She sat in a fetal position on the edge of one of New York's tallest buildings looking out over the city, watching the lights sparkle underneath the midnight moon. Rain came crashing down all around her, soaking her to the core. Her long brown hair that was usually swept back in a high ponytail was sticking to the fabric of her suit and the skin of her neck. The white fabric of her suit became slightly see through from the excessive amount of rain falling on her figure.

Footsteps echoed behind her, but she didn't even bother to look, she found it better to just stay in her own world, watching the streets of New York with a curiosity she could never quite understand. The footsteps stopped just behind her, a shadow looming over her shoulder.

"Rachael? What are you doing out here? You're soaking wet..." A familiar voice spoke from behind her. When she didn't respond they took that as a sign to move closer to her, shivering from the intensity of the chilling rain and from the cool atmosphere that seemed to follow her everywhere. "How long have you been out here?"

"I don't know..." She mumbles, her lips moving for the first time in hours, the raindrops running down her face and into her mouth as she did so, not that she seemed to mind.

"You're gonna freeze out here- Or well not freeze I guess... but you will get sick in this condition." He says softly.

"I don't care. Leave me..." Rachael responds in a soft whisper.

The figure moved to sit at her side, dangling his legs off the side of the building, before removing his mask, letting the rain dampen his hair. "How did you get out here?"

She didn't answer, so he took the moment to observe her small stature, noticing how her wet bangs were clinging to the curves of her mask, that sat perfectly against the pale skin of her face. He watched as water welled in her eyes before sliding down the front of her mask, it took him a moment before he realized it wasn't the rain at all. Tears streamed down her mask glowing softly as they reflected the endless light of the city.

"Can I ask why you're out here?" Peter asks, watching her expression carefully.

"I'm on lockdown..." Rachael speaks, her gaze not moving from the flickering neon light across the street, casting the entire area in its warm glow, twinkling against the rainfall. "This is the only way I'm allowed out now..."

"Again? What did your dad bust you for this time?" He asks, concerned, wanting to reach out for one of her hands, but stopping himself.

"I-I don't know... he didn't really seem to have a reason. Though he rarely does... I-..." She sniffled, her cold, wet body shaking against the rain. "He-he just thinks I can't handle myself... That I'm made of... of glass..."

Peter slid closer to her a bit, in an attempt to be more comforting. "Hasn't he always thought that?"

"I-I guess so, but it just as bad as it used to be before I moved here..." Rachael sighs, resting her head on Peter's shoulder gently. "It's the aftermath of everything that happened in Berlin all those months ago. Now I'm constantly being grounded for no reason other than to 'protect' me and it's not fair..."

"He does have to let go of your leash at some point..." Peter sighs, leaning his head against hers. "I guess that means you don't want to go home then?"

"Why do you think I'm out here?" She mumbles, watching the rain smack rhythmically against one of the neighboring buildings.

"We should get out of this rain though..." Peter says, softly. "Mind if I take you somewhere dry?"

"What are you suggesting?" Rachael asks picking her head up to look at him.

"Come with me and you'll find out..." Peter says, flashing her a lopsided smile as he stood up, reaching his hand out for her to take.

She couldn't help but smile at him, taking his hand and wiping her tears with the other. "Take me away, Bugboy."

—-

They landed on the fire escape of May's apartment, climbing inside through the window into Peter's bedroom.

Rachael stood on the hardwood floor, looking down at the water starting to puddle at her feet from her soaked through suit. The apple of her cheeks starting to turn a shade of red from embarrassment.

"We are soaking wet..." Peter groans, walking out to the bathroom to grab towels, speaking while he returned. "We should get out of these suits... I-I can go in the other room if you wanna change in here... just-just let me get you some clothes first-"

Rachael unbuttoned the only button on her suit residing on the her collar, allowing the entire top of the suit to relax. Peter's eyes could not have gotten any wider and he forced himself to focus on getting a hoodie out of his drawer. She slipped her arms out of the suit and held it to shield her breasts.

