Peter knows he's screwed up, but then it doesn't take a genius to know that.

The internet is exploding, and all of the Spiderman forums and fan theory sites that Peter follows are focused on the same topic. At first, the speculations surround the ink on Peter's arm that showed through the suit-breach. Peter is only a little bit panicked at first- they can't know what it is, right? They have no idea if it's a tattoo or pen or marker, they won't be able to figure anything out.

Since then, Peter has learned one thing: never underestimate the power of undergrad college students on Tumblr. They are fueled by too much Red Bull, primal curiosity, and downright spite, and that combination is dangerous.

It's not a tattoo, one user who works at a tattoo parlor asserts, and then follows the comment with a long-winded explanation about why they've come to that conclusion. Peter can follow the logic, but by the time he's done, there's been so much discussion about various types of needles and how they show on the skin that his whole brain hurts. After that comment, an artists actually tests various pens and markers on their own skin for comparison, and the internet narrows it down to a specific type of marker. Peter follows every comment, reblog, like, and tweet, and he can't help himself.

They know, and they know it's most likely put there either by or for his soulmate.

There are a lot of thirsty internet commenters lamenting that the ink hasn't shown up on their arms, and the amount of memes inspired by the people who wish Spiderman was their soulmate is enough to make Peter blush. Eventually, he stops reading them. There's only one reaction he cares about, anyway.

And it's a reaction from someone who doesn't want to give it.

Peter misses it, more than he had ever imagined he could. Hearing his soulmate's shock when he admitted that he preferred hot chocolate over both coffee and tea had been the highlight of his week when it had happened, and talking to them about the stupid "would you rather" questions that he had scrawled on his arm during the day made his chest feel just as warm and tingly as his skin.

What will they say now? Assuming they haven't seen it would be more than ignorant, it would be downright stupid. He is trending on Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and Reddit, and Ned has even sent him a link to a Facebook group of mothers who called themselves the "Spider-Moms." Unless his soulmate lives apart from all technology, they've seen it.

Meaning that they know who he is, and now they have been introduced to his secret identity before even meeting Peter Parker.

For the first day after the incident, Peter keeps silent. But three days later, the situation has grown too big to ignore, and he knows it. He isn't sure how to handle it, and some small part of him is terrified now… What if his soulmate is suddenly interested, suddenly wants to meet, has decided that he wasn't worth it as Peter, but they want to be soulmates with Spiderman?

So, when Peter writes them in the middle of Chem a few days later, he is careful with every word.

I know you didn't want to talk. But I need to talk to you, and I think we both know why.

He writes it on his arm, which is exposed as he rolls up his sleeve under the desk just slightly. There are many little spaces created by the crossing lines up his arms, but there is one moderately large gap left in the drawings, which have remained remarkably well-preserved over the past few days despite everything. Part of Peter had been terrified that they would be removed after the design was exposed during the fight. But it hasn't budged- in fact, his soulmate has kept preserving it, which means a few things. One, they either haven't seen Spiderman's designs, or they don't care, and two, they aren't ready to let go, either.

Peter ignores that last bit as he waited, but now he can't help being paranoid. Every little movement in the classroom makes him even more nervous. His super-senses make him even more sensitive to everything as he listens to the various sources of noise: Flash Thompson tapping away on his tablet under his desk, Cindy Moon crumpling a discarded note sheet as she writes, MJ capping and uncapping her pen from the back of the classroom.

Finally, after a moment, he feels it again: the sensation that he has missed so much over the past few weeks. It brings a sense of warmth to his chest, a fluttering of his heart that Peter can't quell.

You mean about your arachnoid fursona?

Peter's eyes widen at the words, and he draws in his breath so quickly that he breaks into a coughing fit. It is only a minute later that his arm starts tingling again, but he can't look at it until after he has assured the professor that he is alright, that he will just go get a drink of water. But when he gets up to leave, he slips his pen up his sleeve as well.

It's in the safety of the bathroom that Peter sees the rest of his soulmate's message.

Kidding. But yes, I've seen it.

