Chapter Text
A comfortable silence settled over the apartment for a minute as they each took a breath, Dick was a wonderful man but sometimes he was a lot of energy. It was hard to keep up with him sometimes and Peter could imagine how hard it must be when he burned out, Peter himself was similar just not in a social aspect.
He was startled from his thought when Jason gently bumped into his shoulder, he held a large bowl of buttered popcorn in one hand and a stack of movies against his hip with the other. Smirking, Jason tilted his head towards the couch and raised an eyebrow. Peter couldn’t help but roll his eyes yet his own smirk danced across his lips, he loved-
He stood quickly and raced Jason to the couch, laughing as the bulky man did his damndest to keep the popcorn from spilling. As the pair settled onto the cushions Jason slid his arm around Peter with such ease it felt natural, to his mild internal horror Peter couldn’t contain the loud purr that began to radiate through his chest at the contact.
Jason was close enough Peter could feel the rumble of laughter through his muscular chest as he moved a touch closer. “You’re too cute spidey, I didn’t know you could purr.” He grinned at Peter, the sight stole his breath and the rumble deepened as if an engine had replaced his lungs.
Peter’s face felt hot as he quickly covered it with his hands, a mixture of embarrassment and ‘fuck i love him’ burned in his chest and fueled the thrumming coming from within him. To his internal amazement he didn’t startle when Jason touched his bare wrist, the slits of his spinnerets being extra sensitive even compared to his usual hypersensitivity.
Jason slowly drew Peter’s slender hands away from his face, keeping his fingers loose on Peter's wrist so he could pull away if he chose to and to not add pressure on his cast. Without thought he let his hands slide into Jason’s larger ones as he looked up to meet the man’s bright green eyes, they always hypnotized him causing him to forget everything around them at that moment.
Peter broke the intense eye contact in favor of looking down at their intertwined hands, his face still burned hot and his mind whirled at breakneck speed.
‘He thinks i’m cute, he doesn’t think I’m a- he doesn’t think i’m a freak… of course he doesn’t, he wouldn’t. Not Jason, he was too good for that. He might have gray morals to some but after everything Peter could sympathize, shit life was hard after death.’
Peter found himself leaning into Jason’s chest as the movie began to pick up, though he barely paid any attention to the dramatic scene that played onscreen.
‘Dick had said something- “tell him” tell me? tell me what, oh gods he wanted me to know something important too. Now now Parker you gotta keep rational, but-‘
“Jason… what were you going to say before?” He blurted before his mind caugh up with his mouth, his eyes widened at his own idiocy and he mentally slapped his forehead.
Peter watched as Jason paled slightly before he squeezed Peter's hands, his emerald eyes roamed Peter's face before they locked onto his own again. Emotions swirled within the mixing green hues, waves of anxiety, hope, determination, and some emotions Peter had no name for but felt so strongly in his chest it felt as if his ribs had cracked open and finally freed his caged heart.
Jason took a second to breathe and calm his heart, it didn’t work much from what Peter heard but it seemed to be enough as he looked at the curly haired man beside him. A faint blush began to creep across his face as he spoke, his hands trembled faintly in Peters.
“It’s something I've meant to tell you for a while now but I've been a fucking coward… but i can’t let you go on without knowing anymore. When I thought I lost you it made me realize I can’t be an idiot with my emotions anymore- not with you.” Jason’s voice was clouded with emotion yet sincerity shone through clear as moonlight, Peter felt his own heartbeat speed up painfully in his chest as he listened to the long hidden truth.
“I love you, Peter. And in case that genius brain misinterpreted what I meant, I'm in love with you Peter Parker. You tilted my world on its axis when I met you and since then i’ve found myself drawn to your light, even after everything, all the pain you’ve suffered on top of your resurrection. It would be enough to turn anyone bitter but you- you are still so god damn good, self deprecatingly kind hearted, you still hold onto hope with an unwavering determination that i’ve never seen in anyone and my gods is it fucking beautiful Peter. You’re beautiful- handsome- fuck what I mean is you’re an amazing anomaly Peter and I’m- madly in love with you.”
In fact Peter's brain didn’t misinterpret anything, it straight up 404 errored, hard rebooted, factory reset. Peter blinked and found tears running down his face and a grin split across his cheeks, it couldn’t be! He’d spent so long convincing himself that he’d never hear those words, that those feelings weren’t welcomed and yet- Jason. Pitbull to the world, secretly sweetheart, turtle shelled, hard headed, ought to be illegally gorgeous, wonderfully snarky, Jason loved him.
“I- ohmygods- ohmygodsIloveyoutooJason!” He squeaked out as Peter half laughed half sobbed before he launched himself at the broad man, popcorn and broken arm be damned.