He turned around trying to avoiding looking at her fully, holding his hand full of clothes out towards her. She took them with a giggle, taking a moment to look over the pile.

"I don't have any like... girl shorts, or not like girl shorts, but like shorts you would wear or feel comfortable in so I just- all I have are boxers-" Peter stutters, embarrassedly.

"Wow, usually boys don't give me their underwear till the second date." Rachael smirks at him slightly, putting on the hoodie not seeming to care if it got slightly wet. When he didn't laugh, she took on a more serious tone. "I'm kidding, I'm seriously kidding. I've only had one relationship in my life, it was a joke!"

Peter's eyes softened at her, seeming to panic a bit when he realized he made her upset. "I-I know... It's just embarrassing, I didn't mean to imply anything-"

"Thank you, Peter..." Rachael smiles, slightly.

"Thank me? For what I didn't-" Peter asked seeming confused.

"For everything." Rachael replies, cutting him off. "Now, get out and let me change."

Peter seemed confused at first, but smiled at her playfulness, leaving her to her own devices and changing out in the living room himself.

—

After Peter changed he went back towards his room to find Rachael standing in the hallway, looking at the pictures on the walls.

She glanced at him for a moment, smiling the moment she laid her eyes on him. "I-... This might be out of place to ask, but do you still miss him?"

Peter stepped up behind her to see just what picture she was looking at, his face fell and the warmness in his eyes left upon looking at it. He observed the picture looking over the details of the man in the photo like he was meeting a long lost friend for the first time in years.

Rachael turned her head to look at him, observing his profile as he's eyes scanned the photo, like the thought had brought back the memories of a dark nightmare. 

"Do you still miss your mom?" Peter responded after a moment, not seeming to want to go into details.

Rachael bit her lip, trying not to curse herself for asking such a risky question. "Yes... Everyday... That was a dumb question I'm sorry..."

Peter looked down at her solemnly, observing the way pain fell against her usually bright and smiling face. Was all of that a facade, he had to wonder. All he wanted to do was reach out and take her hand in his, but he restrained himself. They were just friends after all and he knew how she felt about unwelcome contact, but maybe she was longing for a loving touch too.

"I'm gonna make us some hot chocolate..." Peter says, turning away from her and heading towards the kitchen.

—

She sat wrapped up in a blanket, sitting on the floor in front of the biggest window in the house watching the city bustle below. Peter approached her from behind, holding a cup down towards her.

She reached for it hesitantly. "It's not hot, I promise. I made sure it was just warm enough for you to still be able to touch it." Peter responds, watching her face light up at the sentiment, taking the cup from him.

"Thank you." Rachael smiled, pulling the cup close to her chest, practically nuzzling it.

"Of course, what else are best friends for?" Peter laughs, sitting down beside her.

She offered him half of her blanket and he cuddled up beside her, laughing at the lack of warmth she provided. He watched her take a sip of her hot chocolate, observing how the color returned to her cheeks.

"See? This is much better than sitting outside and sulking." Peter smiles at her as he takes a sip from his cup.

She leaned her wet soppy hair against his shoulder, relaxing into his side and squeezing her cup of hot chocolate lightly. "I love you, Peter."

He seemed surprised at her out burst and tilted his head down to look at her profile. "What does that mean?"

"Whatever you want it to." Rachael shrugs, smiling slightly, enjoying his warmth that was spreading through the space between them.

He leaned his head against hers, their damp hair tangling together. They both relaxed into each other's sides and Peter has never been more happy that May sometimes works the night shift, than he was right now. He felt like they could stay like this all night, no matter what the repercussions would be in the morning. For now he never wanted this to end.

"So is that like a love, love kinda love or a I love you like a friend kinda love?" Peter asks, after a few moments, making Rachael snort, her nose crinkling with a delicate smile taking over her face. And for a moment everything was perfect.