𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒 : After Doctor Strange’s spell erased Peter Parker from the world’s memory, the one person he loved most forgot him too. Trying to move forward, you begin a new life at ESU, carrying an unshakable feeling that something is missing. When a chance encounter at a college party introduces you to a shy student named Peter Parker, the connection between you is immediate—even if neither of you can explain why. 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 : 3.3k
𝐌𝐃𝐍𝐈 + 𝐅𝐃𝐍𝐈 mature content below.
𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 : Post-Spider-Man: No Way Home, Memory Loss, Second Chance Romance, Friends to Lovers (Again), Relearning Each Other, Slow Burn, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, First Dates, First Kiss (Again), Lots of Yearning, Soft Peter Parker, Domestic Feelings, Eventual Happy Ending
Peter had spent weeks telling himself he could live with this.
He’d done it once already—watched the world forget him, watched MJ look through him without recognition, watched Ned smile politely like they were strangers. He’d survived that.
The first time he’d spotted you crossing ESU’s campus, the world had seemed to stop around him.
You were weaving through the crowd with your backpack hanging off one shoulder, your head tilted back as you laughed at something another student had said. The sound carried across the courtyard, familiar enough to make his chest tighten.
He stopped walking so abruptly someone collided with his shoulder.
Peter barely registered the annoyed voice. “Sorry,” he muttered automatically, his eyes never leaving you as you disappeared into the sea of students.
You were okay, You were alive. You just… didn’t remember him.
For days, Peter settled for watching from a distance.
He’d catch glimpses of you between classes, sitting outside the student union with a coffee, laughing with classmates he’d never met. Every time he thought about walking over, his feet locked in place.
What if seeing him only confused you?
The questions chased each other in circles until he convinced himself the safest thing—for both of you—was to stay away.
Then someone invited him to a party.
Music rattled the walls of the off-campus house, bass vibrating through the floorboards as students squeezed shoulder to shoulder through every room.
Peter lingered near the doorway with a red plastic cup in his hand, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.
His eyes wandered around the room.
You were standing exactly where he’d expected.
Just leaning against the wall with a drink resting loosely in your hand, quietly watching everyone else enjoy themselves. Every so often you’d smile to yourself at something happening across the room before your gaze drifted somewhere else.
Peter couldn’t help smiling.
Some things never change.
He remembered another party—months ago, before the spell—where he’d found you hiding in almost the exact same way. Back then he’d teased you for people-watching instead of dancing.
The memory made his chest ache.
He should leave, He’d already seen enough.
He turned toward the front door. His feet refused to move.
“…Seriously,” Peter muttered under his breath, shaking his head at himself. A quiet laugh escaped him as he looked back in your direction. “You’re gonna make me do this?”
As if answering for him, his legs carried him across the room before his brain had a chance to object.
By the time he realized what he was doing, he was standing beside you.
For a second, neither of you spoke.
Peter lifted his cup, taking a quick sip more to give himself something to do with his hands than because he was thirsty.
“Nice party?” The words came out a little too quickly. He coughed softly, lowering the cup as an awkward smile crept onto his face.
You glanced over at him before looking back toward the crowd. A small laugh escaped you.
“Yeah.” You nodded toward a group attempting to dance on the coffee table. “Depends on your definition of ‘nice,’ I guess.”
Peter followed your gaze, smiling despite himself.
Another quiet silence settled between you.
You studied him from the corner of your eye, your brow knitting together slightly.
“…Do I know you?” The question left your mouth carefully, almost apologetically, as though you were worried it might come across the wrong way. You shifted your cup between your hands and offered a small, embarrassed smile. “Sorry, I just… you look really familiar.”
Peter had been taking another sip.
“What?” He coughed into his fist, eyes widening as he looked at you. A few drops splashed onto the floor, and he quickly wiped at his mouth with his sleeve.
“Oh my God.” You winced. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“No—” Peter laughed between coughs, waving his free hand dismissively as he caught his breath. “No, you’re okay.”
“I just…” You looked at him again, this time a little longer. There was something oddly comforting about his face, something you couldn’t quite place. “I really feel like I’ve seen you before.”
Peter’s heart squeezed painfully inside his chest.
More times than either of you could ever count.
“We have a class together,” he said after a moment, forcing a smile that he hoped looked more convincing than it felt. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ignore the ache growing behind his ribs. “Biochemistry.”