Peter lets out a breath, running a hand through the curls he couldn't be bothered to gel down this morning. They haven't volunteered anything else, and Peter knows that the ball is in his court. It's his decision, for goodness's sake, and it is his turn to speak.

Finally, Peter uncaps the pen and responds.

I know you don't know me, but I need you to keep this a secret. It can't get out, and if it does, you and a lot of other people will be in danger.

His heart is racing, and as Peter looks up into the mirror, he can see the worry on his face. He's pale, which May has been commenting on for the past couple days, as well as asking when Ned and MJ would be coming around. He's been dodging all of those questions, but as he looks into the mirror, he can see why May is so worried. There are bags under his eyes, and there is a sort of sheen to his eyes that makes them look hollow, and empty.

And somehow, when he looks down at the words, they bring him the kind of gentle warmth that he hasn't felt in ages.

Ah, shit, I'll have to go call back the Times and Buzzfeed, and I've got a few interviews I'll have to cancel with Ellen and the Tonight Show .

He can't help the little grin that plays with his lips. His mouth is hesitant, like it's forgotten how to smile, but the witty reply of his soulmate is somehow comforting. They know, they understand, and it hasn't changed anything.

Even if they weren't exactly in the best place to begin with.

Thank you. You have no idea how important this is to me. It's all I've got.

Peter isn't sure why he adds the last sentence, but it feels true. He's distanced Ned, despite MJ's advice, and now MJ isn't even speaking to him. School isn't comforting anymore, and he doesn't want to put more on May's plate: so he has Spiderman.

After a moment, Peter's arm tingles again. He considers not looking, respecting his soulmate's desire for limited contact… But then they wouldn't be writing that if they didn't want him to see it, would they? So Peter takes a shaky breath and looks down at his arm.

That's not true.

Peter doesn't know why he suddenly can't breathe. But as the final words come up on his arm, he knows that even if he doesn't reply to them, the fact that they are there means something.

You have you, and you're selfless, and you care. If the people in your life can't see that, they're idiots.

His soulmate's words refuse to stop pestering him, and maybe that's why Peter does it.

Ever since he was little, Peter has had the same homework routine: come home from school plop his things down at the kitchen counter, and get to work. Whether it was with his parents in kindergarten, or Uncle Ben all through elementary school and middle school, or May from then on, the kitchen counter has been the place where Peter gets everything done. May is aware of this, and she is normally across the counter at this point in the day, working either on her own computer for work or on making some attempt at dinner.

Lately, Peter has been able to feel her watching him as he works, and when she asks him questions about his day, there is a tension as she awaits his answers. She's watching, and she knows, and she has been asking more and more after Ned and MJ.

Even if she doesn't know exactly what is going on, May is worried. And maybe that's why Peter tells her.

It happens that next day, after these words have been rattling in his head all day, Peter feels the tension beginning to brew and bubble over. He can't hold it all in anymore, and the more he catches May sneaking glances at him from over the lenses of her glasses, the more he wants to tell her about the tangle of emotions gathering in his chest. She has been struggling with the lid of the food processor for about ten minutes when they slip out of his mouth, and then suddenly the statement has fallen into the air between them and is not coming back.

"I found my soulmate, and they don't want me."

The top of the food processor clatters to the floor, and Peter feels his eyes widen as he quickly fixes his gaze on the countertop. It takes a moment before he is able to raise his eyes to May, slowly and surely, and to meet her gaze in the silence of the apartment's kitchen.

He's used to this look with May. It's an expression of pure shock- eyes wide behind thick glasses frames, lips parted and jaw dropped. May's hands are frozen in the position that they were in when she still held the lid, but her brown irises are completely focused on him.

May swallows, licking her lips as she lowers her hands to her sides. Peter can see her mind whirring as she slowly crosses the kitchen, coming to rest across the counter from him. There, she props her face up on her elbows and peers at him over the frames of her glasses, which she has allowed to slide down her nose.