The pair met like two falling stars, holding each other as if they were meant to fit together. Jason caught the spider gently as Peter wrapped around him, their embrace the merging of two galaxies- two worlds.
Their eyes met again when they moved apart slightly, just enough for Peter to look up at his love, his light, his everything in awe as the deep pressure of love in his chest pushed the loud rumble harder from within.
It was hard to speak over the near deafening purr but Peter forced his voice through, he needed Jason to hear him too. “I love you too Jason, I don’t have the right words for what I want to say but i’ll try to find them because you deserve to hear it. Jay, you've shown me what trust is again after I thought i’d never trust a soul again, because that’s what I saw; a kaleidoscope in your wonderful soul. I was broken when we met, I think we both were- and that’s what makes us together so special. Because despite everything we’re healing each other.”
Peter took a couple breaths before he continued, his darker hazel eyes never left Jason’s eerie green for a second. He could feel his own eyes beginning to glow with emotion and he pushed the green rising in his chest down as he focused on the words in his heart.
“You’re the most amazing man I’ve met Jason and I fuckin mean that, you’ve shown me a side of life and a way of thinking that I never would’ve dared to try and reach without you- you made everything come back to life after i had lost everything, I was just a walking ghost. You gave me a reason to care about myself because i cared that you did, that I mattered to you- fuck, you make me want to be better so I can take care of you too. So we can focus on being happy and building our future together-“ Peter stuttered to a halt as his eyes darted away from Jason and back rapidly, unsure if he’d said too much and yet…
“Peter, can I kiss you?” Jason whispered breathlessly as he stared at Peter, seemingly lost in his own shared moment of disbelief as he processed everything Peter just confessed. His eyes traced the smaller man’s soft lips almost hungrily, the light in his eyes danced as if they held fire within them. Peter felt a giggle slip from him in delight between his purrs and he pulled Jason closer, pressing his body against the broad man’s while enthusiastically nodding.
“Ah ah, you gotta say yes for me, pretty boy.” Jason teased, keeping his lips just out the slender brunettes' reach with a smirk. Both of them knew Peter was hundreds of times stronger than the larger man, but that didn’t stop him from being able to fluster the spider.
“Please, kiss me.” Peter whispered back with a smirk of his own before- Jason’s lips connected with his. Oh . Oh it was everything he’d craved and more, his body melted into Jason’s as one of his calloused hands curled into Peter’s curls and he couldn’t help the small moan that slid through his lips.
Jason took a sharp breath in response and deepened their kiss which Peter met with enthusiasm, his hand gripped at Jason’s shoulder blades as if to push their bodies impossibly closer. Jason, seemingly tired of the lack of contact, pulled away only to strip off his shirt before pressing his lips back to Peter’s, who didn’t even bother to take his own shirt off but rather tore the cloth from his body.
By the time the two broke apart they were panting for air and… other reasons, both were flushed and wore matching grins where they lay together. Peter was held securely in Jason’s arms and for once he allowed himself to embrace how right it felt, to be fully connected to his person.
“If i had known that would be the outcome I woulda done that a long ass time ago.” Jason murmured with a chuckle once he’d gotten some of his breath back and Peter let out a full chested laugh, he leaned up and kissed Jason deeply again. Because he could do that now, holy shit that was amazing!
It took them an uncountable amount of time and probably too much effort to finally move, untangling their bodies like two serpents from their dance; all the while basking in the newfound comfort and confidence of their hearts revelations.
Jason stood first yet he never broke the physical contact between them, helping Peter up so gently as if he hadn’t just left a painting of deep hickies on the spider’s neck that trailed down his freckled skin. Jason’s own pale scarred skin was flushed and dotted with love marks, Peter had a tendency to bite.
The pair made their way to the bathroom, Jason gave his ass a playful smack as he entered the shower and he let out a playful moan with a smirk. The water was comfortably warm and inviting, soothing his tired muscles and washing the sweat off him.
Jason ever the gentleman stayed outside the curtain, which Peter appreciated until he had to wash his hair. This is where the challenge presented itself, he couldn’t get the cast wet or maneuver in a way to spread the shampoo without twisting his ribs.
“…Jay?” He hesitated, why? Peter wasn’t exactly sure, maybe it was asking for help or maybe it was that Jason would see his body again but without distraction. They both had scars but his- the scars that littered his back and torso, the two that sat vertically along his chest partially hidden by his attempts to build muscle; brought up a deep seated fear within his core.
Logically he knew he was the safest he could be, Jason would never hurt him. He had told him a while after they’d met, he’d been living as himself for a while but there was always risk when he told someone his true past.
