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There was a guy, one familiar to Ned, in the same bodega he had been in days prior. This guy was odd. In a sort of flattering weird way.
Because it was obvious to Ned that this guy had a crush on him.
Ned was observant. He had been followed home by the very guy he had noticed in the bodega, the guy had bought flowers.
Then the guy went into Ned’s room during the house warming party, probably having spotted exactly where Ned had slunk off to. It had creeped him out until the guy got Ned distracted by Spider-Man.
He then gave the flowers to them as a housewarming gift, probably intimidated out of asking Ned to go on a date after MJ had walked in.
Which, in no offense to the guy — who's fake name of Maynard was just terrible — he didn't swing that way. Ned wasn't into dudes. The only way he swung was towards learning Spider-Man’s identity.
Also girls.
But Ned figured Spider-Man should come first, after all he felt like the guy had the levels of weirdness that could push Ned into a scary situation. So who else to call if that happened than the recently befriended Spider-Man.
Not to brag, but Ned had built Legos with Spidey.
Then earlier, Ned had gotten snackish and decided to stop in the same bodega as before… Only for the guy to walk in.
Ned tried to ignore the feeling of eyes on him as the guy stopped to stare. Then, to the dread of Ned, the guy grabbed flowers and walked up to him.
The guy introduced himself as Peter, and Ned felt a little flicker of recognition about the name in his mind. MJ had said that name when talking about Spider-Man.
However, the guy shook his hand instead of asking Ned the question he didn't want to hear. Ned didn't feel like rejecting a random guy in the middle of a store.
However, the handshake transformed into something very familiar to his muscles, his arm moving without his mind telling it to.
As the handshake reached the end, Ned’s brain was suddenly flooded with memories, as if a dam had broken.
Memories of building Legos, of helping Spider-Man- no Peter- fight crime, of late nights watching Star wars, of early mornings walking to school.
The handshake ended, the memories of friendship, happiness, worry continued hitting him.
His eyes went wide.
He stared at the person who he had shared years with, grew up with, faced some of his toughest challenges with.
“Peter…” Ned felt the name leave his lips like it was the easiest thing to say. Years of having said it before breaking through the chains it had been locked down by.
Peter Parker. Ned’s best friend. The friend who promised to find them.
Peter stared back, eyes watering and a soft smile on his face. Years older. Years Ned hadn't seen him. Years Peter hadn't fulfilled the promise.
Ned stood suddenly, he didn't focus on the hurt of the broken promise but the pain of having been without his best friend.
Ned had been living the dream they had planned out. Meanwhile Peter looked worse for wear. Peter had been in the hospital next to death and Ned didn't know if there was even anyone there with him.
He didn't hesitate to wrap Peter in a hug, the tightest he could, the force of lost years, broken promises, and of reformed memories tightening it even more.
A wet spot appeared on his shirt where Peter had buried his head in the crook of his neck. Ned felt his own tears beginning to spill.
It felt like finally gaining the thing he had been missing for his whole life. A completion to a trio that had to stick together. The guy who-
The guy.
“Oh my God, Peter, dude. I thought you were going to ask me out with those flowers.” Ned sniffled, eyes blinking open as Peter pulled away.
Peter rubbed the tears from his eyes and laughed with a sort of brokenness to it, looking at Ned in confusion before his eyes looked down at the flowers.
Peter went bright red and he held back another laugh, he pushed his hands to his eyes with a smile. “Dude…”
“What! Don't tell me you wouldn't if I was gay!” Ned grinned, letting the familiar banter settle over them. “Would you really hurt my ego that much?”
“I would." Peter laughed again, the noise was familiar and painfully wonderful to Ned’s senses. He missed Peter, even when he didn't know something was missing.
Ned pulled Peter into another hug. He wouldn't let Peter disappear like that again, that was his promise to himself.
A promise he wouldn't break.