Summary:After Zart keeps pointing out exactly how well you and Gally fit, you decide to talk to him.
I looked over at Zart and tried to listen to what he was saying. Honestly. I just wasn't doing a very good job.
"Are you still upset about Gally?"He asked, pulling me back to reality.
"I couldn't care less,"I shrugged, lying straight through my teeth. It was obvious that he knew I was too.
"You know the one bad thing about you two?"He asked after a moment.
"Just one? You're telling me there's only one bad thing you can think of?"I asked, not knowing if he was being serious. Judging by the expression on his face he was.
"You're both stubborn. You're so much alike sometimes that it drives this wedge between you guys. The way you're both always wanting to be right and never willing to be the first to say you were wrong shucks you both over."
"That's not even true,"I scoffed.
"Why?"He questioned, like the answer wasn't obvious.
"Because I didn't do anything wrong,"I defended.
He looked me up and down, clearly telling me I had just heavily contradicted myself. I wasn't though. Honestly.
"I didn't,"I protested.
"Y/N, do you know what's the hard part about love?"He asked.
"What do you know about that?"I asked, knowing he'd never been in a relationship.
"I may not remember life before this, but I remember feelings. So stop being stubborn and hear me out,"He instructed.
I didn't say anything as I dug my shovel into the ground. His words felt a little too real, too true. "And I know you miss him,"He added. I was about to deny it when he passed by us. My eyes felt glued to him for just a second. He looked back at me, and I tried to pretend I didn't hurt as I looked back at the ground. I didn't want to know how he was looking at me, anger, sadness, irritation. No matter what if any negative emotion was directed at me seeing it would kill me inside.
"Fine,"I sighed, hoping he'd move on if I just agree.
"Love means compromise, and sometimes that means doing things you don't think is fair. If you listen to each other though then you could understand each other's side. That's how you meet in the middle."
"Just try. He might just surprise you,"Zart pushed. At that moment it occurred to me that maybe he was right. After all, he knew me better than almost everyone. As my best friend that was obvious. Only one person could beat him.
Only Gally could truly read me like the back of his hand. I've trusted him for as long as I can remember, and it feels like I've loved him even longer. Ever since I came up in the box I felt drawn to him.
So yeah. I need to at least try to talk to him.
♡ - - - ♡
I nervously glanced around as my eyes fixated on Gally who was sitting alone under the Watch Tower. Zart lightly shoved my forward. Naturally, I was scared out of my mind.
Still, I walked over to him. He didn't acknowledge my presence for a while as I stood there with my hands at my sides.
"Nothing,"He mumbled after a moment. I just looked at him, confused.
Can I sit?"I finally asked. He shrugged, and I did so. "Look. I know neither of us are exactly the best with feelings and all that, but I mean, I can try. I just don't get why you always think I want someone but you. It hurts because I do love you. Not anybody else. You were always the first choice. It just feels like you don't believe me when I say that. It just seems like you don't trust me,"I explained.
"You asked what you get in return for loving me, and I don't think there really is anything,"He continued.
"Oh,"I said, not knowing what else to say. We just stayed with dead silence for a while until I couldn't take it anymore.
"It's not that I don't trust you. It's just that I know people don't exactly think I'm the most deserving of you. I'm worried that one day you'll think the same thing. It would kill me to lose you. I guess I did though."
"Gally. I don't care what anyone has to say. They don't see what I do. They don't understand all the parts of you I love. The kind, the bold, the good listener, the protective, and everything else. I wouldn't trade that for anything. I guess I did though."
"I'm sorry I made you think I didn't trust you."
"I'm sorry for not taking your feelings more seriously. From now on I'll listen to you more. If you wanted to get back together I mean,"I said, adding the last part quickly.
"Yeah. I'd like that more than anything,"He responded, failing to hide his smile. "Hey. Do you still remember what this spot is?"He asked suddenly.
"Better than anything else. It's where we had our first kiss."
"So what if-"
"Just shut up, and kiss me,"I interrupted.
And he did just that. Only it wasn't a kiss. It was a promise that no matter what every road we take always leads back to each other.
Summary:After Gally gives you an ultimatum, you choose the one that ends everything.
"For the last time Gally. I chose you. I didn't choose anyone else,"I groaned.
"Don't give me that. I saw the way you looked at him!"
"Seriously? You saw the way I thanked Clint for helping me with my hurt ankle? How terrible of me,"I deadpanned, rolling my eyes.
"Can you just take this seriously?!"
"Let me think for a moment. No, because this argument is stupid."
"This isn't shucking stupid!"He yelled, giving me the coldest look. I glared back just as hard, if not more. I was more than sick of this. He's a lot of things, and not all of them are good. I stay because the ones that are good aren't just that. They're everything I could want.
This though wasn't something I was sure I could put up with for much longer. I took a deep breath before getting ready to leave.
"Well, if you walk away now we're done,"He said, giving me the ultimatum. The ultimatum of what though? I could stay and fight some more or take my time to think reasonably.
"Where are you going?"He asked, walking after me.
"Away from you. I just need to think right now,"I explained, taking another deep breath to keep my cool.
"I guess we're done through then,"I responded in a firm tone. I looked to see his face had completely fallen. "What? Do you want me to beg for you to love me or something? Did you expect me to start crying? Get a grip Gally. If you want to be a jerk then fine, but it has consequences. Yours is losing me."
He just stood there without saying anything. I shook my head and continued my walk across the Glade. Zart called out to me, but I pretended I didn't hear him. In fact, I pretended nobody else in the world existed.
"Fine then. Leave. See if I care,"He scowled.
"You know what Gally? Everyone warned me about you. Every time they said I couldn't change you I said I didn't want to do that. I stood up for you, and what do I get in return? Why don't you tell me?"I questioned calmly, my arms folded. On the inside it was different. My heart was beating faster than it ever had as blood rushed to my face.
I opened my door before resisting the urge to slam it shut. Once I somehow managed to do that I slid down and buried my face in my hands. For the first time that I can remember I cried, and I cried hard. The chest hurting, sore eyes, scratchy throat, aching head kind of cry.
As bad as it hurt I couldn't just stay though. All that would do is prolong it. So even though I can physically feel my heart breaking into a million pieces this is how it has to be.
I can't spend the rest of my life trying to fix something that was always destined to break.
The Glade had felt more stifling than usual over the last few weeks. Ever since you and Gally had begun to grow close, things had changed between you two. At first, it was subtle—longer glances, more comfortable silences, the briefest touch when passing tools or sitting together at the bonfire. But then, out of nowhere, he started pushing you away.
He barely spoke to you now, his usual gruff exterior hardened even more, his eyes distant whenever you tried to talk to him. It hurt, but you had no idea why. Gally wasn’t the type to open up easily, but the coldness was new, and it stung more than you’d ever let on.
One afternoon, as you sat against a tree, staring up at the towering stone walls that surrounded the Glade, Minho approached you with a grin.
“Hey,” he called, wiping sweat from his brow. “I’m heading out to run the Maze. Wanna come with me?”
You blinked in surprise. Minho rarely invited anyone to run with him, especially not someone who wasn’t a Runner, but today he seemed serious. He raised an eyebrow when you hesitated.
“I could use the company,” he added with a shrug. “Plus, we could use more eyes out there.”
You glanced at the doors to the Maze, then back at Minho, finally nodding. “Okay. Let’s go.”
Minho grinned wider and tossed you a spare pack. Together, you jogged out as the stone doors rumbled open, the cool air of the Maze hitting your skin. For the first few hours, the run went smoothly. Minho navigated with ease, and you followed, taking in the patterns of the walls as they shifted, making mental notes of the turns and passages.
But as the day wore on, something went wrong. Just as you were rounding a corner, Minho suddenly tripped, a sharp cry escaping his lips. He fell hard, clutching his leg in pain.
“Minho!” you gasped, rushing over to him. His face was contorted in agony as he tried to sit up, but his leg looked twisted at an odd angle.
“Damn it,” he hissed through gritted teeth. “I think it’s broken.”
Panic surged through you. The sun was already beginning to set, and you knew what that meant. The doors would soon close, trapping you both inside the Maze. The Grievers would come.
“We can’t stay here,” you said, your voice trembling. “We have to move, Minho.”
He grimaced but nodded. “I can’t run on this leg. We need to find a place to hide.”
You helped him up, slinging his arm over your shoulder, and together you hobbled down the nearest passage, searching frantically for somewhere—anywhere—you could take shelter. The sound of the Maze shifting was getting louder, more ominous, as the darkness crept closer.
Finally, you spotted a thick patch of bushes nestled in the corner of a dead-end wall. Without another option, you dragged Minho inside, hiding the both of you beneath the leaves and branches. You could hear the distant roars of the Grievers starting their hunt as the night fell.
The hours ticked by, agonizingly slow. Your heart raced with every sound, every creak of the Maze’s walls. You held Minho close, whispering words of encouragement as he fought to stay conscious through the pain. Fear gnawed at you—fear that you wouldn’t make it until morning, that you wouldn’t get out of the Maze alive.
But somehow, you did.
As the first light of dawn broke through the cracks above the Maze, you gently shook Minho awake.
“Hey, it’s morning,” you said softly. “We made it.”
He groaned but opened his eyes, nodding weakly. You helped him to his feet, slowly making your way toward the doors, which had already started to open.
By the time you emerged from the Maze, you were covered in sweat and dirt, Minho leaning heavily on you. The Gladers who had gathered at the doors looked on in shock, whispering among themselves. But your eyes were immediately drawn to one person.
Gally.
He stood at the edge of the crowd, his expression unreadable. For a split second, you thought he might turn away, continue pretending like you didn’t exist. But then, something broke in his eyes, and he started walking toward you, his movements stiff and almost frantic.
You barely had time to react before he reached you, grabbing you by the shoulders and pulling you into a tight embrace. His breath was shaky, and for a moment, you thought he might be angry, but then you felt the tremble in his hands.
“I thought I lost you,” he whispered, his voice rough. He pulled back slightly, his eyes searching yours. “You didn’t come back last night… I thought—”
“Gally, I’m okay,” you said softly, your heart pounding in your chest. The raw emotion in his voice caught you off guard. He never showed this side of himself, never let his guard down, but now… now you saw it.
He loved you.
Before you could say anything else, Gally cupped your face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the dirt and sweat. “Don’t ever do that again. Don’t ever make me think I lost you.”
Your breath hitched, the intensity of his words sinking in. “Gally… why have you been pushing me away?”
His jaw tightened, but his eyes softened, filled with a vulnerability you’d never seen before. “Because I’m a coward. I’m afraid of how much I feel for you. And I didn’t want to drag you into that. But when you didn’t come back…” He shook his head. “I can’t lose you.”
Tears welled up in your eyes as you realized the truth. All this time, he had been pushing you away because he was afraid of losing you. But now, standing here in his arms, you knew there was no way you could let him go.
You reached up, gently cupping his face in return. “You’re not going to lose me, Gally. I’m right here. And I’m not going anywhere.”
For the first time in weeks, you saw a small smile tug at his lips, his walls finally crumbling. And in that moment, everything else faded away—the fear, the distance, the uncertainty.
Life in the Glade had a certain rhythm to it—a brutal, unrelenting rhythm of survival. You were one of the four girls in the maze, alongside Teresa, Emily, and Jane. From the start, you had held your own, becoming known for your strength and resilience. It wasn’t easy being one of the few girls in a place dominated by boys, but you had earned their respect quickly.
One person in particular, though, seemed to treat you differently: Gally. He was rough around the edges, a leader among the Gladers, known for his no-nonsense attitude and fierce determination to protect the group. But with you, it was different. He was softer, more protective, watching over you like it was his personal responsibility.
It was little things at first—making sure you ate, helping you up when you got hurt, glaring at anyone who so much as looked at you the wrong way. Everyone else saw it. Teresa teased you endlessly, and Jane would give you knowing looks. Even some of the boys were starting to notice. But you? You were oblivious to it. Gally was your friend, your ally.
What you didn’t know was that he adored you. You were strong, capable, and didn’t take anyone’s nonsense—much like him. And that made him fall for you even harder.
But not everyone was happy with the way Gally treated you.
Emily had been infatuated with Gally from the moment she arrived in the Glade. She watched him obsessively, following him with her eyes every time he passed by. And when she saw how Gally treated you differently from everyone else, her jealousy burned hot.
She started spreading rumors, whispering to anyone who would listen. Lies about you, vile stories about how you flirted with every guy, how you slept around with some of them. At first, you didn’t notice. You were too busy with survival, with trying to get out of the Maze. But slowly, things started to change. Gally—who had always been so close to you—became distant. His usual protectiveness was replaced with cold stares and brief conversations.
The change in him broke your heart.
You didn’t understand why he had pulled away. Had you done something wrong? The boys in the Glade, the ones who once respected you, began to look at you with suspicion, and some even started to avoid you. You felt isolated, confused, and most of all, hurt.
One night, the frustration became too much. The rain poured heavily, drenching the Glade in a relentless downpour. You couldn’t sleep, your thoughts consumed with Gally and how everything had changed. You had to know what had happened—what had gone so wrong between the two of you.
Grabbing your jacket, you rushed out into the rain, ignoring the cold as the water soaked through your clothes. You found Gally by the edge of the Glade, standing alone in the rain, his fists clenched at his sides.
“Gally!” you called out, your voice breaking slightly as you approached him.
He turned to face you, his expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of something—regret, maybe—behind his eyes.
“What do you want, Y/N?” he asked, his voice hard.
You swallowed the lump in your throat, your heart pounding. “Why are you avoiding me? What did I do?”
For a moment, he said nothing, just stood there, rain dripping from his hair and his clothes clinging to his body. Finally, he sighed, rubbing a hand across his face.
“I thought I knew you,” he muttered. “I didn’t expect... I didn’t expect you to be like this.”
“Like what?” you asked, your voice shaking. “What are you talking about?”
Gally looked away, the muscles in his jaw tightening. “Emily... she told me some things about you. Things that I... I didn’t want to believe, but...” He trailed off, his voice filled with uncertainty.
Your heart dropped. Emily. Of course.
“She lied,” you said, your voice firm despite the hurt creeping into your chest. “Whatever she told you, it’s not true, Gally. I would never—”
Before you could finish, Jane appeared from the shadows, soaked to the bone but determined. “She’s telling the truth,” Jane said, stepping forward. “Emily made it all up. She’s been spreading lies about Y/N because she’s jealous. She’s obsessed with you, Gally.”
Gally’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at Jane, processing her words. Slowly, the truth began to settle in, and he realized the mistake he had made.
“I... I didn’t know,” he stammered, his voice hoarse. “Y/N, I’m sorry. I should’ve known she was lying.”
But the damage had already been done. Your heart ached with betrayal—not from Emily, but from Gally. You had trusted him, cared for him, and he had believed the worst about you.
“I can’t believe you thought that about me,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper. “That you believed her over me.”
“Y/N, I didn’t mean to—” Gally reached out for you, but you took a step back, shaking your head.
“You did,” you said quietly. “You didn’t even ask me. You just... believed her.”
The pain in your voice cut through him like a knife, and for the first time, Gally felt truly helpless. He had always been able to fix things, to protect the people he cared about. But now, he was the one who had hurt you.
You turned and walked away, leaving him standing there in the rain, guilt and regret weighing heavily on him.
For days, you avoided Gally. It wasn’t easy, not in a place as small as the Glade, but you managed. You threw yourself into work, into survival, doing everything you could to forget the way he had broken your heart. Every time you saw him, that same pain would surface, and you’d turn away before he could catch your eye.
Gally, on the other hand, couldn’t stop thinking about you. The guilt gnawed at him constantly. He hated himself for believing Emily’s lies, for pushing you away when he should have protected you. He had been a fool, and now he was paying the price.
One night, he couldn’t take it anymore. He found you sitting by the edge of the Glade, alone, staring out into the darkness. The moonlight illuminated your face, making you look even more distant and untouchable.
“Y/N,” he said softly, stepping closer.
You didn’t turn to look at him, but he could see the tension in your shoulders. He sat down next to you, keeping his distance, not wanting to push you away again.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. “I should’ve believed you. I should’ve trusted you. I was wrong, and I’ll never forgive myself for hurting you.”
