Chapter Text
1. Thanksgiving Day
It's Thanksgiving day. The day your suppose to stay with family and be surrounded by people that bring your comfort in a home that brings you shelter. But some people don't always get that comfort.
For Peter Parker its one of those days where the desolate soul of the cold fall season is hitting him right in the face in the middle of Central Park he sits alone. No family left. Only 20 dollars left in his pocket. A phone will no service. Only a light green and black jacket. His backpack to his side and his camera worth more than everything on him. Its about 40 degrees out with crispy wind biting at his skin bit by bit. His cheeks turn pink and fingertips a bit numb as the sun starts to slowly set down.
Here he sits alone. Not able to see anyone. He stopped by his Aunt and Uncles grave today and spent some of his last cash to get them flowers for the holidays. He can't call Gwen his bestfriend because his phone service was cut off. He can't return to his apartment because he lost his job last month and had to find a place near feast to rest and retrieve meals when he can. Feast can't provide shelter because of the current rate of homelessness is at an all time high. But one thing he could do today that brought him piece is taking photos of Central Park and the skylines to try to distract his mind from his situation before turning back to his alleyway with cold pavement for the evening.
But for some reason on the bench next to him sits a stranger with a ball cap stating he's a Veteran of the marine corps, gray sweater, black gloves, blue jeans, and black combat boots. He has a bag on as well. The stranger sits down in silence amongst the sounds of birds and has two cups of hot chocolate in his hands a large size. The hot chocolate coming from a stand near by that Peter visits whenever he just needs to feel some sense of warmth to his throat and hands. Peter looks into his direction and pushes his camera into his backpack and sets it to the other side of him to give the guy space. The stranger only warmly smiles at him and shy's his eyes away from Peter. Peter can see that the guy seems to have no harm or intentions like the other people that usually try to fuck with him all because they had a bad day and Peter seems like an easy target. Peter scans what skin he can see on the guy and patches appear of different scars in different patterns along some path of smooth skin. But overall the stranger looks warm.
"Oh sorry. Let me move.." Peter softly says trying to slowly gather himself and move. But the stranger keeps his eyes down and hands him the coffee in his direction. Peter freezes for a second and looks at the man with a slight confusion on his face. He points at himself and the man just smiles slightly "Here.. take it. Gotta stay warm out here Ay." The man says his voice a little husky but sweet like honey, as Peter takes the hot cup into his hands with a warm smile. The cup has a little smiley face sticker on the top the stands signature logo. The cup has no cup warmer on it so its perfect for Peter to warm up his hands. He doesn't even feel the heat sensation since his hands are close to almost freezing. Peter and the man sit in silence for a moment. Peter takes a couple of swigs of the Hot Coco relishing on the sweet flavor even with the sting to his tongue as he swallows it down.
Then he looks at the man sitting next to him that seems to be whistling quietly. "Thank you!" Peter says. The man nods and takes a second looking into Peters eyes and then back at the ground. Peter goes to tap his feet on the floor and drink more of his Hot Coco with the man in silence.
What a kind gesture. Normally, I wouldn't be up for taking something from a stranger but this is kind of bringing me comfort.
The man clears his throat after taking a few sips of his drink "No family on Thanksgiving too?" The man asks.
"Uh.. no.. I mean yeah. Not much family around. How'd ya guess?" He chuckles and finally the man meets his eyes. His eyes are soft with a light dull to them but a mixture of honey and a hazel color. He smiles and it makes Peters heart thump from his kindness he seems to be offering. The man has no eyebrows. But seems to have a nice jawline, minor cheekbones and the patches Peter saw before cover now all over his face and neck too. Peter smiles back.
"Well. I like to take a walk in the park during the holidays as well. Kind of the same thing as you I guess." The stranger smiles a bit with his teeth then starts to look around again.
So he was in the park like me and just decided to stop by to a stranger?
"So you decide to get hot coco for a stranger?" Peter asks with a soft tone added to the question.
He nods "Yeah. I mean I know what its like being alone on the holidays what's wrong with trying to warm someone up." his voice follows a sense of delightfulness to the conversation.
"Yeah your right thank you.. this definitely warmed me up." They both laugh at one another and drink some more of their coco.
Once they both seem to almost be down to their lasts sips the man reaches into his backpack and pulls out what seems to be a soft cotton thick blanket with red and blue flannel stripes. The man stands up catching Peter off guard and wraps the blanket around him in one quick sweep. "Stay warm freckles.. and happy thanksgiving." He whispers, the man ruffles Peters curls and then waves Peter off. Leaving Peter no chance to say goodbye, thank you or even a chance to get his name. And in a big city like New York who knows if he will even see the man again.
Why would he give me of all people this.
Just leaving him stunned with no words but happiness filling a heart that was filled with emptiness earlier today. He watches as the tall man nearly taller than him slowly disappears out of the tree line of the park. And Peter feels warm as he tightens the blanket around himself.
For tonight he feels like a human not some scum on the side of the road in an alleyway.
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A/N: Welcome to a new story idea I had! This is a no powers alternative universe Spidey pool. Wade is a vet in this story so warning for some graphic signs for mental health and peter is homeless for a time. I wanted to try to write a new story in a different perspective other than first person. So for thoughts of characters it will be like this (what is wrong). I am trying to practice my writing skills and wanted to make one book where peter and wade had no powers. In this story Peter is about 24 and Wade 30. And this will be an actually slow burn with all the fluff and pace needed. Cant wait for the next chapter see you later.
edited chapter 11/19/25