"You found your soulmate," she repeats, trying and failing for a casual tone as a few locks of brown hair slide into her eyes. "Right. Of course. It had to happen sometime, right?" A nervous laugh leaves May's lips, but her face is more anxious than anything as she looks at him. Her eyes hold worry, as if she is afraid he is going to break.

"Oh, God, honey, I knew that you were spending more time by yourself in your room, but I just assumed, y'know, teenage boys and urges-"

"May."

Peter can scarcely choke that word out, and he knows his face is bright red with mortification. When her eyes find his face, they blink rapidly, and then she presses a palm to her forehead.

"Right. Right, not going to… Take that train of thought," she fumbles, shaking his head in several short, jerky motions. "It's just- You're growing up so fast, Peter, and sometimes I forget- well. That's not important now." May straightens up, standing to her full height, and runs a hand through her hair. Peter's aunt is clearly steeling herself, and Peter can practically see her taking up the role of his caretaker. "What do you mean, you lost them?"

Peter exhales, and it's his turn to ruffle a hand through his mess of brown hair. "Well," he says slowly, "they weren't really all that pumped about it to begin with-"

"What?" May interrupts, and this time the shock on her face is indignant as she draws herself up. "How could they not be? I mean, look at you! And you're a sweet boy, you're a catch no matter who they are-"

Warmth floods Peter's cheeks, and he swallows. "May, May," he bursts, shaking his head quickly. "They've never seen me, and even if they had, that's not…"

Peter isn't sure how he intends to finish the sentence, but May clearly picks up on his feelings. She offers him a sheepish grin, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "Right," she drawls, shaking her head. "Sorry, kiddo. You can talk, and I'll listen. No interruptions."

As May plops her chin in her hands again, Peter finds himself believing her. So, carefully, he takes a deep breath. "I first talked to them a few weeks ago, and I think they might have been upset that I contacted them. But they told me that they didn't want a soulmate, and it wasn't about me." Peter can feel the words aching in his throat as they leave his mouth. It doesn't matter if it's not about him- it hurts anyway.

May frowns slightly, her head tipping to the side. "And did they tell you why they felt that way?" she asks slowly. Peter thinks that she might know the answer to the question based on her tone, and that only makes the whole ordeal more frustrating.

Still, she's May, and Peter knows he has to humor her. So he leans back slightly against the tall chair that he has drawn up to the counter, running through the mental inventory he has stored of the conversations.

"They said that they have some experience with the bond," Peter finally responds. "They said they've seen it, and they've seen it not work out. And I guess I get why- why that would be hard. But still, I just…" He can't keep talking, and his voice drifts off into a frustrated limbo as he rakes a hand through his hair again.

May seems to be mulling it over as she watches his motion, and she slowly straightens up again. This time, she moves to the cupboard and grabs two glasses, both of which she brings back and fills with lemonade from the pitcher between them. It is only when Peter has a full glass of the homemade drink that she speaks again.

"I get it," she finally says. "It doesn't seem fair, that one person can make such a definite decision for you like that, especially when that decision is denying you a lot of potential happiness."

"Exactly!" Peter bursts. A sudden wave of relief rushes over him, and he finds himself refreshed by the fact that someone understands. He finds himself feeling lighter as he reaches for the lemonade and downs a sip. This is exactly what he needed… And not just the drink.

Somehow, telling Ned hasn't felt right, even though Peter knows it's driving distance between them. And MJ… Well. He can't do that, even though he's not exactly sure why. Peter knows, deep down, that he can't tell her because of the strange thoughts he gets around her- thoughts about the sharp, citrus smell of her shampoo and about the way that her wicked smirks can make his face heat up. It just doesn't seem fair to his soulmate.

May breaks him from his thoughts, however, when she continues. "But I also think you need to understand how lucky you are, hon."

Peter looks up from the half-empty glass with a furrowed brow. Before he can say anything, however, May is continuing on. "Most people only have one real example of soulmates that they're really exposed to, right?" May continues, sipping her glass. "You've had two. You had your parents… And they really were a pair, Peter, even if you don't remember everything about them."

