Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Peter always knew Johnny Storm was attractive. Conventionally, of course. All of the tabloids said so and Peter wasn’t blind. The blonde hair, the blue eyes, clean shaven, perfect jaw line. His face had graced plenty of magazine covers. He’d been a teen idol. People fawned over him for his looks. It was completely reasonable for Peter to agree with the assessment made by the public. His friend was good looking. So what?

It was simply his eye for photography that made him notice more often! When Johnny would turn his head and the light would hit just right. He was beautiful. Of course, Peter only took note of that because it would have made a good shot. It was nothing more than him wishing he had his camera. Maybe he could sell the pictures for some extra cash. That’s all it was. Regret about missing a good photo opportunity. There was no reason to think about it anymore than that.

When was the last time he’d even seen Johnny in person anyway? It had been a while. Peter’s life had been stressful and Johnny had been away from New York dealing with his own set of problems. Now, the dust did seem to be settling at least a little in Peter’s life. It would always be hectic as Spider-Man but maybe, for a little while his life as Peter could be less dramatic. He hoped so, but certainly wouldn’t bet on it.  

As Spider-Man swung through the city, he considered stopping by the Baxter Building to see if Johnny was home. He’d heard the Fantastic Four were back in town and it had been a quiet patrol so far. Maybe he could go visit, then get back home for an earlier night for once.

Then Peter heard glass shatter and an alarm blaring from a nearby shop. Okay, so he should know better than to jinx himself. He made his way down to street level, swung through the broken window and webbed up one of the thieves up easily. 

“Spider-Man?!” The man exclaimed, his face pale. He didn’t even bother struggling against the webs. “I’ve never done anything like this before honest! My buddy, it was his idea! He convinced me!”

“Some buddy you’ve got.” Peter rolled his eyes under the mask. The man’s reaction made Peter want to believe him. Clearly he wasn’t some hardened criminal. “If it really is your first time, maybe the consequences won’t be so bad. But you should probably take this as a sign to end your criminal career early. Beginners luck is clearly not on your side.”

Peter looked around for this “buddy” but no one else was in the store. The only sign he saw was shattered glass and a busted cash register. When he jumped back through the broken storefront window to continue the search, he heard a voice from above.

“Hey Webhead!”

If the voice wasn’t familiar enough, the orange glow on the street would have given him away. 

Spider-Man looked up. The Human Torch was hovering above with his hands flamed off carrying a man wearing a ski mask and a large backpack. No doubt filled with the cash from the busted register Peter had seen. 

“Found this one down the street. Thought you might be looking for him.” Johnny said. He dropped the man, not too far from the ground, near a streetlight. For a moment the thief tried to run. A flame cage appeared around him. “Dude. You really think you’re going to get away from the two of us?”

The man grit his teeth and considered the flaming bars. Then clearly decided getting burnt was not worth it. Johnny dropped the flame cage and Spider-Man webbed the thief to the streetlight.

Police sirens were approaching. Spider-Man shot a web to the nearest building and swung away. Johnny flew beside him. 

“Thanks for the assist, hothead.” Peter said once he’d settled on the roof of a low building.

“What would you do without me?” Johnny landed behind him. 

“Well, I do a lot without you actually.” Peter said. “You aren’t exactly always in the city.”

“Yeah, yeah. And I’ve saved plenty of planets without you there too.” Johnny shot back. 

It struck Peter, how much he had missed this. Their lives had kept them apart for too long.  Being around Johnny usually made him feel better. Even if they did have a tendency to get on each others nerves. Oh, Johnny could be infuriating when he wanted to be. But Peter could take it since he would dish it just as well himself.

“It’s not too late, maybe we could pick up a pizza somewhere and catch up.” Johnny suggested. 

“Okay, but I’m picking the place.” Peter turned to Johnny to make fun of his taste in pizza but instead froze at the sight of him flamed off.

“What?” Johnny asked.

“What is on your face?” Peter gestured towards him.

“Oh this? You like it?” Johnny struck a pose and traced his eccentric mustache with his fingers. “Told you I was growing one out. It was just coming in last time we saw each other.”

“Wasn’t sure you’d stick with it.” Peter replied. “It’s ridiculous.”

“Why thank you.” Johnny gave a bow. “Because I know that’s just your jealousy talking.”

“Sure, jealousy.” Peter’s voice came out as teasing, but he had this odd feeling like something in the back of his mind was trying to crawl it’s way to the front.

“How many people do you know who can pull this off? Come on!” Johnny winked at him. “I’d like to see you try to do it!”

“Hard pass.” Peter laughed. Not that he’d admit it, but Johnny’s unwavering confidence about it did make him feel something. Maybe he was a little jealous? “Now, about that pizza.”

It wasn’t long before they were sitting on a different rooftop enjoying the view and the food. In between their usual jabs at each other, they talked about life and what they’d both been dealing with. Relationships they’d had to leave behind. For Peter, it was seeing his ex with someone else. Things were as good on that front as they could be. He still considered his ex a friend, surely that counts for something. 

As for Johnny, he had fallen in love with someone he could never stay with.

“Sounds like you really liked her, Johnny.” Peter said empathetically, after Johnny told him the story of falling in love with Angelica of the Shore and how their planets couldn’t coexist in the same universe.

“I loved her.” Johnny sighed. “But we had to do what was right for both of our worlds.”

“You okay?”

“I am. I really am.” The blonde smiled genuinely, gaze fixed on the streets below. “What we had was always going to be temporary, even if we didn’t know it at first. But it was good, you know? I’m happy for the time we did have. We got to live our happily ever after even if it was short. We both agreed to never forget each other but to move on. She told me she thinks I have a lot of love to give. I know that she does too. We’ll both find someone new.”  

