#post ffh fanfiction

[tomhiddlestonsangel]

geez louise this fanfic is long-

If you guys havent seen my fanfiction post over on my writing blog at @mileschoosesdeath or my ao3 account at the same name, here is your chance to take a little sneak peek ( I might post some snippets on that account as well as here so that everyone can see)

just a brief synopsis: this is basically "what if odysseus from EPIC canon was reborn as MCU peter parker ? " and the second chapter currently is me writing odysseus' journey in peter parker's body and since its a long 16-17 years- WHOOO- its a long one

currently on NWH rn and man- my heart is breaking - at the parallels

well, now that i got my rambles out of the way, some snippets:

before i do, some snippets may contain spoilers for the epic sagas (currently) and the movies that contain Peter Parker such as Civil War, Homecoming, Infinity War, Endgame, FFH, and NWH

with that out of the way, snippets ahead!: -------------------------------------------------------------

He sees Ben on the ground and Odysseus tries to save him, to keep him in this changed world but it's inevitable.  Ben dies and he’s left to chase the man who committed the crime.

Peter reaches the man, and Odysseus is at first chanting ruthlessness is mercy, ruthlessness is mercy, ruthlessness is mercy when he catches the reflection of the teen in a broken shard of mirror.

Peter’s eyes are filled with tears and he looks so young. So young to have the world take everything away from him. He’s reminded of his son, Telemachus, the bright-eyed boy who cried when his father revealed himself.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Odysseus notices the wizard acting strange. He’s twitching with his eyes shut almost… almost as if he's seeing the future. 

I am the prophet, with the answers you seek

The stone glows on his chest and they can’t help but feel a bit nervous. 

Time, I’ve unlocked it, I see the past and future running free

Strange gasps and stumbles, causing everyone to rush to his side.

“What was that?” Peter asks as he helps the man get his bearings.

Strange looks at them all and Odysseus cringes when he sees Tiresias’ face flicker on the man’s for a second.

"I went forward in time,  view alternate futures, see all the possible outcomes of the coming conflict." Strange’s voice is heavy with something Odysseus can't pinpoint.

"How many did you see?" Quill asks.  Mantis and Drax look at each other with uncertainty. Peter drums his fingers nervously.

Doctor Strange took a deep breath before saying, “Fourteen million, six hundred and five.” It’s dread, Odysseus realizes. Strange is afraid to reveal something.

There is a world, where I help you get home

"How many did we win?" 

Tony looks at Strange with a certain determination, like he is letting Strange handle this. Odysseus knows what’s about to happen, his voice wanting to be let out and shout stop, don’t listen–

“One.”

 He’s staring directly into Tony’s eyes and everyone gasps.

But it’s not a world I know

--------------------------------------

The last one explodes and they land on the bridge, facing down Mysterio.

However, Mysterio is nothing but a sore loser, like Poseidon and he challenges Peter to a battle with the last remaining drones.

We’ve got this, Odysseus reassures. Just follow my lead.

The drones drop Peter in a dark void and Peter closes his eyes before Odysseus takes the reins.

Actually, it's Odysseus, Peter, and their Spider-Sense working in tandem. They swing, dodge, kick, and fight their way through, while Peter shuts off all his thoughts, feelings, and essentially himself.

Fight, little wolf, fight

Take advantage now and Strike, little wolf, strike

Don't go down without a Fight, little wolf, fight, little wolf

Get up and fight

-------------------------------------------

“Strange-’” Peter laughs nervously, without a smile on his face. “They will die if you send them back.”

“Parker,” Strange glares at them. “It is their fate. They cannot escape it.”

“But-” Peter tries to plead their case but Strange cuts him off. “We cannot change the wheels of Fate anymore than we can stop them .”

Odysseus now feels horrified. This was Astyanax, Scylla, and the wrath of Zeus all over again. He faintly heard the baby crying for his mother, the crackling of his men's torches, and the pounding of thunder in the sky.

What were they about to do? Were they going to swing the axe of fate down on these villains just as he had done all those centuries ago?

“I’m sorry, kid,” Strange said, placing a hand on Peter’s shoulder. “This is their only way home, and the only way to fix your life.”

This is your only way home, the lair of Scylla.

But Scylla has a cost

It's just an infant

It's just a boy

What sort of imminent threat does he pose, that I cannot avoid?

Captain? I have to see her.

But we’ll die. I know.

Peter made his decision right there and then.

------------------------------------------------------

“Like you did?” Strange retorts. “I know what you did all those centuries ago, Odysseus,” He spat the name like an insult. “You threw a baby off a wall-”

“I didnt want to!” Odysseus cries, his hand faltering on his sword. “Who was I to question the gods?”

“You did it anyway!” Strange roars. “You led your friend, Polites to his death all because you wanted to greet the world with open arms” Odysseus’ grip falters on his sword but he held steadfast.

“You also sent six men to their deaths all because you wanted to go home to your wife- You fed them yourself!”

“That’s not- I-” Odysseus sputters, his sword shaking in his hands.

“You sent the rest of our crew to their deaths so that you could appease Zeus' debt. What makes this act any more different than your crimes?”

-------------------------------------------------------------

OKAY! That should be the last of the snippets I can post before I spoil huge plot points in the story. I will post some of these snippets again over on my writing blog (@mileschoosesdeath) [for some reason, it seems like my posts don't get as much attention on that blog than this one, I don't know why]

so! before i forget! the first chapter is actually up on my ao3, (mileschoosesdeath), [same name as the tumblr-blog, ]

Link down below of the chapter, in case you cant find it on your own-

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVvv

Well! Thats all for now! I hope you guys enjoy my fic! As a prize for sticking around on this long post: behold! my favorite song from the entire musical!

see yall around!!

[aces-drew]

SCARS + SPIDEYCHELLE

hello everyone, i think the last time i wrote anything was about about a year ago when infinity war came out and i was angsty lol. i am back, and severely out of practice but i read this trope post and i could practically see this one shot map itself out so i wrote it at like 2AM, please be kind and leave a like/reblog/comment i’m a literal hoe for validation thanks!! 

author : marvelspeterparker (previously: michellejonessparker)

fandom : spideychelle; peter and MJ (mcu)

word count : 998 words

tags : angst, fluff, they kiss and stuff lol (maybe ultra light smut??? idts but idk imma put it anyway), wholesome imo, set in the future (like 20/21 years old)

warnings : none

Peter had always been the funniest guy MJ knew. For as long as she could remember, Ned and Peter had been hilarious, but Peter was something else. Somehow, he had always carried it with him. It was a weird goofiness that made MJ feel warm whenever she was around him, it made her feel safe. And to MJ, that was so unbelievably and irrevocably calming.

But as Peter was standing in front of her right now, in the apartment they shared, MJ couldn't find the hilarity that had always upheld him. It shifted her insides uncomfortably. His face was illuminated by the bedside lamp they now shared, beside the bed they had recently purchased. His eyes hung heavy and the circles underneath his eyes, to MJ's knowledge and memory, had never been worse. He grunted in pain as she helped him readjust onto the pillow. He tried to force a smile to calm MJ down, but like most days, it didn't work. She was too worried about the hit he took saving the city. His city. Her city. Their city.

Sometimes she wished that he could be normal, that she didn't have to control her tears every week when she patched him up. That she didn't have a dull ache in her head every morning after, and that Peter looked more peaceful when he was awake, rather than when he was asleep next to her. But when she caught herself going down that path, she remembered everything he'd lost, and how much more love he deserved to have. She breathed and found herself again.

She looked at him and intertwined their hands, with her other, she felt his heartbeat. 'He's alive MJ, he's still here, he's right here, he's alive!' She kept saying to herself. 'But for how much longer?' She fought.

She felt numb. She couldn't look at the love of her life like this, half dead and unable to breath without being in pain.

'MJ, hey, MJ, look at me. Hey, look at me love look! I'm still here babe, I'm still kickin', look at me love!' He's spoken softly as his hands enveloped her face, readily reading her mind. He cupped her cheeks and stared intently at her.

Despite all of the pain, Peter's glistening eyes were the same comforting ones they'd always been, it seemed to ground her. She gently placed her lips on his, careful not to hurt him. They were taking it slow, but at the feel of Peter's lips, she had no idea why they weren't skin on skin yet. Everything about him enveloped her, and she couldn't really fathom the amount of love she had for this boy.

Peter moaned, and MJ's relief set in as she realized that it was not of pain. He carefully hoisted her onto him and trailed his arms underneath her shirt. The newfound intensity at his touch drove MJ wild, she knew that this wasn't the right time, but no part of her brain could bring herself to stop it. He took off her shirt and kissed her neck, MJ's head was buzzing, becoming murkier by the second. She was unable to form coherent thought. Peter had changed the pace of their kiss; it became more and more longing, more and more desperate. MJ knew that he was telling her that he was there, that he was alive and that he was with her. She gave in. She took the suit off him and opened her eyes.

MJ had seen him shirtless before, heck she'd seen all his scars, but today, she realized that there were way more than she had thought. Every inch of him was covered in an old or new scar, a different cut, varying in direction, varying in shape and in size, in intensity and color. It pained her that he was a battlefield, that he was chosen to carry the burden on everyone's behalf.

Peter looked up at her, ironically they weren't in any rush. Peter wanted to hold on this moment forever, watching MJ observing him, gaining the complete and utter confidence that she was with him, and that she wouldn't leave his side.

'Could you tell me about them?' She asked.

'You wanna know about my scars?' He asked in response, it was odd to him. MJ nodded intently. She had always wanted to put his mask aside when he got home from his night job, but tonight was different. Tonight she wanted to know more than that he was alive and that he was going to wake up next to her tomorrow morning as Peter and not Spiderman.

Peter smiled at the thought of it, he didn’t really talk about it much. He may have had accelerated healing, but the scars took longer to cure, they always had a small reminiscence on his skin. Now, a part of him was glad about it, that he had a token to prove his effort.

He felt, suddenly, very content that she had asked. The two of them readjusted on their bed, with MJ on Peter's laid out arm, head on his chest like she usually had, trying not to stress his fresh wounds, and Peter resting on a pillow.

After a few moments of their breaths mingling rhythmically, he began telling her everything, from his very first scratch to his very recent slash. Peter lent his soul to her; how he believed it was worth it, how he believed that everything he endured was enough if it saved one more life. One more Uncle Ben, one more Tony.

MJ fell more and more in love with him with each story, with every experience he was letting her relive with him. Finally, at the early hours of the morning, when the sun began to rise and painted the skies pink and orange, when they could no longer keep their eyes open, tiredness inevitably overcoming them, they drifted off to sleep in each other's arms. Together and wholly in love.

[maknae-on-ice]

I swear this boy is going to be the death of me one of these days🥵

[chaoticpete]

Matter of Time

Peter Parker x Stark!Reader

Part 4.0

Summary: What if you met what might possibly be the greatest guy in your life? Only one problem there’s a bit of a age gap. But what if something happens that gives you a chance to be with the guy you had a bit of a crush on? Will you take it?

Warnings: I’m so sorry, but no this is not the end

A/N: Lemmes just also thank you too an anon, lovely allicat ( @allegras-sunflower ) and The amazing @spideyspeaches for helping me with the messages and not even knowing it heh. Anyway enjoy!💖

First part

Second Part

You stand on the front steps of the school as students all around you walk into the building. It’s odd. The ones who disappeared really have no idea what to do. Everything is the same, yet different. New classmates along with old ones, new teachers, and the ones they did know, some look older.

You hear whispers as you walk over to your locker. Those who went to school with you the time would wave or give small smiles in your direction. Others would do the same, knowing what you lost in order for their families to gain them back. Others were more confused because last time they heard about the “Y/n Stark” you were winning the national science fair, and for them that was just two months ago.

“Y/n!” you turn to see Peter walking over to you, another boy by his side. “Peter!” you pull him into a hug. “How does it feel to be back with a new graduation class?” you ask going through your locker. “Weird. But the weirdest thing is that you’re in it.” he teases. “Oh, you must be Ned!” You say pulling Ned into a bit of a hug. “Oh my gosh, you’re really Y/n Stark.” Ned asks a bit starstruck.

Letting out a laugh, you look at Ned. “I am. And it’s nice to put an actual person to the name. Peter used to talk about you a lot when he would come over.” Ned looks over at Peter in shock. “You talked about me to Y/n Stark?! Before the blip?!” “Yes? I used to babysit her you know.” “More like I babysat you sometimes,” you say hinting at all the times he would mess something up in the labs.

“Well, well, well. So I guess it’s true. We have a Stark gracing us as a classmate.” A guy says walking up to your group. “Hey, Penis Parker! See you were lucky enough to come back so I can torture you for the rest of high school.”

“Flash, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me that. We’re about to be senior soon. It’s old.” You raise your eyebrow and look over at the guy. “You’re Flash?” You ask giving him a quick once over.

“Yep! But you can think of me as your future boo.” He says winking at you. “Never in a billion lifetimes thought I would have a chance with a Stark.” “Uh, you don’t. So you can just step out.” “You’ll want me one day.” He said walking away with his group.

“Freaking weirdo.” You say as you watch him walk away. “Sup losers.” A pretty girl says as she walks to your little powwow. “And Y/n.” She says giving you a small smile and nod before looking neutral again. “Hi, Mj right?” She nods and you give a small wave feeling like she’s not really the hugging type.

Someone covers your eyes. “Guess who?” They say and you can hear the smile in their voice. “Someone I can’t stand?” You joke. “Ruuddee!” She says as you turn to look at her. “Hey, Harper.” You say pulling her into a hug. “Hey N/n,” she says pulling you close. “Sorry about your dad. He was my favorite out of all of my friend’s dads,” she says giving you a small smile.

“And you were his favorite friend I had...just don’t tell Ethan it’ll crush him. Anyway, I want you to meet some people,” you say as you grab her hand turning back to the group. “Harper these are some of my new friends. Peter, Ned, and MJ. They came back from the blip. Guys this is my best friend Harper.”

Harper smiles and gives them all a wave before her eyes land on Peter. “Hey Y/n isn’t he-” “ANYWAY gotta go to first period, see ya guys!” you practically yell before slamming your locker shut and grabbing Harper’s hand before you book it down the hallway.

The three friends watch as you disappear. “She seems cooler than you nerds, see ya,” Mj says walking away. “Is she always like that Ned asks a bit confused at what just happened.” “Not that I recall.” Peter response just as confused.

Tags:: @tommyunderoos @sovereignparker @allegra-writes @cherry-hyejin @cunaeparker @hey-its-grey @gwenvrse @ambivalent-anarchy @kitkatd7 @buckys-other-punk @peterismymans @parkerpeter24 @peeterparkr @spideyspeaches @starlight-starks @chloe-geoghegan1 @mcuassemble @serendipitous-amor @timeless-crow @spideyyeet @unbelievableholland @qvrtcs  @everydaymj @lost-in-the-stars03 @throughparisallthroughrome @coni-martina @whatareyouhidingpeter @softfluffgirl @marvelobsessedteenager @far-from-holland @criminalyetminimal​ @fangirling12566​ @eternalharry​ @jessyballet @theofficialzivadavid @obsssedwithjustaboutanything @lauramacch

[mshermia]

What if... there were 3.5 billion more mouths to feed?

One of the things that bothered me about Far From Home was how they went from this existential crisis humanity had to live though (crumbling stadiums & support groups trying to get by in Endgame) to a fun school trip to a seemingly unaffected Europe.

