quipsandthwips | [PSL] The Vinsmokes vs. Spider-Man

[PSL] The Vinsmokes vs. Spider-Man

[Peter Parker is doing fine.

Let him re-phase that: he's adapted and adjusted accordingly. Look, it hasn't been easy. Deciding to remain friends with MJ and still finding himself without an actual job or home to speak of doesn't beat losing both his mentor and his last surviving family member. There are empty spaces in his life that he tries not to linger on too long — but god, he misses May's smile, her voice, her kindnesses. It had taken so long to accept Ben's death... and now it's, just... it's hard. It's easier to just be Spider-Man for a while.

Crime doesn't sleep, after all. So yeah, homeless. That's no biggie. He's been there before. He mainly just works at FEAST with the homeless (he relates, and the new head honcho Miriam knew Peter was on the streets somehow, so he makes his keep there by volunteering. He, um. He gets to sleep in May's old office. It's... nice. There are still pictures and stuff hanging up that nobody had dared move.

So he's only sort of homeless now.

Anyway. Not important. What is important is keeping tabs on the villain activity around here. With most of the villains locked up aboard the Raft (not gonna even think about Dr. Octavius right now, because it still hurts too much), it's mainly these little obnoxious crime families and gangs; Kingpin had been the leader of all the gang activity before his arrest. And now it's this crime family. The Vinsmokes. Hard to get them arrested, and they've got so many secret strings being pulled all over. It makes for a real pain in the ass to deal with. He hasn't gotten a chance to catch the head honcho with anything criminal yet, but boy oh boy has he busted soooo many drug deals, weapons manufacturing, stolen goods deals — and so on.

Most of the grunts are easy-peasy. The literal family are all a bunch of super-powered heathens like him. Cool. He's gotten, like, three of them locked up on the Raft... only to have them somehow bought out, or released for shoddy police work, or something or another. Now there's just one locked up, but it's only a matter of time before Daddy Vinsmoke does his magic.

Ugh. He hates it.

2:30 a.m., and he's down by the docks and sticking against a nearby wall as fake money exchanges hands.]

Hey, do those work on any vending machine?

I'm dying for a bag of Doritos right about now.

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Hey, wait a sec!

[He puts a hand on Sanji's shoulder — certainly something he wouldn't have had much success with back when the guy first walked through their doors, that's for sure — and looks at him with those stupid doe-eyes.]

I'm worried about you, man. You can't just... come stumbling into my room and then vanish on me. What happened? At least rest a little longer? You're safe here, remember? This place is on your side.

[And that's exactly the problem.

People and places on Sanji's side? They tend to disappear real fuckin' quick when his brothers are bored. The haziness that's followed him for three days has already sharpened into a guillotine. Staying here isn't safe for anyone.

... But he doesn't buck the hand off his shoulder like he wants to. Like he should. His mouth curves into a stiff line of frustration]

I--

[god fuckin damn it, racking a hand through his hair and hissing through his teeth]

It's not safe, alright? You're not safe. I don't -- [Feeling heat rise in his chest and he shoves it down, tries to keep his body's temperature consistent]

I don't remember anything.

[... Well, that doesn't bode well.]

What do you remember? Why isn't it safe?

C'mon, you know me. I've been in some bad situations here and there, too.

[You can trust me, is what he says without saying it.]

[He remembers details he's not about to tell Peter, that's for certain. Being dragged into his father's private lab the moment he'd returned from his trip with Peter, ears filled with Niji's vindictive laughter, goading Sanji on because they both know the rules. And it had hurt this time, seared like fire, whatever shit had been pumped into his veins.

No, Peter doesn't need to know any of it. And drawing that line in the sand.... well, that helps to steady him somewhat.]

I don't remember the last three days.

[That's all he's willing to divulge, it seems, hand slipping out of his hair.] Forget it, this is a ... a family matter.

[Spearing Peter with a look] Which means it's none of your shitty business and I don't want you sticking your--

[He stops short, tongue getting stuck to the roof of his mouth. His eyes tick down by an inch and stay there.

Sanji's staring at Peter's neck]

Oi...

[Honestly, he'd been too distracted worrying about Sanji to consider the guy would take note of the marks on his neck — he was so hazy before, so out of it, he figured maybe he could just avoid the topic altogether. His hand moves to his neck only fleetingly, before he opts to touch Sanji's bicep supportively instead.

