Matt's POV
I heard Gwen walking away from me, her steps quick and her heart beating like she had just ran a marathon. I stood still, my breathing shallow and my chest feeling heavy. I took slow, shuffling steps out of the alley and into the busy streets in the opposite direction of Gwen.
I navigated my way through people and focused on Gwen. Her heart rate was going a thousand miles a minute; she was sniffling; a tear rolled down her cheek. I swallowed the lump in my throat and veered off into an empty parking garage.
I walked in and up to the highest level and sat on a cement bar in a parking space. It wasn't half past one. I had managed to dump my emotions of Gwen and push her away in the span of less than an hour. Gwen entered her apartment, then walked in her room and slammed the door behind her, shrinking down against the door sobbing. I sat with my head in my hands, just staring down. I'm not sure how long I spent like that, just listening to her, before I heard wind-cutting noises.
Fssh! Fsst!
I looked up, my eyes most definitely puffy and red.
"Hey, Matt," a man's voice said. He was from Midtown, I could tell. His voice sounded very familiar, but I couldn't remember who it was. He smelled herbal and faintly of vanilla. That's what Gwen smelled like.
Fuck. The web slingers, Gwen's scent on him; it was Peter.
"Hey, Peter." I muttered, fidgeting with a rock on the pavement.
He sat down beside me. He was wearing his Spider suit- the material scraped against the concrete. "Gwen, she uh...she came back crying, she locked herself in her room. I couldn't get her out." He said, rubbing his gloved hands together.
"Fuck, I'm so sorry, I- I couldn't control what I was saying. She thinks I'm trying to- to get her to like me. But I'm just trying to make amends and protect her, I swear." I sighed shakily.
"Hey, hey, hey, I get it." He said, patting my shoulder. "I assure you, she can take care of herself. She's resilient, she's tough. She doesn't need us." His lips parted in a smile. "But, I know that won't make you worry any less. So just, try to take it easy on her, okay? Let her cool down, then in a couple of days we can pick her up some food and apologize. Sound good?" he eased.
This was some solace to me, and I nodded. "Yeah, okay."
"Here, give me your phone. I'll put in my number." he said, pulling his phone out from a hidden pocket. I reached into the inside of my suit jacket and pulled out my phone. He took it from my hands and after a brief moment of typing, he chuckled.
"We're best friends now, okay? I put my name as Bestie Peter in your contacts." He replaced my phone in my hand. I gave a ginger smile and placed it back in my pocket. He stood up and ran to the edge of the parking garage.
"Bye Matt!" he howled as he swung away.
I sighed to collect myself and stood up again, focusing on Gwen. She was in her bed, her cheeks tearstained and her eyes all red. She was shuddering against the covers.
I broke her, and I had not one clue how I was going to fix it.
I paced home, starting to think of ideas of how I was going to apologize. Food was definitely going to be the best way. When I got home, I tore through my apartment looking for a notepad to start putting something together.
I listed everything she liked; candies, drinks, food- I even wrote down face masks.
I remember when she would beg me to put a face mask on me. When I finally said yes, I'd lay down my my couch and she would hover over me, gently painting it on my face. Although I complained about the sticky feeling, I loved hearing her soft breathing, her hair falling carefree on my chest. Those moments were priceless.
I'd give anything for that again. But I cut her off because I couldn't risk anyone I loved being targeted by Fisk. Caring about people left me weak- I learned my lesson with so many. Foggy, Karen, Claire, Elektra- I couldn't risk anything happening to Gwen.
My list got bigger and bigger until I fell asleep on my couch with my pen in my hand.
Gwen's POV
When I arrived home I slammed the door behind myself and threw Peter's food on the counter. He had webbed himself a hammock by my skylight, and when he heard the door he slung himself down from a web strand. I stood for a moment in front of him, my face streaked with tears as I kicked off my shoes haphazardly. Peter's expression was worried. "G-Gwen? Are you alright?" he stuttered, carefully bringing himself to the ground. As I fumbled with my shoelaces, he took steps toward me. Peter reached out a hand to my shoulder.
"Gwen, hon, what's the matter? Was it Matt?" he breathed. I flinched away from his touch and stormed off to my room, hot tears falling from my eyes. I closed and locked my room door, sinking against it. I sobbed hopelessly. Not a moment later, I heard Peter's footsteps at my door.
A gentle knock on the wood.
"Gwen, do you want anything? We can go for a swing, or for a coffee or something. It'll be alright," he offered, leaning against my door frame.
I sniffled and wiped my eyes, standing up from the floor. I backed away from the door, still sobbing uncontrollably. "Peter, please," I wailed.
"Are you okay? What is it?" He worried, both his hands on the door.
I sunk into my sheets. "Just go away. Leave me alone right now." I whimpered, shrinking into my comforter.
He gave a long, dejected sigh. "Alright." he murmured, walking away from my door.
