".. You're not a CEO either," Peter said hesitantly. At most, you just have a CEO brother.
Finn thought for a moment, then suddenly propped up his limp body and slowly crawled onto Peter's lap, settling steadily into his embrace.
"Want to give it a try?" Finn asked, blinking his eyes.
"Try what?" Peter didn't understand.
"I heard that when you have a fever, you feel very hot?" Finn's emerald eyes remained clear, but his tone carried a hint of nonchalant ambiguity. He wanted to personally use the activities that Spider-Man liked to comfort him.
System PP: [!!] Host, you!?
Peter: [??] You're burning up like this, you can still produce such lewd nonsense in your head?
Peter looked at Finn in disbelief. One thing that was quite magical was that every time, Finn could speak about those kinds of things so candidly with such an innocent gaze. At this moment, those emerald eyes were covered with a soft intimacy, hiding a hint of restless desire, so pure that it left one completely defenseless.
"Even though I don't have the strength, you can still move," Finn said, sounding incredibly bold despite his lack of energy.
Peter, with tears still clinging to his face, was completely stunned by Finn.
With this sudden interruption, the sorrowful emotions that had just surged within Peter's heart quickly dissipated, replaced instead by a sense of both anger and helplessness.
If you're sick, then focus on recovering and stop thinking about these things." The upright Little Peter firmly supported Finn's waist and moved him down again. "You're sweating; I'll change you into a new set of pajamas.
Peter brought over a set of pajamas that had been prepared beforehand.
Just after taking off Finn's shirt, Finn forcefully pulled Peter back onto the bed, then slowly sat back down on the young man.
"Finn.." Peter said helplessly. In this situation, there was no way he would go along with Finn's whims.
You're so hot," Finn murmured, nuzzling into his neck, "Feel it.
Peter's palm covered Finn's burning back; indeed, Finn's temperature, which had previously subsided, was rising again.
The effects of the medicine must have worn off. The doctor will be back in a while," Peter said, slightly frowning but still speaking comfortingly. "Put your clothes on first.
Finn wrapped both arms around Peter's neck, the young man tilted his face up slightly, his emerald eyes veiled in a hazy mist, staring intently at Peter without blinking.
"A kiss should be fine, right?" Finn gently rubbed his nose against Peter Parker's nose.
The young man's body was limp, even his voice sounded soft; at this moment, he was still clinging to his body, holding him and begging for a kiss.
—He didn't know if it was an illusion, but Peter felt like the Young Master, who was sick with a fever, was even more clingy than before?
Peter: ".." Who could handle this! With you acting like this, how do you have the nerve to call yourself a CEO?
"No, it's contagious." Finn suddenly thought of something, then shook his head to himself and recoiled with apprehension.
Finn was just about to let go of Peter, but he was immediately pinned by the back of his neck by Peter.
A kiss was immediately pressed upon him.
A longing, eager, intimate kiss, their breaths intertwining closely.
As their lips pressed together, it felt as if all the time they had missed was being compressed without limit, all melting into this single moment.
—It was very hot.
The temperature in their mouths was also very high.
Peter felt as if his head was also becoming hotter, he kissed Finn deeply and forcefully. The burning love in his heart also seemed to be overflowing, wanting to reach Finn's soul a little deeper, even deeper.
Finn felt as if he were completely melting, he only avoided sliding down because he was being supported by Peter's strong and firm arms.
Just then, there was a light knock on the bedroom door, it was opened directly without waiting for a response.
Harry stood at the door with the family doctor, the moment his gaze fell upon the bed, he froze in place, staring dumbfounded at the scene.
His brother wasn't even wearing clothes.
He looked as if he were being held and pressed against him by Peter.
He looked as if he had been kissed into a daze, leaning weakly against Peter's shoulder, breathing slightly heavily.
Peter froze instantly, looking up to meet Harry's ashen face. Seeing the faint bulging veins at the other man's temple, his heart was filled with nothing but panic and embarrassment.
—I really didn't!
