Re: Marvel hospital: Gwen & Peter
Aunt May was a safe topic. Totally, completely not-bad or awkward, and Peter's smile came a little easier. "Yeah, it's her thing. I'm pretty sure I'll find at least two casseroles in the fridge once I get home." He could joke about it, but it was actually true. But he still wasn't hungry, he still didn't think he'd be able to swallow anything even if he should. It wasn't like he'd starve, right? He was fine. Flash was the one in the hospital. Flash was the one fighting for his life. Food kind of paled in comparison.
Blame was something he was really good at. Taking it on himself, shouldering it, that was just what he did. Uncle Ben, Captain Stacy, even Gwen herself-- he thought their deaths were his fault. And now, with Flash, he thought he was at least partly responsible. Better him than somebody else. Peter felt like he'd been a horrible friend, like he'd failed everyone. It wasn't a good feeling. But when Gwen told him it wasn't his fault, like she knew what he was thinking, he had to resist the urge to shrug again. "I should've been there," he muttered, averting his gaze. "Maybe I could've done something. I could have tried." He just kept picturing Flash in the hallway, bleeding. There was no one else to blame.
Most of his hesitation faded when she sighed and patted the couch, inviting him to sit. She hadn't told him to get lost? which was better than nothing, even if he wasn't so sure she was telling the truth about not being angry. He sat, setting down the water bottle and the food next to him, closest to the arm of the couch, and snuck a look at her while she talked. "Things I feel?" Okay, so clearly Gwen thought he had feelings for MJ.And maybe now wasn't the time to clear things up but if he didn't do it now, when would he? "MJ and I aren't together, Gwen. It wasn't... like that." He hesitated. "I wanted to, uh, to tell you in person, because I want to explain. Not make excuses, but just... tell you what it was like."
It was probably asking a lot, he knew. And he didn't expect anything. A second later, though, he frowned, following where she was motioning to; the hotel corridor. "You think this was inevitable, what happened to Flash? That it was fate?"