#peter and mj always end up together and gwen and peter always end up apart

[bobbydake]

this image releasing the same day that tom holland and zendaya confirm their engagement KILL ME UGHHHHHHHH

[fairlyang]

Let you break my heart again II🕷️

will your friendship be strong enough or will it be easy to crack through?

w/c: 2.9K

pairing: miguel o’hara x f!reader

tags: angst, more heartbreak, no more playboy, typical girl best friend problems, crazy gf, cheating allegations, betrayal, heartbreak, the end

notes: I dragged a lil ass I wanted it done the next day but writer brain </3 FINAL PART !!!!! (My original idea was for mig to only admit his feelings to reader after she got gwen stacy’ed)

part one

Months had passed and this girlfriend actually stuck around. He didn’t get rid of her and he somehow didn’t grow bored of her like he had with the others.

The worst part had to be when they made the three month point and he decided it was finally time for her to meet you.

That day your nerves had grown and you weren’t so sure you’d be able to do it. To pull through and not just burst out crying when you watch as he looks at her with pure love in his eyes.

It looked like his playboy days were over and he was finally ready for a solid relationship.

You barely made it through the night and if it weren’t for Peter’s hugs and MJ’s comforting words when Dana went to touch up her makeup and Miguel went to go change clothes, you would’ve been an absolute goner.

It was getting late and Peter offered to take you home to which you immediately accepted. Miguel then offered to take you after dropping Dana off but you politely declined.

Especially after seeing how wide her eyes got and she was (not so) subtly glaring at you.

Usually girlfriends would hate the girl best friend just because they’re a girl, but in this case Dana is a smart girl, and she had an instant inkling of your feelings towards him.

Even though you’ve remained respectful like you always have been when meeting his girlfriends, she didn’t like that Miguel had a girl best friend.

She kept her mouth shut and pretended she was fine but slowly piecing things together in her head.

So after saying your goodbyes and leaving Miguel’s apartment it didn’t take long for you to break down in the backseat of Peter’s car with an empathetic MJ trying to console you.

It only grew more difficult to hide your true feelings. Especially because Miguel would now bring Dana to group hangouts. Which makes some sense, even though Peter and MJ were just friends when you met them, then grew feelings for one another.

Alas you had no choice but to suck it up.

Three more months passed by and your love for him never faded. He didn’t even treat you that differently either which did end up causing some trouble for him from Dana. She apparently didn’t like how close you guys were, even if you did know each other since you were 14.

She claimed she should be his only best friend and what else could he really ask for.

He told her that you’d always be his best friend and he wasn’t going to toss you out just because she wants to be his only best friend. He can have multiple best friends.

How could he throw away an 8 year long friendship?

He then called her crazy for thinking she can control who he’s friends with.

So she recalled his words right back to him when she randomly ended up befriending his younger half-brother, Gabriel, merrily weeks after that argument.

Miguel wouldn’t ever tell you the specifics of the argument, mainly because in a sense he wanted to protect you. He didn’t want you to feel bad that his girlfriend didn’t like you, (as if you didn’t already know) and that she wanted him to drop you.

So when hanging out just as a pair he’d only tell you he was frustrated with her. He told you that she had befriended Gabriel and you only saw red flags but kept quiet.

You tried to remain cautious of what you’d say when he’d come to you about relationship problems. Obviously deep down you want to tell him to break up with her because she’s toxic and controlling but it wasn’t the best idea as the supposed girl best friend that “isn’t” in love with her best friend.

So you told him to maybe spend less time with you, mostly because you genuinely couldn’t think of an actual suitable solution.

But it didn’t matter because ultimately he denied that idea quickly and looked deeply in your eyes promising you, “you’ll always be my best friend. Nothing’s going to change that.”

If only he knew and kept to his promise.

It was now two months after that conversation was had and a whirlwind of actions, words, and lies would turn everything around.

You went to eat some lunch at a cafe outside of campus when your phone died on the way back. You were fine without relying on your phone and just thought you’d charge it during your next lecture on your laptop.

As you finally hit campus and walked past different students sitting around the grass and benches, your eyes focused on a familiar head with its brown bob.

You sigh and felt your heart ache as you walked past Dana eating Miguel’s face out in public like that.

Until you took a double take and dread hit you after realizing it wasn’t Miguel she was making out with. It was fucking Gabriel.

You couldn’t believe she was just openly cheating on Miguel like it was nothing.

You stood a couple feet from them and you couldn’t believe this was real. You blinked, rubbed your eyes, and blinked again but sure enough it was the younger O’Hara brother with a red scarf and those goofy ass (but recognizable) goggles.

You gulped and took your phone out only for the screen to show that it was dead.

You mentally panicked and were afraid they’d catch you so you quickly ran inside and immediately headed straight to your lecture hall.

The klutz in you unfortunately never went away so you nearly fell as soon as you accidentally hit a body after making a turn.

Horror filled your eyes and body as Miguel held onto your shoulders, trying to see what was wrong.

Your eyes were wide and your heart was racing wildly, you couldn’t possibly do this right now.

“I- M-Mig- uh- ‘m l-late for c-chem- sorry!” You stuttered and pushed past him to get to class and manage your thoughts properly.

As soon as you made it and sat at your unassigned assigned seat that happened to be next to MJ, who was worried to see you so stunned, held your hand and tried to get you to be calm because you looked so distressed.

You hadn’t even realized your hands and legs were shaking. How could they not be?

You just witnessed the most brutal betrayal of all time and there was no concrete evidence whatsoever.

Your first instant thought was that Miguel wouldn’t believe you.

He was full on in love with Dana now, in what world would he believe the love of his love would be cheating on him?

Not only cheating on him but cheating on him with his brother?!?

MJ’s mouth was moving but you couldn’t hear a word, you couldn’t even read her lips. All your brain was set on was how of fucking course it had to be you who caught Dana’s ass cheating.

How fast she’d turn it onto you would be so insane. Disgusting even.

What if she exposed your feelings towards him?

What if she could convince him you’re lying?

All you could do is pray he’d believe his ole reliable best friend over a girl he’s been with for 6 months and his brother he never really got along with.

MJ was eventually able to catch your attention but it took the entire lesson for her to get a peep out of you. And that peep only happen to be a sad whisper of Miguel’s name.

As your phone finally charged your first instinct was to text Miguel, quickly typing the words, “need to see you, my place after class?”

He quickly responded with a simple, “sounds good.” Then followed by a, “should I be worried?” Which you had no response to.

You quietly told MJ the unfortunate news to which she nearly gasped out loud. Her eyes were wide and she finally understood why you were so freaked out.

The lecture had finally ended and you collected all your things while MJ was quietly asking you questions to which you quietly answered.

Following your tail as you left the lecture hall and off to find Peter to quickly fill him in, and to help with your nerves because you didn’t even know how to start off that conversation with Miguel.

They were both giving you suggestions on how to break it down gently to him while Peter drove you back to your place.

You could feel the anxiety building in your stomach and it felt so scary not knowing how he’ll react.

And it overall felt even worse that you couldn’t take a video or a picture. This was practically a test to see if he’d trust you enough to tell him the truth or just make up a lie.

You could only pray that he’d believe your words over hers but you couldn’t even begin to prepare yourself in case he didn’t.

How could he not believe you? Even if you’ve been desperately in love with him you’d never do anything to purposely destroy any of his relationships.

You were just too kind-hearted to ever even think about doing that.

Would he really have it in him to not trust your words anymore?

Will he believe her words over yours?

Will this lifelong friendship finally come to its end like Dana has been wanting from the very beginning?

Finally you had arrived at your apartment and you still felt uneasy. Miguel’s car wasn’t in sight until you heard the revving of his car and that’s when things started to get real.

They gave you their final words of encouragement before you got out and climbed up the steps to wait for him.

He parked behind Peter and as he got out you could slightly hear him ask if they were gonna come in to which they obviously said no.

He shrugged and walked over to you as you unlocked the first door before stepping in and walking to the left door that lead up to your apartment.

“Hey are you okay? You seemed shaken up earlier.” He said, walking in and shutting the first door behind him.

You walked in and stepped aside to let him go in then shut the door behind him. The anxiety returned and you weren’t so sure how to start it all off once you turned around to look at him.

Your heart ached and although you might’ve been filled with jealousy for months on end, you would never pray he would get hurt this way.

You always wanted happiness for him, even if it wasn’t with you.

And now that he had it, you had to break his heart.

How could you possibly let him down gently?

You felt your hands beginning to sweat and your legs started shaking again which he instantly noticed and grabbed you, carefully leading you to the couch.

He sat you down and sat right next to you, gently holding your hands, wondering what could possibly have given you such a drastic reaction.

You desperately tried to calm yourself but it was to no use. Your body was panicking inside and out, giving away that this was something serious.

You still didn’t know how to even start.

So you just blurted it out.

“Dana cheated on you.”

Silence filled the room.

You could’ve sworn he could hear your heart pounding out of your chest. He was frozen and immediate tears formed in his eyes.

This was so fucked up.

In all these years of being his shoulder to cry on, you were petrified that it would come to an end. In a way you kind of always relied on him being there no matter what.

This whole situation could make or break that.

“I saw Dana making out with Gabriel on campus…” you whispered before adding, “I’m so sorry.”

You had never felt so nervous in your life. You moved one hand from his and held his while he stared down at the floor.

You were subconsciously tapping your foot on the ground because the anxiety had just taken control and the silence was already killing you.

You couldn’t help but feel sympathetic, he truly has never been so happy, and now it’s just gone.

You looked at his face and as soon as you did, his tears started pouring out. One hot tear fell after another and you grabbed him, him embracing you as he cried into your shoulder.

You felt sick to your stomach, it felt like the most unfortunate thing to ever have happened to you.

Having to tell the love of your life that his girlfriend cheated on him.

Having to see how heartbroken he was.

Nothing would’ve prepared you for his reaction.

The quiet sobs and light shaking.

The way his hands were trembling while holding on to you.

You just hugged him as tightly as you could and gently rubbed his back to try to soothe him. Maybe it was past trauma that suddenly hit him, that he started to sob a little louder.

Your heart was practically breaking right with his. You felt downright horrible and weren’t sure how you could possibly help him. Only thing you could do was be with him, and you’d be with him for as long as he needed.

And you were.

Like the absolute best friend, of course you were.

The day after you explained in full, what you witnessed and he stayed at your place for a solid week before he decided to talk to Dana and listen to what she had to say. You offered to go with him but he said it was best you stayed, though he did really want your support but didn’t think it would be appropriate.

It was midday on a Friday when he had the call and he didn’t come back that night.

Or the next.

Or after that.

You had no fucking clue what was said and neither did Peter nor MJ.

Monday morning your mind kept thinking worst case scenarios which had you feeling uneasy as you were walking on campus to your first lecture.

Suddenly you stopped with Peter and MJ following suit at the sight in front of you. Miguel’s arms wrapped around Dana’s with Gabriel standing in front of them laughing at something.

That was the moment you felt your heart shatter into pieces at the realization of what happened.

Your words weren’t enough.

And in his emotional state and her false sweet voice she definitely used, of course he fell for whatever lying words she told him.

Her manipulative and crazy ass didn’t help from the pain this brought you.

He was your best friend.

Falling hopelessly and desperately in love with someone who was once a shy little nerd that would be there everyday for you, to now a man who doubted his best friend’s word for a girl he knew for less than a year.

8 years.

8 years you had known each other and not once ever lied to one another.

All of a sudden in his mind it makes sure that you lied about something as graphic as this.

All of a sudden he believes her words over your own.

Absolutely nothing could’ve prepared you for the way your heart ached and all you felt was hopelessness.

When Gabriel slightly moved, Miguel was now in clear view of you three, more specifically you.

The most vicious glare was all he was giving you meanwhile Dana only had a mischievous smirk on her face which gave you all the confirmation you needed.

Peter shook his head in disgust while MJ grabbed you, making you walk in the direction of your lecture while Peter walked behind you both before stepping up to him and muttering, “The truth will hit you hard one day.”

And boy did it.

Three months after that Miguel was going back to his place to cook a romantic dinner only to catch Gabriel giving Dana backshots on the kitchen counter.

Immediate regret hit him and he realized you were indeed telling him the truth.

He realized Dana’s bold lie that you were the liar, and made that stuff up about her was because you wanted to steal him from her, was indeed not real. That you weren’t deeply in love with him and needed to fabricate the perfect lie to finally steal him.

But before they both left (half dressed), Dana had to let him know that he was the easiest to manipulate out of all her exes. Then that the reality was that you were in love with him, the only lie being just that you didn’t plan anything.

She just hated girl best friends but also wasn’t in the mood for something so serious. She wanted a cop out. A way out.

So she figured you were the easiest target and making up that his other two friends, who she also didn’t like, were also in on it, was the best way to go about it.

The only reason she came back to Miguel was because she grew bored of Gabriel and wanted him back.

And he fell right into her trap.

And there was no way to fix or mend what he so badly broke.

It was far too late.

But at last, you’d never let him break your heart again.

[periprose]

Florence - Chapter Four

You greet the rest of the bridal party and the groomsmen together. Tensions rise as Peter and Harry have a fight- and you tell Peter the truth on why you pulled away from him. Feelings are somewhat confessed.

A bit of angst, fighting between Harry and Peter, a impromptu reunion with lots of people, fluff, half-confessions, Peter finds out why you go by your last name

Masterlist | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Today is Tuesday, and it’s relatively uneventful so far. You and Peter help the maids and servants with prepping some of the other bedrooms, since today, Gwen, Miles, Betty, MJ’s sister Gayle, Norman Osborn, Harry’s other groomsmen, and the group of models will be arriving. You figure they need all the help they can get, and you and Peter help sweep, fold blankets, fluff pillows, dust whatever you can, and the maids are thankful if not somewhat confused on why you and Peter seem more helpful than the other rich people.

You spend the rest of the afternoon curled up with a book, as you want more of a chill day after all the crazy stuff that happened yesterday, but Harry informs you that the entertainment is ramping up today. And it will continue to do so until the wedding.

“Because that’s when you gotta show God that you’re still holy and repenting enough to be married, right?” You snort, and Harry rolls his eyes, but he grins. 

“You know it. That’s why all those old kings pretended that their position on the throne was gifted to them from God.” Harry might be a party boy but he certainly has his bouts of wisdom- he was the one who comforted you after you realized you would never meet your mom, after all. 

“Who cares! You’re still Lettie, aren’t you? You don’t have to be your mom’s kid. You’re Logan’s kid.” Harry told you as you cried during a tenth grade lunch period, wishing you had a mother to tell certain issues about. “You are not a loser for not knowing her, okay? She’s a loser. She missed out on you.”

Harry is actually the only one, other than your dad, who knows why you don’t go by your first name. As far as you know, he’s never ever told anyone, even though Harry seems like the type to use blackmail as a rich-future-CEO. It’s for that reason that you’re glad that he ended up with MJ, because they’re both so kind, even if they seem like they shouldn’t be.

/

Gwen and Miles are elated to be here- it’s not shocking to hear that they’ve been chilling in wedded bliss until now. It’s almost like you can see the serenity emanating from them, and you’re secretly kind of jealous, because you want that stress-free happy ending too.

Gwen eagerly squeezes your arm. “Howlett! How are you?”

“I’m great.” You hug her, and then Miles, who almost lifts you with how tall he is and how eager he is to see you, and then Peter is suddenly in front of you.

“Do I not get a hug, too?” He jokes, and you roll your eyes but give him a gentle side-hug, and his arm seems to wrap around your waist with a little too much ease. He doesn’t let go.

Gwen and Miles look at each other, and then back at you guys. 

“Hi. Did we miss a development?” Miles asks, looking somewhat bemused. “When did you guys get all excessively touchy?”

“Best friends can’t be touchy?” Peter retorts, but Gwen crosses her arms.

“Not like that. I don’t think.” Gwen furrows her brows, and neither she or Miles really knows about how you and Peter fell apart for a bit, because it was a bit more of a private event. In fact, you only ever told MJ and Harry that you were struggling to be his friend.

This is definitely new for Miles and Gwen.

“Whatever, dude. I say it’s cool.” Miles gives Peter a fist-bump, and Peter grins at that and then looks back at you. “I always thought you two had something going on. I was kind of surprised when Lettie said you were just friends.”

Peter seems to turn pink at that, and his fingers trace your waist.

“Well, weren’t we just friends too?” Gwen snickers at him, and he holds his face in his hands. “I thought I was super obvious when I was hitting on him and then Miles asks me out by saying ‘I know this might seem random or out of the blue, but I really like you. Hope that doesn’t ruin our friendship!’ Can you believe that?”

“Don’t worry, Miles.” You giggle at that, thinking of how everyone seems totally oblivious to love when they’re in it. “Gwen’s forgetting that she thought you were going to dump her when you proposed. Like she initiated a group video call crying and everything.”

Miles starts guffawing at that, holding his stomach as he starts almost dry heaving in laughter, and half broken sentences keep exiting his mouth, “How- When? Why-” as Gwen pushes him lightly, admonishing him. 

Betty, off to the side next to the brick wall of the house, has been yelling on her phone for the last twenty minutes. “No, Jonah, ask someone else to do it- I told you already, me and Parker are at a wedding- I’m literally not in the same country as you-” 

Peter grimaces, and leans in close to your ear, whispering. “Jonah’s our boss at the Daily Bugle- you know, where I do freelance photography? He’s sometimes sort of hard to get through.”

You ignore the tingling sensation down your neck. “I can see that.”

Betty hangs up the call and starts… vaping, with a very french-girl-chic skinny pen that reminds you of an ad for skinny cigarettes, and she huffs out a cloud of vapour dissipating into the clear air of the patio. 

“I fucking hate Jonah.” Betty shudders as white vapour dissipates out of her mouth. 

“Don’t I know it.” Peter responds cheerfully, and he tells Betty at least these next few days will be stress relief. She agrees, and she, Miles, and Gwen head inside to scope out their surroundings.

MJ and her sister are currently having an argument about the layout of the wedding reception in the backyard, and you can hear it in the background. There’s expletives being thrown at each other- you know Gayle is a bit of a hysterical, anal interior designer, and MJ loves her personal style, and they don’t seem to be getting to an agreement any time soon.

“Why the hell would you arrange the seats all curved like that? Are you fucking with your guests, MJ? You want them to be all uncoordinated and fall over? Grass stains everywhere?”

“Oh my fucking god, I already told you. The chairs are pointed towards a stage-”

“I don’t see a stage-”

“No, of course you don’t, Gayle, you dumbass. It hasn’t been built and placed yet!”

Harry pleads to them, but to no avail- they both tell him to fuck off, and he leaves, looking kind of dejected as he arrives to the front of the house, next to you and Peter. He doesn’t even make a snarky comment about Peter’s arm around your waist.

Unfortunately for Harry, this is when his father steps out of his limo that has just pulled up, and he visibly pales, watching Norman take off a pair of sunglasses and stare at him.

“Son.” Norman starts, and that deep, gravelly voice of his is kind of intimidating, so you look to the ground. Norman is a killer in the tech industry- you have never tried to come anywhere near Oscorp for this reason, even if Harry keeps offering a position there. “Congratulations.”

He places his hand on Harry’s shoulder, and then moves inside, his personal butler following and carrying not just a suitcase but also medical apparatuses-? Apparently Norman is sick.

The group of models that you keep hearing so much about arrive, too, but they don’t exactly greet you- they’re all cold and in their own little clique, and they head inside to find MJ and greet her first. There’s two medium-height brunettes, one really tall Asian girl with thick silky black hair, and a surprisingly short-statured red-head, her hair cut into a bob. The one male model gives you guys a look over, and he keeps walking too.

Peter winces. “Yowch. Looks like they have their own cool guy group?”

“Popular kids never really go away.” You muse, and Peter sighs.

“Whatever. It was more fun when it was just us, anyways.” Peter remarks, and you find that you actually agree with him a little. It’s going to be way harder to have alone time with him if you have to be apart. 

/

Of course, Harry suggests a dinner party- he’s really, really nervous, and supposedly needs the distraction, and he wants you guys to be able to know everyone and connect and even potentially network.

“C’mon, Howlett. My dad will love you- he really, really needs someone to be the leader on his new software development team, and I think that could be you.” Harry is pleading as you’re typing away on your laptop in your bedroom, reading your work emails and seeing if you’ve missed anything. Yes, you’re on paid time off, but you are still a hard worker and sometimes you do too much and burn yourself out. It’s toxic, but hey- you feel kind of fulfilled in this way.

“Are you sure you don’t just want precious kudos from daddy dearest because you would be the one to offer him an important candidate?” You simper over at Harry, who’s lying on the rug on the hardwood floor, staring at the sloped ceilings of your room.

“Okay, I guess that would be a be a benefit, but like… it would benefit both of us?” Harry mutters, his mouth drooping towards the ground as he turns over, his face planting into the rug.

