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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Oh? We finally starting the shitty interrogation, eh?

[The man glances up from his dishes, sweatshirt sleeves pulled all the way to his elbows as the soap suds drip off his arms. The look he shoots the brunette is thoroughly unimpressed. Sorry, Peter, your job is not helped by the fact that Sanji is perpetually grumpy and sharp with suspicion, so the fact that Peter sucks at this? Obvious to both parties in the kitchen.

... At least the atmosphere in the room isn't... hostile. Sanji doesn't seem much surprised, either, by the fact he's been cornered all by his lonesome to sate Peter's curiosity. The bastard is terrible at keeping to himself anyway; Sanji knew it was a matter of time. He wastes a moment pulling a towel up by his teeth and toward his hands -- shut up, he doesn't want the floor to get wet reaching over with his arms -- before continuing with an answer, voice relatively even-keeled.

Peter better enjoy it while it lasts]

No, I'm not sick. Whatever shit was in my system ran its course.

[Helped by Sanji smoking the poison out of his body, since he might as well use that fire perk if he's got it. He's had time to remove any toxins, too, as the last three days, Sanji hasn't... gone home, either.

Where he sleeps is a small mystery -- it's not in Peter's room. But lately, he hasn't left the shelter once his shift is over, just excuses himself to the second floor and vanishes soon after. For most of them, solving the mystery is more trouble than it's worth. The facility has already accepted Sanji as their chef; makes sense that no one bats an eye when he regresses into FEAST's fidgety cat upon nightfall.]

-- Oh, and I'm not telling you shit about my family, my circumstances, or anything else you can get your nosy mits on, so don't bother.

[This is the guy you kissed twice, Peter]

[... He retracts both kisses. One kiss of which has never been brought up again, not by him, not by Sanji, and they both seem more than prepared to forever keep it that way. Deflating a little and giving Sanji a dead-eyed, unimpressed look, he clears his throat.]

H'okay, fine. I'm just worried, you know?

It's my job to worry about everyone in here. Like, almost literally. And you did kind of scare me back there, so I'm making sure you're gonna be okay. Like how friends are supposed to do.

[He flutters his eyelashes innocently where he's sitting atop the table.

You'd think he'd taken a whole tray of cookies for himself.

(He'd never... at FEAST, anyway.)]

[Sanji's retort is throwing a wet towel directly on Peter's forehead with a satisfying smack.

This is the guy you wanted to be friends with, Peter]

Pretty damn sure the last time we had this conversation, I had to remind you that being friends with assholes who go into traces and start choking people is bad for your health.

[Voice still light (and quiet, no need for anyone to overhear them talking), but there's a pointed jab hidden underneath, proof that Sanji isn't okay with what happened and doesn't think Peter should be, either.]

[He rolls his eyes.]

You act like we haven't had drug addicts or people having mental breaks try to strangle me.

This place doesn't exactly have any shortage of rough situations.

[But alright, it's clearly not gonna be a thing they're talking about much. He'll have to figure out another way to sink some barbs in and taser the information out of Sanji. Metaphorically, of course. Very metaphorically, even if he would love to shove one of those hand-zappers into his face one of these days.]

Okay, okay. Uh. Then good news, I guess. I finally got an apartment — It'll just be another week or two before it's ready, and I'll finally be not... technically homeless!

[Ha. But after a moment, he fishes out a folded-up letter from his breast pocket.]

And...!

A research lab reached out and actually wants me to come in for an interview. Not that I'm too familiar with them — they're pretty new, and all — but their prospects look good, and they seem like they have a pretty squeaky clean record. Y'know, comparatively, anyway.

Also, health care. Health care! I haven't had health insurance in forever.

Edited 2019-04-26 01:45 (UTC)

[Oh -- well. Okay, topic change, then. Makes Sanji realize how rare it is for them to shoot the breeze and not have it end in a disaster of sorts.