He can see her point forming now, and Peter begrudgingly realizes she's right. "I remember some things," he admits. "Just the way they used to dance with each other in our kitchen when I was little, and sometimes they'd let me join. But I more remember the times that I wasn't allowed to dance with them, after they put me to bed."

May's eyes soften, and a little grin slides onto her lips. "You must've had super-hearing," she laughs, shaking her head.

Peter's eyes widen, and his body freezes. "What?"

"To hear the music," May explains. Luckily, she seems too caught up in the moment to recognize his almost-lapse. "You always knew when they were playing it, and you'd come down in a onesie or something."

"O-oh," he stammers, blinking. "Right." There is a moment where he forces out an awkward laugh to join with May's quiet laughter, then he clears his throat. "But I remember my dad always saying that they loved me, but sometimes, they needed time to dance just the two of them. I didn't understand it then, but… I think I do now."

"He was making time for her," May murmurs. The smile on her lips is slightly sad now, but there is still a sweetness to it as she peers into his eyes with a warm intensity. "He always made time for your mom, and you got to grow up seeing that. And not only did you have the two of them, but you also had me and your Uncle Ben."

Hearing his name from her lips makes Peter wince, and he can tell that May doesn't miss it. It does cause her expression to dim slightly, but she reaches across the counter and takes his hand in hers. It's warm, and calloused, and it's reassuring enough to cause his gaze to rise to her own.

"You got to see what that kind of relationship looked like, even under pressure," she explains, and Peter can hear a slight waver in her voice now. "You got to see what that kind of bond looks like, through and through- in the good times, with your parents, and then with me and Ben. You got to watch what soulmates do when they suffer a loss together, when their lives change in a way they didn't expect."

"When Mom and Dad died," Peter murmurs, his eyes scanning hers. But there isn't any resentment in May's eyes- only a sad agreement. "When I got thrown into your life."

"You weren't ever a burden, honey," May responds, not denying it. But her hand tightens around his. "But yes. Neither of us ever anticipated a kid, sweetie. We didn't think it was in the cards for us, so when you came… We had no support network, and nothing to base it off of." She rubs her thumb along his index finger, and Peter slowly exhales, nodding. Still, he looks away, guilt washing over him.

"Hey," May says firmly. Her other hand comes to his chin, gently tipping his face so he's looking back at her. "Listen, Peter. I'm not trying to make you feel guilty, because even after everything that's happened… I wouldn't have this any other way. But I am trying to make a point."

Peter believes her, in that moment. As he looks at May, the woman who isn't a blood relation and who doesn't have a single label that suits her, he knows he is loved. That is what causes him to grip her hand a little tighter. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," she echoes, and a lopsided grin crosses her lips. "What I'm saying is you've seen both sides of having a soulmate. You've seen the sweet and the romantic, and you've seen the darker stuff. You've seen Ben and I have to learn how to be parents, and that's something that not a lot of kids get to see. And you've seen that even in the bad times, there's good. Because you know what?"

Peter offers her a small smile in return. "What?"

"Even when Ben and I were stressing out over moving into a bigger apartment, and when we were fighting over which therapist to send you to, and when we got into disagreements about how to handle choosing schools and moving jobs, Ben loved me so much. And I never doubted that for a second. Even in the bad times, we still had good things. And you've seen all of that, so you realize that the good outweighs the bad, always."

Peter holds her hand tight, and he knows it's his turn to talk. "But my soulmate didn't get to see all of that."

May's eyes are proud now, and as she releases his hand, Peter drinks in the pride that lines her face. "Exactly," she states. "I know that doesn't fix the problem by a long shot, honey. But you're the smartest person I know, and I figure if I can't solve the problem, an explanation might be the next best thing. So that's what I'll give ya, whenever you need it. And I'm always here when you need someone to remind you to hang in there, Peter."

As he finishes off the glass of lemonade, May lets out a slight sigh. It's only when he sets down the glass and stands that Peter replies, "Thanks, Aunt May. You're the best. And it did help… Just to tell you, you know?"

