As the floodlights illuminating the collapsed building began to filter through into their small alcove, Peter felt relieved to know they had been saved, he was sure he could have just lifted the rubble off the tabletop but not without the consequences of revealing himself to anyone out there. Soon enough firemen stabilised a tunnel and an EMT had crawled into their cramped shelter, checked them both over for broken bones and given them the all-clear to at least move. Once outside, Peter was helped to anambulance while Gwen was stretchered on the spot, her father came over
George had been here since the start, knowingthe diner Gwen had gone to and hearing the report of fighting he had scrambled everyone to get there as fast as possible.
They had caught sight of a van leaving but with three giant freaks fighting in the diner where his daughter was, he had paid little attention to it. The units had watched helplessly as the fight destroyed the building and the pair of grey and sandy criminals made short work of the squad cars in their escape. Instead, they focused on the building, helping survivors and clearing what rubble they could.
"What the hell did you do Parker?" George yelled as if the scene before him could be blamed on Peter.
Peter ignored him and was taken over to an ambulance. An EMT shone a light in his eyes and asked if he was okay? if he had any pain or dizziness? Peter answered the questions mechanically. His arms and legs were gently pressed and checked for broken bones but Peter could barely feel the man's touch let alone any pain.
Physically he was fine but inside he raged, he had been surrounded and beaten, his handalmost severed, his dignity trampled by bullies once more. Four vs one was never going to be a fair fight and he vowed it would never happen again.
Peter watched as Gwen and her father were loaded into an ambulance, all around him the rescue work was still continuing and already several cloth covered stretchers were being moved out of the public eye. He saw an EMT working on Flash, his legs being wrapped in bandages that seemed to immediately turn red, the EMT yelling and he was lifted and rushed into an ambulance. Its sirens wailed in the still night as it sped off.
The barista that had recommended the toffee flavoured cider he never got to finish was dry heaving into a bucket, a sheet coveringsomething, or more likely someone, she knew. MJ had thankfully been saved, Flash pushed her out of the diner before the collapse, from the angle of the collapse, Peter knew Flash would probably never walk again but he found it difficult to care.
The survivors were interviewed, at first by the police and then by the never-ending hordes of news crews. Each one jostling the staff and patrons who had made it out of the diner unharmed. He saw MJ shielding her face as a young Asian reporter waved a microphone at her and he bounded over to her. "Hey, fuck off," he snarled at the pair and pushed the camera down to point at the ground. "Go fucking creep at a cemetery, fucking ghouls," and the reporter gave him the finger as they left to find another victim to interview.
MJ grabbed onto him, her face was streaked with dirt and soot from the diner and tears had left track marks down her cheeks. "Hey MJ?" Peter asked her but she was staring blank-eyed at nothing. "Anyone?" and an EMT came overand shone a light into her face.
"It's shock. Was she in the diner?" and Peter shook his head
"She got out before it collapsed." He explained. The EMT took her pulse and gave her a quick once over.
"She's fine, just don't leave her alone and she'll snap out of it," he said as he slipped thepenlight back into his jacket, moving on to the next patient.
After the EMT had finished her check-up he left with her. They walked silently to a taxi and even though the place was unfinished he decided to take her to the warehouse. He doubted her father would come to collect her or that he was sober enough to.
He sent a text message to Aunt May to let her know they were alright but Gwen was in the hospital. It wasn't great, Aunt May deserved more but right now he had to take care of MJ. While Gwen had her father and he had Aunt May, Peter knew her parents were not the loving caring kind and she would be left to take care of herself. He didn't care that they weren't speaking, he didn't care if Flash might have a problem with it, he cared that MJ was okay, even after all that time he still worried about his friend.
MJ was quiet on the ride back and even after drinking a cup of coffee and wiping her facewith a damp cloth, she was silent. It wasn't until he got her settled in one of the cots he'd grabbed from the junkyard that she acted on her own. He had moved his own bed into the same room, to keep a close eye on her and MJ crawled over and into his bed in the night, seeking comfort as she wept at the events of the evening. Silently, with anger etched on his face he stroked her hair.
He had tried his best and failed, he had tried to save Gwen and the rest and failed. As he held onto MJ, hearing her quietly sobbing he knewhe had to do better, he had to be better.
As the light from the windows streamed into the office Peter felt MJ cuddling up to him, theyhad shared their pain last night, neither wanting more than to be comforted and eventually they had fallen asleep together. Peter felt happy, MJ smelt like a warm andfamiliar memory, thoughts of their childhoodwere brought to the surface and while it brought a smile to his face it was also a hint of sadness, Flash ruining their teen years.
Peter nudged the still sleeping MJ, "MJ, wake up," and as she groaned she cuddled into him more, letting a hand run over his smooth chest. Suddenly she sat bolt upright, remembering where she was and pulling the blanket Peter had covered her with over her.
"Uh, sorry," she said, wiping the drool from her mouth and making sure she hadn't, or that he hadn't done anything inappropriate in the night. A hint of guilt flashed through her mind, not that I would have stopped him, and she hid her face to hide a blush. MJ had been glad Peter was there to take care of her and found solace in his presence. He was the rock she had been desperate for and even with last night she wished she could stay here longer.
"It's fine," Peter replied, "but we should get to the hospital. I need to see how Gwen is doing." Peter flipped over his phone and there were missed calls and texts from both Aunt May and Captain Stacy. His Aunts were more of concern after his quick message but Georges were abusive and very angry father messages. Peter scowled as he deleted them all. "Uh, Gwen's dad is pissed." Since he had dropped out George had used it as a way to complain about Peter to Gwen, and then very vocally make sure Peter knew he wasn't good enough for his daughter.
MJ was busy checking her own phone, "Yeah", she looked guilty at it, "Flash is the same, a whole bunch of texts asking where I was."
Peter shrugged, "just tell him that you spent the night here, sleeping with me"