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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
snowmen
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THE GLOVES THAT Kendra brought with her did nothing to keep her fingers warm as the scarf she wrapped around her nose and mouth helped her build up heat in her face. She was in the middle of rolling her first ball for the snowmen, but it all seemed to keep falling apart when she thought it would continue to build up. Kendra groaned and kicked the pile of snow in frustration and sighed, picking up the snow again and tried again.

"You're doing it wrong," a voice spoke, making her jump and tense up. She looked over to see Peter, decked out in clothes similar to her, layered jackets and a rosy nose to match his red cheeks. Kendra smiled, relaxing in front of him as she held the snow ball in her hands.

"Well, this is my first time playing in snow, so," she chuckled and Peter smiled. The snow still fell and she noticed pretty flakes in his hair. He got closer to her, holding his hands out for the snowball and she gasped at the fact that they were bare.

"Peter, you're going to lose your fingers!" Kendra looked up to him in concern.

"Don't worry, they'll be fine," Peter chuckled and Kendra shook her head in dismay.

"You're crazy, Parker Peter," Kendra spoke as she handed the snowball over, he blushed at the name that she hadn't called him in a while. Kendra chuckled and looked at the pile of snow and huffed, looking back to him for his instruction.

"You're not packing the snow tightly enough when you roll it on the ground," Peter finally explained as he redid the snowman, starting to roll it up once more. It got to be a slightly imperfect sphere that was slightly bigger than his hands, he set it on the ground and started to roll in a spiral, occasionally patting the ball until it was as big as his legs.

Kendra laughed when he straightened up, acting like his back was out of place. She mimicked what he did, doing the same pattern in the snow until the ball went up to her knees. She squatted and carefully picked it up, walking over and setting it on top, holding it steady as Peter packed snow in to hold it in place. She watched him with a smile on her face, the scarf fell down long ago but she didn't bother putting it back up.

Peter straightened up, snow falling from his curls and Kendra chuckled, pulling her glove off and reaching up, tousling his hair and watching the snow fly. She took off her other glove and did the same to her own, laughing as the snow fell onto her jacket and sweater and her shoes. She looked around, holding her hand out as a snowflake fell into her palm, she was only able to admire it for a second before it puddles in her palm.

"So, how did you find out I was Spider-Man?" Peter asked, making Kendra look up in shock.

"You're Spider-Man?" She asked and Peters eyes widened as his face paled. Kendra held back her laugh, enjoying the expression on his face as he tried clamoring for an answer.

"I- uh, No- I-"

"I'm messing with you, Pete," she spoke, pulling her gloves back on as she picked up another snowball and started the routine, "and it's a long story on how I know, well, at least I think it is."

"Well," Peter paused, his hand wrapping around her wrist to get her to look him in the eyes, "no one's around and, I have time." Kendra smiled weakly as he released her, allowing her to finish the snow ball.

"I'm from a different universe," she started, making him blink in shock, "and I'm not making this up to mess around with you, honestly, I wish I was."

Peter nodded, listening as she explained everything that seemed to happen so long ago, but in reality, everything was so sudden and rapid. She she managed to finish explaining herself as she set the head on top, smiling as the basic bones were done.

"That's," Peter stared at the snowman, trying to process what she told him.

"I'm sorry," Kendra finally spoke, a frown on her face. That made Peter look to her with a raised eyebrow, unsure why she would say something like that.

"What could you be sorry for?" He asked and Kendra looked down.

"For not being honest, I guess, for ghosting you," She looked to her hands, wringing them out in shame. Kendra felt the guilt wash over once more and she felt her eyes tear up. She really didn't want to cry in a park in front of Peter Parker.

"Kendra," Peter spoke, a freezing finger lifted her chin, making her look him in the eye, "you're human, you're doing what you thought was best."

"Thanks, Pete," she smiled, taking a sharp breath as he pulled her into a hug, holding her torso tightly. She wrapped her arms around his neck like she did days before and pushed her face into the crook of his neck.

"Jesus your face is freezing," his voice was airy, like he was breathless. Kendra laughed, moving her face back bit, settling for his shoulder.

