CAPTURED BEAUTY (Peter Steele x Reader)

TWENTY-ONE: It All Comes Down

He'd imagine it all with you. Peter would think of the possible outcomes as he gripped his phone in his hand. Your phone number was luckily found through his manager way back when you'd do the photo shoot for them and he'd sink in his couch, reluctant to dial the string of numbers. The last conversation the two of you had was immensely tense and hurtful. There was no doubt about it considering he pushed you so far as to leave Brooklyn entirely. There wasn't a day he hadn't blamed himself but he also couldn't live another day without you in it. Not without at least making things right, at least.

Peter's thoughts fade as slow and gentle thumps of the stairs make Peter's eyes tear away from the phone. He sees his mother's careful descent down them and stands quickly. Peter freezes at Nettie's wave of a hand.

"I'm fine, you know? You don't have to baby me." She padded over to the couch, taking a seat beside him.

"Right, well is that what you came down to see me for?" He asks, plopping back down into the cushions.

"Yes," she smiles, "but I'm also just making sure you're not doing anything stupid."

"Little late for that." Peter mumbles as his attention steers away from her and to the phone still in his hand. There's an anxiousness that swirls in his chest stemming from uncertainty. He'd travel all across the world and put substance after substance into his body with little to no hesitation, but this? The question rang in his ear once more if he was even good enough to think about the sound of your voice.

"You've brought some interesting women home for our family to meet." Nettie simply states, "I haven't seen all of ours together like this in a good while. Not since we had that pool in our backyard and crowded family pictures taken on those steps. You remember?"

"Mm, I do. Thought we were going to break the porch with everyone on it." He lightly jokes but his smile doesn't stay on for very long. "I want to make things right with her. I really do. Y/n came here with a plan to start a whole new life here and the cards she'd been dealt with...even dealing with me I—"

"Enough of that," Nettie stops him, "no need for that. God has a way with these things and it's about time you start looking inward."

"Hard to think of God when he's abandoned me in all sense of the word, Ma. I don't think I can go to church, not when I'm still worshiping her even if she hates me."

A quietness settles over them both as Peter presses one number after another. It had been so long since there was a call between the two of you that the numbers were merely forgotten. When Nettie silently stands to her feet and disappears back upstairs, Peter is alone with the deafening dial tone.

Then there's an answer.

"Hello?"

Peter takes in a quick breath at the sound of you. It's a matter of not spilling his guts out to fill your ears.

"Hey, Y/n. I'm sorry for calling out of the blue. I just ...wanted to reach out."

There's a static that makes his heart clench and mind race a million miles per hour. Rejection seeps into the silence but before he can panic and hang up, you reply.

"I wasn't expecting you to call. Sorry. I've been busy at home, you know? You...doing okay?"

"Mhm, yeah, yeah, I'm okay. I, uh...got out of rehab and just been home with family." Peter stutters like a schoolboy which makes him want to hide even more and groan into his palms. Luckily, any sort of noise is kept inside. "Listen, Y/n. I know you don't want to hear from me—"

"A part of me doesn't."

"Which is understandable, but I—"

"But I won't forgive you."