Yes, the Snap in Infinity War was dramatic and scaring, but what about the *real* consequences that bringing all those people back all at once would have? What if after the snap of a finger, our planet - or rather our economy and infrastructure - would have to care for twice as many people that it wasn’t at all prepared to sustain?

WIP Update - LYKHIW timeline

This fic is about a conflicted Spider-Man who is unsure who to side with, when the “little guys” he swore to protect are the once taking by force what is technically not their’s to take, and a certain billionaire philanthropist who is only two weeks into his retirement.  

Chapters 1/2 | 3.4 K | Teen and Up

Tony froze where he stood, still hidden in the shadows of the entryway.

"...and I get that." Peter's arms were stretched wide. One in front of him at the crowd of people, the other towards Rogers and Barnes like he was urging them to stay back. "This is just not the way to do it, okay?"

With a pressing need for more information, Tony's eyes roamed across the warehouse. Besides the guy on his knees with the gun to his head, a few more people - he counted 10 of them - had been cuffed to three of the large storage shelves. Only a couple of people were standing guard over them. Most of the other intruders were busy stuffing their bags with everything they could— Food. It had just dawned on Tony what was stored within this facility. Canned goods and boxes of what looked like pasta, beans, or rice. These people were stealing food.

"You get it? You don't get anything!" It wasn't the guy screaming those words, just someone else in the crowd, a young woman. "When's the last time you had a warm meal, huh? We came back to nothing!"

"You have every right to be angry." The kid had turned a little away from the hostage, his arm still signaling for calmness. "Coming back to this was a shock. For me too, okay? But this... you don't want to do this. Just... just take the food and you can let him go, okay? This isn't you!" Tony's eyes shot back towards his Spiderling, frowning. "This is— hey... stop! Don't!"

The guy with the gun was pulling on the hostage's shirt, forcing him to balance himself a little more upright on his knees, squirming in his hold.

Rogers had shuffled a little closer. "You don't want to do anything rash now, son."

"Fuck off, traitor," the man spat back at the Captain.

"Stop, just..." Peter's eyes were still on the hostage and his abductor. "I told you to leave, Captain! You're not helping!"

"Spider-Man—" Rogers was interrupted, Peter's voice echoing off the warehouse walls.

"I said, leave!" The boy almost seemed to be panting.

###

Read Part I of Nothing Left To Lose on AO3 or tumblr

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WIP Page LYKHIW - timeline

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[aire101]

Ferrum Chapter 3

Something was wrong with the kid.  Other than the fact that they had just gotten locked into a death game, of course. Tony couldn’t put a finger on exactly what, but he didn’t like it.

Knowing who Tor was now, he also knew that this ‘something wrong’ predated Kayaba’s villainous monologue in the town square.  He could see it in the way he would sometimes catch Peter staring at him out of the corner of his eye with an expression as if he were chewing on glass, the way he reacted to being called ‘kid’ before their identities were revealed…

Then there was how the kid looked like he had seen a ghost after the reveal.  Or worse than that, considering the strangeness in their life and work.

It was obvious that something had happened in the last few years that he couldn’t remember.  Something that to Peter made it almost impossible for Tony to be here, stuck in this game with him.  But try as he might, he could remember nothing.

He could only hope that whatever it was he had broken this time, there was still a chance to repair it.

It didn’t take long for them to make it to the outer edge of the city.  And right inside the Eastern gate they found a small inn with a friendly NPC keeper who informed them that a double room would be 15 Cor for the night.  Tony quickly made the exchange and hustled them upstairs to their appointed room.

“Would you like dinner brought up?  It would be an additional 5 Cor for the both of you,” asked the keeper as they were shown to their room.

Honestly, Tony hadn’t even considered the concept of food since he woke up in this virtual world.  What was the point?

“Yes please,” said Peter, ever polite even to coded entities.

The keeper gave a smile and nod of confirmation before heading back down stairs.

“Is there a point in eating inside a virtual environment?” asked Tony as he closed the door behind them.

“Eating food in the game works like a placebo—it doesn’t actually help your body, but it makes you feel full.  Obviously our actual bodies will have to be put on a support system to be maintained, but if we don’t eat in game we’ll just go around being hungry sometimes,” said Peter as he plopped down onto one of the beds.

Shit… Tony hadn’t thought that far ahead yet.  And with Peter’s metabolism and mutations he would need care tailored to his physiology…

“Where are you?  In the real world?” asked Tony.

“I’m at Ned’s.  I’m actually on his Nervegear system.  He let me have the first run on the game.”

“I’m assuming at this point he would have heard about the situation.  Who do you think he will have called?”

“Probably Aunt May.  And if he called Aunt May, her first call would probably be to Happy,” said Peter.

Tony gave a relieved sigh.  If Happy was on the short list, he was sure Hap would get Peter squared away with Tony’s medical team ASAP.

“Alright, we’re here.  Now out with it, what did I do?” asked Tony

Peter stared at him with wide eyes, “Wha— What do you mean?”

“You’ve been acting weird since we first met up, and now that I know its actually you I’m even more concerned.  What did I do?  Did I take your suit away again?  Did I actually hit on Aunt May?  What?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” muttered Peter, not meeting his eyes.

“Kid, you’ve been walking on pins and needles around me.  Not all the time, granted.  It comes and goes.  Which is even more weird, to be honest.  So what the hell happened that you periodically can’t bring yourself to look me in the eye and can barely handle hearing me talk?”

“I’m not mad at you or anything… It’s just— it’s hard,” said Peter, looking away again with a pinched expression.

“What’s hard?  It’s me kid.”

“I know.”

Tony groaned, running a hand over his face in frustration.

Just then a knock interrupted.

Peter jumped up quickly, obviously eager to avoid the conversation. The same innkeeper from before stood at the door pushing a cart baring two plates of steaming pub fare and two pints of what Tony assumed was supposed to be water.

“Thank you very much,” said Peter, placing the food and drinks on a table against the wall of the room.

“No problem, let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you,” said the innkeeper with a smile before he stepped out, closing the door behind him.

“Don’t think dinner gets you out of this talk.  I’m not afraid of grilling you over food,” said Tony, sitting at the small table.

“Yeah, yeah I know…” muttered Peter, taking the other seat.

“So spill, what happened?”

“You know, you’re not the only one that has questions.  And considering you don’t seem to remember much of anything, I’d say mine are more important.  How do I know you’re really Tony?  You don’t remember much of anything about this game, and there’s plenty of stuff I’ve mentioned that you should definitely remember,” said Peter.

Tony swallowed his food down hard, coughing a little when it almost felt like it stuck.  “Mmm… most delicious placebo I’ve ever had,” he said, taking a deep drink both to wash it down and to give him precious seconds to put off Peter’s very valid questions and concerns.

“Now who’s procrastinating…”

“Shut it, Underoos, old people need time to organize their thoughts.”

“Oh, so you’re ‘old people’ now?  Last time I called you old you informed me in no uncertain terms you were never old, only vintage.”

“I don’t remember that, but since it definitely sounds like my usual load of bull I’ll accept it,” grouched Tony.

“See, that’s what I’m talking about.  You’ve spent all afternoon saying you can’t remember stuff—”

“That’s because I can’t.  I can’t remember things passed a certain point, and that certain point is definitely way before whatever date this is for SAO to be in commercial release,” said Tony, his voice rising slightly with the panic he’d worked so hard to repress for the last several hours.

Peter went quiet, eying Tony’s expression.  Finally he asked the obvious question, “What’s the certain point you can’t remember passed?”

Tony pursed his lips in frustration, but eventually answered, “The last thing I remember is the meeting with Kayaba about moving forward with the AI development I was working on for SAO.  The problem was that in order to do further development and testing it would require me to deep dive into their systems, and for reasons I’ve discussed with you earlier today I was entirely unwilling to open myself up to that.”

“…but that was in early 2018?”

“Exactly.  So you tell me kid, what the hell happened?”

“Ok, but first I want you to tell me something that only Mr. Stark would be able to tell me,” said Peter.

“Other than the fact that I called you Underoos?”

“Someone could have overheard it.”

“Pft, unlikely,” scoffed Tony.

“Unlikely is not impossible, so cough something up.”

“Alright… the day before that meeting with Kayaba we were working on your webshooters and you told me about an incident you had as Spider-man with some asshole who apparently has the ability to harden his whole body completely and how you said to him—”

“OK NEVERMIND I BELIEVE YOU—”

“’How did you get so HARD so suddenly?!’”

“DID YOU REALLY HAVE TO RAISE YOUR VOICE A WHOLE OCTAVE TO QUOTE ME?”

“Yes.”

“Ugh, fine…” said Peter putting his face in his hands to try and hide the bright blush coloring his face.

“Kid, it’s me… what happened?  Why can’t I remember… anything?”

Peter sat with his head in his hands, clearly debating how to say what needed to be said.  Eventually, without raising his head, he spoke quietly but clearly.

“There was a battle… you won, but you took a lot of damage.  You’ve been in a coma ever since.”

Tony blinked.  A coma…

That didn’t make sense at all.

“If I’m in a coma, how am I here?” asked Tony, quizzically.

“I heard they were doing tests to try and use full-dive tech on coma patients to see if it was possible to reach them directly through a mental interface.  Perhaps there was some wires crossed in whatever system they are using on you and you ended up here?  Or perhaps the plan was to use SAO and interact in this world?  I honestly can’t tell you.  I just know that I haven’t been able to speak to you in a long time and today has been like a dream and a nightmare all at once.”

Tony finally took note of the tears dripping silently from Peter’s hidden face, glittering as they fell on to the table.

“I don’t know what’s going on, Mr. Stark.  I just know that I’ve missed you so much, and things have been hard and you weren’t there.  And it wasn’t your fault, I know that, but now you’re here and I just don’t know what to say, I can’t—”

Tony was starkly reminded just how young Peter really was, even considering how much time must have passed since his own memories ended.  When his own parents had passed he had been twenty-one and had been a complete wreck for months.  To have your parents and a guardian dead before fifteen, then… whatever Tony was taken away in every meaningful way only a few years later…

Awkwardly, Tony reached a hand over and rested it on Peter’s head.  Slowly Peter’s rambling quieted, though his breaths still caught audibly, clearly still fighting tears.

“I’m sorry, Peter.  I didn’t mean to put pressure on you.  I don’t expect you to have all my answers.  At this point, we’ll probably just have to wait for those until after we get out of this hell hole,” said Tony, eventually pulling his hand back after giving Peter’s hair an affectionate ruffle.

Peter continued to keep his face down for a moment, surreptitiously wiping at his face, as if he could hide the tears Tony had already clearly seen.  

“In any case,” said Tony, “How I even got here should probably be the least of our worries at this point. Better to worry about the immediate future.  So what do you think the plan should be?  I grant you, running down the road at twilight was perhaps not the best idea, but my point still stands— we’re better off getting the jump on this thing and putting some space between us and the angry hoards.  What do you think?”

“You’re probably right, I mean you usually are, but—”

“Ok, so I’m assuming we’re going to want to stick together for the foreseeable future, yes?” asked Tony.

“Yes?  I mean if you don’t want to I really wouldn’t blame you, but—”

“Then you are definitely going to have to learn to call me on my bullshit, kid.  We’re both geniuses as well as hero’s, and we both know that fuckups happen.  So whatever hero-worship you have left at this point is going to have to die a hard death right now.  I may be brilliant but I never really got into rpgs, and I hardly remember a damn thing about this game, so at this point you are the expert here.”

As he said it, what little color in Peter’s face paled.

“Not to put any pressure on you… or anything,” said Tony lamely.

“Uh… sure, right…”

“Seriously, kid.  What was your plan in this game, anyway?”

Peter sighed, and looked up at Tony for the first time since the talk had really begun.  His eyes were still red-rimmed and glazed from his bout with tears earlier.

“Honestly?  I just wanted to exist somewhere for a little while where I was just like everyone else.  Not just pretending to be like everyone else,” admitted Peter, looking mildly ashamed as he admitted it out loud.

“Hey, there’s no shame in that.  I used to occasionally put on a photostatic veil to go sit with a coffee down in Central Park.”

“I know, I know but it’s not the same.  When you wear a mask, you’re still you, just no one else knows its you.  I wear a ‘mask’ every day.  But in here there isn’t a mask— I’m just as weak as everyone else.  In here, I figured I could finally feel what normal felt like again,” said Peter.

“Kid, even if every one of your super powers was taken away, you still could never be the same normal as everyone else.  You are so much more than normal, and that has nothing to do with a spider bite,” said Tony with solemn affection.

Peter swallowed, his eyes filling up once again.

“But anyway, no real plan to speak of I guess,” said Tony, attempting to move on before he managed to make Peter cry again. “So how about this— we wake up early tomorrow morning and head out from here to go to the next town.  We’ll take the scenic route, hitting some encounters on the way and going over that beta file a little more thoroughly. Once we get there, we will reassess the situation and decide whether to camp out for a while or keep going.  Wash, rinse, repeat… until we figure out where we want to be.”

“About as good a plan as any, I guess,” said Peter with a nod.

“Alright then, now finish eating or I’m going to ground you.”

“Uh huh, sure… ground me from what?”

“I don’t know yet.  But I’m sure it’ll be petty.”

“You always are.”

“Shut up and eat your fake broccoli.”

[unknownunseenunheard]

Marvel, realizing that Tony's popularity is going down now that Far From Home revealed he recreated a Nazi Superweapon and took off all safety precautions: Release that one scene we cut where everyone is kneeling before Tony's corpse lmao that'll show them that everyone approves!

[leiasfanaccount648]

Good Times

MJ (Michelle Jones) x Fem!Reader

A/N: This is for @starksparker’s Summer Writing Challenge! I hope you all enjoy it.

Prompt: Song #6 - Good Times by All Time Low

Word Count: 5350

Warnings/Contains: Angst, fluff, slow burn, mentions of protests/statements about LGBTQ+/gender/body type(?) equality, abortion, and rape (some of the news/protests mentioned are news that’s actually happened recently in Europe and America so I apologize in advance if things don’t exactly match up once this has been posted and/or you’re against anything mentioned in this). This (technically) takes place during FFH, but I’ve changed it to where it’s just the class all going on the school trip to Europe and nothing more. All in all, it doesn’t contain any spoilers for FFH. Endgame spoilers are hinted at but not actually said.

Summary: As a graduation gift, (Y/N) gets to join her friends on their summer school trip to Europe. As the weeks go by and destinations change, she starts to view things in a different light. Something about Europe changes her, and maybe someone else.

“Passengers for flight 328 to London, England may now start boarding. Again, passengers for flight 328 to London, England may now start boarding.”

(Y/N) couldn’t believe it. When confirming the paperwork, she didn’t believe it. Packing for the past two weeks straight, she still didn’t believe it. Arriving at the airport, going through security, waiting by the gate, it all just seemed so unrealistic. She had never been able to do something so extravagant. She wasn’t just going to one place outside the country for a week, but all over Europe for 3 weeks. It was a big deal to her.

Growing up, she lived in New York but never had the chance to ever travel. Maybe a spring break or summer vacation every other year or so, but everything seemed to be the same with the same people. When she heard about the summer trip to Europe that her class could go on, she begged everyone in her family to let her go. Forget any and all possible birthday and Christmas gifts. This was the dream of a lifetime, and to get to go with (hopefully) some friends of hers? Even better.

