[He sits down, and he's glad she's still holding his hand. He feels like she probably won't want to after hearing what he's about to say, because the guilt still weighs heavily on him sometimes, even all this time later.
He weaves their fingers together and squeezes gently, tries not to think too hard about the promise he'd made her dying father about staying away from her.]
So, um, I was up on the roof trying to stop Dr. Connors? I seriously thought I was screwed, like actually going to die screwed? And then your dad showed up with a shotgun like a total badass, saved my life and got me the antidote.
[Which he had totally not been expecting, not just because up until maybe ten minutes earlier, he'd pretty sure he was her dad's least favorite person on the planet, and definitely not because he hadn't thought Captain Stacy was brave, or a good man, or incapable or incompetent, but because who was crazy enough to run towards something like that when they didn't have superpowers or a mask or whatever else to back them up?
Apparently it runs in the family.]
He tried to stop him from getting at me before I could switch them out, but he, um, [He drops his gaze to his lap and swallows thickly, squeezes her hand a little tighter.] I didn't see it happen, but Dr. Connors hurt him pretty bad. I didn't realize- it all happened so fast, I didn't know how bad it was until after. He- [His grip on her hand slackens for a moment, like he's almost going to pull away, but then he stops himself.] He died. And I thought- I couldn't-
[Peter can almost feel the scream he'd let out then rising in his chest again now. He'd saved the city, but it had still felt like he'd failed where it should have been most important. He knows it's stupid to think like this, but he hopes he never has to be in that spot again.
He shakes his head, like he's trying to clear away the memory.]
The Admiral found me and said I could help him if I came and worked with him. My inmate graduated a long time ago, so he's safe. It'll be like he never got hurt when we go home.
[It's only when he says that that he finally looks back at her, and there's a lot of muddled emotion in his expression - guilt and regret and bone deep sadness that hasn't really gone away, along with maybe some hope in there, too.]
I just- I thought you should know, in case anyone mentioned it. Thought it might be better, coming from me.
no subject
He weaves their fingers together and squeezes gently, tries not to think too hard about the promise he'd made her dying father about staying away from her.]
So, um, I was up on the roof trying to stop Dr. Connors? I seriously thought I was screwed, like actually going to die screwed? And then your dad showed up with a shotgun like a total badass, saved my life and got me the antidote.
[Which he had totally not been expecting, not just because up until maybe ten minutes earlier, he'd pretty sure he was her dad's least favorite person on the planet, and definitely not because he hadn't thought Captain Stacy was brave, or a good man, or incapable or incompetent, but because who was crazy enough to run towards something like that when they didn't have superpowers or a mask or whatever else to back them up?
Apparently it runs in the family.]
He tried to stop him from getting at me before I could switch them out, but he, um, [He drops his gaze to his lap and swallows thickly, squeezes her hand a little tighter.] I didn't see it happen, but Dr. Connors hurt him pretty bad. I didn't realize- it all happened so fast, I didn't know how bad it was until after. He- [His grip on her hand slackens for a moment, like he's almost going to pull away, but then he stops himself.] He died. And I thought- I couldn't-
[Peter can almost feel the scream he'd let out then rising in his chest again now. He'd saved the city, but it had still felt like he'd failed where it should have been most important. He knows it's stupid to think like this, but he hopes he never has to be in that spot again.
He shakes his head, like he's trying to clear away the memory.]
The Admiral found me and said I could help him if I came and worked with him. My inmate graduated a long time ago, so he's safe. It'll be like he never got hurt when we go home.
[It's only when he says that that he finally looks back at her, and there's a lot of muddled emotion in his expression - guilt and regret and bone deep sadness that hasn't really gone away, along with maybe some hope in there, too.]
I just- I thought you should know, in case anyone mentioned it. Thought it might be better, coming from me.