"Take a photo first." Finn took out his phone and posed for a photo with a bright smile alongside Spider-Man.
Then he sent a message to Butler Joseph—
[I've been kidnapped by Spider-Man, I'll be back later!]
Spider-Man: ".." Is a righteous hero becoming a nighttime kidnapper a collapse of morality or a distortion of human nature?
Then, let's head out.
This was a nighttime city stroll that Peter had planned long ago; he had even scouted the route many times.
The evening breeze carried the essence of the New York night, blowing Finn's soft hair into a messy dance in the wind. Finn felt it in disbelief; he had never experienced such a perspective before. The wind whistled past his ears, the dazzling city nightscape flowed vividly around him, bringing a sense of exhilarating pleasure, yet without even a trace of fear.
Because he believed that Spider-Man would never let him fall.
Peter carried him through the skyscrapers with swift, agile movements time and time again. Once he felt that Finn had somewhat adjusted, he even performed some even more high-difficulty maneuvers; Finn, on his back, felt no fear, only letting out light and excited laughter.
Spider-Man was, of course, also somewhat intentionally showing off his new Spider-Man suit to Finn.
After swinging for an unknown amount of time, the tension of the web gradually eased, they finally landed steadily on the rooftop of an abandoned office building.
This counts as a secret base I've found." Spider-Man carefully helped Finn steady himself, because he had indeed swung with Finn at high altitudes for a long time, Finn had also been drinking tonight. One of Peter's hands rested on Finn's arm, while the other supported his waist, his tone carrying a hint of concern: "Are you okay? Do you feel dizzy?
I'm doing great!" Finn raised his hand to haphazardly wipe his face, which had grown somewhat stiff from the wind, looking incredibly excited. "That was so much fun! Where are we?
It was an abandoned office building.
This office building had clearly been abandoned for a long time, with mottled and cracked walls, rusted steel bars, scattered bricks and stones, hardly any intact windows. In fact, Peter Parker had once fought here as Spider-Man.
He once dragged his body, filled with exhaustion and soreness, stumbling his way up to the rooftop of the office building.
Yet the moment he looked up, the New York nightscape sprawling before his eyes gently enveloped and slowly smoothed over his exhaustion.
It was truly beautiful, so beautiful that it made him feel that everything was worth it.
At that moment, he thought to himself—
[At least, I successfully protected the peace of New York tonight.]
Then, this place became a secret base for Spider-Man, now, he has brought Finn here.
At this moment, the night view of the entire New York sprawled out before the eyes of the two.
The shimmering neon lights outlined the bustling silhouette of the city.
One could even clearly see the Brooklyn Bridge spanning across the shoreline, like a meticulously crafted picture frame.
"It's truly beautiful." Looking at this bustling yet gentle night scene, Finn couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
Spider-Man's gaze was fixed solely on Finn.
The night wind blew softly, brushing against the young man's flushed cheeks and messy hair.
Moonlight poured down, gently tracing the contours of the young man's silhouette.
He lacked the dazzling brilliance and high spirits of the press conference, but instead possessed a certain softness and vitality, as if all defenses had been cast aside.
Even Peter felt that the moonlight tonight seemed to hold a special favor for the young man before him.
"I really like this birthday gift." Finn turned his head, looking at the Spider-Man beside him with a slight curve of his lips. The young man's steps were indeed still somewhat unsteady, his body subconsciously leaned toward Peter, carrying a hint of unconscious dependence.
"There are more surprises," Peter said with a mysterious smile, then took Finn's hand to lead him into the stairwell of the abandoned building before them.
“I..” Finn looked at that door, which had almost merged with the mottled walls and lost its original appearance, naturally felt a bit intimidated.
[My CEO disease seems to be stirring.]
Don't be afraid, it's not dark inside." Peter also knew from Noah Hart that Finn Osborn had claustrophobia, so he had naturally taken that into consideration. Spider-Man said with a hint of amusement, his grip on Finn's hand tightening slightly, "I'll hold you.
It was indeed not dark; in fact, it was quite bright, as Peter had specifically used a projector to create the feeling of the cosmic starry sky.
And beneath his feet was.. a brilliant, flowing Milky Way.
Finn's eyes instantly widened, his intoxication dissipated slightly. The young man's mouth hung slightly open as he looked up at the Star Dream Space that Spider-Man had specially created before him, his feet frozen in place. It wasn't until Peter gently pulled his hand that he finally came back to his senses.
"Finn, you know, the probability of two strangers meeting on Earth and having their lives intersect is about one in ten million to one in a billion," Peter said. Especially for someone as unique as Finn, whom he could even hear the thoughts of—he felt the probability between them had reached a level so minuscule it was nearly an impossible event.
Peter always felt that something he couldn't see was silently connecting him and Finn.
But you are Spider-Man. There are so many people who know you and love you; you're my idol." Finn smiled, his eyes crinkling, his tone lighthearted. "Does the possibility of a New York citizen meeting Spider-Man and having their lives intersect increase to at least fifty percent now?
Peter did not deny it, but—
Before becoming Spider-Man, he was first Peter Parker.
Peter knew very clearly that Spider-Man was special to Finn.
But now, he also hoped that Peter Parker could be special to Finn as well.
Why do you like Spider-Man?" Peter couldn't help but ask out of curiosity; after all, from the very beginning, Finn had been full of excitement and curiosity regarding him, this "living Spider-Man.
Because.. you're cool? I mean, you're just incredibly cool," Finn said after thinking seriously, his eyes clear and straightforward. "Do you understand that feeling, like how an eight-year-old child just can't resist the charm of Ultraman?
Peter certainly knew that he was now an idol to many children.