“Anyway, that was a while ago, might be time for me to get back out there. Keep my promise to her that I would fall in love again. Or maybe I already—hmm.” Johnny paused to consider his words and rubbed the back of his neck. “Kinda makes me want to stick closer to home this time around, maybe I’d have a better chance long term that way.”

The light from the streets below reflected on Johnny’s face. His eyes were as soft and sincere as his smile. He meant every word. That was the Johnny the tabloids seemed to be good at missing. He had a big heart. He cared and felt and loved so deeply. He’d sacrifice himself if need be. After all, he’d done it before. The hero bit wasn’t just some celebrity act. It went far deeper than his powers and the headlines.

Johnny talking about being in love was certainly something. Sure, he’d been in relationships before. But this was different. He’d actually found what he had been looking for, even if it couldn’t last. There was a peace about how Johnny talked about it, like he’d really found closure. Like he believed he could find love again. 

The light was hitting the blonde’s face just right. He looked so beautiful. Peter really wished he had his camera. That was all. It would have made a great shot.

Johnny turned his head towards Peter, who nearly dropped his pizza. It was then that Peter realized he’d been staring. Studying every feature of Johnny’s face, his expression, every angle, every detail, including the ridiculous mustache. For the picture potential of course! Because Peter does photography! He has an eye for these kinds of things! 

If only he’d had his camera…

Right? 

Peter felt heat in his cheeks, but they were covered by his mask that he’d only rolled up enough to allow himself to eat. 

What was that about? The webslinger wondered to himself.

“That chapter of my love life is as closed as a chapter can get. But what about you, Spidey? Ever get back into the dating scene?” Johnny asked.

“I should.” Peter tried to gather his thoughts, but everything seemed to be swirling “Seems like my past love life chapters are pretty closed too.”

Johnny nudged him. “You’ll figure it out someday! Anyone would be lucky to have you.”

Peter looked down at his pizza. Would he ever figure it out? “Yeah right.”

“Nah! Don’t be such a bummer. Who wouldn’t want to date Spider-Man?”

“I can name several people, like oh I don’t know, my exes?” 

Johnny placed a comforting hand on Peter’s shoulder. “The way I see it there’s someone out there who’s made to put up with you.” 

“Gee thanks.” Peter scoffed. 

“They’ll be like, I love how he’s late for things and keeps running off. It’s so romantic!” Johnny pretended to swoon as he teased, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

Despite himself, Peter smiled. “Are you trying to encourage me or insult me, Flamebrain?”

“I’m a multitasker.” 

“I pity whoever has to put up with you.” Peter retorted.

“Well, if nothing else at least we’ve managed to put up with each other all these years.” Johnny said nonchalantly, before tensing up unbeknownst to Peter.

Meanwhile Peter’s mind felt like it was on the edge of a cliff about to dive headfirst into uncharted waters below. He felt flustered, but couldn’t figure out why. 

“You know, as friends.” Johnny interrupted Peter’s thoughts before they got to wherever they were trying to go.

“Yeah.” Peter stood and brushed off crumbs from his suit, feeling a bit like he was in a dream. “I’m going to head home. See you around?”

Johnny picked up the empty pizza box and incinerated it so they’d leave no mess behind. “As far as I know I should be in New York a while, but who knows when the FF will have something come up in space or wherever.”

Peter pulled his mask back over his mouth. “In that case, I guess you’ll be annoying me more often again?”

“Of course.” Johnny flamed on. “It’s what I live for.” 

He took off towards the Baxter Building. Peter watched his flaming form until it was hidden behind a skyscraper. Then he ran towards the edge of the roof and jumped to swing towards home. 

Catching up with Johnny had been nice, but he found himself needing to think. Swinging tended to help with that. Peter had missed him. It had been months, but they just picked up right back where they had left off. Pizza on a rooftop like they’d done a thousand times before.

Hearing Johnny talk about being in love, well, Peter wanted that too. He wanted to find someone who’d feel that way towards him. He wanted—

He wanted—

What did Peter want exactly?

He felt that strange feeling in the back of his mind again. There was more to it. A suppressed feeling. 

Thwip. Swing. 

The air rushing past him. 

It’s like it was clearing the webs in his own mind.

But Peter wasn’t sure he wanted it to. Not tonight. Maybe he should stop. Maybe he was just tired.

Because no. 

No. 

Couldn’t be that. Peter refused to let that thought fully form. Nope. That wasn’t what was going on in his brain.

That would be ridiculous.

He swung harder and faster. Buildings blurred as he passed them.

Peter does photography. Johnny had done plenty of modeling. He’s conventionally attractive! Of course, that’s why Peter could not deny that Johnny was attractive. It was obvious. Johnny storm is gorgeous, so what?

Pfft. Peter thought. Was he still conventionally attractive? With that thing on his face?

He wasn’t sure the magazines would take to it well. Heck there were probably some already making fun of Johnny’s facial hair. Peter wasn’t the greatest at keeping up with celebrity stories. Maybe people wouldn’t think he was attractive as they had without the mustache.

But Peter still thought so.

Thwip.

Swing.

Peter still thought so.

His swing suddenly went wild, his coordination slipping. Peter glanced at a lower rooftop below him and careened towards it. He flipped midair and landed clumsily, stumbling a couple of steps forward from his own momentum, but thankfully it hadn’t been a painful landing. Definitely not one of his finest moments. 

But he couldn’t say it was his biggest concern at the time. 