Your eyes lit up with recognition.
Peter couldn’t help laughing.
“Yeah.” He shrugged one shoulder. “I usually sit in the back.”
“Huh.” You laughed quietly to yourself before taking another sip of your drink. “Guess I need to pay more attention.”
The two of you stood there for another moment before Peter shifted his cup into his other hand and extended the now-free one toward you.
“I’m Peter.” His fingers twitched with nervous energy as he waited, hoping you couldn’t see how much the moment meant to him.
You looked down at his hand before taking it without hesitation.
You introduced yourself with an easy smile, your grip warm against his.
The second your hand settled into his, Peter felt his breath catch.
It was only a handshake to you.
It was something else entirely
A week later, class ended nearly fifteen minutes early.
The professor dismissed everyone with a reminder about next week’s quiz before the lecture hall erupted into movement. Chairs scraped across the floor, conversations overlapped, and backpacks were slung over shoulders as students poured into the hallway.
You had barely zipped your bag shut before Peter appeared beside you.
“Hey.” Peter fell into step next to you, adjusting the strap of his backpack as though he’d timed his exit perfectly. A small smile tugged at his lips when you looked over.
“Hey.” You returned the smile, nudging the lecture hall door open with your shoulder before stepping into the crowded hallway. “You heading to your next class?”
“You heading to literature?” Peter asked instead, glancing over as students squeezed around the two of you. He shifted closer to avoid getting separated in the crowd.
“Yeah.” You nodded, weaving around a group of freshmen gathered in the middle of the hallway. “Unfortunately.”
“I’ll walk with you.” Peter said it so naturally it almost sounded like he wasn’t asking at all. He tucked both hands into the pocket of his hoodie as he matched your pace.
You looked at him out of the corner of your eye before letting out a quiet laugh.
“You usually do.” A grin spread across your face as you stepped outside, the cool autumn air replacing the stuffiness of the lecture hall.
“…I do.” He laughed under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck for a moment before letting his hand fall again. “Guess I’ve gotten predictable.”
The conversation settled into a comfortable rhythm as the two of you crossed campus together. Fallen leaves drifted across the sidewalks while students scattered in every direction, some hurrying toward class while others lingered on the grass enjoying the afternoon.
Peter stole another glance at you.
You were talking about your literature professor, complaining about an essay due at the end of the week.
Instead, he found himself watching the way your hands moved when you spoke, the little smile that appeared whenever you joked.
His heart immediately disagreed.
Halfway across the quad, Peter slowed to a stop.
The single word came out quieter than he’d intended.
Turning around, you stopped a few steps ahead of him.
“What?” You adjusted your backpack higher onto your shoulder before taking a step back toward him. “Everything okay?”
Peter stood there for a second with both hands buried in the pocket of his hoodie. His thumbs rubbed anxiously against the fabric inside as he searched for the words he’d rehearsed a dozen different ways.
“Can we…” He exhaled through his nose before trying again. “…Uh…”
You tilted your head, waiting patiently.
“Pete?” A small smile crept onto your face as you watched him struggle.
“If this is about studying…” You let out a laugh, folding your arms loosely across your chest. “…I think we’ve studied enough for the semester.”
Peter couldn’t help laughing too.
The nervous sound escaped him before he could stop it, his shoulders relaxing just enough to make him shake his head.
“No.” He looked down at the sidewalk with an embarrassed smile, nudging a loose leaf with the toe of his sneaker.
“No?” You raised an eyebrow, amused.
“No.” Peter looked back up, meeting your eyes for only a second before glancing away again. “I wanted to know…” He swallowed. “…if you had anything planned later.”
“Later?” You shifted your weight onto one leg, your curiosity replacing the teasing look on your face.
“Yeah.” Peter nodded quickly. “Like… tonight.”
You thought about it for a second.
“I’m actually free.” You shrugged lightly. “Why?”
Peter visibly relaxed. “Oh.” His shoulders dropped, and the breath he’d apparently been holding left him in one quiet exhale.
“‘Oh?’” You smiled, taking a small step closer. “What was that for?”
“I just…” Peter rubbed the back of his neck again, laughing awkwardly at himself. “…I thought you might already have plans.”
“What’d you want to do?” You asked, watching his face with growing amusement.
