☀︎︎

𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑃𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝑇𝐻𝐼𝑅𝑇𝑌 𝑆𝐸𝑉𝐸𝑁
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑚 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑚

☀︎︎

The world around Eddy seemed to pass as slowly as it always did. The hallways of Midtown High were calm, casual, filled with friendly chatter. In the cafeteria, students milled around like ants, weaving pathways through the hoards of tables. While sitting in the classroom, lessons moved as if time itself had stopped. Especially history. He hated history.

But Eddy's mind seemed to move at a million miles an hour, processing his thoughts so rapidly that they blurred, twisting and knotting until he was left with a headache. Peter had noticed his oddness by the end of second lesson. The boy's face had been pasted with a permanent, pink flush, noticeable to even Eddy's tired eyes, for the past two days. His movements were more jittery too, his eyes flashing his way, shooting him glances of concern that begged for an explanation.

An explanation, however, could not be given. Eddy had to understand it all before he could even begin to think of how to process it with others. Removing himself from the conflict he faced as Split was becoming harder and harder. His own emotional conflict certainly didn't help either.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong or do I have to guess until I figure it out?" Peter said, a gentle smile laying on his lips as they walked down the corridor from English. "It could help, you know? I could help. Telling someone really does work. I should know. I told you after I lost the Stark Internship."

Eddy fought the grimace that threatened to spill onto his face and muttered a goodbye before hurrying in the opposite direction. Guilt struck him immediately. This was not something he could simply spill to Peter, no matter how much he wanted to. He was part of the reason Eddy was feeling so confused.

I can't have both.

The kiss he and Spidey had shared after the fight was blocked from his mind. He refused to think about it. It was forgivable, he tried to convince himself. Emotions were always high after a fight as risky and quick as theirs had been. And it was true- he couldn't have both. He could not ignore the flush of heat that rushed through him each time Peter would get too close, say something too personal.

After school, Eddy left Happy and teleported to the compound instead. He'd managed to avoid Tony for a few days, but the time for evasion was over. Eddy had things to say.

"Mr Stark!"

The man turned, eyebrows furrowed at the sound of his voice with no Happy insight.

"Can I talk to you?"

"Save it," he said, though not unkindly. He slung an arm across Eddy's shoulder as he began to steer them in a different direction. "I know exactly what you want to say. An apology, something like that, a makeup etcetera."

"I already apologised. You can't just assume I'm going to apologise again-"

"I'm right though, aren't I?"

Eddy shrugged, a flush forming on his face. His speech was going to begin with an apology, a rambled one at that, but Mr Stark didn't need to know that.

"Maybe," he said, then shook his head. "I'll assume your trip to India with the scientist went well."

"Very well, extremely well," Tony said, a smirk forming on his face. "Evelyn is going to be staying with us at the compound."

Eddy gave him a raised look. "To help?"

"Why else would she be here?"

"I can think of a thousand reasons and they all begin with you."

Tony grinned, and pulled him closer to his side, patting his shoulder with his hand. Eddy let out a snort of laughter.

"I think the whole tough love worked out, don't you? Would you believe me if I said I missed you, kid?"

"I would. I'm a hard person to forget," Eddy said as they stopped at the end of the lower corridor, next to the door to the lab. "And I would be lying if I said I didn't miss you. And I am sorry about anything I said. I appreciate what you're doing for me. Though I'm keeping the suit."

"You can't keep the suit."

"Why not?"

"Because I made you something better," Tony said.

"What?"

"I'm still tweaking it a bit but you should get it in a few days. Green with black, as you clearly would prefer," Tony said. "You know, you were dangerously close to having a roommate. The Avengers were going to get a couple of new recruits, after training, of course. And after the band got back together again."

It took him a few seconds to realise that Tony was talking about Spiderman and Split. To even think that Tony had considered letting him join the group, was monumental.

"But our mutual friend made me realise something. You've got to live your life. Even if it's in the future," Stark said, then without missing a beat, he continued, "How was homecoming?"

"You mean before the Vulture messed it all up?"

"Before that, yeah."

"It was good. Great, actually," Eddy said, unable to suppress his grin at the memory.

"You went with my intern?"

Eddy shrugged. "In a way."

"I'm proud of you kid," Tony said, placing one last pat on his shoulder before he disappeared into the lab.

"Thanks, Stark."

