He found her in the sewers.
Johnny and Bobby already left, but Peter insisted he'd keep looking. Maybe because he felt guilty for not doing anything earlier, when armed men showed up at their school looking for her. He'd been kicking himself all day for not stepping in. He was supposed to always step in.
It didn't take long for him to find her curled up into a ball with tears in her eyes, but the glare she sent him felt like a rocket tearing through his chest.
"Please don't punch me again."
Kitty scoffed as he removed his mask and offered her a hand up, only for it to be slapped away. "You deserve it."
"Not arguing that." She crossed her arms and leaned back with a sniff.
"Leave me alone, Peter. Just go home." He knelt down in front of her and reached out to gently rub her forearms, the sincerity in his eyes managing to almost temper her fuming rage.
"Not leaving without you."
"I don't have a home," she spat back. "If I go back, they'll come after me again, and my mom…I can't…"
She closed her eyes and caved into herself, finally letting a few heavy tears spill out. Peter reached out again, carefully grasping at her hand and tugging her out of her shell. She unwrapped herself like a present to stare into his eyes.
"Come stay with me," he whispered.
Her expression muddled into an odd concoction of annoyance and confusion as she shook her head in disbelief. "Wh-what?"
"I've got room. Not much room, but I can-I-I mean we can-"
"N-no," she interrupted angrily, "no, I can't. You have any idea what they'd do to you if they ever-"
"Same thing they'd do if they knew Spider-Man shared a bathroom with Iceman and the Human Torch. I can keep a secret." He inched ever so slightly closer to her as her expression softened to match his gentle tone. "Come with me. Please."
"They'll never stop looking for me," she murmured. Peter stroked her cheek, wiping a stray tear away with his thumb. She felt herself ease under his touch.
"Next time they come for you, they'll have to deal with me first. I promise." Kitty finally accepted his hand, letting him pull them both up to their feet and tug her into a soft embrace. He smiled when her head found its way to his torso, his heartbeat synchronizing with her silent breaths.
"I love you," he said. "You know that, right?"
A cozy warmth lit up her heart as she felt his arms around her, letting them drown her.
"I'm sorry I was…I love you, too."
Their lips pressed against each other softly as she silently thanked God he found her.