"So are your hands!" Kendra spoke as she pulled her torso away, his hands going down to her hips as her hands rested on his shoulders.

"Whatever," Peter rolled his eyes playfully and Kendra pulled away fully, making a snowball and spun around, throwing it directly at his chest. He took a step back and looked down at the specks of snow that stuck to the material.

Peter looked to her in shock, making her laugh so hard she had to hold her side. His look of shock was soon replaced with a devilish smirk as he quickly made a snow ball of his own, throwing it at her when her eyes were still squeezed shut. But it just so happened that when she turned, it hit her directly in the face.

Kendra, of course, threw herself down on the ground, groaning as she rolled over so she faced the snow, hearing Peter gasp and footsteps as he approached her. She quickly got a handful of snow when she felt his hand on her shoulder and she rolled back over smushing the snow right in his face, rubbing it on his cheek. She laughed harder at his expression and almost squealed when he picked her up with ease, setting her on her feet.

Peter was laughing as well and Kendra took her glove off, wiping the snow off his chest and looked up, hesitating to touch his face, but swallowed her fear and reached up, wiping off the snow that stuck to his cheek. Kendra could see the look in his eyes, and quickly, her face heated up. She pulled away, a smile on her face.

"How about we finish this guy up and get coffee?" She asked, looking to the abandoned snowman a few feet away.

"Yeah," Peter spoke, walking over to a bench and grabbed a thick icicle, breaking it off with ease , walking over and held the back of the snowman's head as he shoved it in, making a nose. Kendra walked over to a small tree, breaking off two small branches and smiled as she walked up from behind, sticking them in.

"He's t-posing," Kendra snorted, making Peter laugh as he stepped back. He looked up past the snow man to her and she dug into her pockets, pulling out the gravel she got from the roof of the base.

"Bringing the avengers, where ever I go," she joked as she walked around, putting the two largest rocks above the icicle for his eyes, then, proceeded to make a smile out of the rest of the gravel,  "this is the cheesiest thing I've done in a while."

She set the rest of the gravel rocks on the ground in a pile for whatever kid that might want to come around and make their own snowman. Kendra looked to Peter who was once again staring at her.

"Not as cheesy as you," she spoke and pulled her gloves off, handing them to him, "put these on before I have a heart attack."

Peter only laughed and did as told, making Kendra feel better as they walked out of the small park. They turned corners, seeing how packed some of the cafes were getting, not wanting to get a lot of attention, Kendra smiled as she thought of the perfect place.

She took Peters hand, guiding him to the familiar street, looking to see his face as he recognized the street. Kendra chuckled as the two seemingly stumbled into the cafe, making Kendra giggle as they eventually walked up to the barista.

"Hey Tom," She greeted, smiling as Tom only nodded, glancing at their hands and smiled.

"Hey, Kendra," he spoke, "usual?"

"Yep, and whatever, he wants," Kendra looked to Peter, finally pulling her hand away from his and scrunched up her nose when a slight pout crossed his face.

"I'll get whatever she's getting," Peter spoke, unsure of what to get in the cafe.

"Cool," Tom spoke coldly, going to make the order as Kendra pulled out her wallet, grabbing double of she normally pays. She smiled as she set it on the counter, pushing it to stay out of reach of other customers and walked over to her normal booth, sitting in the seat she loved, looking outside to see the snow fall.

"What was that about?" Peter asked, pointing his thumb to Tom. Kendra only shrugged.

"He uh, gave me his number weeks ago and I never called or texted, he continued to flirt, so I think he has a little crush on me," Kendra spoke, frowning awkwardly as she looked to Peter, smiling softly as he took off her gloves and slid them back over to her.

"Thank you," he spoke as she pulled her phone out and set it on the table. She spread the gloves out to dry a little, knowing the snow made them damp. Kendra instinctively held the locket in between her fingers, rubbing the engravings on it as she watched Peter stare out the window, watching people walk past and the snow fall.

"You should come by the base for Christmas," Kendra spoke up, taking Peter out of his trance.

"Yeah?" He asked and she smiled and nodded.

"Yeah."