#sincerelyfans halloween writing challenge

[dylanrauhl]

Anchor (Peter Parker x Reader)

(WEREWOLF!AU)

Summary ↦  You left three years ago to keep Peter safe but an unexpected death has caused you to come back.

Warnings ↦ Angst, mentions of death, the over used best friends fall in love trope

A/N ↦ This is for @sincerelyfan Halloween writing challenge! I know it seems a little choppy but the word limit had me for a spin, lol. Please don’t be too mean, I haven’t written much yet.

.o0O0o.

“I can’t stay Peter.” You choked out. Bags were packed and slung over your shoulder, your room bare. Everything that you couldn’t carry was either thrown or given away. Being emancipated made it simple to leave, no guardian to tell you no. 

“Giz..” He trailed off. The nickname he had for you already sounding foreign in his mouth. The expression on his face was one you knew well, eyes wild, face scrunched, trying to come up with anything to fix the situation at hand. How to get you to stay. His shoulders slumped, defeated. “Please.” 

You walked passed him afraid that if you looked at him you wouldn’t leave. The doorknob was cold in your hand as you turned it slowly, pausing to say one last thing. “I love you.” The words were low, barely audible, but you knew he could hear them. 

.o0O0o.

Every drop of condensation that ran down your glass kept your attention as you sat at the bar. There wasn’t much to do besides drink in Utah which is why you found yourself here at least five days a week. You heard someone sit down beside you but chose to ignore them.

“What’s a pretty girl like you doing at a bar all by herself?” You sighed, looking up to find the man behind the gruff voice. He was attractive, trimmed facial hair, bright smile, dark hair, but he wasn’t him.

In all three years you have lived here you haven’t uttered more than five words total to anyone besides the bartender. You didn’t care to make friends or memories, you were living in your own personal hell and you would rather do it alone. You turned back to your glass without saying a word.

“Oh c’mon. A pretty little thing like you shouldn’t be all alone at the bar. There are creepy people out there.” He laid his hand on your bare thigh. Oh the irony.

“Don’t touch me.” You seethed, pushing his hand away but keeping your gaze forward. “And please leave me alone.”

“Ooh feisty, I like feisty.” His hand was back and your patience was running thin.

“I said leave.” A growl rumbled low in your chest as you glanced his way with glowing blue eyes. 

His heartbeat quickened as he stumbled back off the stool, unable to keep the fear off his face. You chuckled, rolling your eyes and taking another sip of your martini. Most people in town knew not to approach you. That was easily distinguished within the first month of moving here. You knew the looks they gave you as you walked down the street, but you can't bring yourself to care. 

You calmed yourself by looking around the bar at the Halloween decorations, the stuffed gremlin catching your eye.

.o0O0o.

“Wow, I love that movie.” An eleven year old Peter sat on the couch, stealing the bowl of popcorn from your lap. You had just got done watching his favorite childhood movie, The Gremlins.

“Hey! That’s mine!” You reached across the couch slapping his arm before trying to grab the bowl but he lifted it away from you.

“Calm down you little gremlin. I just wanted a couple pieces.” Your eyes narrowed at him at the name and he laughed. “Actually, you and Gizmo have a lot in common, maybe I’ll start calling you that.” He cheesed at you, letting you grasp the bowl from his hand.

.o0O0o.

The phone vibrated in your pocket pulling you back from the memory and causing your eyebrows to furrow in confusion. No one has called you in years and then it was only a telemarketer. You don't know why you kept the damn thing, the first year was filled with dodging his constant calls but even those drifted off into silence.  

You took the device out of your pocket, and checked the caller ID, breath catching in your throat. With shaking hands your thumb slid across the screen, bringing the phone up to your ear. 

“Ned?” You whispered, not intending for your voice to sound so weak. 

“May’s dead.” His voice had no emotion to it, saying the words like he was telling the weather. You squeezed the phone, breaths coming out quicker as you felt your eyes flicker between colors. Squeezing your eyes shut and taking a second to breath in gradually you got yourself under control like you had taught yourself how to do before the phone ended up broken. Ned spoke again before you had the chance to. “You probably don’t care but I thought I’d try anyway. He’s not doing well, you know? Was never able to fully get over the last dropped bomb before another one hit.” 

You knew he was talking about when you left. He was very vocal in the first couple months after your disappearance, leaving angry voicemails about how you were a piece of shit for leaving. You saw the news, saw what Spider-Man was doing, how broken he was because of you and Ned’s reminders of that just pushed the knife deeper. 

“Funeral is the day after tomorrow.” He hung up.

.o0O0o.

“I can’t believe we graduate tomorrow, Giz. We’re adults now.” Peter smiled down at you as your legs were dangling off the rooftop. He had dragged you out of bed to join him on his nightly watch of the city, claiming this was the last night you guys could take chances and blame it on being young. He had his suit on with his mask laying on the roof somewhere behind you.