“Yea’ Pete?” Jason sounded so nonchalant, so casual and relaxed it instantly put Peter at ease.
“Can you um, could you- help me wash my hair?” Peter said quickly and felt his face flush again, he heard Jason hum in agreement as he stripped his shirt and entered the shower leaving his sweatpants to be soaked.
Peter to his internal shock felt no need to cover himself as he stood bare before his love, his eyes met Jason’s where all he could find when he searched was love and the usual mischief. He finally broke contact to adjust the temperature, he was aware of Jason looking him up and down and for once he wasn’t afraid to be seen.
When Peter turned again he slowly moved closer, his thumbs caught the edge of the wet material and he met Jason’s eyes again. Silently he asked permission which Jason gave with a nod and genuinely gentle smile, with no sexual intent Peter pulled the remainder of Jason's cover away and left him bare as well.
Jason's body was just as marred with scars, the largest ones were the autopsy’s scars carved across his entire torso. Smaller scars littered his almost tan skin creating a map of pain across his body, he was beautiful.
Nearly breathless Peter whispered barely just above the rushing of water. “You’re gorgeous Jay.” The larger man flushed deep red, obviously unused to being the one receiving compliments. ‘Too cute.’
Peter moved close enough to lean up and kiss Jason softly before the brunette turned and handed him the shampoo bottle, turning his back to allow Jason full access to his hair. Jason’s hands were strong and rhythmically soothing as he worked the shampoo through the tangles, he was careful to avoid tugging at Peter's scalp as the spider closed his eyes blissfully.
Once the shampoo was finished Jason started the process again with the new curly haired conditioner he’d gotten specifically for Peter, the gentle scent of citrus filled the space infusing with the steamy air.
As Peter stood with his eyes closed and fully relaxed under Jason’s touch he took a moment to study the spiderling before him, Peter’s whole body was freckled like a night sky and Jason swore if he looked hard enough he could either find the constellations or create a whole new set of them.
While he never looked all that strong while in civies Jason could now clearly see and feel the muscles under Peter’s skin, his lean build hid his remarkable strength with an expertise that came only from an animal. Across Peter's skin danced a handful of scars, mainly a few larger ones that he knew Peter's healing ability must’ve struggled with.
The largest was a long and jagged scar along Peter's spine, a few various sized scars cut across his torso and legs. What had caught Jason’s eyes were the twin scars that sat neatly almost faded across Peter's chest, he knew what they were and he knew how hard it must’ve been to get to where Peter was now. Gods he felt pride swell in his chest, Peter really was a goddamn unstoppable force.
As soon as Jason had finished with the conditioner Peters eyes opened and he turned back to face the larger man, a lazy yet playful smile danced across his face as he moved closer once more.
“Food then bed?” Peter questioned as he subtly put his puppy dog eyes to action, biting his lower lip just slightly to show off the tip of his fang. Jason huffed out a good natured laugh and pulled Peter to him, kissing him tenderly before he reached to turn the water off.
“Food then bed.” Jason agreed with a few nods as he grabbed two towels, he wrapped the fluffy fabric around Peter's shoulders and did the same with his own. While Jason dried his hair quickly and went to get them fresh clothes Peter took a few moments to let his spider instincts take over, he covered himself with the heavy fluffy towel and sank to the clean floor on his knees. Curled under the fabric and cocooned in the warm darkness he felt a small purr rumble through his chest once more.
He heard Jason’s approaching footsteps and sat up not wanting his love to think something was wrong, as he sat there he tried to find the willpower to get his legs to support himself. As Jason turned into the doorway a grin slid onto his face, his eyes lit up with amusement and affection.
“Need some help there?” He smirked while he crouched to scoop Peter into his muscular arms, lifting the spider as if he weighed nothing. He carried Peter into the bedroom and placed him on the bed carefully before he handed the brunette the soft clothes he’d chosen.
Peter slid the clothes over his body before he flopped into bed, his hand waved around in the air for a moment before Jason caught it. He ran a thumb over Peter's knuckles and pressed a kiss into his skin, he slid into bed next to Peter and looped an arm around his shoulders.
Peter neesled closer and their bodies slotted together like matching puzzle pieces, both were equally exhausted and simultaneously exhilarated from the roller coaster of emotions and events the past few days. They both knew there was a lot more they needed to talk about, heavier conversations and uncomfortable truths but for now all of it could wait.
For now they were simply allowed to exist together, to bask in the warmth of each other's love and forget the hardships of the looming future. Together they had forged a harbor of safety in the darkness of the city, a place to call their own and create their ideal home.
The pair held each other close through the night and both knew in their soul no matter what hardships the future no doubt held, they had each other and that would always be enough.