"I know." Still, as Peter speaks, he watches her face light up. That smile is enough to remind Peter that no matter what happens with his soulmate, he still has this. He still has May, and he has other people- people he needs to make reparations with. So, as he turns to head to return to his room and make a plan, he calls over his shoulder, "You're the coolest!"

"You better believe it, kiddo!" she returns as he heads down the hall, and when Peter shuts his bedroom door, there's a smile on his face.

As he lingers outside the girl's locker room, Peter can't help but feeling like this is an incredibly stupid idea.

Yeah, he rehearsed what he was going to say to MJ at least a million times the night before, and things went well when he met up with Ned and they talked things over. Sure, he didn't give too many details, and the conversation was hard… But it happened, and Peter feels a little better. It's going to take a while for things to get back to normal, and there's still a lot that Peter needs to tell Ned. But the point is that, now, they're going to have those conversations. They're going to move forward, and all Peter needs is that one chance.

But MJ is a dark horse, and Peter isn't sure if things will go as well with her- especially since he isn't quite sure why she stopped talking to him in the first place. But still, if he can just explain, he can say that he tried. And maybe, even if things go south, that will be enough for him.

Even though, deep down, Peter knows that a failed attempt would hurt more than he even wants to think about at the moment.

He is running over the words he prepared in his mind for the fifth time when the door opens again, and Peter whirls to face it. He is so ready that he begins to speak immediately, the words dropping from his lips. "Look, MJ, I-"

It is only after he has stopped speaking that Peter comes face-to-face with a highly-amused Cindy Moon. "Not quite, Peter, but I think she was right behind me, so you're in luck," the dark-haired girl says, offering him a grin. "See ya."

Before Peter can even say anything, Cindy is walking away. As she moves from her position between Peter and the locker room, Peter spots MJ immediately. The dark-haired girl is frozen in the doorway, and for a moment, Peter watches her debate walking away and going back inside. As soon as she realizes he can see her, however, MJ masterfully arranges her face into an impassive mask.

"Hanging around the girl's locker room," MJ comments dryly, beginning to walk away. "That's not creepy at all, Parker. I don't even know why you would suggest such a thing."

As she moves further away from him, however, Peter finds himself struggling to unfreeze. No… He can't let the girl with the dark ponytail and the old Midtown hoodie over her gym uniform walk away! So, before he can stop himself, the words burst from his lips.

"Wait! Wait, MJ, please… I need to talk to you." They sound a lot more desperate and vulnerable than Peter would like them to, and he bites his lip. His heart sinks as he realizes that if he were her, he wouldn't turn around.

For a moment, she freezes, and Peter steels himself for the sadness that will come when she begins to walk away. She has every right, he supposes, and he doesn't want to force her into anything… He'll be okay, even if it hurts. But then, MJ does the unthinkable.

She turns to face him, arms crossed over the zipped hoodie. There is wariness in her eyes, and she's in a defensive posture, but it's so much better than he anticipated. Peter is sure his face is lit up with hope in the dopiest possible expression.

"What?" she asks. Her tone is quiet, and it's unsure. Peter doesn't think he's ever heard her talk like that before.

"Um… Can we talk in private?" he asks. "It's a half day, I don't think Coach Wilson is paying attention anyway since we get out after this."

For a moment, MJ seems to consider it, and her thoughtful expression is so MJ that Peter can't repress a surge of warmth in his chest. Then, she slowly nods, and Peter exhales in relief. "We can go talk behind the bleachers," she suggests, gesturing to the gap between the bleachers and the wall. There's a bunch of old equipment stored back there, and Peter is fairly sure that they'll be able to have a private conversation there.

"Alright," he agrees, and before he can even think about saying anything else, MJ has turned on her heel and is walking with such speed that it makes Peter feel guilty. Is she really so desperate to put that much space between them? But Peter banishes the thought and follows her until they are both shielded from the view of the gym. Suddenly, they are both in the dim space, and MJ is leaning against one of the support beams of the bleachers. Peter is facing her as she stares expectantly, and though his mouth is open, no words are coming out.

Because, no matter how many times he rehearsed his plan, there is no preparing for Michelle Jones.