All her friends, as well as her family that paid for her to go, all decided to go that very year they were told of the trip. They thought it would be a good idea as a way to relax and have fun after everything that had happened over the last 5 years. Even though she had been planning and getting ready for the trip all school year long, it was still so unrealistic. Imagine going on a once in a lifetime opportunity; it feels as though it may get stripped away from you at any second even though you know it’s stuck in your grasp. For once, the cards, more like her plane ticket and passport, were in (Y/N)’s hands as she stood and gathered her carry on luggage to take on the plane.

She looked over at her classmates, smiling wider as she took a moment to look at all of them individually. Flash was vlogging on his phone about the pre-trip (he almost got yelled at for trying to record while going through security); Ned was looking at a travel guide of different European cities; and then there was Peter, looking strangely relaxed more than excited for the trip. Maybe he was just as glad as (Y/N) for a chance at a new take of scenery to clear her head.

As she went to go get in line to board, she felt something bump into her side that almost knocked her over. She looked to her left, and saw MJ putting her backpack on her shoulders. She was smiling a little to herself, and it made (Y/N) happy that MJ was physically expressing how happy she was, even a little bit. It was rare to see her smile, and any friend smiling is a moment worth saving.

MJ noticed (Y/N) glance towards her and her smile quickly turned into a slight smirk. “I got enough books and movies downloaded on my laptop for both plane rides. What about you?” She gestured to the backpack that (Y/N) had on her shoulders. It wasn’t filled to the brim or as heavy as MJ’s but still contained all the essentials for the plane rides as well as the tours around the cities they would soon take.

(Y/N) shrugged. “Just a couple books, headphones, a small pillow and blanket to nap for a portion of the flights.” She laughed softly to herself, adjusting the straps on her shoulders. “Just things I know I’ll definitely need.” She smiled, unable to contain her excitement. The actual trip hadn’t even started but she had only flone on a place maybe 1 or 2 other times in her life. This was just as exciting.

MJ chuckled at (Y/N)’s words, finding it amusing. “Feel free to ask for a book if you get bored.” She walked ahead to get in line. (Y/N) stared at her a moment longer before deciding to do the same.

Walking through the hallway towards the plane, (Y/N) admired the artwork of New York City along the walls. She heard Flash continuing to vlog and other classmates chat amongst themselves, causing her to smile. This was really happening.

She finally reached her seat, that was sadly in the middle out of the three but she’d make it work, and got herself settled in.

“You mind moving your legs?”

(Y/N) looked up towards the aisle and saw MJ looking down at her. “Oh, yeah, sorry.” She laughed softly, pulling her backpack from the floor to rest in her lap so that MJ could get through. She was lucky to have the window seat. MJ didn’t say another word as she sat down, but (Y/N)’s attention was turned elsewhere.

“Hey guys, you excited?”

(Y/N) looked behind her, smiling when she saw Ned leaning over her seat to talk to her and MJ. (Y/N) stood and leaned against the seat with one arm so that she could face MJ and Ned. “Very.” She grinned before noticing Peter was sitting in his seat next to the window and messing with his backpack to get his headphones out. MJ replied to Ned, not bothering to turn around as she was getting one of her many books from her bag too. “Yep, you know it.”

(Y/N) giggled at MJ’s actions before turning to Peter. “What about you, Peter? Excited about the trip?”

Peter looked up at (Y/N), a small smile on his face. He honestly looked tired yet at the same time so at ease. “Yeah, it’s been awhile since I’ve gone on a proper vacation.” He laughed softly, causing (Y/N) to do the same.

“I know what you mean. We’re finally getting to finally leave New York and see a new part of the world, and not even just one! I’ve always lived this normal city life with nothing that exciting. I want to be able to have experiences and make memories from the good times I’ll have.” (Y/N) smiled to herself, glancing at the ground before looking back up between Ned and Peter. “And the fact I have my friends here makes it even better.”

She didn’t know what she said to cause Peter to smile so wide, but she’s glad she did. “Well, I’ve heard Berlin is beautiful so I’d look forward to it if I were you.”

~      ~      ~

About 2 hours into the 7 ½ hour long flight, (Y/N) was starting to grow tired. The teacher that was taking them said that flying overnight to London was somehow cheaper for the school, and students, to pay for so needless to say that most of the class was asleep around whatever time zone they were currently in while flying over the Atlantic. (Y/N) managed to stay awake for the first 2 hours by watching a movie on her laptop, but she couldn’t stop yawning near the end. Flash was next to her in the aisle seat, passed out and snoring a little bit (thank god she didn’t forget her headphones last minute), and MJ was somehow still wide awake reading her book. (Y/N) was about to close her eyes and give into falling asleep well but MJ’s sudden movements brought her back to staying awake. She looked to her, pulling her headphones off and placing them around her neck. “Good book?”

MJ nodded. “Yep. Just finished it. Then again I did start it this morning and it wasn’t that long.” She put the book back in her bag, reaching down to grab a small blanket from the bottom of it. If (Y/N) hadn’t known any better she would have suspected that MJ had a bottomless bookbag like Hermione from Harry Potter (which she had seen MJ read despite her saying that she doesn’t like to get into that much popular culture).

MJ then proceeded to pull out her sketchbook and turned to a certain page. (Y/N) glanced down at the words written on it, seeing the titles of the books she brought with her. She checked off the one she just read, writing a number next to it, probably a rating she gave it. “Mind waking me up when we get there?”

(Y/N) nodded as MJ as she put her sketchbook away. “Yeah, totally.” MJ grabbed the small plane pillow that was under her seat before leaning back against the still open window (despite it now being night time where they were), pillow behind her head. (Y/N) couldn’t help but smile as she stared at MJ a moment longer before going back to finishing her movie. She couldn’t help but feel so comfortable around her.

(Y/N) woke up about 5 hours later when she felt Flash next to her jolt awake. Apparently there had been some turbulence causing him to wake up quite startled. Flash proceeded to pull out his phone and took a quick video, whispering (kinda loud) about what just happened before proceeding to play a game on his phone. (Y/N) meanwhile had heard a ring come from above, meaning that the captain or a flight attendant was about to speak. She pulled her headphones off just in time to hear what was being said.

“If everyone could please put their seat belts back on, we will be landing in about 20 minutes at the London International Airport.”

(Y/N) had never felt herself smile so wide. They were here. She turned to MJ, remembering to wake her up, but hesitated when she saw the sun peak over the horizon, shine through the open window, and momentarily blind her. She moved her head back against the seat to avoid the sun’s light and saw MJ still asleep in her seat. She had moved slightly so her head was resting right next to the window. She honestly looked beautiful like this. Content, sun barely hitting her, and just at ease. (Y/N) pulled out her phone and snapped a couple pictures. She noticed after taking the third one that MJ had one eye open and was smirking at the camera. (Y/N) froze, flustered.

“You enjoying the view?” MJ didn’t move, still smirking, but (Y/N) was quick to put her phone down, feeling her cheeks heat up from embarrassment. Hopefully it wasn’t too noticeable with the sun now hitting her face again as well as the shade from the plane wall.

“Sorry, I was just wanting to get some pictures of everyone on the plane.” She laughed softly, quickly getting up to see if Ned and Peter, who were already looking out the window in hopes of seeing the city, were awake. (Y/N) smiled, pulling her phone out again. “Guys,” the boys looked up at (Y/N), “smile.” She held her phone up sideways, camera app open. They smiled wide at her as she snapped a couple pictures. “Thanks.” She smiled, sitting back down in her seat. “I’ll be sure to send them to you guys.”

She glanced back at MJ, who was stretching in her seat and putting her blacket away,and  gestured to her phone. “Did you wanna see the picture I took?”

MJ shrugged. “Sure.” She leaned over to look down at (Y/N)’s phone. She tried to hold back a smile but couldn’t help but do the opposite. She loved how the picture turned out. “Nice.” She adjusted in her seat, seeing the seatbelt light on. She put hers back on, looking to (Y/N). “Are we landing soon?”

(Y/N) nodded, putting hers back on as well. “Yep. Captain said about 20 minutes.”

During said 20 minutes, (Y/N) couldn’t help but look out the window with MJ to try and spot any famous landmarks. She pulled her phone out again and started taking pictures from the view of the window. Once the plane landed, her and her friends grabbed their stuff as quickly as possible. After all, the quicker they got to their hotel, the more time they got to possibly see a little bit of the city.

Getting off the plane, (Y/N) admired the wall art of the hallway leading from the plane to the airport. It was different than the one in New York, showing Big Ben and the London Bridge instead of the Statue of Liberty and Times Square. She really was here. As they walked through the airport, the teacher was explaining how they needed to stay together and wait for the buses to take them to the hotel, but (Y/N) was too busy admiring everything, and they were only in the airport.

When they finally arrived at the hotel, it was just as amazing. (Y/N) was taking pictures on her phone while they were getting assigned to their rooms (the school organized it to where they had enough double bedrooms so that 3-4 people could all sleep in the same room). She was sharing one with MJ, Betty, and a junior that Betty apparently knew. Once everyone had gotten settled into their rooms, the teacher handed everyone a schedule of their plans in London based off what everyone wanted to do in the city. As for today, everyone was allowed to go look around the general area near the hotel as long as they were with a “buddy.” MJ wasted no time getting on her phone once she finished unpacking for the few days they were in the city.

“What’re you planning to do?” (Y/N) asked, laying down on the bed next to where MJ sat.

“Going to a protest held down the street.” MJ stood, grabbing another backpack she brought. She looked through it before heading out.

“What’s the protest for?” (Y/N) followed her out of the room, making sure to grab her phone and backpack that now contained the hotel room key and any other travelling essentials inside.

“Well there are two of them actually. There’s one for LGBT rights and gender equality, and then one for the women that are getting raped in the city.” MJ paused once they reached the elevator and pushed the button to go down. She turned to face (Y/N) with a serious expression. “Did you know that an American tourist got raped last week near Trafalgar Square and got severe injuries due to it happening? And a local 12 year old girl was raped not too long ago either in a park mid day?”

(Y/N) was speechless. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah. The fact that everyday tourists and kids alike being treated this way is awful. At least they don’t have to deal with things similar to back home.”

MJ wasn’t wrong. Back home the issue of both abortion and rape laws were still being discussed all over the country, mostly down south, but who knows what the New York state government is going to do about the controversy.

(Y/N) decided to change the subject, not wanting to think about it much further. “And what about the other one? Anything in particular happen for that one to start up?” The elevator opened and the two walked inside. MJ simply shrugged, leaning back against the wall of the elevator.

“Not really. They’re just doing similar stuff like what we used to do before our government finally legalized gay marriage in all the states. But now we’re back to fighting for equal rights for all people.”

(Y/N) watched MJ cross her arms and look down at the elevator floor. She knew how much these things got to MJ and it hurt her to see her friend like this. (Y/N) even remembers going to pride marches with MJ before the legalization of gay marriage. They were both gay but had only come out to one another at that point. It was things like that that really started their friendship. They weren’t best friends, but they got along and were able to talk about basically anything. Once the legalization happened, they both came out to their friends and spent the whole day in the city celebrating. In that moment, (Y/N) knew that MJ wanted to keep winning like that and make sure that everyone got basic and civil rights no matter who they were. She didn’t want future generations to have to fight and struggle like they did. Her distant relatives made a difference before, and she wanted to do the same wherever she went.

The elevator finally opened and MJ began to walk out before eyeing (Y/N). “You wanna join me?”

(Y/N) came back from reminiscing about the past and nodded. “Yeah, definitely.” She followed MJ out of the elevator. “Just like old times, you know?” She laughed softly, causing MJ to smile a little as well. “Yep.” She briefly recalled the same memories that (Y/N) just did. “The good, old times.”

~      ~      ~

As the days went by, (Y/N) had seen just about everything she possibly could. Big Ben, the London Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and so much more. Her and MJ even took a small portion of one day to go see 221B Baker Street (since (Y/N) loved Sherlock and claimed that she had to see it before they left the city). (Y/N) couldn’t have asked for anything more. Their last night in the city was different, however.

(Y/N) knew that there was so much more of the trip to come, but at the same time she didn’t want to leave London. But hey, all good things must come to an end sometime, right?

That evening, the group got to see a play after having dinner at a fancy restaurant, and the performance was honestly amazing. Sadly, at the end, Flash decided to vlog on their way out and cause a slight disturbance in the lobby when everyone was leaving. While the teacher was sorting that out, (Y/N) decided to go back into the theatre to take a couple pictures and admire the architecture.

“How many pictures have you taken of London alone now?”

(Y/N) jumped a little, not expecting to see MJ walk up to her. She laughed softly, looking down at her phone and scrolling through her photo album. “Probably near 200 on my phone, and maybe 50 on my camera back at the hotel. I can’t help it though, I mean,” she laughed, more wholeheartedly, taking a couple steps and gesturing to all the open, and now empty, space in the theatre. “It’s just gorgeous! Can you blame me?” She smiled at MJ, even happier to see her smile as well. “This place is just so pretty for being such an old building.”

(Y/N) looked up at the ceiling and admired the artwork on it. She took a couple pictures of it before looking back at MJ, who was honestly another breathtaking sight to behold. Her hair was half up and half down as she wore a floral long sleeve shirt with a pair of jeans. She still looked beautiful even if most people would’ve considered that a normal look for most girls. But MJ was not like most girls. (Y/N) grinned and held her phone back up, facing MJ this time, and making her a little confused.

“What are you doing?”

“Capturing pretty sites.”

“Do I suddenly have enough value for you to take pictures of me whenever you want?”

(Y/N)’s eyes widen in realization, putting her phone down immediately. “No, no! Sorry, I-It’s not that, I-” (Y/N) stumbled over her words, not meaning to offend her friend. She stopped when she heard MJ laugh softly with her words. “I’m just messing with you.”

(Y/N) smiled nervously in relief, trying to come up with something to say but all that came out was a small breathless laugh. Thankfully MJ was able to speak again before (Y/N) embarrassed herself even further. “You look pretty too.”

(Y/N) felt her heart begin to race and cheeks to blush a little as she heard MJ’s words. She couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks.”

~      ~      ~

As the days went by of visiting different cities, (Y/N) couldn’t help but marvel at all the sights they encountered. It was as if each place was prettier than the next. But one thing remained prettier over all of the cities landmarks, and that was MJ. Each plane ride they sat next to one another to talk about their favorite places from the city they were just at and share what they wanted to see in the next one. At each hotel, they’d room together and see if there were any other protests to go to or just read books before going to sleep. It was as if they were becoming inseparable, and (Y/N) didn’t want it to end.

The next, and final, place they were going was Venice, Italy. They had just gotten off their flight from Paris, France and everyone was excited yet sad about their final destination before having to head home at the end of the week. Like the other places, (Y/N) took pictures of different things in the airport and the busy yet lively streets outside it. She had even managed to get a picture of MJ as she looked up the street before the bus taking them to their hotel picked them up. She smiled to herself as she looked at the picture, finding MJ even more beautiful than before. She didn’t know what really caused her to suddenly feel this way, but she was glad she did.

But what about after the trip? Would they still be as close as they had become over the trip? Would they even get to still see each other once they go to college in the coming years? What would happen when they went back home to New York?

(Y/N) was brought out her thoughts when she felt someone nudge her arm. “(Y/N), the bus is here.” She looked over and watched Peter look at her as he was walking back towards the bus. “Let’s go.”

When they got to the hotel, (Y/N) proceeded to take pictures of the place, but her thoughts from earlier just wouldn’t leave. Even if things were the same here once they got back home, did MJ feel the same way about her? She always kept giving (Y/N) mixed signals and she didn’t know what to do at this point.

