( CHAPTER NINETEEN  ! )

( FAST AND UNEXPECTED ! )

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His father was gone for a fishing trip with his buddies and he must've thought Colin was a little kid since he believed that Colin was going to buy his story. Casey Archer was an impatient man who kind of hated peacefulness, there was no way he was going to enjoy fishing. In conclusion, his father was gone for an unknown reason and Colin couldn't care even a little less, so. At the end there was just joy that his father was gone for a whole weekend, he was not going to question it.

Especially, since he had invited Peter over for the first time, officially. (The times where he came through the window for needing  apatch up for himself or mostly for his suit, did not count).

He had worn a newer hodie and his favorite black jeans, he had checked his hair on every reflective surface and he had cleaned up his room as a nervous habit. Playing with his sister's pinky on his little finger and checking the watch a few times, he sat in the living room. The french toast he had done was sitting on the table half eaten where Cory had finished it ages ago.

Well, there was no denying the fact that he was nervous. He didn't like it because he felt vulnerable like that, he didn't like it when his heart spead up a little faster than usual. It was normal to have a crush for many people but to Colin, who had spent his last few years trying to stay away from human interaction, it was terrifying. He felt needy when he daydreamed about Peter. He felt weak when he got scared for his wellbeing more than he cared about himself.

Yet, he wouldn't want to get rid of it, not really. Because he felt happy when he was with Peter and he felt like smiling when he did smile. Colin had learned that  good things did not came without a prize and to like Peter (yes, maybe it was a bit more than a little crush) he had to endure the heartbreak as well. And it wasn't that bad, Colin had no intention of doing anything that would require talking about feelings or something like that. He was content in this state where he had Peter close and Peter was his friend first, anyway.

A close friend who helped him with his classes because Colin was not as smart as him. A friend that he could trust. A friend that he wanted to hold hands, maybe. A friend that-

"Are you excited?"

"Excited? For what?"

Cory smiled and he was laying on the couch opposite to Colin, watching TV and eyeing Colin slightly. He was growing too fast, he was at that scary age when he grew taller each weak and Colin hated to admit that Cory was going to be taller then him. Ugh, he was already a teasing smartass at the age of twelve.

"For me to hang out with you guys, of course."

Colin glared at his brother, while Cory kept on watching TV with a smirk on. Little shit. "You will not."

"I will. You promised, remember?"

That sucked because he did remember and Colin liked keeping his word. He also remeöbered the way Cory had started talking about Peter when Gwen and Flash were there, so, he was also a bit angry. "You can speak to him for five minutes."

"Thirthy."

"Fine, you get ten minutes down staires and that's it."

Cory smiled at that, looking pleased with himself. On one hand, Colin was proud that his brother was growing up and was mature for his age. On the other hand though, he was getting smart and cocky and Colin was not ready deal with a hormonal soon to be teenager (when he was one himself).

When the door bell rang, Colin did not know what to do with himself for a moment. Which made Cory chuckle and ran for the door, forcing Colin to follow him closely until they reached the door, almost racing towards it. Cory had won.

"Peter!" Cory exclaimed, hugging their guest with full force.

There was confusion on Peter's face for a brief moment but he was also pleased with the affection he was getting. Maybe he was thinking to himself, how could they be so different? Cory was beaming with a teeth showing smile and he had no problem launching himself on a stranger where Colin would've stood awkwardly if it was Cory's guest at the door. Oh, well. It was what it was and he was who he was.

He just smiled lightly at the exchange, took in Peter's hair that was getting longer and his kind smile at Cory.

"Sorry for being late but I guess its on brand."

Colin chuckled at that and Peter grinned, it was nice to share somewhat of an inside joke between them and Cory didn't seemed bothered.

The three of them stayed in the living room for awhile, Colin made them all hot chocolate and they listened to Cory's stories from school. It was almost... nice to have Peter and Cory in the same room, Colin never had doubts about the two of them getting along but still, seeing them close felt good. Better than he imagined.

