His Protective Dad (Starker FF) Completed ✓

Burdens Beneath the Mask

As they reached the group, Peter forced a smile, hiding the inner turmoil that twisted his insides. He laughed at Ned’s jokes, nodded along with Harley’s banter, and even gave Morgan a reassuring pat on the back, all the while feeling like he was balancing on a tightrope, one wrong step away from falling.

But MJ’s worried glances didn’t go unnoticed. She saw through the facade, could feel the tension simmering beneath his casual demeanor. She waited for a moment when the others were distracted before pulling him aside again.

“Peter,” she whispered, her voice softer this time, “you don’t have to keep pretending. I’m here whenever you’re ready.”

Peter’s eyes softened, and a small part of him wanted to let his guard down, to let MJ in fully. But he simply gave her hand a gentle squeeze, his smile still in place. “Thanks, MJ. I know.”

With that, they rejoined the others. For now, Peter would keep his worries buried, pushing down the fear threatening to rise. But deep down, he knew that moment of reckoning was coming—one he could no longer avoid.

Peter’s days continued in a blur, each one blending into the next as he kept up the pretense of being fine. He managed to keep the worry from his friends and family, but at night, when he was alone, the weight of it all settled heavily on his chest.

One evening, he found himself in his room, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. MJ’s words echoed in his mind. You don’t have to go through this alone. She’d meant every word, and he knew that, but opening up was something he still struggled with. What if he shared too much? What if it only brought them more danger?

Suddenly, there was a knock on his door, and Morgan’s face peeked in. "Can I come in?"

Peter nodded, sitting up slightly as she slipped inside, closing the door behind her.

"I know you’re not okay," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "You don’t have to tell me everything, but… Peter, I’m your twin. I can feel it when something’s wrong."

Peter sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It’s just… hard to talk about."

Morgan sat down beside him, her hand finding his. "Then don’t talk. Just… let me sit here with you. You don’t have to carry it all by yourself."

He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t push her away either. Instead, he leaned into the quiet comfort of her presence, feeling the tiniest bit of his burden lift.

For a while, they sat there in silence. Morgan didn’t press for answers, and Peter appreciated that. He knew he’d eventually have to face his fears and let others in, but for now, just having her there beside him was enough to remind him he wasn’t completely alone.

The thought lingered, a small spark of hope in the darkness. Maybe one day, he’d find the courage to share his fears, to let those who loved him shoulder the weight together.

As the night grew deeper, Peter found himself lying awake, unable to shake off the lingering thoughts that had begun haunting him in recent days. MJ’s and Morgan’s words echoed in his mind, each one filled with genuine care, reminding him of the support waiting just a conversation away. But still, something inside him resisted the urge to open up, a fear of burdening the people he cared about with his own struggles.

Restless, he quietly left his room, making his way out onto the rooftop for some fresh air. The city lights glittered in the distance, casting a faint glow that seemed both comforting and isolating. He leaned against the railing, his gaze distant as he let the silence wrap around him. The weight he carried felt almost crushing out here in the quiet, away from the eyes of those who could see through his mask.

After a few minutes, he heard soft footsteps behind him. He glanced back to see MJ standing there, her expression unreadable but her eyes filled with concern. She didn’t say a word as she walked up to him, standing silently by his side. For a long moment, they both just stared out at the city.

Finally, MJ spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Peter, you don’t have to pretend around me. Not here."

Peter let out a sigh, feeling the fight to keep his emotions hidden start to slip away in her presence. "I don’t want you to worry, MJ. I don’t want anyone to."

She looked at him, the softness in her gaze unwavering. "That’s not your choice to make. Worrying about you, caring about you—that’s just what we do. You’re not alone in this, no matter how much you try to convince yourself otherwise."

He clenched his jaw, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke. "Every time I let people in, they get hurt. I don’t know if I could handle that happening again."

MJ reached out, placing her hand over his. "You’re not protecting us by pushing us away, Peter. We’re stronger together, you know that. We all want to be there for you, but you have to let us."

Her words settled over him like a balm, and he realized how much he’d missed the feeling of someone truly understanding him. He was so used to handling everything on his own, the idea of leaning on others felt foreign—but maybe she was right. Maybe he didn’t have to carry this weight by himself.

As if sensing the shift in him, MJ tightened her grip on his hand. "Whatever you’re going through, we’re here. And we’re not going anywhere."

Peter’s resolve finally crumbled, and he let himself open up, sharing the fears and insecurities he’d kept locked away for so long. He told her about the constant anxiety, the feeling that he had to keep everything together for everyone else’s sake. He shared his doubts, his worries about letting people down, and the guilt that ate at him every time he put his loved ones at risk.

MJ listened in silence, her presence unwavering, her understanding clear. When he finished, she pulled him into a hug, grounding him in a way he hadn’t realized he needed.

"Thank you for trusting me," she whispered. "And remember, you don’t have to face this alone. We’re a team, Peter. We always have been."

He held onto her for a long time, feeling the weight on his shoulders lighten just a bit. For the first time in weeks, he felt a sliver of hope break through the darkness. Maybe, just maybe, he could find the strength to face his fears—not by burying them, but by letting the people he loved help him carry the burden.

They stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s presence, as the city continued to buzz below. The silence between them wasn’t empty anymore; it was filled with understanding, with trust, and with the promise that no matter what lay ahead, they would face it together.