“There’s no way.” Spider-Man walked across the roof. He laced his fingers together behind his head, walked a few steps, unlaced them, gestured his hands around. All of this as if that would help him sort out his thoughts. If anyone looked out their window to see him, he probably looked insane. Which was fine with him. It felt like a definite possibility. “That’s not— This can’t be happening. It’s so stupid!” 

Once he made it to one end of the roof he turned and paced the other way. 

“I can’t possibly…” Peter groaned and pinched his nose through his mask. “Did I hit my head or something? Do I have a concussion? Johnny Storm? JOHNNY. STORM. No. Absolutely not. I’m going to bed. I’m almost home. I just need a good night’s sleep is all. Clearly, I’m not thinking straight.”

He stopped in his tracks when his mind supplied in a voice that sounded very much like Johnny’s, “Clearly not.”

“ARRGGGHHH!!!” Peter groaned and ran his hand down his masked face. 

The next thing he knew he had swung the rest of the way home. He tried to think of literally anything else—villains, work, science, current events, just anything but Johnny. Peter showered, threw on an old t-shirt and shorts, and fell unceremoniously into bed. 

He laid on his side and pulled the blankets around himself. His eyebrows were knit together with determination to just go to sleep. Tomorrow none of those thoughts he kept trying to keep at bay would be there. It was intrusive thoughts or whatever, nothing else. Sleep. He just needed some sleep. 

Twenty minutes later, Peter was still laying in the same position. Definitely not sleeping. A headache was forming from the tension in his brow and how tightly he was closing his eyes. His entire body was too tense for him to doze off. 

He took a deep breath in and blew it out.

Peter opened his eyes in the room dimly lit by the streetlights outside. “Come on, Parker. Get it together.”

It was no use. Pushing the conclusion his mind had already come to away wasn’t doing him any good. But if he admitted it…. No. He couldn’t admit it. There’s no way he would admit it.

I’m in love with Johnny Storm. 

The thought pushed through. It seemed to echo through his mind. Despite how much he had tried to keep it at bay all night. 

Not just tonight, for years. Every time I thought I could have had the perfect photograph of him. Every time I watched as he threw himself into danger to save someone. Every time he brightened my day. Peter’s thoughts raced. God, even when he was just being annoying. Like right now. He’s not even here, but I’m annoyed with him!

Annoyed that Johnny had charmed him. Annoyed that he had fallen in love with the Human Torch. 

In the words of Ben Grimm… what a revoltin’ development. 

Peter huffed at his own thoughts and kicked his legs wildly. He managed to get the blankets off and onto the floor. He crossed his arms and glared at the ceiling. If anyone would have seen him they would have probably compared the scene to an angry toddler at bedtime. 

For a few minutes he just laid like that, thinking, stewing in his annoyance with his own heart and mind.

“If he ever finds out about this I will never hear the end of it. I’m just as bad as those fangirls in our teen years.”

But Peter knew Johnny on a much deeper level than any of them had. He’d seen him at his best and his worst and he loved him. God. He’d fallen in love with his best friend. It wasn’t recent either. He’d just been in denial for so long. Tonight he’d just finally let himself admit it. 

Hearing Johnny talk about really, truly being in love and wanting to find that again. Peter couldn’t help it. He wanted Johnny to feel that way about him. Which was crazy! What was even crazier is that Peter wasn’t sure if he would have come to the conclusion he did if he hadn’t been thinking about Johnny’s conventional attractiveness and how it was effected by the ridiculous mustache. 

“I did NOT realize I was in love with him because of that stupid mustache. This is a nightmare.” Peter grabbed a pillow and dropped it on his face. “I hate that man and I hate his facial hair.”

Chapter Text

A little flame danced around the room as Johnny swirled his finger. It mirrored the movement. He thought about his meetup with Peter. It had been way too long and hanging out with the webhead made him feel more at home. There was also the fact that it made his heart ache a little less. Which was… complicated to say the least. 

He missed Angelica. Sure, their relationship wasn’t the most conventional, but they had fallen in love. They cared for each other. Their time together was way too short. Still, getting any time at all with her was the result of highly unlikely circumstances. Better to have loved and lost her than to never have met her at all. He considered himself lucky. The experience helped him learn more about himself too. 

It also confirmed something he already knew. 

The ease he had with Angelica, that feeling he couldn’t shake, a deep connection that was just so different than, almost, anything he’d ever experienced. Almost. Because it felt a lot like how he felt about Peter. Which was funny, because Angelica and Peter were so different. There were plenty of other people Johnny had dated. He’d had long term relationships, things that didn’t go much further than a date, and everything in between. Yet none of them gave him the same feeling he had with the two people he’d actually fallen so hard for.

Johnny thought he could have what he’d always looked for with Angelica, his happily ever after, what he could never have with Peter because Peter didn’t return his feelings. Angelica would be the end of his searching. Until they realized they couldn’t be together. He’d never see her again. It was hard. It was heartbreaking. Eventually, he’d made his peace with the reality of it being temporary.

The way he felt about Peter on the other hand? 

Well, Johnny didn’t think they would ever be anything other than friends. But Peter was still in his life. The realization that he had feelings towards his friend happened a long time ago. They were still teenage heroes at the time. Spider-man infuriated him even more then than he still manages to do in the present at times. But there was something about him that Johnny was drawn to. 

Which frankly just pissed the fiery hero off at the time.

After he realized he had feelings for the webslinger he was furious with himself. How could he fall for Spiderman? He didn’t even know it was Peter Parker under the mask at the time. Which made him feel even more annoyed. Was he in love with a mask?

No. He wasn’t. 

