few hours
Peter sighed, sitting up straighter in bed and rolling his shoulders, feeling the way the stitches in his back tugged at his skin. He could admit, Ned had gotten him there. It just… felt weird actually celebrating himself for once. For the last four years, each birthday of his was spent the same monotonous way:
Wake up.
Get into the suit.
Patrol all day (and try to ignore the ghosts on his shoulder.)
Take a few more hits than he probably needed to.
Come home.
Ignore the elephant in the room.
Shower.
Sleep.
His most recent birthdays, specifically, had been a bit more tragic than the last. The end to those days usually resulted in him trying with a hungry, in vain desperation to get drunk—to feel for the shortest amount of time that he was slightly more okay and could ignore the whispers of those he’d lost in his ears. Of course, his fast metabolism usually never let him get drunk for more than an hour or so. Peter still cringed thinking about how much booze he had to go through in order to get as drunk as he did on his 21st, shuddering at the mere reminder. Not his finest moment.
Crinkling his nose at the memory, he looked back down to Ned’s text still left on read with a sigh.
For the last few weeks, Peter had been toeing the line between whether or not he should let himself get closer to his friends or flee and return to his old life of solitude. As much as he wanted to let himself be selfish and happy for once, that old, cut-throat part of himself dedicated to the job always put up some resistance. It’s why MJ had called him skittish after one particular bad afternoon hang out sesh where he’d suddenly had the overwhelming urge to run, run, run and leave everything he’d built up behind him.
Safe to say it was something he was trying to work on.
Maybe that’s why he found himself giving in despite it all. He could indulge just a little, after all. No harm, no foul, right?
Letting out a breath, he finally typed back a response.
peter 🕷️
be there in 10
Approximately twelve minutes later, Peter found himself standing outside a window on a very familiar fire escape.
It only took three knocks before somebody inside was alerted to his presence—the somebody in question being Ned, who quickly unlatched the window and let him in.
“Happy birthday, my guy!” He greeted quickly, dapping him up in their familiar handshake as Peter climbed into their apartment and slid the glass shut behind him with his foot.
“Thanks,” he responded, cheeks flushed as he pulled the mask down to reveal his face. “I hope I didn’t come on too short notice—”
“You were actually two minutes later than you said you’d be,” a familiar voice called out from deeper inside the apartment.
Peter swallowed, giving a lopsided, sheepish smile as he watched MJ enter the living room. “You were counting?”
“I’m a punctual gal, what can I say,” she responded back, stepping closer to him with a faint smile. “Happy birthday.”
“Thanks, MJ,” Peter mumbled breathlessly, hoping he didn’t sound too in awe. Luckily, the tension was broken as Ned gasped from beside him before running to their counter.
“Wait ‘till you see this!” He exclaimed. Peter looked over in his direction, taking note of the cake on a blue plate that Ned had started turning around for him to see. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the one revealed side was branded with an uneven attempt at the Star Wars logo. There also seemed to be what Peter could make out as a fondant-sculpted droid on the top, placed right beside the words “happy birthday!” written in white icing.
As nerdy and unprofessionally made as it was, Peter couldn’t help the bright smile that lit up his face.
“What do you think?” Ned probed excitedly, practically vibrating with energy.
“Dude, this is incredible,” Peter breathed out, his cheeks starting to hurt. “Did you make this yourself?”
“I bought it from some bakery down the street! I asked her if she could customize it, and, well…” He gestured to the cake in response. “I had to fix it up a little bit, but my handwriting isn’t too good, so—”
“—I had to write the message,” MJ filled in for him. “Very begrudgingly, might I add.”
Peter couldn’t help but let out a light, airy laugh at that, taking a few steps closer to look at the cake. “Is this all chocolate?”
“With white icing,” Ned answered with a nod. “Cool, right?”
“The coolest,” Peter agreed breathlessly. “Wow, man, you really didn’t have to do all this—”
“What? No! This is what a birthday should be!” Ned rushed to explain, looking over to MJ who simply nodded her agreement.
“Plus, this is the least we could do, y’know, with all the, well—” Ned made a frantic gesturing motion with his hands. “—y’know?”
Peter chuckled softly, nodding. “Okay, okay. But still.”
“I thought Ned made some rule about you not being allowed to feel guilty,” MJ deadpanned from behind, raising an eyebrow at him. “In fact, I thought that was a household rule,”
Before Peter could get the chance to stutter with embarrassment, Ned moved from his spot at the counter and rushed into the living area.
“We can’t eat cake before you’ve opened your presents!” He called out, quickly returning with a medium-sized wrapped box. Peter couldn’t help but snort at the sight of the Spider-Man themed wrapping paper.
