[ there are a whole host of responses on the tip of peter's tongue, the primary of which is: you don't know that. he knows how he'd reacted when ben had been killed; he knows how he'd reacted when gwen had died. he knows how he'd reacted when he thought may was going to die.

none of the reactions were anything that he'd describe as approaching good. maybe not even healthy. but admitting as much is veering a little too close to uncomfortable conversational topics, and peter's already done a degree of sharing.

there's a momentary silence then, one where peter's eyebrows pull together and his lips twitch and then he laughs. sleight of hand, really? he'd always been too distracted by chemistry sets and physics books to give much thought to magic, although that hadn't been due to any lack of trying on ben's part.

(that, and getting him to go to a mets game for the first time.) ]

There is a lot I want to say to that, but given my own history at attempting to impress anyone, I think I'm legally obligated to refrain from commenting.

[ a pause. ]

—Did you have a stage name? And a hat and bow tie?