Kaine slid open his window as quietly as possible, mindful of the slight scraping sound it made, and eased himself inside. It was easy enough to slip through the opening without a sound, but just as he finished closing the window, the living room light flicked on. "Damn."

He turned to face an annoyed Peter, doing his best to school his features to mimic some sort of shame.

"Seriously? Dude, it's two in the morning." Peter padded across the room and fell onto the couch. His hair was a mess, and Kaine actually did feel a little guilty for waking him. Again.

"Sorry, it was… time got away from me." Kaine shifted his weight, uncomfortably aware of his hero costume.

"For fu- look-" Peter ran a hand across his face. "You don't have to tip-toe around the hero stuff."

Kaine raised one shoulder in a lazy shrug, "Doc said to be careful." That, and he hated rubbing it in that he was still able to don his costume.

Peter snorted. "That was before Fury debriefed me. I'm not going to break just because I see you superheroing."

"Well, Fury is an idiot." Kaine retreated to his room to change out of his suit. He opted to take a quick shower before heading back to the living room, hoping Peter would fall asleep in the meantime and he could avoid continuing their conversation. He didn't know what was the right or wrong thing to say anymore. It was nearing a year since the accident, and he was just as lost as Peter.

Of course, he underestimated how stubborn Peter would be, and he was halfway through a bowl of cereal when Kaine returned to the living room.

Peter looked up when he entered, "What's so funny?"

Kaine shook his head and wiped the rouge smile from his face. "Just your weird ass habits. They haven't really changed, you know?"

Peter dropped his spoon into his bowl, the noise loud in the quiet of the night. "Yea? Aunt May said something similar before I came out here."

"It's a good thing right? That you're still you?"

"A good thing would be remembering who I am instead of everyone trying to tell me." He walked his bowl to the kitchen and tossed it in the sink. "I'm sick of this."

Kaine sighed. This was the first direct conversation they had about Peter's amnesia since Peter moved from New York to stay with him in Houston. He watched Peter walk back to the couch, considering how to approach the delicate subject.

Peter spoke again first. "I came out here to get away from everyone trying to tell me who I am, what I usually would do; I couldn't go a full day without some story about my life. It was like everyone was expecting I would just… declare it was all some joke, or I'd just snap out of it if I was reminded of the right thing. But it wasn't - and I didn't."

"Pete…" Kaine desperately wished Aracely was there. She was much better with words than he was.

"I don't think this," he motioned around Kaine's apartment, "is helping either. We're beyond the point that I can expect to regain my memories, and I'm wasting my life waiting around for it to happen. I need to move forward, even if it means disappointing everyone who's waiting for Spider-Man to swing back into their lives."

"That's… heavy."

"Sorry."

"Fuck that, don't apologize. You're more than Spider-Man, and I'm still pissed at Fury for telling you." Kaine crossed his arms.

"He thought it would help. I am thankful to know how I lost my memory, at least I saved some lives." His laugh was dry. "It's not like I've lost my powers, I could-"

"No!" There were few things Kaine knew with certainty, but this was one of them. "There is far too much history, too many enemies. Without your memories you'd be an easy target if someone wanted revenge."

"Miles said the same thing." Peter rubbed his eyes and stifled a yawn. "I think I'd be proud of Miles for taking over for me."

"Yea. He's pretty great. I think you'd have been confident in his abilities to protect New York."

"Good." This time Peter didn't hide his yawn. "Tomorrow, I'm moving on. Moving forward. That's why I moved here, I need to stop avoiding it."

"Yea? What's your plan?"

"I'll figure something out. Don't worry, I'll ask Aracely for advice."

"Sorry to rain on your parade, but she won't be back in town for a few weeks."

"Oh. Well. What would you do, then?"

Kaine thought for a moment before grinning. "Fresh start? Totally get laid first. Then find a hobby, I guess."

"I'll just text Aracely…" Peter shook his head and wished Kaine a good night. As he walked to his room, he typed a message to Aracely.

Kaine deflated as the tension left the room with Peter. When Peter moved in with him, he'd promised not to give Aunt May any updates, but this seemed like something she should know. Maybe he'd push Peter to reach out to her in the morning.


Morning came too quick, and Kaine cursed the drug ring he was tracking for the last week. He wasn't getting much sleep, and he couldn't afford to always be exhausted during his day job as a security guard.

Peter was already making toast when he entered the kitchen. "You're up early." He usually woke up as Kaine was leaving for the day.

"First day of my new life. Wanted to try being a morning person."

"And?"

"Hate it." He wrinkled his nose and motioned to his phone on the counter, "Aracely said the same thing you did, by the way. I think you may be a bad influence on that sweet woman."

Kaine snorted. "She's a bad influence herself. Did she really tell you to get laid?"