“Ew, don’t get the carpet wet with your drool, Harry.”

“I can afford to buy it.” Harry’s voice is muffled. “But you don’t have a price, do you? Just ethics or something? Peter refused the offer too.”

“It’s not exactly ethics… well maybe it is, but, it’s more like…” You strain to get the words out, but Harry sits up, listening carefully. “Your father is well known for a certain reputation. And with that reputation, anyone would be stupid to just jump into a contract with him, you know? You gotta watch out for yourself in big businesses, especially because they can screw you over just like that.” 

You snap your fingers, and Harry flinches. “It’s just a precaution, Harry. Can’t risk writing some incredibly useful piece of code that Oscorp then trademarks and leaves me out of the credits. It’s something people warn you about when you start up.”

“Specifically about Oscorp?” Harry pales, and you shake your head. 

“About Norman.” You whisper, as if Norman himself could hear you.

“What was that, Howlett?” 

You jump to see Peter at your door opening, and then smile in relief. He grins back, and sits down next to you on your bed, and he hesitates for just a moment before deciding to ruffle your hair.

Harry looks so, so, so amused. “I take it these are regular encounters? Late night rendezvous with Howlett, huh, Pete? Didn’t take you for that kind of rascal, but I guess we all have our limits… it is pretty lonely in this house.”

“One: we’ve been here for all of two and a half days.” Peter starts, but his hand is on your knee and it does not seem it’s going to leave all that soon. “Second: if you can’t handle even a few days without a lady friend to relieve you of your, uh, needs, then I feel very bad for MJ.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Harry sounds suddenly very serious, and Peter himself looks a little taken aback. “I’ve only ever been completely faithful to MJ- did she insinuate anything different?”

“Uh… no. Not really?” Peter grits his teeth, and you compassionately squeeze his arm.

“You’re in it now, dude. That classic Parker-luck is really working out for you today.” You joke, and Peter locks eyes with you, and you can see in his vision- he’s pleading that you’ll help him out here.

You sigh, and decide to do so. “Harry, what Peter meant was-”

“Let him explain himself first, Howlett.” Harry is genuinely glaring at Peter, and you fall silent quickly. “I wanna see if he can save his own ass from getting beat.”

“You don’t mean that.” Peter starts, and he stands up off the bed with a bounce. He comes face to face with Harry, who stands a few inches below Peter’s tall height- but they stare at each other angrily. And a part of you is morbidly curious to see where this goes, but the other part of you is horrified, because the last thing you need before a momentous occasion like a wedding is a fight, especially one between the best man and the groom. 

“Really? Little nerd like you, always managed to get his shit rocked by Flash? You think you can take me, Peter?” Harry spits out, and you wonder where this is coming from.

“C’mon. We both know you’re just stressed because of the wedding. Maybe it’s scaring you to be monogamous for once in your life-” Peter barely gets his own thinly veiled contempt out before Harry shoves him in the chest, and he holds his ground. 

“At least I have the balls to actually love someone. You just lead Howlett on in cycles, don’t you think that’s fucked up?” Harry starts challenging Peter, and Peter’s eyebrows furrow in confusion. “Don’t you know that she’s literally cried over you? Are you even fucking worth that? Do you even know what you want?”

“What- I don’t-” Peter widens his eyes, and he looks towards you, and you know that even though Harry was defending you, you feel guilty seeing his expression. 

“Yeah, keep stuttering.” Harry knocks another blow into his chest, and you wince before climbing off the bed, intending to stop this before it gets too far. “You have no right to judge me- I’m a better friend and a better partner than you’ll ever be.”

You watch as both Peter and Harry start hitting each other. They’re both actually fuming, and it’s not a joke- they’ve both managed to piss each other off. 

You’re having flashbacks to when Harry and Peter used to argue as teenagers, but this? This feels far more serious. This must be why they’ve fallen out of touch.

You vaguely hear Peter comment something about Harry being a trust fund bitch boy who can’t even get his own job, and Harry seethes at that and punches him harder, right where he was bruised previously. Peter yelps.

“Guys. Guys- guys! Stop it!” You yell, and they only stop when you come a little too close to them. “I know it’s all tense but… I feel like- I feel like we’re having some major miscommunications.”

Harry can be really, really hotheaded, and Peter is proud enough to respond in turn to that, but they both shut up and listen, turning away from each other and towards you.

You’ve always been the one to listen to in the group, and you guess that hasn’t changed.

“Harry- I promise Peter did not mean that you’re cheating on MJ.” You inhale deeply. “All she said was that you were kind of leaving her alone for a bit, not responding to texts, but that’s totally normal, too- I think she was having pre-wedding jitters and just thought the worst of it?”

Harry nods, but he’s still really pissed off, you can tell. Perhaps he’s having wedding-related stress, too. “Why the fuck did he say it like that then?”

“I… can’t speak for him.” You admit, and Peter looks a little guilty for once. 

You sit between Harry and Peter on the bed, trying to form a barrier so they won’t start physically fighting with you in the middle. 

“I guess it was because MJ seemed really shaken up.” Peter admits, and you and Harry both look at each other and then him. “I shouldn’t have assumed anything, but it felt like she was worried about an affair or something.”

“Peter, dummy. That’s still just your own assumption.” You remark back at him, and he twiddles his thumbs, and you wonder for a brief moment if this was some old habit of Peter’s that he was falling back on, back when he liked MJ, and Harry looks a bit ruffled by this.

“Do you really think you would know her better than me?” Harry doesn’t seem impressed by Peter’s apparent heroism, and you feel like you too would have assumed the worst if MJ and Harry didn’t seem so bonded together now. “Or that she wouldn’t have tried to talk to me about it? We’re not as toxic as you.” Peter tries to say something, but Harry shakes him off, and walks out of the room, hot, angry breaths huffing out of his chest. 

“Leave him, Peter.” You immediately say as Peter gets up to follow after him. “Gotta give him some space to breathe, y’know? It’ll blow over. I forgot how much you guys could butt heads.”

“What does he mean that I’m toxic, Howlett?” Peter spouts, falling back on the bed with a sigh, and he starts playing with his fingers, already obviously thinking rapid trains of thoughts, in the way only Peter could. “What does he mean that you, uh, you cried over me? And you never told me this, but you told Harry?”

Peter’s tone sounds accusatory, and it takes all your willpower to not turn prickly at his words. He has a right to be a little ticked off- you’ve never talked to him about it.

“Okay- first, promise me you won’t interrupt, even if you really want to.” You watch as Peter nods, impatient to hear what you have to say. “Second, you’re not toxic, okay? It’s more that I’m… I’m stupid.”

“Howlett, no.” Peter interrupts immediately. “You’re not-”

“I am, okay? A lot of this is my fault.” You give him a small, sad smile. “Maybe you were kind of dumb too, but I think the blame lies on me.”

/

You start off the story from when you were seventeen. It was about two months before prom, and Peter had just told you his intentions to ask MJ to it, in front of your locker.

“Okay, no offense, but why would she go with you?” You said at the time, not really trying to listen to this conversation. Your heart was actively breaking at every second- you hadn’t realized you liked Peter so much until recently, and it seemed to be too late to say anything.

“Ugh, I know. MJ’s beautiful, what would she see in a guy like me?” Peter joked, but you weren’t in the mood to hear that, either, and you ended up turning away from him. “I just… I have to know if there’s a chance if she likes me too.”

“And what’s given you the impression that she has?” You looked up at him, and Peter’s face turned wistful, in a way that made your heart sink and your face sour in bitterness. You hated yourself in that moment- that you had to be this jealous evil shrew side character.

“Well, she always talks to me everyday. She smiles at me a lot. One time, she held my hand for no reason.” Peter listed off things that sounded pretty ordinary to you.

“How is that any different from what I do around you? Your female best friend?” You exclaimed, expecting Peter to see what you were saying, but he didn’t seem to get it.

“Yeah, sure, Howlett. But you’re not like… that.” Peter said it as if it was obvious, that there was something different, maybe something unlovable about you in comparison to MJ, and you glare at him.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean, Peter?” You started frowning, and you felt the tears building up in your eyes, and then you shook your head. “No… no. Never mind.”

You started to walk away, but Peter grabbed your wrist. He called your name.

“No. Don’t call me that- it’s okay.” You tried really hard not to cry in front of him- and it was way harder when you had to hear him call you by your first name- it meant that yes, he cared enough to see that you were hurt, enough to try and bring you back to him, but at the same time, he would never like you like that.

And even though this would lead to years of pain and tears later on, Peter let you go, and you never told him the truth.

/

Peter is very silent right now. In your room. Even though you finished your story a whole five minutes ago.

Honestly, it’s more frightening than if he had just interrupted you a million times.

“Peter?” You timidly poke his arm, but he’s still thinking.

“Yeah. Sorry.” He breaks his silence a few seconds later. “Actually, I think you were wrong.”

“Huh?”

“I come across like a huge, pretentious asshole in that story, and I don’t even remember it, which makes me a really, really bad friend.” Peter cringes, and he holds your hand now, looking way more irate than you’ve seen him in a while. “I was clearly stupid. I don’t know why you’re blaming yourself, maybe out of some misguided attempt to protect me-”

“No, it’s more that I was too cowardly to tell you that I, uh, I liked you. I should’ve just said something and gotten it over with.” You hash out, and even though you’re like 90% sure that Peter does like you now, a small part of you wonders if he’s just settling for you. Maybe Harry was right when he said that Peter doesn’t know what he wants. “I’m sorry.”

“Howlett, are you fucking serious?” Peter grabs your wrists, and suddenly you’re way closer to him than before, and you still have to look at the bedsheets, unable to see if his feelings are really genuine. “Why are you sorry? What did you even do wrong?”

“I… I was being moronic, and I made things awkward between us because I was too wimpy to tell you about it, and I ended up not saying things for years, and I also didn’t want to stand in the way between you and MJ-”

Before you can finish your sentence, Peter begins to laugh, and you finally look up at him.

“I was being moronic too.” Peter rolls his eyes at himself. “I never actually liked MJ at all- I mean of course I like her as a friend and all that- but I was so convinced that I was supposed to like her, because she was the most popular, prettiest girl in school, and she had shiny red hair like Ms. Grey, who I already had a crush on as a kid so I thought that was my type, and you know, as a younger guy, those kind of things are supposed to equal the perfect girl. I was too dumb to know that you’re actually supposed to like the person, like have things in common and see them as your actual, equal partner, you know?”

“So what you’re saying is that MJ was just an ideal woman, right?” And your tone comes out a little flatter than you intended. Ouch. To be fair, this is the first time you’ve actually made any progress in telling Peter anything- there’s bound to be tons of repressed emotions inside you.

“No, no. I guess I thought she was- but maybe in a very objective, beauty-standard-obsessed, high fashion socialite way, she is?” Peter gives you a glance. “She’s not the ideal woman for me, I’ve known that for a long time. I never even asked her to prom- I realized she liked Harry, and also, that I didn’t really see her like that at all. Just to drill it into that thick skull, Howlett- I don’t like MJ like that, and I never will.”

You let that sink in, and even though your fears are telling you differently- you decide to trust him on this. Peter has no reason to lie to you. 

It’s like a slow-moving relief through your body- you stop gritting your teeth, which you had not realized you were doing, and you find the courage to look back up at him again. Your heart isn’t thumping with the anxiety of waiting for bad news- he really, truly never liked MJ. And you feel kind of silly, because you knew that even as a teenager, kind of- you never really thought Peter properly knew what he was getting into by supposedly liking MJ, even pointing out that it wasn’t dissimilar to how he was with you. Maybe you were smarter than you gave yourself credit for at seventeen.

So what if you weren’t a natural prom queen like MJ? You feel like you’ve been squandering your own value by ignoring it.

“Wait, so you never went to prom?” You ask, thinking of how Peter said he never asked her out, and Peter shrugs.

“Well, for one thing, it didn’t seem to be my thing, especially because- and I promise this isn’t your fault, because I get it now- we weren’t really talking.” Peter sounds especially sad for once, and you squeeze his hands. “I didn’t want to see you and everyone else there, and have to be kind of apart.”

“That’s funny, because I didn’t go to prom either.” You chuckle, and Peter raises his eyebrows.

“Wow, Howlett. We sure are dumb.” Peter lies back down on your bed, and you lie next to him. “Anyone else would’ve put it together in record time that we should’ve reconnected ages ago.”

“It’s okay. At least we figured it out now.” You admit, and you’re at peace lying next to Peter, even though he wants to tell you that he really does love you. That you’re his ideal woman.

Maybe later, though, because he needs some time to actually process everything that’s just happened.

Peter still feels a bit of the anger against Harry. But he also feels guilt, a deep ache in his stomach that won’t go away just yet, that he left you hanging like that. That he never bothered to push a little harder on why you wanted to be left alone, and ended up leaving you to experience despair. If he could go back in time to fix that, he would. But overall, Peter feels that same sense of relief- a peaceful serenity overtaking him as his hand lays intertwined with yours.

The other stuff could be fixed later, he thinks. He’s glad to be here with you.

“Howlett. Why don’t you like going by your first name?” Peter asks quietly, curious on why you had gotten upset in the story, and you feel like you should’ve told him back then, but it just never came up. Peter always knew to stay away from the topic of your mother.

“It’s also my mother’s name.” You reveal, and Peter looks so astounded by this. He waits for an explanation, staring at you as you stare up at the bed’s canopy. “When I was really, really small- like four or five- around when she left, I guess- Dad couldn’t handle calling my name. He would always get this really upset look, and he started calling me kid, or little Wolverine, or, you know, Howlett, courtesy of me telling him that I wanted to go by that. Because I didn’t want him to be sad, so I chose my last name to just be my name.”

“Wow. That’s heartbreaking.” Peter traces back a strand of your hair, behind your ear, and you turn to look at him. “But you were always a sweet kid. I totally get why you would do that.”

“Thanks.” You beam at him, and Peter beams back at you, before deciding to cradle you close in a sort of hug/cuddle situation. Your head naturally meets his chest, and his arms wrap around you protectively. “Did you know Logan’s not really his name either?”

“What? Are you serious?” Peter stares at your hair, as you peer up at him, and he’s genuinely perplexed at the idea. “Old Uncle Logan isn’t actually named Logan? My god, Howlett, it’s just revelation after revelation. My world is collapsing- I can’t handle this.”

“Oh, shut up.” You give him a jokingly withering look. “I don’t know why Dad picked Logan- because his name doesn’t have anything to do with it. His legal name is James.”

Peter immediately starts cackling with laughter, and you feel it reverberate through his chest into your face, and you never want to let go of him or this feeling.

Peter is so happy that you’re this close to him- he hopes he never makes you cry again.

[kalcifers-blog]

Spider People as TMA Avatar's BC my neurodivergent ass needs to combine everything with TMA apparently.

I will be assigning one character to a single entity each just to keep this simpler (however I do believe most of these characters would be apart of more than one entities)

Please feel free to include your own takes and thoughts!!!

The Stranger: Ben Riley - He's a clone of Peter Parker, imo unlike most Spider People he'd have even worse identity issues because his identity is literally not his own for the most part

The Corruption: Peni Parker - just. The comic. Girls going through it.

The Dark: Spider-Noir - yes this is mostly BC of the colour palette (or lack thereof) but it just feels right imo

The Eye: Margo Kess - I don't know what it is about technology related characters but they always scream Beholding to me. Margo included.

The Flesh: Spider-Ham - the only reason this fucker isn't downright horrific is because he's a cartoon. HE WAS A SPIDER THAT TURNED INTO A PIG THATS HORRIFYING. Also pigs can and will literally eat anything and spiders drink blood need I say more.

The Desolation: Hobie Brown - the only character I don't see as "serving" any entity. I feel like he only would be apart of the Desolation if it meant he was able to take down greater evils (and then would accidentally find out that he's irrevocably linked to it and would probably have a whole crisis about it).

The End: Peter B Parker - man is surrounded by death. Like the only people in his universe that isn't dead is MJ and Mayday.

The Extinction: Pavitr Prabhakar - his universe is literally collapsing into itself as we speak. It's not just people dying- the universe is literally deleting itself

The Vast: 1610 Peter Parker - He was the first Spider Person (to my knowledge) to see into the multiverse and saw just how fucking huge it is, you can't tell me man wasn't low-key having an existential crisis due to knowing just how miniscule he is compared to the multiverse? (Also all Spider People have an element to The Vast imo but 1610 SM especially to me tbh)

The Lonely: Miles Morales - this boy is so fucking lonely it genuinely pains me. Could you imagine being 14-15. The only people who will ever understand you are literally in different dimensions and you give up on your passions as an artist to focus on science to find a way to get back to them because you're so desperate for a genuine connection to someone again. Only to find out that they had the capability to see you for MONTHS and they just. Didn't. I feel so strongly about this one that it genuinely hurts me.

The Slaughter: Gwen Stacy - the music motif mixed with definite unending untargeted anger is VERY slaughter of her. Also her and Melanie King would get along

The Spiral: The Spot - I feel like I don't really need to explain this one tbh

The Buried: Jessica Drew - I mean this in the sense that I genuinely believe she really disagrees with Miguel and his approach to- everything. But she's trapped in this position as his right hand because she can't risk anything happening to herself or the ones she loves (yes the buried can manifest as the emotional feeling of being trapped and unable to move or do anything).

The Hunt: Miguel O'Hara - that man. Was on all fours. Chasing. A child. Also he's a vampire (TMA lore makes any vampire automatically Hunt coded) so I don't think I need to explain any further.

The Web: Lyla - she's literally the whole system to the whole Spider Verse. If Miguel is the Spider Lyla is the strings of the web- she is what holds the ENTIRE multiverse together under the story of "Canon Events". Need I say more.

AND THATS MY LIST!! Please reblog with your own thoughts too I would love to hear them!!

[routledgescherries]

peace | p.p.

word count: 4.3k

warnings: major nwh spoilers!!, symptoms of depression, slight angst, me wanting someone (peter) to give me a charm bracelet, taylor swift references

summary: peter reunites with you and tries to get you to remember him after all that happens

Life after Dr. Strange’s spell was rough for Peter, to say the least. Although he still fortunately had his birth certificate and driver's license, it was hard to find a job or a place to live when you had no credit and no G.E.D. So he resorted to being a freelance photographer at the Daily Bugle to pay the bills, staging pictures of him as Spider-Man, and getting the only clear pictures of Spider-Man to be found for any paper. Peter was also living in a crappy small apartment in the bad part of town with the little money he made. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

Peter also had to deal with the fact that he literally had no one in his life. It was difficult for him to adapt to being alone, he often found himself turning to tell a stupid joke to you, point out a good person in crisis for MJ to draw, or even a take out place for May to try, and find himself completely alone.

Peter was used to his constant sadness that came with the loneliness by now too. The first couple nights he cried himself to sleep, all of the grief and guilt about his aunt and the loneliness being too hard to deal with. All of the late nights alone with his thoughts made his mind go to dark places. Thinking about how he was always alone in his life. People kept leaving him; his parents, Ben, Tony, May, his friends, you. Was Peter just meant to be alone? Did he deserve to be alone?

Peter shook his head, snapping out of his train of thought. It was probably best not to go down that road again. He rubbed his eyes, closing his G.E.D. prep book. This was depressing. His life was depressing. Peter needed to do something. He needed some fresh air.

He put his jacket on, making sure to have his web shooter in his pocket just in case. This neighborhood was so sketchy. And mindlessly, Peter walked out of his building, not even realizing where his feet were leading him until he found himself right outside the coffee shop that his friends regularly hung out at. Holy Grounds. You all would spend countless hours doing homework and joking around there until MJ had to close the store.

It was where you and Peter had your first date when you were awkward seventh graders being supervised by his Aunt May and Uncle Ben in the back corner. It was where you two had your first kiss. It was where Peter first met Ned in freshman year after he accidentally spilled coffee on Ned. It was where Harry decided to throw an impromptu New Year’s party that ended in Peter reluctantly kissing Harry at midnight when Harry complained he had no one to kiss. It was where the six of you first hung out all together besides school for the first time.

It was the home of so many of Peter’s memories.

As he looked through the windows, Peter saw your group sitting at the counter. MJ was leaning on the counter, probably complaining about the customers while Gwen was listening and also likely coming up with new songs for her band “The Mary Janes” in the back of her mind. Harry was sipping something out of one of the cafe mugs, while Ned was watching and laughing when Harry spit it back out almost immediately.

And you. You, Peter noticed you were sitting on the end closest to the door next to Harry, quietly, fidgeting with your rings and a bracelet, an anxious habit you had. As he looked closer, Peter noticed that it was the charm bracelet he got you for your birthday, that had charms of your favorite things and memories you had made since you’ve been friends.

Peter couldn’t help but wonder if Peter Parker wasn’t totally forgotten in your mind.

That thought quickly dissipated as he watched you. He couldn’t describe the look on your face. You looked something between sad and confused as you twisted it between your fingers, not paying attention to your friends around you.

