Peter Parker | Spider-Man (PS4) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
quipsandthwips) wrote2018-10-07 12:32 am
quipsandthwips) wrote2018-10-07 12:32 am
[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.
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.
no subject
[Ha. Haha. He's had plenty of practice on himself, thank you, and shoots Peter a tired scowl in response to the peptalk. Believe him, if there was something he could shove into Peter's mouth to make him shut up...
Getting the bottom part of the suit off of Peter isn't too much of a struggle, especially seeing as he just wants easy assess to the thighs... and there's a wisecrack he could make if he were in a better mood, but...
It's looking at the knife wound that sours what little patience he has, for both Peter and himself. Blood on his hands, he still wrestles some of his bangs out of the way in a moment of frustration, not giving a damn if it smears on his forehead. His stomach is too busy curling in knots.]
... I'll treat this and then we're done here.
[Spoken with a flat air of finality.]
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Wait —
You're... Uh...
[He pauses, his one clear eye glancing aside. Anxious. His own stomach is in knots, for his own reasons, reasons Sanji might object to. But he couldn't help but feel how he feels, is how he is, okay? And the one thing he wants right now is for Sanji to not run off. If he leaves, is Peter even gonna see him again outside of the mask? Hell, is he gonna get himself killed? Hurt?
His voice is strained and weak. Happens when you've lost a lotta blood.]
You're not — gonna leave, are you?
[His fingers squeeze, shakily. To be honest, consciousness is not doing him very many favors right about now.]
no subject
He should've known damn well Peter wasn't going to make this easy. Sanji can't even say he's surprised when he feels a feeble hand curl over his wrist, and for a brief moment, his expression freezes with dismay, a hurt that threatens to overtake him...
Before a grin blossoms over it, sharp as a knife's edge.]
You... are so full of shit.
[Yanking his hand back, rubbing at the wrist while still wearing that bright, cold smile]
What, you want me to grovel? Fine, I'll hand it to ya -- had me completely fooled. Didn't even realize my ass was getting played the one and only Spider-Man.
[A shrug. His tone is flippant as he starts digging for a bandage small enough to cover Peter's leg wound]
All that bullcrap about us being friends so I'd lower my guard... I mean, it's some cliché shit, but it worked, yeah? So I can't even be pissed off about it.
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"Turn? Turn...? I worshipped you."
He stares for a long moment, startled, confused, indignant, hand dropping like a stone at his side. Maybe it's him being so beaten down, clinging to consciousness by a slim margin, but — he just looks hurt, speaks so honestly that it feels a tremor and a crack in his words:]
You think... I fell in love with you to lower your guard?
[And he lays there as a tear drips down into the shell of his ear, looking beaten down, his fingers trembling from something more than physical. Part of him just waits for Sanji to leave. It wouldn't be the first time someone's left him behind — and he'd be lying if he said the voice in his head wasn't saying he completely deserved it.]
1/2
That was always a rule Sanji had struggled to follow, ever since Peter extended a hand of friendship and near bullied Sanji into reciprocating; Sanji could berate Peter, smack him in the head when he was being stupid, but he'd never go as far as to hurt him, physical or otherwise. He always figured Peter... deserved better.
Staring at the man pushed to tears, Sanji almost laughs at his own gall, thinking he was ever going to keep that promise. He's as stupid as his siblings call him.
-- But it's that one damned word in particular that snaps the last reins on his temper, and the smile evaporates from his face]
You fuckin knew, Peter! What the hell did you think was gonna happen?!
[That they were gonna get a happy ending? That he was somehow gonna save Sanji from his stupid life of crime? The only reason he doesn't lunge is Peter's too injured to fight back, but his destroyed expression of grief and fury does the talking for him]
"Sandy" never existed, alright?! That was me on holiday, trying to get away from my shitty family for a while!
[Digging a hand into his hair while he shuts his eyes, pissed off that he can feel a wet heat starting to gather at the corners]
I was always gonna have to leave! Either when you won and locked us up, or my dad got tired of my shit and killed me off!
[He doesn't have the luxury to believe in grace or second chances. He's no Spider-Man. He's only survive this long off of spite and the few people kind enough to take notice...
before they all died trying to protect him.]
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Feeling wetness on his cheeks, Sanji curls and takes refuge in his knees, his face buried against them. Even once he dares to speak again, his voice is muffled]
You can't save me, Pete.
[No anger this time. Just exhaustion and a resigned sorrow]
I'm not about to let your dumb ass get hurt for my sake. My old man's gonna raze half the city trying to find us, so...
[...]