He looked at you. For just a moment, the sounds of campus seemed to fade into the background.
“Did you…” His voice caught, forcing him to clear his throat before trying again. “…Did you want to get something to eat later?”
The question hung between you.
“Really.” You laughed at how genuinely surprised he sounded. “Were you expecting me to say no?”
“I…” Peter blinked again before letting out a breathless laugh. “…Honestly? I hadn’t thought that far.”
A comfortable silence settled between you.
Then your smile turned just a little more playful.
“So…” You rocked back on your heels, watching Peter carefully. “…Is this like… a date, or…?”
Peter’s brain immediately short-circuited.
“I mean—it can be—if you want—I wasn’t trying to—I mean I was—but if you don’t think—I just thought maybe we could—and—”
His hands came flying out of his hoodie pocket as he talked, gesturing helplessly while every sentence collided with the next.
You laughed, the sound bright enough to make Peter smile without even realizing it.
“I’ll see you later, Pete.” You gave him a small wave before turning toward the humanities building.
Peter remained exactly where he was, watching the door swing shut behind you.
A slow smile spread across his face.
He stood there for another few seconds before quietly pumping his fist in celebration.
An older professor walking past gave him a strange look.
Peter immediately cleared his throat, straightened his backpack, and started walking in the opposite direction as if absolutely nothing had happened.
The diner Peter picked wasn’t anything special.
A little place tucked between a laundromat and a bookstore just off campus, its neon OPEN sign flickering against the evening sky. Through the windows you could see a handful of students crowded into booths, the smell of fresh fries and coffee drifting out every time someone opened the door.
Peter held it open for you. “After you.” He stepped aside with a small smile, gesturing toward the entrance. You walked in, looking around the cozy diner before glancing back at him.
“I thought we were going somewhere fancy.” You teased him as the hostess grabbed two menus from behind the counter.
Peter laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I considered it.” He followed the hostess toward a booth near the window. “Then I remembered I’m a broke college student.”
You let out a laugh as you slid into the booth across from him.
The waitress appeared a moment later, taking your drink orders before disappearing toward the kitchen.
For a second, neither of you reached for the menus.
“So…” Peter leaned back against the booth, crossing his arms with an exaggerated look of confidence. “…You’re popular.”
“I’m friendly,” you leaned back as well, matching Peter. “There’s a difference.”
By the time your food arrived, the conversation had wandered from professors to childhood pets, terrible roommates, favorite movies, and the questionable quality of dorm coffee.
Peter found himself smiling more than speaking.
Not because he had nothing to say.
Because he kept catching little pieces of the person he’d fallen in love with.
The way you absentmindedly stole one of his fries without asking.
You looked up innocently, a fry halfway to your mouth.
Peter stared at you for a moment before laughing.
His smile faltered for the briefest second.
“I mean…” Peter cleared his throat, reaching for his soda. “…People do that.”
You narrowed your eyes playfully.
“I’m usually better at this.”
Peter groaned, covering his face with one hand.
“I don’t know…” You stole another fry from his plate with a grin. “…Seems pretty on brand.”
Peter looked down at the missing fry before shaking his head.
The rest of dinner slipped by almost unnoticed. The waitress refilled your drinks twice.
Neither of you realized how much time had passed until she walked over holding the check.
“You guys know we’ve been closed for…” She glanced toward the clock hanging above the register before smiling. “…Almost twenty minutes?”
Both of you looked around. The diner was empty. The chairs had been stacked on every table except yours.
Peter’s eyes widened. “Oh my God.”
“I’m so sorry.” You immediately reached for your wallet. “We didn’t even notice.”
The waitress laughed, waving the apology away. “Happens more often than you’d think.” She set the check on the table. “You two looked like you were having a good time. We didn’t want to interrupt.”
Peter and you exchanged an awkward glance before both smiling.
“…Yeah,” Peter admitted quietly.
Outside, the evening air had turned cooler.
The campus glowed beneath rows of streetlights as the two of you started the walk back toward the dorms.
Every few minutes one of you would think of something else to talk about, stretching the walk a little longer.
Peter realized something halfway back. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed this much.
Before losing the people he loved.
He looked over at you as you animatedly complained about the professor who somehow managed to turn every lecture into a three-hour story.
You caught him staring. “What?”