Back in the hotel room, everyone decided to go down to the pool after dinner before lights out was called, but (Y/N) wasn’t sure if she should go down or not. Her mind was too focused on other things. She knew it was stupid to get so worked up over this, but she just couldn’t help it. She finished dinner with her friends down in the hotel lobby early so that she could try and clear her head of her thoughts back up in the room, but nothing was working. She tried reading one of the books MJ let her borrow during the trip, but when she saw the little notes left by MJ in the blank spaces of certain pages, her heart turned in want even more. At this point, she didn’t know whether she hated herself for her feelings or not.

Deciding to get some fresh air, she stepped out on the small balcony attached to the room and sat in one of the chairs. The sun was almost completely set but the view of the city was still beautiful, making her think about the town they were in and what it’d be like to live there. Eventually, she was able to push her thoughts from earlier enough to the side to finally decide that going down to the pool would be good for her. Maybe a proper change of atmosphere was what she needed. She walked back into the room and grabbed her swimsuit to change when Betty and MJ walked into the room.

“You getting ready to swim, (Y/N)?” Betty asked, going to grab her suit as well to change into. (Y/N) simply nodded, saying a short yes as she walked into the bathroom to change. She didn’t notice it but MJ watched (Y/N) walk into the bathroom, glancing down at the swimsuit in her hands. She recognized it all too well.

About 2 years ago, they attended a protest together and one of the big debates was on women’s body types and how the entertainment industry stereotyped too much. (Y/N) had the fun idea to go to different stores to try on different clothes they liked but that media didn’t like them wearing, take pictures, and post them on some of her social media accounts. Low and behold, there was one employee at one of the stores that told both of them to put back the swimsuits since they “didn’t suit them at all” and tried to give them different options. MJ wasn’t having any of their bullshit and called the employee out on it. She even went as far as to buy the two suits that her and (Y/N) picked out. She wouldn’t admit it either, but she thought the swimsuit that (Y/N) picked out for herself suited her perfectly.

When MJ saw (Y/N) come out of the bathroom changed and ready to go, she couldn’t help but smile to herself, both at the memories and how (Y/N) looked. Betty beat MJ to the compliments. “(Y/N) that looks great on you! Where’d you get it?”

“Thanks, but I honestly don’t remember.”

That was a lie. She experienced the same flashback MJ thought back on, and it, too, made her smile. Even if they only stay friends, or part ways completely, she would never forget those memories and other good times spent with MJ.

After the pool party was over and lights out was called, the girls headed back to their room as did their other classmates. Back at the room, Betty called dibs on getting in the shower first, leaving (Y/N) and MJ alone in the room. (Y/N) decided on some more fresh air and went back out to the balcony to look over the city. This was her last few days in Europe and she wanted to make the most of it, but her mind was back to being filled with thoughts of MJ.

A couple minutes later, (Y/N) felt eyes on her and she smiled to herself.

“Sketching people in crisis?” She turned around, laughing softly as she looked at MJ through the open doorway.

“How’d you know?” MJ’s small smirk/smile was back and (Y/N) loved every part of it.

“I’m the said person in crisis, how else would I know?” She looked back over the city, leaning over the railing a little bit as she looked at the small river flowing by the hotel. The class was scheduled to take a boat tour later this week, actually. MJ’s voice brought her back from her thoughts.

“What kind of crisis we dealing with here? Financial? Existential?” MJ held back a laugh, setting her sketchbook down. (Y/N) simply shook her head and looked back over the balcony, knowing that she was joking around. “No,” she hesitated. Should she bring it up? Might as well get it out of the way before it’s too late, right? “I know it sounds stupid, but more like a love crisis.”

“Is it me?”

(Y/N) looked back at MJ, shocked. Before she could get a word in, MJ spoke up again.

“I mean, it’s,” she shrugged, “kinda obvious.”

The look on her face read as though it wasn’t a big deal, but (Y/N) couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. Was anyone else able to tell? But, in the words of MJ herself, she was just very observant, and there was no way in getting away with lying to MJ once she found out the truth.

“I-I mean,” (Y/N) fully turned around and leaned back against the railing, but she couldn’t look MJ in the eye. “Is it bad that I possibly like you?” She laughed softly, clearly worried and nervous but nonetheless let herself continue to talk about the issue at hand. “Is it bad that I don’t want to leave these places because I’ve grown so close to you and don’t want to say goodbye once we get back home?” She began pacing a little on the balcony. She couldn’t stop the train of thoughts that were leaving her lips to rant about how she felt.

“I always thought we were just casual friends, but this trip has made me see you in a different light because of all the good times I’m having with you. It’s reminding me of the times we’ve spent together before, and I want to make more memories like that with you. The first protest we attended together, the time we ironically went shopping. And then there’s the small things like working on class work with you and finding funny ways of remembering things.” She paused, taking a deep breath and looking at MJ with a sad smile. “But in the end, it feels as though I won’t ever see you again even though we still go to school together, and it hurts more than I thought it would. I never want to leave each place because of you and the fact that I’ve fallen for you even more from hanging out with you so much in each of them, but I know it’s eventually going to happen.” Another pause. “But please, tell me what your thoughts are on all of this because I’ve been ranting for too long and need to know how you feel before I possibly embarrass myself even further.” (Y/N) laughed nervously, finally finishing her ‘speech’ of emotions.

MJ had kept her full attention on (Y/N) the entire time, not realizing how she was actually feeling until (Y/N) had started to tell her everything. To her, (Y/N) seemed to be just like another person getting a small crush. Out of nowhere and immediate, but this seemed to be more than just a petty crush. She wouldn’t push it as far as love, but she was definitely honest and real with her feelings. MJ’s feelings weren’t as strong, but she, too, felt something there.

“I mean, I don’t like getting too close to people, but you make me want to be close to you.” She smiled, glancing at the floor. “Having feelings isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and the fact that you have them for me is honestly flattering.” MJ laughed softly, smiling to herself more genuine than usual. She looked up at (Y/N), meeting her gaze. “I wouldn’t mind giving this a chance.”

~      ~      ~

Over the next few days, MJ and (Y/N) spent time together as usual, but their friends could tell they seemed to be getting closer. They sat next to one another at every meal, talked about other interests they didn’t already know about one another, and either held hands or looped their pinky’s as they walked side by side one another. (Y/N) had even managed to get a couple pictures with MJ and herself (with her permission of course).

It felt as though those few days were filled with more memories than the others they had already experienced.

When it became time for the flight back home, they either leaned on one another as they slept or watched one of the many movies that MJ had on her laptop. The entire time they held hands as well, enjoying the casual yet intimate moment for the both of them.

They were sad to leave Europe, everyone was, but the two knew that the trip was only the beginning of all the memories and good times that were yet to come back home.

[agentbarton12]

come morning light, you and i'll be safe and sound

a/n: something i thought of after reading the blurb of a loki x reader fic. it was supposed to be hurt/comfort/fluff, but...oh well. title from safe and sound by sabrina carpenter

warnings: angst; hurt/comfort

word count: 1.7K

masterlist

after the whole mysterio thing, pepper invited—more like insisted—that may and peter stay with her at the lake house until it all blows over.

all the avengers were working to clear peter’s name and gather enough evidence against quentin to prove peter’s innocence, and peter just had to lay low so they could do their jobs.

mj understood this.

but she also really missed her boyfriend.

it was eating her up inside not being able to see him everyday at school and hang out with him on the weekends. she wanted to do normal teenage things with her boyfriend (was he even though? they never really made it official) but thanks to that flying fishbowl, she couldn’t.

but may and pepper both knew that peter still needed to see his friends in order to keep him sane. to spend time with people he cares about and vice versa.

so they allowed peter to spend a weekend in queens every month to see mj and ned.

now this was no way enough time in mj’s humble opinion, but she understood the necessity of it all, so she sucked it up.

it was the fourth weekend peter would be spending in queens, which meant that it had been four months since peter had to go into hiding. mj found the whole situation unfair, and swore that if beck wasn’t already dead, she would have killed him herself.

no hesitation.

due to security reasons, peter couldn’t exactly go out and about during his weekend visit lest he attract unwanted attention that could alert government officials of his whereabouts, so happy and rhodey found safe houses that were basically just abandoned buildings around queens where the three friends could spend the weekend.

the ‘safe houses’ changed each month so just in case they were being followed, there was no trace left.

this time, the safe house was located on the edge of the city and it took mj three subway stops to make it to the rundown hotel building. she was the first one there and as per usual, she found an undercover shield agent leaning against a lamppost. they gave mj a discreet nod and she returned the favour.

careful to make sure no one else was around, mj pushed the front door open and walked inside.

three air mattresses had been blown up and stacked together near a wall on; a mini fridge with snacks had been set up; and there was a single burner phone on a table. mj inspected the snacks and found a box of different teas on top of the fridge and mj was glad that happy finally listened to her complaints of only being offered coffee.

mj didn’t have to wait long before ned showed up and dropped his duffel bag with clothes by the door. without saying a word, he closed the space between them with a hug and mj returned it gratefully.

then peter walked in.

he said a silent “hey” and ned and mj broke apart and both rushed to greet him. mj let ned hug his best friend first. she stood back and watched as they both teared up slightly and hung on to each other for dear life. when they pulled apart, they did their handshake and this time, mj didn’t comment on how lame they were. she rarely does anymore.

when it was mj’s turn, ned left them alone and went to set up the laptop he brought with a bunch of movies.

neither mj nor peter moved at first. it was always like this whenever he came back. awkward and unsure. peter and ned had been friends forever so it was easy for them to fall back into that relationship, but unfortunately, mj and peter hadn’t even been...whatever it was that they were for little over a week (this excludes all the facetimes they had while peter was in hiding. michelle was only counting the actual face time they got) so it was weird when they saw each other. there was always the fear that something had changed during the time they hadn’t seen each other.

but mj had been waiting for weeks to see peter again so she wasn’t going to let any awkwardness keep her from hugging him.

she threw her arms around his neck and he immediately wrapped his around her waist. he buried his face in her neck and she rested hers on top of his.

“i missed you,” she whispered low enough for only him to hear.

he nodded and whispered back, “i missed you too.”

the rest of the weekend passed with them watching movies on ned’s laptop and catching up on things they couldn’t talk about during their phone calls.

rhodey and pepper were working hard, peter told them. they were making progress. and as much as mj was interested in how things were going, all she really wanted to know was when peter was coming back.

on sunday morning, the friends said their goodbyes and parted ways. mj and ned rode the subway back home together while peter had a car waiting for him.

when mj got home, she shut herself up in her room and ignored her parents questions about how her weekend with ned was. she didn’t feel like lying to them.

it was around two o’clock when she was disturbed from her brooding by the sound of her window unlocking. she got up from her bed and grabbed the baseball bat she keeps by her closet because, well, this was new york and held it in a defensive position in front or her. her dad taught her how to swing and mj was very confident in her abilities so she felt very bad for the poor person that would be on the receiving end of her hit.

before she could swing her bat, the intruder spoke, “woah, mj! it’s me!

“peter?” she asked incredulously as she lowered the bat.

“hey,” he breathed out. mj could hear the faint sound of police sirens but ignored it and focused on the boy that was in her room. the boy that was supposed to be on his way to a secure location.

“what are you doing here?” mj questioned sternly. she had her hands on her hips and was towering over peter giving him her i’m disappointed in you face.

the boy in question moved from the window with his head hung low and sat on her bed. “i wanted to see you.”

michelle’s face softened and she dropped the bat entirely. she lowered herself to her knees in front of peter and gently put her hand in his hair. she heard him hum when she pressed a soft kiss to his hairline.

peter wrapped his arms around mj’s waist and placed his head on her shoulder. they sat there for a couple of minutes but mj was too worried to enjoy peter’s company. peter shouldn’t be here. she could tell because he came through the window instead of the front door. he snuck into her room probably meaning he snuck away from his security detail. which meant that they were looking for him. and mj couldn’t relax knowing that.

she pulled back slowly and peter lifted his head up to look at her. peter leaned into her touched when michelle caressed his face with her right hand. she cupped his cheek firmly and leaned their foreheads together.

“you’re not going back, are you?”

peter didn’t respond, he just rubbed their heads together fondly.

“peter,” mj prodded.

he shut his eyes and sighed. “i don’t want to leave again.”

michelle’s heart fluttered in her chest. it hurt that she could not just accept his answer and move on.

she let out a breath. “i don’t want you to leave either, but you can’t stay here, pete. it’s not safe.” peter huffed and pulled back in frustration. michelle felt a pang but stood her ground. “you have to go.”

the sirens grew louder as each second passed, mj’s worry with them. she knew peter could hear them too.

the sirens sounded closer and michelle wondered if they knew where he was. mj stood up and towered over the boy. “peter, you have to go. now.”

he stood up in front of her shaking and scared. she couldn’t bear to see him like this and hugged him again. she whispered soothing words in his ear as she ran her hands through his hair.

“i don’t want to leave you again,” peter confessed through shaky breaths and michelle became livid.

she had always been upset at the situation but now her anger was coming to the surface. she was pissed that anyone, let alone a teenager, had to go through this. a teenager that willingly puts themselves in the line of fire everyday just because they can. peter didn’t deserve this. and it made michelle furious that this is what he got for being a good person.

mj took a breath to calm herself. “i wish you didn’t have to.” i love you is what she means to say, but it feels too soon. too out of place, given the circumstances. she wants to say it someday, when all this has blown over and they’re out doing normal teenage boyfriend and girlfriend things (because mj’ll be damned if has to go through all this without the privilege of calling peter her boyfriend). she continues, “but you need to, so that someday, you won’t ever have to.”

with that, she presses a kiss to her boyfriend’s lips and savours the taste lest this be the last time she can do so in a long time.

when they pull away, mj offers him a semi-reassuring smile and nudges peter towards her window.

“bye, mj,” he says solemnly as he climbs out.

the police sirens bleed into her ears as she says softly, “see ya soon, loser.”

…………

due to security reasons and the government amping up their resources to find peter since he was spotted, mj and ned have not been able to see peter in three months.

i love you mj thinks before she goes to bed. she sleeps with her window unlocked now. just in case.

[xialing-gf]

the black dahlia

summary: you were the reason why mj loved the black dahlia so much but now she loved somebody else (includes buzzfeed unsolved references as well as basic references to the black dahlia case!)

wc: 1194

disclaimer: i respect peter and mj’s relationship i just wanted to write up something angsty! sorry if this offends any spideychelle shippers

The first Buzzfeed Unsolved episode you ever watched was the episode about the Goatman. The video was in your recommended on YouTube as you and MJ had binge-watched a bunch of crime-related videos on your YouTube account. Once you watched that episode, you clicked on another and then another and then another and the next thing you knew, you were still watching Buzzfeed Unsolved episodes at 2 AM. You were exhausted at school the next day but you mustered up the energy to ramble about how the government was covering up the Roswell UFO crash and how the LAPD was corrupt.

MJ knew that the only reason you were able to muster out so many opinions was because of the enormous amount of coffee you consumed earlier that morning. Still, being a supportive girlfriend, she listened to you rant about a bunch of unsolved cases you thought you solved. She didn’t seem too interested in the majority of the supernatural cases but when it came to the true crime cases, her ears perked up. The case she was most fascinated with was the case of the Black Dahlia. She was intrigued by the grisly details of Elizabeth Short’s corpse and the investigation of the most important suspect, George Hodel.

Later, when she was at your house after school, you took it upon yourself to show her the episode and you both cuddled, laughing a few funny bits or discussing certain parts of the case that stood out. MJ joked that she was most like Shane, a cynical, sarcastic doubter who definitely questioned people with more authority and power and you were like Ryan, a paranoid believer who was probably more obsessed with murder than any normal person would be.

