The Amazing Spider-Man of Young Justice (Season 1)

Consequences

Peter's POV

I blinked my eyes open, the sharp white light of the hospital room greeting me as I stirred from my thoughts. Next to me, MJ was lying in bed, looking way better than the last time I saw her. Thank God for that. My heart unclenched a little at the sight of her, a soft smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. She'd been out cold for days, but now her color was coming back, and she looked... peaceful. It was a nice change from the horror show I'd been running through in my head since I woke up.

Apparently, I'd been knocked out for three whole days. Three days! M'gann told me that J'onn J'onzz—The Martian Manhunter—had been doing a pretty solid job pretending to be me in the meantime, which is kinda flattering but also terrifying. I mean, it's nice to know the guy can pull off my awkward teenage routine, but really? Martians going to high school? Pretty sure that's one universal constant—school sucks—even for aliens.

I sighed, leaning back in the stiff hospital chair next to MJ's bed, my mind buzzing but trying to play it cool now that everything had mostly calmed down. The symbiote was gone. The team was okay. And, most importantly, MJ stable.

I glanced at her again, my heart doing that annoying fluttery thing it always does when she's around. Even in a hospital gown, looking pale and exhausted, she was still MJ. The MJ that always seemed to get me out of my own head. The MJ that had stuck with me through so much, even when I didn't deserve it.

"Tiger?"

My heart jumped into my throat as I turned to her, seeing those familiar bright eyes, a little weary but awake, looking at me.

"MJ!" I said, standing up so fast the chair nearly tipped over. "You're awake! How—how are you feeling?"

She groaned slightly, touching her forehead. "Like I went ten rounds with the Hulk. But... I'm here. What about you? You look like you haven't slept in days."

I smiled weakly, rubbing the back of my neck. "Yeah, well, I've had a lot on my mind."

There was a pause, and then her eyes softened. "Peter, what happened to you?"

I froze. Of course, she'd ask. She deserved to know. I sat back down, taking a deep breath. "It's... a long story, MJ."

"I've got time," she said, her voice gentle but firm. She wasn't going to let this go, and I couldn't blame her.

I swallowed hard, the guilt clawing at me as I looked down at my hands. "It was the symbiote. That thing I was wearing... it changed me."

MJ's gaze didn't waver, but I could see the concern in her eyes. "No really? I couldn't tell." MJ said sarcastically

"I wasn't myself," I said, shaking my head and ignoring her sarcasm.. "I got... angrier. More aggressive. I said things, did things... things I'm not proud of." I paused, my throat tightening as the words caught. "I hurt you, MJ."

She looked at me quietly for a moment, and I could see the wheels turning in her head. "You weren't yourself," she repeated slowly. "But you still remember, don't you?"

"Every second," I whispered. "It's like I was watching it all happen, but I couldn't stop it. But that doesn't matter. The fact is, I hurt you. And I... I'm so, so sorry."

MJ sat up a little more, her eyes searching my face. "Peter... you didn't just hurt me. You scared me." Her voice was quiet, but the weight of those words hit me like a truck. "You weren't the Peter I knew. You were cold, distant. And the things you said..."

I winced, remembering the venom in my voice when I'd told her to stay out of my way, when I'd pushed her aside like she didn't matter. My hands tightened into fists. "I know. I know. And I hate myself for it."