“I don’t know about adults, don’t get ahead of yourself there Spidey.” You laughed, taking in the calmness of it all. You both had made it. Years of watching him fight against the bad guys, finals, the blip; you were finally graduating tomorrow. 

“I can’t wait for college. Have I told you how excited and proud I am that my best friend is going to NYU?” He smiled down at you, beautiful brown eyes glistening with the street lights. 

“You’re going to Columbia, Pete, that’s a little bit more impressive than NYU. I should be the one telling you how proud I am.” You countered, leaning into his side as his arm came around your shoulders.

“Don’t downplay your accomplishments Gizmo.” His thumb was rubbing your shoulder, never allowing you to think anything but highly of yourself. “We’re only going to be thirty minutes away from each other. I’m going to come visit you so much you’re going to get sick of me.” He teased.

“Impossible.” You said, no joke in your tone, you couldn’t imagine a life without him in it. “You’ll probably get sick of me.”

His breath faltered, moving over slightly to fully look at you, the comfort of his arm leaving. You worried he caught the undertone of your statement, the feelings for him you were happy to leave buried under years of acceptance that he’d never feel the same way back. 

“Y/N.” His voice came out uneven, worrying you more at the use of your real name instead of the more common nickname he had given you. “I could never get sick of you, I love you.”

His hands were cupping your face and his lips were on yours before you had the chance to register what he said. It took you a couple seconds to kiss back, the shock of getting something you imagined many times before taking effect. The kiss was gentle like he was testing the waters, lips brushing over yours. It was over faster than you wanted, his face pulled back enough to look at your eyes but his hands stayed cupping your face. 

“Is this okay?” He asked, uncertainty in his eyes. 

“God, yes.” You whimpered. 

He grinned, lips finding yours again. There was no hesitation this time, every emotion both of you had kept in for years were pouring into the kiss. His one hand moved to the back of your neck as the other laid on your hip pulling you impossibly closer. A moan left you as he slid his tongue into your mouth to trace every crevice. 

A blood curdling scream had both of you jumping back, chests heaving from the previous lack of oxygen. Before you had the chance to blink Peter was up and pulling down his mask shooting a web to the next building. 

“Stay here.” It was a command but he should have known better.

.o0O0o.

You stepped out of the cab at the cemetery, backpack with your things slung on your shoulder and black dress hanging down to mid thigh. There was no need to get a hotel room, you were coming in for the funeral and leaving tonight. 

The first person to notice you was Ned, he caught your eyes with a shocked expression as he was turned in his chair. Honestly, you could barely believe you ended up flying in for it. Peter turned to Ned in confusion, straining his neck to follow his gaze. The second you saw his brown doe eyes rimmed red from crying your feet froze and your breath got caught in your throat. Your eye flickered their bright blue color for half a second but you knew he noticed by the gasp that rang through your hypersensitive ears. 

Getting yourself under control you continued up the hill, stopping to stand beside him. “Is it okay if I sit here?” You mentally slapped yourself at the first words to Peter in three years was a question about seating. 

“Uhm, yea. Yea.” He cleared his throat, picking up the obituary that was laying down in the seat. Ned scoffed, obviously annoyed. Peter kept his face poised, barely any emotion showing but you could hear the rise in his heartbeat as soon as he saw you. 

The ceremony was beautiful, some people talking about how May was and telling memories. Peter never did get up to talk in front of everyone, but you knew it would have been too hard for him. It was hard for you, May was the mom you never had growing up. 

As soon as everyone got done watching the casket lower and Peter shoveled in the first pile of dirt they started dispersing. 

“Can we talk?” You found yourself asking as the crowd dwindled out. 

“Sure. But, not here. Let’s go back to my apartment.” He looked around like a lost puppy, hands in his pockets. “I’m assuming you took a cab here?” You nodded. “You can ride back with me and Ned.” 

.o0O0o.

Even you could tell the scream wasn’t far away. You ran to the edge of the building right as Peter disappeared down an alley. You hurriedly climbed down the fire escape ladder and ran to where you last saw him, your feet stumbling over one another as you caught sight of Peter being held up against a wall by his neck.

“Giz,” A choked out sound of your nickname brought you back from the shock. A hairy man let his grasp of Peter up as he fell to the ground in a heap, gasping for air. The assaulter turned to you and you froze at the fangs and claws you saw, his eyes an inhuman blue. He lunged toward you before Peter had the chance to regain his step, a sharp pain on your shoulder causing you to scream in pain and fall to your knees.

Peter was by your side in seconds, the man long gone. You clutched your shoulder, fingers being coated in your own blood from a bite mark. “No, no, no. Stay with me Giz, you’re going to be okay.” Before he was able to pick you up, you arched your back in agony and roared, eyes glowing a bright yellow and fangs glistening in the moon’s light.

.o0O0o.

The car ride to their place was awkward and that’s saying it lightly. It was filled with constant glares from Ned in the rear-view mirror and Peter clearing his throat like he was going to say something but nothing came out.