Peter hadn’t planned to see his friends and give them his speech until two more weeks, just enough time that he would be settled into his new life, and so he would have enough time to craft his speech to make him not sound like a lunatic. But seeing you like that made Peter rashly decide to go in and introduce himself.

He might not be able to make you remember him, but he could be your friend again.

He walked into the store, hands in his pockets, messing with the notecards that contained his speech. Peter kept them in his jacket just in case something caused his plan to change. But the text he had memorized was ignored as you looked at Peter as he walked into Holy Grounds, looking like you recognized him but couldn’t quite figure out from where. You narrowed your eyes, but shook your head and took a drink of your latte.

Doubt treaded Peter’s mind. Would this even work? A few simple sentences was supposed to be enough to counteract a spell made by one of the multiverse’s most powerful wizards?

He took a deep breath, like May taught him to do when his thoughts got overwhelming. Okay, even if he couldn’t get you to remember him, he could at least try to rebuild what you once had. You were best friends and then a couple for years, if it could happen once it could happen again. You could make new memories and have a new love.

Yeah, Peter thought. Either of those could work.

Peter took a leap of faith and stepped closer to you. “Hi, I’m Peter Parker.”

You smiled at him, nose scrunching slightly. “Hi Peter Parker,” you said. “They don’t put your names on the cups here.” You paused, stifling a laugh. “And I don’t work here.”

“Oh I know,” Peter said. “Actually, I didn’t know they didn’t put names on the cups, but I did know you didn’t work here, which now that I think about it sounds kind of creepy because you don’t know me, but that’s not the point, or even why I introduced myself.” Peter took a deep breath and started talking at a more normal speed. “Sorry, I ramble sometimes.”

You smiled softly. “You don’t have to apologize for talking. What were you gonna say?”

Peter couldn’t help but smile too. God, he missed you so much. “I was saying that, uh, I introduced myself to you because I wanted you to know my name.”

Peter heard MJ snort and whisper something to Gwen, who practically cackled. Peter could only assume it was some sort of insult. You hit MJ slightly with your hand across the counter, giving her a ‘knock it off’ look. It was almost like old times.

You turned back over to Peter, smile back on your face. “Ignore her, she's mean to everyone.”

“It’s okay. Anyways I was wondering if I could maybe talk to you?” At that, Peter noticed all of his friends looking towards the two of you. He stiffened up at all the eyes.

You bit your lip, fiddling with the bracelet again. “Um, I think my friends might kill me, or you, if I leave now.” Peter sighed, but at the sight of his fallen face, you quickly followed up with, “But I should be free at 4, if that works?”

Peter nodded, vigorously, grin back on his face. “Yeah, that’s good, yeah. Meet you here?”

You nodded. “Sounds good. See you then.” Peter nodded too as you both kept eye contact.

Harry leaned his head on your shoulder, also looking at Peter. He waved slightly at him. “Bye Peter Parker.”

Peter chuckled slightly. “Bye,” he said, feeling hopeful for the first time in a while as he walked out.

As Peter walked out of the cafe, you heard your friends snickering at him. “He was so dorky,” MJ chuckled. “‘I’m Peter Parker.’ What was that?”

“Knock it off you guys,” you said, in a firm tone. “He was sweet, and trying. Besides, there's something,” you paused, messing with the web charm on your bracelet, trying to find the right word, “familiar about him.”

“Maybe that’s why he wanted to talk to you,” Gwen suggested. “He would’ve had to know you if he came in here, just talked to you, and didn’t order coffee in a coffee shop.”

“Or he’s just a perv who wants to take advantage of you,” Harry said casually, shrugging his shoulders.

“Aw, bub,” you smiled, putting your arm around him. “Thank you for looking out for me Har, but I think if he was actually a perv, he wouldn’t have made plans to meet me at a public place, in front of my friends.”

“Perv or not,” Ned remarked, putting his hands up, “Y/N’s right. That dude looks really familiar.”

“I think so too,” Gwen said. “Maybe he goes to Midtown. Or maybe he went to your middle school and wanted to catch up?”

You shook your head. “I don’t think that’s it.” You sighed. “I don’t know. It’s just, recently I’ve felt like there’s something missing in me, you know? Like I have trouble remembering things, and I feel like there’s a hole in my chest, like I’m grieving but I don’t know why. But when he came in and started talking, that hole and that feeling went away. I felt more whole than I have in weeks, for whatever reason.” You stopped, feeling the pitiful glances of your friends. “I don’t know, maybe I’m just being crazy.”

“You’re not crazy,” MJ said, her voice as soft as you’ve ever heard it. She put her hand on your shoulder. “Lately we’ve all kind of had that problem, even though you more than most.” She gestured to the rest of your friends and they nodded too, their faces filled with sympathy. “I know my memory’s been fuzzy and confusing ever since that weird incident with Spider-Man and the Statue of Liberty.” She snorted. “Who knows, maybe that Peter Parker is Spider-Man and made a magician erase him from our memory to protect the world from collapsing in on itself?” Everyone laughed, a little somberly.

“Thanks M, you guys,” you said. “However unlikely that scenario is, I just feel like if I talk to Peter, maybe things will make some sense again.”

“We’re here for you,” Harry nudged. “And if it turns out that he is a perv, just call me and say the word ‘pineapple’.” He whispered the word, as if Peter was still outside, and could hear him.

You grinned, and gave Harry a side hug. “Will do Harry.”

You loved your friends, you really did, and they were really supportive through whatever had happened and whatever was wrong with you, but you couldn’t help but wonder if Peter Parker could help solve your problems.

Exactly at four, you walked up to Peter, who was already at the coffee shop. He was dressed in a blue sweater over a plaid flannel with some nice jeans. You were wearing Peter’s old Midtown sweatshirt, and he knew it was his and not yours because it was much bigger than yours, going down practically to your knees. It made him smile, just like old times.

“Hi,” he said, waving slightly, before cringing at the awkwardness of it.

“Hi,” you replied. “Do you wanna walk around? Or go somewhere?”

“Do you wanna walk down Cornelia Street?” Peter asked. He knew you loved the Taylor Swift song, and ever since you saw the street in real life, you always wanted to live there. You always walked down there together when it was warm enough, making unrealistic plans for the future. “They have really--”

“Awesome and beautiful apartments that would make a great place to live,” you finished, the words coming out of your mouth before you could even process them.

“Yeah,” Peter said, breathlessly. He wanted to jump up and down at the fact there was still some trace of him within your memory after all. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”

You walked side by side next to Peter in silence for a few minutes as you walked the route to Cornelia Street. “I like your bracelet,” Peter said. “All of the charms are really cool.”

“Thanks,” you said, taking the lightsaber charm in your left hand. “I really like it.”

“Where’d you get?” He asked, hoping to partially jog your memory. “It looks custom.”

You bit your lip and avoided eye contact. “Um, I’m actually not sure.”

“Oh,” Peter replied, trying to hide his disappointment. “Well it’s still cool.”

“Yeah, I think the charms each have a meaning, but my memory’s been really weird lately and I can’t remember what they are,” you said.

Peter knew exactly what the meanings were. A lightsaber for the first movie you ever watched together when you were eight being “A New Hope”. A camera for how Peter always loved to take photo shoots of you ever since he got his first camera. A boombox for how you both loved to watch cheesy 90s rom-coms together. A trident for your Greek mythology-Percy Jackson phase in sixth grade.

Peter could go on. He spent hours looking through jewelry stores trying to find specific ones to fit your memories together, starting with a small web charm (for Spider-Man, obviously), and buying another couple each holiday. You told him it was probably the best and most thoughtful gift you had ever gotten.

He wanted to grab you by the shoulders and shout the meanings and the memories he had gotten those charms for, making it the thing that made you remember everything, and then kiss you to make up for all the lost time. But instead Peter simply replied, “My memory’s been weird too.”

You turned your head to face him as you kept walking. “Really? I thought I was crazy, I feel like it’s only me and my friends who’ve felt like it.”

He shook his head. “No, yeah, I’ve been having gaps ever since that weird thing with the crack in the sky and the Statue of Liberty.”

“Me too!” You exclaimed. “And the strangest things keep happening to me, like, I feel urges to send a text to someone, and make sure they’re okay, but I have no idea who. Or I want to open my window to let someone in, even though my apartment is on the fourth floor, and no one could make it up there since we don’t have a fire escape. I even find clothes in my closet that I know aren’t mine, but I don’t know whose they are.” You turned to Peter, who was nodding his head, genuinely interested. “And sometimes I feel this physical pain in my chest, this overflow of emotions I don’t understand, like I’m supposed to be grieving something or someone, but I don’t know who. Like I’m missing something important inside of me.” You paused, worried that Peter would run at this strangeness. “Does that make sense?”

“Yeah,” Peter said softly. “It does.”

You nodded, taking a deep breath before you continued. “And I know this probably sounds crazy, cause I know we only met a few hours ago, but you look so familiar to me. In a way that I can’t even describe. It’s like I’ve known you forever. And you make that pain in my chest and my head want to disappear. It doesn’t make any sense.”

What you were telling him astounded Peter. He didn’t imagine in a million years that this would’ve happened. His absence was actually causing you physical pain. It was like your mind wanted to continue your life as if Peter was still in it, even though you didn’t know who he was. Peter felt he owed it to you to tell you the truth after all he heard. And even if he hadn’t crafted the perfect ‘not sound insane’ speech, Peter thought you could believe him.

Right as you finished, you turned the corner onto Cornelia Street. The sun was setting, and the orange-pink skies over the luxurious apartments made it look breathtaking.

In a rush of adrenaline, Peter intertwined your fingers together, and led you over to a bench and sat down, you next to him.

He took a deep breath. “Do you remember that flash in the sky that happened a couple weeks ago, near the Statue of Liberty?” You nodded, eyes squinted a little in confusion. “That was a spell that a wizard named Dr. Strange cast that ripped a hole in the multiverse, well technically the second one fixed the hole in the multiverse, the first one made the hole.”

You blinked a couple of times, trying to make sure you heard him right. “What?”

“I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true,” Peter insisted, grabbing your hands. “The second spell he cast made everyone forget me. Because it was the only way to fix everything. You were there. You cried and begged me not to do it. You said you didn’t want to forget.”

You looked at the ground, mouth slightly agape. “Why didn’t I want to forget you? We don’t know each other,” your voice sounded reluctantly incredulous, like you didn’t want to believe him. “What would I have to forget?”

Peter moved his head lower, so you would look at him. “Me. Us. Before all of this crazy stuff happened we were in love, and before that we were best friends since we were kids.” You looked up Peter, unreadable expression.

“Really?” You whispered, slight pain in your voice. “You’re really telling the truth?”

“Yeah,” Peter replied. “I promise I am.”

“You’re Peter Parker,” you said, more to yourself than to him. “And the spell made me forget you?”

“Yeah,” he said again softly. “That pain in your chest, the gaps in your memory, the part of you that you feel is missing?” You nodded at his pause. “That’s me.”

“I believe you,” you said. “As crazy as it sounds, despite the fact that I probably shouldn't, I believe you.” Peter smiled, laughing a little.

“Do you think if you kissed me, all of my memories come back in a rush montage like in the movies with amnesiacs?” You asked, rubbing the back of your neck.

Peter shrugged. “I think it’s worth a shot.”

Peter took your face in his hand and you both looked into each other's eyes for a few seconds, sharing a moment of silent healing for both of you. You leaned in, and he pulled you in, feeling the infamous ‘spark’ as your lips connected. You stayed that way for a second, and when you pulled away to breath, you searched your memory, trying to remember anything, any memory of Peter.

Nothing.

“Did it work?” He asked eagerly. “Do you remember?”

“No.” You shook your head sadly, but a second after you did, you grabbed Peter’s wrist, and pulled a bracelet from underneath his sleeve before you even realized what you were doing. It was a red and blue beaded bracelet, like the kind of plastic ones you gave out to all your friends as a kid. Still acting on instinct, you pressed the blue bead right before the knot that held it together.

A red projection of the Spider-Man mask appeared before the both of you on the bench. Peter had worn the bracelet ever since you gave it to him in fifth grade, and added the projection to it after he found no actual use to it in his Stark suit, but still wanted to keep it nonetheless. You always liked to mess with the bracelet and put up the projection when you were bored.

You both gasped, looking at each other in awe.

“How did you know how to do that?”

You shrugged, adrenaline rushing through your veins. “Muscle memory, I think.”

“Maybe if we kiss again, you’ll remember something else?” Peter suggested. “Like one kiss equals one memory?”

You couldn’t help but laugh, but pulled him in and kissed him once again, feeling nothing but pure bliss.

When you pulled away, you picked up your wrist to look at your charm bracelet on instinct. “You gave me this,” you said, eyes wide. “You gave me this for my birthday.”

“Yeah,” Peter nodded enthusiastically. “I did.”

“And-and this charm,” you picked up the black dahlia charm. “You got it because you tried to buy me a necklace with one in Venice but it broke because you were fighting the dude with the fishbowl head, so you got the charm instead!”

“That’s exactly what happened!” Peter exclaimed.

“Oh my god, I remember what all of these mean,” you said, taking a bunch of them in your hand. “The Empire State Building is for both me being obsessed with it in second grade and you swung me up there the first time you took me swinging. The-The fridge is for that time at three AM when we wanted to dance, but your living room needed new light bulbs, so we just kept the refrigerator door open as a light and played ‘Home’ by Bruno Major on a loop.”

“Yes. Yes. Yes,” Peter repeated, unable to believe this was happening. Unable to believe that you remembered. “We almost melted all of May’s coffee ice cream and she was so mad.”

“But not as mad as that one time when we were kids and decided it would be a good idea to give each other Sharpie tattoos,” you said, breathless as the words rushed out of your mouth. “I still have part of the Black Widow hourglass on my ankle.” You laughed, pulling your legging up to show him. “That’s what that was!”

“Yeah,” Peter said, pulling up his right sleeve. “And I still have the face of the Iron Man mask!”

You gasped again, getting up quickly and confirming your suspicions. Your initials and Peter’s initials were carved in a heart on the back of the wood(ish) bench. “We carved our initials into this bench. So when we have money and can afford to rent a place on this street we could just sit here and talk.”

“Exactly,” Peter said faintly. “Exactly.” You knocked your foreheads together, both just enjoying being together.

“I don’t remember everything,” you murmured. “Some things, but not all of them.”

“That’s okay, I’m just glad you remember anything,” he replied. “I can tell you about things you don’t remember and we can make new memories too.”

“That sounds good.” You shifted, leaning your head on Peter’s shoulder. “Can you tell me some now?”

“Sure,” Peter said, putting his head half on top of yours. “On Valentine’s day, sophomore year, the first Valentine’s day after we started dating, I put chocolates in your locker, and got you the earbuds charm for your bracelet--”

“Because we liked to share earbuds and make each other playlists,” you finished.

Peter smiled. “Yeah. And you waited until after school to give me your present. We decided to eat at Delmar’s in fancy clothes, to seem like adults, and after we were finished eating, you pulled out this gallon sized bag full of candy hearts, and they were personalized with funny messages and pick up lines, like ‘are you copper and tellurium? because you’re CuTe’ and ‘you must be the force because Yoda only one for me’” Peter chuckled. “You also got me a new sweater, but the fact that you took the time to write like fifty different pick up lines for me really warmed my heart and made it my favorite gift.”

You giggled. “That definitely sounds like something I would do. You deserve to have a billion pick up lines.”

You sat there for a moment, enjoying the peaceful noise of New York, enjoying the comfort of having each other there for them.

“Peter?” You asked, not moving from the position you were in.

“Yeah?”

You bit your lip, deciding to tell him what you were thinking. “Do you think we’ll be able to give each other the peace we’re looking for?”

Peter turned his head towards you at that. “What do you mean?”

You shrugged. “I know that we’ve found each other somehow, despite a freaking memory erasing spell, and that’s amazing, and I love that, and I’m pretty sure I love you, but,” you sighed. “We’re both kind of looking for a peace within the other that might not be satisfiable.”

“What does that mean?”

“It’s just that you’re looking for me so you can have a piece of your old life back, and I was looking to fill in my memory and problems, a peace of sorts, you know? I know it sounds stupid and that I’m overthinking this, but what if we can’t give each other that thing we’re looking for? What if we try to seek that feeling instead of love?” Your voice cracked as you finished. “What if I can’t give you peace?”

“Hey,” Peter said delicately, putting his hands on your shoulders. “I don’t want peace. I realized a long time ago that my life was never gonna be peaceful. I was looking for you because I love you. Not because I wanted peace. All I want is you, and the love we have. You matter so much to me, and I’m not losing you again. Especially over something as stupid as peace.” He put your foreheads together again. “I love you.”

Silent tears ran down your face as you smiled. How could you have forgotten this person you loved so much? A person who made you feel so happy and so loved. “I love you too.”

“We might not be able to give each other peace,” Peter said. “But I know that we can make each other pretty damn happy.”

[somethinginrocknroll]

I just saw No Way Home and as someone that grew up with the Tobey Spider-Man then followed the MCU since I was three plus watched the amazing Spider-Man one (never got around to watch the second one) I LOVED No Way Home.

But before I go on:

SPOILERS IN…

3…

2…

1…

Some highlight point for me was:

Seeing Doc Oct

Seeing Sandman

Green goblin ahhhhh

Andrew spidy finally saving the girl🥺

Tobey talking abt his MJ and to find out they made it work!!!

Doc Oct getting his redemption he deserves

The spidy meme coming to life

The three Spider-Men talking (I mean Disney plus plz make a show out of it!!!!!!)

To see all three fighting together and it was so … words can’t explain how I felt at that moment just a lot of AHHHHHHHHs

Happy has Tony’s map from Ironman 2😭

Happy has DUM-E (That sweet robot that Tony always teased but Happy called it jr)

Happy had Tony’s arc reactor

Just happy having a Tony shrine (plz share)

The peters healing all the villains

Peters apartment scene first started with the looks of the same apartment from Tobey’s Spider-Man to a look a like with some differences

They labeled each other one (Tom), two (Tobey), three (Andrew) when tho I thought it should be Tobey being one, Andrew being two and Tom being three but that’s just me🤷‍♀️

Sad parts:

Aunt May dying

No one remembering Peter

Happy not remembering Peter

Happy mentioning Tony without saying his name 😭

Tobey getting stabbed

Realizing that Dr. Osborn was sick from his own creation and needed Peters (Tobey) help😭

Andrew talking about Gwen

Tobey talking about Harry

Andrew crying after he caught MJ (made him think of Gwen😭)

When Peter was going to tell MJ and Ned the truth but then saw her bandaid and realized it’s better if they don’t know

My questions:

Ummm tv show potential?????

What happened to Tobeys Peter???

Does he go back and get help after getting STABBED?

Does Peter ever tell anyone?

Does SHIELD still have files of Peter?

What happen to Andrew’s Peter?

Does Andrews Peter find his MJ???? (He deserves one!)

What happens to Toms Peter?? (I mean homie just sighed for 3 more movies then turned around and said he’s gonna quit acting to start a family 🤷‍♀️)

Are all three Spider-Man gonna be in multi verse of madness? (It was a rumor at one point)

Spider-Man 4?

Amazing Spider-Man 3? (With same directors from No Way Home bc he was better since he had better writing)

Mcu Spider-Man 3?

Do all three ever see each other again?😭

SPIDER GWEN! (Omg imagine if they all go into one universe and Andrew’s Peter sees spider Gwen 🤭)

Does Nick Fury REMEMBER????

Over all: 10000000000/10

I would most definitely see this again! I loved all the Tony references and all these old characters coming back and see them get the redemption they all deserved! I loved seeing my childhood fight together and I loved the commentary. I am sad with the ending but it’s a good way to end the trilogy and leaving some hope for a pick up! Plus I do want to give Disney a bravo to open and Close Peter Parker’s character development the same way. He started as the poor kid from Queens who uses his smarts and random scraps to make technology then ended up as the poor kid from Queens who uses his smarts (with knowledge/experience by Ironman and the Avengers) and random scraps to make technology. I would love to see a show that had all three Spider-Man together but I highly doubt that. I also would love to know what happens with Ned, MJ and Peter!