—I said, would you believe me if I said it was just a kiss?
Harry clenched his fists, his cold gaze fixed on his brother's best friend who was on the bed, unable to bear it any longer, refusing to endure it a moment more.
Peter Parker, get back to your own home right this instant!
Chapter 111: Awakening • Return
Peter didn't know Finn before, back when he was only friends with Harry Osborn; of course, he had also heard many people say that Harry gave off a cold and oppressive vibe. At that time, the little Spider-Man hadn't taken it seriously, thinking that those people simply hadn't taken the time to truly get to know Harry.
And now, now that Peter has been promoted to being Finn's boyfriend—
Spider-Man began to belatedly sense the heavy pressure coming from Harry, who was his brother-in-law.
Especially whenever he thought about how his crush on Finn had been made public knowledge all over the world back when Harry was still at the center of Eden Mental Hospital, how Harry had subsequently and efficiently swooped in to steal Finn away, Peter would feel guilty and lacking in confidence.
As a result, every time Peter faced Harry afterwards, his little heart would subconsciously skip a beat.
"I was just.. Finn was sweating, I wanted to change him into different pajamas." Feeling like his reputation was being ruined, Peter hurriedly moved Finn from his arms and then scrambled off the bed in a panic. He even immediately held the pajamas in both hands, desperately trying to prove his innocence.
"I have eyes," Harry replied calmly. After all, he hadn't seen any proper behavior regarding changing into pajamas.
—The words were innocent, but the actions were not innocent at all.
Under Harry's deathly stare, Peter found it difficult to explain how the feverish and weak Young Master had been pressed into his arms and kissed into a daze.
"I, I'll help wipe Finn's body," Peter said, trying to divert the attention as a way to save himself.
"Do you think I can't take care of my own brother?" Harry thought that besides working to earn money for his brother, he should be able to find other things to do. The person who had clearly said he would help the two brothers build their relationship was Peter Parker, but Harry felt that before he even had a chance to properly bond with Finn, Peter had already become inseparable from Finn, leaving him no time at all.
Regardless, Harry had no intention of entertaining Peter's excuses and sternly sent him away.
—It's like he has no home, staying here every single day.
"This miracle drug isn't working like a miracle at all." Facing Finn, whose temperature was rising again, Harry frowned in dissatisfaction.
Special medicine doesn't cause an immediate recovery the moment you take it," Finn said amusedly, soothing the irritable Harry even earlier than a doctor would. "Even with Captain America on the battlefield in World War II, it's not like the war ended the moment he stepped onto the field. My body needs a little time to fight and defeat the virus.
Harry could only accept this explanation, then used a warm towel to wipe Finn's body to lower his temperature.
Finn blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting a real CEO to do something like this.
You are my brother," Harry explained calmly. "Taking care of you is what I should be doing.
Harry stared at the two long scars on Finn Osborn's back, his brow furrowing even tighter subconsciously.
"Does it still hurt?" Harry had never been able to find any experimental data regarding what happened to Finn Osborn in the Osborn Laboratory; clearly, his father Norman Osborn had cleaned it all up, as if he didn't want anyone in the world to know about the experiments performed on Finn.
Harry knew, of course, that wings that looked so perfect and flawless must have been the product of immense pain.
Finn froze for a moment before realizing that Harry was talking about the scar on his back that allowed wings to grow.
"It hasn't hurt for a long time." Finn said with a smile, his eyes curving.
Harry frowned deeply without saying a word. Even if he could try his best to understand that their father, Norman Osborn, was conducting experiments on his son in order to treat the Osborn family's hereditary genetic disease, but.. since he had already been ruthless enough to lock Finn up for experimentation, why not simply give Finn a good, strong physique, instead of just giving him a pair of wings that were useless for show and couldn't even be used to show off outside?
If he really needs wings, wouldn't having a pair of steel wings attached to his back be just the same?
Moreover, although Finn doesn't have any major illnesses, he is constantly plagued by all sorts of minor ailments, which inevitably makes Harry feel that Norman hasn't been taking good care of Finn.