You swallowed hard, still staring out into the dark. “Why did you believe her?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice breaking slightly. “I was scared. Scared that maybe... maybe you didn’t feel the same way about me. That you’d never...”
Your heart clenched at his words, and you finally turned to look at him. His expression was raw, vulnerable in a way you had never seen before.
“I’ve been in love with you since the moment you came here,” he continued, his voice soft. “I was scared of how much I cared, scared that I wasn’t good enough for you. And when Emily said those things... I panicked. I didn’t know how to deal with it.”
You stared at him, your mind racing. Gally—Gally—loved you?
“I’m an idiot,” he said, shaking his head. “But I swear to you, Y/N, I’ll spend every day making it up to you if you’ll let me. I just... I don’t want to lose you.”
Your chest tightened with emotion, and for the first time in days, you allowed yourself to feel what you had been burying for so long.
“I love you too,” you whispered, your voice trembling. “I always have.”
Gally’s eyes softened, and without a word, he closed the distance between you, his arms pulling you close. You melted into his embrace, the warmth of his body chasing away the cold that had settled over your heart.
For the first time in days, you felt whole again. And in that moment, you knew that no matter what the Maze threw at you next, you and Gally would face it together.
Written for my personal fic writing challenge for 2024, Sophie's Year of Fic! Featuring a new fic being posted every Friday, all year long :)
Fandom: The Vampire Diaries/The Originals
Summary: You've finally worked up the courage to ask Kol on a date, but with all the people who've been trying to kill him lately, he jumps to the wrong conclusion about what's being asked of him. Set right after TVD "A View To A Kill", if Jeremy didn't succeed in killing Kol.
Word Count: 2,517
Category: Fluff, Humor
Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.
"Hello, love. I wasn't expecting to get a call from you."
I grinned at the voice of the youngest Mikaelson brother coming through the other end of the phone. I'd met him at the Grill a few weeks ago, and we'd pretty much immediately hit it off. I'd been trying to work up the courage to ask him out ever since, and after overhearing his siblings talking about how close he'd come to dying recently, I'd decided to stop wasting time and just give him a call.
"Hi Kol. Uh, I know this is kind of out of the blue, but... well, I wanted to see if you wanted to maybe get together at some point and... talk. Hang out. All that... stuff..."
I grimaced. I'd never done this before, and it was probably painfully obvious, especially to a vampire with a literal thousand years of experience.
"You want to get together and talk?" asked Kol, a lilt to his voice that I couldn't quite decipher. Everything in me screamed that I should bail out, but I grit my teeth and forced myself to toughen up.
"Yeah. If that's something you'd want to do."
"Oh, it very much is." My heart stopped. I'd been sure this call was about to be a total fumble, but apparently, somehow it'd worked? "What did you have in mind?"
"Uh..." I mentally kicked myself. I'd spent so much time trying to work up the nerve to actually call him, I hadn't thought at all about what I would do if he actually said yes. "Well, I don't know. Is there anywhere you'd especially like to meet up? Or anything you'd like to do?"
"How about your house?" The doorbell rang. "Right now?"
My brain short circuited. He was here? Now? I wasn't ready at all! The house was fairly clean, and I didn't look like a total mess, but I also wasn't ready for a date! And wasn't a first date supposed to be about thirty degrees more chill and removed, like a going to a movie or dinner or something?
I forced myself to take a deep breath. Yes, this was technically a first date, but Kol and I had interacted before. We were friendly, maybe even friends. It's not like he was some stranger I was about to let into my home.
"Uh, sure. Now is... now is good. I take it you're the one at my door?"
"Yes I am, darling."
"Okay. Well, then... I guess I'll see you in a second."
I hung up the phone before I could make any more of a fool of myself, paused at the mirror in the hallway to quickly adjust my outfit, then strode confidently to the front door. If I pretended to be confident, it would probably rub off and turn into the real thing, right?
I swung open my door to find a grinning Kol on the other side, one arm raised and resting against the doorframe. My heart did a little backflip at that, and I just hoped his vampire senses hadn't clued him in on it.
"Well? Aren't you going to invite me in?"
"Oh! Right, yeah, come on in, Kol."
He grinned at me as he slowly, deliberately put one foot over the threshold, then the other. He paused once he officially stood in my house, facing me with a look like he expected me to have some kind of reaction. I just gave him a smile.
"Welcome in. Uh, I'll be honest, I wasn't really prepared for you to come over, like, now. But we can make some drinks, maybe play a board game or something? I actually think I have an at-home dart board buried somewhere around here if you want to get your ass kicked like you did the first time we met."
Kol huffed a laugh, a smaller, more genuine smile pulling onto his face as he shook his head at me.
"Well, now we have to play, don't we? I can't let my honor be tarnished without fighting back."
"I think it only counts as tarnishing your honor if it's not true," I mused as I led Kol into the kitchen, incredibly aware of how closely he followed behind me. If vampires could hear heart beats, then I was well and truly screwed.
"Exactly. I didn't get my ass kicked in darts, so what you said wasn't true."
I paused long enough to give Kol a judgey look over my shoulder, then walked around to the cabinets behind the kitchen island.
"Alright, I'll go dig out the dartboard in a minute, but let's figure out drinks first. I'll be honest, I'm not the best bartender, but I'll see what I can do."
"Here, let me. I'm an excellent bartender."
Kol reached for the bottles in my hand, but I paused, holding them slightly away from him. He leaned into me, and my heart did its stupid jumping jacks again, although I ignored it. Instead, I fixed Kol with another look.
"Are you an excellent bartender in the way you're an excellent dart player? Or are you actually an excellent bartender?"
Kol shook his head, an edged smile spread on his face as he reached across me and took the bottles from my hands. I was more than a little disappointed when he pulled away.
"Alright, I'm going to make us some drinks while you go and get that dart board, right now. We're going to settle this, once and for all."
"I'm still not totally sure that I actually have it," I reminded him, walking backwards out of the kitchen. Kol just hummed, shooting me one last look as he got to work on the drinks before I turned the corner.
As soon as I was out of his sight, I paused to take a few deep breaths. I was starting to feel seriously giddy hanging out with him like this, and I needed to calm the hell down. It was a casual first date, after all. I didn't need to get ahead of myself.
Once the butterflies in my chest had settled down a bit, I walked the rest of the way to the hall closet, or what I thought of as my junk closet. It was packed with things that were just useful or sentimental enough that I didn't want to throw them away, but that basically never came in handy on a regular basis. If that dartboard someone had gotten me for my birthday a few years ago was anywhere, it would be here.
I dug through a few boxes I thought might be likely candidates, trying to remember where past me might've put things last time I'd organized everything. Finally, after what felt like way too much searching, I found it at the bottom of a box on a higher shelf. Even better, a bag with all the darts still together was with it.
I grinned, doing a little triumphant fist pump to myself before turning to head out of the closet. In the doorway, however, I found Kol hovering, watching me intently, a menacing air about him that hadn't been there earlier.
"Hey... what are you doing?" I asked. He raised an eyebrow at me and crossed his arms.
"Me? I was about to ask you the same thing, darling. It really took you that long to find the dart board?"
I furrowed my eyebrows at him, watching for any clues as to what the hell he was doing before briefly glancing away to check the time my phone. Honestly, it hadn't even been that long.
"I mean, yes? Have you looked around this closet at all since you got here? It's a mess. How long have you been standing there, anyway?"
"I'm not an idiot, sweetheart," he said instead of answering me, taking another step forward. I narrowed my eyes at him. "I know you're back here messaging your little friends, trying to set up another ambush for me after the first one didn't work. I know how you Mystic Falls people like to operate."
My frown deepened. "Kol, what the hell are you talking about?"
"Don't play innocent with me, darling, it won't work. So who have you been texting?"
"No one, other than you! I knew you were acting weird on the phone, and when you first showed up. I thought my nerves were just getting the better of me, but apparently not."
"Nerves for what? Don't tell me Jeremy's going to come bursting through the door playing Van Helsing again."
"Jeremy who, Kol? Seriously, I have no idea what you're talking about."
For the first time since he'd appeared in the closet doorway, Kol seemed to believe me. His look changed from borderline threatening to almost as confused as my own.
"Jeremy Gilbert."
I paused, trying to place the name. It sounded familiar, but it took me a little while to figure out why.
"That's... Elena Gilbert's little brother? Right?"
"Yes. You're actually trying to tell me you don't know him?"
I scoffed. "Kol, of course I don't know him. I graduated from high school when he was still in middle school. I barely remember him or his sister."
He studied me, eyes scanning my face, apparently looking for some sign of a lie. I just watched him back, waiting on some kind of explanation for this to make sense.
"So you're not working with Elena and her little group of friends, then? Or either of the Salvatores?"
"No, Kol. Working with them on what?"
"You're not lying."
"I know I'm not lying! Now what the hell are you talking about?"
Kol sighed, slumping back against the doorframe a little, the tension easing out of his body although he still looked a little confused. I could relate.
"Elena and Jeremy tried to kill me not too long ago," he said, as if he was saying they'd asked him for directions on the street. "Elena tried to keep me busy by lying about wanting to discuss a truce with me. I assumed this was a terrible second attempt at the same thing."
I sighed, shaking my head and closing my eyes for a beat as I leaned against the shelf behind me. I knew he was a vampire, and I'd even known someone had tried to kill him recently. But somehow, I'd underestimated the level of ridiculous drama and miscommunication that would likely create.
"Yikes. Well... I'm glad you survived, and I can honestly tell you that I'm not a part of any plot to try to kill you. I can't even remember the last time I talked to Elena, and the only time I've ever talked to either of the Salvatores was when Damon was drunk and hit on me at the Grill."
Kol snorted. "Sounds familiar."
"I'm sure."
The two of us stayed put, neither moving to stand up or leave the closet, neither speaking either. The silence just hung, and I had no idea what I was supposed to do next, so it was a relief when Kol leaned forward, the menace in his posture gone and replaced by tentative curiosity.
"You know, this leaves us with a very important question."
"And what's that?"
"If you weren't trying to drive a stake through my heart... why did you call me and ask to meet up?"
And just like that, the relief was replaced with sheer nervous panic.
"Uh... well..."
Kol grinned and took a few steps towards me.
"You said you wanted to get together and talk," he said, a teasing tone to his voice that made my heart speed up at the same time that it made me want to give him a shove. "What exactly did you want to talk about, if not murdering me?"
I shook my head, trying and failing to keep a smile off my face. Kol was well and truly in my space now, standing right in front of me, one arm over my head and leaning against the shelf behind me. Based on the grin he gave me when I met his eyes, I got the feeling he could hear my heart racing.
"I... Well, I was trying to ask you on a date."
"Were you now?" asked Kol, his shit eating grin doubling in size. I huffed.
"Yes. And it took a lot of effort to work up the courage to actually go through with it, so if you're just messing with me right now with the whole leaning into my space and flirting thing, I might actually join Team Try To Kill Kol."
Kol just laughed and shook his head, leaning in a little bit further as he did. I couldn't help a subconscious glance at his lips, and with the way they curled up even further, I knew he'd noticed.
"I'd never dream of messing with you about this, darling. Honestly, this is the best news I've gotten in days. If I hadn't been working to keep a few different people from killing me, I would've asked you out a week ago."
I grinned. "Really?"
"Absolutely."
I huffed a happy, disbelieving laugh as Kol leaned the rest of the way in, his lips finding mine. Fireworks exploded in my chest at the sensation, especially as he wrapped one arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him. My hands found his shoulders, holding on tightly, and when I finally pulled away after a few long, long moments, I was a little breathless and a little dizzy.
"Now that was worth thinking I was about to be vampire-slayed," said Kol, grinning at me before starting to lean in again. I laughed, but put a hand to his chest to stop him.
"I agree, but this is still a first date. I want to actually talk to you and get to know you beyond the few conversations we've had at the Grill, not just make out in my closet."
"You didn't like making out in the closet?"
"I didn't say that." Kol grinned, and I gave him an exasperated smile of my own. "I like this, Kol, a lot. But I could've just kept flirting at you with the Grill if all I wanted was to make out with you. Dates are supposed to be... a little more than that, at least to me."
Kol sighed, bringing his hand up to cup my chin and running his thumb across my lips before stepping back. My heart was doing backflips, and from the smirk on his face, I knew he could tell.
"Alright then, darling. I'll give your version of a date a try. As much as I like making out in closets, it might be nice to just talk to you for a bit, too."
I beamed at him. "Good. Although, it doesn't have to be all talk." I retrieved the dartboard that had been shoved back onto a shelf when Kol had first gotten in my space and held it up. "We have a few things to settle, after all."
"Oh yes we do. Come on love, our drinks are waiting in the kitchen. You're going to need one, so you have something to blame your loss on later tonight."
"Keep talking, Twilight. It's just gonna make it that much sweeter when I win."
Summary: After spending an unproductive day at the Mikaelson compound, you pretend to be asleep so you can get Kol to carry you to bed.
Fluff, fluff, fluff!
Kol Mikaelson X Fem!Reader
You sighed, stretching your legs which ached after being in a position for a little too long. You had finished the novel in your hands in one sitting, even though the plot and the characters were disappointing. Safe to say, you were bored.
Before you met your boyfriend, Kol, about a year ago, you were quite content living alone, attending classes, completing assignments, and reading books. You had never realized when you became so used to him, his quips, his charming smile. You now couldn't spend a day without him, without finding everything around you worthless. He brought light and meaning to your days, making each moment valuable. He taught you how to live life with a different perspective. He effortlessly wove himself into your days, making them happier. That every day after a tiring day at work, you knew you had someone to come home to. And you couldn't help falling in love with him a little more with each passing day.
His dysfunctional family adored you, and you loved them back with all your heart. Life was happy. You were happy.
It was past midnight and he hadn't returned. You were alone at the compound. Rebekah, Freya and Hayley were at the plantation house with Hope, so for the past week, you were with the brothers.
With each passing moment, you grew more worried for them. Sure, they were some thousand-year-old invincible original vampires, but over the years, they made quite a few formidable enemies. Being a human, you never imagined the horrors of the supernatural world.
Lost in thought, you almost didn't hear the loud footsteps entering the house. By the way they hit the floor, you instantly knew it was Kol. You were quite observant, and despite not having the heightened senses of a vampire, you could use your own quite well.
"Now, now brother, that wouldn't be quite fair, would it?" You heard Klaus' thick accent. Kol cackled and Elijah mumbled something incoherent to which Kol doubled over laughing.
You quickly snuggled to the pillows, lying down and pulling your heap of blankets closer, closing your eyes and pretending to sleep, turning around slightly so that the boys would not be able to see the smile you were sure you would not be able to keep off your face.
As the footsteps grew louder, an argument between the younger brothers could be heard.
"Shhhhhh."
The whispers ceased and you could almost hear the smile forming on Elijah's face.
A chuckle.
A pat.
Footsteps retreated and one moved forward. You feel the couch dip at where your feet rested and Kol took them in his lap and rubbed them with his rough fingertips. His touch was warm, and with great effort you silenced the sigh escaping your lips.
He stood up and moved. He lifted you up in his arms, bridal style, discarding the blankets covering you. You fought off the smile threatening to form on your face as he carried you upstairs.
A door opened and closed.
Kol laid you on the plush bed and covered you with the silky duvet. You made no movements to get more comfortable. He pushed your hair out of your face and grabbed your ankles and pulled them down.
A few moments later, the door to your en-suite bathroom opened and closed.
You opened your eyes and grinned triumphantly, giddy that you fooled your boyfriend. When the door closed again, you felt the bed dip at your feet.
A silky, soothing voice you knew a bit too well spoke. "You can stop pretending now, darling."
You didn't open your eyes and carried on the act.
"I know you aren't asleep." You opened your eyes, unable to keep the pout of your face. You released a breath you didn't realize you had been holding.
Your eyes met with the gorgeous face of your lover. He had a goofy smile on his face. Your heart beated insanely fast and you whined. "How did you know?"
"I know you, love. You can't fall asleep without me. Your heartbeat gave it away."
You groaned, but you were secretly happy.
" If you wanted me to carry you to the bed, baby, you could've just asked."
peter park x stark!reader
4.2k words
mix it all together & you know you get the best of both worlds
“I just don’t understand why I can’t know who Spider-Man is,” you grabbed yesterday’s unfinished iced coffee from the fridge and closed it. “I know everyone else’s identity, Dad. Why not this one?