Peter opens and closes his mouth, and then he draws a deep breath in through his nose. MJ watches, oddly quiet. Normally, she would say something… Anything. Maybe make some sarcastic comment about how he's gaping like a fish, or tease him about their unusual venue But she doesn't do that, she just stares at him in the dim light with eyes that gleam in an almost feline way.

Is she nervous?

Before Peter can explore that avenue of thought, he decides to go for it. "I miss you," he blurts, and the words seem a lot bigger than he intended as they fill the space between them. Peter is grateful for the dim lighting, because at that moment he is pretty sure that his cheeks are on fire. "I don't know what I did, but I miss you. I miss hanging out and studying for decathlon, and I miss making fun of Flash together at practices. I miss pizza and screwing around in gym. I just… I miss us."

MJ stares back at him in the dark, and for a minute, Peter wonders if she's going to say anything. What if she just gets up and leaves?

But she doesn't do that. Instead, MJ blinks, and as she speaks, her voice is level and quiet. "I miss us, too." Peter lets out a sigh of relief, and he swears he can almost see the corner of her lips quirk upwards.

"I know I kind of put you in an awkward position," he replies, hesitant. "I mean, you didn't ask to know about… About this." Peter ends up making a vague gesture towards his arm, and it only makes his cheeks heat up. He can't look at her, not while talking about his soulmate. It's too confusing, because just for a moment, they blur in Peter's mind. They're the only two people who are so capable of catching him off guard, whose caustic remarks somehow make Peter fonder of them, who don't seem to give a damn what anyone thinks. It's too much for him to be thinking this way, because now Peter can't imagine his soulmate's hair smelling like anything but lemon, and the image of MJ's silly little sketches cropping up on his arms causes his heart to skip a beat.

Oh, he's screwed. Peter is caught in a complicated net that has him snared so deeply, he isn't quite sure how to extricate himself.

MJ speaks, however, saving Peter from the mind-boggling train of through he's just gone down. His eyes rise to meet hers as she replies, "No, it's not you. I'm not good at handling stuff like that, Parker, and I just-" She breaks off, and for a moment, Peter sees the same sort of confusion in her eyes. Her eyes also hold frustration, however, and she steps off the back wall and gestures with her hands as she speaks, almost as though she is trying to show him how she feels without words.

"I'm not good at stuff like this. I'm not good at friends, and soulmates, and I already felt like I was crossing a line with you and Leeds, so it just seemed easier-"

"-To walk away," Peter finishes. Her eyes snap to his, and for a moment there is a warm gratitude in them that makes his heart pound. Peter can't remember the moment that he chose to approach her, too, but now they are separated by less than a foot of space, and there is a sort of shared emotional understanding that Peter can't explain.

As he looks up into her brown eyes, Peter doesn't know what happens next. He feels like, for this moment, he and MJ are joined together by a million tiny threads of understanding, and he doesn't want to be the one to break them by making the next move. After a moment, though, MJ makes it for him.

"Yeah," she admits, swallowing. She ducks her head, looking away from him, and for a moment Peter thinks that he sees a flash of panic in her eyes as she takes a few steps to part the proximity between them. "But that wasn't fair to you or Leeds, either." There is genuine, quiet regret in her voice, and Peter winces.

"I don't think it was all you, MJ," he says quietly. For a moment, he searches for the words, and when he finds them, they send a wave of warmth through his chest. "We should've made sure that you knew, as soon as we were friends, that our lives would be a whole lot worse without you. No one should ever have to wonder that."

MJ's head snaps back to him, and for a moment there is an almost shocked expression on her face. However, she composes herself, and finally the brunette girl allows that familiar smirk onto her lips again.

"Did you really miss me that much, Parker?"

The comment is so MJ that it seems to shatter any residual tension, and Peter grins up at her. The relief that accompanies the resolution of conflict is so potent that Peter doesn't really mind when Coach Wilson orders them out from behind the bleachers with a pointed look at MJ, and the feeling powers Peter throughout his day.