[purplepenntapus]

Rating Versions of Harry Osborn: Updated

Wanted to redo this post with a more comprehensive and inclusive list of Harrys

616 Comics: 

Just such a good and complex character. The OG Harry. His relationship with Peter just adds so much depth to every Green Goblin arc because of the inherent conflict of Peter knowing he needs to take down Norman Osborn, but not wanting to hurt or lose his best friend. (If you’ve read Kindred no you haven’t.) He’s still... ugly... I’m sorry 616 Harry... I love you so much but they did you dirty... Some artists do their best with what they have but... I’m not a big fan of western comic style in general so that doesn’t help. Has three failed marriages by the time he’s 30 because he’s gay and deeply closeted.  8/10

Spider-Man the Animated Series (1994):

The Harry plotline in this show reeeeally doesn’t feel earned, because the first time we see Harry having an active role in the show, he asks Peter to move in with him because Norman wants him to have a responsible studious roommate  (a detail from the comics I was EXTREMELY excited to see play out), and Peter comments that they barely know each other. Ultimately they live together for all of one day before Peter decides to move back in with Aunt May. The next time we see Harry, MJ calls him Peter’s best friend, despite the fact that we haven’t seen Peter hanging out with—or even MENTIONING—Harry since the last episode when they were basically strangers. Really it feels like he’s just there to cause romantic drama as the guy MJ graciously settles for when she gives up on Peter. I found the whole goblin plotline kind of boring and lacking in depth.  3/10

Raimi Trilogy:

I was never interested in Raimi Harry until after I started liking and exploring other versions of Harry, because I just thought he was kinda a shit friend. He’s a pretty strong character overall, but his motivations aren’t as obvious. He’s torn between his love of Peter as his best friend, and his bitterness towards Peter for being the man his father wished he was. I don’t think Raimi Harry really wanted MJ, he just wanted to get back at Peter in a way by taking someone that HE loved. However I feel like his characterization kind of sways back and forth between sympathetic and not depending on how he’s written in the scene, and it disappoints me that the thing that gets him to stop tormenting Peter is the butler telling him out of nowhere that Norman died from his own blade, rather than any real character development on his part. 6/10

Spectacular Spider-Man:

I still haven’t watched all of this show because I... can’t STAND this version of Peter... but I’ve watched many clips with this boy and he’s just... so sweet... He only wants to be loved and keeps getting his heart broken. Deserves better. On everything. He deserves a better father, a better best friend, better love interests, everything. I do really enjoy the way they incorporated 616 Harry’s drug abuse into this show with the Globulin Green, it was a very clever way to incorporate that aspect of his character, but tone it down for younger viewers. I’ve watched the scene of him getting “unmasked” as the Green Goblin about a million times it’s very good. 8/10 

Ultimate Spider-Man:

I love him. Most people fear drifting apart from those close to us, so watching Harry struggle with the new and increasing distance between him and Peter as Peter seemingly makes new, “better” friends is downright heartbreaking. Especially when he overhears Sam implying that Peter only hangs out with him for his money which is something he’s clearly experienced a lot. (Seriously Sam what the fuck.) I also love his struggle with Venom throughout the series as a metaphor for his anger and bitterness, it’s never truly gone even when they work hard to remove it. It’s always there to bubble back up under extreme amounts of stress, especially when Norman is involved. (Also this isn’t a Norman review, but USM Norman is the only version of Norman Osborn that has rights and he works hard to be the father Harry deserves.) Had an honest to God meet-cute with Peter like come on???? Its unfortunate how much they cut back Harry’s role in the third and fourth season, I really would have loved to see more of him. Threw a party specifically so he could ignore Peter to his face because he was jealous and I respect that level of pettiness. 9/10

Spider-Man: The New Animated Series

I didn’t think it was possible to create an uglier Harry than 90s Harry but this blonde, fuck-boy lookin creepass came and proved me wrong. Who the FUCK is this?? Doesn’t have any recognizable characteristics of Harry Osborn besides being rich and hating Spider-Man. Also just... look at him. I wouldn’t trust this man anywhere NEAR my drink at a party. #NotMySon -3/10

The Amazing Spider-Man:

He’s okay. I think he has some very emotional scenes and good chemistry with Peter, but it’s dampened by the fact that he wasn’t present in the first film and had to share the second with like two other main plot lines. Ultimately ends up being the least sympathetic version of Harry Osborn because he became the original Green Goblin and killed Gwen, rather than following in his father’s footsteps. That’s not to say he’s a completely unsympathetic character. He has a strong motivator in his fear of death, and I do think the choice they made for his character were interesting and could have developed really well, but they didn’t get the chance since the franchise was dropped. 5/10

PS4 Spider-Man:

ABSOLUTELY ADORE HIM. WISH WE GOT MORE OF HIM. HAVING YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF HARRY OSBORN BROKEN AS YOU SNEAK AROUND NORMAN’S PENTHOUSE AND LEARN THAT HE’S BEEN SECRETLY STRUGGLING WITH A GENETIC DISEASE HE’S BEEN HIDING FROM HIS BEST FRIENDS FOR YEARS WAS -chef’s kiss- GENIUS. PLEASE GIVE US A SECOND GAME WITH VENOM HARRY. 10/10

Marvel’s Spider-Man (2017):

Still easily my favorite version of Harry Osborn. When I first began watching the show I was startled by their decision to make Harry a science genius like Peter because it was so different from their usual dynamic, and many people who aren’t fans of the show point to this as something they dislike. But I actually ended up really loving the decision. It gives a different flavor to Harry in how he reacts to the events of the show and how we interpret his character traits, while still being very inherently Harry Osborn. Harry is jealous of Peter, he loves him dearly, but there’s always this ember of bitter envy ready to burst into anger whenever the plot creates friction between them. This is one of the defining traits of their relationship and in most versions it’s not hard to understand why. Peter has what Harry wants. He’s intelligent, he has potential, and most importantly he’s loved. Peter is the son Harry knows Norman wishes he had, and that creates a wedge between them. Marvel’s Spider-Man changes this dynamic. Harry can easily stand toe-to-toe with Peter in terms of intelligence, and in fact they often work together to create things or solutions Peter couldn’t have come up with on his own. That initial wedge between them isn’t there, creating a very endearing and loving friendship that we know is doomed to sour because it isn’t enough. MSM Harry could be the person Norman wants him to be, and that places the full weight of his father’s impossibly high expectations on his shoulders, always within reach but never quite achievable. So it makes a lot more sense why Peter initially has a low guard towards Norman (as opposed to some other series where Peter seems oddly dismissive of Harry’s justified complaints) and Harry’s own steadfast loyalty to his father. On the surface Norman seems like a perfectly loving parent, he encourages his son, he created an entire school for him when he was wrongfully accused of sabotage, it’s only when you start to dig deeper into their relationship that you see the subtle manipulations and the issues Harry has from constantly chasing his father’s approval. This creates a Harry who is desperate for validation and extremely sensitive to rejection, which colors his relationship with Peter throughout the show. I’m still mad he got nerfed in the second and third seasons because Disney is homophobic. TLDR: I may be biased ... Infinity/10

MCU:

Where is he? Who knows? Man missing in action.  ?????/10

[sunshineandaisies]

Cabin Fever (Part Two)

Cabin Fever Masterlist

Summary: What was meant to be a weekend at the cabin with Peter, Pepper, and Morgan very quickly turned into a weekend alone with your best friend and your recently acknowledged feelings for him thanks to a certain assumption made by your step-mother.

Pairing: College!Peter Parker x Stark!Reader

Words: ~2.0k

Warnings: language, sexual suggestions, angst?, too much overthinking, a tad bit of fluff

Telling Peter that you had lied to him about why Pepper and Morgan had suddenly cancelled their trip to the cabin didn’t go exactly as you had thought it would. His response to that fact that you had lied, however, was exactly as understanding as you had expected him to be, just as he always was when you finally found the courage to tell him the truth.

“I know.” He glanced at you from the corner of his eye before pressing the bottle of wine to his lips, and- for fuck’s sake, were you jealous of a wine bottle? You rolled your lips together, your attention firmly on him as he wiped his wine-stained lips on the back of his arm. “Wanna talk about it?”

“No,” you blurted before shaking your head. “I mean, yes. Maybe?” You sighed as he chuckled softly, settling the half-empty bottle of wine on the dock between the two of you. “I don’t know. It’s weird. Pepper...made a few assumptions. About us. Together.”

If you hadn’t been watching him closely for his reaction, you would have missed the nearly imperceptible widening of his eyes before he schooled his expression. “I see. And these assumptions, they-”

“She thought we needed a weekend alone after the busy semester we both had.”

He smiled and nodded, the implication of your words completely going over his head. “That’s nice of her. It has been a long time since we had some time to hang out, just the two of us. Last time was that weekend before winter break ended, right?”

“Mhm,” you answered noncommittally. “But Peter, I think you’re missing the p-”

“We had a movie night, and you accidentally bought Star Trek instead of Star Wars,” he reminisced, a small smile curving his lips as he leaned back on his arms and stared at the colors of the sunset beyond the trees on the horizon. “I had to spend all night explaining the differences in the two franchises to you.”

“Peter, I-”

“And I’m still not convinced that you didn’t buy the wrong movie on purpose, but the Star Wars franchise is a cinematic masterpiece and the movies deserve to be watched multiple times to truly appreciate-”

“Peter!” you interrupted. Your raised voice caused him to jump, but if you didn’t say what was on your mind now, you probably never would. You had just a fraction of a second to figure out how you wanted to proceed with telling Peter about Pepper’s real reason for not joining you that weekend, and in that miniscule amount of time, you panicked. There was no way in hell you could tell Peter that your step-mom thought you were going to spend the entire weekend having sex after a prolonged separation, so you did the first thing you could think of to put an end to the conversation altogether.

You pushed him into the lake.

Your mouth dropped open in shock and your eyes widened as Peter resurfaced, his hair sticking to his forehead and his already tight t-shirt clinging to his body. It took considerable effort to lift your gaze from his chest and the way that the wet t-shirt clung to his muscled form. You bit your lip and tried to keep your eyes trained firmly on his face, hoping that he didn’t see you openly staring at him like you wanted to completely devour him. And yet, staring at his face, as droplets of water trailed along his jawline and down his neck, did nothing to help the growing heat beneath your skin.   

You wanted to trace the trail of those water droplets. With your tongue. For fuck’s sake, when did he get so attractive? 

When he wiped the water from his face, his chocolate eyes narrowed at you. He looked absolutely adorable - pouting like that - and you couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled from you. You slapped your hand over your mouth to try to mask it, but it was too late. “What the fuck was that for, Y/N?” he questioned, and though he tried to look angry, the corners of his mouth were twitching into the ghost of a smile. 

You let yourself laugh freely then, feeling entirely more lighthearted now than you had only minutes ago when you were contemplating possibly making your weekend alone with Peter a thousand times more awkward by telling him the truth. “I had to get you to stop talking about Star Wars somehow,” you explained, and thankfully it was enough of a truth that he didn’t instantly spot the lie in your explanation. He really would have talked about Star Wars for hours if you let him. “Star Wars is so overrated, Peter.”

“You take that back!” he cried, wading through the shallow water towards you.

“Not gonna happen, Parker.” You laughed again, but your laughter was cut short when he stepped between your legs and wrapped his arms around your waist. The cool lake water seeping through the material of your shirt did absolutely nothing to douse the growing heat you felt at being so close to him. “What are you doing, Peter?”

“Do you take it back?” he questioned. 

You shook your head, watching him curiously.

His chocolate eyes sparkled with mischief, his brows raised in question, and his lips curled into a devastatingly attractive grin. “Take it back, Y/N. Last chance.”

Your mouth opened to respond, to tell him that you would never take back what you said - because really, the Star Wars movies needed to be knocked down a peg after Peter did absolutely nothing but talk them up - but you never managed to form the words. Peter’s proximity and the heat of his hands on your lower back made it impossible to speak. Hell, it made it impossible to even think straight. If you had managed to actually say something, you’re sure that it would have been nothing more than garbled nonsense.

“Time’s up.”

“Wha-” 

A scream tore through you as Peter tugged you into the water with him, and once your feet found purchase on the sandy bottom of the lake, you surfaced, sputtering and shivering and feeling significantly less heat now that Peter’s hands were no longer on your body. 

“You asshole!” you cried before bursting into a fit of giggles. He playfully splashed you, and you wholeheartedly returned the favor, sending a handful of water directly into his face. “What if I had my phone in my pocket?”

“I knew you didn’t.” He splashed again, laughing as you tried to shield yourself from the incoming water with your hands. “You left it on the couch. Besides, you asked for this when you pushed me into the water first.”

“Oh? I asked for it, did I?” you taunted as you waded through the water, closer and closer and closer until you were standing inches apart. “You sure about that, Parker?” 

He eyed you skeptically and took a step back, but he was still within your reach. You pounced, dragging Peter beneath the surface of the water with you. After a moment, strong arms wrapped around your waist and pulled you back to the surface. As soon as you and Peter locked eyes with one another, the sounds of your combined laughter echoed across the surface of the lake, but you quickly sobered and averted your gaze when you realized just how close you were.

You tried to ignore the feeling of his arms caging you against his chest, the feeling of his warm breath fanning across your cheek, the feeling of his heart beating beneath your hand on his chest. You tried to ignore the way that Peter’s hold on you never ceased, the way that Peter’s gaze was burning into your skin, the way that his fingers flexed against your lower back at the slightest move from you. 

“Y/N, I-”

“We should probably-”

You bit your lip, trying to hide the curl of your lips. Speaking at the same time was a talent that you and Peter had, never failing to irritate your dad back when you had first met, and it seemed that even a prolonged separation didn’t improve your conversational timing at all. “What’s up?” you asked him, finally getting the courage to look up at him.

You glanced up at him from under your lashes, and you were surprised to see him staring at you. The expression on his face had caught you off guard. It was so...soft, so tender with a certain heat hidden beneath in his chocolate eyes that you hadn’t seen directed at you before. It was a look that you recognized, though. You’d seen it when he looked at Liz during your sophomore year of high school, when he looked at MJ during your senior year of high school, when he looked at Gwen during your freshman year of college. 

But now he was looking at you. 

“What?” you asked, feeling suddenly shy under his intense gaze.

He stared at you, opening and closing his mouth over and over again as if he was trying to sort out what he wanted to say before he said something that made the situation ten times more awkward than it already was with your admission. His dark eyes, looking like pools of golden honey from the sunlight reflected in them, scanned your features, and you held your breath, waiting and waiting and waiting for him to say something, anything.

“I’ve missed this,” he finally said. “I’ve missed you. Is it selfish of me to say that I wished you never went to MIT? That I wished you stayed in New York with me?” After a beat of silence, he quickly added, “And with Harry and MJ?”

Of all the things you had been expecting him to say, that certainly wasn’t one of them. You thought he’d maybe tell you that the wet clothes clinging to him was making him uncomfortable or that he was hungry or that he wanted to force you to watch Star Wars until you finally appreciated his favorite movie series, but this... You hadn’t expected him to say something like that, not even in your wildest dreams.

Maybe you were looking into it too much. Just because he missed you, just because he wanted you to stay in New York - to stay with him - didn’t mean that he returned your feelings...whatever those feelings were. 

You shook your head, both in response to his questions and to attempt to clear your head. “I don’t think it’s selfish. Is it selfish of me to wish that you didn’t need to stay in New York? To wish that you could’ve come to MIT with me? To wish that we could spend everyday together in Cambridge, annoying the hell out of Harley with our endless pop culture references and trying every single pizza place on campus with Ned?” You rested your head against his shoulder to hide your flustered expression from his view. If he saw the way that you were staring at him with heart eyes you’d be done for. There’d be absolutely no hiding how you felt. “I missed you, too.”

“Even if it was selfish, I don’t think I’d care.” 

Well, shit. Peter Parker was going to be the end of you if he kept saying shit like that. 

“Is that right?” You allowed yourself to hope - hope that he felt the same about you, hope that his heart raced the same way that your heart raced whenever you smiled at each other, hope that he felt just as at home in your arms as you felt in his, hope that he he wanted to kiss you just as much as you wanted to kiss him right now.

But hope is a fickle bitch.

“Of course. You’re my best friend, Y/N.” He laughed then, completely unaware that his words had caused your heart to break just a little. “Don’t tell Ned, though.”

“Right.” You cleared your throat and stepped away from him. You pushed down the hurt and forced a smile onto your face. “Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me, Parker.” You gave him a quick wink before turning around and wading towards the shore, needing to get away from Peter as fast as humanly possible.

You didn’t want him to see how hurt you were by his innocent declaration.

[memoryshard]

BIG NO WAY HOME SPOILERS. But AU where 1 2, and 3 are all in the same universe

This is connected to a MUCH larger AU that I made with a friend involving everyone in the MCU, but in general it's a no powers AU! Let's just talk about the Spider Boys and them having a brotherly bond 💕

Tom - Peter

Tobey - Pete

Andrew - Petey

Their names are all still Peter Parker, but the older two use nicknames when together/in groups to help diffentriate from one another (also if I DO write a fanfic, I'll need a way to distinguish them).

Pete is 25, Petey 18, and Peter 12. Yes there is ZERO correlation to canon ages lmao.

Pete lives in the same apartment complex as Peter. He baby sat him a few times when he was little, and the two are buds. Very much big brother vibes coming from Pete.

Peter meets Petey because they go to the same high school, but Peter is still in middle ! The high school just has an advanced program for middle schoolers on their campus.

Those two meet because the front office called for Peter Parker, and they both showed up. Peter thinks Petey is the coolest person in the WORLD.

Petey in this AU had dated Gwen Stacy a year prior. Unfortunately, she got hit by a drunk driver on her way home. Petey blames himself because he likes doing the gentlemanly thing of always walking her home, but ended up not doing it that night. Keeps thinking that maybe if he were there, he might've noticed the car sooner or maybe have pushed her out of the way.

This leads to a habit where he ALWAYS walks on road-side of the sidewalk. Petey is especially touchy about this when walking next to Peter.

Once all the Peters meet, Pete VERY quickly notices this habit and has a good talk to Petey about what happened, and tries to reassure him that it wasn't his fault.

Away from angst, lots of brotherly shenanigans. Pete tries teaching Petey how to drive (it went Terrific), the older two teasing Peter for having a crush on MJ (ft. The two kids going on a date at an amusement park, and Aunt May asks Pete if he can take them and stay at the park. Not following, but she wants an adult to be readily nearby; Pete's first mistake is inviting Petey along), and Petey wondering how the FUCK Peter and Pete know two different billionaires.

I could go On if anyone wants to hear more ahddjfk my friend and I talk about this AU a LOT.

[luke-skyjokers]

NO WAY HOME IS A WILD RIDE Y’ALL!!!!

Spoilers under the cut:

Oh my gosh, all I’ve done since leaving the theater is flail and scream. Lol. It was AMAZING. An emotional roller coaster, though, I cried for like a quarter of the movie.

MY MUFFIN RETURNED!!! That one second shot of Matt’s cane and I almost flew out of my seat. I missed him so much!!!! That brick catch was SICK.

The villains! Seeing them all again was so fun! I know we knew they were coming but still so fun. All of them together at Happy’s house, I knew something was gonna go down, especially with Norman, but... 

I did not see Aunt May’s death coming. I really didn’t. I loved Marisa’s Aunt May, she was the sweetest and I really thought she was going to be okay until she collapsed. I sobbed at her death. Peter’s reaction and then Happy pulling up, just devastating. We got the famous “With great power...” quote but at what cost? AGAIN?

Then the long drawn out shot of Peter in the rain and Ned and MJ waiting for him to call. The tears kept falling. They didn’t stop until Ned used Stephen’s ring to search for Peter Parker.

I recognized Andrew’s suit’s eyes first and I cheered. His appearance was so fun! I can’t say it was a surprise, I figured he was coming, but still what a blast of an entrance!

Then Ned tries again and we got a weirdly plain clothed TOBEY!!!! I have had a crush on Tobey’s Peter Parker since I was EIGHT YEARS OLD. And now I’m 26. I flipped even more. Again, not really a surprise, but my heart, y’all. My heart.

The two of them meeting Tom’s Peter on the roof of the school was incredible. The three of them just being together explaining bits from their own universes. Andrew’s Peter talking about Gwen broke me. Then the three of the working together was fantastic. Three science geeks being all cute working to help cure people. 

Tobey’s Peter said it’s complicated with his MJ. Freaking still??? Come on man. Lol.

Seeing all three of them suit up and just being bros was so much fun. I keep using that word a lot, but it’s the most appropriate word. The barbs and banter at Tobey’s Peter not needing web fluid and Andrew’s Peter cracking Tobey’s Peter’s back, so fun. Asking about the Avengers was so funny. When they made a plan and swung together it was so surreal. What a ride. That glorious shot of them against the moon and posing together. UGH. POETIC CINEMA.

MJ falling and Andrew’s Peter catching her made me bawl. And then he cried and I bawled even harder. That meant so much to him.

I liked that they helped all of their foes and that Doc Ock became good again and helped them. I saw Tom’s Peter wanting to kill Green Goblin from a mile away but Tobey’s Peter stopping him brought tears to my eyes. Then I promptly flipped after Tobey’s Peter was stabbed. The whole theater freaked. I’m so glad they played it off and he survived ‘cause I woulda been MAD. That triple Peter group hug was one of the sweetest moments in the entire MCU. Maybe even movie history.