Those children raised their arms in excitement, imitating his pose of shooting web.
But if that reason were applied to Finn, it would seem a bit too simple.
But when Peter looked into Finn's open and pure green eyes, he knew that these were truly Finn's honest words.
And at this moment, the young man had nothing else on his mind; he was truly answering Peter's question earnestly.
—Maybe it's because he's a bit tipsy?
Peter felt that Finn's usual chaotic thoughts had become much quieter.
"I think I smell popcorn.. It smells so sweet." Finn sniffed his nose.
"Yes, this is part of the birthday gift," Peter said with a smile. He led Finn forward, bypassing the meticulously prepared space of light and shadow, the view opened up into a vast expanse deeper inside.
Peter had specially set up a dedicated viewing area here, with a camping-style tent pitched on a carpet. Outside the tent were two soft lounge chairs, a small trolley beside them was filled with snacks and drinks. However, what was prepared here was not a movie, but that extremely dramatic Korean Drama that Finn had been binge-watching lately, one filled with all sorts of heartbreaking elements.
The Korean Drama Finn was following only updated two episodes a week, today was the finale. However, since Finn had another birthday party tonight, he certainly wouldn't be watching it. Peter had put some thought into it and simply found a way to bring the finale of the Korean Drama here.
Finn was shocked when he saw this scene—
Spider-Man had actually set up a camping-style mini-cinema for him in an abandoned building, specifically for watching Korean Dramas.
The cart contained not only various snacks and drinks, but also caramel-flavored popcorn and his favorite soy milk.
He even went as far as.. making a web with "Happy Birthday" woven into it.
"Not Spider-Man at all, but very Peter Parker instead," Finn couldn't help but complain to System PP in his heart.
System PP: 【……】There is so much I want to say that I don't even know where to begin.
Peter: ".." Should I switch it up? Would it be more appropriate to deliver the cat in his Spider-Man suit?
I like it very much." In the next second, Finn looked at Spider-Man very seriously and said, his tone filled with pure delight. Finn Osborn had always been someone who loved providing emotional value and would never let anyone down; of course, he was naturally prone to feeling genuine happiness and satisfaction, "It's amazing, it's almost the grandest treatment for this Korean Drama, but before that—
Finn reached out and pulled Spider-Man back into that space of light and shadow.
Take some photos for the memories," Finn Osborn said with a smile, shaking the phone in his hand. "You went through all the trouble of setting these up just to go through the motions; isn't that a bit of a waste?
Finn did not reject taking photos or videos; he had always been watching and recording everything about the Host. Now that he had the chance to become human, he occasionally felt curious about what he would look like through a lens.
Peter actually felt a bit of regret that he hadn't brought a proper camera.
Finn used his own phone to take the photos, Peter was particularly satisfied with one of the photos he had taken—
The young man with soft hair stood amidst the brilliant light and shadow of the galaxy, raising his hand in a cupping motion.
His palm seemed to cradle a swirling planet.
The fragmented light from the galaxy above fell upon him, those clear green eyes seemed to hold the light of the entire universe.
He was like a single star in a meteor shower, descending from another unknown, distant universe.
He became the brightest and most dazzling one.
Spider-Man was conflicted; he really wanted these photos, but how could Spider-Man have a private phone number and email address?
Finn also didn't see through Peter's inner conflict beneath the mask; after finishing the photos, he couldn't wait to start thinking about the finale of the Korean Drama.
The plot of the last two episodes indeed did not disappoint. The heartbreaking romance drew Finn in once again, his eyes turning slightly red. Peter sat to the side, watching the young man lounge listlessly in the lounge chair, half-covered by a blanket and clutching half a cup of soy milk, his eyes clearly brimming with tears, yet stubbornly refusing to let them fall.
It was just that this time, Peter didn't have that long tail to gently wrap around him and clumsily comfort him.
Spider-Man suddenly felt that this might be a mistake.
Even though it was already past midnight, the second day of Finn's birthday, he actually made Finn shed tears for someone else's love!?
The intoxication was still in his head, sleepiness was surging in like a tide. Too many things had happened that day, leaving even the energetic Finn unable to hold on, his eyelids growing heavier and heavier. Finally, his head tilted, he fell into a deep sleep against the armrest of the lounge chair.
Peter couldn't help but walk over to the chair and crouch down, looking up at the sleeping Finn.
The young man's breathing was light and shallow, the corners of his eyes still bearing traces of dried redness, his long eyelashes drooping to cast a small shadow beneath his eyelids. The soft light flowed quietly over his peaceful sleeping face, as if time itself had become slow and gentle in this moment.
Spider-Man slowly reached out his hand, his fingertips brushing against the reddened corners of Finn's eyes with the lightest of touches.
But he was still wearing the Spider-Man suit, unable to feel the temperature and touch of the young man's skin at all.
Even so.. his heart was still thumping hotly within the wrapping.
As the finale was approaching, Peter simply helped Finn finish the Korean Drama, which served as the final activity for the night.
"Fortunately, the finale of this drama was satisfying," Peter said with a hint of relief in his voice. He was afraid that the entire series would be nothing but misery and suffering, only to end with a massive tragedy, but he feared even more that Finn would take all those tragic plotlines and synthesize them into something even more devastating.
At least after following it for so long, it deserves a perfect ending, doesn't it?
Peter's gaze softly fell back to Finn's sleeping face, the corners of his lips unconsciously curling upward.
—May everything you love also appear in your dreams.
Happy Birthday, Finn.
————————
The debuffs start stacking in the next chapter.
Chapter 40: Warm Blood
Finn had already woken up and was lying in his soft, large bed at home.