So much as he wants to press the issue (again), because Peter clearly needs the reminders, Sanji stows his discontent and tries for a smile instead, a crooked one that comes out vaguely amused but ultimately honest.

Peter is happy. That's what's important.]

Oi, congrats. A crib and a job, eh?

[Eyeing the letter amiably before he reaches over and pilfers it, wet fingerprints making a mark on the paper. He snaps it open] Damn, and they're the ones who found you? Your luck's really turning--

[--

No.]

[The visceral response Sanji seems to have is enough to set off Peter's spider sense, even if only faintly — a sort of aftershock, a there's something bad blowing this way feeling that leaves his hairs standing up and his arms breaking out in goose-pimples.

He leans forward, just a little closer, trying to lock eyes.]

... Alessandro?

You alright?

["Sandy" has been many things to FEAST -- grumpy, annoyed, frustrated, even mad -- but the expression that bleeds into his face is one only Spider-Man will know: single-minded fury.

His entire arm explodes into fire.]

You're not going there.

[The excessive display of force gets the job done; Peter's letter has dissolved into ash, fluttering to the kitchen floor like snow. And even then, the fire roars for a couple seconds longer, as if to burn the very idea from Peter's head.

Once the fire clears (and the smoke too, he's fuckin lucky he didn't set off the sprinkler system with his fit), the man hisses between his teeth and takes a step back.]

[-- And then takes a moment to pause, with the color slowly draining from his face, at just how severely he fucked this up.

Shit.]

... Get out.

[It's an automatic order, one Peter will be familiar with -- that soft, blank voice Sanji uses when he's running scared and recoiling on himself. And he knows it, too. It's why he winces once the words are out of his mouth, like he's taken a shot at Peter. The poor bastard has got to be so confused.]

-- We'll talk later, alright? I -- [need to think, need to think up a plan, need to stop panicking because he doesn't know what to do with the hole growing in the pit of his stomach. Sanji swallows and tries not to vomit]

Don't go there yet, alright? For the interview. Say something came up.

[A hand goes to tangle in his bangs, and his expression cracks a little, flashes of fear and weariness peaking underneath his bangs] We can -- I dunno, meet on the roof, or your room, or -- [A helpless shrug. He turns away, back to the dishes]

I gotta finish this first.

[Boy, that's not a look he expects outside of the mask.

But here we are, and he doesn't even have to pretend to look taken aback. Something about this research lab has gotten Sanji shaken and enraged to his core — and this isn't exactly how he wanted to get information dug up on the guy. After a moment, he takes a step back, and nods with what understanding he can muster (it just barely outweighs the flood of confusion, just barely).]

... Alright. Okay. The interview's tomorrow, so I'll just — tell them I got food poisoning.

Or something.

[A pause. He opens his mouth. Closes it. And — ]

It'll be alright, whatever's going on. I'll see you on the roof. Um. Less eyes and ears there...? Just name when, and I'll be there.

[... Spider-Man's gonna have to investigate this lab, and soon.

But Sanji doesn't need to know that.]

[Sanji does as he's asked, gives Peter a specified time in the afternoon when traffic will be slow and Gloria will be most likely to relieve him for an hour. The roof is best; people here treat it like it's Peter's, or at least what's left of his aunt's -- no one goes up there without permission.

By the time Sanji winds his way up the stairs, a chill has set in the air, one he can feel through his sweatshirt. The plants feel it, too; most of them are shriveled from the winter cold and won't be back until spring, but a few of the more resilient plants are turtling through. Sanji sets himself next to these, sitting criss-crossed on the ground with his hood up... and thinks.

There's no hiding from the truth. His family knows. Coincidences don't run in the Vinsmoke family, after all; his father is no saint, but he's no great fool, either. It was always going to be a matter of time until he caught wind of what his son was doing.