I'll patch you up. Give you some time to sleep this off. Then I... I'll distract them long enough for you to do whatever you gotta.
[He never deserved Peter, Sanji coaches himself through his tears. This is for the best.]
no subject
He'd never. People can change. People can be good. Peter'll always try to think so.
Forget what you're feeling right now, you big baby, he thinks. ... Focus on what's important right now.
A long pause follows, while Sanji sits with his face buried. Then there's a shifting, an unheard biting of one's lip until they taste blood — just before arms find their way around Sanji. Peter crouches next to him, body aching with the stress of being forced to its knees — knees that are screaming that him that he's an idiot, a moron, a total dunce. But he pulls Sanji close, fingers curling into the fabric of Sanji's shirt. His vision dances like a teetering mirage, but he focuses on the blond of Sanji's bowed head.]
I don't have to save you. You can do that yourself.
[He rasps, voice lighter:]
You saved Spider-Man.
That makes you the best of 'em, right?
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And really, it shouldn't surprise him when he feels an arm curling around him -- Peter, bruised and broken, forcing his body to move just so he can comfort someone else. It's the kind of selfless gesture that makes Sanji want to snap in frustration again, except he's lost his window of opportunity for temperamental bullshit. A broken laugh escapes him instead.
... The arm's allowed to stay.]
The only person I saved is the dumbass I work with.
[Assuming his family doesn't destroy his one good contribution in this world, right? Heh. Sanji's own voice is rough, made all the worse by how he still refuses to lift his head. And when he sighs, his shoulders hitch with the motion before slumping back down into another tired chuckle.]
... You're such a fuckin cheater, you know that? Pulling sappy shit at me when I just wanna beat your ass for never taking care of yourself.
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Maybe you're the sappy one. Sappier than you think. [He's too tired to support a lot of his weight, so don't punt him for leaning so much into you, huh? He's not sure he can sit back up from here.] ... Speaking of taking care of one's self, how's your arm?
no subject
But that's not where he wants his thoughts swimming tonight, and so the man forces himself out of the beginnings of another pity party, face still buried in his knees. He makes no comment of the weight pressing into him -- just sighs and settles, allowing Peter this brief reprieve]
It'll be fine. I'm used to this shit. [Has he... ever talked about his powers? No, not since that moment on the rooftop when Sanji had nearly burned down all of FEAST. He's not inclined to talk about it now, either, but that's only because he can feel something clawing at the back of his tongue, turning his entire mouth dry until he finally spits it out]
... S'not that I wanna go back, y'know. If I could've taken off years ago, I ... I would've.
[he thought about it, sometimes, when the weight of his bad luck started getting to him -- if he should run away. If Peter would join him. Just the two of them going cross-country, shacking up in a town where no one would recognize them.
Of course it's an obvious "no" on that last part, heh, and he'd rather burn out his eye-sockets than admit he still sorta wishes it could happen. Another sigh drops his shoulders a notch]
... It'll be easier this way, Pete. Not saying I'm as valuable as the one and only Spider-Man, but it'll appease my bastard of an old man long enough for you to ... I dunno, pull off something. A shitty miracle.
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... Sanji, you're wrong. I can't pull off a shitty miracle.
That's got to be a group effort.
[There's a pause, as he licks his split lips. It's not exactly a long shot, but it's also... not the easiest field goal in the world. Even so... he thinks maybe he can get something together. Get something worked out.
He sits up more, leading on the chair and breathing like he'd ran a marathon.
But there's important things to say.]
Before your family beat the tar out of me... I had a slew of back-up spaces for all of the data I got from their labs and computers... They can think they're gods of New York all they want, but — I've dealt with their kind for years.
... I've got plenty to lock them up. Data stashed that would condemn them on so many charges, The Raft'll cry tears of joy.
... If I could get help to handle your family, to help show clear criminal activity... and get the right people to take them in — would you be willing to stand up to them with us?
CRIES I THOUGHT I HAD REPLIED ALREADY
Not my sister.
[Bluntly, open and shut. He offers no reason for his brisk response, either, just pulls his head from his knees at last and turns to stare Peter in the eye.]
... But if you can protect her, then you got a deal.
no subject
[He says it with full confidence, even as he sounds half-dead. Because that's just how Peter Parker — Spider-Man — rolls. Brimming with confidence, even as he shakes with pain. There's a pause. And then, so seriously:]
... Besides, she might have the hots for me. My lovely knight in shining armor.
[There's some truth to it — the knight part, not the hots part. Peter absolutely picked up on the fact that he'd be dead right now if Sanji's sister hadn't caught on and covered for him. Sanji knows it, too, he can tell.
