[15] Maidenless

Controlling his facial expressions, Joe slowly opened the door. He found Peter fidgeting with a slightly nervous expression on his face. Only after Peter noticed Joe did he try to tame his anxious behavior. 

What is he even nervous about? Joe wondered in amusement. 

"Hey, Joe," Peter greeted him with a slightly shaky voice that he tried his damnedest to control. 

"Hey, bro. How have you been?" Joe smiled as he raised his hand for a rather aggressive handshake. 

Peter imitated him as their hands met for a firm handshake. 

"I-I am the one supposed to ask that question, Joe." Peter showed a self-deprecating smile. 

I am really a terrible friend, Peter thought while shaking his head. 

"Don't fret. You don't look good exactly. I am justified in asking the question just as much as you," Joe said casually as he waved his left hand in dismissal. 

'So he cares. He's always been like that in almost all the panels and movies. But what's with this powerful strength I am feeling from his arms? Peter is probably controlling his strength nicely to the levels of a normal person.' Joe thought, amazed by the latent power resting within Peter's lean yet athletic frame. 

"So which war zone are you from, Spartan?" Joe decided to humor Peter as he studied the purple bruises around his eyes. He looked like someone who a bunch of street thugs had just jumped. However, Joe knew better than to think the situation was as simple as that. 

Peter chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck. A sheepish grin spread his lips as he briefly avoided Joe's gaze. 

"I got mugged by a gang of low lives for a couple of cents and a few bills. I barely escaped with my life, but I made sure to land one in. Don't worry." Peter shared his poor excuse of a story, unaware that Joe kind of had an omniscient reader's viewpoint. 

"Oh, so it was like that. Dude, then you are lucky they let you go," Joe said with a sarcastic grin. 

"Didn't I just tell you that I escaped after putting up a fight? Why are you putting it as if I've been bullied, man?" Peter rubbed his nose with an embarrassed smile. 

"Remember who always protected your skinny ass back in Midtown, Pete, hehe?" Joe joked while laughing, which only served to mortify Peter even more. 

"Chill, man. That's some dark history we aren't supposed to talk about. Totally uncool, but I am thankful." Peter grumbled lightly while looking down at his shoes. 

Joe followed his gaze and arched his brow. 'Oh Peter, you're still struggling to tie your shoelaces perfectly.'

"Come in. We've got pretty much everything to talk about." Joe gestured to the living room with his head. 

Peter nodded before entering. He jumped out of his black Jordans before he began scanning the room. It was a place that he was quite familiar with, but not as much as he would like to think. Peter had been to Joe's place about two to three times when they had been in high school. 

Escaping the nostalgia, Peter looked at Joe, who was closing the door behind him. 

"You look like shit, by the way. Just like me. So we're equal, I guess. It's a draw," Peter began with a smug smile. 

Joe paused and gave Peter an exaggerated side-eye. 

"Nah, Pete. You look shittier than me, metaphorically and... physically. Thou shall not compare a fallen mortal to the divine." Joe flexed his shoulders in exaggeration while pretending to smile majestically. (If that was a thing). 

"Bruh, do you have to make me cringe that much?" Peter widened his arms while helplessly shaking his head. "And I'm not ugly." He added in a spiteful voice, even though he knew his buddy was joking. 

"Who said you are, man? Aren't you the person with one of the hottest chicks on campus?" Joe wiggled his brows suggestively. "To pull someone as gorgeous as MJ is something only you can do." 

"Joe, you're embarrassing me. You already know how many steps I had to go through to get her interested," Peter laughed as he sat on the couch. 

"She's the first girl I've ever confessed to. Honestly, the entire relationship thingy makes me hella nervous," he said while releasing a tired sigh. 

"That happens when you date your long-term crush. And, before we continue, do you wanna get caffeinated?" Joe asked over his shoulder as he went into the kitchen. 

"I'll take that," Peter replied. 

"Hmmm." Joe hummed before beginning to brew enough coffee for two people. 

A few minutes later, he emerged from the kitchen while holding two cups of steaming hot coffee. 

Giving Peter one cup, Joe settled on a single armchair beside the couch. 

"So what's the story behind the dark circles, Frankenstein?" Peter curiously asked, albeit with worry in his voice. He thought Joe wasn't getting enough sleep because of the current saddening loss of his mother. Peter felt guilty about his mistake for not passing by, even to say 'hello' to a friend when he was in the neighborhood. 

"Frankenstein? Do I look like a monster? Let's be for real. I am probably Frankenstein's creator, and you came looking for me." Joe countered with a meaningful smirk.

"Oh..." Peter got bamboozled for a split second before realization set in. He then wiggled a finger at Joe. "I understood that reference." 

"Anyway, what's poppin'?" Peter asked again as he took a small sip from his cup, the bitter taste of the coffee making him feel alive. 

"I was pulling all-nighters to develop a game," Joe explained without stuttering. His tone was pretty much believable, and as Joe elegantly sipped from his cup, Peter didn't find any holes in his words or facial expression. In fact, the moment Joe mentioned that he was developing a game, Peter's interest was immediately hooked.