-- It's that Sanji doubted the bastard would care, and he feel the fire boil his blood again, a punishment for overlooking the sadistic tendencies of his relatives. Oh, he can sooth his soul by assuming they sent the invitation on the merit's of Peter's intellect alone, but it doesn't matter in the end. Once they find out Peter knows who Sanji is, they'll toy with him until he's a husk.

He should leave -- no, he should bargain with his father. Keep FEAST and Peter out of their orbit like the peasants they are. Sanji will come home. He'll submit himself more thoroughly this time, the way he couldn't bear to after Wolfwood's death. Surely he owes Peter that much.]

Assuming the bastard won't go snooping around...

[Murmuring to himself with a dejected laugh, and then lowering his head against his knees, trying to rest the great weight of his failures on something stable.

It's his fault, ain't it? Flying off the handle means Peter's good samaritan qualities will hit overdrive. And maybe, just maybe he can handle this bullshit on his family's end, so long as he's got the tools to bargain, but Peter?? He can't seem to make that idiot do anything that's safe for him, and another explosion of fear hits his stomach.

Worst case scenario is Peter connects just enough dots to be considered a nuisance, and one of the Vinsmokes will have him gunned down.]

... You're killing me, Pete'.

... Sorry about that.

[He finally comes up to the rooftop himself, carrying what's definitely a bag of fries and burgers from a little stand he likes to frequent. If there's something he likes to quell his concerns or depressions with, it's either a.) gratuitous jokes or b.) lots of food. He's a little relieved that the roof isn't... on fire... or anything like that, and when he finally reaches Sanji's side he quietly takes a seat next to him.

Honestly, he's really... really nervous. Because he'd been really sure he got Sanji back fully after that awkward fight in the office — hell, he even kept hush-hush about his brother showing up on the steps — and how this letter is yet another threat to everything the guy's made here. There's nothing more awful than thinking he'll be failing the chef, letting him retreat back into his shell. They'd fight as a Vinsmoke and Spider-Man, sure, but there was no doubt he was pulling his punches even more. Limiting his interactions with the mafioso. Trying to nip things before the guy even got a chance to get involved.

Hard to do that and not piss Daddy Vinsmoke off, but it's not like Spider-Man isn't without a crapton of enemies anyway.]

... So.

I guess this is a redo of the kitchen earlier? When I... ask how things are?

[Ah... bastard overheard that, did he?

Sanji doesn't bother looking chastised when he'll be spending all of the next half hour trying not to lose his shit, but he does rub at his face, taking a moment to gather his nervous thoughts before he reaches over and steals whatever fries are in that bag.]

Something like that.

[A beat of quiet. Sanji fidgets with a fry between his fingers, not looking at Peter]

... I know the people who own that facility you were invited to. And trust me -- they deal with some pretty nasty shit. A lot of... genetic modifications. It's why I--

[Why he freaked out at the thought of Peter going there, of course, though Sanji gives a shrug to distance himself from that. Shit's complicated enough without going down that line of thought]

I mean, they only hire the best of the best, so take that as you want it. I'd still give 'em a wide berth. [Glancing at Peter now, his expression grim] It's not worth it.

Edited 2019-04-29 00:58 (UTC)

[Peter quiets, and hears about as much as he expects. A bad place with awful practices, all dressed up to look harmless and helpful. They probably do some really shady crap to keep people there, too, when the money just isn't worth it anymore. It's not necessarily the first run-in he's had with a situation like this, no, but...]

Sandy... How do you know all this?

I mean. Have you, uh. Worked there before?

[Peter feels awful for knowing more than he should, honestly. Because he's more than aware that Sanji's not gonna be a worker bee there. Even still... Maybe there's a way he can carve some information out of this, widdle Sanji down until he tells him enough.]

[He was waiting for that question.

And even after all this time up on the rooftop, trying to reason his way to a safe answer, Sanji still doesn't know what to tell Peter. The truth is too ugly to say outright, but this time a lie might hurt more than it heals.

