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Sue was suffocating him. Everything was suffocating him lately. The Negative Zone had done a number on him, anyone with eyes could see that.
Was he overjoyed that he had his family back and that creepy aliens weren’t invading his personal space? Of course he was. However, was he overjoyed that he was being treated like glass? No, no he was not.
The Nightmares, the showers, not being able to look at himself in the mirror, all that he could manage. What he couldn’t manage was another one of Sue’s heartbroken looks when he flinched at the sound of cutlery being stowed away.
So he had to get out of the Baxter Building, and for a long time at that. The Fantastic Four would be checking in on him 24/7 if he lived on his own, so he’d need a roommate. Someone who would treat him as a mentally stable person even though at the moment he kinda isn’t.
Someone who was just as mentally unstable, but seemed put together enough so that they get the green light from his family for Johnny to live with them….
“Hey Webs.” Johnny plonked his arse down beside Peter who was currently smothering himself with pizza.
Upon seeing Johnny he began to choke but he regained his composures rather quickly. He leaned back on his hands and attempted a smile. He looked nervous which made Johnny nervous, something that wasn’t a good combination these days.
It’s not that Peter has been treating Johnny differently since he got back to the Negative Zone it’s just…he’s been acting strangely.
Like pulling Johnny’s chair out for him when he’s over for dinner, always checking up on Johnny during fights, giving him hugs when they part. It’s strange. He didn’t do those things before so he doesn’t know why he’s starting to now.
“Hey Johnny. What’s up?”
He opens his mouth but the words won’t come out. It’s like someone has poured glue down his throat.
He is meant to be asking could he become Peter’s roommate but instead, he’s impersonating a goldfish out of water.
It’s shouldn’t be this hard. Just get the words out Storm.
He’s thought this through. The Fantastic Four trust Peter, they won’t be checking up on him 24/7 and he’ll finally experience what it’s like having a roommate.
So why won’t the words come out.
“…Johnny?”
Ok, so maybe asking to move into your crushes apartment isn’t the brightest move but he’s desperate.
“Johnny.” Now Peter’s standing up alarmed.
He shakes his head and pushed him back down again so they’re both sitting. Peter going easily as butter which he never did before. If Johnny pushed Peter pulled, since when had that changed? Why is everything different now.
“Relax Pete, just a bit of a brain fart.”
“Do you get those often?” He asks worriedly.
If Johnny wasn’t already head over heels, the concern leaking form Peter’s voice would’ve made him sure of his stance on the matter.
“From time to time, doesn’t matter anyway. I think we should level up our friendship. Don’t you agree.”
Way to be lame Johnny, God, he’s never going to let you live with him now.
“I’m sure we do, but what exact—“
“Great.” He cuts in, nerves tumbling inside of him. “Do you ever use your office?”
If Peter was confused before, now he was completely bamboozled as to where this encounter was going.
“Um, not really. It’s just sorta collecting dust. I usually do my work in the kitchen anyway. Why do you ask?”
“Well don’t you think it could be the perfect bedroom.”
Peter goes stock still beside him. Johnny hates himself a little bit more now.
“A bedroom?”
“Yup. Can’t you see the vision? Blue walls, an armchair…oh! Maybe even a rug.”
Peter nods his head apprehensively.
“And this bedroom would be for…?” He trails off, eyeing up Johnny.
He feels himself go red. Maybe he’s out of line asking but he’s got this far and he’s never been known for backing out of a challenge.
“For someone.”
Johnny hopes Peter catches what he’s implying, or who he is implying.
“Someone.” Peter repeats and Johnny takes that as a yes. He nods furiously.
“Mhm.”
“And…would that mean then…you would have to share my bed?” Peter questions. Johnny turns crimson.
Oh if only.
“Woah Parker, buy me a ring first.” Johnny laughs out awkwardly before patting Peter on the back.
Then Johnny’s phone begins to ring. Surprisingly it’s Ben. Shit, he has to baby sit tonight. Completely forgot.
“Welp Webs I gotta go. Guess I’ll be seeing you, yeah?” Johnny asks hopefully.
Peter looks up at him with bigs eyes and nods, giving him two thumbs up.
Johnny then jumps, soaring through the air before bursting into flames. He has a love hate relationship with his powers now but the freedom is not lost on him.
