Work Text:
“Good thing I picked up some Chinese, I think I'm too tired to eat Mexican tonight." She sighed as her frosty hands humbled into her coat, wincing as soon as she felt the cold metal against her skin. She managed to open the door quickly as soon as the key opened it, the door jamming a bit. As soon as she came in, she noticed the lights were still on but the window was wide open, the breeze making the room cooler.
"Peter! I'm home!" She set the food down on their nightstand of their dingey apartment that was once only Peter's, she looked around and saw he wasn't there.
"Maybe…Spider-Man related things?” She asked herself, assuring that was the case since the window was wide open. She went over and closed it, sighing as she felt the heat surge in the room from the heater. She took of her coat, shoes and changed into some nice comfortable pjs. She turned on the TV and switched some channels to see if she could find a movie to watch until Peter comes back.
It wasn't until a few minutes later only there was quick knocking at the door. She didn't know whether to expect Peter or not. MJ got out of bed and opened it to find Ursula, the landlord’s daughter who lived across the hall.
"Hey Ursula!” She frowned looking at the girl’s nervous look. "Is there something wrong?"
The girl stuck her hands together. "Um. Is Peter with you?"
MJ cocked her head. "No, I haven't seen him since this morning before work. Do you need him?"
Ursula shook her head, grabbing MJs arm and bringing her out of the apartment and down the stairs. "I think there's something you should see."
MJs blood ran cold as Ursula kept walking her down the stairs of the apartment complex. Ok, this definitely had something to do with Peter. Is he hurt? Injured? MJ didn't really want to know what Ursula was implying. The suspense really doesn’t help!
She was pulled from her on-coming traffic of paranoid thoughts as they entered the laundry room. It smelled nice and looked clean, there was a large basket of clothes and mini baskets around the room. No blood. Ok, okay. MJ can work with this.
"Um, Ursula. Does this have something to do with Peter?" She asked hesitantly, he voice sounding smaller than it should. "What's going on?"
Ursula put her finger up to her mouth and gave MJ the shush gesture, leading her to the back of the laundry room where the dryers were. MJ was beyond confused as she trailed behind.
It wasn't until they reached the very back of the room with all the dryers until Ursula pointed to a huge basket. MJs eyes widened at the sight.
"Oh my gosh."
Lo and behold, Peter was sleeping in said basket of warm, dried clothes. His body was in some sort of fetal position that had him tucked inside the basket and he was clinging onto the dried clothes for his dear life. His face was peaceful looking, looking far too young.
"W-what...so he fell asleep in the basket?” She asked more to herself, kneeling to look at Peter's body breathe soundly. She gently patted Peter's cheeks. He looked so adorable.
"Hey Tiger.” She whispered with care. “You fell asleep miles away from our nice cozy bed." She started to panic a bit as he didn't wake up. "Pete?"
Ursula kneeled next to her. "He must be really tired to not wake up. I tried but…” She shook her head and frowned. “If..there’s anything I can do to help…” she offered meekly.
"Hmm." MJ patted her chin for a moment. She then gave a nervous smile to Ursula.
“Now that you mention it…”
-
"Not to be mean, but he is kinda heavy."
"That or his ridiculously heavy coat." They hauled the basket upstairs, trying to shut up their groans and wheezes until they finally ended up in front of MJs and Peter's shared apartment. Too bad the elevator was broken. Woo woo. Go team!
She fumbled with her keys again and kicked it open, grabbing the basket again and Ursula helping hold her precious cargo inside the small room. Ursula and her gently put the basket down, the two girls having their hands on their knees as they took a breather.
Ursula, out of curiosity, tried to pry the heavy coat out of Peter's hands to see if that would spark a reaction. He didn't react, but his firm grip still held on tight into the coat. MJ studied this, figuring it had something to do with Peter being sticky.
Oh.
Oh shoot.
If it had something to do with Peter and his spider bite, MJ wanted to make sure no one else was suspicious of his weird…
Circumstances.
“Ah well! I can't thank you enough for helping me carry him up here Ursula!" She grabbed a few fortune cookies out of her bag or take out and handed it to her. "This isn't a lot but, I heard you do like cookies."
The girl smiled, holding the cookies gently in her hand. "Will be be okay?" She asked as MJ gently led her to the door.
Honestly, MJ didn't know if Peter was okay. He looked fine, really, maybe some deep sleep? He's been working hard lately, if anything it had everything to do with his “extra job”. Poor thing must be exhausted!
"Yeah of course! I think he just needs a lot of rest. I'll update you when he’s up to par, okay?" The girl nodded and waved goodbye as she exited the apartment, Mary Jane smiling to herself knowing that there was other people who genuinely worry about Peter.
Now the fun part. She should have asked for help for this. She can't leave Peter in the basket forever.