Johnny was in love with the boy behind it even before he knew his name. Peter’s personality, wit, and passion for helping people shone through the fabric. It was infuriating that he’d crawled his way into Johnny’s heart. At the time, Johnny had gotten more snippy and irritable around Peter. Which probably wasn’t fair, but back then he didn’t care. He’d be extra annoying just to spite his own heart for making him fall in love with Spiderman of all people!

Johnny laughed just thinking back on it. After a while he had calmed down about it and started playfully flirting with Peter. Strangely, Peter would do the same. But Johnny could tell the webhead thought he’d been joking and joined in for the fun of it. It became a part of their communication. It was just how their friendship was. He learned Peter’s real name. They grew closer and Johnny was happy for that. If he could be close to Peter as a friend and have him in his life that way, well it was better than nothing. 

Over the years, Johnny didn’t think much about confessing or that they would ever have anything romantic between them. They both had relationships with other people off and on. Peter didn’t seem interested in Johnny in that way. So the Human Torch pushed those feelings to the side. 

Being away for a while, falling in love with someone else, losing them, then reuniting with Peter. Well, it brought those feelings Johnny had towards him back to front and center. Maybe he shouldn’t entertain the idea. He’d had years of practice pushing those feelings back for the sake of their friendship. But seeing Peter tonight, he felt that pull. That desire for something more.

He’d slipped up a couple of times, not that Peter would have noticed anyway. For a big brain, he could be a real idiot when it came to noticing that someone liked him. If Peter hadn’t noticed by now, it was doubtful he ever would. There were people in his life Johnny couldn’t stand the idea of losing. He wanted them close, safe, happy. If he confessed and Peter didn’t want to hang around with him anymore because of it… Johnny didn’t want to think about that. 

Still, there was something strange about earlier. Johnny had let himself talk about finding love again, probably saying too much and when he turned back to Peter… Well, there had been a small flinch of his hand. He couldn’t see Peter’s face beneath the mask, but he could sense the heat shifting to Peter’s cheeks. 

Peter had been blushing on that rooftop.

Maybe it was just because Peter was thinking about his own love life and old relationships. Johnny probably shouldn’t read too much into that, right? It had been easy for him to shift into encouraging Peter to get back out there. He’d done it many times through the years. So the other thoughts were pushed away. Sometimes people just blush for no reason at all. It happens. Or Peter could have been thinking about a million other things. No need to overthink it. 

No need to get his hopes up or set himself up for rejection.

/////////////////////////////

Spiderman and Doc Ock were fighting on the rooftops when Johnny noticed the commotion. He flew down to help using his flames to cut the villain off. From a distance, Johnny had heard Spidey’s usual witty banter, but it had gone silent when he got closer. Peter seemed to tense up and hit harder, knocking the Doc out cold.

“Guess it was good for you to have some extra arms yourself for this one Spidey!” Johnny said as their impromptu team up ended. He started to raise his hand for a high five.

Spiderman turned, glared at him and sharply said. “I had it.”

“Well excuse me!” Johnny threw up his arms.

“And I can take care of this myself.” There was a bite in Peter’s words. 

Johnny watched as he approached the passed out villain, never once glancing back at him. 

Maybe something personal was going on and he didn’t want to talk about it. Maybe Doc Ock had said something to set him off. But Johnny couldn’t help but feel like Peter’s attitude was directed at him. As far as he knew, he hadn’t done anything to piss Peter off. Unless helping just now was the issue. Which was stupid. 

Johnny huffed and flew off. It’s not like Peter hadn’t been moody before. 

Doc Ock could be pretty grating after all.

//////////////////////////////

Over the next few days, Johnny sent several messages to Peter asking to hang out. He’d sent funny videos, silly memes, articles, and a movie trailer. It’s not like Peter was known for his amazing skills when it came to messaging back, but it was odd that he didn’t respond to anything shared over that many days.

Until Johnny point blank sent “Are you okay?”

To which Peter responded with a simple, “Yes.”

Johnny sent more after that, only to get no more responses. He was getting annoyed.

Peter had been acting weird since they had talked on the rooftop and ate pizza together. It had been a nice night as far as Johnny could tell. They had caught up with each other, talked, ate way too much. It was great. It was something Johnny had missed a lot. He hoped there would be a lot more nights just like it. 

So, what was the problem?

//////////////////

The next morning Johnny conveniently went to Peter’s favorite breakfast spot. They’d met up there before and if Peter wasn’t up for making plans, maybe Johnny could just “run into him.”

Johnny watched from one of the outdoor tables as he ate his breakfast, eyes peeled for a certain brunette. Sure enough, Peter Parker walked up. He went into the restaurant and Johnny stuffed the rest of his food in his mouth so he could follow him. 

“Hey! Fancy meeting you here.” Johnny said with a sunny smile to Peter’s turned back.

He saw Peter’s shoulder’s tense up before he turned around, but didn’t let his smile waver.

“What are you doing here?” Peter’s voice sounded tense.

“Just finished my breakfast.” Johnny raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that what people go to restaurants for, to get food?”

“Yeah.” Peter was looking past Johnny, just over his shoulder, not making eye contact. 

“Dude. Did I do something to piss you off or what?” That felt weird to ask. When they were mad at each other it tended to be straight forward. They’d stare each other down and lay it all out there. Sometimes it was something stupid. Okay, a lot of the times it was something stupid.

“Heh.” Peter gave a short laugh, but there was no humor in it. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Well, can you answer at least some of my messages. We should go see a movie or something. It’s been a while.”

“Look Johnny, I just want to get breakfast and get to work.” He approached the counter and placed his order.

After he got his food he started walking back out the door with no intention of stopping to say anything else. 