Tom’s Peter deciding to make everyone forget and Stephen’s sadness doing it hurt. Watching all the villains and Tobey’s and Andrew’s Peters go back to their own universes was emotional in different ways, like sad to see them leave but knowing they’d be okay was good. 

Peter going to the coffee shop to see MJ and then Ned walks in and they have no clue who he is broke me. Him standing at May’s grave and then Happy comes up and doesn’t know who he is and then Happy referencing Tony. I kept crying. 

The shabby new apartment Peter’s in is so tiny but looked so familiar at the same time, ya know. The shot of the sewing machine and then Peter leaving the apartment in his new suit. The most Spider-Man looking off all his suits if I do say so myself. I loved him swinging around the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, great movie ending shots.

That mid credit scene sure was fun. EDDIE BABY looking all cute and being plastered trying to understand more about the MCU verse. Tee-hee. Venom’s voice of reason is always extra fun. I didn’t like seeing them leave but that little gift they left behind... watch out Peter. (Also Tobey’s Peter “I fought an alien who was black goo.” Gold. Lol.)

And that end credits scene... Wanda!! I can’t wait for Multiverse of Madness. I want to see more of Stephen and more of my Queen! Looks like it’ll be another emotional rollercoaster!

I could keep going but I need to stop. Lol. What a GREAT movie!

[babybatscreationsv2]

A King on a Leash ch8

Marvel | Starker

Tony Stark is a powerful man with a beautiful husband and a loyal crime family, but it looks like he didn’t keep his husband on a short enough leash. After turning Peter lose on a Cuban gang leader, Peter’s life is  in danger. The real trouble is that Tony now realizes that Peter is the  only thing in this world that he cares about and he never meant for that  to happen.

Sequel to A Doll on a String

Rating: Explicit

Full Fic

A Doll on a String

Warnings under the cut*

Warnings: torture, murder, mafia au, graphic description of a panic attack, orgasm denial, possessive behavior, jealousy

Fists, a knife, a flambe torch, and two hours later and Tony had everything he needed. He sent Natasha off to find Bucky. Together they would gather up their teams and corner this cousin of Suarez's. Ricardo, but everyone calls him 'Chili'. How intimidating. They dumped the body off a pier, then Tony noticed the time. Shit. He was going to be late to pick up Peter.

"Hap," he said through the phone. "You available to pick Peter up today?"

"Sorry, Boss, I'm across town. You can't make it?"

"Fuck. I'll have his guards drive him home."

"Sorry, Tony. Wish I could make it. Want me to call and make some threats before they pick him up?"

"No," he sighed. "I'm sure I can manage. Thanks anyway, Hap."

"No problem, Boss."

Tony ended the call and dialed Kevin, the head of Peter's guards when Happy wasn’t around. He would already be parked in front of the building to make sure it was safe.

"You're bringing Peter home, today. Make sure he comes straight home and don't you-"

"Boss?"

Tony clenched his jaw at being interrupted. Better be fucking important. "What is it?"

"You telling me this ain't your car the other Mr. Stark just got into?" the fear in his voice was icy.

His own heart was shot through with the same icy fear. "Tail them. Wherever they go. Call me when they stop."

He hung up and called Peter, hands clammy. Could Ricardo have gotten to him this fast? His man said he was in Jersey today, but he could have made the drive in the time it took to get it out of him. It could have been a distraction. Could have been a trap. Peter could be dead already.

"Tony?" Peter answered. Tony sighed, instantly soothed. He didn't sound scared or stressed or otherwise in trouble. He was okay.

"Baby where are you?"

"You didn't get my texts?"

Tony checked his phone. As he looked, four messages arrived in series. He sighed. Stupid warehouse reception. Sometimes it knocked out his signal.

"Sorry, baby. Tell me where you are."

"I'm just going to dinner with some friends. Sorry if I scared you."

Tony relaxed into his seat. He's okay. He's alive. His own heart still raced. "It's okay, sweetheart, I'm not mad."

"That's an awful lot of pet names for not being mad."

Tony took a deep breath. "Next time, make sure I got your message before you leave. Please?"

"Of course. I love you, Tony. Go enjoy an evening to yourself, okay? I'll be home late."

"Sure, angel. Have fun. Tell your friends I said 'hi'."

"Will do." Peter kissed him through the phone. "See you at home."

"Love you, Peter."

"Love you, Tony."

The call ended. Tony sighed and stared out the window. He didn't like the cold, anxious, feeling of being without Peter. 'Enjoy an evening to yourself', yeah right. He sat and fiddled with the ring on his finger. Then ice shot through his heart.

Friends?

Friends. Plural. Peter has two best friends: Gwen and MJ. They hate each other. Sure, he goes out with the girls he dances with every now and then, but he doesn't call them friends. He calls them 'the girls'. MJ has a girlfriend. He could be going out with them together, but MJ wouldn't have met him at the performance hall because she hates Gwen. Even if she had she couldn't afford a car that would be confused with one of Tony's. What friends?

His first instinct was to call him back and ask, but no. He didn't want Peter to think he was being overbearing. He deserves his own space. Fuck, it was killing him, though. Like a blessing from God, Kevin called.

"Boss?"

"Where is he, Kev?"

Poor Kevin sounded like he might throw up. "He's at that Italian place you guys like and he's with friends."

"Which friends?"

"Uh," he paused. "The blonde girl and a guy. I've never seen him before."

There was a guy that he danced with, but he and Peter never got along so they don't hang out. He would have remembered if Peter had made amends with him. "Describe him."

"Expensive looking suit, short brown hair, maybe an inch or two taller than Mr. Stark. Looked around the same age. Couldn't see much of his face from here, but he was clean-shaven."

Harry Osborn.

"Call in the second car. I want men inside. I'll call Leonardo and let him know you're with me."

"Yes, sir."

It hurt. It genuinely fucking hurt. And it was stupid. Why did he feel like Peter was cheating on him? Of course he would want to see an old friend. Harry had been gone for years, they would want to catch up. At least Gwen was with them. She was very straight laced, she wouldn't let Peter run off with him- What the fuck was he even thinking? Of course Peter wouldn't. He took a deep breath but it didn't stop the panic. He couldn't breathe. The car was suffocating him. He climbed out and nearly fell onto the sidewalk.

His driver got out and came around the side.

"You alright, Boss?"

"Fine-" he choked. "Just need a minute. Wait in the car."

He looked unsure, but he did what he was told.

Tony's mind spun with thoughts that didn't quite connect and weren't entirely coherent.

Should start going to his practices with him... Should tell him he's not allowed to dance anymore. What if he leaves? What if he doesn't come home? I should kill Harry Osborn. What if I caught them together? What if Peter wants him? What if he's better than me? What if he's better for Peter than me? I should go to the restaurant. I should call Peter. I should go home. Why can't I breathe?

Tony sat down on the curb and put his head between his knees. He didn't want to imagine what he looked like, a Mafia Boss, a capital 'B' Boss, sitting on the ground like a kid at a Macy's parade. Cue the fucking confetti and tootsie rolls.

His phone rang. It was Peter. He answered without thinking, then realized his throat was thick and he probably sounded like he was crying. Was he crying?

"What the fuck, Tony? I can't go to dinner without a babysitter?"

Tony gulped down air. The sound of his voice, even venomous and angry, helped to soothe him. "No, baby, you can't." His voice came out thick and gravelly and probably sounded more angry than upset.

"And why not?" He could just see him, hiding in the bathroom so no one would here them argue. A hand on his hip and the other clutched around his phone. Teeth clenched and hair disheveled where he ran a frustrated hand through it.

"Because you're mine," Tony said, a little smile on his lips.

He heard Peter sigh. "I know I'm in trouble and all, but can't your men wait outside?"

"You need all the protection you can get, angel. I won't let anything happen to you." Or anyone, he thought.

A pause, then another sigh. "Fine. You're right. Sorry, I overreacted."

"It's okay. I'm glad you called."

"Are you okay?"

Tony stood up and brushed himself off. He looked at the people passing him by as if they were the ones who were strange. "I will be when this is over."

There was a pause. "Should I cancel dinner?" He sounded so upset. Tony couldn't take something from him if it really meant that much. Though, he couldn't say that it didn't feel good to be reminded that he could. If he walked into that restaurant and dragged Peter out no one would stop him. Hell, Peter would blush and make excuses but he wouldn't argue. Not in public. Not when it could tarnish Tony's image.

"No, angel. Enjoy your dinner." And think of me, he thought. Remember the guards I sent to protect you. Remember that I'm always just a call away.

"You sure?"

"Of course. Be safe. Don't go anywhere alone." Just come home. Just ditch him and come home.

"I'll be careful. You be careful, too."

"I love you, Peter." More than anything. Anything at all.

"Love you, Tony." Why? What's worth loving when I'm weak like this?

On shaking legs, Tony got back in the car. Cold and pale, he cleared his throat. Then he barked at the driver to take him home.

Peter wasn’t late, but it felt like it. Especially since Tony had spent a good while on the bathroom floor throwing up into the toilet. He had showered and brushed his teeth and he prayed Peter didn't smell the vomit on him. He was relaxing by an artificial fire, forcing himself to read a book, when Peter came in. He was all smiles, walking on air. He floated across the room to give Tony a kiss.

"Whatcha reading?"

"Nothing." He let Peter take the book from his hands and set it aside. Then he sat straddling his lap. "There's my angel." He brushed Peter's hair from his forehead. He had to get himself under control. He'd been completely sick until Peter got home. He felt like he'd been holding his breath up until the moment Peter's weight settled in his lap. He closed his eyes and breathed him.

"Did you miss me?" Peter cooed, angel sweet. He smelled like fresh Italian herbs and restaurant hand soap.

Tony shrugged. "Should I?"

Peter gave him a coy smile. "I know what missed me." He slipped down to the floor and pushed apart Tony's legs. His skinny fingers trailed over his crotch. A slave to his husband, the man that was supposed to be his plaything and not the other way around, Tony's cock started to thicken at the touch. He let his legs spread wider, let his head fall back as Peter's hot little mouth made a wet spot on the front of his pants. He could feel the heat, the tease of suction through too many layers. After suffering so many bad feelings throughout the day, the promise of pleasure made him hungry.

"Don't tease, sweetheart."

Peter looked up at him with a mischievous smile on his face. He continued to suck on the fabric, moaning like it was his cock, like he could taste it through the material. Tony stared, his expression dark. He reached slowly down to unbuckle his belt and pulled it off. Peter sat still and waited watching as he took out his cock.

Tony admired the way he licked his bottom lip as be eyed the belt in his hands before he eyed Tony's cock. He looked up, asking for permission.

"Get your mouth on it. No hands."

Without a question, Peter bent and took his cock into his mouth. Tony finally felt some of the days tension leave him. He let Peter get him hard and wet, then he used the belt to pulled Peter in, letting it curve against the back of his head, and pulled him down until his tongue reached his balls. He pulled down with the belt and thrust his hips forward, burying as deeply as he could in his throat. His head fell back against the chair. Peter wretched, body trembling between his legs. Tony let him up before he could puke up his dinner. He looked down at Peter to see his eyes glassy and his mouth open and dripping with spit.

"What a good little toy you are. Gonna be my fleshlight, baby?"

Peter moaned. "Yes, daddy." Fuck, that look on his face, cock stupid and perfect. Ready to do anything he asked.

"That's a good boy."

He got his mouth back on Tony's cock and Tony used the belt to guide him. He kept his mouth open wide and let Tony have what he wanted, appearing more fuck hole than man.

"You're daddy's perfect little slut aren't you?"

Peter gurgled on his cock, unable to answer.

"Should keep you tied to the bed. Use you whenever I want." Never let you leave. He liked the sound of that.

Peter was so good, so patient, and obedient. Tony's treatment of his throat was brutal, tortuous, yet he sat with his hands in lap. Tears ran down his cheeks and spit down his chin. Daddy's good obedient pet. Perfect and beautiful and all his. All his.

He let Peter go and sat stroking himself, watching him gasp. Once he recovered enough, he sat up, mouth open waiting for his cum. Tony painted him with it, coating his face in sticky white, hardly any ended up in his waiting mouth. And Peter sat, still and patient until Tony wiped the cum from his eyes. Then he blinked up at him, licking his lips.

"Can I cum, daddy?"

Tony thought a moment. "No," he decided. He could spend tomorrow hard and thinking about Tony and not thinking about Osborn and Tony would feel a little better about his dinner outing.

"Clean your face and strip for me."

"Yes, sir." Peter wiped cum from his cheeks and licked his fingers clean. Tony scooped some off his forehead when he missed it. Peter happily suckled his fingers, humming and closing his eyes. Like having any part of Tony inside him was bliss. Then he stood and stripped out of his clothes. Tony looked at his cock, fully hard and needy.

"Come sit with me, angel."

Peter sat down on his lap, happy when Tony gave him a deep kiss. Then slowly started to kiss down his neck. His fingers teased his bare thigh. He brushed them over his hard cock, adoring the way his cock jumped under his touch. "Tell me about your dinner. Did you have a good time?"

"Yeah," he began, notably breathless. "Harry was back in town so- so Gwen and I took him out." He stuttered as Tony sucked on his neck. He grinned against the fresh bruises he made.

"That sounds nice," he said.

He wrapped a hand around his cock and slowly stroked him. Peter licked his swollen lips.

"It was fun. I missed Harry. I missed you, too, of course. I'm not used to having dinner without you."

Tony sucked another mark into his skin, increasing the pressure until Peter whined and his hands touched his chest. Then he thought, just one more, and sucked another mark just above his Adam's apple.

"What's gotten into you?" Peter asked, breathless and clinging to his chest.

"Nothing." Tony threaded his fingers through his hair and kissed him again. He licked away the taste of cum from his mouth until he could taste Peter underneath. His Peter.

[itsybitsyparker]

Okay thoughts on NWH now that I’ve had a day to process:

-I thought it was the best Spiderman film to come out of the mcu yet, not just because I’m biased towards Andrew but I thought Peter’s balance of idealism vs his cynicism in the film was VERY well done. I really believe that that was a 16 year old traumatized boy struggling to do what was right against people who hurt him.

-I liked Dr. Strange in this, but I thought that I would’ve liked seeing Strange soften towards Peter a little more. They saved the world together, but we didn’t see any affection from Strange to Peter until this film. It would’ve made me feel like Strange was less out of character. 

-Fuck Aunt May dying, that didn’t happen. I refuse. I understand it narratively. I think it was used effectively and I love Peter having to get his own apartment. HOWEVER Aunt May is precious thank you very much. 

-Andrew and Toby being besties was adorable. Toby being dad friend was adorable. Andrew’s FACE when he saved MJ was THE MOST PRECIOUS THING HE FINALLY REDEEMED HIMSELF IN HIS OWN EYES.

-I wish Andrew hadn’t been shunted to comic relief. 

-Like I said before, the end made Peter Parker feel the most Peter Parker he has ever been in the MCU. Like that apartment! Him being a from-the-ground-up Spidey in the most ROUND ABOUT WAY POSSIBLE, it made me happy. I so hope there’s going to be a 4th.

-I hope MJ and Ned and Peter reconnect in college. Them at MIT, him at community college. Like in the comics. 

How I’m going to incorporate this into my portrayal:

-MCU Peter verse is going to stay relatively canon compliant to NWH, might find a way to make sure May is still alive.

-My main verse, Franken-TASM Peter will reference it at points. I will be incorporating this happening after Gwen’s death in the middle of his fall semester of his freshman year of university. The idea of him having gotten more violent is a bit of an interesting idea and I would like to explore it.

-Also I beg for threads between TASM Peter and MCU Peter. Peter’s always wanted brothers!

[petersasteria]

The Forces of Nature || Ch.14

Pairing: Peter Parker x Superhero!Reader

Summary: “There’s this kid out there that can control the wind or something. I think she’s a great addition to the team. Let’s recruit her.”

SERIES MASTERLIST  ||  PP MASTERLIST

2.8k words

Ever since the argument, Y/N and Peter haven’t spoken to each other. Ned and MJ noticed it, but they didn’t want to get involved, so they kept their mouths shut and went their separate ways. School was normal and Y/N still sat next to Peter in her classes because as much as she disliked Peter at the moment, she admitted that they work well together. After all, they were both really intelligent.

Senior year prom was just around the corner and everyone at school was getting asked left and right. MJ was asked by Brad Davis and Y/N somehow convinced her to say yes because it would be fun. Y/N hasn’t been asked by anyone yet and she didn’t care if she was asked or not. Y/N just wanted to go. Besides, she had no time to look for a date because she was part of the prom committee.

Peter was originally going to ask MJ, but he later found out that Brad asked her. Then he was going to ask Gwen Stacy, but Harry Osborn asked her first. His last option was Mary Jane Watson, but Flash got to her first. This is why he was weighing his options with Ned when they were hanging out at his apartment.

“Just go alone, man.” Ned said as he threw a stress ball up in the air and caught it. He did that repeatedly while sitting on Peter’s desk chair.

“I don’t want to go alone, dude.” Peter sighed frustratedly.

“Then just pick a girl you want to go with!” Ned rolled his eyes. “It’s not that hard, man. I picked Betty and I just straight up asked her. She said yes, obviously.”

“I just don’t know who to ask.” Peter said.

“Felicia Hardy?” Ned suggested.

“That girl’s insane. She’s… crazy. She once followed me around. Now that she stopped, I don’t want her to do that shit again.” Peter explained.

“Okay, what about Cindy Moon? You liked her at one point, right?” Ned asked.

“Yeah and to be honest, I didn’t like her that much. She didn’t like me that much either.” Peter shrugged nonchalantly.

“Didn’t you guys make out or something?” Ned questioned. Peter’s cheeks turned into a light shade of pink and said, “We did more than that and it only happened once, but that’s not the point!”

“Ask Cindy Moon, then!” Ned chuckled.

“Pass.”

“Why?”

“Just- pass.” Peter said and Ned gave him a look. “I don’t have to explain everything to you. I just don’t want to ask her.”

“Fine. What about Y/N, then?”

“We’re not okay right now.” Peter said shortly. He refused to talk about what went down at the compound and Ned never asked. But that didn’t mean that Ned wasn’t tired of the whole situation.

“Look, I don’t know what happened between the both of you, but I think you should just move past it. You’re frenemies, right? Then go to prom as friends.” Ned said.

“Except, we’re enemies right now.” Peter pointed out.

“That’s true, but I think it’s time to let your pride down to ask her to prom as a friend.” Ned said.

“I’ll think about it.” Peter said.

Weeks passed and it was already prom night. Peter decided to go alone because being a bachelor at prom wasn’t so bad after all. At least he didn’t have to worry about anyone else other than himself and that’s all he needed right now.

Everyone was slow dancing and Peter was at the food table getting some punch when he realized that Y/N was standing next to him. He stared at her and when she felt someone staring, she turned to see who it was.

She gave him a tight-lipped smile and turned to face everyone dancing. Peter did the same. He took a sip of his punch and said, “I like what you guys did with the place, by the way.” 

“Thanks.” She said. “I like your tux. You picked a nice color.”

“It was my uncle’s tux.” Peter said and she nodded, not knowing what else to say. They stood next to each other in silence for about a minute when Peter decided to break it.

“Who’s your date?”

“No one. I don’t mind, though. My only goal here was to go and enjoy and take pictures. A date never really crossed my mind if I’m being honest. I’ll tell you one thing though; I never thought I’d go to my senior prom alone.��

She looked at Peter and said, “I’ve always imagined what it’d be like, y’know? It’s all in my head ever since middle school. I’m wearing the dress of my dreams and I’ve got a cute date. He’s not popular, but he’s all I ever wanted. Then we’d go to prom together and we’d dance the night away and maybe get some food at a fast food chain because the food at prom wasn’t satisfying.”

“Wow. You really do have it all planned.” Peter said in surprise.

Y/N nodded, “Yeah, but I don’t get to do that anymore. Anyway, enough about me. Who’s your date?”

“No one.”

“Oh.”

Peter looked at her and thought about the plan she had in her head; the plan she’s had since middle school. The good person in him started to take over his whole being. He didn’t want Y/N’s senior prom to be sad. Besides, he owes it to her after what happened between them. He wanted her to have a good time; he wanted her to fulfill the plans she had in her head. He didn’t want her to just stand around at prom wishfully thinking about the what if’s.

Peter cleared his throat and said, “Y/N, would you like to dance with me?”

“Why?” She snorted. “If you feel bad, don’t bother. I don’t want your pity.”

“No, I’m genuinely asking. I’m not doing it out of pity. I actually really want to dance with you.” Peter said.

She sighed, “Why are you doing this? I thought you hated me.”

“I don’t hate you and I’m doing this because I want you to have fun. You can only have your senior prom once and I won’t let you waste it. Besides, we’re frenemies and I’m being a friend right now. After this, you can go back to hating me. So, what d’ya say? Dance with me?” Peter asked and held his hand out for her.

