Wilted (Peter Parker x Reader)

43

Peter

She looked undeniably beautiful, sling and all, smiling underneath the sun. The green in the trees and bushes around us contrasted perfectly against her dark clothing; She was glowing.

I couldn't help the nerves in my veins as she bounced her vision around the woods, taking in every single leaf and rock we strolled along a commonly touched path. If she decided to run, it would be easy to catch her. I was more worried about the damage that came afterwards.

"It's so nice out here," She spoke softly as she spotted some celandine poppies. She crouched down close to them, the yellow petals only an inch or two from her eyes, and stared at them.

"You look goofy." I teased as I crouched beside her.

"I wanna get a good look!" She laughed. "I can't touch them."

"Do you want me to pick one for you?" I asked and reached down.

"No!" She yelled and grabbed my wrist. I snapped my eyes down to her hands, grateful my suit was on, before looking at her worried face. "What's the difference between you picking it and me touching it?"

I nodded and took my hand back, surprised with how much she cared about it. Last time she was in the woods, she didn't care about what she killed. The dead plants had led us right to her. Was she trying not to leave a path this time?

I furrowed my eyebrows and watched her closely as she continued to examine the flowers. Her breathing was the most relaxed I had seen from her, ever. She was at genuine peace in this moment and I couldn't help but stare as she danced her fingers teasingly in the air above the petals.

"What are you doing?" I spoke almost as a whisper.

"Trying to see how close I can get." She replied before just barely grazing her fingertip against the yellow. As soon as she made contact, the flower cauterized and wilted into a dead brown weed. "Ugh, damn it." She grumbled and rested her chin on her knee. She knitted her eyebrows together and stared at the plant she killed with nothing but remorse.

"What's wrong? There's more over there," I stated and looked behind her to where the yellow flowers coated the ground.

"That's not the point. There's always more." She grumbled and pouted like a child.

"What do you mean?" I leaned back from our crouch and sat more comfortably on the dirt. She stayed exactly in place but continued to talk.

"You guys are so fragile." She sighed and shook her head. "Like a flower."

"That's cute, thanks." I teased. She looked at me sideways with a grin before moving her position to sit right beside me.

"I just mean," she paused and shook her head as she tried to find the right words. "That could be you. That could be any of you. I need to get better at controlling it because once it happens, it's too late. It's permanent."

"Oh." I stated and looked at the deceased leftovers of the plant. She nodded and looked at me innocently before shoving herself back to her feet.

"Come on," She extended her hand. "Let's keep walking!" I took her hand graciously and granted a small smile as I let her lift me to my feet, her words repeating in the back of my head.

That could have been me.

"How are you feeling?" I asked calmly as I tried to keep myself from overthinking.

"Good." She stated simply and continued looking around.

"I'm glad." We only took a few steps before she spoke again.