Much like Shane and Ryan, you and MJ were an iconic duo and everybody in Midtown High knew you two were the cutest couple. You and MJ had been best friends for a while and it was pretty obvious that you two had feelings for each other. MJ had been the one to awkwardly asked you out and you both ended up bonding over knowledge of weird, gruesome cases.

After you introduced MJ to Buzzfeed Unsolved, you both started binge-watching Buzzfeed Unsolved episode, sneaking in kisses during intervals. At one point, you both ran out of Skittles to share and MJ said she didn’t mind because when she kissed you she could taste the rainbow. That was probably the cheesiest pick-up line that she ever said but you both were too hopelessly in love to point it out.

Even after all the episodes of Buzzfeed Unsolved and numerous cases you two studied, the Black Dahlia case was always MJ’s favorite. In fact, she was so fascinated by it that the black dahlia became her favorite flower and she would always joke that you were her black dahlia because you were beautiful and mysterious. People never questioned why MJ began jokingly began calling you “black dahlia” but often cast curious glances that you both would deflect.

MJ and you dated for a year before things started changing, in your relationship and in your life. She met Peter Parker and Ned Leeds and became very good friends with them. While you were mutuals with MJ’s new friends, you didn’t know them well enough to constantly hang out with them so slowly, you and MJ began spending less and less time together. Instead of walking home with you while holding hands, MJ would head over to the library to talk about science with Ned and Peter.

Your classmates noticed the growing distance between you and MJ and asked if everything was okay between you two. Despite their questions having a hint of concern, you knew that they wanted to be the first to know about any drama. You always insisted that MJ and you were fine and that just because she was spending time with other people, it didn’t mean that you couldn’t date her. But eventually, you realized that this relationship probably didn’t mean as much to her anymore and decided to sit down with her and have a discussion about the future of your relationship.

MJ clearly felt guilty about how she had been distancing herself and you felt bad since you didn’t want to be too controlling and limit the time she spent with her friends. You two agreed to take a break but remain friends and after a couple days, people began to notice how MJ no longer walked with you to classes and how you two didn’t hold hands when sitting next to each other during lunch.

Being friends with MJ after your break-up was probably the hardest thing to do as every time you saw her face, you were reminded of all the romantic memories you two had made together. Then, the snap, or as the school dumbly dubbed it, the blip, happened. You disappeared along with MJ, Peter, and half of the entire school. When you came back, MJ and you grew close again, relying on each to adjust to this new life.

Ultimately, MJ still chose Peter over you and when you went on the science trip with the class, you knew something was going on with MJ and Peter. Brad was a factor too, as he clearly was in love with MJ as well, but knowing Brad, he would get over her eventually. Besides, MJ wouldn’t want to date a guy who had no interest in justice, morality, or grisly murders. However, she did seem to want to date Peter as you caught her staring lovingly at Peter whenever he wasn’t watching.

There was the whole fiasco with the elementals and Mysterio that definitely destroyed the mood of the trip by making you fear for your survival. Spoiler alert: you managed to survive, which meant you got to witness MJ and Peter walking out from the ruins of the destruction holding hands. After some peer pressure from Ned, MJ showed you and Ned the black dahlia necklace Peter got her. The necklace was broken but MJ smiled when she proudly stated that it was more beautiful when it was broken.

You would never tell her how when you got back home, you spent the night crying into your pillow. You truly were happy for MJ and Peter but it absolutely broke your heart that the only symbol that you and MJ shared was no longer for you two anymore. In the past, you were MJ’s black dahlia but much like the black dahlia pendant she received from Peter, your heart was crushed.

Maybe you always had hoped that MJ would fall for you again even though she clearly really liked Peter and now that hope was destroyed, you were finally realizing how useless hope was. Managing to put a smile on your face, you convinced everybody that you weren’t bothered at all and you still kept your friendship with MJ. Watching MJ’s relationship with Peter blossom was still magnificent but you never forgot the feeling of MJ’s hand in yours and the way she would call you “black dahlia” as if you were the only one in the world.

-

check out my marvel page for more marvel fics!

Tag list: @retrobhaddie @just-your-local-history-nerd

[visionsofus]

MIT, Time Travel and oh mY GOD IT’S PETER PARKER!

see the first field trip fic here or read the sequel on AO3 here 

| CHAPTER 1 | CHAPTER 2 | 

| chapter 3 - tapas and the truth |

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Things are definitely looking up for Peter Parker. Months have passed since the Snap and his life is finally beginning to get back on track. He has an amazing job at Stark Industries, he’s almost finished his first semester at MIT with Ned, he gets to swing around New York on the weekends and things are looking like they might actually be going somewhere with MJ.

It’s almost like Peter is starting to get part of his normal life back. It’s a naive concept. Peter knows what he has committed his life to, what expectations everyone has for the hero they know as Spider-Man.

Things quickly begin to heat up and Peter feels the growing pressure of his secret identity beginning to weigh on his decisions, not to mention the mysterious ‘Project Chronos’ which is weighing on him physically and has catastrophic effects on his mental state.

Peter’s survived the impossible - death - but could more deadly things be yet to come?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peter shoved his hands further into the pockets of his coat, a smart navy one that May had bought him as a graduation present, a bit of an odd gift considering that had been at the beginning of Summer. He was thankful for it now as it shielded him from the blustering wind that was turning his ears an unflattering shade of pink.

Peter loped down the stairs that led to the sidewalk from Dr Sam's clinic and started off in the direction of the Tapas restaurant that MJ had decided they meet at. Peter retrieved his phone from the pocket of his jeans and sent MJ a quick message letting her know that he was on his way. He breathed out a deep sigh as he waited for the crosswalk lights to change, tapping his foot as he watched the red man flash.

One more session down. Dr Sam had been glad to see him again and Peter was surprised by how much he had to tell her. Although, there was only so much he could say without revealing his identity. May had suggested that Peter tell her of his other identity, but Peter wasn't ready for anyone else to know he was Spider-Man quite yet. Instead, he got by with metaphors and twisting the truth a little. Besides, Sam knew the important things, Peter was an orphan, raised by his aunt and uncle, then just his aunt. When he was 15, he'd applied and been accepted as a Stark Industries intern and had developed a close mentor/mentee relationship with the founder of the company. He'd been one of the people lost in the Snap and the first thing he had seen when he got back (as far as Sam knew) was the news that Tony Stark was dead, another role model, another father figure, gone. Not only that but Peter was facing rising pressure from the media who seemed to have got it into their heads that Peter was Tony’s protégé and was the ‘future’ of Stark Industries. The thought of that made Peter go weak at the knees with worry so he often pushed it from his mind.

Today's session had gone well, and, in the end, Peter was grateful that he had had it. Sam had pushed him a lot more than usual that afternoon, which Peter found odd. It was like she thought Peter wasn't telling her everything, but he wasn't sure what more he could say. She hadn't seemed to believe him when he said he'd 'let go of Mr Stark' and it irritated Peter how intuitive she could be.

A blip from Peter's phone alerted him of a text from MJ which read 'waiting outside the restaurant' and he quickened his pace. Peter cast all thoughts of the session, of work and every other thing that was stressing him out, from his mind and decided to focus on his meal with MJ. After all, he hadn't seen her in two weeks and while they talked regularly through text along with the occasional facetime, it definitely was not the same as being in the same place.

The Tapas restaurant that MJ had picked out was in their neighbourhood and within walking distance from both their houses if Peter remembered where MJ lived correctly.

Peter had had a quick look at the restaurant online last week when they had arranged to meet and had found it to be pretty affordable which was good considering they were both students. Though Peter sometimes forgot that he didn’t have to worry about that as much anymore now that he had a steady income from Stark Industries. May was all over his finances, helping him organise it into savings and spending accounts, even setting up a retirement fund. Peter thought it was a bit odd to have a retirement fund at his age and it made him think whether he actually would retire. Being an Avenger seemed to be a full-time job from what he had seen so far, and usually you didn’t live long enough to retire.

With that morbid thought in mind Peter rounded the corner and saw the red and yellow awning that extended above the restaurant front and beneath it, wrapped in a coat and a scarf, her hair bobbing in the wind, was MJ.

Peter couldn't stop the grin that broke out across his face as he called her name and raised a hand in greeting. He saw his smile returned on her own face as they moved towards each other.

“Hey loser.” She said her voice casual but her smile warm.

"It's so good to see you." Peter said suddenly growing a little shy as they hugged quickly.

"You too." MJ smiled and then shivered, "but can we get inside, it is freezing out here."

The interior was everything that Peter has expected from a Tapas restaurant. It was warm and the air was filled with the sound of the chefs in the kitchen and the enthusiastic chattering of the restaurant’s patrons – a surprising number of tables were filled given how early in the evening it was. A waiter met Peter and MJ as they stepped over the threshold and directed them upstairs to the second floor where he assured them there were more tables and it was a little quieter.

“Oh…” MJ said and cast her gaze around the ground floor. It wasn’t a very large space and every table appeared to be taken. “What about that one by the window? Is that table taken?”

“No, if that’s alright with you, you can sit there. I’ll bring around menus in a moment.” The waiter said and smiled at them as MJ led the way over to the window.

“I thought this would be more authentic.” MJ said indicating the table before them. It was little more than a bench, risen quite far off the ground and pressed to the window with two dark wood stools to sit on.

“Perfect,” Peter said grinning, eager to catch up with her and not really caring where they actually sat. “So how have things been? I feel like we haven’t seen each other in ages.”

“It’s definitely been a long two weeks.” MJ said as they removed their coats and sat down at the stools. The waiter returned with two laminated menus in dark leather casings.

“Our specials are up by the bar,” the waiter said indicating behind him, “I’ll let you have a look and come back around in a bit to get your order for drinks.”

“Thank you.” Peter said accepting the menus from him and passing one to MJ.

“Ok this time can we figure out what we’re ordering before we start talking?” MJ said smiling wryly at Peter. “We don’t want a repeat of last time… or the time before that.”

“Or every other time we’ve gotten dinner.” Peter said grinning and opening his menu. MJ was referring to the unfortunate habit that they had gotten into by which they would be so excited to fill each in on their daily lives in their time apart, that they would forget about the food altogether.

Peter scanned the menu picking out a few dishes that he wanted to try and settled for a lemon and lime bitters as a drink

Having decided what he wanted he turned his attention to MJ whose brows was furrowed in concentration as she scanned the menu, deep in concentration. Peter could practically guess what she would go for from what he had seen on the menu. MJ wasn’t a strict vegetarian, but she avoided meat where she could and there were several delicious dishes that didn’t have meat that Peter thought might catch her interest.

His interest however, was focused on the person beside him. He took her in, from her hair and the way it was tucked delicately behind one ear, to her eyes which sparkled in the warm light above them, to the graceful slope of her neck.

“Done.” MJ said setting the menu down and shifting so that she was partly facing him.

“Same.” Peter said grinning stupidly. He just couldn’t stop smiling.

“So—” they both said at the same time.

Peter trailed of and laughed as MJ snickered. It was always like this, it usually took them a little time to slip back into the easy-going nature of their relationship.

“Sorry, you go first.” Peter said gesturing to MJ, and she leant forward as she laughed, her hair cascading from behind her shoulder as she did so. It made Peter want to reach out so he could brush it back and see her smile in all its beauty but before he could, she whipped her hand up to sweep her hair away once more.

“I was going to ask how you’ve been.” MJ said still smiling.

Peter grinned and hung his head as he tried not to laugh, he had been about to ask the same thing. “Ok so I was last here on the 9th? The 10th?” Peter wracked his brain trying to think, two weeks had seemed to pass with lightning speed and yet thinking back to the last weekend he had been in New York made it seem like years had passed.

“About.” MJ said shrugging and waiting for Peter to go on.

“Well,” Peter said shifting in his seat, so he was facing her more front on. “It’s just pretty normal you know? College has so much routine I have my timetable and I stick to it and it’s all almost boringly normal. I hear that Ned’s classes get a little more uneventful.”

“Yeah he said to ask you about the ‘chair incident’?” MJ said using finger quotes.

“Oohhh.” Peter said nodding, “you’re gonna love this.”

Peter proceeded to tell MJ the story that Ned had told him on Monday. According to Ned, his professor had made a rather wild comment about climate change and the next day he walked into his classroom to find his chair on fire and written on his desk in sharpie was ‘feelin’ the heat yet Boseman?’.

“Yeah Mr Boseman was not impressed from what I’ve heard.” Peter said as MJ raised her hands in triumph as he finished the story.

“Gold! I wish I could have seen that.” She exclaimed grinning. “If someone had done that in my class, they probably would have gotten expelled.”

They continued chatting, updating each other on what had happened in the last two weeks that hadn’t been conveyed in texts or facetime. Peter told her about picking Morgan up that afternoon and the fact that Happy had an admirer at her school.

A waiter stopped by to take their order for drinks and food and their conversation was momentarily diverted as they both struggled to recall what they had decided to get.

As soon as the waiter made any movement to leave, they jumped back into their conversation. Peter was eager to hear about what was going on in MJ’s life.

“You’d think doing a double degree would make the work load even but somehow it’s not? I swear I’m overloaded in both degrees but according to the system that’s just how it works.” MJ complained running a hand through her hair in frustration.

Peter for his part tried to be as supportive as he could. Before graduating MJ had made the decision to pursue both Science and the Arts and had been invited to complete a double degree in Fine art and literature with her second qualification being a science degree in physics – which Peter thought she was mad to do but tried not to say anything discouraging. After all, the double degree meant that MJ could pursue her passions, art and literature, while still ‘giving myself up to the capitalist gods and concede to the view that the arts are no way to build a career’ to quote MJ directly, a phrase she often said accompanied by over the top hand gestures.

“If anyone can do it, it’s you.” Peter said genuinely. “And you’ve got a little break now, and then in a few weeks it’s the holidays and you’ll have all the free time you could want,” Peter shrugged and added slightly sarcastically, “plus... I mean I’ll be here too so, maybe that’ll be nice?” He twirled the straw in the drink before him.  

“That’s true.” MJ said thoughtfully.

“Which part?” Peter asked hopefully.  

“Hmm? All of it.” MJ said taking a sip of lemon, lime and biters and looked at Peter from the corner of her eye.

Peter felt his cheeks warm and he decided to take a sip of his own drink to cool them down. It was times like these that Peter wished they were a little more specific about where they stood. He knew he should just ask but it was a difficult topic to broach and he still wasn’t quite sure what he was to MJ.

Before the air could grow awkward a waiter returned with their meal, their series of dishes brought out on cute, mismatched plates and bowls.

As they ate Peter found his usual rhythm with MJ slipping back into place. After they had completely updated each other on everything that had happened in the past two weeks they bounced from topic to topic. Before Peter knew it, it was 7:30 and still the conversation showed no sign of letting up.

MJ had asked briefly about his Stark Industries work but she knew from experience that there was very little Peter was really allowed to talk about, so she generally tried to avoid putting him in a bad position.

“It’s a lot really,” Peter said in response to her query about his work. “I don’t think I really had any idea how full on it would be between college and SI and other things…”

Peter trailed off and felt that the conversation had taken a bit of a sombre turn and he didn’t want to start complaining, not when he was so grateful for his position at Stark Industries and his MIT scholarship.

“But I’ve made a lot of progress on the project I mentioned last time, I think I’m on the verge of a breakthrough.” Peter said.

“You called it Chronos right?”

