MJ finds Peter on a rooftop. She waits until he's ready.

~

MJ expected many things when she realised when Peter was.

She expected him to be in a rage, she sure as hell was when her dad abandoned her and her mom when she was a child.

She also expected him to be in an emotional meltdown. Be it the day's work, May had died, or even just because he was exhausted.

But what she didn't expect: was him just sat silently on the roof of Mid Town High. His arms were tightly wrapped around his ribs, with his knees tucked up. MJ hesitated before she approached him.

There was no telling what he was going to do. She knew he wouldn't hurt her, but the mere fact he was just sitting there, saying nothing, spoke volumes. It scared her. Peter was always saying something, or moving... or... just... not doing what he was doing.

Ned was behind her as well. She turned back to him briefly. "Do you wanna go first? You've known him for longer," She asked. Part of her didn't want to go over: if Peter cried, it'd be over for MJ, she'd be a wreck. She'd only seen him cry once before, and it was something that had haunted her ever since. Ned shook his head gently. "As much as I'd love to... I think he needs you," MJ swallowed back her sudden anxiety.

She slowly, and as quietly as possible, climbed down the ladder and onto the roof level Peter was on.

He turned his head to look at her, shot a small twitch of his mouth, then turned back to the bridge in the distance.

MJ took this as her cue to sit down next to him. She wrapped an arm around his shoulders, and that was all it took.

He leant into her side, pressed his face into her collarbone and sobbed. MJ wrapped her other arm around his side, holding him. He shuddered and cried. At some point, Ned came over as well. He placed a hand on Peter's shoulder, and he sobbed harder.

The duo sat in silence as their friend broke down in front of them. MJ felt tears of her own slip from her eyes, and she let them fall.

She'd only known May for a while, a few months at most, but she was the kindest soul to ever grace the Earth. May had always made MJ feel welcome and had even got her a birthday present. It was only a bath and body works $15 voucher, but it was more than what her own mother had gifted her.

Peter's sobbing slowed to sniffling and hitched breathing. "I'm sorry guys... this is all my fault," He mumbled. MJ thought about slapping him. "Uh, no. It's not. Don't even joke about that, Peter." She snapped. Peter lifted his head from her collarbone. "But I brought them here," He argued. He slowly lifted his arm up to wipe his eyes. He hissed and clutched his ribs. MJ frowned. "Have you bruised your ribs again?" She asked. He shook his head sharply, but quickly. "No, they're broken... I can feel them healing." MJ winced. "Ouch," She whispered, pushing some of his damp curls away from his face. Peter dropped back onto her collarbone. "I miss her so much," He mumbled, his voice thick with tears.

"I know sweetheart," She mumbled back. The word surprised her: MJ never used that word... not since her father left her all those years ago.

Apparently, it was something May used to say as well... god it feels strange to refer to her in the past now... 

Because Peter began crying silently again.