“Y/n, I love you, but–” Your dad started but was rudely interrupted.
“You’re a yapper!” Sam yelled from across the kitchen and Bucky started laughing with him as you shot them a glare.
“Okay, who taught them that?” You crossed your arms as the two kept laughing.
“I’m sorry, princess. But it’s true,” your dad laughed with them while you rolled my eyes. He messed with your hair and kissed the top of your head. “You can’t keep a secret to yourself.”
“You told the whole world you’re Iron Man,” You rebutted, and ‘oohs’ erupted from the small crowd. “Plus, the only person I tell is Peter.”
“What about when you told Ned you were going with us to Germany,” Bucky said.
“I had to tell my teachers I would be gone and he was curious,” You shrugged and took a sip from your coffee.
“Hi, Mr. Stark.” Just then, the man of the hour, Spider-Man swung into the kitchen. Well, he walked into the kitchen. “I might be gone–” he stopped mid-sentence when he saw you. “Y/n! Hi!”
“Hello, Spider-Man,” You narrowed your eyes at him and he spun his head around.
“Did I do something?” His voice squeaked and you narrowed my eyes even more.
“She’s just upset that we won’t tell her your identity,” Tony informed him.
“If I just keep guessing who you are, will you tell me if I’m right?” You batted your eyelashes at the masked hero as you put on the sweetest smile. You could tell he was smirking as he let out a soft chuckle while shaking his head.
“I doubt you’ll guess correctly, sweetheart.” He crossed his arms and Tony’s flickered between the two of you, a faint smirk forming on his lips. A small blush crept onto your cheeks at the nickname.
“All I’m saying is everyone in the Hannah Montana universe was stupid because they couldn’t put two and two together,” you mumbled as you grabbed a granola bar from the pantry.
“But how were they stupid if they never heard Miley sing? They had nothing to compare her to.” Spider-Man started the counter-argument and you raised your eyebrows, turning to face him and straightening out your back.
“At every concert, the artist speaks to the audience. How did they not notice that Miley and Hannah sounded the same when speaking? Or even her mannerisms.” You eyed Spider-man cautiously as he grabbed an apple.
“Alright, one of you can’t be in here if you are going to remove your mask.” Your dad pointed to the both of you and you rolled my eyes.
“It’s fine, I’m leaving for school anyway.” You slung your backpack on and grabbed your car keys. “Bye Dad, love you. Bye, guys! See you later.”
“Wait, are you picking up Parker?” Your dad yelled and your eyes widened.
“Shit! I’m late!” You yelled and ran out the door to the car.
“Drive safe!” You heard your dad’s voice in the distance while seeing a flash of red leaving the tower. Interesting.
– – –
You frantically knocked on Peter’s apartment door. It swung open and Peter smiled and was breathing heavily. “Hi,” he sighed and smiled.
“Hi,” You smiled back at him. “You ready?”
“Yeah! Let’s go.” He walked out and locked the door and the two of you hurried to your car.
You were speeding down the road, not trying to be late for the second day. “Y/n/n! Slow down!” Peter grabbed the car handle and sat straight back in his seat.
“Oh please, I’m only ten over. I cannot be late again. Mrs. Smith threatened to give me a week’s worth of detention if I was late to her class… again. ” You stopped at the red light and took a sip from your coffee and Peter scoffed.
“As if they’d ever give Tony Stark’s daughter detention.”
“You’d be surprised,” you said under your breath. “Hey, weird question.”
“What’s up?” Peter looked over giving you, his chocolate brown eyes full of wonder and ready to tackle whatever question you had to say.
“Did you watch Hannah Montana as a kid?” And just like that, all the wonder was drained from his eyes and his mouth formed a line.
He knew he had to be careful of what he would say in this conversation in case it reminded you of Spider-Man this morning. It wasn’t that Peter didn’t trust you. No, not at all, he trusted you with his entire life. You were his best friend, but Tony had advised him to keep his secret identity to a limited number of people in case it spread like wildfire.
“Not really, why?”
“Nothing, I just got into an argument with Spider-Man today.” You grumbled, looking in your blindspot to switch lanes, seeing Midtown was coming up on the left.
“It won’t ever shock me how easily you can just casually mention superheroes.” Peter took your coffee and took a sip from it. His face scrunched up and he immediately gagged. “How much sugar did you put in this?!”
“It’s from Dunkin’! You know I always get three packs of sugar with my Dunkin’ coffee.” Peter shook his head as he handed it back to you before you both got out of the car.
“And every time, I forget how disgustingly sugary your Dunkin’ order is.”
“It's not my fault you like your coffee black. You know, you have to be some psychopath to like straight-up black coffee.”
“Sorry, you have the palette of a five-year-old.” You gasped at the comment and lightly pushed Peter away as you walked through the school doors.
“Whatever, I’ll see you later.” You playfully rolled your eyes with a small smile on your face before walking away to your first period.
“See you!” Peter exclaimed, a smile forming on his face as he admired you from afar.
– – –
“I was team Jake because I had a thing for blondes, but then when he cheated on Miley, I was so heartbroken my dad had to watch me to make sure I didn’t throw up from crying so hard.” Ned and Peter listened to you intently as you rambled on about your favorite childhood show. MJ would look up from her book now and then to nod at you to show she was listening.
“How were you not team Jesse right away? I mean, even I was head over heels for him,” Ned argued with you about the teen heartthrobs.
“I don’t know, Jake was so charming to six-year-old me. I just couldn’t not fall in love with him. He was always so smooth with everything.”
“So, the opposite of Peter?” MJ raised an eyebrow and smirked while you let out a giggle.
“Exactly.” You agreed with her while Peter’s mouth hung open.
“Okay well, Miley didn’t even have to tell Jesse she was Hannah. He figured it out himself because he was so in love with her while Miley had to put the wig on in front of Jake.” Peter smugly said. You stared at him as he proudly smiled at himself.
“I thought you didn’t watch the show,” you mumbled and Peter’s cheeks flushed pink.
“I mean, not really, but– okay fine,” Peter sighed knowing you had caught him in a lie. “I was the biggest Hannah Montana fan out there. I used to perform just like her in our living room.” The whole table burst into laughter and his entire face went red.
“Please tell me May has videos!” You said in between laughs and you heard your best friend grumble something.
“Is that why there were purple Hannah Montana sheets in your linen closet?” Ned asked, wiping away tears.
“It’s okay, Pete. My go-to karaoke song is ‘Best of Both Worlds.’” You smiled in an attempt to make him feel better. He gave you a tight lip smile, knowing no one would let him forget about this. “But, back to this Jake and Jesse discourse,” you circled the conversation back on track.
“Would you say Jesse only found out because he was so insanely in love with her?” You watched as Peter thought about the question for a while. You couldn’t help but smile as you admired the way his brown curls fell on his head perfectly or how he bit his lower lip a little as he concentrated.
“Yes, I believe so.” And that was all the information you needed.
– – –
Peter walked into the living room of the compound, following the echoes of your laughter. He furrowed his eyebrows together when he saw you throwing a laughing fit over something on your phone.
“Are you… okay?” Peter cautiously asked. You motioned for him to sit next to you on the couch, still laughing.
“Look– look at what May sent me,” you managed to get out. Peter looked at your phone and saw a video of six-year-old him singing ‘I Got Nerve’ into a remote, dancing around the living room like he was a pop star.
“Oh my god,” he mumbled under his breath, horrified. He quickly grabbed your phone away and held it up as you protested against it.
“No! Peter give it back!” You exclaimed climbing over him to take back your phone.
“Nu-uh!” A playful smile formed on his lips when he switched which hand held the phone. You were both laughing and messing around until you lost your balance and he caught you under his arm, pulling you close to him so you wouldn’t fall off the couch. Your faces were inches apart and you were praying your face wasn’t as red as it felt.
“Hi,” you whispered to him, staring into his big brown eyes.
“Hi,” he mumbled back, his eyes flickering down to your lips. His action didn’t go as unnoticed as he had hoped when you smirked back at him. It wasn’t uncommon for you two to be so close to each other, but the position you were in was definitely different than most times. You know, being quite literally on top of him and everything.
“Can I have my phone back, please?” You batted your eyelashes at him. Peter gulped and nodded, not trusting anything that might come out of his mouth. You slowly got off on top of him and sat at the end of the couch and Peter tossed you your phone as you threw your legs over his lap.
“Now delete the video,” Peter demanded. You were taken aback by his tone and couldn’t help but laugh.
“I top him once and I don’t even get a thank you,” you jokingly said and he rolled his eyes.
“Y/n, seriously.”
“Fine,” you grumbled and deleted the video against your will.
“Thank you, sweetheart.” He smiled at you but the nickname took you by surprise. You furrowed your eyebrows together and looked at your best friend.
“Wait, why are you even here? I didn’t invite you over.” You realize Peter just appeared out of nowhere.
“She tops me once and thinks she’s in control of me,” he jokes around and you lightly kick his leg.
“You fucking wish, Parker.” You laughed at how red his face had turned while his eyes widened.
“I- uh, I have that internship with your dad, remember?” He answered your question, ignoring the comment you made. You silently mouthed an ‘oh,’ completely forgetting about the internship.
“What do you even do for the internship? I’ve never seen you here doing anything else but hanging out with me.” You eyed your best friend suspiciously as he squirmed around avoiding your eye contact.
“I– uh, you know, I do… stuff.” He scratched the back of his neck, his eyebrows furrowing together once more.
“What kind of… stuff?” You raised an eyebrow at him and could’ve sworn you heard him gulp.
“I… repair their suits! Yeah, I do that,” Peter said almost like he was trying to convince himself.
“So why are you here today? No one has been on a mission in like a month.” Your suspicions were rapidly going up by the minute. Why would your best friend lie about what he does for your dad? Unless… No, that's crazy, you thought.
“I was upgrading Spider-Man’s suit,” Peter’s face fell. Shit. Alarms were going off in his head, hoping you wouldn’t catch onto anything. But another part of him was hoping you would. He thought maybe he should just come clean. Right here, right now. He watched as you eyed him up and down, biting your lower lip.
“Fun.” He sat there shocked. Fun? That was all you had to say?
“Yeah, super fun.” He let out a sigh as he sat further back on the couch. You looked at him curiously, opening and closing your mouth like you had something to say. He looked at you, questioning your movements, but you just shook your head. “I should… probably get back to your dad.” He lifted your legs off his lap and you just nodded.
“Yeah, don’t want to upset Tony Stark,” you scoffed and he smiled.
“Maybe tomorrow after I’m done, we can watch a movie?” Peter suggested, but you had other plans.
“Tomorrow’s Bachelor night,” you smirked and you could have sworn you saw Peter’s face light up.
“Oh, I don’t want to miss the girls fighting. Save me a seat next to you,” he winked and you felt your cheeks start to blush. “I’ll see you later.” Peter messed with your hair and kissed the top of it. You sat there in shock while he walked away, eyes wide and face red once he realized what he had done.
– – –
“Mr. Stark, I don’t think I can keep it a secret from her any longer.” Peter stood next to his mentor as they worked on his suit together, the memory of him kissing your head replaying over and over again. Tony sighed and looked at Peter.
“If you want to tell her, kid, you can. No one’s stopping you.” He tilted his head to the side as he sighed again. His answer took Peter aback.
“But you told me I shouldn’t tell her.” His mouth hung open, still shocked at Tony’s response.
“I only said that in hopes of keeping my daughter safe.”
“But she’s constantly surrounded by other superheroes. And, no offense, but she’s your daughter.” Peter bluntly said and Tony let out a dry chuckle.
“I know.”
“So, why did you tell me to keep it from her in the first place?” Peter looked around confused.
“Because she’s already surrounded by enough heroes as it is.” Tony made it seem like it made total sense, but Peter just stood there stunned.
“So?” He felt bad giving his mentor attitude, but he was so confused and lost at what to do and the responses he was receiving.
“So,” Tony exaggerated. “If she’s seen with Spider-Man, she can, you know, attract danger.”
“But she’s already seen with– I’m so confused, Mr. Stark.” Peter’s eyes pleaded for a clear response and Tony groaned.
“Again, if she’s seen with Spider-Man, she can get hurt. I just want my precious daughter to be safe, is that too much to ask for?”
“But she’s always seen with you guys. I don’t understand.” Peter was so confused he thought his head was going to explode for feeling so dumb.
“If she is seen with Spider-Man–” Tony tried to emphasize.
“Yes, I get it, but–”
“Oh my God, do I have to spell it out for you? Kid, we all know you’ve been in love with Y/n ever since you met the girl!” Peter stood there dumbfounded.
“What? I– no I am not– I mean no offense, but–” Peter’s words were all jumbled together as his cheeks flushed pink.
“What’s Parker rambling on about now?” Steve asked as he walked through the doors of the lab.
“Trying to convince me he’s not in love with my daughter,” Tony bluntly said, turning back to work on the suit. Steve burst into laughter and Peter’s face fell.
“Oh, Parker, anyone can see that you’re head over heels for her from miles away.” Peter’s entire face had turned red from embarrassment.
“Okay, so maybe I am—“
“And you are,” Tony mumbled. Peter shot him a look before continuing.
“Why does that have to interfere with me being Spider-Man? She’s my best friend, I’m tired of lying to her all the time when she’s already a part of this sort of lifestyle!” Peter threw his hands up in frustration.
“It’s up to you, Parker. But if Spider-Man is seen with any sort of love interest, criminals can take advantage of that. And it’s your responsibility to make sure my daughter gets home safe.” Tony pointed his finger into Peter’s chest. The kid gulped and nodded before returning their attention to his suit.
— — —
“I’m home!” You yelled through the compound. Walking into the kitchen, you saw a familiar red suit rummaging through the fridge. “Hello, Spider-Man.” You announced. He whipped his head around, causing him to almost hit it on the door.
“H-Hey, Y/n!” He scratched the back of his neck and you eyed him suspiciously. “What’s up?”
“Nothing much. It’s Bachelor night, are you gonna watch with us?” You swirled your iced coffee in your hand before taking a sip.
“Yeah!” Spider-Man responded. “I mean, uh, well. I will be watching it just not… here.” Peter looked around nervously under the mask, debating if he should just tell you his secret right now. But Tony’s words rang in his head about the danger it could put you in. He watched as you used the straw to mix your coffee even more and nodded to his words.
“You should watch with us,” you suggested. “You can finally meet my best friend, Peter.”
Peter almost collapsed when you suggested that his alter ego should stay for ‘family night.’ You had never hung out with Spider-Man that often, always running around to see other people outside of the compound. The fact that you were inviting him was almost out of character.
“Only if I get to sit next to you, pretty girl,” Peter smirked under the mask getting caught up in the moment, watching you almost spit out your coffee.
“Woah there, Spidey. You’re getting bold over there.”
“Can’t help myself when you’re probably the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen.” You couldn’t help but smile because you assumed who might be under the mask. Getting up from your seat, you walked over to the masked hero and wrapped your arms around his neck.
“Maybe I can say the same about you if you just, I don’t know, take this little thing off.” You wrapped your fingers around the edge of the mask and could feel his heartbeat going crazy. Peter gulped as you continued to mess with the mask. It was harmless flirting, right? If he told you he was Spider-Man, it wouldn’t put you in too much danger because you two were just… friends. Right?
“Is that coffee good?” Peter tried to change the topic, now feeling very strange watching you flirt with his alter ego instead of his true self. You removed your arms from him and grabbed your coffee, handing it to him.
“Do you wanna try it? It’s good. Trust.” You reassured him. He grabbed the coffee from your hands and lifted his mask just right under his nose.
As he swirled the straw around to mix the coffee around more, you couldn’t help but notice Spider-Man’s thin lips. How familiar they looked. He brought the straw up to his mouth and took a sip but immediately gagged.
“Is this from Dunkin’?” He asked and you smirked. That was all the information you needed.
— — —
You knocked on Peter’s door. He had texted you earlier, saying he had something important to tell you and it couldn’t be over text or call. You had a feeling that he was finally going to tell you his secret. Peter swung the door open and smiled, cheeks turning pink.
“Hi,” he breathlessly said. You weren’t quite sure why he was out of breath, but you just assumed it was nerves.
