006 -- video --> voice;

[fastburning]

[ oh look, it's johnny, covered in soot and dirt. and he's crying, gross, gut-wrenching sobs like he's been ripped apart from the inside out. his palm is half over the lens, and he says, "shit, shit," before making that gasping, sniffling sound people always make when they try to force themself to stop crying. the comm makes an ominous grinding

Comments

voice;

[incywincyhero]

Johnny!

[Aaaaand he's swinging his way to the Porter already.]

Talk to me, matchstick. What happened?

voice;

[fastburning]

[ ohmygod ]

Really bad things. Like, really bad.

voice;

[incywincyhero]

[The tone of his voice ... it takes a lot to shake up Johnny this badly.]

I can be there to pick you up in just a few minutes, I'm already on my way. Hang tight.

voice;

[fastburning]

Okay.

[ SNOT-FILLED!ACTION? ]

[action]

[incywincyhero]

[A few minutes later, he's dead-on running through the Porter hallways until he skids to a stop in front of Johnny.]

Johnny.

[He drops down next to him, and puts a hand on his shoulder.]

[action]

[fastburning]

[ and johnny reaches up and drags peter down into the tightest of hugs. he's shaking a little from suppressed sobs, because man he's really trying to stop crying why is this not working. ]

perma-action;

[incywincyhero]

[He makes a surprised sound in his throat, but reciprocates the action immediately, stroking Johnny's back soothingly.]

It's okay, kiddo. You're back with us, you're safe.

[fastburning]

Everything at home is fucked.

[ never letting go. oh my god peter you're older and not the right one but...yeah. n o p e. ]

[incywincyhero]

[Gently tugging them both back so they're leaning against the wall, Peter still holding Johnny tight.]

I've got you. We all do.

[fastburning]

I'm glad you're still here.

[ that comes out all muffled, because johnny's face is crushed somewhere in peter's chest. ]

[incywincyhero]

[Oh, that doesn't sound good...]

'Course I am. The Porter's favorite chew toy, remember?

[fastburning]

[ oh and johnny says nothing for a moment, choking on bitter, bitter words. why you and not his peter? why...

except that's an awful thing to think and johnny pushes it away. peter is peter is peter. ]

Hope it keeps you around then.

[incywincyhero]

[Squeezing Johnny's shoulder.]

Tell me what happened? You don't have to, but ... I'm here for you, buddy.

[fastburning]

It was Norman Osborn.

[ obviously johnny's leading with that information. what, did you want this story to make sense, peter? ]

He...Pete, he...

[ nope oh god nope ]

[incywincyhero]

[Oh.

To be honest, it feels a little odd hearing about it, but Peter's ... not that surprised. He knows what the statistical odds of his having survived his chosen vocation even as long as he has, after all, and it stands to reason that there are other universes where the dice fell differently. And, hell, it's even less surprising that in at least one of those universes it was Norman.

Not that he's planning on saying any of this to Johnny.]

I'm ... I'm so sorry, buddy.

[fastburning]

I'm sorry I didn't stop him. I should have.

[ because of course that's what johnny fixates on. that he should have ended it but he didn't, and peter had fought. if johnny had been faster or stronger or...or something, then maybe... ]