Peter smiled to himself. “…Nothing.” He shook his head.
Because now, he was earning it all over again.
“I’m just…” He looked ahead again, the smile never leaving his face. “…I’m really glad you said yes.”
You smiled back without even thinking.
The rest of the walk passed comfortably, filled with easy conversation and the occasional joke that left both of you smiling.
Before long, your dorm building came into view. Neither of you said anything about it.
Instead, your pace unconsciously slowed until you found yourselves standing beneath the glow of the entrance lights.
“…So.” Peter shifted his weight onto one foot, slipping both hands into the pocket of his hoodie as though he suddenly didn’t know what to do with them.
“So.” You mirrored his smile, rocking back slightly on your heels instead of reaching for the door behind you.
Another silence settled between you.
If anything, it felt like both of you were silently hoping the other would think of one more reason to stay.
“I had a really good time.” Peter looked down briefly before meeting your eyes again. The corners of his mouth lifted into an earnest smile that reached his eyes. “I’m glad you came.”
“I had a good time too.” You smiled back without hesitation. “Better than I expected.”
You smiled at each other again. Then your expression grew more thoughtful.“…Can I ask you something?”
Peter’s smile faded a little bit. “Of course.” He gave a small nod, watching you carefully.
You hesitated, trying to find the right words.
“Have we… met before college?” Your brow furrowed slightly as you searched his face. “Not here. Somewhere else.”
Peter’s heart lurched. His fingers curled tighter inside the pocket of his hoodie.
“What makes you ask?” His voice remained steady, though he could feel his pulse pounding in his ears.
“I don’t know.” You let out a small, embarrassed laugh, glancing toward the ground. “This is going to sound weird.”
You looked back up. “Sometimes…” You paused, trying to explain something you barely understood yourself. “Sometimes you’ll say something, and before you even finish, I already know what you’re going to say.”
“And when you smile at me…” Your voice softened almost to a whisper. “It feels… familiar.”
The word hung between you.
“I know that doesn’t make any sense.”
“It does.” Peter answered quietly, the response leaving his mouth before he could stop it. His eyes never left yours, filled with a sadness you couldn’t quite place.
Your head tilted slightly. “It does?”
He swallowed. “I think…” He smiled, though there was something bittersweet behind it. “Sometimes you meet someone who just feels like they’ve always been part of your life.”
You searched his face for a long moment.
Neither of you looked away. The distance between you suddenly felt much smaller.
You weren’t sure who moved first. Maybe Peter leaned in, maybe you did. Maybe it happened so naturally there wasn’t a first move at all.
Your foreheads brushed together for the briefest moment before your lips met.
The kiss was slow and careful. Neither of you rushed it, as if both of you were quietly asking permission with every passing second.
The world seemed to fall away. The traffic beyond campus, the distant laughter, the wind.
The moment your lips touched, something inside you stirred.
A strange sense of coming home.
When you finally pulled away, you stayed close enough that your noses almost brushed.
Peter’s eyes remained closed for another heartbeat, a small smile spreading across his face before he realized he was smiling at all.
“…Just like the first time.” The words escaped in a whisper, so quiet he almost didn’t hear himself say them.
Your brows pulled together. “The first time?” You blinked at him, confusion replacing the smile on your face as you searched his expression.
Peter’s eyes flew open. Panic flashed across his features.
Peter’s eyes widened. “I—” He let out a nervous laugh, dragging a hand through his hair. “I mean… first dates. That’s how they always end in movies, right?” The excuse sounded weak even to his own ears, and the embarrassed grin spreading across his face only made it more obvious.
You narrowed your eyes, clearly unconvinced.
Peter groaned, dropping his head. A laugh slipped out of you before you could stop it. Peter joined in a second later, the tension easing between you.
“I’ll let it slide.” You smiled, taking a slow step backward toward the dorm entrance. “This time.”
“I appreciate that.” Peter smiled warmly, watching you reach for the door.
“Goodnight, Pete.” You slipped inside, offering one last smile before the door closed behind you.
Peter remained where he was, staring at the entrance long after you disappeared.
His fingers drifted unconsciously to his lips. The kiss had been different. New, yet somehow exactly the same.
For the first time in months, the ache in his chest felt a little lighter. Peter allowed himself one impossible hope. Somewhere beneath the spell… Your heart was finding its way back to him.