“Hi,” you responded back. He let you into his apartment and you followed him to his room. You took in his room, smiling at his dorky Star Wars posters. Walking over to his desk, you noticed a picture of you and him. It was blurry and you were both laughing, your arms wrapped around his neck while his arms were around your waist. “This is new,” you told him, picking the picture up.
“Oh! Yeah,” Peter’s face turned red but he walked up behind you to look at the picture, placing a hand loosely over your hip. “MJ took that picture from a few weeks ago. It’s my favorite.” He smiled down at you, taking in your features as you continued to stare at the frame.
“It’s cute,” you turned around, your breath hitched seeing his face just inches from yours. Your eyes flickered down to his lips, those lips, and it reminded you of why you were here. You set the picture back down and walked away from Peter, already missing the warmth he brought you. Sitting down on his bed, you brought your legs up and he sat down next to you.
“So, I did have something to tell you,” his voice trailed off toward the end and you gave him your undivided attention. “God, this is sorta hard to say.” His hands messed with the end of his covers, shuffling something.
“You’re Spider-Man!” You blurted out. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped as you smacked your hand over your mouth, not expecting to say it so bluntly.
“How did you–”
“Peter, I’m not stupid. You don’t have to recreate the scene where Miley is holding up the Hannah wig to Jesse with your Spider-Man mask,” you gestured your hand to his that was still under the covers. He slowly lifted his hand to reveal the mask from the bed.
“Well, yes I am Spider-Man.” You smiled to yourself, proud that you figured it out by yourself. “But,”
“But?!” You interrupted him. He let out a dry chuckle and shook his head.
“But,” he continued. “That isn’t why I invited you over. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I am so insanely happy you figured out this secret and I feel a weight lifted off my chest. You’re my best friend and–”
“Peter.”
“Yes?”
“You’re rambling.”
“Oh, right, sorry.” He sheepishly smiled and looked at you. How your hair fell perfectly over your shoulder as you ran your hands through it, an anxious tic Peter found you do often.
“I wanted to tell you that…” he spoke slowly as you hung onto every word that came out of his mouth, your heart about to explode from your chest. “I am in love with you.”
The room was silent. You could hear a pin drop. You stared at Peter in disbelief, your brain running a thousand miles an hour.
“Y/n, please say something,” his voice was low, barely coming out as a whisper.
“I…” you started, “I’m in love with you too.” His face broke out into the biggest smile you have ever seen and you mimicked him.
“Really?”
“I mean, you said it yourself. Jesse was so in love with Miley that he knew he was Hannah before she even told him,” you smirked as Peter rolled his eyes.
“Only you would bring up Hannah Montana in the middle of a moment like this,” his hand cupped the side of your face and you smiled sheepishly.
“Only with you,” you closed the gap between the two of you. When you kissed, it truly was like fireworks were going off behind you. You smiled into the kiss, but the fireworks seemed to be getting louder– wait what?! “Do you hear that?” You pulled away from Peter, his eyes half closed.
“Mm, no,” he leaned in again to kiss you, but you pushed him away.
“Peter, my dad is blasting someone a few blocks away.” You saw out his window and he immediately jumped up.
“I’m so sorry to leave right now but–”
“Go get ‘em, Spidey.” You winked at him and he smiled. He put on his mask and took off his hoodie to reveal the suit.
“Will you be here when I get back?” He asked, his eyes pleading for an answer.
“Is Hannah Montana one of the best Disney Channel shows?” Peter rolled his eyes.
“On second thought, you can go home,” he was about to climb out the window before you pulled him back.
“Yes, I will be here. You,” you poked his chest, “be safe.” You lifted his mask and kissed him one more time and Peter melted into the kiss.
“I could get used to this,” he mumbled against your lips, but you pulled away making him frown.
“Peter.” You said sternly.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Go help my dad, idiot."
“On it!” And with that, Peter swung away. This really was the life and he just had to hold on tight.
Summary: you like peter, he doesn't get it. until you confide in spider-man
i hope you guys like this, i've been really really busy at work but i'm working on my other fic i promise.
You didn’t know Peter Parker was Spider-Man.
To be fair, no one really knew. Tony Stark knew because he knows everything, May knows because she walked in on him in the suit, so did Ned, and MJ found out on her own, because, well, she knows everything. So enter in you, a girl who moved into the city and got into a smart kid school. Almost immediately you befriended MJ, you sat next to her in English and noticed her head stuck in a book. You leaned over into her space, you saw her tense up and smiled at her eyes peeking at you through the corners.
“Hi, I’m Y/N. I’m new here and I want to die in a falling elevator, what about you?”
MJ peered at you and smirked, she stuck out a hand to shake yours.
“Hi, I’m MJ. I’m old here and I’m still trying to decide.”
You two have been friends since.
“No, you’re not getting it Ned! I dare you to ask Betty, that is if she’ll still talk to you.” Peter grinned at his friend and laughed when Ned threw a spork at him. Ned and Betty were in their usual weekly dispute, usually something dumb but slightly significant.
“Are you just mad I have a girlfriend that gets mad at me?” Ned teased back. He did feel like he had the upper hand, being honest he always thought Peter would have all his firsts, well, first. But Ned was collecting the firsts while Peter kept to himself.
Peter scoffed at the assumption, “No way man, If I was a boyfriend I would never pick a fight. I’d be a good boy and listen.” He hummed and shot his eyes to yours, you were already looking at him.
“Right, Y/N?” He shot a wink at you and you froze, was that real? Was he actually talking to you?
Peter Parker is beautiful. You’re not sure when you liked him, actually you think you always have. The second you met him you felt pulled to him, you couldn’t stay away from him. Subconsciously you walked the longer loop around the school to peek at him at his locker, and you always laughed at his jokes, and you made constant eye contact when you weren’t staring at his mouth.
His brown curls laid over his forehead, you remember last week he was talking about getting it cut, and you frowned at him and said ‘absolutely not, if anything you should grow it longer’, you can’t help but notice it hasn’t been cut yet, and he is looking more tempting by the day. Maybe two more weeks and you could have an excuse to run your hand through it, tell him you noticed it was in his eyes and you were just helping.
Even MJ knew, you think Ned and Betty have an inkling. When the four of you were together they loved to talk about Peter, except they would only praise him. He has the ultimate wingmen even if he didn’t know it. And speaking of not knowing, he had no clue you were into him. It’s not like you’ve been straightforward but you also didn’t hide it. You always made flirty comments towards him, and he would usually smile shyly and brush it off.
“How did you think you did on Mr. Tusks test? I think I did fine.” He once asked during a passing period, you made a show of looking him up and down, “Oh trust me, you’re fine.” Peter rolled his eyes and then asked if you had heard about Kayte and Brendon.
“Can you do me a favor?” Peter asked while you and the rest of the group met at his house for a study session before PSATS, looking over at you from his shoulder at the kitchen table. You stepped closer and grabbed his bicep, “Trust me, I’d do anything for you, Peter.” MJ let out a quiet ‘oooh’ and Peter flushed, he cleared his throat and held up some crumpled paper. “Can you throw these away for me, please?”
You wrapped your hand around the paper in his and let your fingers rest against his palm for a moment, you looked in his eyes and pouted. “Aw, that’s all?” He looked at MJ for help, she instead looked at you and smirked with a slight nod to her head. You met her with a similar smirk and walked away to the trash can.
Then that time at the movies you hopped around Ned to steal the spot next to Peter, “Dibs! If anyone is gonna get cuddly with Peter it’s gonna be me.” You pushed Ned’s shoulder to prove your seriousness when his jaw dropped open, he sputtered but then slunk to the seat next to you. Peter joked to ease the tension, “There’s enough of me to go around,” you looked at him and smiled, “but most of you is mine, right?” Peter went to respond but the lights dropped and the trailers started.
You almost thought he made a move, almost.
During the movie he lent into your ear, his warm breath sent goosebumps down your spine. “Hey.” You turned your head and almost stopped breathing, his face was right against yours, if he lent up half an inch your lips would meet. You wondered if this was the moment, all the flirting was for something. “Yeah?” You whispered back, you looked between his eyes and mouth, he caught you looking at his lips and watched you lean in a tad closer. “Can I get a sip of your slushie?”
His grin was highlighted in the blue light of the theater screen. You grumbled and thrust the plastic cup at his chest, “Not how I imagined swapping spit with you in a movie theater, but I guess it will do.” Peter nodded absentmindedly while his attention was on the screen, and you might have maybe, just for a second, thought about punching him in the ribs.
And right now he was asking you if he would be a good boyfriend.
“Are you kidding me Parker? You’re the definition of boyfriend material.” You matched the grin he gave you and he shot a HA! At Ned.
“Told you! And when I finally find a girlfriend I’m gonna be the best boyfriend.” He made a cocky grin at Ned that let him know he won the fight. Your ears were ringing, did he just say? He couldn't have. No way he’s that dumb.
You slap your palms on the table and narrow your eyes at him, “What do you mean find a girlfriend?”
“Oh! You know, when I finally have a chick that’s into me.” He shrugged, so casual. Did he think you were just playing around?
“When you have a chick, into you.” You repeated the words slower and watched him nod his head and take a sip of chocolate milk.
MJ hid her snort under a cough, you turned to look at her, silently saying ‘is he for real right now?’ and MJ gave a look back that said ‘oh i think he is.’
You kissed your teeth, “and tell me Peter, how the fuck would you know when a girl is into you?”
His eyes widened for a second, “Uh, I dunno. I think if she likes me she’ll make it known.”
You laughed dryly, “Or she can make it known and you’re just totally oblivious.”
Peter thought for a moment and hummed, “No, I think I’d know.”
You looked at MJ with a wide mouth.
“Okay. Fuck this, I’m out.” You grabbed your backpack off the table and stomped out the cafetera doors.
“Did I say something to make her mad?” Peter missed the look MJ and Ned shared.
Peter couldn’t help but feel guilty, he didn’t know what he did but he’s almost sure he made you upset. And he would normally never interfere with Spider-Man but he’s the one that saw you tossing pebbles and crushed cans at a brick wall down an alleyway. So he had to make sure you were okay, just doing his civilian duties.
“Fucking stupid, oblivious, what does he want me to do? Fucking show up at his house naked?” You mumbled to yourself and kicked a cardboard box, sending it into the side of a dumpster.
You heard something drop behind you, spinning to the sound you were met with the masked vigilante seen across the city. You had never seen him in person, not even a glimpse when you were walking around. You were starting to believe he was a figment of people's imagination.
You narrowed your eyes, you didn’t know or care why he was there.
“Fuck off, Spider-Man.” You turned to throw another rock at the wall and watch it bounce off, just like all your attempts with Peter. That frustrating prick.
“Bad day?”
He didn’t leave and he just brought a shit storm apun himself.
You spun to face him again, “You have no idea.”
“Tell me about it.” Maybe you would slip why you were pissed at lunch.
You looked him up and down and tapped a finger on your chin, “Do you take hits?”
“Like punches? I mean I try-”
You cut him off, “No. I mean if I tell you to beat someone up would you do it?”
Peter’s eyes widened in the mask, but then collected himself.
“Maybe, it depends why you want them beaten up.”
“Because he deserves pain.” You threw another rock.
“Who’s he?” Peter had a feeling it was himself.
You groaned and rubbed at your eyes, you paused to think of the story and decided to tell the whole thing to make sense.
“Are you like a therapist or something?”
“What do you mean?”
“Like patient doctor confidentiality. I can tell you anything and no one knows?”
Peter thought to himself, he had never viewed himself that way but he sees how some may think of him like that. Just a random guy to dump their shit unto.
“Sure, yeah. I won’t go screaming from the rooftops about your bad day with ‘he’.” He used air quotes around the ‘he’ and smiled when he made you laugh.
“Alright, cool.” You nodded and paused after rubbing the bridge of your nose, then finally looking into the white masked eyes of Spider-Man.
“You brought this on yourself. Okay look, I’m new here right? Moved here from Manhattan, and got into this, like, super smart kid school.” You watched the masked face nod.
“And I met this girl on my first day and she’s super cool and she tells me she’s gonna introduce me to her friends, and I was super excited to make friends, right?” You watched him to make sure he was listening, “And sorry for the next part, if you’re like a thirty year old guy just understand I am a horny teenager and you were once me, okay? Okay.”
“So I met her friends, Ned and Peter. And let me tell you, Peter? Wow! Look, I’ll level with you. I’ve liked dudes before, maybe even kissed a few, who’s to know?” Peter froze for a moment, did you just hint at what he thinks?
“But, Peter? I have literally never wanted to hump someone's face until I saw him.”
Peter coughed then cleared his throat, his cheeks felt on fire.
He knows you’ve always said things to him, he knows it was flirty but he didn’t realize you were being serious, cause he was him, and you were you. Peter never had that aha moment where he realized you were in fact flirting and did like him like that. He now wants to curl in shame because of the way he’s blown you off for so long, he doesn’t know why he thought you were always playing around with him, especially now. Because you only ever told Peter, you wanted Peter.
Peter feels really dumb right now watching a girl he never thought he could pull, in distress because he is in fact, not pulling her.
“I don’t know how to explain it but I felt so pulled to him, I hadn’t known him for twelve seconds and I wanted to know everything about him, you know? And I’ve tried everything, man. I don’t know how much more clear I can get, I mean I flirt with him all the time. Like, all the time. I literally told him I wanted to make out with him at the movies and he was just like… But can I get some of that slushie? I wanted to kill him and then myself.”
You noticed the wide eyes on the mask but held up a hand to continue.
“And today! My god I really thought he got it, get this, the fucker,” You exclaimed the fucker. “This fucker looks at me, dead in the eye and says ‘I’d be a good boyfriend right?’ and I was like ‘Oh my god, yes. You are literally perfection, look at you. So handsome, such baby, I will die if I don’t kiss you.’ And he goes, and I cannot make this shit up, ‘when I finally find a girlfriend I’ll be the best boyfriend.’” You mocked his voice, well not Peter’s, but a general man's voice.
“Oh.” The first response you’ve heard from him yet.
You laughed bitterly. “Oh, I’m not even at the part that made me fly off the wall.”
Peter knows what you’re talking about.
“At this point I just thought he was his normal little dumb self but when he said that? Game over. So I said, ‘how the fuck would you know when a girl is into you?’ just like that too, and he goes,” You paused to laugh again and shake your head, “‘I think if she likes me she’ll make it known.’ How fucking disconnected is he from reality? I wonder what it would be like to be in his head, really. Just a fuckton of open space huh? Anyways, I just told him that maybe she is making it known and he’s just not paying attention and he goes, ‘hmm, nope. I’d think I know.’ I couldn’t take it and just walked out.”
You finished up your rant, “So, in conclusion. Fuck Peter Parker, but also, I want to fuck Peter Parker. It’s hard being 17.”
For the first time Spider-Man was speechless. He didn’t know how to navigate this because he wanted to take your side but also didn’t want to throw Peter under the bus. When he noticed you were waiting for a response he let out a ‘Wow.’
“Well, wow.” He was still trying to find words.
“I know right? I told you, you brought this on yourself.” You sat against the brick wall and pulled a quarter from your pocket running it across your knuckles. Spider-Man moved to sit next to you.
“I know you say you’ve been forward but maybe he thinks you’re joking, or maybe he didn’t see it like that because he thought you wouldn’t like him like that.”
“Babes, you have no idea how much I like him like that.”
“Right. I mean, maybe give it another shot, you never know.” He shrugged his shoulders, who knows? Peter may even ask for a date next time you talk.
“Oh, you think I’m giving up?” You raised an eyebrow at him. “No way, if anything this makes him even more attractive. Who doesn’t like a good chase? I will tell you my next method was just popping up at his place like, you, me, lets fuck, right here, right now.”
“Chasing is only fun if you catch them in the end. And I doubt this Peter kid would ever give into that method, you’d scare the shit out of him.” You sighed and thought about it. “You’re right, he would respect me too much. It’s gross how much I love that.” You watched the quarter roll across your middle knuckle and held it tightly.
You leaned a cheek against the hero’s shoulder.
“Don’t beat up Peter Parker. He’s a sweet boy, just a little unaware.”
“Although, if he doesn’t wake up to smell the bacon next time we talk I’m sending you a smoke signal and his address and I won’t let you leave until I see blood.”