“A little on the nose, I get it, but,” Ned said, practically reading his mind. “Open it up!”
Peter’s gaze lowered back down to the gift he held gingerly in his hands. For a moment, he just stared at it, suddenly met with an overwhelming feeling that caused his nose to sting. God, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d received a gift like this.
Slowly, Peter carefully peeled back the wrapping back in a methodical fashion. He held his breath as he turned the now unwrapped box over, eyes widening as he took in the cover.
It was a Star Wars Lego set. Of course it was.
“Oh my god, Ned,” Peter quickly rushed out, nose beginning to sting again with the promise of unshed tears. “Oh man, you really didn’t have to. I know these things are expensive—”
He was interrupted by warm arms circling around him, tugging him into a comforting embrace. It wasn’t long before Ned pulled back, beaming at him.
“It’s awesome, isn’t it?” He exclaimed, squeezing his forearms. Ned always seemed to know exactly how to make him feel better when his emotions got the best of him recently. “And we can build it together!”
“Really?” Peter smiled, eyes twinkling. “Yeah, I’d— I would love that.”
Ned gave him one last squeeze before dropping his arms back down to his sides and turning to MJ with a knowing look.
The woman in question cleared her throat softly, gaze skipping between the two.
“I- uh,” she started slowly, “have something as well. Just… be right back.”
With that, she quickly rushed off in the direction of her room. For a moment, Peter held his breath, not daring to speak and potentially ruin the moment. In the blink of an eye, MJ returned, a small rectangular box held in her hands. It wasn’t wrapped like Ned’s was—just a simple black box with a lid on it.
“Here,” she offered softly, outstretching her arms to him. “For you.”
Peter spared her a silent, grateful glance before looking back down at the box. He held it in his hands for a moment, fingers taking in the cool exterior. Swallowing, he slowly began to bring the top off. What stared back at him from underneath had a new onslaught of tears pricking his eyes.
“Oh, MJ,” he croaked out, a lump suddenly forming in his throat. “You can’t.”
“It’s from both of us,” MJ said, glancing over at Ned who nodded affirmatively. “We want you to have it.”
Peter’s hands shook as he took the object in his grasp. It wasn’t anything crazy or substantial in size, but it didn’t need to be. Not for him. Not when he currently held a newly furbished key, matching in exact shape and design to Ned and MJ’s.
“Peter,” MJ started slowly when she realized he was at a loss for words. “We want you here. With us. In one shared apartment.”
Peter’s bottom lip wobbled as he tried in vain to hold back tears, carefully placing the top of the box back on. “I can’t,” he whispered softly. “This is too much.”
“She’s right,” Ned echoed from beside him. “It’s about time, y’know?”
The brunette just shook his head as the first tear slipped down his cheek, remaining frozen in place.
“You’re here enough as it is,” MJ reminded him. “You aren’t alone anymore.”
Peter just shook his head again as he sniffled, eyes never leaving the box held out in his shaky hands. It wasn’t until two sets of arms pulled him into a warm hug that he let a choked sob escape him.
“You guys,” he whined out, voice choked with tears. “You can’t.”
“Try us,” MJ taunted softly.
Peter burrowed his head into their embrace, his shoulders shaking with silent cries.
“I love you guys,” Peter whispered against them after a few silent moments. Their only response was squeezing him even tighter.
After what Peter would consider an embarrassingly long time crying into his friends’ arms, he found the strength in him to finally pull back.
“Sorry, that was—” he started, clearing his throat, “a lot. That was a lot. I didn’t, um—”
“—get it through your thick skull that we’re serious?” MJ finished for him, raising an eyebrow.
“Uh, yeah. That.”
“Well, we totally are,” Ned assured.
Peter just nodded tearfully in response. “Okay,” he breathed out. “Okay.”
“Okay as in you’ll move in with us?” Ned asked.
“Okay as in I’ll think about it.” Peter looked between the two of them, holding the box tight against his heart.
“I’ll take that as a good sign,” MJ remarked, crossing her arms over her chest. Peter couldn’t help but let out a soft, wet laugh at that.
“Yeah, yeah, it is,” he confirmed, smiling.
With a squeal of excitement, Ned grabbed his shoulders and shook them fervently before running back over to the counter. “This calls for some cake, yeah?”
Peter chuckled, shaking his head fondly as MJ shrugged beside him.
“Why not?”
From there, the afternoon bled into birthday celebrations and laughter, the world outside forgotten entirely.
For once, surrounded by the love and affection of his friends around him, Peter could say with full confidence that he was truly happy.