Really, he's Spider-Man. This is nothing, just another day ending in Y.

Of course, Sandy doesn't know that. Can't understand how little of a big deal it actually is.]

... I'm fine. You were just confused, that's all.

I'm more worried about you, honestly.

[No, Sanji doesn't understand that choking Peter hard enough to leave bruises is at best a minor inconvenience, and amidst the sensation of his stomach dropping to his feet, he gives Peter a stiff, blank look of pain.

And steps away]

... I'm quitting.

[Perhaps the quietest Sanji's ever been since working here, and it's been... a couple months? A good run, then. He has no right to complain. The only regret is he caved and made a friend along the way.]

What — no, no no. You can't.

[He steps in front of him, hands hovering anxiously.

Weird, he didn't think Sanji deciding to part ways from FEAST would be that bad — in fact, he'd been hoping for a peaceful resolution to inviting a mafia boss' soon into the shelter — but it's not like that anymore, and he feels a sinking feeling in his stomach at those words. Maybe he'd... maybe he'd adopted him in that stupid way of his, the same way he'd taken in Felicia, had been so determined to help turn her life around; to help make her not a thief, a crook, to give her life purpose in a way that wouldn't hurt others in the town.

And more than anything, to give them a way to be happier.

Oh, Spider, Felicia had told him once, running a finger along his bicep as they lay in bed, You can't always fix every single stray kitten you take in. And maybe she's right. After all, she'd gone back to her old ways. But... but this is different. Sanji's clearly in a place that treats him like garbage. And Peter can't stand the thought of him slinking back to that life, and just... being his villainous enemy.

Octavius was hard enough.

Sanji would just be another dagger into his heart.]

Everything's gonna be fine, okay? We can work on this together. Whatever's going on with you... I can help. We can help, here at FEAST, because — because we love you being here, okay? Marcos and Celeste and Gloria — and, and Miriam, even, they all adore you, you know? And I —

[Wow, weird.

Weird little knot in his throat there, like he isn't sure what to say.]

You're my friend. You can't go. Who else is gonna keep me in my place?

[... Maybe bad phrasing, considering the deathchoke a while ago.

But still.]

Would you fuckin stop it--

[He snarls before Peter even finishes speaking, barely able to coil back his anger when he feels the heat starting to rise in his body again. Oh trust him, this is about what he expected, for the guy to put up a fight and try to keep him here. But for once? This is actually important, not the two of them bickering over if Sanji should join him for pizza.]

I refuse to believe you're this stupid. Just how many bastards do you know who can set themselves on fire? Or blank out and choke people? [Arching at him, not even a threat, just frustration etched into the lines of his face] Peter, I'm dangerous!

[His arm juts out, gestures at the walls, the couch, the desk -- everything that's left of his aunt, her memory. Things he's seen that are precious to Peter, perhaps all he has left to comfort him.

If it twists the knife a little deeper, then good. Let his last act here be the wake-up call Peter needs.]

You're not gonna risk this place for me, alright? You can find better friends! FEAST can get a better chef! I'm not worth this!

I told you, I'm — I'm fine —

[RRRGH

He gestures his own wild gestures, and from the outside, people can probably make out their bickering shapes, their muffled growling voices. And are... not going to get in the middle of this one, no thank you. The whole upper floor is totally emptying out.]

Do you know how many dangerous people sleep here every night? Just because you're some kind of living jalapeno doesn't mean you're less acceptable around here than everyone else! [Ah, yes, the butting of heads — just what they need right now. But goddamn if Peter can't help but fight him on this and hang onto the reigns.] I love this place — and yeah, it's — it's like having a piece of May with me, but she would rather I have you around than worry about the plant she left on the shelf that I'm definitely gonna end up killing...!

[And of course, he's not budging from where he's standing in front of Sanji, practically a wall of stubbornness that Sanji's probably gotten painfully used to. Sweat forms on his forehead, but he doesn't relinquish his space. He steps closer instead, into the warmer space. That feeling of panic in his stomach won't stop, just keeps twisting and twisting.]

You're the stupid bastard here. You've been here how many months now?

You think you can just walk into someone's life and then rush out of it? No way!

Edited 2019-04-02 01:12 (UTC)

[Sanji's gonna punch him.

Throttle him.

Kick him in the dick.

He doesn't even care anymore.