Peter let out a big laugh, “Deal.”
You stood up and brushed off your butt then reached a hand out to help Spider-Man up.
“Thanks for talking me off the ledge. Here’s a tip.” You tossed the quarter in your hand towards the red glove.
Peter nodded and gave a two finger salute, “Just doing my job ma'am, I am the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man after all. I’ll look around for you, I hope I get a Peter update soon.”
You smiled at the hero once more.
“Me too.”
You watched as he took off and started to walk home, not even twenty minutes later a text came through.
hey, sorry if i made you upset at lunch today.
It's fine, I'm sure you’ll make it up to me.
yeah, i’ll show you how sorry i can be.
And hell if your breath didn’t hitch. Did he just flirt with you? There is no way in God’s green earth did he just send a text like that not knowing how you’d take it. Did he finally wake up and smell the roses? Did the behavior at lunch kick in a thinking cell?
Either way, you couldn’t wait for school tomorrow.
Walking in the doors you rubbed the palm of your hand over your cold nose, the temperature was slowly reminding you summer was over and the nips of frost and changing leaf colors proved it. You were excited for fall and winter, you would have friends to go to a halloween party with, maybe even get to wear a couples costume with Peter if it worked out for you. You would trickle into thanksgiving and then have a whole season for cookies, movies and snow fights. A part of you couldn’t help but think about Peter's eyes sparkling in the christmas lights.
Peter’s head darted up at you the second you walked through the door, his teeth nibbling his bottom lip. He wasn’t sure what to say, or if he should say anything. Does he wait for you to say something? Does he walk up and ask you on a date?
Either way you were about to walk past him, you looked preoccupied, in your own world. You were nibbling on your thumb nail, lost in your thoughts about Peter, and the weather, and Peter, and snow, and carving pumpkins with Peter, and the way leaves would crunch under your feet, and then floated to central park and walking hand in hand with Peter, and kissing Peter under a tree, or maybe he’d take you to rockefeller plaza and ask you to be his girlfriend there, and you just know in your heart Peter would always give you extra whipped cream on your hot chocolate.
You were so lost in thinking about Peter you didn’t see Peter.
Not until he jumped in front of you.
“Hey!” He smiled and it made your eyes go hazy.
“Peter.” You let out dreamily, still stuck in daydreams where he was yours.
“Whatcha thinking about?” His grin gave away he knew, but you know he didn’t.
“Would you give me extra whipped cream on hot chocolate?”
“Oh yeah. I’d even throw in some mini marshmallows and a cinnamon stick. Or do you like peppermint more?”
You fawned at his response, he was so gentle it warmed you.
“Would you carve pumpkins with me?” You looked at his locker.
“Why not? Seems fun.” He tapped his fist against your shoulder.
“I would need your help, cause I’m good at getting the guts out but the actual carving part hurts my hand because I have to use so much force. So I could draw a design and you could cut it for me, cause you're way stronger than me.”
“Why are you good at getting the guts out?” He poked a finger at your elbow to get your attention back on his face.
You bit your bottom lip and changed topics.
“Have you ever walked through central park?”
I mean, if Peter thinks about it he’s spent a fair amount of time there, but he’s not roaming around. He’s swinging around or stopping crime or running after someone, so he guesses not. He’s never walked through the park and enjoyed it, he thinks he did it a few times as a kid but he can’t remember the last time he went.
“As a kid, I haven’t been in a while.”
“I think it would be really pretty to walk through it when the leaves all change.”
“I love the feeling of the leaves crunching under my feet.”
“Me too! As a kid I used to build leaf forts and just roll around for hours.” You smiled brightly at the shared feeling.
“We could go sometime, just say when. We could even get the group together.” He winked playfully but dropped the grin when he saw the disappointment flash in your eyes when he added the friends part. You didn’t want a group trip, you wanted a Peter trip.
“Or it could be just a you and me thing, I think I could use some one on one time with you.” Peter retracted his earlier statement. Your eyes lit up at his suggestion, “really? You do?”
“Yeah, of course. I love talking to you.” He smiled and watched you bite your bottom lip as you stared at his.
“Anything fun happen yesterday? I didn’t see you after lunch.” Was he possibly hinting at you talking about him to him? Yes.
“Uh,” You trailed and thought about telling him, scared if you said too much he’d ask details.
“You know, I started to believe Spider-Man was a mass hallucination, turns out he’s a real guy. Kinda cool.”
Peter raised his eyebrows, “You suddenly came to that belief yesterday?”
“Well I mean, you know. He was like, there. And was like, hey.” You gave a general response and shrugged your shoulders.
“He was just there and said hey?” He slowly repeated the words back.
“Hey! He promised he wouldn’t talk about what we discussed and I will promise the same. We had a nice conversation about someone close to me and he gave me a little pep talk.” You defended your stance.
“Like patient doctor confidentiality?” He was having a little fun here.
“Exactly! It was true alleyway therapy. I even gave him a quarter for his troubles.” You crossed your arms and grinned, it was funny how good you felt after talking to him yesterday. Maybe exploding emotions on a third party stranger was good.
“Sounds like you have a crush on Spidey.”
You narrowed your eyes at him, “If he was here right now, and heard that coming from your mouth? He would have a fucking field day, I promise you that.”
Peter raised his eyebrows in coyness.
“From me? Sounds like he knows something, was I maybe the close person you had a conversation about?”
Your cheeks felt warm, you were on the spot. You always hinted at your crush on Peter but you were kind of pussy to outright say it so you hoped he would catch on and ask you out. But now you didn’t know how to react, you had said too much and backed yourself into a corner.
You opened your mouth to play off a response when the bell for first period rang out, you let out a breath of relief and smiled at Peter.
You were begging Spider-Man was out, looking around where he had dropped down yesterday.
Things have progressed with Peter and you promised him an update, it was just about keeping him in the loop. It had nothing to do with getting to fantasize and romanticize you and Peter’s interactions.
Jumping in excitement you saw him standing on the corner of the same building you were hiding behind yesterday, hands on his hips with his head turned the opposite way.
“Spider-Man!” You whisper shouted.
“Hey! Spidey!” You raised your tone some.
“Yo! Spider-boy!” You picked up a pebble and threw it up the building.
Getting his attention the hero looked behind him then pointed at himself with a thumb, “me?” You rolled your eyes, “yes, you. C’mere.” Watching him jump down and land in a squatted pose you couldn’t help but think about how fucked up your ankles would’ve been if you tried it.
“Peter update, bitch. I don’t have another quarter on me, so this will have to be on the house.”
“I kept it.” He handed it back to you and you thought about how if Peter did that you would be putty in your shoes.
“I think he was flirting with me. I think. I don’t know, he’s so coy. I love him.” You sighed and held a hand to your heart.
“And I am so sadistic, I’m using him as a pawn in my sick games. I’m asking him questions that I’ve already answered in my head about him and when he gives me a response it’s better than I imagined.”
“Maybe he was flirting, or trying. Something tells me you make him nervous.”
“Am I intimidating? I don’t want him scared of me, I want to mash my parts with his.” You pouted and thought if you were making him uncomfortable.
“First, gross.” (Not really, he also wants to mash parts.)
“Second, I don’t think you’re intimidating. I just think you are much more forward than him.”
“Oh no. Is that a problem? Do I keep doing what I am, or should I let him do this? Am I over stepping? I’ve never had a boyfriend, is he supposed to pursue me? Have I done everything backwards? Oh god.” You covered your face with your hands and missed Peter's eyes growing wide and his panicked arm movements.
“No, no, no, no. You’re fine, you’re good. It’s good. You can make the first move, totally okay. I just meant you’re expecting him to ask you out any second and I think you need to make it more noticeable rather than joking.”
“Ew! Gross! I will not walk up to that man and tell him I wanna smooch.”
“Oh, C’mon! You basically already have!”
“Nope. Not happening. You’ve helped me make up my mind, I will wait for Peter Parker to make the next move.” You tossed the quarter back to him, “Don’t worry. You’ll see me again.”
“Woah, wait.” MJ stopped in her tracks and spoke her next words carefully.
“You told Spider-Man about your crush on Peter?” Her voice was smooth and quick, MJ almost felt panicked for you, because you didn’t know what you just did.
“Yeah?” You didn’t get the big deal, not like Spider-Man knew who Peter was anyways.
“What did he say?” MJ was pulling at the thread.
“That I should be more clear, or less intimidating, or something.”
“He said you were intimidating?” MJ narrowed her eyes.
“Well kind of, when I said that he kind of back tracked but-”
MJ cut you off when he locked eyes with Peter coming down the hall towards you, he tilted his head in question, he knew that look and he wasn’t sure why he deserved it. She grabbed Peter’s forearm and tugged him next to her, your eyes went wide. You didn’t need to understand why MJ decided to bring Peter into this conversation, you just needed to end it.
“Peter, do you think Y/N is intimidating?”
His eyes saw your subtle head shake at her, an unvocal way of telling her to shut the fuck up.
“Uh, no. Not at all. Why?”
MJ waited for you to talk but you stayed silent, you would definitely spill if you tried to navigate the conversation.
“Because, the Queens nightly hero thinks she is.” Her tone was bitter, who knew MJ was this defensive over you.
“He said I was too forward, MJ. Drop it.” You pleaded to get out of this alive.
“Too forward, imagine that, Peter. Imagine confiding in someone about a crush and they say you’re too forward.”
You felt your knees hit your ankles, Peter would connect the dots. You told him you had a conversation and MJ just admitted it was about a crush.
You started to dryly laugh, not allowing Peter a chance to answer that.
“Not a crush! Nope! Don’t know where you got that theory.” You darted your eyes around looking for an escape.
“No?” Peter questioned you.
“You know MJ, she lives in her own world. Never said anything about having a crush on someone, definitely not you.”
Peter had to play into this, your turn to squirm.
“Who said I thought you had a crush on me?”
Your heart couldn’t beat any louder than it was at the moment.
“No one did.” You flashed a nervous smile.
“No, I think you just did.”
You breathed heavily out your nose and looked harshly at MJ like ‘wtf? Why did you do this?’
“I just didn’t want you to think I have a crush on you.”
Peter pouted, “Why not? I think it would be cute.”
It was your turn to sputter.
“Cute? It would be cute? Cute how? Cute, that's adorable or cute, let's date?”
You didn’t miss MJ’s look of ‘wow. Subtle much?’
“Depends. Do you have a crush on me?”
“Do you think I have a crush on you?”
Peter hummed and pretended to think.
“Sometimes.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“Only sometimes?”
“I’m confused. Do you want me to think you have a crush on me or not?”
MJ raised her hands and slowly started to back away.
“Depends. How would you react?” You cautioned.
“Probably how you want me to react.”
“And how do I want you to react?”
Peter smiled and leaned in close, you held your breath for a moment. Was he about to kiss you? Is that how you want him to react? Yes.
“You tell me.”
Then he straightened himself and winked as he walked away.
Peter just had to wait for an opening, not that you would take long to give him one. You couldn’t keep it in, it was second nature at this point.
If there was any way he could ask you out casually then you needed to make it a bit clear, as much as you said you wanted it he couldn’t imagine the flip of “he doesn’t notice anything” to “hey, wanna go out?”
Peter was trying to set himself up for one of your comments and you tried your best to keep a poker face but when he said that? Game over.
“I think I have a shot, she totally likes me.”
Was he talking about you? He better be, because if you were walking into his house for the regular Friday movie night and he was talking about another girl you would actually lose it. You had just got there, still waiting for MJ and Ned to show up when he greeted you with his words.
“Who likes you?”
“Kendra! During math she was holding up her highlighters trying to match one to my shirt. It’s pretty obvious right?”
“No.”
“No?”
“No. You can’t be serious.”
“I am! I told you if someone liked me they would make it obvious, and I’m pretty sure she did.”
“Oh fuck you Peter! You’re the actual worst, I sit here all fucking day saying things to you, about literally wanting to be all over you and a girl with a fucking highlighter collection is booted to top of the list?”
“I mean, what am I? Chopped liver? I have been pining after you for months, and all it took was a highlighter? Do you know I wear that green sweater all the time because you said you liked it once, or that I follow you around like a puppy? How about when I flirt with you, or do you even know I’m flirting with you?”
Peter had a shit eating grin that made you even more upset.
“Why are you so happy right now, you’re really pissing me off.”
Peter stalked towards you until you were backed up into the wall, with nowhere to go you felt his chest brush yours, his arms caging you against the wall, your head between both of his hands.
Save for the position, you were excited. This was going to be a new daydream scenario, he had you pinned to the wall. The only way out was through him.
He leant in close, if you just pushed yourself up you could have his lips on yours.
“Because, you finally admitted it.”
You narrowed your gaze at him.
“What is that supp-”
He cut you off.
With his mouth.
On yours.
No matter how many times you dreamed about this exact moment nothing could match the real thing. His lips were soft, his hand cupped your jaw to bring you closer to him. His body leaned in so he was flush against yours, you felt every curve and divot of him blend into yours. You grabbed at the waist of his shirt, begging for him not to leave his position of being on your mouth.
Instead he opened his mouth to deepen the kiss, the feather touch of his tongue on your lower lip sent your head into a spiral, the boy you had been obsessing and pining over the past few months was moving with your movements, you gasped into his mouth and he squeezed a hip with his hand and you in turn pressed your hips into his.
He pulled away and placed a kiss to your jaw, then neck.
“Was that the reaction you wanted?”
Your eyes stayed closed but you nodded, scared if you opened them the illusion would disappear.
“I kissed you with my heart and soul baby girl, can’t a guy get a response?”
You whimpered at the pet name.
Then a knock at the door, the curtain dropped. The other friends were here and it would go back to pretend this didn’t happen for a few hours. The front door was being opened from the outside, you had your head turned to the right to watch it open. Peter still had you pressed into the wall, he placed an arm out to hold the door shut.
You did promise Spider-Man an update, but it’s been a busy few months. Christmas was just around the corner and Peter and you have been busy. Between dates and seasonal activities you haven’t had a moment to track down the hero and catch him up to date.
First it was Halloween and you did get your couples costume. (and he helped you carve your pumpkin.)
Then it was Thanksgiving. (and he walked through central park with you.)
And recently you’ve both been busy with present shopping and baking. (and he gives you hot chocolate with extra, extra whipped cream.)
“I know, I’m sorry. I’ve been too busy being a girlfriend.”
“Girlfriend?”
You squealed. “Yes! He totally set me up and I was all like, ‘How do you not know I like you?’ and BAM! He just started kissing me, I was seeing fucking stars.”
“Peter Parker finally smelled the bacon, huh?”
“Yeah. He’s really awesome. I know we were friends before but it’s gotten so much better now he’s my boyfriend, I don’t even know how to describe it. I think it’s because everything I feel for him is reciprocated times ten by him.”
“I think it’s because you love him.”
“Or because we’re mashing parts.”
You laughed at his reaction.
“Gross.” (Not gross. He fucking loves mashing parts.)
“But yeah, I think it’s mostly because we love each other.”
“I’m happy for you, I’m glad I can stop looking for smoke signals now.”
You grinned at the hero and had to fight back the urge for a hug.
“Thanks, if it makes you feel better if I knew who you were under the mask I’d buy you dinner.”
Sirens blaring broke the reunion.
“It’s alright. I have a feeling you’ll know soon.”
“Hm, sure. Have a goodnight, Spidey. I’ll see you around.”
i may have a seperate part 2 of this on the way, the idea is so cute.
Pairing: Peter Parker (mcu) x Reader
Warnings: peter do be flirting
Genre: Fluffy/slight angst/ pining
Word Count: 15K
Summary: Peter overhears you saying you like him but you're too scared to tell him, he makes you want to tell him.
Peter knows it is absolutely wrong to use his powers for his own advantage.
He also knows that the majority of common folk would disagree and use it to their own advantage if situations were reversed, and that’s fair to Peter. Everyone at one point has sworn that if they had super powers they would listen in to every conversation, or they would read everyone’s mind.
And Peter did do that at first, until he realized that eavesdropping was a terrible idea. Because you start to feel kind of itchy and icky about yourself, you realize that these are conversations that were meant to be personal. Ned was the one that usually begged, he would point out random people and persuade Peter into listening in and giving him dirt.
It was never anything too interesting, just personal.