“Yep that’s the one.” Peter grinned, glad that she remembered. Peter hadn’t really told her a lot about it other than that it could potentially change a lot of people’s lives.

“Chronos was the Greek god of time, right? Is that why you chose it?” MJ said trying to draw some information out of Peter.

He shrugged, “Not really,” his heart twinged at the white lie, “all my projects are named like that, it makes them sound… I don’t know cool?”

“Ok what are some of the other ones called?”

“Oh, you know…” Peter mumbled bashfully, “Rogue One, Lazarus, Skywalker…”

“You’re such a nerd.” MJ said leaning her head on her hand as she looked at Peter with sparkling eyes. The air seemed to shift between them, and Peter felt as though something had changed.

“Are you ready for your plates to be taken?” A waiter said behind them and Peter started. The moment shattered.  

“Yes, thank you.” MJ said coolly and leant to the side as their dishes were gathered a cleared away.

“Alright, it’s quarter to eight so still early.” Peter said glancing at his phone. “Do you want to go get a coffee or something?” After two weeks apart, he wasn’t ready to leave MJ just yet.

“Sounds good.” MJ said grinning.

“So, I guess we’re ready to go then?” Peter said reaching down to retrieve his wallet from his coat.

“I think so.” MJ said following suit.  

“I’m just going to go to the bathroom,” Peter said gesturing clumsily over his shoulder, “but here’s my wallet to pay.” Peter said passing it to her, he knew it was a useless endeavour because MJ would probably just split it anyway, she always did.

She murmured something along the lines of ‘ok I will’ as she sifted through her purse and withdrew some money. Peter rolled his eyes but knew that it was useless to try and convince her to let him pay.

Peter left her at their little bench table and darted through the cramped restaurant, ducking past a waiter balancing an impressive number of plates and bowls. He followed the signs that directed him to the bathrooms at the back of the restaurant and followed a short staircase that lead to a small corridor.

Peter didn’t actually need to go to the bathroom… he just needed a moment to think without MJ there to read his facial expressions – which she was infuriatingly good at.

There had been a few moments tonight where Peter had really felt like they were onto something, like they could really be more than just friends. He wanted to broach the whole boyfriend/girlfriend exclusivity conversation with her.

Peter pushed open the door to the men’s room and, after seeing that it was devoid of any other restaurant goers, went straight to the mirror. He stood before it, hands on his hips as he scrutinised his reflection. He’d put on dark jeans and a navy-blue button down and a smart sweater over the top and he might have looked a little preppy but at least it was better than the alternative.

Peter ran a hand through his hair and spun around. “Hey MJ, I feel like this has been a long time coming—” he cut himself off with a groan as he shoved another hand through his hair. Were you even supposed to have these conversations? Didn’t things usually just work out how they were supposed to? All the movies seemed to tell you that once the guy kissed the girl then bam! that’s it, they were dating. Something told Peter that wasn’t quite what happened in real life, but he didn’t exactly have a whole lot of experience in this area.

“Y’know I really like you… I’ve liked you for a long time – I guess what I’m trying to say is will you be my girlfriend?” Peter groaned again, how could something so simple come across as that cheesy? He was in college now things were supposed to be different right? He was supposed to have shaken off that high school awkwardness.

“I’m just gonna go for it.” Peter said shrugging as he braced his arms against the sink and looked at his reflection with determination and a good amount of fear.

“Yeah, you go for it man!” A disembodied voice said from behind one of the toilet stalls and Peter almost jumped out of his skin. “Tell her how you feel!” The enthusiasm almost made him feel better but it was outweighed by the weirdness of the situation.

“Umm… thanks?” Peter said hesitantly mentally cringing at himself over the fact that some random stranger had just heard him rehearsing.

Peter didn’t wait for a reply and instead made a beeline for the exit and the welcoming glow of the warm restaurant floor.

Peter cast his eyes about for MJ, expecting to see her waiting by the door but instead found that she was still sat at the bench on one of the two stools that they had spent the evening at.

Peter strode over to her and when she noticed him coming MJ shifted slightly on her seat to see him.

His proposed question of ‘be my girlfriend’ was somewhat ready on his lips (though it was partially masked with a good deal of worry and awkwardness), but he stopped short when he saw what MJ was doing. She had a smug look on her face that made Peter want to backtrack all the way out the door.

That’s when he noticed it.

MJ had something in her hands.

She was spinning a sliver of what looked like reflective plastic between her thumbs and forefingers like she was a magician performing a card trick. The movement was mesmerising and Peter barely recognised that his feet were moving as he edged closer to their table.

MJ was focused on the card in her hands, her mouth upturned in a wry smile. Her eyes raised to his and Peter halted in his tracks, his heart thudding to a near stop as he met her eyes. They sparkled with amusement and something else deep past that, but he couldn’t quite identify the emotion.

That was when she held the card up with one hand so he could see it properly.

Peter shoulders dropped in absolute despair.

In MJ’s hands was his Stark Industries clearance card. Not the old Platinum X one, which might have been easier to explain, but the new one he had been left by the late Tony Stark. On one side the logo of the Avengers was clearly imprinted and on the other was his own black arachnid that graced his Spidey suit.

[imyourliquor-youremypoison]

A Girl’s Best Friend (Peter Parker x OC) - Part 15

Synopsis: Diamonds are man’s best friend- or dogs are girls’ best friends, wait… how does the saying go again?

Warnings: Family issues; Peter has a crush and it’s complicated; mention of assault; good dogs; College AU; aged up! characters; TONY STARK IS ALIVE AND WE ALL LIVE IN A HAPPY PLACE CALLED DENIAL

Word count: 3.5k

Part 14 <<< >>> Part 16

MASTERLIST

“Kid,” Tony started, having had enough to watching Peter manhandle his lab material. “I’m gonna have to ask you to take a break.”

               Peter, who had been hunched over his desk in the workshop, intently focused on his work and barely registering what was happening around him, hadn’t heard Tony come in. He dropped his tools and rolled back in his chair, using the heel of his hand to brush some strands of hair out of his face.

“What’s up Mr. Stark?” he asked, already alert. “Is there a mission?”

               Tony winced a little and put his hands in his pockets, kicking an imaginary ball with his right foot. Peter sounded too eager for his next big mission. He noticed how he spent increasingly more time at the tower, even though the Christmas holidays weren’t over, instead of seeing his friends.

“No, Peter. There’s no mission. I just think you’ve been clocking in too often these days. I’d even go as far as to say you come here to avoid doing something else.”

               Peter stared at him, blinked once. Twice. Then he tried to smile – the result was stiff and awkward.

“I don’t know what you mean. I only wanted to get this done before classes start again, I’m working on th-“

“I know what you’re working on, Peter,” Tony cut him off, taking the last few steps separating them and grabbing the little device from Peter’s desk. “I also know it’s been done for a few days now, because I crash tested it this week-end.”

               Peter’s jaw clenched.

“It needs improv-“

“Will you quit arguing with me and just tell me what’s on your mine?” Tony sighed, sitting on the desk. He could tell Peter was at a hair’s width away from just rolling away on his desk chair and right into the open doors of the elevator to escape this conversation. “I can recognize the look in your eyes, I’ve had it myself. Trust me when I say that burying yourself under work doesn’t help. Now tell me, what’s bothering you?”

“Nothing.”

“Wrong answer. You’re a terrible liar, by the way, in case I’ve never told you.”

“Nothing of your concern,” Peter tried again. It wasn’t like him to be so disrespectful towards a figure of authority, especially someone he admired as much as he did Mr. Stark, or anyone else for that matter. He was mad at himself and shouldn’t take it out on other people. “I’m sorry,” he couldn’t help but apologize. “I swear it’s nothing. It’s not important.”

               His voice dwindled towards the end, and he looked away, leaning into his chair and realizing he had been in a defensive stance all day, and now he faced Mr. Stark sitting straight as an ‘I’, shoulders tense. No wonder he had noticed something was amiss.

“Maybe not in the grand scheme of things, but it’s obviously important to you. Are you going to tell me or do I need to guess?”

               In typical stubborn man whose pride had been wounded fashion, Peter refused to look up or answer, simply grinding his teeth and willing his mentor to leave him brood in peace while taking his frustration out on his work.

“Would a certain Miss Gerard be at the heart of your problem, by any chance?” Tony ventured, pursing his lips in wait of an answer. Peter remained quiet, but something must have given him away because Tony chuckled to himself, crossing his arms over his chest with a smirk on his face. “I haven’t seen her here in a few weeks, she used to drop by regularly after that first day you brought her here. Lovers’ quarrel?”

“You got the quarrel part right,” Peter grumbled, sucking in his cheeks. He hated that they were having this conversation. “After the shooting on Christmas’ Eve.”

“Ah. Was she mad because she thought you left her there?”

“No.” Peter groaned, rubbing his face with both hands. This was such a massive pile of steaming shit of a situation. He got himself all tangled in a web of lies – pun intended – and he hadn’t risen to the occasion to come clean when he still could. Now it was too late – she knew everything and felt betrayed, used and cheated, and she was right to feel that way. “It’s more delicate than that.”

“Do you need a woman’s opinion? ‘cause I can call Pepper if you want…“ Tony suggested, not finishing his sentence but pointing towards the elevator.

“God, no, don’t do that,” Peter pleaded, recovering some of his usual shyness and blushing at the sheer thought of having this conversation with anyone else than Tony. It was bad enough as it is. “She…” Peter licked his lips, suddenly apprehensive of Tony’s reaction. Surely, he wasn’t going to leap in joy upon hearing one more person knew Peter’s secret. Oh well, here goes nothing. “She knows, Mr. Stark.”

               Not the most self-explanatory sentence, but the graveness of his tone must have been enough to understand what exactly he was talking about. Tony’s face fell a little and he sat down on the nearest chair, his mood getting serious too.

“I see.” There was a pregnant pause before he looked at Peter again. “Did you tell her?”

“No, her dog gave me away.” He looked down in shame, staring at his worn-out Converses, taking a mental note to buy a new pair one of these days.

“I’m sorry, did you just say her dog gave you away?” Tony repeated in astonishment.

“It’s a long story,” Peter simply answered. He had no desire to tell the whole story now. “I should have told her myself.”

“So it’s that serious, ugh? I take it she didn’t react very well at the news?” Tony hummed. “It’s too bad, I liked her. She’s bold and passionate. You two worked well together.”

               Yeah… Peter thought, disgruntled. We did work well together… Ever since the events that brought them apart, he tried not to dwell too much on the moments they had shared. The light finger brushes, the lingering stares, the bright smiles and the easy-going companionship. Fuck, he missed her so much. Why didn’t he just tell her? Why couldn’t he keep away from her as Spider-Man? He went wrong in so many places.

“Hey, kid,” Tony called Peter when he realized he had been zoning out and wasn’t listening to a single thing he said. Peter shook his head and met Tony’s eyes. “Don’t give up just yet. It’s not the end of the world, there’s hope.”

               Easy to say, not so easy to do. Peter had kept in mind what May had told him the night Emmeline stormed out of his apartment, asking him not to contact her again. He was waiting very patiently for her to process the news and come around. Every day he woke up and checked his phone, and upon seeing the lack of messages from her, he became mad at the small device and almost threw it out the window on several occasions.

               All this misplaced anger. He should direct it towards himself, but he didn’t know how. He couldn’t just go out looking for a fight with some thugs, he was too strong for them. And it wasn’t like any of the Avengers still in residence would agree to beat the shit out of him during a sparring session if he asked.

               A day before New Year’s Eve, Peter had called Ned and told him he had fucked up really bad, hoping that talking about I would make him feel better in some way, shape, or form, but it didn’t work in the least. If anything, Peter left worse than before. He had slept through the change of year: he had told May he was meeting with friends and went directly to the tower, where he knew he could spend the night without hearing a single firework or any other noise from the outside world.

               Today, it was a week later, and while Tony had lasted remarkably long in staying out of Peter’s business, he had had to ask what was wrong. Peter knew it would come; he knew he spent way too much time at the tower for it to not look suspicious.

               And tonight, he went to her apartment. He didn’t venture on her balcony, out of respect for her wish not to see him again, but he sat on top of a nearby building that gave him a direct view of the balcony he had spent so many nights on.

               Every other apartment of the building was lit up and he could see people having dinner, watching TV, and whatnot. Emmeline’s was plunged in the dark and he couldn’t see a thing. He didn’t like the feeling of dread that overcame him when he realized she probably wasn’t home. Did she go away because she knew he wouldn’t be able to keep away from her?

               All this angst was messing with his sleeping schedule. He went back to his dorm because he didn’t want to worry May, and his low moods even rubbed off on Tessa now.

               The days were slow and the weeks long until classes began again. Peter had been waiting for the day he would see Emmeline again. He feared it too, because he hadn’t heard back from her since Christmas and he was worried that she didn’t find it in herself to look past his deception.

               Was she going to sit next to him in class today? Or was she going to go back to her seat at the back of the room? Had enough time passed since their argument?

               To say that Peter was distraught to notice her absence was the understatement of the century. His heart dropped and he barely listened to the teacher. At the end of the day, he felt a hundred years older than when we woke up in the morning. Ned had joined him for dinner at his dorm cafeteria in an attempt to cheer him up, and Tessa was there too, sitting under the table, her head resting on Peter’s thighs – it was her go-to position these days, her way to try to lift his mood.

               Peter knew they were trying to make him feel better, but he simply didn’t have the energy right now, and he played with his food until it became cold, barely paying attention to what was around him. Tessa even grew tired of seeing him mopping around and walked away. He only looked up from his untouched plate when Ned elbowed him so hard, he dropped his fork.

“What is it, Ned? I’m not in the mood.”

“Dude!” Ned whispered, nodding towards something behind Peter’s back.

               When he turned around and saw Emmeline a few steps away. She was crouched down, smiling brightly at Tessa and scratching her ears, giving her pats her kisses. His heart soared at the sight, then dropped again.

               She finally stood up, knocking the air out of Peter’s lungs with a mere look. He stopped breathing, half expecting her to spin on her heels and walk away. But her eyes bore into his and she didn’t move for a while. Or maybe it only felt like a long time because he hadn’t seen her in weeks. Peter was frozen in place until Ned spoke up.

“Get your ass up, man! Go talk to her.”

               He did, almost tripping as he stood up, making a fool of himself in the process, but he did. He could swear he saw the shadow of a smile on her lips.

               He didn’t know how he got in front of her, but there he stood, and he still didn’t have the slightest idea what to tell her.

“Let’s go somewhere we can talk,” she said, voice a little croaky but managing a smile. No hello; no beating around the bush.

               Nodding, he asked Ned to keep an eye on Tessa until he came back, then led the way. They stepped out into the night. It wasn’t late but it was January and the sun set early. In any other circumstances, he would have gone to his room, but he wasn’t entirely sure she would welcome the idea. It was his personal space, and he couldn’t tell if they were still this close…

               In any case, the cold air would do him some good. Get his thoughts in order, maybe. It helped with other things too. The wind helped blow away the sweet scent of her perfume following her for example.

               All his senses were on high alert, everything was exponentially more intense, he was aware of every little thing: the sound of her steps behind him, her ragged breathing, the delicate brush of her shoulder against him when he held the front door open for her and she walked out of the building. No one was around, it was too cold and dark to hang out outside.

               They had been quiet up until now, but he was screaming inside. A voice at the back of his head told him to break the ice and say something, anything at all, but he couldn’t.