-- Except Sanji does care, and ain't that the worst part of it all, that this is the only reason he hasn't made a jump to tear into Peter like a discount piñata. For all the fury that builds on his expression, Sanji grits his teeth and stays his ground, allows Peter to invade his space and yell at him -- because there is no allowing the alternative.

He can't hurt him again.]

I can and I will.

[Though apparently, leaving emotional wounds is not out of bounds today, and Sanji rears his head back with a stubborn glint in his eye. Unstoppable force? Meet the unmovable object] What are you gonna do it about it, huh? Tie me to your couch?

[Please fuckin make his day and try it, Peter Parker]

[You're the worst.

The worst!

The most annoying!

He holds up his hands, fingers like comical claws on either side of Sanji in the most useless, most non-combative gesture of wanting to strangle someone like Homer does Bart Simpson — just say no to child abuse, by the way — and he feels the frustration mounting alongside his concern and anxiety and fear and — and all the stupid things he's got rattling around in his brain.]

You're...! I can't...! Oooo!

[Tying him to a couch in an idea. Or cuffing them together. Or throwing him in the broom closet and telling everyone it's a rabid badger, because that's almost completely the truth. There's so many options he can choose from. He steps forward like they're two cage fighters about to wrestle in an MMA ring-]

[And proceeds to practically slam his mouth into Sanji's like it's an attack.

It's hardly an accident, judging by the lips that are still pressing into Sanji's desperately.]

[--??

????

Mmmmmmmmmmmboi.

Okay, Sanji is gonna... ease ya back there, buddy, hands gently tucked against Peter's shoulders, after spending several moments looping panicked static in his head. Honestly? Kinda surprised Peter didn't punch him in the face. Sanji would have punched himself in the face. Face-punching would have been a nice change of pace for both of them, just saying, and-- and--

And he is definitely trying to avoid thinking or talking or taking any action that will require acknowledging the fact that his lips are probably as red as his ears and cheeks.]

... You... should've just tied me to the couch.

[Wow did his voice jump two octaves? M a y b e.]

[Peter's turned a little red himself, as Sanji pushes him back.

Maybe he's a little mortified, but it'd... just been the first thing he'd thought to do. Or wanted to do. In some pissed-off, annoyed way, because he's angrily wanting San— No, no no no, stop there. He feels dizzy. He's gonna puke. Oh god, what's he doing? This is the worst.]

[... His hands are hovering like he's trying to look like he comes in peace, And, uh. Uhm.

Fuck.

Sort of wanting a stray arrow from a violently tipped truck full of archery supplies to take him out right about now.

Breathlessly, and with a thin, weak voice, he dives headfirst off a cliff:]

Like... I said. Everyone loves you. Being here.

So... you should — stay.

[... Jesus Christ.

You're a bleeding heart, Pete, the little voice of MJ sighs, shoving his arm. You let yourself get too attached.

What the fuck else is he supposed to do in life?]

[Peter Parker is a cheat.

No secret there. It's something Sanji knew already. Just like he knew the longer an argument goes, his chances of victory plummet. If Sanji had really wanted to escape, he should have dived out the shitty window while Peter was out of the room.

Never has that felt more evident than now, watching Peter with his hands in the air, awkwardly confessing -- again -- that maybe Sanji should just stay, like it's that fuckin easy.

His sigh is sharp enough to cut his tongue... but when Sanji drops his hands from the other's shoulders, he tucks them away into his pockets, muttering darkly under his breath as he goes about staring at the floor.

And very pointedly doesn't move from his spot, neither toward the door or the window.]

Pain in my ass.

[...]

"Living jalapeno" was a good one, not gonna lie.

[Peter's shoulders sag.

... Heh. Rejection.

Rejection he wasn't even realizing he'd been anxious for in the first place.

Fuck. x2. He just smiles weakly, because he figures it's fair; he deserves that.]

... I mean, if the shoe fits... 'Raging trashfire' seemed too mean.

I'm sorry, uh. You should rest. You're still feeling tired, right?

[Tired? Yeah, that's a word for it. The sort of exhaustion that's so deep-seated you feel it in your bones instead of your skin. He'll be asleep the moment he slows down.

Before that, though, his gaze presses through his bangs, assessing Peter for a moment. If he has any idea what the other's thinking, it doesn't show on his face. But before long, an anxiety that's all his own starts to surface, bringing along with it a wave of guilt]

... You need ice for your neck.

