The hard part is reminding myself that. I know that logically, but... I still struggle with it sometimes. [He's honest about that as he releases a short breath.]
Thank you, I'm sorry for whenever I do end up just.... being weird about all of it again?
Yeah, I guess I do. [For once, he's not disagreeing or trying to brush aside the issue.] We all have a lot going on, so, I feel bad about mine taking up too much space.
With you, I know I can have some space though. Same with you with me.
[He laughs a little, his breath a warm tickle against Leo's skin. Table between them be damned, Peter shifts his chair over after the initial bunt to be closer to his boyfriend. The latke forgotten. ] I'll take you up on that.
Whenever you need carrying, I'm here for you too. Always.
[Peter's great latke experiment is decidedly forgotten for now and will remain that way.]
Yeah, it's what we're here for. [He agrees readily, soften a little. The fact Leo seems so relaxed about it helps Peter. The intervention hadn't been perfect, but it was needed.] Knowing we're not alone, that we can all help each other makes things a lot easier.
I know Rue is going to give me space, and I'll talk to them later, when I feel... better? More centered maybe, but I know they're here for me.
They love you, I know that. You don't... go through some of the stuff we did at ADI and not come out of it feeling like we gotta look after each other y'know?
Mhmm, yeah, that's... true. I wanted to protect you guys so badly, but I couldn't. It drove me a little crazy sometimes. [Suddenly just being a normal teenager again against his will had been so frustrating. It felt like a large part of himself had been ripped away. He wasn't able to be Spider-Man, nor did he feel like Peter Parker either.]
The ADI really hurt all of us, and it just- hasn't healed, has it?
[Leo sighs through his nose a little, tucking Peter's head under his chin. He doesn't stop the gentle affection of rubbing circles into his back, hugging him close.]
...Not yet, nah. Dunno how long that'll take to heal. [Some of it deeper than others.]
A long time, I think. [Peter is aware none of them are doing that great at times. The lingering paranoia, helplessness and fear don't just go away.
He stays close to Leo, just listening to his heartbeat. He isn't close to the turtle's chest, but it's always easy for Peter to just... hear Leo's heartbeat. His amplified senses make everything louder and brighter than he'd ever expected.]
I know, we at least have each other. Our family and that will help. [Peter genuinely believes that. That much is easy to hear in his tone. Optimism, something natural he steps into.]
Exactly. If I can't do something, which you know I'll do to do it all, but if I can't, then we've got the whole family here. And there's lots of other cool people around too.
[It's good to hear Peter believing something positive. Better than the near-breakdown from a few minutes ago.]
[Given they were flirting and playing before the topic got past the surface level, Peter doesn't want to completely ruin things. He wants to believe everything will be okay.] Yeah, it's... nice to not be alone.
I'll try not to. I'm pretty good at being worried about things. [He can joke about that a little at least.]
[Peter laughs a little at the tease. His expression warmed up a little more.] I'm working on turning it off, but, takes time.
Thank you. [Peter is going to give Leo a kiss in turn.] I- I'm trying to just take you up on that without needing to insist the same back. Because you already know.
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Well... You don't always have to try, but. Take your time with it. Mikey would say this kinda stuff can't be rushed.
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You don't have to do that, at least. I'm here to help carry some of that, and so is the rest of the fam.
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Thank you, I'm sorry for whenever I do end up just.... being weird about all of it again?
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[And if nothing else? He sounds like he means it.]
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With you, I know I can have some space though. Same with you with me.
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You take up as much space as you need, huh? I got a big enough shell to carry us both.
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Whenever you need carrying, I'm here for you too. Always.
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It's what we're here for. Carrying each other, right? And there's family and friends here to help when we can't do it ourselves too.
[Leo sounds... a lot more at peace about things than he did before, during, or even immediately after the intervention.]
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Yeah, it's what we're here for. [He agrees readily, soften a little. The fact Leo seems so relaxed about it helps Peter. The intervention hadn't been perfect, but it was needed.] Knowing we're not alone, that we can all help each other makes things a lot easier.
I know Rue is going to give me space, and I'll talk to them later, when I feel... better? More centered maybe, but I know they're here for me.
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They love you, I know that. You don't... go through some of the stuff we did at ADI and not come out of it feeling like we gotta look after each other y'know?
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The ADI really hurt all of us, and it just- hasn't healed, has it?
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...Not yet, nah. Dunno how long that'll take to heal. [Some of it deeper than others.]
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He stays close to Leo, just listening to his heartbeat. He isn't close to the turtle's chest, but it's always easy for Peter to just... hear Leo's heartbeat. His amplified senses make everything louder and brighter than he'd ever expected.]
I know, we at least have each other. Our family and that will help. [Peter genuinely believes that. That much is easy to hear in his tone. Optimism, something natural he steps into.]
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[It's good to hear Peter believing something positive. Better than the near-breakdown from a few minutes ago.]
So don't even sweat it.
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I'll try not to. I'm pretty good at being worried about things. [He can joke about that a little at least.]
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[It's said in all jest, leaning in to kiss the tip of Peter's nose.] Do I'll handle most of the heavy lifting when you need a break. All right?
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Thank you. [Peter is going to give Leo a kiss in turn.] I- I'm trying to just take you up on that without needing to insist the same back. Because you already know.
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[A kiss! Thank you yes please.] Good because I do know, and our whole family knows. So we've got each others' backs.
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Though, kissing is good too. Could mean you won't get your reward.
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Why not both?
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[He is a little weak for Leo's flirting.]
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[Another little kiss.]
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[And one more kiss for good measure.] Just, a couple more and we'll refocus.
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[Another quick peck, fingers stroking through Peter's curls for now.]
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