"I'm the one who wants Peter to give me a kiss." Finn didn't know his brother was mocking his little wings in his heart, he was only thinking of making an excuse for his boyfriend.
You have a fever," Harry replied in a flat tone. He knew his own brother's personality all too well; this whole thing had certainly been instigated by Finn, but even so, "Peter should have enough self-control to refuse all your unreasonable requests.
Ever since the first time Peter Parker stayed overnight here, Harry knew—
Peter Parker is someone who has moral principles, but has absolutely no bottom line when it comes to Finn.
As long as Finn teased him a little, Peter's bottom line would steadily crumble.
System PP couldn't help but speak up for Little Peter: 【..】You talk as if you have a bottom line, as if you could buy an entire amusement park overnight just because of one sentence from your brother??
Harry, I'm sorry." Finn didn't argue any further, obediently putting on his pajamas and lying in bed. He knew very well that every time he dropped the ball, Harry had to pick up the slack for him, "I've let you down again, even though you're already so busy.
"You don't need to apologize to me. I'm your brother; taking care of you is what I'm supposed to do." Without Peter clinging to his side for every little thing, without Noah around to cause trouble, Harry felt his image as an older brother was exceptionally upright. He even thought that if Peter could spare even half the time he spent dating for the two of them to spend quality time together, he and Finn would have long since become the best brothers in the world.
Taking advantage of the momentum, Harry lightly brushed his fingertips through Finn's soft hair and asked softly, "Is there anything you want lately?"
Hearing Harry's words, Finn couldn't help but smile.
"What are you laughing at?" Seeing Finn's eyes curve as he smiled, Harry also couldn't help but let a smile touch his lips as he asked.
"Laughing at me? Even if I can't be a CEO, I can be a CEO's brother," Finn said, tilting his small face up, his emerald eyes bright and dazzling.
At this moment, Peter, who was sitting in the living room, was in no hurry to leave.
Although the case of The Missing Felix had been completely resolved, Felix's funeral arrangements had not yet been finalized. Under these circumstances, no matter what, Peter could not feel at ease leaving Finn. Peter still remembered the moment Mrs. Wilson finally learned the whereabouts of Felix's remains; she collapsed instantly, weeping with heart-wrenching grief. Undoubtedly, the moment this couple thought about the torment Felix endured before his death, they felt an indescribable, piercing pain.
In the end, Butler Joseph still had to support his wife, telling Catherine that she must be strong.
No matter what happened in the past, the living must live on well.
And Felix could finally reunite with his family in the cemetery filled with sunlight and flowers; this was what they had to do for Felix.
Everyone was busy, there was no one else at home at this moment. Peter leaned silently against the cool leather sofa, surrounded by nothing but silence.
—His heart felt empty.
Everything seemed to have settled, no one would track Felix's whereabouts anymore. In a few months, this tragic case might no longer receive any attention.. but the harm inflicted upon Finn and that deep-seated, unforgettable pain were real, Peter simply could not let it go.
Before, he was upstairs watching over the feverish and weak Finn, leaving him no time to think about anything else, but now he only felt himself suddenly swept away by a surging tide of emotions. Heartache, suppression, a helpless sorrow rose layer upon layer in his heart, amplified infinitely in the empty and quiet living room, plunging him into a deep sense of bewilderment and emptiness.
Will Finn truly never suffer because of that past again?
Will he no longer have nightmares? Will he no longer faint at the sight of blood, fear enclosed spaces, or fear the cold?
Those children who died just like Finn, did they also become part of the System like Finn? Will they ever come back?
Or did they all choose the worlds they truly loved, leaving only Finn behind, determined to make their dreams come true?
..
No one could answer the question in Peter's heart.
At that moment, Peter's gaze unintentionally fell upon a corner.
It was an egg-shaped robot named Robot PP that he had made himself, which had previously been placed on the living room floor to play with the kitten, Emily. Later, because Finn was sick, he hadn't touched that small spherical robot.