               He especially couldn’t when she turned around, looking all awkward and adorable, rubbing her left arm and biting on her lower lip, looking at her feet before finally meeting his gaze and making him forget his train of thought. Peter’s hand yearned to reach out to her, this distance was unbearable. She was standing a meter away from him, and it was too much.

“Tessa missed you,” he eventually said. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Talking about your dog? Way to go, man.

               She didn’t seem to mind the awkward opening sentence and even smiled a little. She tightened her scarf around her neck before speaking.

“I missed her too,” Emmeline replied with the same shy smile she shot him before. She’s uncomfortable with me now, Peter thought bitterly. “I miss you, Peter.”

               There was something he hadn’t expected to hear, and it answer to this surprising confession, he shrugged. He shrugged. Then he sucked in his cheeks, willing his heartbeat to slow down and his cheeks not to turn red. Red with embarrassment, red with flusterment, and red from frustration.

“I’m right here,” he eventually told her, keeping his voice very low even though they were alone, walking lazily across campus to nowhere in particular, just from one streetlight to the next. What else was he supposed to say?

               A soft, all too familiar smile graced Emmeline’s lips then.

“You know what I mean. Four weeks feel like forever without seeing you,” she added, not making it any easier for Peter to keep his calm.

               If he knew what she meant? He had missed her so much that he drove his aunt and friends crazy.

               However, and as much as he hated it, a part of him was mad. Mad that she didn’t give him a chance to explain himself, mad that she disappeared for weeks and let him worry, not giving any sign of life! But it was a small, petty part of himself.

“You asked me to stay away, what did you expect I would do?”

               Now that wasn’t fair, and this time Peter couldn’t stop his cheeks from flaming up after telling this blatant, shameful and petty lie. He had tried to see her again, even if he had meant it to be discrete this time, and she had been in her own right to ask to be left alone.

               It came out a little harsher than intended too. Where was all this pent-up anger all those weeks of loneliness? He had felt her absence so deeply, it was hard not to sound bitter, but now wasn’t the time to let his frustration out. This was on him. He only had himself to blame.

               Then again, he knew he messed up, and in the end, his own idiocy had made him as miserable as her. Shouldn’t that count for something? Play in his favor, somehow? He was grasping at straws and he knew it.

“Ouch,” Emmeline laughed a little then, wincing at his words. She looked down at her feet and then back up again. “I guess I deserve that.”

               They had stopped walking. Peter couldn’t remember when exactly, but he realized it when a snowflake gently twirling down and fell on Emmeline’s cheek, her face illuminated by the sharp white light of the streetlamp they stood under.

“No, no…” Peter shook his head. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said it, I just- I…” With his hands still in his pockets because he didn’t have his gloves, he shrugged again.

               He had well and truly stolen that habit of shrugging important things off from Emmeline. God, he had waited to see her again for weeks and now that she was there, ready to listen to him, he fucked it up again. She was so beautiful; she took his breath away. The way she simply stood there, nose slightly buried in her thick scarf to protect it from the cold, oblivious to the effect of her mere presence on him.

“You had every right to be mad at me. I- I lied… I hid things from you… I pretended…”

               The list could go on but Peter already had a hard time holding up her gaze as it was, no need to add to the list of his offences. Was it foolish of him to still hope that their blooming relationship was salvageable? Had he given too much credit to May and Tony’s encouragements?

               Suddenly, Emmeline let out a shaky breath, eyes sparkling with something he couldn’t put his finger on. It had never been so hard not to close the distance between them, and Peter’s hand twitched from having to stay put. She’ll come to you, May had said. In her own time. He shouldn’t-

               The impact nearly knocked him off his feet but Peter held steady and welcomed Emmeline’s embrace, even if it almost sent them both toppling over. It took him a moment to process what was happening, but luckily for him his body was quicker than his brain and his arms encircled her as soon as her body hit his.

               He breathed in deeper than he had at any point during the last four weeks, and the intoxicating scent of her signature perfume filled his lungs, making him pleasantly dizzy. The way she clung to him, arms around his shoulders and face against his neck, breathed a new life into him. She gave no sign of wanting to let go, and Peter was not complaining in the least. She was soft and warm in cold, harsh environment, he could have held onto her forever.

               With one hand around her waist and the other resting behind her neck, he gently stroked her hair – God, she had the softest hair he had ever touched. Not that he had a lot of material to compare it to, but it was hard to imagine anything softer than Emmeline’s long, shiny hair. Unable to hold back, Peter nuzzled it, closing his eyes to enjoy the moment and try to slow down the frantic rhythm of his heartbeat.

               She pulled away just as quickly as she pulled him into the hug. While Peter had no desire to let go, he unwrapped his arm from around her and let her take a step back. She was a bit red in the face, she rubbed her cheeks as if to physically get the blush to go away.

“Sorry,” she croaked out. “That was inappropriate, I just-“

“I missed you,” he finished for her, shoving his hands into his front pockets to stop himself from fidgeting. Emmeline pulled on her sleeves and looked down at her feet to collect herself before meeting his gaze again. “And I hope I haven’t ruined everything between us.”

               His eyes asked the silent question he couldn’t bring himself to voice but he saw on Emmeline’s face that she read him well enough to see it.

“I’m not mad at you anymore, Peter,” she told him, earning a sigh of relief. “I know I flipped out at Christmas, and then I went cold turkey on you and disappeared from the face of the earth for weeks. I needed a bit of time to process everything and…” and figure out if you still wanted to see me now that you know the truth, Peter finished her sentence in his head.

               She had told him she didn’t want to see him or Spider-Man again, but after the second week of radio silence, he spied on her apartment, trying to get a glimpse of her, just one glimpse to make sure she was alright and then he was going to leave her be. He hadn’t seen her. In fact, he had gone back once more – maybe she was just out that night? – but it seemed the place was deserted.

“I’m mad at myself, though,” she then said, making him frown and shake his head.

“What- Why?”

               She hesitated. Peter’s brain gears overworked to try and find a reason for her to be mad at herself when he was the one who had deceived her. It looked like she didn’t know where to look, her eyes jumped from one thing to the next, all in an effort to not meet his eyes. Eventually, she sighed and looked up again.

“Let’s get something to drink. I think I owe you a coffee at the very least.”

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Reblog to save a writer

Taglist: @justanothercynicalgenzkid @of-virtuoso @the-freefeather​ @complete-trash-101​

[tandystys]

Summary: The ultimate marvel teenage superhero crossover. Runaways x Cloak and Dagger x Spider-Man. Peter is trying to get out of the city unnoticed because he thinks it's the only way he can protect the people he loves. Tyrone and Tandy leave New Orleans on a mission to find out who they are and what they're capable of. All while the Runaways are trying to fight up against their alien possessed parents.

[aquaquadrant]

Title: it wears a mask Chapter Warnings: language, death mention. Summary: Beck has a change of heart at the trainyard and takes Peter captive instead. In many ways, it turns out much, much worse. (NOT SLASH)

Chapter Six Preview

It’s good to be back.

Beck greets his friends with smiles and nods as he makes his way through the headquarters. He’s glad to finally let himself relax and fully drop the Mysterio act. There haven’t been many moments completely to himself since London. And that costume really doesn’t breathe well.

Hill offered him a place at the old Avengers compound, and Beck had to play the ‘tortured loner’ role to decline and take off without sounding suspicious. He has his whole team to think of, not to mention Peter. And besides, what’s the fun of being a superhero if you’re living in a government sanctioned compound with constant surveillance? Stark had the right idea, living it up in his own private mansion.

The event has started Beck thinking about a more permanent settlement. This temporary headquarters isn’t too shabby, but he didn’t really want to settle in Europe. Staging his attacks in America will get him more attention; American news always does. And he can be a bit pickier about exactly where he sets up shop. This base is a bit too public for his liking. Their security is tight, but all it takes it one accidental glimpse through a door as it opens, one troublesome teenager sneaking around where they aren’t supposed to, and the whole thing is blown.

He might take some notes from the Avengers and get himself a nice, secluded compound. Sturdy, well protected, with plenty of room to breathe. And he can take notes from Wakanda and set up a perimeter of drones to hide the entire thing under cloaking technology. No shame in stealing from the best.

But he doesn’t have to think about that now. He’ll have plenty of time once the buzz from the London attack ebbs- it’s already dropped down the list of trending topics, so it won’t be long. It’s been a busy three days, but the world moves on quickly. He’ll have to get his next planned attacks rolling to stay relevant, just a few little disturbances to put him in back the headlines.

At least Beck has the time for this; checking in with his favorite web-crawling do-gooder. He’s tapped into the video feed a few times since the last time, but he hasn’t actually spoken to Peter in person since making that call to his friends. And seeing as he’s due for a check-in with everyone at home base anyways, it’s a good time as any.

Beck pauses just outside the door to Peter’s room, briefly pulling up the video feed. Peter’s sitting on his bed, finishing a sandwich while trying to look like he’s not watching the news report playing on the wall. Beck closes the projection with a grin and lets himself into the room.

Peter jumps at his entrance, and the initial surprise on his face quickly turns to alarm as he realizes who it is. The sandwich falls from Peter’s hand onto the bed as he scrambles away from Beck, his back hitting the wall.

The wound on Peter’s face looks a lot worse up close. Angry red skin borders the tiny stitches along his cheek, making it look even more out of place than the bare gash itself. His right hand in its splint is held close to his chest, his left hand pressed back against the wall.

Beck chuckles. “Aw, what’s the matter, not happy to see me?”

Peter doesn’t reply, instead continuing to study him with that distrustful, wide-eyed gaze.

Beck puts his hands on his hips. “Oh, what, what’s that look for? I’m just here to talk.”

Peter hesitates. “I don’t know if you’re real,” he says, wary.

“You’re still on this?” Beck asks incredulously. “What reason would I have for appearing as an illusion now instead of just talking to you through Herod’s intercom?”

Instead of an answer, Peter blinks at him. “Herod?”

Ah shit, right. “Oh, that’s what I’ve named your drone,” Beck explains, waving a hand. He grins. “It’s a biblical reference, get it? Peter and Herod?”

Peter’s face is blank. “We don’t really, uh… go to church so, yknow…”

Beck raises his eyebrows. “Really? You’ve never heard of- forget it.” He shakes his head, mildly disappointed. “Now, even if I was an illusion, what would be the harm? Clearly I’m not going to kill you, otherwise I would’ve done it already. You’re a prisoner in a secure cell. Why would I use an illusion to attack you now?”

Peter’s expression grows guarded, and it’s immediately clear to Beck that an answer has come to Peter’s mind and he doesn’t like it. “You tell me,” he snaps.

“Ooh, getting feisty, are we?” Beck taunts, unfazed by the insult. “It’s amazing what a hot shower, a change of clothes, a good meal, and medical treatment will do for the spirit, huh?”

“Stop it,” Peter says, his voice low. His shoulders hunch by his ears defensively. “I just… need to know if you’re real.”

It comes out a lot more wobbly than Peter probably intended. Beck puts his hands on his hips, nonplussed. He genuinely didn’t expect the illusions to have such a lasting effect on the kid’s head- but in hindsight, Beck shouldn’t be surprised. He’s won Peter’s trust only to tear it all down, throw him into a nightmare, almost kill him, and then take him captive. Even if there wouldn’t be any danger involved this time, Peter doesn’t want to be tricked again. It’s only natural.

“Well, I already know you won’t take my word for it,” Beck says eventually. He stretches an arm out, almost as if for a handshake. “Go ahead, see for yourself.”

Peter gives a start, like he hadn’t expected Beck to go along with it. Then he’s wary again, eyes narrowing in on Beck’s hand like it might shoot lasers at him. After a moment, he eases off the bed and onto his feet, moving in that same slow, tense way from earlier. He approaches Beck by walking sideways- protecting his most vital organs, smart- and the bend in his knees puts him closer to the ground, ready to spring away in an instant.

Beck is abruptly reminded of his attempts to befriend alley cats outside his childhood home. Sitting still with an outstretched hand as they slunk towards him, those slitted eyes roving over him as their ears twitched curiously. They got close enough to sniff his hand before darting away, tails bristling, and the process would repeat. It was a miraculous lesson in patience for ten-year-old Beck, and his efforts were rewarded within just a few weeks; the cats would come when he called.

Amusement quirks at Beck’s lips with the memory, but he doesn’t let himself smile. Peter might take it as a warning.

Finally, Peter stops before him. When his hand darts out to make contact, he doesn’t take Beck’s offered hand. Instead, he ends up sort of poking the back of Beck’s hand, just for an instant. Another calculated move, Beck suspects, because if Peter had taken his hand, it would’ve given Beck the opportunity to grab him.

As soon as Peter’s hand falls away, he retreats to the bed. Like he can’t get away from Beck fast enough. His expression is hard to read- not from any effort on Peter’s part to conceal his emotions, but because they’re so conflicted. He settles cross-legged again, meeting Beck’s gaze evenly.

“Why are you here?” he asks.

“Just checking up on you,” Beck says, folding his arms. “I heard about your hand. Feel like telling me why you’re punching walls?”

Peter bristles, his hand curling to his chest. “No.”

Beck hums noncommittally. “Well, I know you definitely weren’t trying to escape, because doing so would kill your best friends in the whole wide world, and we don’t want that.” His smile is a bit too wide to be friendly. “So what gives?”

Peter glares at him, but Beck can tell the reminder has its desired effect from the way Peter sets his jaw. “I got angry,” he says finally, glancing away. “Lost my temper.”

Beck knows it’s a lie right away. Peter Parker is many things, but he’s not the kind of person who is prone to anger issues. Beck’s research told him as much. So he reads between the lines, searching for the half-truth. Maybe Peter did lose control of himself, but it wasn’t out of anger. That’d be something he’d want to keep to himself, especially after the trainyard.

“Alright.” Beck doesn’t press it, filing the info away for later. “Next time, count to ten.”

Peter ignores the comment. “You can’t keep this up forever, you know.”

Beck tilts his head. “Keep what up?”

“This… fake hero thing.” Peter’s voice is layered with thinly-veiled disgust. His eyes trace the projection of the news report still playing on the wall. “What are you going to do when the real villains show up? The real monsters? You keep establishing yourself, and it’ll only be a matter of time before someone challenges you.” He frowns, thoughtful. “It’s like, you’re trying to make a game, right, but there are already real players out there. And they play by their rules.”

Beck nods slowly. “Interesting point,” he says, humoring Peter. “What would you suggest I do?”

Peter studies him for a moment, hesitating. “Quit while you’re ahead,” he offers finally. “If you stop now, you could get away. Disappear before anyone knows what’s happening. But if you wait for someone or something else to expose you, your chances are a lot worse.”

It’d be a good answer, if Beck was a man of less nerve. He’s come too far to have doubt now. “I’m sorry, what about this situation has made you think you can try to bargain with me?” he asks.

Surprise flares in Peter’s eyes, and he holds his hands up. “I’m just saying, this isn’t sustainable.”

“Maybe you weren’t paying attention.” Beck lets the slightest edge come into his voice, feeling satisfied by the way Peter tenses. “I have Edith now- thanks, by the way- and Edith has access to Stark’s entire satellite surveillance network. If it’s online, Edith has access to it, and that means any potential threats can be identified and neutralized before they happen.”

“You…” Peter knits his brows together. “Wait, you’re talking about using Edith to-”

Beck interrupts with a question. “Were you old enough to pay attention to the whole SHIELD shitstorm? With Hydra and the helicarriers and Project Insight?” At Peter’s hesitant nod, Beck continues, “they might’ve been onto something. But while they used an algorithm to predict who could potentially cause problems, I’ll be using Edith to locate them and take them out before any damage can be done.”