Y/N looked at him and his hand as she tried to hide a smile on her gorgeous face. She sighed and grabbed his hand. Peter grinned and led her to the dance floor to join everyone. Peter’s hands made its way to her waist while her arms were on his shoulder, her hands folded on the back of his neck. Just as they did that, the song changed. Coincidentally, it was Y/N’s favorite song from childhood: “So Close” by John McLaughlin from Enchanted.

You’re in my arms and all the world is gone The music playing on for only two So close together and when I’m with you So close to feeling alive

Y/N shyly smiled and looked down at their feet. Peter glanced at her and asked what she was smiling about. Y/N looked straight into his brown eyes and sighed in content, “They’re playing my favorite song and they played it just a second before we started dancing.”

Peter smiled, “I think it means that you’re really meant to be dancing.”

“How come?” She asked with confusion written all over her face. Peter chuckled lightly and said, “Well, imagine how sad it would be if this song played and you’re not dancing to it. I think this song played because you’re here; you’re dancing with me.”

“That’s true.” She nodded. “But even if I didn’t dance the second this song played, I think I’d look for you to ask if you want to dance with me.”

“Really?” Peter asked with raised eyebrows as they swayed to the music together.

“Yeah. You’re the only other guy I know. Besides, you’re cute and I would never miss the opportunity to dance with a cute guy.” She giggled softly.

“So, you think I’m cute? I thought you hated m-”

Y/N brought a finger to his lips and shushed him, “We’re friends right now, so let’s not ruin the moment.”

Peter said a soft “okay” and Y/N brought her arm back into its place as her head rested on his chest with her eyes closed. Peter rested his chin on top of her head and smiled to himself.

‘This isn’t so bad after all.’ He thought to himself.

“Hey, Y/N?”

“Hmm?”

“After this song, do you want to leave early to get some real food?” Peter asked in a whisper. Y/N smiled and lifted her head from his chest to look at him, “If you mean any fast food chain that’s open or any diner, then yes I want to leave early to get some real food.”

“Good.” He grinned before both of them returned to their position as they continued to sway to the music in comfortable silence. Unbeknownst to both of them, they held each other tight as if the other would drift away. Ned and MJ were dancing with their dates nearby and they smiled at the two of them.

Betty looked at the direction Ned was looking at and her heart swelled at the sight, “You know, they should just date already. I ship them a lot.”

“Same here.” Ned whispered.

“They look good together, don’t they? Y/N and Peter, I mean.” Brad said casually. MJ looked at him and Brad’s eyes widened, “Oh my god. I’m so sorry. That was so insensitive of me. I forgot that you dated Peter. I shouldn’t have said-”

MJ shook her head, “Don’t be sorry.” She looked at Peter slow dancing with Y/N and she smiled to herself, “I’m glad they found each other. They really look good together.”

“Aren’t you jealous, though?” Brad asked.

“Nope. We ended things mutually and I can see that he really cares about Y/N. He just subconsciously freaks out if he cares too much and that’s when he becomes an asshole to her. But if they actually tried, they’d be a cute couple. I can see it lasting long.” MJ explained as Brad nodded, not saying anything else after that.

We’re so close to reaching that famous happy ending Almost believing this one’s not pretend Let’s go on dreaming though we know we are So close, so close and still so far

The song ended and even though Y/N and Peter didn’t want to let go yet, they had to. They let go of each other and gave each other a shy smile.

“So… food?” Peter asked and Y/N nodded. Both of them left the dance floor and Y/N told Peter that she’ll quickly grab her purse from the table she was sitting at earlier that night and Peter told her that he’d wait for her by the door. They split up and Ned ran over to Peter.

“Where are you going?” Ned asked.

“Out.” Peter shrugged. “Now, go back to your date or she’d never talk to you ever again.”

“Betty understands why I’m here. Anyway, who are you going with?”

“Y/N. S’no big deal, though. We’re just… two friends eating out somewhere.” Peter said casually.

“Like a date?”

“A friendly date.”

“Sure.” Ned eyed him suspiciously. “Keep telling yourself that.”

Meanwhile, MJ quickly walked over to Y/N and asked where she was going. Y/N said, “I’m going out with Peter. We’re getting some food. Do you want to tag along?”

MJ smiled and shook her head, “Nah. You guys have fun, though. Text me when you get home.”

“Will do. Bye!” She waved goodbye to MJ before walking to where Peter was. She approached Peter who was standing with Ned.

“Peter, I got my purse and I’m ready to go.” Y/N smiled and waved her purse a bit. She looked at Ned and greeted him.

“Let’s go, then. I’ll talk to you later, man.” Peter said as they did their handshake. They bid Ned goodbye and the two of them were on their way to a diner. On the way there, they talked about random things.

“After we graduate, what’re your plans?” Peter asked.

“I’m not really sure about that, but what I am sure of is I don’t want to go into the scientific field.” Y/N confessed which surprised Peter.

“What?! But you’re super great in science!” Peter exclaimed.

“Yeah, but I don’t want to make a career out of it.” Y/N shrugged. “I might go into fashion designing or something. I love fashion, so why not make a career out of it? At least I’m doing something I’m passionate about. I’m not passionate about biology or chemistry or physics. I’m just lucky enough to have the brains for it.”

Peter nodded, finally understanding what she meant.

“What about you?”

“What about me?” Peter raised an eyebrow.

“What are your plans after you graduate?” She asked.

“Hopefully get into M.I.T and study the course I want. I still don’t know what course I want, though. Maybe something tech-y.” Peter said and Y/N nodded. They reached a 24-hour diner and went in. They got settled in at a booth as they sat across from each other and looked at each other with smiles on their faces.

A waitress came over with menus in hand and patiently waited for them to order. They scanned the menu and settled on two milkshakes, a cheeseburger cut in half, and a plate of fries. While waiting for their order, they continued their conversation.

“I have a question, by the way.” Peter said after a while.

“Shoot.”

“You joined most of the clubs at Midtown. How do you manage all of that?” Peter asked. “I’m genuinely concerned if you get any sleep at all or something.”

She chuckled, “I honestly don’t know how I do it. I just… do. I love it all, though. I like it when I’m busy, but there are times when I feel like it’s all too much and I just break down. I don’t even remember joining a lot of clubs.”

“You’re amazing.” Peter said with no hesitation. “Just- amazing.”

“Thank you.” Y/N smiled. Their order arrived and they ate in peace. Neither of them wanted to break the comfortable silence between them. The comfortable silence continued after they ate. Peter paid for the food they ate and they walked home in silence.

The farther they walk, the closer they get until their hands are intertwined with each other. They avoided looking at each other despite the pure bliss on their face. They reached Y/N’s apartment building and Peter walked her up to her unit.

They reached the door and Y/N broke the silence, “We’re here.”

“Yeah.” Peter whispered as he stared at her. She looked at him and smiled.

“I had such a fun night with you, Peter. As much as it’s annoying and cheesy to admit, my prom would’ve sucked if it weren’t for you swooping in to ask me to dance with you.” Y/N said softly.

“I had such a fun night with you too. I feel like we’ve learned so much about each other.” Peter said truthfully.

“Yeah, same here.” Y/N said. It was obvious that the two of them were just dragging out the time because neither of them wanted the night to end. Perhaps it’s because they think that everything would go back to normal on Monday or they won’t mention the night ever again. Whatever the reason was, they didn’t want the night to end.

“It’s getting late. I think May’s going to call the SWAT team to look for me because I’m not home yet.” Peter said jokingly and Y/N nodded with a chuckle.

“Right! Have a safe walk home, okay? I’d hate to lose another person in my life.” Y/N said.

“I’ll be safe, I promise. I’ll text you when I get home.” Peter smiled and turned around to leave.

“Peter, wait!”

Peter quickly turned around and said, “Yes?”

“Thank you for everything. I especially thank you for being my first and last dance at prom.”

“First and last?” Peter furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

She nodded, “Uh, yeah. I haven’t danced with anyone prior to our dance and I never danced with anyone after that. So, first and last.”

“You’re my first and last dance too.” Peter smiled. Y/N whispered, “That’s great.”

Before they knew it, they were slowly leaning in and Peter finally closed the gap between them which caught Y/N by surprise, but she quickly melted in the kiss and wrapped her arms around him.

Peter stole her first kiss. It was truly a night to remember.

* * * *

𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓: @blueleatherbag @harryismysunflower @buckys-little-hoe @ragnarokayla​ @heeeyitskay @slytherin-chaser @quaksonhehe @yaya4302 @lil-mellow-bunbun @starlight-starks @swiftmind @alexx-stancati @sovereignparker @nerdyandproudofitsstuff @pearce14 @cherthegoddess @chewymoustachio @cocoamoonmalfoy @parkerlovebot @supred12 @peterspidey @givebuckyhisplumsnow @beverlythrillz @slutforsr

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓:  @marvelousell @justasmisunderstoodasloki @rubberducky-jrr @allyz @osterfieldnholland @miraclesoflove @god-knows-what-am-i-doing @drie-the-derp @hollands-weasley @itstaskeen  @call-me-baby-gir1 @the-panwitch @iamaunicorn4704 @geminiparkers @holland-styles @calltothewild @fancyxparker​ @herbatkazmiloscia @whatthefuckimbisexual @justanothermarvelmaniac @unsaidholland @musicalkeys @lost-in-the-stars03 @hufflepuffprincess24 @hollanddolanfangirl @parkerpeter24 @bellelittleoff @agentnataliahofferson @aqiise @lexirv @blairscott @hi-im-maddie @xfirstfemale-marauderx @u-rrose @speedymaximoff @theliterarymess​

+ @greenorangevioletgrass​ bc she told me to tag her in this part x

[dyde21]

Learning 2

Read on AO3 HERE

Summary: MJ is worried about Peter, and when she goes to check on him the next day she finds things are worse than she feared. Now can she help him see he needs help?

Michelle Jones was a bit scared by how easy it was to love Peter. What had started out as a simple fascination with an honest nerd with a bright smile turned into a school girl crush, and ended up with them falling in love and being happily together in college. Growing up, MJ never expected herself to end up in a gushy romance story. It wasn’t that she didn’t think she would fall in love, she just figured she’d be older and have a more mature, graceful descent into it.

But life didn’t care about her plans and she found herself lost in Peter’s smiles and safe in his arms. Something she honestly never expected was that her boyfriend would be an actual superhero. That really was less of throwing a wrench in her plans as much as blowing them up all together. But she was Michelle Fucking Jones. She could handle it. She’d learn, make a plan, and deal with it just like everything else in her life.

It definitely wasn’t easy at times. Having to learn basic first aid to help treat him when he stumbled into her apartment beat half to death, learning to keep up to date on all sorts of crazy villains so she could help him when he needed it, whether or not he asked for it. Having to accept that choosing to stay with him meant that there would be an unfortunate number of missed dates, or early departures. A constant worry that he might face a threat he wouldn’t be able to overcome, and the acceptance that her life may be thrown in the crosshairs eventually too.

But that didn’t matter to MJ. Not as much as he did. The way he listened to and absorbed every word she said, earnestly caring about what she was passionate about. The way he did his absolute best to be there for her when he was able to, and almost never blamed her for being upset with him. The way his eyes would crinkle when he laughed, or he’d see past her harsh words or thinly veiled lies to see what she truly meant and was scared to say. His understanding of her defensive habits built up from a rough childhood, and his patience to get through her walls. The way he gave himself for the city, while never asking for anything in return even when he deserved so much more than he had. 

Her biggest gripe with him was probably that he tried to shoulder everything on his own. He had lost so much in his life, and she knew he felt like if he tried to reach out too much for someone, he’d only lose them too. He didn’t care about taking care of himself because there was always someone else he could help first, and he saw that as more important. She admired how selfless he was, but it also frustrated her because it went beyond being humble into being neglectful of himself and harmful. But he didn’t seem to be able to accept that fact no matter how hard they all tried to get it into his head. It hurt to be with someone like that, especially because of how much she loved him. But Michelle Jones was not a quitter, and nothing was going to get in the way of them. Not her own defensive nature or his self destructive habits, they’d learn together. 

When she heard a knock on her door early on Saturday, her first thought was to look around the room to find a blunt object to bludgeon them with in return. Pulling down the hood of Peter’s hoodie that she had stolen, and needed to replace soon because it was losing his smell, she shuffled her way to the door.

Opening it, she was surprised to see her golden retriever of a boyfriend standing there looking shocked that she answered the door. She realized it had been the first time she had seen his face since he had bailed on their dinner to fight the Rhino. She couldn’t help the flash of frustration that boiled up. She had gone into the night expecting to be disappointed, but that didn’t mean it didn’t still sting when she had to send him off to save the city. 

She knew, she knew perfectly that he really didn’t want to leave. She saw him starting to resign himself to staying with her. But she also knew that if someone died because they were having dinner, it’d destroy him on the inside, and she couldn’t help but feel guilty too. Reasonably she also knew that it wasn’t their fault. Neither of them had an obligation to drop everything, always, to deal with every problem. It was impossible to solve crime in New York completely. But she also knew he had to try, so she had sent him off and tried not to let the disappointment sting too much as she paid for the dinner and left, head hung high in defiance.

Then she saw his face though. The way his cheeks seemed a little more sunken, his beautiful brown eyes seeming just a little bit dimmer. Beyond just nerves, he was seeming even more ragged lately, and she doubted it was just because of the dinner. She felt concern growing in her chest at his state. But she was at least glad to see him. She really did miss seeing him, even if they were busy. Even when they were tense around each other, the first person she always wanted to go to for comfort was him.

“Hi.” She offered, seeing as he was still seemingly reeling from being pulled out of whatever internal spiral he had found himself in. 

“U-uh hi. Yeah. I just…” He rambled, making her raise an eyebrow. She leaned against the doorframe and crossed her arms.

“I’m kinda busy.” She said, before wincing. That didn’t come out right. She knew he came over here to properly apologize, and probably had something else to tell her. It wasn’t that he was unwelcome, she just had a lot of studying left to do, and the lack of sleep and stress had made her snappy but she didn’t want him to think she was still angry about the dinner. That fight wasn’t worth it, and she had been the one to give him permission to go instead of making him choose between them that night. Ugh, emotions sucked sometimes. 

“Right! I know.” He cleared his throat. “I know. I promise I’m not here to bother you. I just… here.”

Peter offered her one of her thermos he had borrowed one night. She took a sip a bit confused until she felt the familiar taste of her current favorite tea. She couldn’t help but smile as she knew he remembered her favorite tea, even if she had a habit of changing it monthly. He still always listened and committed it to memory as if her preferences were something he needed to know more than the material for his midterms. 

“Also these. And an apology. I’m really sorry. I know I say that a lot. And it sucks. But I am.” Peter added as MJ found two boxes shoved into her arms too. Looking down, she was surprised as she saw they were boxes of that tea as well. Even when things had been tense, he still went out of his way to bring her a thoughtful gift he really didn’t have to. She wasn’t even waiting for an apology or some sort of peace offering. He had apologized plenty before and after he had left, but he still felt determined to make up the perceived slight to her.

She saw his gaze fall to the floor and she could practically see the crushing guilt he felt for literally saving people’s lives. He really was too kind for this stupid city that did nothing but chew him up and spit him back out. Moving forward, she tilted his chin up after moving her thermos to her other hand and shared a kiss with him.

After the kiss, he stared at her with that adorable slightly dazed expression he always had after they kissed. “I know you have work so I won’t distract you. I just… wanted to give you a little care package, and say I know you’ll rock this. I can proofread your article if you need me to too. Or just to get an opinion.”

Jesus, how did she end up with someone so sweet? He knew she was busy, despite being incredibly busy himself, and just wanted to support her without getting in her way. He also knew she liked getting a second opinion on her writing, and wanted to be there for her despite everything on his plate. Moments like these made her want to ask Stark for a suit just so she could beat up anyone who would dare hurt this man, just so she could keep him safe and give him the world.

“Thanks, Tiger.” She said. She couldn’t get past how ragged he looked though. The bags under his eyes were getting worse and his shoulders were sumping lower than they usually did. “Are you okay though?” She asked as she reached out to gently turn his jaw to get a better look at his profile. What normally made her heart flutter (he was <em>very</em> pretty) was now just making her concerned. His cheekbones weren’t normally this pronounced either, she had sketched them enough times to know for sure.

“Have you been eating? Sleeping? You look like shit.” She called him out, reading his expression to look for any of the rather obvious tells he had for lying. It really was a miracle more people didn’t know his identity because he sucked at lying. Or she had just spent too long staring at his face that she could read him like he was her favorite book. (He was)

“Oh, ouch.” She rolled her eyes, that little shit. He knew exactly what she meant. “Midterms.” Peter brushed off her concerns with a shrug. “Happens to us all. I mean you always look beautiful. But you also look a little less beautiful. Only stunningly gorgeous today.”

He had the audacity to look smug while trying to flatter his way out of her interrogation. No matter how sweet he was, she wasn’t that stupid. She gently shoved his shoulder. “I’m sorry I didn’t try to make myself look nice hoping you’d drop by unannounced.” She replied in a dry tone. “But Gwen and I are making sure we take care of each other. You’re still living alone since Ned moved in with Betty. I’m worried.”

MJ was straightforward like always, knowing beating around the bush with Peter didn’t usually lead anywhere. They resolved things better when they got straight to the point, that’s how they functioned as a couple. Peter would be too flighty if you let him when he was trying to hide something. His solution to hiding something was to leave, which always only made it more glaringly obvious.

“I’ll be fine. Just gotta get a lot done this weekend. Then I’ll rest next week sometime. Maybe we can have a night in, no suit, no alerts.” He said with one of the fake smiles MJ <em>hated</em>. She hated seeing him bottle up what he was feeling, and she was pretty sure even he knew she wasn’t fooled by them. 

But she was also a little startled by the desperation she could see in his eyes. She was used to seeing some sort of exhaustion, all college students had it. Even the non-super powered ones. But this almost scared her a little. Like the light in his eyes was flickering out and he was desperately searching for something to hold onto. A sort of lifeline to keep him going. 

“Yeah. Sounds nice. I’d like that.” She said, honestly meaning that. She wasn't sure if they’d actually get to have that night, but she was desperate to give him the comfort he so clearly needed right now. 

She leaned in for another kiss when her eyes saw his collarbones. “Pete, you need to eat. You’re losing weight again.” She scolded. She had also drawn his collarbones to know that they weren’t usually that pronounced either. (She drew him a lot, okay?)

She could see his own walls starting to form as he was rejecting the truth he was running from. That he needed help, like every person on this freaking planety did. “I will! I bought stuff today.” he offered, and MJ was not impressed.

“I can’t wait to read your article. You better send it to me!” With that he was off down the hallway, leaving MJ to watch him leave and lean against the doorway with a sigh. Her thoughts were now on him, and she could tell he was falling into a rut again. This happened occasionally when everything in his life seemed to pile on. 

Stepping back in, she set the tea down and texted Ned. 

<em>Peter just brought me a gift and offered to help me with work. Lemme know if our little santa shows up at your place next.</em>

There was a beat before Ned responded. 

<em>Oh shit, is he doing rounds again? He’s not Mr.Stark he can’t afford to give gifts every time he’s stressed.</em>

MJ knew that was true and walked back over to her work station, chewing her lip. Stressed out Peter around midterms was bad. But he was also left alone now, which meant it was even easier for him to push everyone away with his bad habits. MJ knew she had to talk to him tomorrow, check in just to make sure he was actually okay. Even if just for her sanity. She’d really rather find out she was reading too much into the situation and be wrong, than realize she was right. 

But that meant she had to finish her work tonight, so she could focus on him properly tomorrow. She didn’t moonlight as a vigilante, and she was a good student, so she was actually not too worried about her midterms, she had been studying properly. She just had to finish this article and she’d be good. Though some of that credit went to Gwen cause while it kinda sucked to keep yourself on track, it was easy to keep someone else focused so they worked together this term. 

When she got the text from Ned a little later, that he had indeed shown up, MJ felt more fear creep into her heart. That meant he was doing his rounds. This wasn’t just thoughtful Peter, this was panicked Peter. She just hoped he would take care of himself and get through this weekend in one piece.

MJ had to employ every trick in her book to stay focused to get through the article and not let her day be wasted worrying about Peter. There wasn’t much she could do right now, other than set herself up to be in a good position to help him.

When she finally heard Gwen come home a little later she looked up and offered a smile.

Gwen turned, one earbud in as she sang along to the music in her ears. A song her boyfriend Miles had shown her recently she recognized. She paused when she saw MJ, and her brow furrowed. “What’s wrong with Peter?” Gwen asked, setting down her stuff and moving to sit across from MJ.

Scowling at being read so easily, she crossed her arms a bit defiantly. “What do you mean?” She asked, just to be a little difficult. 

Gwen rolled her eyes, not impressed with MJ’s show of bravado. “You have your Peter scowl on.” She explained simply.