He makes it to the tower where the kids grill him endlessly about why he’s still blushing. Very valid question, why is he still blushing.
Is it the prospect that Peter actually said yes to his very roundabout proposal or that Peter had asked him to share a bed?
Either way he blamed it on the cold and told them that nosey children don’t get ice cream.
Both of them were cuddled up to him on the couch. Before the Negative Zone both of them had claimed to be too big for cuddles with Uncle Johnny, but now it was hard for them to ever leave his side.
They both fall asleep half way through the movie and Johnny couldn’t blame them. It was boring as fuck.
He himself is about to nod off when he hears persistent tapping at the window.
He looks over to see one spider, who manages to look sheepish even under the mask.
Johnny waves at him, which he takes as his cue to come in. He manages to trip over a stray shoe and Johnny has to hold in his laughter.
“Hi.” He says breathlessly.
“Hey.” Johnny say. “There’s ice cream in the freezer if you’d like some?”
“No, no I’m ok. I’m just stopping by. I actually came here to talk about the thing we were on about earlier.”
Johnny sits up a bit which causes Val to stir before she lays her head back down again.
His heart is going a million miles per hour, which he knows that bastard can hear.
“What about it?”
“Well…do you want it to be a big or a small thing when we announce it?”
“Hmmm. Whatever you think is best ok?” He doesn’t want to push Peter. He’s already being so nice about the whole thing.
Peter looks like that wasn’t the answer he wants to hear but he nods none the less.
“Okie dokie, I’m just gonna.” He gestures behind him, making his way to the window before he freezes. He walks back to Johnny who looks at him strangely.
“Peter wha—“
Peter presses his lips to his forehead and then poof, he’s gone, leaving Johnny to gape at the window. Wow.
Fuck.
So other than that strange night it’s been radio silence between the two best buds and Johnny is taking it like a champ.
So what if his smiles become even more forced? Who cares! Peter changed his mind, he was entitled to. He didn’t sign an agreement. He owed Johnny nothing. Didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.
A week has passed and Johnny decides to go house hunting, that very day Peter decides it’s time to face the music and knocks on his window.
Johnny just had put his shirt on when Peter had crashed into the window.
Dead silence encased the room before Johnny doubled over in laughter. Peter peeled himself from the window with a scathing look.
Johnny sobered up a bit when he realised Peter had seen him shirtless and also when he remembered what happened last time they met up. When Peter actually entered he took one look at Johnny’s state and said:
“Fuck off.”
Johnny blew him a kiss.
Peter made himself at home on Johnny’s bed. He twisted and turned until finally he decided to sit crossed legged. He then flung his mask to the side and clasped his hands together.
Johnny mirrored him and couldn’t help the jitters that were hitting him. He felt like he was being interviewed.
“Johnny.”
“Peter.”
“What names are you thinking?”
Johnny narrowed his eyes.
“Names…?”
“Like what names do you like.”
“Um. I’ve always liked Castor.”
“Hmm. Castor.” Peter rolled it over his tongue in deep thought before nodding his head.
“I like it. what else.”
“Oh. Tagdh? I saw it in a magazine once.”
He didn’t know where this was going but he decided to go with flow for this one. Even though it was making its way to be top ten weirdest convos with Peter. How bad is it that he has an actual list?
“I prefer Castor but Tagdh is a lovely name.”
“And you?”
“Hm.” Peter seems lost in thought before snapping out of it. “Oh! Well Ben of course.”
Johnny nodded. His Uncle of course would be held in high regards as a name choice for…something? He still hasn’t figured out what the fuck they’re on about.
“For a girl you could name her April.” Johnny joked.
He wasn’t exactly sure if that would be a suitable name choice but he wanted to be helpful none the less.
“April?”
“You know, May and April, get it?”
“Oh that’s brilliant but I thought you’d prefer it to be a boy.”
So a sexuality talk wasn’t what he was gunning for this conversation to actually be about, but look on the bright side…there’s actually no bright side. Johnny can’t believe they’re about to do this. He’s sure he’s going to light on fire soon as to how warm he is becoming.
Then a scream can be heard and Peter’s off swinging, telling Johnny to stay put. Johnny is left sitting there wondering how the fuck he managed to get himself into this.