Horror dawns on Peter’s face. “This is… you’re going to use a worldwide surveillance network to eliminate threats, and then create fake ones to fight? That’s-”

“Changing the game, I know,” Beck amends. “If we’re going with your little metaphor.”

Peter stares at him. “You’re killing all the players before they enter the stage, and replacing them with CPUs.”

Beck chuckles. “Sure, that’s a way to put it. Might be cheating, but at least I know I’ll always win.”

“But not without cost,” Peter says, his words slow with realization. “You’re… going to keep killing people for it, aren’t you? Innocent people?”

“Collateral damage,” Beck agrees. “It’s necessary.”

Sure, if Beck were more of a humanitarian, he could just use Edith to keep the world safe and not even bother with all the theatrics. But he’s got a couple reasons for going about it this way. One; many people would disagree with persecution coming before the crime, and his actions have a much better chance of going unnoticed if he gives the world something else to look at.

And two; Beck is tired of working in the shadows.

Peter’s expression hardens. “It won’t work forever,” he says quietly. “Someone or something is gonna get through the cracks, and- and what do you do then? What if you get attacked in public, no illusions prepared, with the whole world watching?”

Despite himself, Beck feels a small sliver of unease trickle down his spine. As good as Edith is, he’s not the only person who can play things close to the vest. If someone was cautious and clever enough, they could hide their intentions until it was too late. Plus, people and plans could change in an instant. Accidents happen. In this world where mild-mannered scientists could Hulk out at the drop of a hat, it’s nearly impossible to be certain you’re truly safe, at any moment.

Maybe Beck hasn’t prepared for everything as thoroughly as he believed.

But he doesn’t let his newfound doubt show. “How about I worry about the hero stuff, and you worry about keeping your friends alive by being a good little spider, alright?”

Peter’s expression clouds with disappointment and bitterness, and that alone tells Beck that Peter was really hoping to get through to him. Hoping to convince him to abandon this path. But Beck has a perspective Peter can never understand; living in a world where half the population vanished without a trace, and the other half was abandoned by the heroes sworn to protect them. Or, at the very least, avenge them. He remembers the chaos in the days immediately following, his own fear after watching the world crumble around him.

Since the snap was reversed, Beck has often wondered if it would have been easier, had he been blipped. But he’s glad to have experienced those five years. It’s made him stronger, and only solidified his resolve. There’s not enough control in the world, he realized, and the control they have is in incapable hands. It won’t be willingly handed over to the right ones, it has to be taken.

So while some people fell into despair, Beck got to work putting together his own team and fine-tuning the projection technology that would one day power his illusions. Stark’s development of Edith was the last piece to the puzzle, and everything from there fell into place.

Peter is the one outlier Beck didn’t account for, but he’s good at improvising.

“I’ll let you get back to your show now,” Beck says with a grin, nodding at the ongoing news reports. “The lights are gonna go off in a couple hours, and someone will be in to patch up the shower tomorrow morning. You have a good night-”

“Wait.”

Peter’s voice makes Beck pause, his hand on the doorknob. Looking over his shoulder, he sees Peter staring hard at the floor, his good hand clenched into a fist as if he’s steeling himself.

“The guy who was in here earlier, Virgil…” Peter takes a deep breath and meets Beck’s eyes. “He said that you didn’t show any of them what happened at the trainyard.”

Oh, interesting. “That’s correct,” Beck admits.

Peter actually looks a little upset at that. “Why?”

It’s surprising that something like this would matter to Peter, but Beck takes it in stride. “There are some things that I keep to myself,” he says mildly.

Sure, he’s not keen for the others to see the way he hesitated. He’d much rather them believe that his decision to spare Peter was well-thought out instead of the result of a… sudden weakness. But it’s more than that, it’s not wanting the others to see what Peter went through.

And not out of any concern for the kid’s privacy, no. There’s something appealing about keeping that knowledge to himself. About being the only one to have seen Peter like that- aside from William, who only heard it through the mic. It gives Beck a sort of power, he thinks. The power of knowing just how far he successfully pushed Peter, how effective his methods had been.

He’s earned it, in a manner of speaking. Earned the right to see Peter fall apart. No one else has.

Despite saying none of this out loud, the look Peter’s giving Beck makes him think the kid has worked it out on his own. Sharp as a whip, this one. The clash of emotion across Peter’s face is so startling, it’s like he’s inventing new ways to look horrified and betrayed.

Beck rolls his eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic. It’ll be our little secret, yeah? Now finish your dinner and get some sleep tonight. I’ll be checking in soon.”

Peter looks like he’s going to say something but cuts himself off, glancing away.

Beck takes that as his cue to leave, locking the door behind him. Once outside, he quickly pulls up Herod’s projection again, just to double check.

Peter’s sitting right where Beck left him, absently scratching at his wrist splint. As Beck watches, he gives a barely noticeable sigh and picks up the sub sandwich he’d dropped. He looks like he’s fully lost his appetite, but he starts eating anyways, and he pointedly avoids looking at Herod or the projection of the news reports.

Beck closes the feed again, nodding to himself. Looks like everything’s settling down for now. All things considered, Peter’s taken this pretty well. He’s been logical enough to not try and escape, and been on his best behavior where Herod can see him.

But even the strongest wills break given time, and Beck can’t wait to watch.

[nolongerapileofashprobably]

Tomorrow night I’m seeing Endgame

I cant wait to change my bio to being emotionally unstable because of Endgame

[aire101]

Ferrum Intro

My brain absolutely, positively refuses to focus on romance atm, which means I have made no progress on my WIP and instead my brain ended up producing this concept which I will probably continue at least until I get it out of my system.  So here’s the beginning of a post-Endgame MCU/SAO Irondad fic that I went online to read, discovered it didn’t exist yet, and so could NOT GET OUT OF MY DAMN HEAD.

-------

It had been a long day.

Then again, every day seemed like a long one lately.

It had been a relatively beautiful November day for New York City, and with the approaching holidays Peter was starting to see the usual uptick in petty crime begin this season. Within his five hour patrol he had helped eight lost tourists, found one lost pet, caught two armed burglars and tied up a ridiculous number of petty thieves. Nothing too problematic, just another day in the life of our friendly neighborhood Spider-man.

Peter sat crouched on a roof looking over the newest Iron Man mural to pop up, this time right on the edge between Queens and Brooklyn. There were several around town already, but this one was especially heart-wrenching. Most were either of the armor mid-action or of Mr. Stark in his trademark press look. But this one was different in the best and worst way.

In this art, Mr. Stark was still in his armor, but the helmet was retracted, allowing the viewer to see the blood crusted on his face, the lines of worry even deeper than they were before everything had gone to hell. There weren’t many pictures of Mr. Stark from the five year period now known as the Blip, but in the ones there were Peter knew he had looked like this— tired and worn in a way Peter had never seen, but could well understand. All in all, it looked uncannily similar to the last time Peter had seen him. When—

Anyway—

And on the shoulders of this mural’s Tony Stark rested an enormous orb holding dozens of galaxies spiraling around a central point— a tiny arc reactor in the shape of a heart.

There was still a little while before he would be expected at Ned’s tonight, but the more he tried to convince himself to hit the streets again, the heavier his limbs felt.

He couldn’t do it. Not like this. Experience told him it was a recipe for disaster, likely to get himself or someone else badly hurt. Himself he could handle, someone else… his conscience couldn’t take another body added to its count right now. Besides, he had promised Ned he’d be there tonight.

Peter sighed and swung away from his rooftop perch to head back towards Ned’s, not sparing the art a backwards glance.

No matter how good it was, no reproduction could ever duplicate what he had lost.

----------

“Whoa, you’re early,” said Ned with a mild tone of shock. Which honestly… was probably fair. “I wasn’t expecting you for at least another thirty minutes.”

“Yeah, I decided to call it a night early. It was actually pretty quiet tonight anyway. Didn’t want to get too wrung out on the web considering we have plans tonight,” said Peter as he stepped into the Leeds’ apartment, slipping off his shoes and hanging his coat on the rack. “Where is everyone?”

“Dad has to work tonight, and mom and Angelica went to Laser Bounce earlier, but they should be back before too long. I stayed home to finish some stuff up before the launch tonight. Plus, I wasn’t sure when you’d be getting here, so…”

“Sorry, I should have messaged earlier.”

“You’re alright man. Like I said, I had some stuff to wrap up. I plan to be in-game as much as possible tomorrow,” said Ned as they moved into his bedroom.

“You sure you don’t mind me getting the first run tonight? They might have some secret opening event planned for the first few hours…” asked Peter.

“I am absolutely positive. I am going to have plenty of opportunities to lose unhealthy amounts of sleep to this game. Besides, between the two of us I think you need the break more than me.  On a related note— you look terrible man. Have you been sleeping at all?”

“I sleep,” said Peter defensively. “I don’t really need much though, you know?”

“Physically, sure. Mentally? You’re still just as human as the rest of us Peter. Have you talked to May about it? Or Happy?”

“Can we please drop this? It’s just been a long day, alright?”

“What happened? I thought you said it was mostly quiet?” asked Ned, confused.

“I meant it was quiet for New York, I was still busy pretty much all evening,” said Peter, falling backwards onto Ned’s bed.

Ned sat down at his computer, spinning around to face Peter. “Fine, but I’m definitely going to harass you later, and you better actually sleep after we trade off in a few hours. Anyway, I am SO PSYCHED or this! God I hope its worth all the hype.”

“I can’t imagine it being a flop. The tech behind it is revolutionary, and the head developer has been working on the game for like a decade,” said Peter, as he scrolled through the GameSpot special coverage from that day.

“Wasn’t SI contracted to consult on it, too?” asked Ned.

Peter felt his throat begin to constrict. The nails of his right hand bit into the flesh of his palm as he forced himself to take a slow breath—hold—and release…

“Yeah, Mr. Stark consulted on it himself. Some of the engineering on the headset is similar to the BARF technology. I think he might have worked on a couple system AI’s as well.”

“That is so cool man. So this is almost like his last tech contribution? Last gift to the world…”

“I doubt that. It was just a consult job, most of the work was done by Argus. Plus, Mr. Stark had years worth of projects and updates on file. We’ll probably see things he had a hand in being released for the next ten years at the least,” said Peter.

“Still pretty cool though,” said Ned with a shrug.

At that moment, Peter heard the sound of a key being inserted into the lock of the front door.

“Looks like they’re back,” he said, continuing to scroll, this time through discussions on Reddit.

“Have you had dinner yet? You know if you haven’t she’s going to force you to eat before you dive.”

“Nah, I didn’t get a chance to stop off earlier. What kind of leftovers do ya have?”

“I think there’s meatloaf and some chicken adobo left at the moment.”

“Yaaasss… Chicken adobo…”

Just then Ned’s bedroom door opened, and Mrs. Leeds poked her head in, a large smile on her face.

“Peter! I thought I saw your coat by the door! I’m glad you were able to make it tonight! Edward has been excited about the sleepover for weeks,” she said.

“Oh my god, mom! It’s not a sleepover! I doubt we’ll even sleep much!”

“Isn’t that what sleepovers are about?! You’re ridiculous… Anyway, have you eaten?” Mrs. Leeds asked, looking at Peter.

Peter had to bite back a smile, but shook his head.

“Hala ka, you’re going to waste away into dry bones! I don’t care how busy you are these days, you shouldn’t be skipping meals. You’ll blow away in a strong breeze. Come, I’ll heat something up. I know how bad you boys get about eating when its a normal game. A full immersion VR? You’ll forget you even have a real body that needs sustenance.”

“Yes, ma’am,” said Peter, dutifully following her into the kitchen.

“You are in luck. We have some leftover chicken adobo from last night. I know you like that recipe. Did May ever give it a go?”

Peter flashed back to the gloopy, slightly charred mess that was May’s attempt at cooking the dish. “Eh… Yeah but it wasn’t quite the same. Still needs a bit of work.”

“Huh,” Mrs. Leeds said, sounding confused.

“Peter!” shouted a voice from behind him.

“Hey Angie,” said Peter, before he felt arms wrap around him from behind in a bear hug.

His heart throbbed in his chest. His breath caught and wouldn’t come.

Thanos was coming for the gauntlet he couldn’t let him have it he had to run the aliens were grabbing him he had to—

“You never come around anymore! It’s been months—!”

“Stop that Angelica. It’s been a crazy year, and Peter stays very busy between school and an internship. Shouldn’t you be getting ready for bed? It’s already way passed bedtime.”

Angie rolled her eyes dramatically but stomped back off towards her room to do as she was asked.

“Sorry, dear. She just missed her big brothers, you know.”

Peter did his best to force out a grin, but he wasn’t sure just how well it came off because the next thing he knew Mrs. Leeds was giving him a tender kiss on the head and muttering about making some cups of cocoa.

It was moments like this that he truly felt the strange reality of the fact that he had lost five years of his life. On the surface level everything felt mostly the same— Aunt May along with the majority of his friends had also been snapped, as well as several of his teachers. But while they were gone, Ned’s little sister aged from an innocent five year old, to a ten year old girl who had grown in a world in more confusion, pain and desperation than Peter could really comprehend. Freshman he had helped tutor in school had graduated. Families he had known were irreparably torn apart, seemingly overnight.

It felt like while he was still the same, the rest of the world had tilted slight to the left, leaving him unbalanced and unsure where to step next. He’d always felt a bit out of place anyway after the spider bite, but now it was so much worse. Sometimes Peter wanted a taste of what normal used to be like, without freaky spider powers, world protecting responsibilities and the guilt of looking around him and wondering if he deserved to be here at all.

He glanced at the clock that hung on the wall— fifteen minutes till midnight.

“I should probably go brush my teeth too and get settled in. The server will open soon,” said Peter as he stood.

“Yeah, though there shouldn’t really be much to do other than to actually connect since we calibrated your account the other day,” said Ned.

Within ten minutes Peter had taken care of his nightly necessities and given Angie and Mrs. Leeds both a hug goodnight, settling in on the upper bunk of Ned’s bed.

“Last time I’m asking— are you sure you don’t mind me giving this the first run?” asked Peter.

Ned sighed and spun around from his computer to send Peter an exasperated look. “Do you not want to take it on its maiden voyage?”

“That’s not what I said,” Peter rolled his eyes.

“Then stop worrying.  Just have a good time for once.  Also, I downloaded a couple files to the gear.  Not sure how reliable it is yet, but a few beta testers put out some first floor tips on the DL as a downloadable in game file, so check that out once you dive.  It might help out a bit.”

“Will do.  Thanks.”

“No problem.  Now get going, and be sure to take plenty of notes in your journal to send me later.”

“See you around, kid.”

“I am older than you are by two months.  Shut up and dive, loser.”

Peter smiled as he fitted the Nervegear onto his head, laid back and said, “Link Start.”

———————

In a remote, nondescript server room a certain file kicked to life.  It’s programming had been remotely accessed, a mere accident of oversight.  The digital pathways that connected it to the Argus servers, while known about, had been forgotten in the chaos of the last few years.  The file was not one created within the system, but one created to interact within it.  The Cardinal system downloaded the precious data, implementing it in the category that best described its form and function.

Program designation: Client

System ID: Ferrum Vir

Administration level: GM

. . . .

Installation Complete

————————

At 12:00 am EST on November 5th, 2023 (1:00 pm JST), Peter Parker joined 10,000 others in the world’s first full dive MMORPG— Sword Art Online.

And so did a very confused Anthony Edward Stark.