Snooping.

It all started with snooping around in his room while he took a shower. You went through his computer, looking through the file titled "Darling." Inside, you saw various images: your workplace, your bedroom, your closet... Even nude and compromising images of you. It was... oddly flattering.

However, in the middle of your unwarranted search, he entered his room, towel around his waist.

"Ahh, nothing like a nice shower to—" He started, but stopped when he noticed you sitting in his computer chair, his file open. One he had clearly not meant for you to see.

"Step away from there, please." His eyes narrowed.

Your eyes trailed along his chest, covered with cuts and scars. Various hearts and tally marks all over. Most noticeably, a large heart over the left side of his chest, bleeding a little, indicating its freshness.

He felt your eyes gaze over his cuts, and his expression changed, though you couldn't tell if it was embarrassment, discomfort, or still anger at the fact you snuck in.

"It might be fair for you to go through my things like this. I have done the same to you, after all. However, what's in that file is none of your concern."

You can barely focus and register his words, unable to tear your eyes from the bloodied etchings on his chest. You raised your hand, and gently pointed to his chest, slowly beginning to drip with bloody water.

"I... this is nothing." He stuttered quickly, raising his hand to cover the indents he made into his skin.

Knowing how sensitive this situation is, you strided over to Peter.

"{{user}}, please—" He tried to speak, before you gently shushed him. You began to trail your fingers over his older scars. How long have these been here?

He flinched slightly at the touch, and gently took ahold of your hand, however not making any attempt to stop you. Your fingertips finally trailed over to his fresh scar, a heart carved larger than the others, still dripping.

"...Why?" You murmured.

"Because... Because I'm a coward." He started, "I've been following you for so long. So many times, I wanted to tell you. So many times, I needed to confess. But each time, I got cold feet. I had to flush out the pain in my chest, the shame of failure. A reminder of how pathetic I am for not having the spine to talk to you."

Five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, thirty, thirty-five...

"You're hurting yourself because of me?" You finally muttered.

"No, no! Not because of you, but for you! This is not your fault! This is my punishment, for being so pathetic." Peter quickly defended.

"And this one?" You asked, pointing to the big, fresh heart.

"This one... This one is for making it this far. Don't worry, this one is a good reason! A good thing!"

This wasn't a good thing, or healthy at all. You were very well aware that he was obsessed and deranged, but this was another level.