Is Peter trying to set him up. Is that what that was? God, it’s not even eleven yet. He’s not mentally prepared for this.
He groans before rising from his bed. His plan is to go down to the garage and work on anything. Just something for him to do.
“Morning Johnny.” Sue says as she stands over the cooker. She has sausages and rashers on the pan.
“Hiya Sue. Where’s the kids?”
“Alicia and Ben took them to the zoo. Val has a fascination with penguins so she wanted to see one in the flesh. Just me, you and Reed this morning.”
“Ahh. Perf, well I’m heading to the garage, I’ll be back in an hour.”
He can hear the pan being set down harshly, albeit unintentionally.
“Ar-are you sure?”
“Sue.” He sighs out.
“It’s just….” She stumbles out.
He gets it, he does but he feels like he’s drowning in sand here.
“When you left Johnny…I didn’t think…and now, I just, I worry.” She says finally before squeezing him tightly.
He hugs back just as tight.
“You couldn’t get rid of me that easily.”
Sue chokes out a laugh or a sob, he can’t tell.
“Just promise me you’ll look after yourself. You just don’t seem to be eating.”
He can’t look her in the eye. He can barely look at himself in the mirror without disgust being etched there.
He hasn’t been eating but he’s trying, that’s all he seems to be doing as of now. Trying to be normal. Trying to smile and laugh at the right time. Trying to be who he was before, when he is so clearly not.
Sue can see it as plain as day so she shakes the wooden spoon she’s holding at him.
“If you don’t start eating I’ll tell Peter. Then you’ll see a true mother hen.”
That makes Johnny smile. “Whatever you say Sue.”
He’s content to let the subject drop but she’s not.
“I’m serious Johnny, remember when you were sick. Who came over every single day? Who wouldn’t leave you be? Who drove you up the wall so now you never leave the house in winter without a hat incase that incident ever happens again.”
That causes Johnny to let out a long suffering groan. Three years ago Johnny had caught a bad case of pneumonia. It was especially rare for something like this to catch to a living fire. No worries, just one mother hen to deal with.
Then all of a sudden, Petey Pie decided that hey, he actually needs to be up in Johnny’s personal space, every day, for two weeks, niceeeee and personal. So close Johnny could count every eyelash when he leaned over to check his temperature, which he did a normal amount, goes without saying, so five times a day.
It had driven Johnny mad, especially since he was back together with Felicia back then.
The audacity of him was outrageous.
Sue smirks as if she knows she’s won.
“That’s what I thought. If you’re not up by one I’m giving him a buzz.”
He gives her the middle finger before trudging off.
New York is a bit worried because their friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man seems to be out of the loop. John doesn’t pass any heed at first but once he can’t find him either he decides to pay him a visit.
It will also be a good time to clear the air. Get a straight answer about some things.
He somehow finds himself at Peter’s door one evening even thought he said he’d visit him tomorrow. Before he can think about how worried he actually is about not seeing Peter, he’s knocking on the door.
Miles opens the door and Johnny’s heart sinks. Don’t get him wrong, he loves Miles, he’s a wee dote, doesn’t make him any less nervous as to why Peter didn’t answer.
“Oh Johnny, hey.”
He can hear a crash come from inside the apartment. He tries to peer inside but no luck. Miles is blocking his view.
“Hiya Miles, is Peter home?”
Another loud bang, some vile language followed by aggressive splashing of water.
“Eh….” He looks behind him before returning to Johnny.
“He said no.”
Sailor mouth then comes stomping towards them before Miles moves away laughing.
Peter is covered head to toe in blue paint.
It takes five minutes for Johnny to stop laughing.
“I’m serious Peter, you do not have Spider senses, they just don’t exist anymore.”
“Can it Johnny.” Peter snapped, rubbing furiously at the paint.
Johnhy’s laughter had died down and with it came his plummeting mood. He still wasn’t allowed in the apartment but he was covered in blue paint, maybe it was a right mess in there.
A mix of emotions was running through him at the moment.
“Can I…?” He gestured vaguely to the inside of the door but Peter leaned heavily against it.
So he’s gonna take that as no.
Peter is quick to retrace his steps.
