Protective Instincts

As the party raged on, Peter couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of his stomach. He had always been protective of those he cared about, but with Johnny, it seemed like his instincts had gone into overdrive. He scanned the crowd, his eyes searching for Johnny's familiar figure, and finally spotted him standing by the food table, a plate of food in hand. Peter made his way through the crowd, his eyes locked onto Johnny's, and as he approached, he could see that Johnny's expression was still hurt. Peter's heart sank, and he felt a pang of regret for his earlier outburst. He had never meant to hurt Johnny, but his fear for his safety had gotten the better of him. "Hey," Peter said softly, trying not to startle Johnny. Johnny looked up, his eyes still red from crying, and Peter's heart ached. He had never seen Johnny cry before, and it had affected him deeply. "Hey," Johnny replied, his voice barely above a whisper. Peter hesitated, unsure of what to say. He didn't want to push Johnny further, but he needed to make things right. "I'm sorry," Peter said finally, his voice sincere. "I was out of line. I just...I don't want anything to happen to you." Johnny sighed, and his shoulders slumped. "I know, Parker. But you have to trust me. I can take care of myself." Peter nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He knew that Johnny was right. He had to trust him. As they stood there, the music and laughter seemed to fade into the background, and all that was left was the two of them, suspended in a moment of uncertainty. "Can I ask you something?" Johnny said finally, his voice hesitant. "Anything," Peter replied, his eyes locked onto Johnny's. "Why do you care so much?" Johnny asked, his eyes searching. "Why are you so protective of me?" Peter's heart skipped a beat as he met Johnny's gaze. He had never really thought about it before, but now that Johnny had asked, he realized that it was because he cared about Johnny deeply. He had feelings for Johnny that went beyond friendship, but he wasn't sure if he was ready to acknowledge them. "I just...I don't want to lose you," Peter said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. Johnny's expression softened, and he took a step closer to Peter. "You're not going to lose me, Parker. I'm right here." As they stood there, the distance between them seemed to shrink, and Peter felt like he was drowning in Johnny's eyes. He knew that he had to be careful, that he had to navigate his feelings carefully, but as he looked at Johnny, he couldn't help but feel like he was already in too deep. The music started up again, and the partygoers began to cheer, breaking the spell that had been cast between them. Peter and Johnny stepped back, and the moment was lost, but Peter knew that he would never forget it. As they walked back to the dorm, the cool night air seemed to clear Peter's head, and he realized that he had a lot to think about. He had to figure out his feelings for Johnny, and he had to learn to trust him. But for now, he was just grateful to have Johnny by his side. The night air was filled with the sound of crickets and the distant hum of cars driving by, and Peter felt a sense of peace wash over him. He knew that he still had a lot to learn, but with Johnny by his side, he felt like he could face anything. As they approached the dorm, Peter turned to Johnny, his eyes searching. "Can I walk you to your room?" he asked, his voice soft. Johnny nodded, and Peter walked with him, his eyes scanning the hallway for any signs of trouble. But as they stood outside Johnny's room, Peter realized that he had to let go. He had to trust Johnny to take care of himself. "Goodnight, Johnny," Peter said, his voice soft. Johnny smiled, and his eyes sparkled in the dim light. "Goodnight, Parker." As Peter turned to leave, he felt a sense of uncertainty wash over him. He knew that he still had a lot to learn, but he was grateful for the journey ahead, as long as Johnny was by his side.