This will require a deft and delicate hand, he coaches to himself. No mistakes. Deep breath.]

Some relatives of mine were... well, they were involved at some point.

[Vague enough that Sanji isn't technically lying, but offering almost no details. He shoves any semblance of guilt away and keeps talking]

But nah, I never worked there. [A flash of a smile, tight around the edges] Not a nerd like you. Besides, it ain't my area of expertise. All I can do is cook.

[Another half-truth, but more easily shared. Strictly speaking, all of the Vinsmoke children have access to their father's facilities, even the disgraced 3rd son -- just so happens Sanji prefers to keep his hands to himself and almost never sets foot in the labs unless his father requires his attendance.]

[Confirmation.

Bad confirmation. This company's ran by Vinsmokes, and suddenly there's a war in his head between Spider-Man and Peter. Because Peter's worried and anxious for Sanji. And Spider-Man's worried and anxious for New York City. Either way, he supposes those feelings need to make up and join forces, because they want the same thing in the end: for people to be safer.

All the people.

There's a flash of something serious, something steeling in his eyes, and then it's cooled again.]

... Are these relatives in danger? Or you?

[-- And this is exactly what Sanji was afraid of: Peter Parker, missing all the obvious cues that he should look after himself and instead trying to carry someone else's burdens. The blond's eyes nearly roll back into his skull from the frustration.]

I'm fine, so in case you thought this was an invitation to get nosy, stop right there.

[Peter is only one human -- a surprisingly durable human with the luck of the devil, but Sanji doesn't believe in miracles, see. Karma catches up. The scales always balance in the end.

He won't have Peter sticking his neck out for him.]

Don't worry about my relatives, either. We're --

[not on speaking terms]

... We're pretty distant from each other. Whatever happens to them is their own business.

[Peter sighs softly.]

... Alright. [It's not alright. It's really not, and he chews on some of the fries in the bag to stop himself from running his mouth without thinking, one leg crossed over the other.] I promise I won't go working for them, though, okay? This place you're so worried about. I'm not about to screw up what few decent things I've got going for me now. And if something comes up that freaks you out like that... you can always tell me. I'm around for you guys.

[................

He's gonna snoop a hell of a lot.

But that's for way later, away from Sanji's eyes. Hopefully.]

Listen, uh. This isn't going to change you being here or anything, is it...? If I swear I'll stay away from that, you'll stick around? Maybe, I don't know — go out to Larry's again sometime. I'm sure he's wondering why you're not bugging him about the kitchen.

[This almost sounds like a date. Or something.

He stuffs more fries in his mouth, and looks self-conscious about the thought.

Because maybe the kiss hasn't quite been pushed to the back of his mind.

At all.]

[Sanji won't admit it out loud, but that he doesn't have to weasel a promise out of Peter, to look after himself and maybe avoid the sketchy facility, well --

Maybe, just maybe the man's shoulders dip with relief, and his expression loosens into approval.]

You stay away and I'll do whatever you want for an hour, asshole.

[-- Mm, might've laid it on thick there. Well, he supposes he can indulge Peter a bit. Though Peter best believe there's a brief narrowing of Sanji's visible eye at the mention of Larry's, but the smile remains, just having sharpened into amusement.]

Sorry, I gotta lay low for a bit. Larry's is gonna have to wait.

[...]

But I suppose if you need any help moving shit into your apartment... I might be around.

[He blinks at that, genuinely caught off-guard.]

You really would? Help me move in?

[He's not sure why he's caught off-guard, granted, but... it's a nice feeling.

Maybe a good way to pretend this all isn't going to get out of hand badly.

... The, uh, the Vinsmoke stuff. Not the moving stuff. Right.]

It's just helping you move...

[Sanji is not sure why Peter looks surprised by this revelation. Like damn, Sanji knows himself to be an asshole, but even he doesn't see a problem with lifting some boxes.]