“Uh, not right now, it’s just kind of a mess and Miles—“ He leans in close to Johnny, “—well he’s a bit shy.”
“Suck one Petey. Johnny he’s just embarrassed cause he’s got a cru—“
“A CRUDE MENTEE.” Peter screeched at Miles before disappearing behind the door once more.
Laughter and webbing could be heard then Peter reappeared.
“Sorry about that.” He said, and then whispered quietly, “Little shit.”
“Well if you’re busy I’ll leave you be.”
Miles comes up behind Peter and smushes his cheeks together.
“I’m never too busy for you Johnnycakes~” He singsongs. Peter looks two seconds from strangling this kid.
“Don’t you have, you know, homework!?”
“Give the kid a break Pete.” Johnny says.
“Yeah Pete.”
Miles grins wickedly and Peter looks flabbergasted.
“How could you betray me.” Peter crooned while Miles blew raspberries at him.
“Hmm? I think it’s because he likes me more.” Miles pretends to ponder.
“He does not.”
“He does too.”
“Johnny who do you prefer.” Peter accuses.
“Miles duh.” He says before slinging an arm around his shoulder.
They chat like this for a few more minutes before Miles insists he needs to leave. Johnny then gets the bright idea that he’ll race him to his house and Miles loves a challenge, so he says yes
“I thought that was our thing?” Questioned Peter, genuinely looking a bit hurt.
Before Johnny can answer Miles buts in.
“No your thing is making heart eyes at each other. Now come on.” Miles tugs at his arm and he has no choice but to follow.
“Later Pete.” He waves as he leaves, Peter watching every step of the way.
Miles beats Johnny in the end but Johnny did go a bit slower than he normally would with Peter. Let the kid have a win, he needs it.
“Sooooo Johnny.” Miles drawls out.
“Yup?”
Whatever question he was about to ask Johnny, he decides he shouldn’t ask it. He gives him a small smile and climbs in through his window.
“Nothing. I just wanna wish you and Pete good luck.”
Johnny’s a tad surprised at this. Maybe Peter hadn’t changed his mind about the whole roommate thing.
“Thanks Miles, you’re a good kid.”
“Yeah I know.” He says cheekily, then more sincerely, “It’s good to have you back Johnny.”
Johnny’s heart warms at that.
“It’s good to be back.”
Miles snorts. “Cringe.”
Johnny leaves him coughing smoke as he soars into the sky.
“A jewellers?”
When Peter had asked Johnny to meet him for breakfast he had expected the park or that nice little cafe they both love, not this.
Peter doesn’t look put out by his lack of enthusiasm.
“I thought you’d like to come. Tell me what I should or shouldn’t get.”
“Right.” Johnny says. “And you’re getting a ring for?”
Peter gets a fond look in his eyes. “Someone very special.”
Ok so that narrows it down to just about anyone. Felicia is out and about in Europe, Betty is back together with her husband, more couples counselling, could it be for that one girl a year or two back? Oh who’s he kidding, it’s gotta be for Mary Jane. Of course it is.
His heart crashes and burns all at once but oh well. He tries not to think about his crush on Peter, he’s kinda nailed it throughout the years, pushing it deep, deep down.
This is not helping him keep it down.
Well if he’s planning on proposing to Mary Jane why would he let Johnny live with him? Fuck this, he has to know.
“Pete what’s happening with the whole living situation?”
“What do you mean?” Peter asks. He asks it as if he’s treading on very fine ice.
“When am I moving in?” He is sick of this not knowing shit. He needs to be blunt.
Peter looks a bit taken back but suddenly he’s nodding furiously and tugs him towards the jewellery store.
“Oh wow, well, let’s see. Uhh the ring will take a few days and then of course I’ll have to ask Sue, and then moving all your stuff…in a week or two? Would that work.” He asks it so hopefully it makes his heart melt.
“Yeah that’s perfect Pete.”
With that out the way they go to store after store looking at rings. Only problem is, Peter’s not looking at rings that Mary Jane would like.
They’re in a quaint little shop, fifth one of the day and they’re currently looking at a section that would typically cater towards men.
“Pete.” Johnny whispers. There’s a mean looking lady behind the counter and Johnny doesn’t want to try her. Reminds him of a librarian.