Maybe I should call Harry…
She then suddenly remembered he was away on an all needed trip in Hawaii. After the whole sandman and whatever the black goo was ordeal, Peter and Mary Jane urged Harry to take a very needed, long long vacation.
She didn’t want to worry him anyways. She knew that after all they’ve been through together as a trio, Harry has been with them thick and thin. He was probably worrying how they were doing back in New York.
So, no more help. Just Mary Jane.
Well, if I break my back somehow, Peter can cook for me all week. I’ve been begging him to cook his famous lasagna anyways!
She crouched down to the basket was, making sure not to scare him awake if he suddenly did. "Baby, I know your tired, but you can't sleep in here forever. That's why we have a bed."
She tried prying the coat away from Peter's hand, this time a small whine coming out of him. He tugged the coat tightly around him.
She so needed to take pics and send them to Harry. This was beyond cute.
Surprisingly, she was able to lift Peter out of the basket by herself, actually, he barely weighed anything. How come she's never tried this before?
Maybe those protein shakes really do help…
She adjusted her grip and even though he was taller than her, he still managed to fit in her arms, his head was in the crook of her neck, his nose nuzzling inside, almost demanding more warmth. He then made some incoherent sounds.
"That’s all I hear whenever you work on your homework, Pete. I can’t understand a dang thing!" She giggled quietly as she placed him on the bed, wrapping the comforter around him and placing a kiss on his cheek. A little smile appeared on his face.
***
It wasn't until MJ came out of the shower she noticed Peter was back inside the basket again, but she didn't understand why.
(Hmm, it's funny actually, it kinda looks like he's hibernating ) she laughed as she looked at Peter again.
Wait...
Her eyes widened as she scrambled to their shared computer, logging on and searching:
"Do spiders hibernate?”
The search engine implicated, yes they do!
"They hibernate during the winter, using tree bark, soil or rocks to nestle into during the cold months." She read from the article about spiders. She looked back at Peter, realizing that he used the warm clothes as a soil alternative to stay warm. That spider bite really altered his DNA.
Did he do this regularly, like before they started living together? Did that spider bite really change his DNA that much? Did Aunt May know? She was filled with questions.
"So my boyfriend hibernates. Wow." She couldn't supresss a giggle, looking back at Peter. The whole concept was jarring but just crazy to think about!
"I hope he doesn't hibernate for a full year though, pretty sure a doctors note for Dr. Connor’s class wouldn't cover that, huh?" She asked Pete as she carried him back to bed and climbed in with him, starting to play with his hair.
She knew exactly what to do.
***
Peter felt tired, really tired. He felt really super warm though. How is that even possible?
He woke up and felt nice warm cotton around him, he opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by piles of warm clothes. It seemed like he was laying on his bed.
Wait, I don't remember getting into bed-
His sleepy eyes fluttered open to his beautiful girlfriend who was currently eating some Mexican takeout. Peter scooter closer to her. MJ instantly beamed and started playing with his hair.
"Well look who's finally awake from their deep sleep, hi tiger. You feel okay?" She asked, internally dying seeing him lean into her touch.
"Y-yeah. MJ, wha’ happened?" He slurred, practically melting into her touch as she stroked his cheek with her finger.
"I think it's better if I explain when you're all awake and preppy, Spider-Man. Emphasis on spider." She giggled, planting a kiss on his nose. "You took a few sick days, baby. Go back to sleep. I got everything covered."
"MJ." An involuntary whine slipped, a blush creeping onto his face.
MJ giggled at how adorable this whole situation was, his sandy brown bed head certainly not helping the cause. She started scratching his scalp, an unexpected purr fumbling from him.
What the heck?? Why am I purring??
Peter instantly hid his face under the blankets. He didn’t even remember what happened in the last few hours, a few sick days apparently according to Mary Jane. He barely remembers doing the laundry, then a lot of rocking, his brain was like mush!
"Oh my gosh, I didn't mean for that to happen." He said sounding so miserable, a little muffled from under the sheets.
“MJ, what’s going on?”
MJ pulled the covers gently and offered him a smile. She purposely ignored the last part, most likely going to wait until he was fully awake to explain every discovery she’s made.
“You know, apart from hibernation, some spiders actually purr. I thought you knew that, Peter?" She teased.
"I did. But I didn’t know I could do that too…wait, hibernation??”
MJ pulled him closer to her, they were now both sharing the blankets. MJ sent a quick text to Ursula, snapped the phone off and went back to scratching Peter’s scalp. “Honestly, I don’t even know where to begin. I’ll explain when you wake up again, okay?” She turned off the lights and snuggled with him closely, Peter hearing now gentle breathing.
Peter sighed happily and accepted his fate. He pushed his questions away for a later notice and absorbing all the warm cuddling from his beautiful girlfriend.
A few more hours of snoozing for Peter Parker wouldn’t hurt, after all.