“Hey!” Johnny started walking beside him. “I’m at least gonna walk with you.”

Peter didn’t turn his way, he didn’t say anything, but also didn’t tell him to leave. They walked in silence for an entire block. The tension between them was heavy. It frustrated Johnny to no end. This was the man he’d usually felt overly comfortable with, the one who made him feel like he was home. The one he loved, even if that wasn’t returned in the same way. This was one of the closest people he had in his life. But in the moment he felt like Peter wished he were miles away.

Johnny wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake the truth of why he was acting so strange out of him.

“So uh…” Johnny rubbed the back of his neck. “How have you been?”

Peter just sighed and kept walking. 

“Uggghhh.” Johnny shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned back as he walked. “Okay. Wow. Greeeaaat talk we’re having here.”

“Johnny…” Peter glared forward at the crowd of people in front of them like they’d insulted his Aunt May.

“Johnny what?” 

“Maybe.” Peter said through grit teeth. “I just don’t want to talk.”

“Okay but we talked that night on the rooftop remember? About all of the crap we’ve both been through lately?” Johnny tried to tamper down his own frustrations. Peter’s behavior did not make sense but should he be pissed about it or concerned? He knew how Peter had the tendency to take on way more than he should. “You’ve been through a lot. In life. At… work.”

As Spiderman, went unsaid.

Peter just muttered. “It is not about that stuff. Really, things are better. Life is going well.”

“Somehow your gloomy vibes are not convincing me.” Johnny rolled his eyes. “What is this moodiness? God, Pete. Wednesday Addams is sunnier than you lately.”

“Oh look. I’m here.” Peter opened the doors of the Daily Bugle. They creaked from how hard they were swung, as if Peter was barely holding back his strength.

“Well, whatever it is I hope you get through it. Because you’re really not any fun to be around like this.” Johnny didn’t bother trying to follow Peter through the doors.

Through the glass he could see Peter pause. It almost seemed like the brunette was going to turn back around. Instead, his shoulders slumped and he kept walking. 

/////////////////////////////

Fire was blazing out of an apartment building’s windows. Johnny flew as quickly as he could to get there. Spiderman was running out of the building with a little girl in his arms, who was crying, but otherwise seemed okay. People dashed from the exit. Some were screaming from windows because their paths were blocked by fire or rubble.

Johnny flew into the window with the wildest flames and began absorbing them. Once he was sure the building was no longer ablaze he flew high into the sky and expelled the excess fire. Then went back into the building to help get the remaining people out of the unstable structure.

Firetrucks pulled up just as he had confirmed that the building was clear. It had only been a few minutes. The firefighters did good work, but this was one situation where Johnny didn’t want to think about the damage that would have been done if he hadn’t shown up. There were just too many people in an old building that he suspected hadn’t exactly been up to code.

On the scene there were medical personnel treating some burns and breathing issues. He asked if anyone needed to be flown to the hospital, thankfully it seemed that injuries were minor. Spiderman was doing the same as he was, making sure people were okay. 

They nearly ran into each other. 

“Glad you were here to get people out.” Johnny began softly. “That could have been really ugly.”

Peter tensed up and balled his hands into fists. 

“Really.” Johnny pinched the bridge of his nose. “Are you mad at me for helping with a fire? A. Fire. What was I supposed to do. Just watch?”

“No. Thank you. Seriously. I don’t think that building would have stood much longer if the fire would have kept spreading. These people are lucky you showed up.” 

His voice sounded a little too professional and stiff. Johnny knew he meant it but he was Peter’s friend not some random reporter. “Uh. You’re welcome?”

Spiderman paused and looked down at his feet. He unfurled his hands and took a deep breath. “Look, Johnny I just thought maybe if I—“

“If you what?” Frankly, Johnny was tired of whatever this weirdness between them was. “Were super pissed at me for no reason it would be, I don’t know, exciting? Entertaining? Honestly what is your deal?”

The grumpy demeanor returned and Peter huffed out. “Never mind. I need to clear my head.”

And that was it, he shot a web and swung away. Johnny didn’t bother following him. He didn’t seem like he wanted to be followed.

///////////////////////////////

It was late. Johnny laid on the couch staring at his phone. He’d scrolled through the messages he’d sent to Peter, rewatching the videos and laughing at some of the memes. Then he got to the bottom. There had been nothing from Peter aside from the one word response. Which was days ago. He could see that Peter had at least read the messages. Which honestly infuriated him more.

There was actually something Johnny could do. It would be harder to ignore than a message on the phone. A flaming message in the sky like he’d done a thousand times before. If Spiderman wouldn’t answer the Torch would leave another. Maybe it was petty, but at least that way, all of New York would know Spiderman was leaving his friend on read.

Johnny stood and stretched as he approached a window. He was being immature and he knew it but what the heck? Peter wasn’t exactly acting real mature lately either. As he was about to jump to start his skywriting, he glanced at the messages one more time. Only to see dots dancing at the bottom of the screen. 

Peter was typing. 

“Oh, NOW he wants to say something.” 

The blonde walked back to the couch and plopped down onto it. His eyes never left the dots. A minute passed, then another. The dots would go away periodically, but always come back. 

“Uggghh!!! Come on webs-for-brains, just send the message.” 

PING!

Peter: Meet me at the usual place.

Johnny blinked at the words before he let out a sigh of relief. 

“So he DOES know how to send a message!” 

Johnny typed quickly.

Johnny: I was about to write those exact words in the sky. With fire. Because you keep ignoring my messages and pushing me away.

Peter: Just meet me there.