“Hm?”
“I don’t think Mary Jane would like these rings.”
“Mary Jane? Well I’m not buying it for Mary Jane.”
Johnny’s eyes widen to saucers.
“If you’re not buying it for Mary Jane, who are you buying it for?”
He lets out a gasp.
“Don’t tell me you and Daredevil.”
Peter shushes him and blushes furiously.
“That was a one time thing, god why did I even tell you about that and no, I’m not buying the ring for him.” Peter hisses back.
“Then who are you buying it for?”
Peter looks gobsmacked.
“You! I’m buying it for you.”
“What!?” Johnny squeaks.
Then a metal claw crashes through the window and grabs Peter.
One cult kidnapping later and a run in with Doc Ock left Johnny carrying Peter back towards his apartment.
Peter’s words had swirled in and out of his mind all day while they were fighting.
He was buying the ring for Johnny? He never gave him any hints and then kaboosh, ring, and not any ring at that but an engagement ring.
Peter got injected with some sort of serum, made him all loopy, and clingy so Johnny couldn’t push for answers just yet.
Thanks a lot Cult of Luna.
He was plastered all over Johnny while he struggled to get the door unlocked. It was hard when a spider baby kept tugging at you.
“Peter please.” Johnny stressed out.
Peter actually fucking purred. Did you know Spiders could purr, turns out they can.
They managed to tumble their way into the apartment. Johnny walked them both into Peter’s room where Peter flopped onto his bed and began to make snow angles.
“Right.” He mutters before going back out in search of water.
Reed had told him that the only way to get rid of the serum was to flush it out of his system. He also said to not ask Peter too many questions, he wouldn’t specify why.
It was mortifying, Peter clinging to him and fucking purring while in front of his entire family, all who knew Johnny had a big, fat, stinking crush on the guy.
Safe to say he’s never living that down.
Once he successfully finds the glasses he makes quick work of pouring the water and making a quick sandwich.
Another thing that was different was that people changed when Johnny left. Of course he knew that was bound to happen but he hoped that they wouldn’t have changed so quickly, even if this change was for the best. Full fridge was better than a half empty one.
He makes his way through the corridor and passes the room. Yeah, that one. Should he go in…? He peeks over to where Peter is and there’s not a sign of movement so he gently pushes the door open.
His mouth hangs open when he sees what’s inside.
A crib, an armchair, a rug, shelves and a wardrobe. The walls painted the same blue Peter was a few days ago. This is a fucking nursery.
He hears Peter groaning so he leaves and shuts the door with more force than necessary.
“Hey you made me a sandwich.” Peter says to him once he spots sight of Johnny.
Johnny’s not in the right mental state to answer so he just hands him the goods.
Peter tears into them like a starving man. Once he’s done he places everything to the left and tugs Johnny to the side of him.
Johnny, who is boneless at the moment, goes down with him without a complaint.
Once Peter has secured him around his waist he lets out a sigh.
“Pete.”
“Yes love.”
His heart soars while his stomach plummets.
“Why is there a nursery in your office.”
“Do you like it.”
“Are you expecting a child.”
He sounds so emotionless when he says it but he can’t help it. It’s like his dreams have been crushed. It’s selfish and a terrible thing to say, this could be Peter’s happiest moment.
Johnny just can’t handle another thing changing, he’ll crack if it does. If Peter changes so irrevocably he doesn’t think he’ll be able to handle it.
“No you silly goose. It’s for our child.”
Johnny leaps from the bed.
“What did you say.” He says it in a deathly, cold tone.
Peter sits up then too.
“Our kid? That’s what you said you wanted.”
“WHEN?!?!” Johnny cried out.
“Remember, you said we needed to level up and that a ring and, and, and the office would make a nice room.” Peter stumbles out, serum slurring his words.
It’s hits him all of a sudden. Note to self, be as blunt as possible next time.
Then it really hits him.
“PETER WE AREN’T EVEN TOGETHER.”
“So?”
“SO? WHY WOULD WE GET MARRIED.”
Peter looks like he was slapped.
“You don’t want to marry me? I thought you loved me?”
“I DO LOVE YOU!”
Johnny then slaps a hand over his mouth.
“I shouldn’t have said that.”