☀︎︎

It was days before they saw each other again. Spiderman had discarded the ripped onesie he'd fought in the other day and instead wore his usual, technical suit. For a moment, as they met on top of their usual rooftop in Queens, they were completely silent. It wasn't that Split didn't want to speak to him. He'd wanted nothing other than to speak to him for days. He just didn't know what to say.

Awkwardness hung in the air. Split sighed and lay back against the red tiles, placing a hand over his eyes. At least then he couldn't see the awkward curve at which Spider-Man sat with, as if his whole body was deflated.

"Can you do something?" Split said, letting out a groan, speaking with fake confidence, lucky he didn't stutter. "You've been sitting here for half an hour. Aren't we going on patrol?"

Spidey didn't say anything. His legs dangled over the edge of the roof, swinging back and forth against the wall, hitting it lightly with his heels. Split sighed again, fighting his own frustration. No matter how much he wanted to talk about the kiss, he wasn't going to let himself. But then Spidey through himself from the edge of the building, flipping his whole body in one graceful movement, making no attempt to through his web out.

Split dove forward, landing with his stomach flat against the tiles, his head and arm dangling over the side. Spidey was nowhere in sight, his webs leaving no trace. Then a shuffle came from behind and Split flippled himself over, eyes wide as he looked over his shoulder.

His partner stood casually behind him, arms crossed, legs pacing.

"What was that?"

"You said to do something," he said casually, and Split could practically hear the smirk that must have been on his lips through his voice. "I've been meaning to practice my flip and swings. Means I can get to the other side of a building without being seen."

"Evidently," Split said, finally letting himself grin. "Since when did you get so... confident?"

Spidey shrugged.

"It's because Stark offered you a place with the Avengers, isn't it?"

He responded with another shrug but stopped pacing. "Maybe."

"Why didn't you take it?"

"It didn't feel right."

"If this is about moving away from home, you know it's not so bad. The compound is pretty cool and the beds are comfy. Vision is a bit of a hassle but apart from that it's good."

They smiled, gazing out across the vast New York skyline as they always did. But still, they were quiet, their thoughts too loud in the empty space that begged to be filled with noise. Yet, at the same time, Split could have no idea what his partner was thinking about. Was it regret, or relief? Fear or annoyance?

"Hey, maybe if you swing us by that corner with the food cart you can help that lady cross the road," he tried, knocking his elbow against the boy's arm. "Might get us some churros."

"I'm not leeching off old people."

Beneath his mask, Split rolled his eyes. "Then I'll get us churros."

Spidey finally let out a laugh and Split felt his whole body relax. "What is it with you and churros?"

"I like churros," he said, joining in with a laugh. "They weren't exactly easy access during world war two."

Spidey shook his head. "I will never get used to that."

"If I can get used to the future, I'm sure you'll easily get used to my past," Split said as he gradually stood, walking back to the very edge of the roof, glancing down at the row of parked cars below. "I've been told I can be pretty relentless, you know."

"Oh, I know," Spiderman said as he stood to join him, nudging his head backwards. "Come on, hold on."

"I'm not the one who does the holding. You didn't forget I can teleport again, did you?"

"That was one time," the boy groaned.

"One time too many."

"Come on," Spidey said, readying his arm to throw out a web. "I'll swing us."

Without another moment of his thoughts filling his head, Split stepped forward, wrapped his arms around his neck and revelled in the closeness. Spidey grinned beneath the fast, gripped to his waist, and jumped from the roof, letting his webs carry them through the streets.

☀︎︎

I didn't feel real. Eddy stared at the screen in front of them, mirroring Vision's hardy stance. Neither of them could quite believe it.

Wanda's face stared back at them as clear as day. Her red hair was pulled over one shoulder, tucked beneath a grey hood, but her face was smooth and expressionless, eyes dark and deep, staring up at the camera. The screenshot was pushed seconds before the recording went blank, blurred by a brewing, red haze.

The figure beside her was indiscernible, nothing more than a wide shadow. But Eddy knew it was Steve. No one else could hold themselves with such strength.

"This is it. We've done it," Eddy breathed, turning his head to look at Vision, who only stared at the screen. "We've found them!"

☀︎︎

I loved reading the comments on the last chapter! Thanks for reading x
I'm also thinking of writing a Kate bishop book that would be linked to daredevil/ the punisher, would anyone read something like that?