Daddy Issues»©

Chapter 7*

Mary Jane rested for the next two days. She ate up everything but never left the bed. She never left her room. She took a shower now and again but other than that she had not even looked down the hallway.

Peter didn't mind it, but Ned was very concerned. He saw too much similarities between her and Peter. She acted just as he did when Ben passed away. She first locked herself away. Then stopped talking. Eventually she will stop eating, then she will start harming herself. It's the exact same routine Peter performed once. Ned didn't want to see anyone go through that, it was just as bad to see than it was to do.

While Peter was away still looking for a job Ned took the courage to go inside aunt Mays room and check on Mary Jane, only to make sure she wasn't doing anything harmful.

He didnt know her as well as peter did bit he cared enough to make sure she was well after her return. Peter would never be okay with it if he let something happen to her.

Ned knocked on the door with no reply. He knocked three times until the door swung open and thankfully the room wasn't in ruins. Mary Jane sat on the bed crisscross with her head down facing her phone. She was listening to a song on her headphones. The music was blaring very loudly, the volume was high enough Ned could hear the depressing lyrics across the room.

Her hair was wet and her face was washed out. She was covered in an over sized t shirt hiding the features of her feminine body type. She handled grief much better Peter. She could handle it and try to get through it, she was a fighter Ned thought.

She just took the same amount of time to fight that battle as Peter did. She loved herself enough to get through it, peter... He was done with loving. He took it differently because he lost someone he loved so love couldn't help him in that battle. Ned knew that now.

It took Ned to knock on the pastel pink walls for Mary Jane to notice he was standing there. He wore all sweats with his blonde hair curling up inward. He has been listening for her all day. Focusing through the thin walls just in case she did something drastic.

"Hi." Mary Jane spoke as she nodded his way with a half smile. She was still coping and couldn't bring herself to lie to him. She let him know she wasn't doing well with the fake smile. "I, couldn't thank you enough for letting me stay."

Ned felt guilty at those words. He was the one protesting against it before. Now that she thanked him he realized he made the wrong call.

"Oh, no...you don't have to thank me. After all its Peters place not mine." Ned corrected her.

The room fell in a awkward silence before Ned turned around. He got what he came for. (To make sure she wasn't doing anything bad) It would be unnecessary to stand there.

"W, wait!" Mary called out. "H-how do you know Peter?" She asked plucking the headphones from her ears.

"W-well we are kind of, together almost." He answered scratching the back of his neck nervously.

Though Ned has been openly gay for a time. It only felt awkward admiring his feelings for Peter. Be never got nervous talking about a guy in that way before, until he met Peter. He thought it was a sign it wouldn't work or it was something better. Not love but better than that.

~

Peter got home at just about 9pm. Ned was comfortably sitting in the couch with a video game magazine while a sci-fi flick played before him. He turned around excitingly when the jeyd jiggled into the lock and Peter walked in.

Peter was hunched over with his bag in his back. Sweat dripped from his hairline and bags covered under his Eyes. He dragged his feet to the kitchen and made him a meal without saying hi to Ned or looking his way.

Peter clearly got the job and it had to be a good paying one because he looks like we worked like a slave. Still who hires someone and then makes then work on the spot.

Ned watched Peter slowly fall asleep as he ate his meal at the table. He could barely pick up the spoon to sip his soup that Ned prepared for him.

"So you got the job?" Ned asked breaking the uncomfortable silence.

Peter nodded. It was unfinished, he was too tired to lift his head all the way up. It only went down stopped and down some more.

"You looking forwa-" Ned stopped in the middle of his question. He wanted to spend the night with Peter bit he clearly needed sleep more than anything.

"What?, looking forward to wjat?" Peter asked finishing his soup and dropping it in the sink.

"Nothing, head to bed. I'll take care of dishes."

Peter walked up the stairs and clothes the door behind him.

When Ned finished the chores he walked into the room to find Peter on his knees eating his head on the end of the bed. Ned chuckled lightly before taking Peters clothes off and put him in bed. He tucked him in and kissed his forehead much like a mother would. He then took a shower and put in pajamas. He felt it necessary to check on Mary Jane once again. She was sound asleep.