At lunch Ned would ask, “Yellow jacket is up in hat’s face, what’s going on?”
And Peter would listen in.
“You weren’t there! You have no idea what went down, like, at all!”
Hat defends her stance, “Oh come off it! You’re supposed to be MY best friend, you were mine. And I lost you to him.”
Yellow jacket is upset at her dismissal, “ You decided that, not me. You think this is dumb of us? That we’re selfish? That this was one big ploy to fuck up your life?”
Hat is taken aback, then stands her ground. Solidly, “You fucked my brother, Jessica. You both decided to run around and date behind my back, and if you did it openly it would’ve gone over better. But you conniving with him hurts, I just lost my best friend and I have to watch her walk around my house cuddling up to my brother!”
Peter stops listening, he feels like he should’ve never heard that.
But he still tells Ned.
Once at the mall Ned pointed to a group of girls, “What are they talking about?”
Peter hones in, then repeats. “Redhead is looking for a tampon, Jeans is helping Redhead search for a tampon. Ponytail is talking about wanting to hook up with Jayson but she’s dating Erik, Bangs is telling Ponytail to do it anyways and Glasses thinks you’re cute.”
Ned grins, “Should I go ask for her number?”
Peter frowns, “No.”
He doesn’t like playing this game so much anymore, he’s started to feel like a constant invasion of privacy. He doesn’t do it for Ned much anymore, only sometimes.
“It’s an emergency, Peter! Like a real emergency! You have to tell me what they’re saying!”
Ned shakes Peter's shoulders for emphasis, Peter bobbles his head back and forth then stops to wave and smile like a normal human when you walk by doing it first.
He lets out a sigh, “Who?”
Ned points to Betty Brant and Flash Thompson.
Peter understands why he wants to listen in so bad, he gives in. By the way Betty looked it wasn’t going to be anything juicy.
“Flash is telling her about how his mom is gonna buy him a new car, Betty is saying her mom’s making her favorite dinner.”
Ned pouts, “Nothing about me?”
Peter shakes his head slowly, “Sorry man.”
Ned stays quiet for a few seconds then pushes his head towards them again, “How about now?”
Peter sighs, “No, Ned.”
—------------
MJ wrapped her hand around your neck after you passed by Peter.
“Waving to your future man?”
You turned your head back, panicked he had heard her. Instead you just saw Ned and Peter looking at Betty and Flash.
“He’s so fucking cute, right? Did you see his hair? His curls are like, fucking perfect today.”
Peter Parker made your heart race.
He was a goddamn saint, the nicest person you’ve ever met. He was a genius, the smartest person you’ve ever met. He was funny, the best quick wit you’ve ever heard. His laugh was the best you’ve ever heard. His smile made you feel like putty, his voice woke you up in the morning but melted you down if you’d been extra stressed that day, and his clothes looked down right adorable on him.
Everything about Peter Parker was your favorite thing about him.
“Careful, Y/N. I may think you have a crush on the kid.”
You pushed MJ in her ribs, “Has he ever kissed anyone before?”
“Why, looking to be the first to settle the land, Christopher?”
You gasp, “Did you just call me a colonizer?”
MJ ignored you, “You know, you could just ask him.”
You laugh, “That’s cute.”
It was. You and Peter were casual friends, you’ve hung out in only groups and only had one on one conversations a few times. You did like him, and you did flirt when you were around him but it was so subtle you don’t blame him for not picking up on it.
“I mean, I think you guys would actually work out. Like hardcore, he’s just a little dumb. You’ve gotta be the one to bring it up.”
Here we go again, the same tired piece said over and over. MJ, Betty, even Flash has gotten in on it, they all claim Peter would be down in an instant but would it be because it’s you, or because someone likes him?
“Does he even like me? Or think of me like that?”
MJ grimaces, “Peter’s hard. He doesn’t really talk about girls, you know? I mean, he’ll say when a girl is pretty or whatever but he’s never been one to be like, ‘she’s so hot, i wanna french her by noon,’ so, maybe?”
You tap her arm around your neck, “So insightful, I’m so glad I have a friend on the inside.”
MJ squeezes the sarcasm out of you.
—-----------
Peter’s gotten better at not eavesdropping.
It’s been weeks of fighting off Ned’s request to listen in on an unsuspecting victim.
Until recently.
He kept hearing his name, but couldn’t clock it. He had his head swiveled around the entire lunchroom with no luck. It wasn’t a constant calling, just casual. Peter this, Peter that, Peter, Peter, Peter.
He swears he’s going insane, he can’t jus-
Peter jumps, he’s trying to dial his focus on his name when you slam your hand down on his lunch table.
“Oh.” When he realizes it’s just you.
“Hi, Y/N.” You grin when he does, it’s infectious. You almost forgot why you approached, MJ said Peter would admit when a girl was pretty.
“Hi, Peter.”
Peter looks to the side of him and pushes his backpack away, “Wanna sit here?”
Your heart lurches with the question, he was asking if you wanted to sit next to him.
You shake your head, “I just have a question.”
A grin, “Shoot.”
You gulp, why did you do this again? Oh. To prove you had a chance.
“In a strictly non friendly way,”
“Uh oh.” He voices.
You smile, “Do you think I’m pretty?”
Peter freezes, “Oh! Uh, I mean, me?”
“You what?”
“Me! You’re asking me? Of course I think you’re pretty!”
You smile, “Thanks, Peter. But, am I pretty in a non friendly way?”
He looks confused, “What would be a non friendly pretty?”
You roll your eyes, “Like, pretty enough to date.”
His eyes go wide, pink coats his cheeks.
“Oh, oh!” He nods enthusiastically, “Yeah! You’re dating pretty, don’t worry about it.”
You thank him and walk away with your head a little higher. Your group quiets when you approach, MJ greets you with raised eyebrows. She has to pretend the whole group wasn’t just talking about you and Peter.
“What was that about?”
You sit your stuff down and take a seat, you shrug and look at her.
“He said I was pretty.”
Flash commends the size of your balls.
You thank him.
—--------------
“Y/N asked if she was dating pretty today, what does that mean?”
Ned shrugs, “Google it.”
Peter gives him a ferocious look, “And what would Google say?”
Ned sighs as he looks over Betty, “Are you sure she’s not talking about me?”
Peter looks towards the back of the class, you and Betty sat next to each other giggling. Peter tells himself not to, but he does.
He hones in, he doesn’t get much. He’s learned to listen in enough to get the details, but protect the person at stake.
Peter’s eyebrows furrow, he wants to listen to more.
“Uh, they’re talking about a double date.”
Ned throws up his hands, his jaw is dropped and he’s looking between Peter, you and Betty.
“Well?”
Peter looks around, “Well what?”
Ned tugs at Peter’s arm, “With who?”
Peter’s eyes widened, “Oh!”
“I’m sure Peter would be down, Y/N.” Betty shoulder checked you and winked, you groaned and looked up at Peter, he was looking at you. Even though he was across the room you felt paranoid he could hear you.
You smiled at Peter and turned to your friend, “Sure, you ask Ned first.”
Betty drops her jaw and looks at Ned, she starts to sputter.
“No! That is not the plan, at all!”
You huff at her, “The plan was to use Peter against me? You’re sick for that.”
Peter knows he should stop listening, he’s caught on, the double date was with him and Ned, but he also wants to keep listening.
“No! I never said that!”
You narrow your eyes, “Look, it would make sense for you to ask Ned on a date.”
Betty turns her nose up, “Well, the same could be said for you and Peter.”
Peter Parker can’t help but feel a bit giddy, you asking him on a date? He would never shut up about it again.
Ned is pawing at Peter’s shoulder begging for an update, he shrugs him off and keeps listening.
“What? No, it literally could not. You and Ned flirt all the time, everyone knows it’s gonna happen, it just when.”
Betty is slightly confused, she's wondering if you two are fighting. Just slightly.
“Do you think you’re not flirting with Peter?”
You blink and Peter watches your mouth open, you’re about to reply when Ned shakes him hard.
“Well?”
Peter turns back around and scoots his chair closer to the desk.
“It’s us.”
“What is?”
Peter clears his throat, “The double date, it’s us.”
Ned’s eyes light up, the thing he’s been searching for in conversation is coming to fruition, then dials it back some.
“Betty wants me, right?”
Peter nods.
“And Y/N wants you?”
Peter shrugs.
“I mean, it makes sense. She’s always trying to hook up with you.”
Peter’s head spins, “What?”
Ned pulls his head back, “Well, yeah. I just thought you weren’t interested. She’s always trying to make a move when we hang out.”
Peter is in disbelief, “She is?”
“Bro, she literally only hugs you when we all hang out. When she gets there and when she leaves, she wants you all over her. Like, now.”
Peter is nibbling his lip, he never thought he had a chance. He just thought you were extra friendly towards him, maybe you thought he needed a friend. He didn’t know you wanted him like that though.
He decides to listen in, one last time. Then he swears he was done, forever.
Betty huffs, she’s lovely but absolutely stubborn.
“Then fine, I’m not asking Ned until you ask Peter first.”
“That’s fine, Ms. Brant. But I’m never gonna ask him.”
Betty huffs again then looks to the boys and sees Peter looking at you, she gets a wicked grin across her face.
“Then I’ll make him ask you.”
You turn your head to see her looking at Peter, you start to backtrack immediately.
“No! No, no, no. You won’t. You promise me you won’t get Peter involved.”
Betty pretends she didn’t hear you.
“Betty, I’m serious. Promise me right now you won’t involve Peter.”
She starts to hum, this is a game to her. You know what she wants and you’re about to give in.
“Betty please, don’t involve him. I’ll ask anyone else, if you’re that dead set on a double date I’ll ask literally anyone else.”
She pretends to think about it, then calls out across the room.
“Hey, Peter?”
You whip your head to his, he’s looking at Betty confused. You start to melt and panic.
“You won’t.” You mutter the words.
“Come here?”
Peter looks at Ned and shrugs, he goes to stand.
Your heartbeat is hammering your chest, you grip Betty’s elbow tightly.
“Stop it, Betty. It’s not funny anymore.”
Peter’s walking over, you feel your hands shake. You curl them into fists.
“Betty!” You look over your shoulder, he’s about to be here.
“I’ll ask him! I’ll ask him!”
Betty smiles, it’s like she's asking you if it was that hard.
You can’t help the smile that crosses your face when Peter not only approached your side of the desk, but also smiled at you first and made sure you saw him before looking at Betty.
“You called?”
Betty grins, it makes you feel sick.
“I was thinking of asking Ned on a date, what’s his favorite food?”
Peter thinks of his next words carefully, he makes sure to look at you when he speaks.
“We’re both pizza kinda guys.”
You shudder. it was never about asking Peter for you, it was about forcing you to say yes.
“What’s his favorite? He strikes me as a hawaiian type of guy.”
He grins, “You guessed right.”
You speak up, “You strike me as a cheese or pepperoni type.”
Peter tilts his head, “Do I?”
You shake your head, “Actually, I think you’re a ‘any type of pizza will do, as long as I can pile as much parmesan cheese as humanly possible on it.’ kind of guy.”
He hums, “Are you a crushed red pepper kind of gal?”
You shrug and feel your cheeks get warm, “Maybe.”
“That’s good then, none of the packets get wasted. Look at us, the zero waste couple.”
“Couple of besties?” You give a nervous grin.
Peter nods, “Sure.”
You swallow hard, you were never prepared for Peter to say something flirty to you, he was supposed to be the nervous quiet one, but you have a feeling he can be extremely charming when he wants to be.
Betty eyes you then looks at Peter, you notice they share a look but you can’t place what it is.
“Pizza then?”
“Trust me Bets, Ned is gonna scream when you ask him out. He’s been dying to do it but it’s always nice to know when a girl is into you.”
He let that last line slip, he’s trying to hint to ask him without laying it out. Or let you know he was listening in.
“Does he really? I swear he doesn’t make it known.”
You look over at Ned, you have no clue how she thinks he doesn’t make it known. He followed her around like a puppy and was at her beck and call. Not to mention he’s watching the entire encounter rocking in his seat biting his nails.
And you were scared you looked nervous.
You point at Peter’s best friend, “Really, Bets? He doesn’t make it known?”
Peter pats your head, “What she said.”
You bite your bottom lip hard to stop the whimper from escaping, Peter shares a glance with you, you’re pretty sure he heard you.
“So it’s an easy yes?”
Peter nods, “The easiest.”
Betty nods at Peter then looks towards you, “Y/N? Anything you need to ask Peter?”
Your cheeks feel hot, you give a death stare to Betty.
“Uh, nope. Can’t think of anything.”
Betty pushes, “You sure?”
“Positive.” You push the word through clenched teeth.
Betty waits with pursed lips and when you offer no more she nods slightly, she can play this game too.
“Thanks for the advice, Peter. But I don’t think I’m going to ask yet.”
You want to disappear, and you are extra aware of Peter’s body next to yours. If you leaned against him you would rest into his waist, you wanted to make him proud again, so he could give you another celebratory pat.
“He’s there when you’re ready, Betty. Stays between us, promise.” Then he looks at you before he departs, “Hey, you going to Flash’s party tonight?”
You don’t trust your voice and nod, Peter watches where you chew on your lip.
“Good, I’ll see you there.” He taps your shoulder with a punch and walks back towards his best friend.
Ned looks at him with wide eyes, his fingernails are nubs.
“Well?”
Peter sighs dreamily, “I’m gonna make her ask me out.”
—---------
“Peter!”
“Y/N!”
You both point at each other then meet in the middle for a hug, Peter sways you slightly and pulls away.
“Long time no see!” He jokes, you giggle along. He’s just so funny.
“No kidding, you know time stops when you’re not around.” You wink to play off the joke.
Peter scrunches his nose like a bunny, “I love when you flirt with me. Want a drink?”
You feel frozen for a moment, he’s not supposed to catch on. He was supposed to play dumb until you all grow up and get married and have kids and one night over lunch when you catch up after years you let it slip that you had a giant crush and always waited for him to notice. He wasn’t supposed to notice now.
“What are you drinking?” You clock his red cup, he’s not a drinker but it’s not a water bottle this time.
He holds it out, “Try?”
You take it and raise it to your lips, it’s nearly empty. You can’t help but think about this being the first time you’ve shared a drink with Peter, you’re putting your lips where his were. The only thing more intimate than this is sharing a bite of food. If you pretend hard enough you can say that you’ve technically kissed him.
It’s sweet and you can’t detect alcohol. You pull back and eye him, he’s waiting for your reaction. He hopes you like it. You pull a face then try it again, you’re trying to place it.
“Like it?”
“It’s like a cherry sprite, but like, better?”
“It is! I can make you one?”
Peter pushed you towards the kitchen with a hand to your back, you felt his palm through the material of your shirt and realized how cold the rest of you felt. Small conversation carried you through the wait, he made each of you a cup and handed it over.
You both took a sip at the same time, you pulled back with a slight frown then took another sip. Peter watched you furrow your brows before you reached out for his own and took a sip. You make a confused sound.
“Hm?”
You shrug, “Your’s tastes better.”
Peter thinks it's adorable, he can only hope that if this goes the way he’s thinking that you would carry this over. He always wants his to taste better, just because it’s his.
“I’d offer to swap but then I’d think that one would taste better.”
You nod, “I think you’re right.” Then hold your own out, “Cheers!” Peter obliges then holds his back when you try to tap it, “What are we cheering for?” You pucker, “Do we need a reason?”
Peter pouts, “No, I guess not. Feels better to have one though.”
You think for a reason then exclaim, “Here’s one,” You raise your cup again, “Here’s to new friends!”
“And couples!” Peter taps his cup on yours.
“What?” You eye him down, did he just say what you thought?”
He nods his head towards Ned and Betty, totally wrapped up in each other.
“Right! To new friends and couples.”
Peter was about to speak again when Flash’s voice rang out on the DJ speaker.
“Friends to the inner ring, losers stay away.”
MJ immediately leaves from the inner circle to the kitchen, “MJ! You’re a friend!”
She calls behind her, “I know you consider me one!” She stops when she sees you and Peter chatting closely.
She nods her head in recognition, “Nice.”
“What are you doing?” You watch her open cabinets moving around the kitchen.
“Making toast. Take my place for me.”