"She's not as crude as you. But, she did say I should meet new people, and maybe make a 'special friend'. She added a winky face. A winky face!" Peter threw up his arms, "I don't know where to start meeting people. I mean, I met people when I volunteered at the animal shelter, but no one I'd wanna hang out with."

"Why don't you volunteer some more? Or make a dating profile? I tried it before Miggy, wasn't terrible."

Peter grinned, "Oh?"

"Fuck off. Get laid, maybe find a job or something, you'll find your own groove again."

"May need to get a job first, I've almost drained my bank account. Can't really spring for a nice date with no money."

"Or, just hook up. Just send me a text and I'll leave the apartment to you for the night."

Peter thought for a moment before sheepishly asking, "Heeey, Kaine? Did I have game?"

"Nope. Stick to meeting someone online, you'll fall on your face if you try to flirt at the deli counter." Kaine grabbed his boots and jacket.

"Wait, is there a story there?"

Kaine shrugged as he finished getting ready for work. "Thought you were tired of people telling you stories. Go make some new memories, Peter." With that, he escaped to go to work.


He wasn't sure what he expected when he returned home, but it certainly wasn't Peter staring at his phone and occasionally swiping right or left. "Seriously? Tinder? Aren't you a little old for that?"

"Aracely suggested it. It's fun! I haven't matched with anyone yet, but I'm excited."

Kaine closed his eyes and inhaled. "Is this all you did today?"

"I got a job at the animal shelter. They needed someone to process applications." Peter didn't look up from his phone as he spoke.

"O..k… good luck?" Kaine kicked off his boots. "Pizza? I don't feel like leftovers."

"Sure." Peter suddenly jumped up, "I got a match! Oh, he's cute!"

Kaine rolled his eyes. "Calm down, could be a catfish or something."

"Says he's a chef! Wonder if he'll make me dinner?"

"Gotta give it to ya, you have your priorities."


Sam was just finishing the dishes when Kaelynn appeared next to him and shoved his phone towards him. "Um, Sam…"

He dried his hand before taking his phone. "Done playing matchmaker?"

"Sam… you… well. I wasn't paying too close attention when I was swiping." She pulled a face. "You have a match, and I looked deeper on his profile… and I think you should probably just… block him?"

Sam pulled up the app. "Why? Is he some creep?"

"No, Sam. I'm pretty sure it's Peter."

"Pft. No way." His heart pounded despite his confidence that it couldn't be him. Kaelynn hadn't seen him in years, and there would be no reason for Peter to be in Houston. Right? The profile in question was easy to find, it was his only match. It was hard to tell from the first picture, the brunette man's face was partially obscured by a large dog, but Sam's stomach dropped nonetheless.

'Peter, 28 - Works at the animal shelter but still has room in his heart for someone special.'

Sam took a shaky breath and swiped through the other photos on the profile. They left no question, this was Peter Parker. "Shit."

He walked to the couch in a daze. So, Kaelynn didn't know better and swiped his profile- but if they matched that meant Peter had done the same. And Sam's profile picture was pretty clear, and he'd like to think he hadn't changed so much since high school that he was unrecognizable.

"Maybe," Kaelynn said carefully, "this is his way of reaching out?"

Sam shook his head. It didn't make sense. Maybe it had been a mistake and Peter meant to swipe left? Just then, as if mocking his panicked thoughts, his phone chimed.

'Peter: Hi! Uh, I'm new to this but wanted to say hello before someone else beat me to it.'

"What was that? Did he send you a message?" Kaelynn tried to read his screen.

"Stop, Kae." Sam pushed her away and continued to stare at the message.

"Are you going to reply?" She leaned back, undeterred.

"No. It's clearly someone catfishing. Probably grabbed his profile from New York and built it here in Houston." It was the only logical conclusion.

"Theeeen, arrange a meet up and bust 'em?"

"If I didn't have to stare at Peter's face while doing it I might." His stomach churned.

Sam's phone chimed again. "Fucking what now?"

'Peter: I'm not much of a cook, I'd love to sample your cooking sometime. I'm surviving on take out and frozen meals.

Peter: Sorry, I didn't mean to be so forward. Man. I'm bad at this. You're my first match, and seem too good to be true.

Peter: I'm making this worse, aren't I?'

For a blissful moment, Sam forgot this was a catfish and actually let himself imagine it was Peter sending the messages. And, maybe it was that spark of hope which made him so angry at whoever was on the other end of the chat.

'Sam: Hi. I'll cook for you, I don't get to make romantic dinners very often. Do u want 2 meet up for coffee? Get to know each other?'

"I'm going to end this asshole." Sam ground his teeth.

Kaelynn shrugged, "Call me with the details as soon as it happens. Just be careful, I don't want to have to bail you out of jail."

Sam nodded his agreement and continued to fake flirt with fake Peter.


Thank you for reading!