72: Apology [01]

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Peter Parker was having a blast today. His girls were happy, and so was he. He was training and succeeding in the battle known as life every fucking day like a man should, and enjoying every second of it.

With nothing but a single little thing distracting him at the back of his mind.

The future.

He was not prepared for it, in the slightest. But he would not think of it either, not giving it much attention was the best thing he could do right now.

Why? Because he couldn't do shit about it. Not now, probably in the future, but now? No.

Not at all.

So, he was focusing more on the present than mulling over what he did yesterday, or what he would do tomorrow.

Enjoying the present.

That's what he'd learned recently. Remembering two more lifetimes had that effect on him, Peter had changed a lot. He wanted to cherish every second of peace he had.

Because life was a bitch. It was a bitch, it is one, and it will forever be one. That was one truth of life that's never going to change, no matter who, but what he could do is enjoy his life to the fullest.

So that he wouldn't have any regrets when he died for the third time, probably it won't happen for centuries upon centuries if he played his cards right, but death was inevitable.

It was a perfect cycle.

A matrix, if you will, and if he didn't escape this matrix, he'll be bound to this ever-continuing cycle.

Anyways, it seemed that today was finally the day Felicia Hardy was going to apologize to him.

To Peter Parker.

Peter couldn't help but chuckle; what would she do if she found out he was Spider-Man?

Haha… probably kick his butt, but whatever.

Anyhow, she was approaching him as he sat there at the table with Gwen, Ned, Betty, and Michele, as usual.

The others were busy eating and talking, so no one really noticed her approaching beside him and probably Michele—this girl was extremely attentive to everything going on around her.

"Peter Parker," Felicia said, smiling In a strained manner.

Peter, couples with the others, moved their heads to stare at her, but she didn't back away from the gazes and got near him confidently.

She sat down on an empty chair on his left; Gwen was sitting on his right, and she frowned upon noticing Felicia's behavior.

"I have something to talk about," Felicia said seriously with a no-bullshit tone. Peter raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. "It's important to me. Nothing to you."

Then, she stared at Gwen; she was just frowning slightly, but there was no malice toward Felicia. Gwen wasn't a little girl who'd cry over every girl talking with him, after all.

The frowning though… kek~ it was just cute.

Peter bit back a smile, and opened his mouth, speaking in a carefree, calm, and slow tone.

"And what do you want to talk about?" He leaned slightly towards Gwen, and Felicia seemed to take the hint as her eyes fluttered at Gwen.

"I need to talk alone. No need to worry though, I have no intention of dating, nothing sexual, or anything of the sort. Just want to talk about something."

Gwen didn't show anything, but Peter sensed her relaxing a bit. Damn. Peter frowned slightly; it was gonna be hard breaking the harem thing to her, and it was going to be a hassle to manage.

Peter sighed, this is why he's been avoiding it.

He was afraid of losing her.

Sure, he wouldn't let her go, he was too loose in the head to do that, but it wouldn't be the same if he were forcing himself on her.

Say, he was fine with ràping women, he was fine treating them like trash, but those were just some women, the ones he liked even somewhat, he'd treat them nicely.

And Gwen? He didn't just like her 'somewhat'. He was downright bad for her; he loved her.

Call him a hypocrite, but It is what it is.

"Anyways," Felicia handed him a… paper, probably her contact info or something. "Think about it,"—her eyes flickered to Gwen before moving back to him in a jiffy—", I mean no harm to your relationship with this."

Hmm. Strange. Peter frowned slightly, the paper was still in her outstretched hand. Felicia wasn't the type to care about a dude's dating life, she'd probably even destroy it if she felt like it, just so she could get something she desired. Whatever it might be.

Peter didn't take the paper for solid ten seconds, pondering over it silently before taking the paper.

Felicia smiled, and nodded.

"Thank you," she said and walked away.

"What was that about?" Ned asked, making Peter turn to look at his chubby friend.

Betty, Michele, and Gwen were also staring at him for answers.

"Hell if I know," Peter shrugged.

Ned rolled his eyes, Betty ignored him, and Michele squinted her eyes while Gwen seemed to be pondering over something.

They didn't say anything after as the lunch break would be coming to an end soon, and walked to their classes.

After school, however, when Peter and Gwen were walking home, Peter noticed that Gwen seemed a bit… restless?

He frowned; did she not trust him?

If that's what she thought of him, he would've been hurt. But since he was technically just that, a bastard, Peter couldn't bring himself to feel hurt over something like that.