You made a pit stop to the bathroom and came back to the living room, the whole group sat across the couches and criss-crossed on the floor, there was not one space open. Peter took the last spot, you were about to sit in the kitchen with MJ when Peter waved you over and tapped his lap. You felt warm just thinking of sitting on his lap, it was closer than you’ve ever been before. You would literally be on top of him, and if you were to move just right perhaps you’d get even closer.
You held your breath as you lightly rested on his lap, most of your weight rested on your feet you kept planted on the ground. Peter wrapped his arm around your waist and tugged you against him, your feet dangled between his knees and his chest was against your back. He delicately wrapped his other arm around your waist, he was hugging you to him.
“Good?” He tried to look around at your face, instead you gave in and rested your head against his shoulder and rested a hand over his on your waist. You nodded against his neck, he grinned softly, “Good.”
The rest of the party went by quickly, it was just a few rounds of some games but nothing too crazy. Some truth or dare, some never have I ever, some beer pong but nothing that led to anything more between you and Peter. He did however stick to your side the whole night.
Betty and MJ had to nearly pull you from his side to leave, you wish they would’ve left you so that Peter would walk you home and you could maybe score a midnight smooch but they didn’t let you get the chance.
“Say bye to Peter, Y/N.”
You pout at Peter, you’re wishing he says he’ll take you home instead. He thinks that’s what you want too, but he has patrol after this, he even has the suit on.
“Bye Peter. I’ll see you on Monday.” You reach in for a hug, he squeezes you and talks in your ear.
“Bye Y/N. Let me know when you’re home, okay?” You grin into his shirt, he’s never said that before. You pull away and he looks over your face and hesitates before leaning in and pressing a kiss to your cheek, “See you Monday.”
The only thing you can do is nod, you smile softly then step back into MJ and Betty who are ‘oohing’ softly at Peter’s move. You can’t even form words, your knees feel shaky and all your pacing thoughts are screaming his name over and over. Peter grins at your reaction before turning and going back to Ned who is now ready to leave since Betty is no longer there to entertain, Peter feels the same way.
—-----------
Okay, Peter swears this is the final time.
He’s never going to listen in on you ever again, he just needs to know what you’re feeling right now. He’s just making sure you’re okay, you didn’t talk over the weekend beyond the ‘home safe’ text and his ‘good, i had fun tonight! thanks for hanging with me!’ text. After he finds out what you’re thinking he’ll trust the process, he just needs to be sure you know he’s interested.
You were distraught, did you go up to Peter? You got closer than ever at Flash’s party, but he didn’t text you all weekend, but you didn’t either. You wanted to pull at your hair, you had a feeling Peter was the ‘what you give is what you receive’ kind of guy. You swallow the lump in your throat and walk towards him.
“Hi.”
Peter opens his arms, “Hi.”
Your face lights up, he’s never initiated a hug before. You step into his hold and melt into him this time, no more pretending you didn’t absolutely love this.
“Good Morning.” He mumbles the words in your ear, you mumble them back into his chest.
“I don’t want to go to math, go for me.”
Peter rests his chin on your head and pulls you in tighter, “Wanna swap? I have advanced trigonometry.”
You pull away and squint at him, “Ew.”
“I know right?”
“It’s cause you’re such a smartie. I bet I could quiz you on anything and you would know it.”
Peter grins, “Wanna come over and test that theory?”
Your eyes widen, “Just you and me?”
Peter laughs, “Unless you want to make it a decathlon.”
A joke.
He’s joking.
“Bet, I’ll start working on the flash cards. Irrelevant question, what is your toughest subject?”
He blows air through his lips and shrugs, he lets out the word with an honest chuckle.
“Girls.”
You swallow, “Noted.”
—------------------
He was losing his window of opportunity.
Good thing, you and Betty sat with him and Ned at lunch. (MJ and Flash followed.) Bad thing, he couldn’t listen to you talk about him. Peter will admit that it feels good to openly like someone and not be scared because he knows the other likes him too, it gives him confidence like he’s never had before.
You sat next to him too, it went: him, you, Betty, Ned, Flash then two seats away from him, one from Peter was MJ. The table was loud, everyone having mixed conversations, once it quieted down some MJ was reminded of something.
“Hey, Peter. Are we still doing the thing tonight?”
What thing? You weren’t told of a thing, was it a Peter and MJ thing? I mean, MJ doesn’t like Peter and you’re almost sure Peter likes you but what is that thing tonight?
“Yeah! I think Ned is gonna invite Betty too if that’s cool?”
MJ nods, “Betty’s cool.”
Peter then nudged his nose against the side of your face, you turn and he’s right there. You notice him glance at your lips for a quick second then asks, “Busy tonight?”
You hum and think, “I don’t think so.”
Peter grins, “Wanna come over? It’s game night.”
“What kind of games?”
“Mostly video games, MJ and Ned have a switch so we all take turns. But I have some two player board games if you want to play me.”
You give him puppy dog eyes, “That is so cute.”
“Is it?” Peter didn’t know it was that easy, he just wanted you to feel included if you didn’t want to watch him or your friends play games.
You bite your lip and nod, without thinking he places his thumb on your chin and pulls down releasing it. You stare at him and he watches your pupils go wide, he was about to apologize but he won’t now. He’ll let you believe he did that on purpose.
“Do you have Guess Who?” You clear your throat and try to level your breathing after his stunt.
“Think so, I have a couple of good ones. I’ll show you when you come over.”
You look him up and down, “Can I wear my PJ’s?”
Peter holds a hand to his chest, “I’d be insulted if you didn’t.”
You hold out your hand to shake his like a business agreement, “Deal.”
He tells you he’ll text you the details and you lean into him as you laugh at something Ned said in retort to something Flash said. Your head was against his arm, he carefully watched as you made eye contact with Betty, she raised her eyebrows slightly and you carefully nodded your head.
He wrapped his hand around your neck and pulled you into him.
Peter knows he has you now.
—--------------
“Okay, what’s up with you and Y/N?” MJ wasn’t one to care, she promises. But you did consider her a friend on the inside and Peter was acting extremely touchy feely with you and he’s never done that before. Not to mention he kissed your cheek the other night.
You couldn’t shut up about it on the way home, and of course the group text with you and Betty had been blowing up like crazy. You were constantly analyzing Peter’s every move and Betty was doing the same with Ned. If MJ was honest, and she would never admit it, Flash was her favorite right now.
“Uh, nothing?”
MJ nodded, “Nice to know we’re lying.”
“I don’t know. I know she’s into me and Betty wants to ask Ned out but she won’t do it until Y/N asks me first, but she doesn’t think I’m into her so I’m trying to show her that I am so she’ll ask me.”
“How the hell do you know about this?”
Peter shrugs sheepishly, “I listened.”
MJ groans, “You said you were gonna stop!”
“I know! Ned was begging me and I accidentally heard it, and now I know she’s into me. I just want to make sure this actually happens.”
Ned walked in the front door and shook his shoulders, “It’s freezing tonight.”
Peter glanced at his phone to see if you texted him again, he told you to let him know when you were on your way up, he wanted to catch you in the hallway. Alone.
“Y/N and Betty are on their way, by the way.”
“Betty’s bringing her switch so we can all game.” Ned shot finger guns at MJ, she blocked the imaginary hits.
“Sweet. I’m gonna kick double ass in Mario Kart.”
Ned looks at Peter, “What are you doing?”
“I think we’re gonna play some games in my room.”
MJ waggles her eyebrows, “Alone?”
“Yeah?”
Ned whistles, “On your bed?”
“Probably.” Peter doesn’t see what’s wrong.
“She’s gonna think you’re making a move, you know that right?” MJ clicks her teeth at him.
“Like what?”
MJ chewed on her lip, “She asked me if you’ve ever kissed someone.”
Ned whoops, “Get it, dude!”
Peter isn’t that surprised, he wants to kiss you too after all. And maybe that was slightly his plan already, he was trying to separate the both of you from the pack. He just wanted to talk with you more and he couldn't spit game as confidently when his friends were watching and listening. Peter also can’t think of a downside of kissing you either, it just seems really lovely.
“It’s almost like I planned it.” He winks at his friends as they realize he did in fact plan it to be this way.
His phone buzzes, “Hold on.”
He opens the door to see you and Betty’s smiling faces, “Hello.” He reaches in for a hug, you first then Betty. “If you wanna head in you can,” He smiles at Betty and watches her step through the threshold, you go to follow and he steps in front of you. He softly closes the door behind her, you watch expectantly.
“Hi.” He smiles.
“Hi.” You mimic.
He almost kisses you now, he opts for pulling you in for a second hug. You’re surprised but latch on tightly, he pulls away and places a delicate kiss on your cheek. It’s softer than the one at the party, it’s intimate, it was a private kiss.
“Thank you for coming.” He whispers against your skin.
Your cheeks flush, you’ve never felt this seen before. Peter notices everything about you, and you wonder why it took him this long. You can’t help but get lost in daydreams where he was truly yours and his kisses never stopped, even as they trailed down your body.
“Thank you for inviting me.”
He didn’t even look at what you were wearing, he tilted your head up with his hand on your jaw.
“You look pretty.”
You blinked slowly, you kept looking between his eyes and his mouth. He said his worst subject was girls, you think he’s a liar, he’s too smooth and quick.
“You’re better at this than me.”
Peter just grins smugly. He’s better at the flirting game and he knows it. Spider-Man has some quick wit and it’s helped Peter out tremendously.
As soon as you both stepped through the door MJ berated you, “What were you two doing out there?” You wince and suck a breath through your teeth, “Making out. Hard core face sucking, had a full round of tonsil hockey.”
MJ narrowed her eyes, “Oh? Peter finally kissed you?”
This is what Peter means when he says his friends ruin his game.
You nod, “Oh yeah. Had me pressed against the wall and everything. I’m still seeing stars.”
It’s funny, nothing actually happened but what did felt more personal than actually telling your friends about a hook up session.
“Really?” Betty gasped, fully amazed that you had actually done it.
You frowned slightly, she seemed so excited for you. You had to let her know you were kidding.
“Yup. He even asked for my hand in marriage, right Peter?”
He nods, “We haven’t set a date yet.”
Betty boos with Ned, “No fair, we actually believed you.”
MJ shook her head, “No way. Peter’s not the make out in the hallway type.”
Peter makes kissy faces at MJ, “Wanna find out?”
MJ gags.
Ned huffs, “Betty and I are setting up Mario Kart.”
“I’m making popcorn.” MJ backs up into the kitchen.
Peter tugs you into him, “Wanna check out my games?”
—-----
You may or may not be trying a little extra hard to make your butt look good as you bend down looking at the games, Peter’s standing behind you and you just hope he’s taking a little look. Your PJ’s did hug you just right.
“You know I’ve never played chess?” You move the box to the right and find Connect Four, you pass him the box and he gasps. “Never?”
“Nope.” You wish you could play Clue, it was a favorite. You’re gonna team up with Betty to get the boys to play with you, MJ was an easy add if everyone else played.
“Never learned?”
You shake your head, “Never did. I dated one guy in middle school who did it competitively, and seeing as he was my boyfriend and a master in the game, or at least I thought he was at the time, I asked if he would teach me and he laughed at me and said it was “too advanced for a brain like mine.” So I vowed to never play it.”
You stood and handed him two more games, Guess Who and Battleship.
Peter frowned, “Sounds like a dolt. If you want, I would love to teach you. The hardest part is learning what the pieces do, after that it’s all strategy.”
You smile, “Don’t make fun of me but that would be a cute date.”
He laughs, “Teaching you chess?”
“Yes! You would be like this does that, and this does that, and you would let me practice on you, but you wouldn’t let me win cause then you can tell me why I failed so I actually get better.”
Peter doesn’t know why he thought girls were so hard to please, he thinks that's just what he’s been told. But so far all you really want to do is hang out with him.
“We can do it later this week if you’re up for it.”
You grin and nod, “Yes! You’re awesome, thank you so much!”
You also are extremely excited to see Peter concentrated and calculated with his moves.
Peter tells you it’s no biggie, then asks if you want to play in his room. You breathe in and nod, you were nervous to be in Peter’s room for the first time ever, and alone with him. It was slightly calmer if you think about how this is the first of many times you’ll see this room. You’re hoping you’ll be looking at the ceiling a lot more, though.
He points to his bed when you enter, “I’m leaning towards Guess Who first.”
You kick your shoes off and sit on his bed, “Comfy.”
“Just big enough for two.”
The way he speaks so casually makes you sweat. He’s a natural when it comes to flirting with you, you feel kiddish thinking about your lame attempts you call flirting. No wonder it went over his head for so long.
“Red or blue?” He holds up the plastic, “Red.” He nods in approval, “Nice choice.”
You hum, “Spider-Man wears red, I like red. I’m easy.”
He looks at you, “You like Spider-Man?”
You draw your head back, “You don’t?”
“I do! I didn’t know you were a fan, that’s all.”
“I’ve never seen him in person though, MJ has and I ask her about it all the time but she’s just super generic. Have you seen him?”
Peter clears his throat, “A few times.”
You drop your jaw, “No way! Tell me!”
“Nothing special, just the usual walking down the street and seeing him swinging.”
“That’s so cool though, have you seen him just fucking people up? Like when he does that web thing when he picks them up and slams them down? It’s so sick. Or when he wraps them up and like, flies towards them and double kicks their chest?”
Peter pretends to think about it, “I think I’ve seen some videos. He’s pretty cool, he’s got a few sick moves.”
“He’s my Harry Styles, if I saw him I’d melt down and cry and ask him to gently hold me. Like, it sounds crazy but I just know he’s cool. I don’t even like him like that, I just want to be his best friend.”
Peter wants to ask how you’d feel knowing you were about to make out with him.
“Total fangirl moment?”
“Pictures and all. I’d ask him to sign my tits, no joke.”
Peter throws his head back in a laugh, you smile at how he lights up. You love making him so happy.
“Okay!” You clap your hands.
“Is your person wearing a hat?”
“Nope.”
“Is your person wearing glasses?”
“No.”
“Fuck.”
“Does your person have a beard?”
“Fuck off, Peter. I’m moving in.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“Is your person old?”
“Ancient.”
“Is your person Sam?”
You narrow your eyes at Peter, “Is this how it’s going to be between us? You always winning?”
“I ask good questions, stick around me long enough and you’ll get better at dodging me.”
“I could eat you up in scrabble.” You mutter.
“Yes you could, I’m ass at scrabble.”
Somewhere after the hour mark you’ve made your way to Battleship, it’s been a close game both of you have one more hit on the other person. You’re starting to feel the pressure, you try and calculate where he is, if you guess wrong he’s going to win. You know it.
You hold your breath, “C-4.” Peter looks at you and builds the suspense, then frowns. “Miss.” You groan, “Ugh, go ahead and sink me.” He smiles softly, “D-11.” You grunt at your board, “I’m swimming in the ocean with hope and a lifejacket.”
“Don’t worry, my one boat will come to save you.”
You snort, “Don’t worry babe, I blew your engines. You’re sinking next.”
“Are we gonna Jack and Rose it?”
You nod stiffly, “I’d let you die for me, yes.”
The room gets quiet, it makes you want to puke but you think the time is right. You told Betty you’d do it tonight, and Peter isn’t so scary, you just hate the feeling of rejection.
“Remember when Betty called you over about Ned?”
Peter has to pretend to think about it, he hums as he’s setting up his ships again.
“Well, she was trying to set up like this double date thing cause she’s too scared to go out with him alone for the first time. I mean nervous, not scared. Ned’s not scary.”
He hums again, he’s placing the third ship. He’s nearly holding his breath in excitement.
“And she wanted me to, like she asked if I would, I uh, nevermind.”
You lost the steam, you weren’t even sure how to word it without making it seem like a favor.
“I’m listening, she asked if you would what?”
“It doesn’t matter, it’s stupid. Are you almost done?” You almost looked over to see if he was done placing his ships but stopped before you would ruin the game.
He looked up at you, “Tell me about Betty, come on.”
You shook your head and bit your lip, he took his chance and leaned forward to untuck it like he did earlier. Peter watched your pupils blow like before, he looked between your eyes and mouth before moving in. You felt his hand move to cup at your jaw, his thumb brushing your cheek softly before hooking his hand around your face.
