Chapter Text
At some point between the croaking of frogs and the street lights coming on, Miguel and Peter had both fallen asleep, both buried beneath several blankets, the air conditioner on blast. Peter isnt exactly sure when that had turned on, but his best bet was that Lyla had done it. He's only awoken by the sound of his phone. Again. Maybe he should put that on vibrate. But, hey, he was 40-something, no one his age had their phone on vibrate. Miguel groans from beside him, moving closer to hide his head in Peter's side as if it would stop the noise altogether. Peter sleepily kisses the top of Miguel's head, grabbing his phone and looking at the contact. "If I pick up, I'm going to kill them.." He grumbles upon seeing 'Miles!!!!' on his too-bright-for-the-morning phone screen. He figured it was more like Miles with the rest of the kids huddled around him, listening in. He pondered answering before realizing just how nervous he would get if he didn't. Dad instincts, he supposed. Wouldn't let him not answer a kid's call.
"What do you need, Miles?" He had it on speaker, despite Miguel obviously still trying to sleep. He figures it'd be better to let him listen then for him to be curious and not able to fall back asleep because of it. At least that's how Peter operates. "Heyyy, Peter. Petey B. My favourite spider-man. The best guy I know-"
"Whatever it is, no."
"Hear me out-!"
Miles huffed on the other line. Peter knew this couldn't be any good if he was starting with flattery. "I just wanted to see what you were upto. It's like 11am and no one has seen or heard from you or Miguel since yesterday. I mean..you couldn't have been doing stuff for that long. Right? Plus you guys are kinda old, I didn't think people your age could-" Peter almost hangs up on him, dragging his hand down over his face with a groan. "Can everyone please stop thinking we are fucking? That goes for all of you, cause I know damn well you've got the whole crew with you." Silence. Obviously he had guessed right. "Look- we'll be back in sometime today. Didn't Lyla say you all can take a vacation? Use it. See your families, hang out, I don't know." There was a pause before he heard Gwen's voice come through. "Well..we were actually wondering if- you two wanted to join us? On vacation? We're all on break, aren't we? That means we can spend time together! I at least know Miles, Pav, Hobie, and I are friends. And, not to jump to conclusions, but you and Miguel seem to tolerate eachother." Peter doesn't say anything, looking down at Miguel. He's very much awake now, staring at the phone. Gwen continues, "We'd all definitely like you guys to come along." "Not me. I don't have a care on who joins." Hobie is quick to add. Peter just laughs, "Alright, alright, I'll join. I'll have to ask Miguel though if he wants to. Where are you thinking of going anyway?"
There's some murmuring before Miles answers for the group. "Well, I thought about the beach, or..maybe the carnival or something like that?" He sounded rather unsure of himself. Peter looks at Miguel to check in, the man already looking back at him. He stretches out a bit before speaking up, "The fair is usually on the beach. We can do both. Plus there's a boardwalk, so you all can run around and do..whatever it is you kids do. Buy things, I guess." He didn't really know what they did at fairs, or boardwalks for that matter. Just knew they had the ferris wheel and such. Honestly he didnt understand any place like that. Just watched some movies and such that had the fair in them. It kind of went out of practice before his time. There's some muttering again in discussion on the other line before Pav speaks up over them. "We'd love to!" The group kind of mutters agreement, Peter just shaking his head. "Then I guess it's a plan. I'll let you guys know when we're on our way back, okay? See ya." He hung up before they could get another word in, throwing his phone down and sighing. He looks back at Miguel. "They're too much..I swear, sometimes it feels like I have five kids instead of one." He laughs before moving closer to Miguel. He brushes some hair out of his face. "How're you feeling?" Miguel doesn't maintain eye contact, suddenly feeling a bit shy under Peter's gaze. As if they hadn't been cuddling for hours. But now he was out of that headspace and ultra-aware of his surroundings. "I'm...relaxed." He eventually works up. "I still feel a bit...weird." Peter rubs his back a bit, just gently tracing his fingers up and down. "Well- I'd say I'm glad you got a chance to just let go. I don't think I've seen you relax once in..ever." He looks Miguel over, decidingly cupping his face in his hands. He smiles when Miguel finally looks at him. "I'm proud of you."
And the world is still for a moment. They're just staring into eachothers eyes, past their beings and straight into their souls. There's an invisible spark that ignites, sending off an electric wave that makes Miguel shiver and Peter's heart beat that much faster. Miguel speaks up, voice soft, still trying to get over those words repeating in his head, "Do they know?" Peter, for once, knows right away what he's talking about. He nods. "They saw you drop. And..I may or may not have instigated them to- yknow, help me find out." He looks bashful, hands sliding off his face and instead around his waist. "I didn't mean anything bad by it. I just- you were really stressed. And the way you are? I knew you weren't letting yourself go at all. And I just-" He takes a breath, eyes shifting around Miguel's face. He's nervous, but he's sure what he's trying to say. He just has to find the right words. "I just.." He sighs deeply, unable to put it together. Instead, he dips his head forward, nudging his way into the crook of Miguel's neck. Scenting him once again. Miguel is taken back up until a soft purr emits from Peter. He can't help but return the gesture, closing his eyes as he did. He understood. At least he hoped he did. Peter was.. protective. Of Mayday, of MJ, of Miles. Everyone. He supposed that included him. He hears Peter's voice again, muffled by purrs and the way he has his head tucked, "I just want to keep you safe..and happy. Loved." Miguel isn't quite sure what to say either now. So instead, he settles for exactly what Peter did, returning the favour of scenting him. He noses at the man's neck, right between his neck and shoulder, gently rubbing his head there. His jaw cuts across, the purrs loud. The scene is straight out of a romance movie. And the way Peter felt, the way it made him feel – He felt so safe.
"If you're worried at all about the kids, I promise you they won't tell a soul. Not unless you want that. But personally, I'm sure Miles is happy to know you've got another thing in common." Peter was trying not to let his heart explode from all this sweetness with Miguel, just talking to distract himself. Miguel nods into his neck. "We should..probably get something to eat and then head over to HQ." Miguel doesn't respond to that, still holding onto Peter for dear life the same way Peter was with him. "But- I'm sure cuddling for a bit longer can't hurt." He laughs, pulling Miguel closer and rubbing up his back. "What would we do without these hugs?" Miguel shivers and squeezes tighter. He's not sure he wants to ever find out. "Didn't really take you for a cuddle-bear, honestly." Miguel grumbles something when he says that before settling back in again. Peter closes his eyes, kissing Miguel's forehead. Maybe it was a bit of a bold move, but- hey, Miguel was still purring.