She was a girl; jealousy, assumptions, and insecurities were quite normal.

"Hey," he called her out, elbowing her gently. "Wassup? You seem down."

Gwen groaned out loud, grabbed him by the collar, and dragged him into the side alley of the road they were walking on.

Then, she slammed him against the wall, glaring at his eyes.

Peter was flabbergasted, wondering what even happened.

"I get suspicious and jealous, okay?" Gwen said, her eyes watery. "I know this is wrong of me, but the fuck! A lot of girls've been around you. Not really around, but eyeing you; outright ogling! That one bitch even had the balls to give you her contact info. And no, I'm not talking about Felicia!"

Peter didn't say anything, and let her say everything she wanted to say, then, he let the silence stretch, just staring her in the eyes.

The silence reigned supreme for a while, but Gwen grumbled a few seconds later.

"Ugh, okay, I Know this is bitchy of me." She sighed. "Sorry… don't be mad." She looked a bit worried, probably at the silence.

Peter couldn't help but laugh out loud as he hugged her suddenly.

"Sorry, sorry." He wheezed just after. "You're just too cute." He started chuckling again.

Gwen blushed, hit him in the stomach playfully, and backed away.

Peter, on the other hand, didn't let her do that as he caught her wrist and forced her closer. He grabbed her shoulders, and applied some force to make her look into his eyes.

She pouted but did look him in the eyes.

"I—Love—You," Peter said, drawing closer to her face as he told her every single word with a little pause.

Gwen just closed her eyes and let him kiss her.

Peter's lips met hers, and it was soft. He didn't know why, even though he'd kissed her countless times, heck, he'd even kissed other women countless times, every time he kissed this girl, he felt it was always the first experience.

So refreshing.

So sweet.

Taste of strawberries, and vanilla; Peter liked vanilla.

The kiss lasted a bit over a few seconds; it was anything but deep, or tongue wrestling, but they both enjoyed every second of this.

Then, Peter backed away, smacking her forehead with his gently.

"No matter what happens, I'm not letting you go anywhere."

He meant every word of it.

She belonged to him. Every part of her. Even death wouldn't be able to steal her from him. Who was he kidding? This was fucking Marvel, even reanimating the dead was possible.

There were many ways.

She'd stay with him forever.

Gwen blushed.

"I know… dummy," she whispered, and grabbed his hand. "Let's go." And pulled him.

Needless to say, Peter had yet to ask her whether he should go meet Felicia.

He didn't need her permission. He would go meet Felicia anyway, but giving a 'choice' would still be better for his and Gwen's relationship.

After all, she should believe that she had some control over him.

Haaaah.

Peter sighed; how hard he has to work…

He shook his head.

"Hey," he called her. "I dunno what it's about, but it's probably that she wants to thank me."

Gwen glanced at him.

"Who and why?"

"Felicia, you know," Peter scratched his cheek. "I saved her in the Stark expo. Not as Spider-Man, but as me. And since she's been treating me horribly; even going so far as blaming me for sexual harassment, as you put it, I think she wants to apologize or something. Maybe that's why she wants to treat me to dinner."

"Hmm," Gwen hummed, chewing on her lips. "I mean, I don't mind you going. That wasn't why I was grumpy either. The girl's a Les anyway."

Peter smiled.

"And I trust you."

…That hurt Peter more than he'd thought it would.

He held the smile, but his mood wasn't the best.

Seriously, why could the human mind be so fucked up?

He loved this girl so much that he felt bad for cheating, which he was technically doing, but he would still do it anyway.

He was afraid of losing her, but he would still force her to stay with him anyway.

He'd feel shitty afterward, but he'd still do it anyway.

But he still hoped it wouldn't come to it.

He'd give her time once he eventually lays everything in front of her.

Just like the time he'd ràped her.

Peter wanted to give her enough time to think over It, with a clear and cool mindset. Which she wouldn't have just after finding out that he was fucking around with multiple women, and was cheating on her.

Honestly, this was manipulation of people, what he was doing, but at this Peter could care less. There was this something he wanted, and he'd have this something at any and every cost.

His mind was just that twisted.

Apparently, being an amalgamation of three beings does that to you, even if you remain mostly yourself, which isn't really you anymore, but you comfort yourself with self-built rows of lies anyway.

Peter knew that well enough, but let's just say this was his coping mechanism. He didn't have any other way of coping with stuff than this.

Peter chuckled.

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/Lord_Kismet

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