As much as he was a nerd himself, what had truly brought him close to Joe was Joe's hidden geeky side that many people knew not about. Joe was a closet nerd capable of fooling the masses behind his charming face. Sometimes, Peter felt jealous of how the bastard easily attracted women — just a teeny bit. 

"I guess it's something pretty big, right?" Peter asked, his eyes lighting up with curiosity.

"Not really. It's a pretty small game," Joe replied, shrugging nonchalantly.

Peter's disappointment was palpable as he muttered, "Man, at least show some enthusiasm. You're doing something cool for yourself and others despite your circumstances... unlike me," his shoulders drooping slightly.

Joe winged his brows and gently set his coffee cup on the table. "What's bugging you? I could see it all in your face when you came to my door." 

"Relationships? Love? Life? Family? Or responsibilities?"

"Is it a relationship problem, Pete?" Joe leaned comfortably into his seat and interlaced his fingers. 

Peter seemed to be struggling to share what was inside his mind as he played around with his fingers. 

Joe didn't push and gave Peter time to recollect his thoughts. 

"It's a... We had a fight. MJ and I." Peter finally broke the dam after much contemplation. 

"Oh, go on," Joe urged him in a low, friendly tone. 

"She said that I am selfish, and she's the only one seemingly investing more in the relationship than me. She says I always come with all sorts of excuses whenever I ruin the plans we've made." Peter lowered his head dejectedly. "She thinks I am second-guessing our relationship." 

"So, Pete, do you think what she said is right? Do you believe everything she said is true?" Joe asked, his brows furrowed in concern.

"Y-Yeah," Peter weakly replied as he stared at his calloused hands. 

Joe sighed heavily, which prompted Peter to look up at him. 

"You're shouldering a heavy burden of responsibilities, one that you shouldn't dedicate all your time to, yet you still do so regardless of the situation. You are conflicted between your responsibilities and the matters of the heart." 

"How did you figure out what's bothering me from just that?" Peter asked, his voice laced with shock and disbelief, his mouth hanging open in astonishment.

"Oh, Pete, you'd be surprised by how much I know. I am like a walking crystal ball if that makes it easy for you." Joe laughed gutturally. 

"Why did I think for a second that you'll be holding onto that 'therapist persona' for this entire session?" Peter rolled his eyes as he shook his head in exasperation. 

"So you thought I'm fitting for a therapist, hmm? That's flattering. Maybe I should take this thing more seriously." Joe faked a cough as he moved around in his seat to find the best posture. 

"Pete, I understand your dilemma," Joe said in a genuine tone. 

"I've been there. Do you think what you are doing is right? Do you think MJ deserves more than you are giving her? Are you still unsure of what you feel for MJ?" 

"These are some questions that I think you have already asked yourself. I know you won't stop doing whatever you are doing for the sake of those responsibilities that you're bound to. MJ might be right, but she might be wrong at the same time." 

"At least try to spend more time with her and stop leaving her hanging whenever you make date plans. I say one..." Joe raised a finger. 

"...one date night is enough to make her forgive you, just a little bit, if you do things right without making excuses." 

Peter looked at Joe as if he was the fucking guru or some shit like that. 'Maybe Joe's right. Maybe I do need to spend more quality time with MJ.' 

"Don't you think heroes also deserve a break to indulge their loved ones, Pete?" Joe vaguely asked as he leaned forward. 

Peter swore his senses tingled when Joe assumed that posture. 

Pete awkwardly arched his brow before saying, "Hey, even if you want to make your bro feel like the baddest Mofo in the world, isn't it a bit of a stretch to call me a hero?"

"I said "hero", not "superhero", Pete." Joe smiled atrociously. 

"What? Did you think you are Spider-Man or something monstrous like the Hulk?" Joe acted bewildered. 

Peter soundly exhaled in frustration as he roughly ran a hand through unkempt, short hair. For a second, he thought Joe had deciphered his secret identity, but seeing his stupid reaction, Peter pushed the worry aside. 

Peter chuckled, unable to resist the urge to add a touch of humor. "For a smart person, you truly have a talent for acting stupid in serious situations, Joe."

"Stupid? Well, that 50% of me that's stupid is 100% of you," Joe responded with a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of mischief.

"Whoa," Peter opened his mouth wide, his eyes widening in disbelief. "D-Did you just roast me?" 

"Sure did. Sent you straight to hell." Joe nodded in a matter-of-fact way. "How's the burn?" He asked with a humorous smile. 

"Third-degree. It may take a while to recover." Peter dramatically began to check out his skin for nonexistent damage. 

After a while, he sighed deeply."Anyway, it seems you have a talent for giving lousy advice." 

"Lousy advice? I am trying to save you from being maidenless, bro," Joe retorted lightheartedly. 

"Maidenless? You really have a way with words," Peter scoffed, leaning back on the couch, his gaze drifting to the ceiling.

"But I have a feeling that I'll be maidenless no longer," he confidently added. 

Joe remained quiet, thinking, 'Now that's the sad truth, Peter. You're like the main protagonist we needed in Marvel, but with way fewer happy endings.'

.... 

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