Ned doesn't seem to know what happened, but Peter doesn't think he cares, either. All that he knows is that MJ and Peter are okay again, and that they're all sitting together in gym and studying as a group in the short decathlon practice that follows school. Everything is the way that it's supposed to be, and order is restored to the universe- this is enough to make Peter feel like he is floating, and he's pretty sure that Ned feels the same.

When they finally part ways at the end of the school day with a promise that they'll have a movie marathon tomorrow, Peter finds himself almost dreading putting on the suit. Sure, the half day is going to give him some extra time to patrol the streets. But now that things are better, Peter finds that he doesn't really need to be Spider-Man today- he's happy being Peter Parker, who is friends with Ned Leeds and Michelle Jones. And sure, they all have some stuff to work on- they're going to have to talk to Ned at some point, which will mean explaining the soulmate stuff to him, and MJ still seems to be holding herself back slightly. But it feels doable, and that's enough for him.

Still, Queens still needs its hero, so Peter quickly grabs the suit from where it's stashed beneath the lockers and gets on the streets a few minutes after the final bell. But, even though he's technically on-duty, that doesn't mean he can't make sure that Ned and MJ get home safe, right?

Peter shadows the two as they walk together for a short distance, and Karen springs to life in his ear as he follows his friends.

"Good afternoon, Peter! Did you enjoy your half-day at school?" her melodic voice questions him as he follows his two best friends from above, hiding in the shadows.

"Yeah, yeah! It was great, thanks for asking," Peter says under his breath, unable to keep a little smile off of his face.

"You sound very happy about that," Karen observes.

"I am," Peter admits. "I made up with MJ, which means that everything is back to normal with her and Ned."

"Ah, yes! The two people you are following now?" Karen asks. "Why are you following them if everything is okay?"

Peter blanches, delaying answering the A.I.'s question as he leaps across the gap between buildings. "Well, I guess I wasn't ready to be done seeing them today," he says slowly.

"But if everything is okay, don't you trust them to be alright by themselves?" Karen presses, causing him to wince.

"I mean…" Peter fumbles with the words. As he speaks to Karen, the sort of happy daze he was occupying is beginning to fade. She's making him address the motives behind what he's doing, and, in regular Karen fashion, some feelings that he isn't quite ready to address are coming up in the process. "I guess I just want to make sure."

"So everything's not alright, then," Karen replies. "There's something you're insecure about."

Below, Peter watches as his friends stop, speaking face to face for a moment at the end of a block. He pauses where he is lying in wait at the top of a skyscraper, trying to figure out both what's going on and what to say to Karen.

"I guess there is," Peter admits, and he doesn't like the way that he wants to clench his fists. "I mean… Things were weird, before. I guess that I don't like the way that it was so easy for MJ just to make the decision to take herself out of our lives like that, and Ned and I have been a little strange for a few weeks. Which is my fault, but I guess that things are still a little tense."

"MJ," Karen observes, repeating the name. "Did she ever explain why? Maybe that would give you some closure."

Peter thinks about it for a moment, watching as Ned and MJ begin to part ways. His mind races as he tries to figure out where he's going now. "Well… I mean, she sort of did, but there are still parts that I don't understand."

"So the fact that she hasn't been forthcoming with you is difficult for you to handle," Karen observes. "I understand. But isn't that the same way Ned is feeling right now?"

It's a lot of information for Peter to process, and at that moment, Peter has to make the decision about which of his friends he will follow home. Finally, he notes that MJ's route is going to take her through a rougher part of town, and he begins to follow her as she turns to walk down one of the city's alleyways.

"I guess so," he admits quietly as he follows Karen, keeping his voice lower now. Since Ned and MJ aren't talking to one another, he doesn't have their conversation to mask his noise. He struggles to keep going as a wave of guilt washes over him, provoked by Karen's words. He has been keeping things from Ned… And if he got upset when MJ did the same, then why is he so determined to continue keeping Ned out of his mind?

"But Ned's not the one you're confused about right now," observes Karen.

"What?" Peter stammers as he peers over the edge of the next building, calculating the jump.

