|| LONGING || EDITTING

|| Chapter Thirty - Four ||

Peter was sat at his desk, his body hunched over the desk as his finger pressed the mouse every now and then, his fingers dancing on the keyboard repetitively and his eyes reading every word that appeared on the screen. For the past few days, he has done nothing but research and analyses the USB Sophie gave him, which was very beneficial for him to understand why Arizona was acting the way she was. He looked at the time to see it was 8:30, so, he turned off his screen in the hopes of distracting his mind despite the countless pieces of paper that scattered his desk with facts and symbols - everything to do with Hydra in a simpler state so he understood it more. He inhaled deeply, getting up from his desk and stretched his limbs before heading toward the bathroom with a towel in hand.

Said teenager was unaware of how a specific someone was pulling up his window. She stalked into the room, silently closing it and looking around his covered walls before looking at his bunk bed, she took a seat on the top bunk, her slightly astounded by the thought of sleeping on a bed that was closer to the ceiling than the floor. Peter came out of the bathroom, a towel tightly wrapped around his waist as he entered his room, silently cursing at his own self-stupidity for forgetting his PJ bottoms and used the spare towel he had to attempt and dry his hair. Peter shut the door and turned around, finally noticing Arizona as he screamed out, instantly covering his mouth to silence himself before gripping his towel so it wouldn't fall.

Despite Arizona's flushed cheeks from embarrassment, she upheld her confused features, having never seen someone in a towel before unless it was herself, "Why has your torso got dents in them?" Her voice held pure curiosity.

Peter peaked outside his door, silently listening to what would have been Aunt May's footsteps if she wasn't fast asleep. He shut his door, still holding his towel and gulped looking at Arizona, "What are you doing here?!" He whisper-yelled.

Arizona cleared her throat, blinking and inhaling deeply to change her subject to why she was there. She jumped down from the top bunk and began fiddling with her fingers nervously, "I know what I said," Peter nodded, "I know that I told you that I couldn't be in your life because of... Reasons..." Peter licked his lips nervously, Arizona clearing her throat as she shifted her weight from one leg to the other, "But can we pretend that, just for tonight, that I never left?" She suggested, sounding reluctant and weak compared to their last conversation.

"Why?" His voice bewildered.

Arizona shrugged, "I could use a friend, I guess..."

"I thought you said -"

"I know what I said, Peter," Arizona rushed out, her eyes wide and she gulped before shaking her head, "I shouldn't have come here, I -"

Peter grasped her wrist, "Wait," Arizona pulled away from his grasp almost instantly, her looking away from Peter before Peter received his hand, "Let me get changed, and I'll - I'll listen," Arizona locked eyes with him as he raised his brows, "Okay?"

She silently nodded, taking her seat on Peter's bed whilst he exited his room once again, it was only a few silent minutes before Peter returned, in his PJ bottoms and no shirt and Arizona furrowed her brows once again, "Is it normal for you to sleep without a shirt?"

He opened his mouth to reply but closed it and shrugged, "Only when it's too hot," He took a seat beside her, moving so his body was facing hers, "So, how can I help you?" He grabbed a white shirt, covering his torso with it after shoving it on.