//////////////////////////////////////

When Johnny approached the Statue of Liberty’s head, he could see Spiderman pacing back and forth. There was a pizza box sitting nearby.

“This a peace offering?” The Human Torch landed and opened the box. The pizza was cold. “You bring this from your fridge? Or have you been up here a while? There’s a whole pie here and you aren’t exactly one to wait for others to eat.”

Johnny grabbed a slice, heated it in his hand and took a bite. 

Spiderman folded his arms across his chest. “I—”

Johnny’s eyebrows raised at Peter’s pause. “You— what?”

The webslinger dropped his arms back down to his sides. “This was stupid. I’m not doing this.”

Peter turned and walked away. For a moment, Johnny thought he’d jump and swing down and that would be the extent of their meetup. 

“Doing WHAT?!” Johnny sat the pizza down and followed Peter. “You’ve been acting like a jerk lately. Moodier than ever—and that’s saying something, I’ve dealt with your moods before. You won’t tell me what’s going on. Then YOU invite ME here. So, don’t you dare leave. I’ve let you go enough times already, you know I can catch you. So just, don’t.”

They both stopped. Peter took a deep breath in and blew it out. He turned around and faced Johnny. 

“Look I—” Spiderman started and stopped again. 

“Spit it out already! Sheesh. Not often YOU are at a loss for words.” Johnny rolled his eyes in annoyance. Then he thought about what he’d just said. It really wasn’t often that Peter couldn’t just tell him anything. Was it something serious? Ugh. Johnny wanted to be pissed at him, but if there was something bad… “Wait. Pete. Listen. If there is something going on you know you can talk to me ri—”

“I hate your mustache!” Peter blurted out.

Johnny’s eyes went wide. 

They stared at each other for a moment.

“What the—my MUSTACHE?!” Johnny put his hands on his hips and leaned towards Peter. “I’m up here, thinking something might actually be wrong. Something serious. And you’re telling me you’re acting weird and being a jerk to me because you hate my facial hair. That can’t be it. What is really going on with you?!”

“ARGGHHH. But Johnny it IS serious.” Spiderman huffed.

“No it isn’t. It’s a mustache.” He deadpanned.

“It’s what the mustache represents.” There was despair in Peter’s voice. 

“You really do have webs for brains. This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Well, yeah. It is stupid.” Peter agreed with a tone Johnny couldn’t quite read.

“You hate my mustache. So you’ve been, what, mad at me?” Johnny shook his head. He tried to joke, but something felt different about their conversation. “Are you sure you’re not just jealous?”

“It is definitely not that.” 

“Well what is it then?” Johnny felt uncomfortable, like he was still missing something. There was no way Peter had asked him to meet up just to tell him he hated his mustache. The blonde laughed in an attempt to lighten the strange mood. He stroked the mustache and flirted playfully like they’d done a million times before. “Or did you see this impressive thing and fall madly in love with me?” 

He followed the words up with a wink for good measure. It was an easy setup for Peter to fall back into their usual banter and comfort. To get their dynamic back to normal. The “fake” flirting that had never really been fake on Johnny’s end. 

But, to his surprise, the masked hero tensed up and swallowed audibly. 

It was then that Johnny realized the same thing he had the other night. More heat than usual in Peter’s cheeks beneath the mask. If he would have taken it off, there would be no denying how flustered he actually was. 

Spiderman let out an unconvincing laugh. His voice was suddenly higher. “Who would fall for something like that?”

“Pete.” Johnny watched him curiously. “Why did you want to meet here tonight?”

“I’ve been acting like a jerk. Just wanted to apologize?” He shifted his weight from foot to foot.

The lift in Peter’s voice didn’t go unnoticed. This whole interaction felt so different. Johnny wasn’t sure how to take it. A part of his brain was screaming that maybe his unrequited feelings weren’t so unrequited. But that couldn’t be. Too many years of accepting that there would never be anything romantic between himself and Peter stood in the way of letting himself really believe that could be true now. Still… they’d been “fake” flirting for years, what harm could it do to lean in?

“Is that all?” He said in a low, sultry tone. “Spidey, you’re blushing.”

“What? No! I’m not!” Peter reached up to his mask as if he were making sure he still had it on. Then he rubbed his hand down his masked face. “You can sense temperature changes. I knew that.”

“Yeah. Ya did.” Johnny smiled. “The ‘stache got you feeling something? I knew it would be a hit.”

“It’s NOT the mustache!” Peter groaned like it pained him. 

“Okay. What is it then?”

Spiderman placed a hand where his mask met his suit. He muttered to himself. “If I’m doing this, I’m not doing it like a coward.” 

Johnny’s heart beat faster in his chest as Spiderman took off his mask. That trust always meant so much to the blonde. Peter’s face was red. He took a deep breath and started speaking. 

“It’s not the mustache, Flamebrain. It’s you.” Peter confessed.

“And by that you mean…”

“It’s you. Okay? I think I might have, well I mean that I might be… God. Listen Johnny. I know I’m making things weird. This has all been crazy to me. I can’t believe I’m telling you this. Or maybe I can. I’m such an idiot. Maybe after this I’ll move out of New York. I hear Chicago is nice? I could do some good there maybe.”

“Pete…”

“I realized the other night. I think I like you. No. I KNOW I do.” Peter twisted his mask in his hands before starting to gesture wildly. “You’re infuriating! Realizing this? It made me mad. Because my heart decided ‘Hey! I’m in love with my best friend!’ That’s completely okay and not at all going to make things weird.”

Johnny blinked at him. Did he just say he loved him?