He pulled into a parking lot out front of a nice looking apartment building in Manhattan.

“You both live here?” You only got a nod in return as they both got out of  the car.The apartment was small, but nice. A bed laid where the living room should be and another in the room adjacent. It was cleaner than you would have thought with two boys living their. 

“What are you doing here Y/N?” The words left Peter in a rush, like he’s been holding them back since he saw you. 

“Ned called me and told me about May and,” Peter deadpanned at Ned who shrugged unbothered. “And, well, I don’t know really. I just - I needed to see you.” You scratched your cheek sheepishly at your explanation.

“What? You didn’t feel like you needed to see me for three years but as soon as someone dies of course you’re here.” He scoffed, loosening his tie. “Unbelievable Y/N. You left me. I told you I loved you and then you left me.” He was pulling at his curls, the style that it held before loosening. Ned left to go into the other room, giving the two of you privacy.

“I could have killed you, Pete! I needed to leave so you would be safe.”

He scoffed, “I don’t need someone to protect me. I’m Spider-man, remember?”

“I couldn't risk it. I’ve done,” You faltered on your words, choosing them wisely, “things.” Your blue eyes flashing slightly. “And I love you too much.” You mumbled.

“IF YOU LOVED ME YOU WOULDN’T HAVE LEFT ME.” The words shook the apartment with anger.

.o0O0o.

It had only been a week of being a werewolf and the full moon was here. The research you and Peter did wasn’t much but everyone knew werewolves lost control on the night of a full moon. You could already feel it, your blood boiling with anger you didn’t even realize you had. 

Peter was currently chaining you up in an abandoned wine cellar he found on the outskirts of the city. You were breathing heavy, trying to keep yourself calm but you couldn’t help the claws and fangs that grew. 

“C’mon Giz, do what that one book said online. You have to find yourself an anchor, something to keep the anger at bay, something that keeps you grounded.” He tightened the last chain around your neck, both your arms and legs were immobile as well.

“I can’t.” It came out as a growl, despite your efforts. He didn’t say anything, sitting back on the wall across from you. “You have to leave, I could hurt you.”

He scoffed, “Spider-man.” He pointed to himself, waiving off your warning. He went on to gloat about his abilities, saying how no one, not even a werewolf could hurt him. 

“Shut the fuck up or I’ll cut your tongue off.” You seethed causing him to close his mouth in a tight line.

The moon was at its peak and you struggled to get out of the restraints. Every ounce of control you thought you had was gone. Your brain was clouded with anger, wanting nothing more than to run and tear something apart. The chain on your left arm broke first, making it unbelievable easy to get off the rest

Peter stood wearily, watching you rip off each chain. “Giz-Gizmo,” He hands lifted in front of him, trembling. “You can’t do this. You need to find an anchor and hold on to that.”

He kept talking but you didn’t bother to listen as you snapped the last chain, slamming him against the wall, clawed hand deep in his abdomen. You snapped out of it as you heard his pained moan, retracting your claws and running. 

You ran for hours, never letting yourself slow down. The image of Peter’s glassed over eyes the only thing playing in your mind. 

.o0O0o.

He broke down, a sob escaping his trembling lips as he fell to his knees. 

You sunk down to the ground next to him, cradling him in your arms. The tears you tried so hard to keep in escaped. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I had to do this to you, but Peter I couldn’t risk hurting  you again. You mean everything to me.”

“It’s all my fault.” He clutched onto your dress, face pressed against your chest. You felt the tears soaking through, but you didn’t care. “If I would have stopped that guy Uncle Ben would still be here. I could have moved the gauntlet away from Thanos faster so Tony didn’t have to sacrifice himself. If I just answered the phone when May called then she wouldn’t have been murdered. I’m Spider-man for god’s sake but I can’t save anyone. If I would of just let you sleep that night than none of this would be happening.” Another sob left his throat as you ran your fingers through his hair to try and calm him.

“Is that what you think? That Ben, Tony, May are your fault?” You can't wrap your head around what he was saying. “That I’m your fault?” You cupped his face, pulling him away from so you could see his face.

“You listen to me Peter, none of this is your fault. I don’t blame you for that night. And I can guarantee if you could ask May, Tony and Ben they would say the same thing. They were all so proud of you and loved you so much. So do I.” His tears slowed as he leaned into the warmth of your embrace. “Besides, I would get bitten a hundred times just to be able to kiss you like I did that night.”

“Giz, I kissed you that night. You’re too much of a coward to take that chance.” He smiled and you mirrored it. 

It had been a couple hours since the breakdown on the floor. You were sitting out on the small balcony curled into Peter’s chest watching the sun set. After you both had calm down it was obvious you couldn’t leave again, you both needed each other way too much. You knew there was a lot that had to be talked through, all the pain that was caused through the years, before it could be like before you were bitten.

“So what got you to finally learn how to control it? What’s your anchor?” He mumbled into your hair, resting his chin on the top of your head. You smiled.

“You.”