He tries to make a run for it but Peter scrambles up and catches him by the hands.
“Johnny, Johnny Spencer Storm I love you too and I missed you so fucking much and you left me on my own Johnny and then I realised how much I love you and you left me your position you absolute bastard and I just, Johnny I’m fucking terrified, I got a second chance and don’t abuse this but if you told me to go butt naked up into space with you I would, Johnny I would do anything for you. I thought you wanted a kid and to get married so that’s why…yeah but love, I don’t give a shit if you don’t want to marry, or, or have kids, just tell me what you want baby and I’ll give it to you.”
Throughout this conversation Johnny has somehow managed to roll onto his back, Peter on top looming over him.
“You. I want you.” Johnny breathes out.
He doesn’t know who moves first but their lips crash together and soon Johnny finally drops the act, because he is truly happy.
It’s like when he flew for the first time, when he first when up into space. Holy shit. He’s kissing Peter Parker. The kiss deepens and suddenly he’s really being pressed to the mattress, if you catch his drift.
“Sorry, stupid Spider things.” Peter mutters embarrassed
“No it’s ok.” Johnny burns up and refuses to look down.
Peter throws him a blinding smile before they’re at it again. Peter dives for him like a starving man. It could’ve been a minute an hour, or a whole year when they break apart again.
“Holy shit.” Johnny puffed out.
“Holy shit.” Peter echoed.
They turn towards each other on their sides. Peter reaches over and whisks away a stray hair that had fallen.
“Gorgeous.”
Johnny shoves him on his chest. Peter giggles, actually giggles, before shoving him back. This goes back and forth until they are out of breath once more.
As soon as they sobered up Johnny felt like he had to fill the space.
“I still can’t believe you missed me.”
“What don’t believe me?” Peter questioned.
Johnny gives him a shrug.
Peter tuts. “That won’t do.” He’s then grabbing him by the hips and leaning in close.
“Want me to show you just how much I missed you?”
“And then me and your dad kissed some more.” Johnny concludes clapping his hands once.
“Ew daddy.” Castor says while making a face.
“Is that it?” Ben number three questions.
“What, you don’t like the ending?”
“Too much kissing.” April laughs.
All three of them are smushed together on Peter and Johnny’s bed, waiting for Peter to return home from patrol. Somethings just stay the same. At least he has company now, and good company at that.
“Can you finish the story.” Pleads Ben.
Johnny decides to wrap it up as he can see Castor’s eyes droop.
“Well from then on out me and your dad were a couple. Then two years later we adopted you Ben, then you April and last but not least you Cas.”
He opens his mouth to say more but they’re all fast asleep. Johnny chuckles before switching off his lamp.
He closes his eyes and drifts off to sleep. He wakes up again later to find Peter has made it back safe and sound, and was currently hanging on for dear life at the edge of the bed. He has an arm thrown over the lot of them and Johnny smiles.
If you were to tell Negative Zone Johnny that in ten years he’d have all this he’d laugh in your face before lashing out.
He snuggles deeper into the blanket. Yup, everything turned out alright in the end, and he came to love certain changes.
He cracked an eye open to look at his kids and his now husband. Yeah, change isn’t all that bad.
BONUS:
“It would seem our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man has been a little too friendly with a lady friend. From our sources we can see him carrying blue paint, a crib, a wardrobe and many, many toys. OH! LOOK AT HIM NOW! ROB ARE YOU GETTING THIS?”
“Holy Fuck.”
“SPIDEY, SPIDEY WHAT IS WITH THE GIANT STUFFED BEAR? John he’s coming down, GET THE MICROPHONE.”
“Uh, Hi.”
“Spider-Man, all of New York is dying to know, what is up with your personal life.”
“Well that’s kind of a personal question but eh, is this camera on?”
“Yes we’re live.”
“To the person who owns Bo’s Boutique, ye are robbing BASTARDS. You’re also not very nice. That’s all I got to say.”
“WAIT SPIDEY!…and he’s gone. Well folks you’ve heard it here from us first. Spider-Man is expecting and he knows all about where to shop, Ladies and Gents steer clear of Bo’s Boutique! Now let’s hear for today wonderful sponsor. Who is it John?”
“Uh, Bo’s Boutique?”
“…shit.”