[He huffs a sigh, hand moving back to his throat.

Muttered under his breath:]

... It's not the first time I've been choked, honestly...

[Sorry, what was that-]

I can, uh, get a bag of peas. That's usually how it works, right? Bag of peas?

But I'm kind of worried you're pulling a fast one on me and you're gonna try to jump back out the window the moment I walk out of the office.

If I wanted to leave now, I'd just go.

[Says he, who got stopped in his tracks by a kiss that he refuses to count as genuine. Though uh, giving Peter a look because Sanji is damn certain he just heard Peter admit he's been choked before and who had the balls--]

... C'mon. [Heading toward the door before Peter can even get there, finessing it open with a rough shove of his shoulder]

I'll babysit you all the way to kitchen if it'll help you feel better.

[It almost seems... too good to be true. And he looks at Sanji with those wide, hopeful eyes, the kind that are obnoxiously kind and stupidly altruistic. It's a problem. But what's crucial here is this: Sanji's gonna actually come down to the kitchen, in front of the others, and be... himself here again. This isn't ending in the guy rushing out a window and out of FEAST's life.

That's a victory, one he's not used to having. He's had a lot of... hard hits lately.

Is this a mirage, or something? If he wags his hand at the man, will he get all foggy?]

You're coming with?

... Yeah! Yeah, let's go.

[He's moving to follow, a sort of newfound bounce in his step.

Choke a guy and he's following you like a happy dog. It's nonsense.

But get used to it, Sandy.]

You sure you're okay? I mean, if you're still not feeling well, you should be resting...

[Rolling his eyes to the ceiling as he hears Peter practically prance behind him, for shit's sake--]

Oi, you wanna keep an eye on me or not? Stop asking stupid questions.

[Peter, Sanji did not think he had to spell out what he was doing. It's irritating that he hasn't left, as he very well should, and the only way to protect himself from his own stupid decisions is to pretend that this is all for someone else's sake.

After all, he's gotta sell it to the people downstairs. Half the shitty building heard him and Peter going at it, and knowing that they know he's here twists the chef's back up in knots, shoulders bunched closer to his ears, making it harder to pull off a casual walk.

Peter can crow all he likes about people giving a shit about him, but it's. not ever that simple.]

... Everyone's downstairs?

[After a moment, Peter nods.]

Uh... yeah... Maybe they didn't hear any of that?

[He says it with a sheepish smile and all the knowledge in the world that they definitely heard the muffled quarreling. As they make their way downstairs, Peter stands his collar up a bit more, not too eager for anyone to see the marks there; it doesn't cover them totally, but if he walks quick enough, nobody'll know.

As they walk into the main cafeteria area, all the workers mysteriously seem to be on the tail-end of rushing to nonchalant spots, like that's where they've always been, and Peter smiles and gives Sanji a quick thumbs up.]

I'll get what I need out of the freezer.

[He's not trying to abandon Sanji, but he figures it'd be good to get out of an area where people can scrutinize him... aaaand he can also ask Celeste for her make-up bag, maybe. They have pretty similar skin tones? So y'know. He can just make-up the issue away.

Seems like the perfect plan.]

[Leaving him to fend for himself when he's been MIA for the past three days? Sure, Peter, that's a brilliant plan that Sanji is sure to like. His mouth twists into the beginnings of dissent, but rather than say a word, he instead walks off to hold up a wall by his lonesome, near one of the cafeteria's corners.

-- And of course, his solitude lasts for all of 30 seconds before people trickle in his direction. He must look tired or just pathetic with his head bowed and arms folded, his complexion still pale -- the residents instinctively know to treat him with kid gloves, sliding him gentle nudges and large smiles while welcoming back his return. Was he sick? Ah, flu's going around, isn't it. Sandy, ya gotta take better care of yourself, we've been eating like shit without ya.]

... Yeah, I'll -- sorry. [Feeling his face give a slight flush, Sanji rubs at his neck and just. allows their goodwill without complaint, and tries to ignore how everyone grins all the more for it.

More than one person tells him that Peter was sulking without him around.]

Tch. I already heard all about it.

[Scoffing under his breath, his eyes pick their way to the kitchen doors. No matter how high the urge to escape from everyone's prying eyes is, he grumpily surrenders himself to wait until Peter shows up]

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