“I <em>don’t</em> have a Peter scowl.” MJ replied.

In return, Gwen gave MJ the flattest look she had ever seen on the girl. “You’re chewing your lip, your shoulders are hunched and you keep glancing at your phone. You wouldn’t look at the phone if it had to do with your work, and Peter would be over here too if it had to do with Ned. Seeing as I haven’t gotten any major news updates it means Peter’s not kicking butt right now either, which meant something is wrong with him.” Gwen reasoned annoyingly well.

MJ just sighed. “I hate you sometimes.”

Gwen shrugged, a cheerful smile on her face. “You’re not that complicated once someone gets to know you. But what’s up, is he okay?” Gwen asked, leaning forward.

MJ thought about being stubborn for a little longer, but realized she was just being moody because she was in fact worried about Peter. “I don’t know. He’s doing his rounds again.” MJ said, motioning to the tea boxes on the counter.

Gwen looked over before she sighed. “Ah, I see.”

It turned out Gwen and Peter got along pretty well, and she had joined the Friends of Spider-man club pretty quickly. In true Parker fashion, it had been an accident. He had climbed into her window one night after a fight with the vulture, half dead and bleeding. Gwen had heard the thump and MJ’s freaking out, and came to investigate. The blonde had thought she was killing Spider-man until she saw who it was with his mask off. Since then, MJ was actually grateful she had someone else to freak out with when stuck watching the news during a nasty fight, or someone she could openly complain to when it came to the more difficult aspects of dating a superhero. 

Peter had apologized about potentially putting Gwen in danger by knowing and Gwen shut that shit down hard, scolding him almost as bad as MJ had about not getting to choose whether she stays involved with him for her. That was when Gwen had cemented herself as MJ’s number one female friend.

Gwen leaned back on the chair, twirling her hair as she thought through the situation. “I assume May is okay?”

MJ nodded. “He doesn’t hide stuff like that. If she was sick he would have told us straight up. I don’t think it’s Avengers related either. He’s gotten better about telling us when he can’t give us specifics.”

Gwen nodded, sighing. “Maybe it’s just midterms? We’re all kind of a mess right now.”

MJ sighed, running her hand through her hair with frustration. “Maybe. I don’t know. He hasn’t been sleeping and he’s lost a lot of weight. Again. The idiot is also trying to hide it.”

Rolling her eyes, Gwen stood up. “Like he’s good at hiding things.” She put her hands on her hips and looked at MJ. “Come on, you need a break. I’ll order some chinese food, you choose a movie. You’re not going to get any work done like this, and I’m putting off studying.” She replied cheerfully, making MJ laugh. 

“Fine. Fine.” MJ reletened, saving her almost done article and closing her laptop. She needed a distraction and to process the new problem in her mind so she could get back on track.

By the time Gwen had finished ordering their usual MJ had chosen a movie and was curled up on one end of the couch, clutching the pillow close as she stared at the TV. 

“Aww, you don’t even realize you’re doing it, do you?” Gwen said, sitting on the opposite end and nudging MJ’s thigh with her foot.

Returning fire with a confused look, MJ tilted her head slightly. “What?”

Pointing at the pillow MJ was clutching to her chest, Gwen waited. 

Looking down, MJ saw that she was clutching the Spider-man throw pillow Gwen had gotten her as a joke gift for her birthday after she found out about Peter. Petulantly, she turned her head back towards the movie, but made no attempt to hug the pillow less. She did however scowl when Gwen’s laughter rang out. 

When her phone let out the jingle set only to Spidey news, her heart sank. “He’s not stupid enough to go out this weekend, right? He has midterms and he looked like he was barely holding himself together. He’s not that fucking stupid, right?” MJ asked herself mostly as she dove for her phone. Sure enough news reports of Spidey fighting the Rhino were at the top of her notifications. 

“I’m gonna kill him.” MJ said, glancing at Gwen who had already paused their movie and was turning on the news.

Gwen winced as she saw Rhino throw the car at him. “Looks like you might have to get in line.”

“GWEN!” MJ shrieked at her, still staring at the screen. 

“Sorry, wrong time.” Gwen offered, her eyes glued to the shaky footage. 

They both gasped as Peter was slammed against the wall by the car then the Rhino and from the helicopter footage there was a heart-stopping moment where it looked like he had been impaled. Before MJ could even begin to process that horrible reality Peter had kicked him off and continued the fight. 

When Rhino was finally down MJ felt like she had lost another year to her life. “He’s so freaking stupid. I’m switching majors and becoming an architect so I can build him a special prison so he can stay there and be safe. I’ll build him a fucking jungle gym so he can still feel like Spider-man if he wants to. I’m never letting him go out into the fucking streets again.” MJ ranted as Gwen rubbed her back. 

Then they saw the cops pointing guns at Spider-man and MJ was on her feet. “Are you serious? The fucking cops are going to shoot Spider-man because they can’t do their goddamn jobs? That they have to let a student clean up the messes they can’t with their defense fund of a budget in this freaking city?”

Gwen stayed silent. Her dad was a cop, and she knew most of the cops did like Spidey, but she also knew that orders were orders. She was also aware MJ was still in one of her spidey-panics and not actually looking for a calm rational debate about police funding.

Luckily they watched Peter vanish and they switched back to the movie, Gwen stealing glances occasionally as she saw MJ slowly come down from the rush. They finished their movie and food and both went back to work. 

By the time MJ had finished her first draft of the article she felt like she had calmed down. She knew Peter would be back from patrol by now, and hopefully eating and taking a rest so she sent him a text.

<em>Saw the alert. You okay?</em>

She knew he was probably fine if he hadn’t come crawling in her window asking for help. Which was good news. But she also always wanted to just pull him into a hug and keep him safe after she saw him on the news which she didn’t get to do when he was back at his place.

<em>I’m fine. Nothing broken this time. Promise.</em> Was his response. She stared at it for a moment, as if the text on the screen would reveal more information if she intimidated it enough. She was pretty sure he was telling the truth this time at least. “Nothing broken, he says.” She relayed to Gwen, who let out a sigh of relief.

<em>You better not be lying. Wanna read my article? Are you caught up on midterms?</em>

She responded, already pulling open an email to send it to him. She knew his response before he even typed it.

<em>Yeah, doing surprisingly well. I can use a break. Send it over.

Thanks, Tiger.</em> She responded and stared at the body of the email, debating what to say. 

Part of her wanted to scold him for going out when he had so much on his plate. Wanted to tell him he was being reckless. Another part wanted to praise him and leave him a sweet message. Hopefully give him something to smile about when he saw the message after the long fight, but that felt too cheesy.

She typed some stuff, staring at the blinking cursor. 

<em>Here’s the essay. Lemme know your thoughts. Make sure you drink water tonight, and go shower. I know you’re lazy about it after patrol.</em>

She chewed her lip, hovering over the send button. Was she too pushy?

“Oh my god, just hit send.” Gwen said, not even looking up from her own laptop. 

Reflexively MJ hit the send button before she even realized she was. “How did you know?”

“Because if you stared any harder at the laptop without typing anything it was going to catch on fire.” Gwen said, only glancing up to give her a smug smirk before looking back down. 

MJ flipped her off, which Gwen cheerfully returned.

Managing to review a few chapters from the notes she had, she finally got the email back from Peter. Scanning through it, she couldn’t help the smirk on her features. Sometimes fighting crime in spandex and geeking out over the newest electronic thing Tony made made MJ forget how smart Peter was in other fields as well. His points were well reasoned, and his critiques honest but fair. She found herself agreeing with pretty much every point he made, and almost felt dumb she didn’t catch them herself. 

“I take it he sent back useful notes?” 

“Stop reading me, Gwen.”

“Then make it at least a little bit of a challenge.”

MJ just scowled but texted Peter.

<em>Thanks Tiger, you’re the best. You actually made good points, I’m impressed. Need me to check over your essay?</em>

She couldn’t help the smile as she doodled a little spider in the corner of her notebook, spinning a web in the shape of a heart. 

<em>It still needs some work before I can show it to anyone. I’m good, thanks though. Love you.</em> Her phone buzzed. 

This made MJ frown again. “Needs some work” was his slang for not done at all. He wasn’t shy about showing her unpolished writing. He was shy about showing <em>unfinished</em> writing. That meant he was behind. And he still went out fucking patrolling. MJ threw her pen down, leaning her head back and rubbing her face. Was he trying to stress her out or was that a natural gift that came with the spider bite. That meant she needed to make sure he actually got some help with his essay tomorrow so he could get some much needed sleep.

<em>Love you too. Get some sleep, okay? I know the Rhino is annoying and I saw you get hit with that car. I can help you study tomorrow so get some sleep.</em> She practically ordered him. She knew the chances were slim, but she hoped just once he’d be a good little spider and listen to her when she was making sense.

<em>You still have studying to do too, don’t worry. I’ll be fine.</em> So much for that. She couldn’t think of a response that wouldn’t end up with them arguing with each other over text so she just set her phone down. His inability to accept help was seriously a problem and she was going to have to confront him about it after midterms. She’d drag in the whole FoS group if she needed to, because this wasn’t healthy. She knew he knew better, and she really didn’t want to date someone who couldn’t take care of themselves. Especially when she knew he could, but wouldn’t. That was the most frustrating part of it. 

Gwen must have read she was at her wits end because she closed both of their laptops. “That’s enough for tonight. You look like you’re about to kidnap Peter yourself and I stopped caring about my grades about an hour ago so we should sleep. Tomorrow we can figure out how to download the latest update of common sense into Peter, okay?”

MJ nodded, leaning back in her chair. “Yeah. You’re right. Thanks Gwen.” She got up and pulled her friend into a hug. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Gwen returned it and shrugged. “Either kill Peter, or kidnap him and put him in a zoo for safety, probably.”

MJ laughed. “We have some unused space here. We could build a nice little enclosure for him.”

Gwen rolled her eyes. “Please, we both know whenever he’s over here he stays in your bedroom.”

MJ flushed red. “Shut up!” 

Gwen just laughed and walked away, waving her hands as she disappeared into her room.

MJ made sure the apartment was locked up safely before she went to her bed, pulling the little Spider-man plushy she had gotten to see the reaction Peter would make when he saw it a little closer, and was out within minutes. 

XxXxXxXxX

The next morning MJ found herself making the trek to his apartment. She had her backpack with her work in it, one of his favorite coffees and some bagels for breakfast. She thought it might be a little early, but also knew that he was probably already up because he was allergic to sleep even when he didn’t have nightmares. What she didn’t expect to see when she made her way up to his floor though was a couple of neighbors standing nervously in the hallway.

She approached a little faster. She quickly made her way to his door, knocking on it. “Peter?”

She tried knocking again when one of his neighbors approached. “You’re his girlfriend right. Is he okay? We heard shouting and a loud crash.” They said a bit nervously. MJ’s heart kicked into overdrive. Peter almost never shouted and crashing in a superhero’s house usually meant very bad things. 

“PETER!” She called out, fishing out his spare key he had given her and unlocked the door, closing it behind her to keep out prying eyes just in case. 

Setting down her bag, she looked around and felt her stomach sink lower and lower with each thing she saw. His place was a disaster, but it didn’t look like a fight had happened. It just looked like a mess. But even just a messy apartment, it was worse. 

Then she saw the pan sticking out of the broken cabinet and she gasped. Peter <em>never</em> abused his super strength. He was also so careful with it, always terrified of hurting or breaking things. 

She finally found him next to the counter on the ground, violently shaking and she could see the tears streaming down his face. “Peter?”

“MJ…” His voice sounded so broken she felt her throat tighten at the sound and it terrified her to her core. Even injured she had seen him with more life than this. She rushed over to his side, trying to find any injuries before she touched him but he seemed fine physically.

But this apartment… she saw the pile of trash, the dirty dishes, the laundry. This wasn’t a healthy space to live in, and was way worse than anything she had ever seen before. Peter was normally a bit of a mess, but all genius’ tended to be. This was different, this was scarier. They often said a person’s workspace is a reflection of who they are as a person, and she prayed that wasn’t true in this moment because she was terrified for Peter if it was.

“Are you okay?” She asked gently as she saw him, still shaking, still crying. MJ knew just how much he hated her seeing him like this, but he wasn’t even able to put up a front. Just what was going on?

“No…” His voice confessed and MJ pulled him into her chest, hugging him as tight as she could. She kissed the top of his hair, just holding him while he shook in her arms and she tried desperately to stay in control of herself. 

How much did Peter have to be hurting to fall this far? What kind of hell was going on in his head that led him to this situation. A part of her wondered how she hadn’t noticed the signs earlier. What kind of girlfriend was she if she couldn’t even tell her boyfriend was falling apart at the seams?

She forced those thoughts deep down inside. Now was not the time to dwell on insecurities. Peter was falling apart right now and Goddamnit she was going to fix it. She was going to help him fix it himself. Peter needed help, and there was no force in the world that would stop her from getting him the help he needed. Whatever it was, whoever it neede to be, MJ vowed as she held her shaking boyfriend that she was going to make sure he got what he needed and what he fucking deserved.

But she needed a plan. This entire situation was almost overwhelming, but she had to get a grip on things right now. Help him get his feet underneath him, so they could start to rebuild.

“S-stove…” He choked out.

MJ nodded, kissing the top of his head one more time before she stood up and turned off the stove that was emanating heat. She felt his hand resting around her ankle, desperate for contact still and a lump formed in her throat. How the hell had he gotten so low without anyone noticing?

She crouched down next to him, seeing him shaking still. She recognized that too now. It wasn’t just sadness, he had gone into a full blown sensory overloaded, because of fucking course Peter wasn’t in enough hell right now. 

“Peter…” She whispered as quiet as she could, knowing he would hear her just fine. “I’m going to turn off the lights then I’ll be right back.”

“I-I fi-” She cut him off with a brief kiss to the lips, staring directly into his eyes. 

“I love you so much, Peter. But I swear to God you are not allowed to use that phrase for the next week or I’m putting on the Rhino outfit and kicking your ass myself.” 

Thankfully her little threat got the tiny smile she was hoping for and she quickly made her way over to the light switch, flicking off all the lights in the apartment so only some light filtered in from the windows. She saw the pancake on the ground, and the plate on the edge and was able to piece together what had happened. She gently picked it up and set it on the plate before she sat down next to Peter again slowly wrapping an arm around him and letting him lean into her. 

MJ could feel his fists balling up in her (his) sweater and he continued to sob into her shoulder. She whispered the quietest reassurances and just let him get it all out. She knew how cathartic a cry could be, and she wanted to just let him ride the wave and let out whatever had been building up for so long. 

“It’s okay, Tiger. Let it all out. I got you. You don’t need to be strong right now. I got you.” She reaffirmed, kissing his head again.

MJ wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, and honestly she didn’t care. He needed her in that moment, and that was where she would be.

Eventually though it seemed like Peter was able to slowly piece himself back together enough for the sobbing to become occasional sniffles. He started to move back, but she held him in place for just a moment longer, not wanting him to rush into putting up any walls. They clearly needed to have a talk, and it was going to happen now. 

Scooting over, she sat so she was in front of him, letting her legs spread on either side of his legs so they could sit opposite in the tiny area between the island and the counter.

He stared at her for a moment, and she saw him open his mouth once or twice to say something before he closed it. 

She raised three fingers. “3 rules, okay?”

Peter seemed surprised, but a little grateful for her making the first move. He nodded after a moment, still quiet. 

“Rule 1. No apologies. Not right now. I love you Peter, and I’m here to help. I know you feel bad, but you do not need to feel sorry for crying, or for needing my help. You can make it up to me later, deal?” She offered, watching his reaction very carefully. She knew Peter, and she was pretty sure what he needed right now was some structure and order. If she felt like her approach was wrong she’d stop immediately, but she slowly saw him nod.

“Okay.” 

MJ beamed at him, squeezing his knee reassuringly. “Good. Rule 2. For the next week, you are not allowed to say the phrase ‘I’m fine.’ I don’t care if you are, in fact, fine. You can’t say that. Be more descriptive, and be honest. I won’t use that phrase either, deal?” She offered, waiting, watching.

He looked at her for a moment, before he nodded again, another small smile. “Okay.”

MJ grinned and reached over to hold his hand on the floor, entwining their fingers. 

“Good. Rule 3. We’re talking. Right now. About everything we can. No running away, no getting mad, no assigning blame. Either of us. Nothing else matters right now. Not midterms. Not Spider-man. Not even the next season of the Great British Bake-off. Just us. Right here, right now. I’ll be honest with you, and you be honest with me. Deal?” She asked. 

She could see the battle in his eyes. The desperate struggle between asking for the help he needs, and his desire to avoid being a burden to others. 

She waited patiently, but continued to squeeze his hand and beg him to reach out. 

“Please, Tiger. Let me in.” She said softly. 

She saw another tear escape him as he nodded. 

“Okay.”

Getting up awkwardly, she managed to lean over and share a quick kiss with him. She tried her best to convey how grateful she was, how much she loved him. Eventually she sat back and watched him carefully. “I’m proud of you. So much. I know how hard it can be, but you’re not alone.”

Peter nodded, resting his head back against the cabinet. 

“How are your senses?” She asked, still in that same barely audible whisper. 

“They’re better now. You noticed right away.” He offered with a small smile that brought just a little bit of light back into MJ’s life right now.

“I always was observant.” She offered, earning a bigger smile from him. 

MJ gently knocked her knee against his. “So what is going on?”

She could see the battle that raged in his eyes. Years of desperate self denial warring with the knowledge he needed help. 

“Peter, you know I love you right?” She offered and he nodded. 

“I can’t stand to see you like this. I can’t date someone who won’t take care of themselves.” For the briefest moment she saw something she almost never saw on him. Pure, unadulterated fear. She’d seen him stare down villains with more tech than him and a single desire to kill him with less fear. Stamping out the flames of <em>any</em> doubt she had just caused with her point she rushed on. 

“Peter, listen. I love you. And I am <em>never</em> letting you go. Not now, not ever. But you need… help.” She said carefully. She felt like she was walking a tightrope. There were a million ways this conversation could go, but she knew it had to happen. It was probably long overdue too.

“I can manage…” Peter tried weakly, and she could still see the warring desperation on his features. That was one look she never wanted to sketch. 

She gestured around a bit. “Tiger, things look a little… rough.” She squeezed his hand, trying to pour as much reassurance as she could into him. “We all need help, Pete. If I called you crying because the stress of finals was too much, would you break up with me?” She asked patiently. A little smirk came to her lips as she saw the instant call to action as he almost looked offended at the suggestion. 

“Of course not! I would nev-”

“See?” She asked, knowing this point had been made before but hoping it stuck a little better this time. “Tiger, you have more on your plate than anyone else I know. You save the city nightly, you’re taking advanced chemistry classes, you’re dating a high-strung girlfriend, and you’re living alone. We can’t do everything alone.”

He was quiet, letting the words sink in. 

“I’m not alone…” He replied in a soft voice.

“Exactly. But you act like it.”

Peter’s eyes widened as he looked at her for a moment, and she could see thoughts forming and bursting in his head as the realization set in. She gave him the time he needed to process it. She wasn’t trying to catch him off guard, or trick him into accepting anything. She needed him to understand and accept the truth he was hiding from. The truth he thought he had to reject.

“How do you feel right now? Before I showed up.” She asked once she saw him relax a little. 

“...tired. I’m so fucking tired, Em.” He confessed after a moment. MJ knew <em>exactly</em> what he meant. It was beyond physical.

“That’s fine, Peter. You deserve to be after all the work you do. It’s normal to feel tired. But it’s also normal to do something about it.” She said and MJ could see it happening. She could see him slowly accepting the truth, slowly reaching out for the help he needed. 

MJ knew Peter’s struggles weren’t unfounded. They weren’t from a sense of laziness or pure stubbornness. Like her own struggles with emotions and letting people in, they were formed as a natural response to years of life battering the lesson into them. Losing his parents, then Ben. Having to hide his identity from the people who loved the most in order to keep them safe because there were people out there who would use them in a heartbeat to get to him. 

Peter’s walls weren’t just him being stubborn. They were a desperate survival instinct to prevent him from losing anyone else. But that had to end. He had some many people in his life who loved him who would be more than happy to help him out just a little of the amount he helped them. He just had to let them. 

“... I don’t know what to do.” His voice was a little louder, as if he was accepting the words finally. “MJ, I promise you I’ve been trying. There’s just so much. There’s just so fucking much right now. I swear I wasn’t trying to let you do-”

MJ silenced him with a kiss, knowing he was on another spiral. She leaned back after a moment, making eye contact with him. “Peter. I know you have. I’m so fucking proud. I know you have been trying. You’ve done so much Peter, I know that. You’ve managed more than what many people could with half of your responsibilities. You’ve always been my hero.” She said with as much conviction as she could possibly muster to get the message across.

