mcu/rise mashup

[neonleon]

for heyunderoos

this au got us bad so fast

Comments

[heyunderoos]

[Peter for his part is genuinely awful at pretending he doesn't pick out Leo. He keeps glancing back a little too obviously at the shadows, continuing his walk onto the next block.

Peter isn't sure what he's going to do. Shit. He wasn't... wasn't avoiding the turtles exactly. He wanted to go back. But after nearly destroying their universe he felt like he didn't deserve that comfort, that sense of safety. He ruined so many things by being selfish. May was dead, the turtles didn't remember him.

They didn't have to worry.

Now here is Leo, tailing after him. The person he wanted to see the most. It makes Peter's heart rate go a little crazy.

He eventually comes to a stop, ducking under an awning. When he does catch sight of Leo again, he makes fairly direct eye contact best he can, and waves.]

[neonleon]

[Leo hesitates.

Usually when he's in full ninja mode, no one can sense him. So how can this guy? What is this. Why is this happening?

He stops a block or so back, up on an awning watching the stranger stop and then catch his eyes. Something aches in his chest. Something powerful that pulls him in, especially with that stupid little wave. Fuck. Fuck what is this-

He ducks away, out of sight to breathe. He has to breathe because that draw on his ninpo is the strongest he's felt since he noticed it a year ago. This might be his only chance to get an answer and figure it out. But - he just needs a minute. Gather his thoughts, steel his nerves. And he peeks around to see if he's still there...?]

[heyunderoos]

[Leo outright ducking out of sight, the familiarity of it makes him laugh a little. Peter just wants to kiss Leo. Its a desperate ache in his chest.

Peter doesn't move from where he's standing, just adjusting his bag on his shoulder.

He smiles a little more shyly at Leo, waving again, be it with wiggling his fingers along with the gesture now.]

[neonleon]

[What the fuck what the fuck whatthefuck, he sees it. Leo's eyes widen and this kid definitely not only sees him but maybe knows him??? Why else....

He looks around, then back at the kid and nods to the alley between the buildings they're standing at. And then he disappears, intending to meet him there.]

[heyunderoos]

[Peter blows out a little breath, hesitating for just a moment.

He could just take off and Leo wouldn't realize until it was too late to follow. It would be easier.

Peter still finds himself drawn towards the alley Leo indicated, ducking out of sight of the street. He moves into the darkest part, aware Leo would likely drop in around here.]

Um, hey-?

[neonleon]

[He's never felt this anxious about something before, almost feeling himself vibrating out of his skin while he waits in the shadows. But as soon as he hears the other guy, his breath catches and that's exactly the sort of voice he pictured, even if Leo doesn't know how that's how he guessed it.]

Um. Hi. I-

Sorry, I just. I needed to talk to you.

[heyunderoos]

It's- okay. [Peter feels more than a little tongue tied now.] I- its- um.

Hi. [Smooth. Very smooth. He's starting to go a little pink all over again. He missed Leo, he missed Leo so badly.]

[neonleon]

[Why did everything stop? His thoughts, his heart, his breathing, all of it come to a complete standstill as he stares at this guy. One hand reaches to clutch to the pendant of that necklace he's been wearing since he found it.]

Hhhi. [Said out like an exhale of breath.] I'm not uh. Used to people noticing me.

[heyunderoos]

I mean, you're... you're hard not to notice. You're... [He's definitely falling in love all over again. He shouldn't. He really shouldn't. He's being so stupid.

But the sight of the necklace just makes his heart race a little.] kind of perfect.

[neonleon]

[What.]

What.

[Now he has different alarm bells going off. Last time anyone called them perfect or beautiful was Draxum and they all saw how that went. He clutches the pendant a little tighter in his palm.]

[heyunderoos]

[The reaction tells Peter he's a little too lost in his reaction. He turns redder, absolutely embarrassed and wincing at himself. He's still in love, while Leo doesn't even know him. He's being stupid. So, so, so stupid.]

Sorry, that's- a lot, like way too much. Its- [His grip tightens on his bag, as he backs off.]

It was nice seeing you again. [And he turns to take off, absolutely feeling stupid for a variety of reasons.]

