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At the High School…
Everyone was planning for the big group date at the newest restaurant.
Liz would be going with Hobbie, Sally with Rand, MJ would be soloing wanting to be there for support, and Gwen will be with Harry. Mark agreed to bring Peter along on the massive group date, though it seemed less likely as Peter grew more and more worried about the looming gang war getting closer and closer… It seemed like any moment; it would break and there would be blood. Oh, in a gang war, there will be blood.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to make it and with everything going on, it’s possible that I might miss the entire thing together.” The frantic little spider in the form of a boy fretted.
“Chill, Muy pequeño. If you need to leave, you leave. I get that you need to get to work.” Mark assured him but Peter frowned a bit.
“But Liz doesn’t.”
The two then glanced at Mark’s sister.
She was chatting as she was excited about the big group date coming up.
“She’ll think I’ll bail on you and truth be told… I’ll feel like I am, too. We keep losing more and more time to date each other.” Peter confessed, feeling guilty for abandoning Mark.
“Hey, hey. Don’t fret so much. The storm will clear, and you’ll set things right in New York.” The boyfriend of Spider-man informed.
Truth be told, though he may never admit it, his concerns weren’t about Peter being late.
It was the fear that he might ever come back to him.
Whether Peter… gets killed out there or Mark will drive him away.
Why you ask?
The reason for that fear that his beloved little spider would one day leave him was the reason his last relationship sank, the reason he went to Juvie in the first place, disappointing everyone around him…
His gambling problem.
Lately, he has seen Blackie lurking around the streets, making bets with other people behind the backs of cops. He saw money being thrown, the excitement… it was making a familiar urge come back, an itch he wanted to scratch… The thrill of winning… the money… the-no! No, he was not going back to that place! That place caused his debt, which caused him to steal, which got him arrested and sent away! He didn’t want to go down that path again!
He won’t!
He… won’t.
He can keep going, for Liz, for MJ, for his parents… for Peter…
Pete… even after learning about his gambling addiction, he still smiled at him. He still adored him with all his heart. Peter even told him about his uncle after Mark told him about his.
It was another thing they had in common.
They do what they do because of their uncles… because they can remember them. Mark breathed and tried to escape from the urge.
He will.
He will.
Days later at the Allan residents…
Mark was getting dressed up for the big date night as he was riding with Liz and her new boyfriend.
He can’t wait to see Petey all dolled up. He bet he was going to look cute, so Liz wanted to take lots of pics when they got there.
“Alright, Mark. I’m ready. Let’s not keep our men waiting.” Liz called as Mark was done himself.
“No, no lo hacemos, Hermana. Pete would kill me if I’m late.” Mark answered.
“Maybe you should set him to the same standard.”
“Pete has an excuse; he has to work to keep himself and his aunt afloat. I do not have such an excuse.” Mark explained, leaving out the big details.
“True… but maybe he should get his boss to let him take a break.”
“Have you met Jameson? I did once and it was enough for me. That guy barks like a Doberman.” He joked and then mimicked a dog’s bark, causing his sister to laugh.
At the Parker Residence…
Mark was nearly knocked off his feet when he saw Petey.
He was the most beautiful he had ever seen him, even in that Spider-man Costume. The youth took his breath away.
“Careful Allan, you look like you’re forgetting how to breathe.” Rand joked as everyone was having a blast watching Mark become speechless.
“Pete, you look amazing…”
“T-thanks. It was just something I threw on.”
“Well, you make it look great.” Mark remarked as Peter blushed then whispered in his ear, “Your uniform?”
“Yep, underneath,” Peter whispered back, both knowing that they would need it… for when the real party begins.
Mark kissed him and they walked to the car with the others to get ready for the big date.
At the dinner date…
Mark knew Pete had to go.
He had to… when the world’s nastiest criminals were going into a bloody war and only Peter could stop it. It was probably for the best… because Blackie was here, and they both needed an excuse.
“Sorry, guys but I need to take Petey home. He’s not feeling too great.” Mark lied to everyone for Peter.
“You okay, Pete?” Harry wondered.
“Yeah, just a stomachache. Not feeling that good. Sorry guys.” Peter apologized as Liz noticed someone in the background.
It was the bookie… the same bookie who got him addicted.
So, that’s why they’re leaving.
“Okay, guys… see you later. Get better soon, Peter.”
With that, they two left quickly… the bookie not too far behind.
Outside the restaurant…
Mark watched Peter as Spider-man get ready for his big battle with the big bads.
Blackie was just there to listen in.
“I’m sorry we have to cut things short-.”
“Don’t, you got a city to save, and I will be there rooting for you. Just promise that you’ll come back, okay?”
“I will and with a city free from the big man!”
The webhead swung away as Blackie grinned. The kid knew Spider-man, he might even know his identity… this could be valuable. All he needed to do was to get him hooked again.
“Lovely night for a stroll, eh Markie?” Blackie greeted the teen, watching the boy breathe and trying to stay strong.
“Blackie… what do you want?” Mark coldly questioned with his arms crossed.
“Hey now, is that any way to treat an old friend? Heard you got back in town and haven’t been seeing you dropping by.”
“Yeah, I don’t do that anymore. My life is better off without it.”
Hm…
Maybe a little incentive.
“Right, since your debt was cleared but it seemed that I owe you a little extra. Here, a cool hundred, just for you.”
Mark was tempted by the sight of the money… he could get a lock, and win big… he remembered the words of his uncle…
‘When you want big, you gotta go all in.’
‘When you want big, you gotta go all in.’
‘When you want big, you gotta go all in.’
‘When you want big-.’
‘With great power, comes great responsibility.’
Wait, his uncle didn’t say that. That’s what Peter’s uncle told him.
Peter…
Peter…
Wait, what was he thinking? Pete was out there, risking his life to save this entire town, his family, his friends, him… and he was thinking about going back to that?
No.
Peter made the sacrifice to save this city from the evils of the world.
Mark will make a sacrifice and end his addiction… for Peter.
“No thanks. I don’t need to gamble anymore.” Mark refused as Blackie was surprised and agitated.
“What about going all in?”
“I am going all in. I am going all in for the people in my life, for someone I love, and I am not going to let him down. I won’t let anyone down again.” Mark declared with confidence.
Great, looks like his latest little playmate has gotten to his head.
“Fine, just take the money. Spend it on whatever you want. But I’ll be waiting…”
Then he was gone with a hundred for Mark.
Mark looked at the money and knew… he wasn’t going back to gambling.
Maybe… he can use this money to make up for dinner.
The aftermath of the Gang War…
Peter was breathing hard as he swung back to his place, Mark texting him that he wanted to meet him there.
When the little spider came home, he was stunned to see a candlelit dinner complete with pizza and a present.
“Mark, what is all this?” Peter marveled.
“A celebratory dinner, for both of us. I asked your Aunt May for some privacy so we can have some alone time.” Mark answered, giving Peter a present.
He opened it to see a silver spider necklace.
“Pete, I think tonight we both won against our demons.”
That night, they ate, they talked, and they celebrated.
For love was most powerful.