“Since I know you are never going to let me live this down, I’ll admit it. I hate that stupid mustache because it made me realize that I found you attractive. Before that I thought I was just seeing you as a model. I mean, I’m a photographer. You’re nice to look at. Photogenic. Conventionally attractive. I always knew that. So I just thought whatever I was feeling towards you before was just a combination of friendship and admiration of you as a photo subject. Or something. It sounds so stupid now. Then you show up with that thing on your face and I think about how I still find you beautiful. Which made me think about everything between us a little too much. I’ve been in denial.”

“So… tell me if I’ve got this wrong. You realized that you personally find me attractive and not just as a photographer, because of my mustache?” Johnny was still trying to process Peter’s words. 

“I am never living this down. It’s. Mortifying. But I had to tell you because it was driving me crazy not to. I like you, yes, ‘like you, like you.’ It doesn’t have to be weird between us. I guess it is already, but I have to just tell you. So there it is. Maybe we can just move past it as soon as possible and I can learn to ignore it or get over it or something.” It didn’t seem possible but somehow Peter’s face got redder as he spoke. “Now you know. Go ahead. Make fun of me. Tell me how you even managed to make me fall for you and all that. I’m prepared for the onslaught of gloating.”

Johnny was lost in thought, processing. It had been way too long since he started feeling like he loved Peter. He’d pushed the possibility aside for years. In general Johnny had confidence that swung wildly. Sometimes, and in certain areas, he felt really self-assured, other times the opposite was true and he felt like he wasn’t enough. Though his confidence had grown with age, in the moment, he had a hard time believing what he was hearing. After so long, could he allow himself to believe it was true? As a result, his self doubt wormed it’s way to the surface. 

“Why me? I’ve seen the other people you’ve been with. Some really amazing people. Glad you think I’m hot and all but you know you have other options right?” Johnny questioned, he tried to make it come off lighthearted, self depreciating humor or something, but it wasn’t quite working. “Some of them are single now aren’t they? I’m not sure I—”

“Stop that.” Peter’s flustered state shifted to determined. “YOU are an amazing person. Do you really think it was just your looks I fell for? Come ON Johnny. You are one of the most incredible people I know! You’re a hero. I love how much you care. You’ve sacrificed your life to save the ones you love. You’re a lot smarter than most people realize— than YOU realize. I’ve seen you build engines and vehicles. You’ve found solutions when Reed couldn’t. You notice things that others don’t. So don’t you even START to think it’s just about your appearance. You’re also infuriating sometimes. But guess what? I fell for you because I KNOW you Johnny Storm. At your best, at your worst all the in between, I KNOW you and I love you.” 

When Peter stopped his finger was pointing into Johnny’s chest. They were close. So close. Realizing this, Peter took a step back. Johnny just stood there, trying to wrap his mind around everything that had just been said.

Peter sighed. “Look. I know this is all a lot. It’s a lot for me too. But I had to tell you.”

Johnny still didn’t respond. It definitely was a lot to take in. If anyone knows him, it’s Peter Parker. Knowing Johnny is exactly why Peter felt the things he did towards him? This had to be a dream. There’s no way this was finally happening after all these years. Johnny had accepted his feelings weren’t returned ages ago. 

But now?

Peter brought his mask to his face. “So now that I’ve thoroughly made things strange between us. I can just leave. If that’s what you want. You can keep the pizza. I’ll see you around. We can try to forget about this, or something. I don’t even know. Must be the Parker luck. I’m cursed in love but knowing it’s you this time is going to take some time to get over—”

“You know, it’s kinda funny…” Johnny interrupted Peter’s rambling and wiped at his eye. His eyes were misty, overcome with emotion. Peter was too wrapped up in his own stream of words to notice.

“It’s really not. Look, this is awkward as all hell and maybe I shouldn’t have spilled my guts like that. I may seriously regret it later. But I felt like I was going to combust if i didn’t.”

“Would you shut up and let me finish!?” Johnny laughed wetly. “I was going to say, it’s kinda funny that we sort of reacted the same way.”

“What are you talking about, Torch?” Peter asked, but he didn’t put his mask back on.

“Back when I figured it out.” Johnny looked wistfully at the brunette. “I was so mad at myself.”

“When you figured what out?”

“When I figured out I had fallen for you. I was so pissed. I was super snippy with you. But I guess you just thought that was a part of our ‘rivalry’ back then.”

“Back…then?”

The blonde nodded. “I think I was about nineteen when I realized how I felt about you.”

Peter’s eyes widened into their best impression of his mask lenses. “How you felt?!”

“Yeah, see sometimes I figure things out faster than other people.” Johnny smirked. 

“NINETEEN?! You liked me back then? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I totally flirted with you. You just thought I was joking around.”

“And flirted back. As a joke.” Peter ran his fingers through his brown hair. “God, I completely missed that. Wait no. You’re just messing with me now aren’t you. Because there’s no way! Even if you did feel that way back then, it doesn’t mean you still feel that way. Never mind, no it’s definitely a joke. I spilled my guts to you and now you’re playing around to mess with me.”

“Oh?”Johnny stepped closer and grabbed Peter’s free hand. His voice dropped lower. “Am I messing with you? Does it feel like I’m messing with you? Because I still have those feelings. They’ve never really gone away. Guess I’ve been tangled in your web for a long time. You just didn’t realize it.”

“My web? Really.” Peter laughed and in that moment something broke in the air between them. A shift. An mutual acceptance that they were both being sincere. “You’re so cheesy.”

“And yet, look at you.” Johnny’s eyes darted to Peter’s flushed cheeks again. He loved knowing that he could cause that sort of reaction. 

“Yeah, look at me.” Peter licked his lips. “Hotstuff, If you don’t cut it out I’m going to kiss you before we even go on a real date!”