[neonleon]

[He got caught up in the confusion of someone he barely has an inkling of feeling for calling him 'perfect' before he notices Peter getting ready to leave.

But once he does, he reaches for him, trying to catch his arm.]

Wait- I needed to talk to you.

[heyunderoos]

[Peter could easily shake off Leo's grab, but doesn't. He stops and just looks at Leo nervously.]

...Sure, I- we, can talk.

[neonleon]

[Shit he actually stopped.

he pulls his hand away once it's clear Peter isn't leaving, but now what.]

I-

Okay, I know this is going to sound insane. But... I feel like. I'm supposed to know you. I've - [He rubs his forehead, gesturing with his other hand as he talks.] I've been feeling this tug in my chest, and it's only gotten stronger when I saw you. It's like. Stupidly strong right now standing next to you like this. I've been trying to track it down for a year now, and- I think I'm supposed to know you.

[heyunderoos]

[Peter opens and closes his mouth, teeth clicking together audibly.

He shouldn't even be here with Leo. He should still be giving them space. He just keeps making their lives more complicated.

But...

He's still in love with Leo. His fumbling reactions, his heart rate going crazy and how badly he wants to be close is enough to show him that.]

You are supposed to know me. [He confirms quietly back. Unable to stop himself from saying that much.] It was just... taken away.

[neonleon]

Taken... away, taken away how? What happened?

[He looks at Peter with a mix of hope and heartbreak. He somehow didn't expect a confirmation of what he was feeling. That's the last thing he really expected here, but hearing it makes that feeling he's been grappling with feel more real.]

Who are you?

[heyunderoos]

I'm Peter, Peter Parker. [He says his name quietly, still used to having to introduce himself to everyone. He didn't even really exist anymore.] I... there was a wizard, and a spell he was casting seemed like the only way to make sure the universe didn't end, if I was forgotten. Because I made things start falling apart by being stupid.

[neonleon]

[A wizard removed this guy's entire existence from Leo's memory to save the universe.

How fucking arrogant of this guy.

But it feels right. This whole thing feels right, he can just barely grasp the idea of him shouting Peter's name frantic, panicking to not do something... What was it.]

And. And I don't remember who you are because of that? But I can still feel you?

[heyunderoos]

Okay, I'm just explaining this so badly, it's- I'm Spider-Man. [Someone who patrolled with Leo's family for years as far as they remembered, even if he dropped off from that due to his GED.] And someone outed me on live TV, it was- a thing. A bad thing for everyone. Enough so I stupidly tried to do a spell with a wizard, and then had to do a counterspell to make things less bad.

[Peter feels like he's tanking this, absolutely ruining this. He crosses his arms over his chest. If Leo hates him, it's easier isn't it? A cleaner break.] I was a part of your family's ninpo, for a long time. I- I don't think that went away?

[neonleon]

[He listens, just kind of feeling his thoughts around this. It's... a lot. It's a lot to hear someone you were close to suddenly erased his entire existence from your memory. Would Leo have asked for that? Would he have wanted it?

He thinks probably not.]

No. It didn't. I could feel it, this whole time.

[heyunderoos]

I'm sorry.

For a lot things. Even if it doesn't fix it. [Peter is genuine about that, well aware Leo is within his rights to just... leave. He couldn't blame him.]

[neonleon]

[He could. He could just leave, move on.

But he doesn't... want to. He still has his hand reaching out to Peter.]

...Can I... This is gonna sound weird, but can I hug you?

[heyunderoos]

[Peter is clearly surprised by as much. He looks back up at Leo, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth.]

I... yes, yes you can.

[neonleon]

[He doesn't hesitate for a second, letting go of his pendant and moving to wrap Peter up in a desperate hug. He feels that ninpo even stronger now, want and hope and ...a loss. On both their parts. It only takes a second of having Peter in his arms to know it's right, this feels right, it's supposed to be this.]

[heyunderoos]

[Peter wraps his arms around Leo readily, just clinging to him more than a little desperately himself.

It's an old muscle he hasn't flexed in a year, but his connection to Leo's ninpo is alive, light with magic as it reaches out.]