Morning Run (Closed to Peter

[st_x5_494]

Alec believed Peter when he said he'd be up. He knew Peter would take the challenge seriously, too, because the kid had this wish to show people he could do things. He just hoped Peter was actually ready for the amount of running today - almost 50 miles - and that he could keep up.

He padded out of his room in jogging pants and a t-shirt and eyed the room. "Ready or not, time to get your ass kicked."

Comments

[st_x5_494]

He did notice. He had half expected it to be earlier than this and so, in some degree, Alec was impressed. Of course, he'd have been more impressed if Peter would have just gone the original pace he had set. As for himself, it was about ten minutes into when he seemed to be breathing heavier, like the rest had been a casual jog and now it was starting to show signs of its affect on him outwardly, though he had been sweating for a while now. He tried to slow down a little more, hoping Peter would think it was him who needed the change of pace. They were officially half way there. One marathon over, but they had a whole other one to get through.

[st_arkintern]

As soon as Peter notices Alec's breathing change, Peter slows his pace even more. He looks over at Alec pensively, wondering if he had started off too hard. If Alec was used to moving at a certain pace, then maybe he was at fault here for changing it up.

[st_x5_494]

Oh God. Alec noticed the pensive almost puppy-like look. "What?" He was still quite able to talk, despite the breathing change. He wasn't necessarily impervious to cardio.

[st_arkintern]

That puppy-like look doesn't disappear.

"You okay?"

[st_x5_494]

He looked only slightly confused. "... I'm running?" He glanced in front of a moment. They were hitting a stretch that was slightly up hill. "You know I still have lungs, right?" He was just really conditioned for these sorts of things.

[st_arkintern]

Peter can't tell if Alec's being serious or if he's trying to minimize his own struggle to look cool in front of him. Peter decides he doesn't want to embarrass him and press further.

"Yeah," Peter says. "Was just making sure. We've been running awhile now."

[st_x5_494]

"27 miles." Alec was able to judge distances pretty accurately - thanks Manticore. He let them run another half mile before asking without look at Peter, which was a calculated move. "You okay?"

[st_arkintern]

"Yeah," Peter says, though his breathing is heavy. He wipes away a few beads of sweat from his forehead. "I'm fine. You fine?"

[st_x5_494]

Alec didn't buy that Peter was fine. "Maybe we should take a break. Or - turn back" He almost said give up but he figured that would have gone over less well.

[st_arkintern]

"Break," Peter agrees. He knows when he's hit his limit, as much as he's loathe to admit it.

[st_x5_494]

Alec comes to a slow stop, not a dead stop, since it was always worse to stop on a dim. He stood there and in a few moments of deep breathing and Alec's back to normal. He rubbed the back of his neck. "It's a lot the first time."

[st_arkintern]

That gives Peter a moment to catch his breath. He lifts the hem of his shirt to his face to wipe down his forehead. Sweat keeps dripping into his eyes. The suit was temperature-controlled, so even when he was running around New York, he didn't have to worry about freezing in the winter months or overheating in the summer.

While suitless, that was another story entirely.

"How long," Peter starts, but he finds himself breathless again. "How long have you been doing this?"

[st_x5_494]

"We started 10 miles when we were six." So, a long time. "Half marathons by ten and this was our gift from Manticore at sixteen." So his age.

Alec looked around, then back to Peter. "You need to learn not to push yourself so much."

[st_arkintern]

Peter was pretty sure he was playing with LEGOs when he was six. Not running ten miles. He was still playing with LEGOs now.

Peter's legs really want him to sit down, but Peter doesn't.

"You were running this when you were my age, and you're telling me not to push myself?"

[st_x5_494]

He looked at Peter who often professed they were so different because of their up ringing. "Because I've been condition and up until a year and a half ago you probably didn't get good grades in gym class."

[st_arkintern]

"You weren't bitten by a spider," Peter argues, as if this somehow changes things. He conveniently neglects to counter Alec's point about gym class.

[st_x5_494]

Alec looked at Peter like what? Alec blinked. "True... but who knows, it's pretty possible I have DNA of a spider inside me."

[st_arkintern]

Peter's legs feel like they're going to buckle beneath him and falling down is going to be way more embarrassing than sitting down. So Peter sits, his legs outstretched, fingers fanned out on the ground. He leans on one arm.

"I think it's different if you're bitten by a spider," Peter says. "I don't know though. I don't know anything about the spider."

[st_x5_494]

"I'll leave the climbing walls to you then.' he paused, looking at him, trying to access his state. He could hear his former CO yelling that this break was too long now and they needed to keep moving.

"And your web fluid stuff. Definitely a Spider-Man thing."

[st_arkintern]

"Yeah," Peter says, still sitting. "Definitely a Spider-Man thing. Along with summoning an army of spiders. I try not to do that often, though."

[st_x5_494]

"You should just be thankful you didn't grow legs or something. Most people don't find spiders attractive."

[st_arkintern]

Peter wishes he had a few extra legs right now, but it feels like they've already been idle long enough. Alec hadn't even sat down at all. Peter peels himself off the ground, pain racing up his right leg as he shifts his weight onto it. He ignores it and looks over at Alec.

"Ready when you are."

[st_x5_494]

"You're sure?" Peter had a lot of rest, so it should be fine, right? Alec wasn't entirely aware of what a normal person could and couldn't do and how much Peter's abilities would aid him either. "Alright. This time I lead though."

Alec started off again, the pace similar to what it was the first time he had started, before Peter had sped up. Of course, they'd have to pick it up eventually to make the four hour mark, but that's what the end sprint was for.

[st_arkintern]

Peter somehow manages to force his legs to meet Alec's pace. But before long, Peter starts to feel like a little kid in the back seat of a car during a long road trip. It makes him feel uncool to be wondering how much longer, especially since he's sure that Alec isn't even thinking about that at all.

And yeah, maybe it was stupid, but he really did want to impress Alec. He just doesn't feel impressive at all right now, especially when his legs feel both heavy and on fire all at the same time.

They're about another 20 minutes in before Peter feels his legs on the verge of buckling again. He reaches for the sleeve of Alec's t-shirt.

"Okay," he says, embarrassed. "We need to stop."

[st_x5_494]

Unlike last time, Alec stopped abruptly. He turned slightly to take in Peter's stance and sweat and general look. "Maybe we should call it a day for now."