“You say that like I’d mind.” Johnny tilted his head just a little. “I’ve been hoping you liked me for years. It’s not exactly like it would be going too fast. You can set the speed anywhere you’d like, babe.”

Peter met his eyes and leaned in as his head tilted. His lips brushed lightly against Johnny’s. Who leaned into the kiss, deepening the contact. Johnny didn’t embrace him yet, giving Peter a chance to end the kiss there if he wanted. But Peter had no intentions of pulling away. Instead, he wrapped an arm around Johnny. A content hum from Peter vibrated their lips. It was then that one of Johnny’s hands reached into Peter’s hair, while the other circled around to caress his back. 

The blonde wanted Peter to feel just how much he’d longed for this moment. He had ways of adding something extra. The temperature of his hands increased in the brunette’s hair and rubbing Peter’s back as they kissed. Johnny’s lips heated up. Peter’s hand flew to the back of Johnny’s head pulling him closer, increasing the pressure of their lips together. Johnny couldn’t help but smile into the kiss. The feeling of Peter responding so enthusiastically to him. It was what he’d hoped for, for so long.

They parted breathlessly.

“Damn it.” Peter groaned. “You really are a good kisser. That was—”

He paused when he realized the word he wanted to say was a little on the nose.

“Hot?” Johnny tilted his chin up proudly. “You can say it and yes, I’ve told you so, several times. You’re not half bad yourself.”

“So, you’ve got tricks.” Peter leaned in and whispered in his ear. “You’re not the only one, Firefly. I can get creative too.”

Johnny swallowed hard. He didn’t want to do too much too fast with Peter. He’d waited too long to rush and do everything he’d dreamed of right out of the gate. Though it was tempting. The idea of them both having skills that weren’t just good for fighting villainous threats and saving people, well, it was a turn on. They were competitive too. Johnny could see them trying to outdo each other romantically, in and out of the bedroom. He needed to simmer down a little, but honestly? He did have a lot of time to fantasize over the years as much as he tried to not think about the possibility. Sometimes he failed okay?

Then he heard something not at all romantic. A loud growl from Peter’s stomach. 

“When is the last time you ate?” 

“I was nervous! I thought this was going to go horribly. That I’d tell you. You’d laugh at me forever about it and also feel weird about our friendship. But somehow not telling you felt worse and I just didn’t feel like eating.”

“Always overthinking.” The blonde grabbed a slice of pizza. He heated it in his hand and shoved it in Peter’s face. “Eat, Webhead.”

“Pizza is still good cold.” Peter grabbed it and took a bite. “But this is better. That’s the only reason I want to date you by the way, the perks like this.”

“Hilarious. You only love me because I’m your personal portable microwave. That was quite a kiss for just that.” Johnny took a bite of his own slice of pizza. “Wait. We’re dating?”

“This is kind of like our first date isn’t it?” Peter’s words were muffled by a mouthful of pizza.

A laugh bubbled up in Johnny’s chest. He couldn’t help it when it burst out of him. 

“What?!” Peter exclaimed. 

“How many times have we met up here. Had dinner together. Flirted relentlessly?” Johnny said between chuckles. “Ha! We’ve been on thousands of dates!”

“No we haven’t! Not really. We’ve never kissed before! Those weren’t dates.”

Johnny leaned into him. “I think that’s more your fault than mine. You never once thought I could have really been hitting on you? That the flirting wasn’t just me messing around?”

Peter didn’t move away. They both smelled of garlic and pizza sauce but neither cared. “I’ll make it up to you.”

He gave Johnny a quick peck on the lips with both of them still holding pizza in their hands. 

“You’d better.” 

“Oh. I will.” 

The look of sheer determination on Peter’s face was one Johnny was familiar with. But it never had the effect on him that it was having in the moment. The thrill of knowing that the look was directed towards him, towards their relationship, towards their future. He was so, deeply in love with that man.

“I think I might shave.” Johnny mused as they continued downing the pie. 

“What really?” 

“Perhaps this glorious piece of art has served it’s magnificent purpose.” Johnny said with mock seriousness, tracing it with his thumb and pointer finger. “I knew it would be a life changer.”

“And what purpose was that exactly?”

“Catching a spider, apparently.” 

Peter shoved him playfully. “Oh shut up.”

“I am glad you figured out how you felt about me. But I am NEVER going to forget that the thing that allowed you to do that was my facial hair.”

“I changed my mind. I hate you. It’s over. Maybe we should break up.”

“Too late. I don’t believe you.”

“I can hate you and love you at the same time. I’m capable of multitudes.” 

Johnny laughed. “Will you miss it if I shave?” 

“It won’t be irritating my sensitive skin when we kiss.” Peter traced a finger over his face where Johnny’s mustache had brushed against it.

“Oh yeah. I’m sure it’s really irritated. Accelerated healing and all that.” Johnny scoffed. He tilted his head back and placed the back of his hand on his forehead dramatically. “What if you realize it really was just the mustache? I shave and it turns out you don’t love me for me. You just loved the hair on my face! Not sure if I should shave or not. I’ll have to think about it.”

“You’re the most ridiculous man I’ve ever met.” 

“Yet, you love me.”

“Unfortunately. I do love you.” Peter smiled, warmth sparkling in his eyes. “It’s annoying.”

“See? I knew you’d find someone to put up with you.”

“Yeah. You were right here. The whole time.” Peter facepalmed. “And I gotta put up with YOU too.”

“All it took was me growing a mustache.”

“Johnny.” Peter put a finger under the blonde’s chin. “Shut up.”

He kissed him again.