Lemme know the date and I'll ask Gloria to give me some time off.

[Some actual time off instead of disappearing without a warning, heh. His smile dims a bit, but the moment quickly passes after he stuffs a few fries into his mouth]

Anyway, you got anymore questions? No promises if I'll answer.

[Well...! Sometimes you spend so much time doing things as Spider-Man, you just kinda... forget... that sometimes you'll do things for you, too. He can't help but feel a little warm at the fact that the offer exists, period.

And when Sanji asks him that question, he's kind of thought off his groove.]

I, uh...! I don't think so... I — mostly just wanted to say...

[Ugh, is he reverting back to 'nerdy 14-year-old Peter in front of a class'?

He's totally reverting. Clearing his throat, he tries again:]

I just wanted to let you know that if anything happens, you can always come to me.

You know that, right?

[And Peter turned it gay.

Of course he did.

-- Which is strangely par for the course when it comes to their interactions. Sanji bets Peter is that guy who will whisper sweet nothings into his partner's ear to calm them down, and the image warrants a snort of amusement.

It's sweet. It's stupid. It's proof that Peter is an idiot so desperate for a connection with someone that even an asshole like Sanji looks palatable. Shaking his head, the blond rummages for the burger still hiding in that take-out bag]

... I know that that's the lamest, most sincere pick-up line I've ever heard.

[Really hope Peter wasn't banking on Sanji's sincerity.

Or his mercy.]

[He laughs miserably.]

Hey, sincere trumps lameness.

[You're really gonna torture him like this, Sanji?

C'mon, man.]

Anyway, I was being serious. If you're having trouble with anything, I'm around to help.

Yeah, yeah.

[Burger acquired, he makes a show of peeling back the foil before splitting off half to give to Peter] I'll keep it in mind if I'm ever in mortal danger and need you to princess carry me to safety.

[So he heard; he just doesn't really believe ya, buddy. You're one, normal person with questionable luck, so as earnest as the sentiment is, Sanji doesn't take the bait any further than a quip. Doing more than that would be a mistake for both of them.

But he'll nudge Peter with his shoulder, in case the other gets a look about him like he's not being taken seriously. Cheer up, Pete'. Sanji hasn't run for the door yet, it's kinda like progress.

... Shit, if he's being honest? This talk went better than expected. He doesn't feel great exactly, or even set at ease, but maybe for the first time in a while, he doesn't feel like... running.]

*****

[-- Now, about that apartment.

Sanji proves to be more excited by Peter having a permanent place of residence than Peter is. He hounds the other with statistics, logistics, the type of neighborhood he'll be shacking up in, it's level of cleanliness before the move date, who is hiring in a moving van -- the devil is in the details, Sanji maintains (probably while waving a spatula at Peter's face), and if he's gonna help move shit in, damn right it'll be smooth sailing with everyone from the landlord to the neighbors falling in line.

If questioned for his sudden zeal, the best anyone gets is a shrug before the man clams up and returns to his recipes. But it's just-- it's some goddamn justice in the world, for once. Good guys like Peter deserve something going for them, some kind of measurable karma to offset the bullshit they go through everyday.

His is a perfectly natural response to seeing his only friend in the world get a Nice Thing, alright? Everyone in FEAST needs to stop grinning like they're watching a romcom in action.

And the move itself turns out to be ... pretty uneventful. Peter's not exactly rollin' in possessions, first off -- even including the donations everyone at the shelter pitched in to buy, it takes only a couple of runs from the move-in truck Sanji "rented" -- "Bastard, for the last time, stop asking me where I got this" -- up the dingy stairs, and into the apartment so small that Sanji almost mistakes it for a closet.

-- Well. He's probably not the best to judge what's considered normal in Queens. Ehem.]

Oi! We got everything? [Sticking his head out from the bedroom, a light sheen of sweat making his bangs stick to his forehead.] I'm tired and hungry, so there's only one right answer.

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