"You're not following Ned, you're following MJ," Karen states. "So she's the one who is really confusing you right now."

Peter allows the wind roaring in his ears to keep him from answering for a moment, but when he is safely clinging to the next building, there is no avoiding it. "Well… I don't know," Peter mumbles, frustrated. "I don't know."

"What don't you know, Peter?" Karen prompts.

"I don't know how I feel about her," Peter finally bursts, and his eyes widen when he realize what he's just said. For a moment, Peter is frozen. He practically begs Karen to say something, anything… But the one time that Peter needs some sort of distraction, she is silent. He lets out a breath, and then he shakes his head several times to clear it as he finishes scaling the next building. "Nevermind."

"It's okay, Peter," Karen says, and he winces. "Friends are confusing, and you two have been through a lot. It's natural-"

"Karen, not right now," Peter says as he peers over the edge of the building. Below, in the alleyway, a group of guys have come out of one of the adjoining houses, and they appear to be following her.

"Does she see them coming?" asks Karen. Peter doesn't know the answer at first. She isn't turning around, and she keeps walking. But as he watches, he can see the way her head is tipped slightly to the side, listening, and the almost imperceptible increase in her walking speed.

"She knows," Peter breathes. He can feel anger rushing through him as he watches one of the men whispering to his buddy, and he doesn't even have to ask Karen to let him listen closer.

"-Going to have some fun today," the burly man finishes, and his tone is vile enough to make Peter's skin crawl.

"Activate instant-kill mode?" Karen suggests.

As rage roars through his body, Peter would like nothing more. But what he says is, "No. But be ready for whatever I tell you." At that moment, down below, MJ breaks out into a run. The men following her pick up their own pace, too, and from farther down the alley two more of them cut her off from in front, leaving her no way of escape.

"Afternoon," calls the same man who made the comment, his tone mocking. "Where's a pretty little thing like you going this afternoon?"

Peter doesn't hesitate then. As they move closer to her, he swings down from the top of the building, calling, "I don't think the lady wants to answer. But I'd be happy to have a conversation with you guys!"

The men all turn in that moment to face him, caught off guard. Before he can even reach them, however, MJ is moving at a speed that is even a little fast for Peter. From within an outer pocket of her bag, she grabs a small can of mace, and immediately sprays the tall one square in the face with it. He falls with a cry of pain, and the next one closest to her makes a move towards her.

The man grabs at her throat, but before Peter can come to help, he steps forward, grabbing his own arm to pull herself closer to him. With a force that makes Peter catch his breath, she jabs him in the nook of his throat with two fingers. The man immediately releases her, grabbing for his throat, and the heel of MJ's palm meets his jaw, and then her elbow digs into his ribs.

By this time, Peter is able to help. He fires taser-webs at the other two, effectively knocking them out and plastering them to the side of the building. The one who MJ pepper-sprayed has managed to stumble to his feet by then, but Peter shoots him down again with more taser-webs. MJ lands one more blow on the final delinquent before he manages to turn around and hobbles away.

For a moment, the two of them are alone in the alley, and neither moves. Across from him, MJ is panting, and he can see sweat beaded on her forehead. Her face, in the moment, was fierce and furious. Now, however, Peter can see her hands shaking from the leftover adrenaline. He, too, is shaking, but Peter thinks it might be for a different reason.

It's hard, but Peter manages to keep from rushing to her side. He wants to make sure she's alright, especially after the one who managed to make an attempt at choking her. Her throat probably hurts a lot, might be damaged- he knows that firsthand. And he wants to make sure that she isn't bruised and hurting, that she has someone to take her home. But he can't do that while frozen with adrenaline.

Peter is first to recover, and he lowers his voice in order to say, "Hey, um, are you okay, ma'am?" However, his voice dies as his eyes lower from her face. She turns to face him when he speaks, but she freezes as her eyes move to follow his. Their joint gazes travel down her shoulder, to her forearm, where her sweater was displaced during her struggle.

His eyes lock on the exposed skin of her arm, where, from the wrist up, the designs that decorate her skin are identical to his own.