Over all, Cory spent way longer than fifteen minutes with them and only left when Colin started glaring at him, eyeing the stairs for him to get the clue.

They had Spider-Man talk to do and spending some alone time with Peter wouldn't hurt either. The two were seated at the same couch, sitting close, with their hot chocolate that they hadn't been able to finish due to talking too much.

"Ms. Geller let me see the inside of the flash drive, there were several blue prints for advanced weaponry, Mr. Geller's creations. I think the robbers were not going after shops, I guess they needed chemicals from the Pharmacy, for example."

Having answer to some of their questions led up to even more questions since now, they had no idea about the actual bad guys. Peter continued to inform Colin with the new information, Ms. Geller's theory about a croocked cop in the Police Department, about the way the robbers used advanced technology to break into bakery and so on.

"It might be alien technology, according to Ms. Geller."

Colin sighed and suddenly, a headache was on the horizon. "Aliens? Great. Just fucking great."

"Um, maybe they are alien technology using ordinary people?" Peter tried but both of them kind of enjoyed the idea of going against aliens.

Colin found the concept of outerspace infinitely daunting and immensely interesting at the same time. It was true that despite considering himself a side kick to Peter, he was no hero, he was not even that helpful. But. He would like to think that Peter would do great with his superhero persona to the point where he would meet Thor one day. Or Iron Man.

It would be cool or whatever.

Fine, it would've been amazing, Colin was not an exact fanboy like Flash but if he was going to meet a superhero, he wanted to meet Thor, Iron Man, Black Widow- okay, maybe there was a list.

"Do you look up to a superhero?"

Peter sighed in a thoughful way, leaning against the couch. "I mean, anyone who is willing to go out of their way to help someone is admirable, I guess. I mean Tony Stark-" Peter started but a smirk appeared on his and he leaned forward. "Why, Spider-Man is not your favorite superhero? Is this leading up to that?"

"You are definietly on the list but I don't know how high..."

Peter gasped with a mock offence and Colin smiled. "To think that you have my back. Traitor."

"Honestly you wear a onesie and goggles for a costume-"

"Even you, Brutus?"

Peter hit Colin with a pillow midsentence and they were both laughing so hard- not smiling, not chuckling- actually laughing hard and loud. The last time Colin laughed until his stomach hurt was way more into the past. It was a nice feeling, almost like a kind of hysteria as he couldn't stop laughing while he tried to grab the pillow.

Naturally Peter was a lot stronger than him but Colin was trying his best. "Okay! Okay- you are the best."

"That's what I want to hear."

They were still holding on to the pillow, both of them were trying to snatch it away from the other. Momentarily, they both stopped pulling hard yet still held on to the pillow. Both of them that wide grins on their face and they were panting slightly (well, Colin was and Peter looked fine), their hairs were ruffled and cheeks were flushed. Peter looked nice like that.

And kind of cute, laughing always suited him.

There was a strong urge inside him telling to look away but he couldn't, he was stuck in the moment to think ahead and that moment, he liked looking into Peter's eyes. They were really kind and the light brown of them looked soft and filled with emotion.

He really liked Peter, didn't he?

Maybe, Colin liked Peter so much that he wanted to risk their relationship and kiss him, throw their friendship away just to have that moment.

He was considering it, or rather, his body was running on instinct because rational Colin would stop himself, he would think that there was no way someone like Peter would like him. Someone who was filled with warmth and joy and kindness oppose to Colin's coldness and his worries and his inability wear his heart on his sleeves.

He would never know if he would go ahead and do it, close his eyes and jump into the darkness, kiss him.

He didn't have to decide or take action since the doorbell rang, making him jolt away from Peter.

"I... I'll go and take that," he said, almost tripping over his words as he went to do door.

There was no way it was his father (Colin hoped) and he was distracted... to stop and think further into it. Opening the door without checking who behind was not the wisest thing to do, Colin's mind was on autopilot as he just skipped the part where he worried about a villain finding his home.

