𝓂𝓎 𝒹𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝓈𝓅𝒾𝒹𝑒𝓎 - 𝓅. 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓀𝑒𝓇

chapter 5

2016, New York - Queens

Peter Parker had just settled into his room after a long day of school and patrolling when a soft knock startled him. He turned toward the window, raising an eyebrow. Alec Stark stood on the fire escape outside, a small smirk on his face as he tapped lightly on the glass with his knuckle. The boy did a small wave as if this were the most normal thing in the world. Peter shook his head but couldn't help smiling as he hurried over to unlatch the window.

Peter quickly crossed the room, sliding the window up.

- You know, most people use the front door. - he said, stepping aside to let Alec in.

He hopped inside effortlessly, he landed in a smooth, graceful motion, as if gravity didn't quite have the same hold on him. He dusted off his jacket and looked at Peter with a tilt to his head.

- Front doors are boring. Plus, I like the element of surprise. - he gave Peter a playful wink as he straightened up. The curly haired boy tried not to roll his eyes.

- Right, surprise. - he muttered, but there was a faint grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. Alec had a habit of showing up unannounced (like some kind of cool, older mutant with an unshakeable confidence that always threw Peter off a bit).

- So, how was your day, Parker? - Alec asked, casually leaning against the wall, arms crossed, as his eyes wandered over the cluttered room.

Peter's face lit up immediately.

- Oh, it was... well, you know, the usual. - he started, rubbing the back of his neck - I mean, first period was fine. Physics was actually kind of interesting today, Mr. Harrington talked about gravitational waves, and Ned and I- oh! Ned's working on this new LEGO Star Wars model, and we spent half of lunch trying to figure out where the missing piece went but turns out it was stuck in his backpack the whole time. Can you believe it? And then, after school, I, uh, had patrol, nothing major though, just a few muggings and-.

Alec listened, half-smiling as Peter rambled, his hands gesturing wildly as he recounted every little detail. He couldn't help but think it was adorable - the way Peter's energy bubbled over, his excitement about the most mundane things making Alec's usual stoic demeanor soften. The young Stark wasn't used to people being so open, so earnest.

- -and then I ended up back here, obviously. - Peter finished, finally catching his breath. His cheeks were slightly flushed, either from talking too much or from the way Alec's eyes seemed to be focused so intently on him - Uh, sorry. That was a lot.

- Don't apologize, - Alec said, his voice smooth and teasing - I think it's cute how excited you get about everything.

Peter blinked, his cheeks heating up even more. He opened his mouth to respond, but words failed him for a moment. Instead, he scratched the back of his head and muttered:

- Yeah, well, you know, just trying to keep up.

Alec chuckled softly, then fell quiet, and for a brief moment, there was a comfortable silence between them. But Peter's curiosity got the better of him. He cleared his throat and glanced at Alec with a more serious expression.

- Hey, um... about Lagos.

Alec's playful smirk faded slightly, and he raised an eyebrow.

- What about it?

- Well, I mean... - Peter hesitated, unsure if he was overstepping - I saw what happened on the news. There was all that damage, the explosion, but you... you stopped the bomb before it hit the hospital, right?

Alec exhaled, looking away for a moment as if gathering his thoughts. He shifted his weight, the casual vibe from earlier replaced by something heavier.