 Because she was so fucking proud of him. For both trying as hard as he did, even if it had been a little misguided. She knew how earnest he was in trying to do what he thought was right, and that was what mattered. But she was also filled with pride for him accepting that he needed to change too.

Peter lowered his legs and MJ sat on his lap, straddling him. “It’s okay to not know what to do either. I don’t either. Gwen is half the reason I haven’t dropped out of my classes, and you’re the other half. Peter, you’re the reason I’ve been able to make all these connections in my life. Because you had the answers I needed about opening up, and you helped me.” She admitted, kissing him again. “Peter, you’re the voice in my head when I’m filled with doubt. It’s your red and blue spandex butt that gives me the kick I need.”

Peter laughed, but his eyes were shining at her, like she had just told him the secret to the universe. God, she was so hopelessly in love with her dork.

She pressed on just a little more, knowing they were finally there. “You know what needs to happen next, right?” She asked, reaching up to cup his cheek and give him the permission she knew he was still desperately seeking. 

“I…” He trailed off, chewing his lip. “I need to ask for help.”

MJ kissed him. Hard. God, she was so fucking proud of him. It was such a simple statement, and the farthest thing from a secret. But she knew how hard that statement could be. She knew how hard it was for her when she found herself in college still pushing away anyone who attempted to get close to her and clinging to Peter. Putting yourself out there was one of the scariest things a person could do.

When she pulled back, she gently wiped away some of his tears. “Correct.”

Peter laughed, his arms sliding to her waist. “I should be correct more often, then. If that’s how I get rewarded.”

MJ felt her heart soar that he was making jokes again. That he was slowly pulling himself back together.

She felt his fingers fidgeting on her side. “Do… you think they’ll still help me? I don’t know how much help I need but I’m worried it’s too much…”

MJ couldn’t control the laughter that escaped her as he stared at her, utterly bewildered. 

“Peter…” She said, slowly regaining her composure. “You sweet summer child, you have no idea how many people are in your corner and ready to help you.” She said, reaching her arms up to his shoulders and rubbing her thumbs over his collar bones. “We’ve been waiting for you to ask us.”

Peter’s eyes brimmed with tears again as he nodded. She could see there was still some disbelief. She didn’t blame him, it wasn’t like you could completely change years of habits in one conversation. But she could see his determination there, to make a change. That was all that was ever needed. 

“Peter, I’m pretty sure you could declare war on a country and you have enough people to overthrow it on your side.” She teased, only half joking though. She’d been around the Avengers enough with him to know they would literally walk through hell for him.

“I have had my eye on Canada…” He muttered and MJ laughed again, maybe a little harder than the joke deserved but the rush of endorphins of this conversation and breakthrough had her on an emotional high.

“So what now?” He asked, and she could see the yawn escaping him. She knew just how tiring emotions could be, let alone the fact he clearly had been putting his body through hell if that bruise that she had been doing her best to ignore was still that bad. 

MJ’s mind was already off to the races though. Plans were forming, she knew who she needed to reach out to. The love of her life needed help, and finally, finally asked for it. She was going to make sure he fucking got it. She knew he had to be in control, he had to make the choices if he was going to learn, but she was going to give him every fucking option out there. 

MJ saw him watching her patiently, a slightly goofy smile on his face as he must have known she was deep in a plan.

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, MJ knew it was show time. “Okay, how much can you trust me this week?” She asked, a fierce determination in her tone.

Peter cocked his head to the side like the fucking golden retriever of a boyfriend he was. “Completely.” <em>Jesus</em>, how did he answer that so quickly and so honestly like that? He was way too good for this hellhole of a city.

Not even bothering to hold back the smile that she was pretty sure was most of her face now, she nodded. “Okay. You’re in complete control this week. You get the final say in everything, but I want you to just listen to me for now and I will do everything I can to help make things better anyway I can.”

She saw his eyes regarding him, flickers of an old doubt creeping in.

“You’re busy with midt-”

“Neither of us will fail our midterms either. I promise you this won’t be putting me out, deal? Let me help you, please. I promise you I want to be doing this, more than you know.” God, it was true too. She finally had a chance to give him just a little bit of the world he deserved, something MJ had been wanting to do for years.

Peter slowly nodded. “Okay, I trust you.”

She gave him a quick kiss before standing up, taking his hand and helping him up. 

“Okay. First things first, this place needs… help.” She said gently, and Peter laughed. 

“That’s an understatement. MJ, I appreciate you being gentle, but your snark won't scare me off. Promise.” He said, squeezing her hand. MJ couldn’t help but smile in return. Even when she was trying to be accommodating to him, he was still trying to reassure her that she didn’t need to change for him. 

“Okay, this place is stressing me out just standing here. You need to survive midterms and you’re not going to do that here. So pack your duffle bag you use for trips with some clothes, and bring all your Spider-man stuff too. You’re staying with us this week.” She ordered.

Peter’s eyes widened but he slowly nodded. He moved to his room to start, but he emerged a second later, eyes downcast. “I… my clothes… laundry…” He muttered out, and MJ could see the shame rolling off of him. She walked over, nudging his shin with her foot until he looked up at her. “We have washing machines too, dork. Just bring some stuff, preferably whatever doesn’t have your blood on it.” She offered with a smile. 

He slowly nodded and went back to packing. MJ was hardly going to fault him for not doing laundry. She understood how with everything piled up, it could just be another knife of shame in his gut, but it wasn’t like she had never had to steal Gwen’s clothes because she had nothing clean.

MJ glanced around the apartment while she waited and felt the lump come back in her throat. She wasn’t grossed out as much as sad. She knew that for it to get this bad, everything really must have piled on. He was usually pretty good about cleaning, from helping his aunt while growing up. The place was also barebones now. It hardly looked lived in as much as just where he crashed between activities. But she already had plans on how to help turn this into more of a home, and knew two women who would be more than eager to help him. 

When Peter returned with the duffle bag she saw him glance around. She could tell he was hating himself again so she stepped up. “Now get all the stuff you need for school, okay?” She ordered, snapping him out of his monologue as he nodded and started to gather his laptop and textbooks. MJ walked around, making sure nothing had to be unplugged or was left on, knowing he wouldn’t be here for a while.

A couple of minutes later and he was done. He stood near the door with his two bags, looking at the pile of dishes with unbridled disgust. She stepped into his line of sight, smiling at him. “Everything Spidey is hidden?” He nodded. “Good, now come on. Don’t worry about this place, I already have plans for this, okay? You’re not the only college kid with a dirty apartment.” 

Peter looked at her a bit wary of her plans but nodded with a smile. “Thanks MJ. I’m s-”

“Rule 1.” She interrupted, crossing her arms. 

He rolled his eyes but nodded. “Thank you for helping me, MJ.” 

“Better.” She offered, kissing him before turning him and shoving him out the door. “Let’s go, we still have work to do and my place smells better cause Gwen is obsessed with those air scent things.” 

Peter laughed, and they were able to make small talk as they made the trip back to her place, as she sent a text to Gwen.

<em>Peter is staying with us for the week. He finally asked for help. Time to rally the forces.</em>

A block later she got a text. 

<em>Thank God. He can learn! I assume you have plans? We’ll have a war council later.</em>

<em>So many. Operation Fuck-Parker-Luck is a go.

I’ll leave the fucking to you.

Gwen! I hate you. So much.

Love you too, I’ll bring home his favorite pizza tonight.</em>

MJ rolled her eyes, but glanced back at Peter who was looking at her confused. 

“Gwen is getting Pizza tonight for us.”

“She doesn-”

“Peter, do you really wanna tell Gwen not to help right now? You’re gonna be locked in an apartment with us for a week, I think you’re better off staying on her good side.” She offered and saw Peter let out a defeated sigh. MJ just smiled and squeezed his hand. “Good boy. I really don’t wanna listen to her yelling at you again.”

“Me neither.” Peter said, but she still saw the smile on his face. She knew Gwen was probably the best person to counter his chaotic energy with her own. MJ was probably the most stubborn out of all of them, but Gwen definitely was the more fiery. She remembered one time after a stupid fight she had with Peter, where it had really boiled down to her taking out frustration with school on him, and Gwen had literally locked her out of the apartment until she went and apologized to him.

By the time they made it back to the apartment, Peter looked practically dead on his feet. When she had done her check of his place to turn stuff off she saw how little food he had. She knew his physical state had to be awful as well. 

Ushering him into her room, she let him store his stuff while she moved back to their kitchen and made a quick sandwich. She knew he needed to sleep but wanted him to get a little more food in him first. She could worry about stuffing him full of food properly later. At least this week would give her plenty of time to try out the new recipes she had been collecting.

She knew the first problems she would tackle if she was going to get help for Peter, so while her zombie munched away on the sandwich with his eyes closed, she sent texts to Nat, Wanda, and Pepper. Just to give them a heads up that Peter had to talk to them later. She wasn’t going to make choices for him, but she knew the opportunities he had but was refusing to see so she just had to present them for him. 

By the time she had shuffled Peter back to her bedroom and into comfier clothes she had gotten back affirming messages from all of them to meet later. For now though, she got Peter to lay down and cuddled next to him in the bed, pulling his head against her chest as she carded her fingers through his hair.

“My paper…” he mumbled out, barely conscious. 

“Just sleep for now, Tiger. I got you. Everything will be fine.”  She muttered, kissing the top of his head.

“I know.” He muttered, pulling himself a little closer and he was out cold.

MJ just continued to run her fingers through his hair, so proud of him. So ready to help him. So full of love for him. She knew she had a long week ahead of her, but with him in her arms she never felt more ready for it.

[deniigi]

its about 2am and i read your polycule stuff and now i have heart palpitations thank u very much. it has filled a void i've been silently hoping for but never expecting and if you happen to decide that you will play around in your own little verse space and do more of those drabbles, i will eat that shit up so quick

Oho

Well you are in luck anon.

Because I wrote a short one the other day for the discord.

The prompt was: Peter and Sam being smart together, which my brain translated as ‘Peter being an asshole trying to get information out of Sam and Sam smiling at him tenderly while telling him to get fucked.’ ❤

---------

Sam apparently hid his suit from everyone, which Peter found ironic given that it was an invisibility suit and he lived with a blind dude.

Matt said that the suit tasted like batteries which was not unlike the time he’d told Wade that he smelled like depression and cocaine.

That is to say: invasive and unhelpful.

Peter decided that he was going to get actual information out of Sam.

Sam loved him. He said so. Jokingly. Directly after they’d fooled around and Peter had offered him a coffee for the road. But like. It was still a declaration, no?

Shut up, Johnny, no one cares about your opinion.

The goal here was to wheedle information on the suit out of Sam.

 --

It didn’t come.

Sam laughed and told him Peter suit was made of hopes and prayers and then asked him about cacti.

He was a cunning and wily adversary, since that way definitely lay a Wikipedia time-suck that took up most of Peter’s afternoon.

 --

 Peter thought that maybe his charm could make it happen this time. He coaxed Sam east of Chinatown and wrapped arms around his waist and set his chin on his shoulder and told him to give up the suit.

It made Sam laugh really hard, which was a sign that the charm was working.

But then he leaned back into Peter’s grip and whispered in his ear that he’d give up his secrets only on pain of death, so keep going.

“You’re not that pretty,” he said tenderly, playing with the ends of Peter’s hair. “So I imagine we’ll be here for a while.”

Rude.

Rude as hell.

 --

 He tried to go through Hannah, but Hannah blinked at him and asked him who the fuck he was. Once he’d explained that he was her sibling’s kinda-boyfriend, she was so scandalized, she slammed the door and called Sam there and then to demand to know why he hadn’t told her of any kinda-boyfriends.

Hannah then emerged from the apartment again and pointed a finger at Peter and said, “Break his heart and I’ll break yours,” while Sam tried to talk her down on the phone.

So that was a bust.

 --

 He decided that he needed to think smarter, not harder here.

He located Blondie. He gave him the job of going into one of the baby Peters’ verses and locating a baby Sam to interrogate for information about the suit.

Blondie said he was on it.

He came back really quick, too, and then introduced Peter to a six-year-old.

Gwen laughed her ass off at him.

He told her to watch her back and then hunkered down to ask this teeny, tiny Sam what his feelings on invisibility were. Teeny, tiny Sam told him that this was a Pokémon move, which Peter already knew. So that wasn’t helpful at all.

He told Blondie thanks for his help, but no thanks.

 --

 “So it’s batteries,” Peter said, following Sam around the office.

Foggy loomed menacingly over the copy machine. Sam shooed him aside and took over standing by, collecting the papers it spat out.

“Everything runs on batteries, Peter,” Sam said, shaking his head.

“Right, so you’ve got an electric pulse going through. How do you distribute it evenly? What material are you using? Is it a superconductor? Are the batteries powering a cooling system?”

Sam blinked slowly at him and snatched another page off the copy machine.

“You wanna know what it is?” he asked.

“Yes. Desperately,” Peter said.

Sam waved him in close. Peter leaned in. Sam waved him in even closer.

He got right up against Peter’s ear.

“None of your fuckin’ business,” he said.

He pulled back and nabbed another paper with a smile.

“Any other questions?” he asked.

Uh. Dinner?

“Delighted to,” Sam said.

 --

 Mirrors.

It had to be mirrors.

“Yeah, man, he goes out as a human disco-ball every night and fights crime,” Johnny deadpanned. “That would totally work.”

Peter dumped him off the couch and took his place to lean over it and address MJ and Ned.

“Mirrors,” he said.

“Probably not,” Ned told him. “Invisibility is more likely achieved through manipulating light than mirrors, Peter.”

How? Explain.

“Oh, well, it’s probably a filtering system,” Ned said. “But it could be some kind of material that he’s made that uses the spectrum of light that we can’t perceive. It might be actually reflecting, now that you mention it. Kind of like a mirror, I guess.”

Peter stared.

“I didn’t pay attention in Wade’s torture class,” he said. “Do you think I should call him to re-book or?”

“Or you could just drop it?” MJ said. “Sam’s tech is Sam’s tech. Leave him alone and ask him about fuckin’ willow or something like you always do.”

Peter huffed.

“But science, Michelle,” he said.

Her gaze stayed flat.

 --

 “Okay, so I respect your defense of your ideas,” Peter said. “Like, a whole lot. But I just want to see it. Please?”

Sam lifted an eyebrow.

“Me in the suit,” he said.

“I’m dying for it,” Peter said.

“You just want to see me in the suit. That’s all,” Sam said.

Yes, pretty much.

“Okay, sit there. Don’t move.”

Holy shit.

Yes.

 --

 The suit was black with white stripes that went in some kind of pattern that Peter didn’t understand. He swore that they moved every time Sam did.

Sam held his hands out to the side.

“Suit,” he said.

“Hot,” Peter said. “Come here.”

“No, you’ll steal my trade secrets,” Sam sniffed. “You stay over there.”

Peter whined and made himself as sexy and charming as possible. He patted a leg seductively.

Sam’s mask was unreadable, but Peter saw him roll his eyes anyways.

“I hate you,” he said, coming over to sit on the designated thigh.

Yes. Science.

“Babe, you’re so sexy when you’re hiding intellectual property from me,” Peter crooned into his hair.

Sam leaned back against him and laid a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t call me ‘babe,’” he said sweetly.

“Or what?” Peter hummed.

Then blinked. Because he had no Sam.

O…kay?

No ‘babe.’ Message received. Where the fuck—

“Boo.”

He shrieked.

Sam laughed. Peter clutched at his chest.

“How did you do that?” he asked as Sam climbed over the couch and sweetly draped his legs over Peter’s.

Sam took off his mask and wiggled his black-gloved fingers.

“Magic,” he said. “Now you, sir, owe me dinner.”

 --

[mikasaessucasaa]

Four Spiders and a Lawyer

PART 1

Michelle is a lawyer for superheroes. She’s the first one to admit that she was definitely inspired by her ex-boyfriend, but she thinks it’s meaningful work and she’s really damn good at it.

She’s been scouted by the Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D., and her proudest achievement — Pepper Potts, and she rejected all of them to represent underprivileged super-heroes.

She represents those who are just starting out in their superheroing careers, or those discriminated against even if they literally save lives everyday. Cause turns out the world still sucks even if you’re super powered.

She doesn’t mind her tiny office in the middle of Chinatown. She enjoys the crowds of tourists mixed in with locals, the interesting delicious and pungent smells. She doesn’t even mind The Hand and Chinese Triads, in a twisted way they keep the peace, and provide rent control for some of her favorite restaurants. She’d never tell her superhero clientele of course.

She loves it all. And if she happened to pick the furthest point from Queens in the city without going to Staten Island, well, no one was supposed to ever know it was because she was done breaking up and getting back together with Peter for the better part of a decade and a half.

So why the hell were there all of a sudden three Spider-People in her office?

“Spider-Man,” she says at them with pretend disinterest, though they must hear how her heart pounds and her body tells her she needs to get out of this situation lest it snowballs into everything she’s been avoiding for years.

“Yes?” Two of the three Spider-People turned to look at her, startling her.

“Okaaay,” she draws out. “OG Spider-Man,” referring directly to Peter, “what the hell is going on?”

“Well, you see, Mrs. Jones-Osborne—“

“Just Jones.”

She can tell his eyes light up from behind his mask from the way that he says, “Wow that’s great!”

And she couldn’t stop rolling her eyes. She’s not going to go into how her marriage basically fell apart because of her job, to her ex-boyfriend. Fundamentally, it just wasn’t going to work out when her ex-father-in-law was a super-villain. And she definitely wasn’t going to tell him that maybe he had been right to object at her wedding.

It’s the most traumatizing experience she’s ever had in the last ten years, and that included some of her drunken shenanigans in college when she thought she was going to die without him.

“Look Em, I just want you to be happy, and I don’t think Harry makes you happy like you say he does” he had said in front of all of her family and friends. And how dare he, how fucking dare he tell her what was best for her like he always did.

Her face burned, and a scream was building in her throat.

But she had said with all the calmness and hatred that she could muster, “I’m just as happy as I always said I was, and if you can’t see that, then I don’t think we’re the friends you thought we were. Maybe we shouldn’t even be friends at all.”

And now to see him in front of her again, knowing that he was right all along. God she could die from the humiliation.

She gestures for him to continue.

“I’m kind of mentoring the next generation of Spider-People, and we may or may not have gotten into some legal trouble,” Peter answers awkwardly, and she knows him well enough to know that he’s a splotchy red under the mask because he hates admitting that he messed up and needs help.

“Miles is getting sued for reckless endangerment,” Young Spider-Woman jumps in.

“Gwen!” Young Spider-Man cries out.

“Miles! We’re not supposed to say names!” Peter follows.

Oh my god, she thinks. She feels a headache coming on. “Alright. If everyone could just please follow the number one rule of this office, that would be great,” she says pointing to the large sign behind her saying:

ABSOLUTELY NO IDENTITY REVEALS

Now she’s going to have to get her brain scrubbed by Dr. Strange again, but maybe if she’s lucky he’ll scrub her memories of Peter too.

Before she can say anything else, Silk crashes into the room, and Michelle is pretty sure she broke her door. Dammit.

“Woah, MJ! You’re our new lawyer? Sick! Do you remember me? It’s me Cindy!” Silk says, going further than everyone else and removing her mask.

And what the hell — “Cindy? I haven’t seen you in ten years since you —“

“Bailed on our date —“

Peter interjects, “Wait what, you two were dating?”

“Not that it’s any of your business,” Michelle mumbles.

And Cindy continues, “— yeah well you know how hard it is to be in a relationship when you’ve been trapped in a bunker for ten years. Peter actually got me out! Isn’t that great?”

“Super.”

“So, you think we could pick it back up?”

“Cindy!” Peter yells.

Michelle coughs. “Uh sorry, I don’t date my clients.”

Cindy pouts. “Oh, well we can just find another lawyer can’t we?”

“We can’t afford another lawyer,” Peter hisses. “Now sit down!”

They settle in, or Gwen and Miles do but Peter and Cindy are standing in the opposite corners of the room, and Michelle asks, “So uh is Cindy another one of the next generation?”

“Uh y-yeah,” Peter stutters before being cut off by Cindy.

“Actually, we have this weird spider attraction where we can barely keep ourselves from having sex so we don’t really ever work with each other. But I really need a lawyer sooo,” Cindy says.

She shouldn’t have asked if she didn’t want to know, but her curiosity wins out, and she continues, “So how are you not just trying to rip each other’s clothes off right now?”

Cindy tilts her head, thinking through it. “I actually kind of want to rip off your clothes more?”

Peter looks like he wants to say something, though it’s hard to tell cause his mask is still on and she’s guessing by the way his head tilts, but he holds it in. It’s probably for the best, he would have ended up agreeing with Cindy anyways.

"And do you also need a lawyer for reckless endangerment?" Michelle asks.

Cindy shook her head. "Actually, the IRS is suing me for unpaid taxes over the last ten years I was in the bunker."

Michelle sighs. She hates tax law.

"Alright, lay it on me."