It was his sister, looking at him with her unreadable expression, standing tall as usual. It was like looking into a mirror, looking into her eyes, the same cold blues that they got from their father.

Colin felt numb. He didn't feel the shock the anger or the joy, he didn't feel much. He kind of wished that his eyes were a sweet shade of brown like his brother's.

"I'm sorry coming unannounced but I tried to call you, multiple times and I was worried."

There were so many things to unpack in that sentence. For starters, she had left them without looking back and she was sorry for coming announced?

At least all the calls from an unknown number made sense now.

His sister looked older- well of course she did, its been years- it was more than the literal sense though. Yes, her face looked more mature and the childish curves on her face were gone and her hair was longer and her make up was more definied. More than that, she looked confident now, she was always strong headed but there was fear in her lashing outs but she looked sure of herself now. As if she had found herself.

She had done it without Colin, good for her.

"Can I come in? I have to tell you many things, Colin. I will start by apologizing, not for leaving though. But for leaving you behind."

Colin's hand was holding the door frame with the all the force he got, turning his knuckles white, his eyebrow was twitching slightly. He had waited for so long to hear those words but as he did, he realized that they didn't make up for anything and he wasn't even that angry.

Just heartbroken.

"I don't know what to say to that." Well, that was more truthful that he thought he would manage.

Cassie smiled a little at that, Colin hated how understanding she was.

His heartbreak was slowly transitioning back into anger and the words started to gather around in his mind, he was ready to unleash the venomous thoughts. The presence of a third party stopped him from doing so as he followed Cassie's gaze, Peter was standing awkwardly a few steps behind Colin.

"I should... go," Peter said, giving them an apologetic smile.

Colin clenched his jaw and stepped back from the door, reachimg for Peter without actually meaning to. "No, stay," he said, looking at Cassie with challenge in his eyes. Two Archers can play this game.

"I really want to make things right."

"Not today," Colin snapped, he was getting overwhelmed and his hands shook a little. "You will come again if you really want to. Because I don't want you to talk to Cory if you are going to leave us again, okay?"

"Okay," Cassie said after a pause. He saw the urge to argue in her eyes but she held herself back. She really did get older. "You've grown a lot. Just next time I call, pick up please."

She left as the way she came, fast and unexpected.

The door closed slowly and Colin moved back into the livingroom, sitting on the couch with a sigh. His head hurt a lot and the urge to squeeze his skull was strong yet he settled for sitting with his head in his hands.

"You look a lot like her," Peter tried, testing the waters with his soft voice. "She is your sister, right?"

This was embarrasing, normal people didn't break down when they saw their sister. Colin felt weak and dirty, and he was such an ugly crier that he felt sick to think Peter would see it (again, fuck it, Peter had already seen to much).

Without even looking up, he said, "Just leave please."

"But I-"

"I want to be alone," Colin snapped, staring at Peter with tears in his eyes. Just great.

Peter clenched his jaw and Colin felt a new rush of feeling terrible. He had scene this expression before, filled with hurt and disappointment. He had caused this expression before, the first fews back in Queens where he had been a (bigger) jerk. He hadn't liked it then, hurting an innocent boy like that bwcause he was incapable of letting people in. But he hated seeing it now.

No one was capable of fixing the past, especially not an ordinary human like Colin. However, like all the other ordinary person, he was capable of taking action in the present.

So he wiped his tears away with his sleeves and left his place on the couch to hug Peter, letting himself cry a little, silently, without shaking.

"We'll talk later, okay? I just need to be alone for the day."

It was the best he could offer but still, it was something.

.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

is it weird that i'm proud of my own character lmao he is my baby. old colin would've kicked peter out and would ignore him for eternity but here we are!!

his sister is here! for the past few chapters, an unknown number had been calling colin, because i'll like to think that i'm smart by adding shit like that...

anyways, i hope you enjoyed the almost kiss! originaly, the next chapter was going to be the end of part two but there we'll be two more. also, i'm on vacation so the next chaoter might take a while but i'll try!

anyway, comments make my day.