He blinks hard, trying to focus his vision.]
... If I pass out right now... are you gonna do me a solid and not let me faceplant?
I'm already looking pretty grim in the looks department right now..
no subject
... Really doesn't feel like explaining. He wipes at his face, at least pleased that there's no moisture pinpricked in the corners of his eyes. Just rough, dirtied skin, in need of a shave, and worn through with exhaustion.]
Just shut up and go to sleep, Pete.
[...]
I'll-- keep watch.
[Muttered as an afterthought, before he nudges at the other's shoulder, a silent plea for him to relax.
Just fall. He's not gonna let you get hurt.]
no subject
[They're muttered relief, as he closes his eyes with a sigh —
and then Peter slides sideways, practically collapsing into Sanji's legs.
...
Yyyeaaaah, he's unconscious.
You can't be more unconscious than he is right now.
He wasn't joking.]
no subject
Maybe if you spent less time comforting me, you'd actually rest, dumbass.
[words muttered with no one to hear them, and Sanji only moves once he's certain Peter's not gonna wake up anytime soon, repositioning the man until he's lying flat on his back again. Bloodied and bruised, but fully bandaged -- so the best that Sanji could do, he recognizes.
Now it's time to hope that Spider-Man body of Peter's can do the rest.
For his part, Sanji makes good on his promise to... well, to not run away. Their hiding spot isn't half-bad; even if his brothers are sniffing around, the chances of them looking this far into the opera house are slim at best -- practically non-existent if paranoia prompts Sanji into moving himself and Peter into a corner.
We'll be fine, he coaches, and forces himself not to move from his position, eyes darting between all of the exit doors. He couldn't eat even if he tried, and probably crapped out half of his soul just trying to run away. So he'll stick around until Peter wakes up, and then plan their next move.]
... It's fine. [Raking a hand through his hair, before slowly leveling his forehead on his knees again. He takes a deep breath]
It's fine.
[Just until Peter wakes up]
no subject
Which, you know, takes a terribly... long day. As it turns out, sleeping longer than usual is par the course when you've got as many injuries as he does. Nothing'll rouse him from this — he's out like a light, despite any shaking or prodding. However... his wounds are better. Not healed, but healing, the knife wound already scabbed as the inside of his leg stitches itself back together. Some of the smaller broken bones are starting to mend back together. His face gets nightmarishly bruised and swollen... and then, like night to day, the bruises soften. The cuts scab up. The swelling drops, and it's just a guy a few days after a rough bar fight.
Spider-Man is a weird guy.
He sluggishly awakens with one heroic sound, at last:]
Uughoh...
[It's fine????]
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You awake?
[Dragging a hand down his face to wipe some of the fatigue away. Without waiting for Peter to answer him, Sanji scoots closer and gives the other his full attention, inspecting the worst of the injuries with a cursory glance.
... Well. "Worst" is a stretch. It's gonna take a while before Sanji remembers that Peter's a freak like him]
Tch. No wonder you were always such a pain in the ass to fight.
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[He does one of those whisper yells of celebration, weakly dragging his arms up and performing a half-assed jazz hands. He's a mess, but he'll never miss a chance to be annoying. That's just his thing.]
... You've given me a few solid lumps and bumps. But this isn't my finest moment.
[He uses his tongue to prod a roughly scabbed cut on his lip.]
How do I look? Handsome enough for Playgirl?
no subject
[Not that Sanji should be judging Peter's health based on the cringiness of his quips, but if he's got lines like that in him, Sanji thinks he can continue to breathe easy. The bastard isn't knocking on death's door.]
You still need at least a day of rest -- [A pause and then a frown] Shit, you need a fuckin week, but I doubt think my brothers are gonna give us that much of a reprieve.
[Just because the Opera House has proven a great hideaway doesn't mean Sanji expects their luck to hold out indefinitely, and the way his stare always retreats back to the exit doors makes that clear. They need to plan out their next move]
kicks down door 100 years later
[He forces himself up, whether his body likes it or not.]
Good point. [The two words punch out of him, strained, but he forces himself to his knees anyway. The knife wound in his leg screams at him, but years of ignoring pain have served him well as he kick-starts himself through radioactive baggage and sheer willpower.] I don't want a bunch of Vinsmokes snuffing my candle out before I can get the cavalry... which I'm sure is already out looking...
How about we pay a little visit to a certain building that starts with an 'A' and ends with 'vengers headquarters'?
[Sanji, I am sure, is tickled at the idea of visiting a building where superheroes occasionally meet up before rushing off to different parts of the world. And space. Depending.]