Wilted (Peter Parker x Reader)

64

Peter

Bruce barely managed a smile as he handed me a plated sandwich.

"Now sandwiches I can make." He spoke gently as I gratefully took the dish.

"I really appreciate it." I spoke glumly and stared at the bread.

"What's on your mind?" He asked as he sat at the bar counter.

"I just didn't think we'd take such a big step back like this." I sighed. "I can't believe I'm serving her meals in the tank again. It feels like a nightmare."

"I'm sure it isn't permanent." Though his words were hopeful, his tone was not. "We didn't even think she'd be out the first time."

"Just feels different." I muttered. "Hopeless."

"I'm sure she's getting hungry..." He trailed off as he had nothing helpful to say. I sighed and nodded lightly before turning around. I headed straight for the door, feeling like I was retracing a carved path.

As I reached the door, I knocked gently on the wood before pulling it open. I just wanted to give her a heads up, I know I would have appreciated it. I had no idea what kind of a mood she was going to be in. I guess it was just a good sign I couldn't feel her anger from here.

I walked fully into the room, each step slowing as soon as I saw her in the exact same spot as last night. It was really like she never moved, not even to sleep. I couldn't let her stop sleeping. There was no way I was going to let her revert fully.

"Hey," I called lightly. Relaxing a bit as she peeked up at me. "Hungry?" I raised the plate so she could see it better. Her eyes were soft but empty as she stared back at me. I frowned and walked to the familiar slot as she stayed silent.

After I pushed the correct buttons, the little doors hissed and opened, allowing me to place the plate inside. I looked back to her and let my arms drop in sadness as I saw her face was back in her knees.

"Y/n?" I asked and grabbed the plate. I pulled it back out and resealed the doors, learning from last time. With the plate still in hand, I stepped silently to the glass and took in her appearance. Her skin was clean from the blood but dark with deep bruising. She was lined with stitches that varied in size from two to six inches.

I was grateful to see her swelling was already going down but other than that, her pain was evident. Though she wasn't trembling with seething anger, she didn't want to be here.

"Y/n?" I repeated and tapped on the glass. She peeked back up at me with narrowed eyes before I realized I was accidentally mocking her like a shark in a tank. "Sorry... Aren't you hungry?" I offered up the sandwich again. She stared for a few more seconds before placing her face right back down.

I knitted my brows together and found myself impulsively throwing the plate to the ground. She darted her attention back to me and slowly, and painfully, stood to her feet as she spotted my immediate tears.

"Oh my god." I choked out and pulled at my hair a bit maniacally. "This is insane. This isn't fair." I rambled and began pacing the glass. "None of this is fair." I could feel her looking at me but she continued to stay silent.

I thought over everything I had wanted to say and barely had time to pick the best words before spewing them all out.

"You were getting better. You were doing so well." I stopped moving and looked at her sorrow filled face. "We came so fucking far. And then you exploded, for reasons that aren't even your fault, and you have to be back in here. Punished for being attacked. Punished for defending yourself. I'm supposed to be the one to stop you but I'm also supposed to be the one to support you and I don't know what to do. I never know what to do. I thought we had this shit figured out. You were right there. You were almost out and even though I couldn't touch you, I never felt closer. Now what? What do we have if you're in there? What do you have? What do I have? Has all of this been for fucking nothing? I just get you ripped away from me again? This is bullshit. It's not fair!"