You felt like you couldn’t breathe, you knew what he was doing. He watched your reaction as he pulled you near him, he leaned in closer. He was taking his time, you were nearly shaking waiting for him to just kiss you, he was slowly building the tension. He wanted you to know he wanted this just as much as you did.
He smiled as he leaned in, just inches away. He brushed his lips against yours, the feather like promise of more. You melted into his touch and closed your eyes, he took that as a sign. His lips pressed against yours and your spine jolted, electricity felt like it ran through you, it didn’t hurt but it woke you up. You gripped at the back of his neck and held him tighter to you, you had dreamed of this for months, you weren’t letting go easily.
Peter moved against you slowly, he felt as you opened your mouth slightly and he took that as an invitation, he smoothed his tongue over yours and you moaned into his mouth. You’ve never felt this way before in a make out session, and this was just starting. He went until he felt choked for air, he pulled away slightly. You made a wet smacking sound when you separated. You raced for breath and kept your eyes closed, still panting you needed more. You opened your eyes to blink then pulled him back in, you were only able to last a minute before you searched for more air.
You couldn’t help yourself, he tasted so sweet it felt impossible to pull away. Now that you know what you were missing you never wanted to go back. You told yourself one more, you tried to pull him in but he pulled your hands from behind his neck, “Breathe. I’m not going anywhere. Can’t make out if you're unconscious.” You nodded and made a show of you breathing, then you leaned in for one more, he bowed his head and laughed. “That good?” You drank him in with greedy eyes, you ached for him. “Please,” You whimpered the words, it sent chills down his spine, he loved the way that sounded.
He nudged his nose against yours, “Please ask me, I’ll say yes.” He whispered his request.
He wasn’t talking about kissing, you knew that. He was asking about you asking him out, you know he was. He tied two and two together, you breathed in deeply.
“Do you want to go on a date with me?”
He nodded and placed his mouth on yours once more, you gripped at his shirt before shoving the plastic boxes to the side so you could get closer. You slowly shuffled toward him until you pulled away to straddle his waist, meeting his lips quickly before he could tell you to slow down. You’ve dreamed of this forever, you were in awe of what was happening, Peter Parker was making out with you, and it was really, really good.
Betty tried to walk in to ask what time you were leaving, it was a school night after all. But she decided to back out and give you space when she saw you busy at work on top of Peter. She came from the room glowing, she couldn’t believe you had actually done it.
“What’s going on in there?”
Betty smiled at MJ, “They’re making out.”
“Good for them!” Ned cheered out, he passed the finish line before MJ, “Last lap, loser.”
“That reminds me!” Ned looked over at Betty, “What?”
“Wanna go on a date with me?”
Ned dropped the remote, his character fell off a cliff.
Hi can I ask for a blurb where Peter accidently hits the reader while playing or something like he sometimes forgets about his super strength but fluff at the end please 🥺.
this got away from me but this was so fun and cute to write!
“I kinda want a black eye.”
Your boyfriend slowly lowered the bag of peas on his left eye, his elbow dropped daringly, forcing you to look at the dark purple hue.
“Oh, really?”
You nod, “it looks gnarly but it’d be cool to have one.”
“Baby, my heartbeat is currently taking place from my eyeball. You don’t want one.”
Stretching across the space on the couch you raise Peter’s hand back up so he can ice the bruise some more, it does look painful.
“I think if you loved me you’d give me one.”
Peter took a second to see if that sentence would resonate with you but it hadn’t.
“We should go to the women's shelter and spread that knowledge.”
You scoff, “they weren't asking for it, Peter. I am.”
Your boyfriend lowered his temporary ice pack and reached a hand out, his thumb rubbed under your eye, you almost thought he was thinking about it. Almost.
“I’d never. I would, however, patch you up if you ever got one.”
“Do you have a friend that could-”
“No.”
—------------------------------------
Oh FUCK did your eye HURT.
It was on a level ten throb level, it felt like a ring stretching to your eyebrow and nose. You couldn’t even open it, all you could do was press your hand to it and try and stop the pressure from building, it didn’t work.
You were able to blink it open just enough to be blinded by the living room light, you’ve never been so light sensitive. Squeezing it shut you winced, you tried to be understanding and calm; it was an accident after all. But the pain was spreading all over your face and you had a target right on the corner of your right eye, and it hurt.
If your right eye could open it’d be shedding tears too, you had one continuance stream coming from your left eye.
Your voice bubbles with pain, “petey, it hurts.”
Your boyfriend couldn’t even breathe right now, he had hurt you. The one thing he swore he would never, could never do, and he did it. Panic flooded his body, panicked he’s caused serious damage, panicked you’d be scared of him, panicked you’d dump him, panicked your dad would come curbstomp him.
“It hurts so bad,” he knows you’re calling out for him, he knows you need him, but all he could replay was the ‘whack!’ in his head. It wasn’t gentle in the slightest, you whipped away from him with a hiss, your hand immediately covering your eye. You had been okay at first but after a minute had passed it became nearly unbearable.
Peter knows how bad a black eye hurts, and he just gave you one.
His short, barely there breaths start to stutter.
And suddenly Peter couldn’t see because his vision was muddled by tears, he tried to blink them back but they ran. He can’t remember the last time he’s cried, but this brought him to his knees. He never wanted to punish himself more than in that second. He should’ve been quicker, he should’ve known you were behind him, he has those goddamn senses and they did nothing in that moment.
“Peter!” A desperate cry for attention, you don’t know what to do, it hurts more than you could imagine.
You look up at your boyfriend still standing in shock where he jumped away from you after hitting you directly in your eye. A wrestling battle, you had tried to take him down after he’d pinned you three times. In an effort of a sneak attack you crawled up the couch and tried to jump on his back where he sat on the floor. You dived and at the last moment his hand… well you don’t know what he was trying to do but it connected hard to your cheekbone.
Your back hit the couch and you held your hand as you hissed and groaned in hurt, Peter scrambled up and backed up behind the coffee table, as if he was scared to be around you.
He’s crying, your boyfriend’s crying. You’ve been punched and he’s crying.
“I’m.. I’m sorr.. Fuck.” Peter snaps out of it, you need him. He crosses to the couch in two steps, his hand cupping your cheek. It makes everything in him deflate when you flinch as he touches you, he bites his bottom lip to stop a sob. “Baby, I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
His heart hurts as you cry, his thumb taps at your hand covering the damaged eye. The one he caused.
“Let me see it, please?” Peter said it like a question, like he’d ever be lucky enough to have that privilege.
You sob, “it hurts.”
Peter blinks, more tears. He can’t believe he’s crying over this, he also can’t believe he hit his fucking girlfriend.
“I know, I know it does, baby. Please let me see it.”
You choke in air to stop your crying, it works. You slowly lift your hand off your eye, it’s not throbbing as much but the pressure has inflated tenfold and you couldn’t open it if you tried, it was swollen shut. You tried to gauge a reaction out of him, to see how bad it is. You forgot your boyfriend had the world’s best poker face.
Peter wanted to curl up into a ball when he saw the damage.
It was bruising, and swollen and you couldn’t open your eye and it was all his fault.
His fault, his fault, his fault.
If he was normal, if he was a normal boyfriend, this wouldn’t have happened. A normal teenager doesn’t have the strength to hold a ferry or stop a runaway bus, he does. And he used that strength on you.
His powers, his abilities, his strength.
His fault, his fault, his fault.
“You need ice.” Is all that could come out. A wince wraps over your face when you nod, you try to sit up and groan. “Everything hurts. How do you do this? Pain has to affect you differently, right?” Peter ignored you as he backed away, you don’t think he’s ever been so aware of his surroundings and actions.
He shouldn’t be getting ice, he shouldn’t be putting it in a plastic bag and wrapping a rag around it, he shouldn’t be grabbing you tylenol extra strength, he shouldn’t be icing your black eye he caused.
His fault, his fault, his fault.
It scared you how quiet he was, the accidental punch was just that. You weren’t upset at him or scared he would do it again, you were scared how odd he was acting. He was strangely quiet and standoffish, when he came back to you with ice and pills you watched him think about holding the bag to your eye but stopped and put it in your hand.
He shifted his weight and looked at the couch, he stepped back and sat on the coffee table.
Peter cried and was quiet and standoffish and scared to touch you. He was terrified of himself, you may be physically hurt but he was emotionally broken, his one major thing washed down the drain. Accident or not he gave you a black eye, and it was tearing him up inside.
You hummed when ice hit the hot skin, suddenly it didn’t hurt.
“Am I right, super high pain tolerance?”
It’s like you broke through a wall, Peter looked up at you like he just found out you were in the room.
“I hit you.”
You would’ve rolled your eyes if you could’ve.
“That’s a little dramatic.”
Peter shook his head, upset you weren’t upset.
“I hit you hard, I hurt you. I…” His hand pulled at his curls so hard you grit your teeth. “I fucking hit you,” he whispered it, like his own mind couldn’t wrap it around.
He doesn’t pull out the fuck word often.
You thought about reaching out for his hand, but you think that’d made things worse.
“I’m not scared of you, petey. It was an accident.”
“I swore i’d never hurt you, that I would never hit you and I didn’t-”
“Mean it.” You cut him off, “you didn’t mean it.”
Peter rubbed at his jaw and blinked, you saw tears puddling and you wanted to do nothing more than hold him. He couldn’t stop thinking about it, you lowered the bag of ice from your eye prepared to switch seats. He wouldn’t let you.
“Ice.” Cold and hard, like you had no other option. You didn’t question him, you followed instructions.
“Remember when you asked me to give you a black eye months ago?”
It was a joke. Sure, you saw a tiktok with a girl who had one and you couldn’t deny it looked a little cool. Then seeing one on Peter the same night you couldn’t shake it. You were just playing around, it’s not like it was that serious.
“I was joki-”
“I told you I'd never, and I did. I hit my girlfriend and gave her a black eye.”
Disgust. That’s what it was. He was disgusted with himself.
You sat up straight, your lip curled up.
A black eye? Sick.
“Wait, really?”
Peter looked up at your excitement, it came from nowhere.
“You gave me a black eye? I have a black eye right now? For real, for real?”
This wasn’t a cute or funny thing, and he won’t let you make it be one.
He hit you.
“This isn’t funny, I hit you and you’re happy you got a black eye?”
“Pete, I forgive you. And not just cause you gave me a black eye, because it was an accident and you didn’t mean to and you’re obviously extremely remorseful.”
“But I-”
You reached out for his hand, “forgive yourself. You forgive yourself.”
It wouldn’t be instant, until your eye healed, which would be at a much slower rate than him, he wouldn’t be able to fully forgive himself.
“No more wrestling.”
You scoff, “no more sneak attacks, how about that?”
He shook his head, “I don’t want this happening again.”
“If the situation was reversed would you want me to hold it against myself?”
Peter scoffed, “absolutely not, but it wouldn’t hurt me like it does you.”
“So you do have a super high pain tolerance.”
He snapped and ripped his hand from yours, “yes, I do have a super high pain tolerance. I also have super strength and give my girlfriend black eyes.”
You held your hand up, the other one slightly freezing from the cold but you were too scared to take it off.
“First off, plural. Second, please stop. You’re making me feel bad, I’m really okay and I’m not mad and I forgive you a thousand million percent.”
Peter inhaled sharply, he has to believe you. He’s more shook up than you are and he guesses he should agree with you, you were the hurt one. If you forgive him he could try and do the same.
“I think you need to give me a black eye to even it out.”
You gasp like your offended at his words, your hand lays over your heart.
“I’d never!”
Your boyfriend ran his tongue over his teeth and gave you a dead stare, his hands pushed him off the coffee table. His words grumbled, “toxic.”
Summary: Peter's on the verge of losing you after disappointing you yet again.
masterlist
He didn’t show, the night was over and Peter was nowhere to be found.
You tried your best to mask your disappointment with a tall face as all the attendees started to trickle out of your college’s art exhibit, a handful of them congratulating and complimenting you on your artwork as they passed you.
It wasn't until you saw May walking towards you with a sympathetic look on her face that you felt your facade falter, “I’m so sorry darling,” she said as she brought you into a hug squeezing you.
“It’s fine, May. Thank you for coming, I really appreciate it.” You give her a sad smile pulling away from her. You take a deep breath, “May…I hate to do this but do you think I could get a raincheck on dinner tonight? I just want to go home.”
There’s a visible look of sadness on her face but she nods, “Of course you can, it’s beautiful by the way,” she says, angling her body to face your painting.
You mimic her actions, giving your painting a one over, “Thanks, I wasn’t sure about letting them display it when my art professor–she's the director of the exhibit asked. But I’m glad I did, a lot of people seemed to like it.”
“I can see why!” She exclaims.
Just as you were about to speak, the voice of your professor cut through all the chatter, “Ladies and gentlemen the art exhibit is now closing! Please make your way to the exit!”
You motion for her to follow you as you head to the doors. “How are you getting home? I could give you a ride,” she questioned. You shake your head, "I don’t think I can be around a Parker right now, at least not without wanting to cry.”
She frowns upon hearing your words, “Oh.” You push and hold the door open for her, “I know this is an unfair thing to ask of you but can you tell Peter I don’t want to hear from him anymore?”
May freezes the second she makes it outside, fully processing what you just said, “I’m sure he’s sorry–” She’s trying to save him, you both know she is. “I’m sure he is but I’m not interested in hearing his poor excuse of an apology. He knew how important this was to me and he said he’d be here, but he’s not. There’s only so many times you can let a person disappoint you, May.” Your eyes well with tears as you think back to telling him about being a part of the exhibit and how he added opening night to the calendar on his phone as well as the one that hung in his room, even going as far as drawing a heart around the square.
Cars start to whizz by as the traffic light turns green and you let out a defeated sigh, opening your arms to hug her goodbye, “It’s getting late and I don’t want to miss the train, you should head home too.” This time she hugs you tightly, “Give me a call when you get home, alright?”
You nod your head in response, “Thank you for coming, it means a lot to me. Have a goodnight and drive safe, okay?” Her hold on you gets even tighter, mumbling a goodnight to you before releasing you.
She stands still and watches you disappear down the street before pulling her phone out, attempting to reach Peter herself and when she's unable to, she leaves him a devastating voicemail, a voicemail he wouldn't hear until thirty minutes later when he was stood in front of ESU’s now dark and empty art center.
“...She said doesn’t want to hear from you anymore and honestly? I don’t blame her. She watched the door all night for you. All night, Peter, all night! She looked so heartbroken. She was trying her best to hide it but that look on her face, it was soul-crushing. I think this is it for you, ‘there are only so many times you can let a person disappoint you’ those were her exact words. She’s disappointed in you and frankly so am I, I didn’t raise you to act like this. You fucked up big time, there’s no point in sugarcoating it. I adore that girl and I know you do too but you’re losing her…”
Peter could feel the panic rising in his chest as he listened, the thought of losing you made his stomach churn. There's a slight shake in his hand as he presses his phone to his ear, his breath is caught in his throat as he waits for the calls to start ringing, praying you hadn’t blocked him. A sigh of relief escapes his mouth when it does but when the rings halt and his phone buzzes with a text message from you, he could feel all the air leave his lungs.
Sorry, I can’t talk right now.
Peter rushes to text you back; I’m so sorry honey.
He can see that you read his message but when you don't respond, he sends you another, and another, and another.
May left me a voicemail
I know I fucked up
And that I keep fucking up
But I can fix it
Can we please talk?
A spark of hope ignites within him as he watches the three dots appear on the screen but the feeling dwindles once he reads your message; It’s late, I’m tired and I don't want to hear or see you, please just leave me alone.
Peter goes to respond but another message appears in the chat informing him that you had silenced your notifications. His eyes never leave the screen, reading and rereading all the texts you’d sent him throughout the night, heart getting heavier and heavier with every message. He knows he should just listen and let you be but he goes against your wishes and sends one last message, I love you, I’m sorry.
—————————————
The sound of your phone ringing slices through the noise of the hand mixer you were using and the crinkles of the paper bag your cat was playing with. You glance at the screen, eyes scanning the contact name before turning off the mixer, answering the call, and bringing it up to your ear, “Hello?”
“Hello sweetheart, how are you feeling today?” Your elderly neighbor’s voice comes through clearly on the other end. A sigh leaves your lips, “Better, better than yesterday at least, I’m trying to keep myself occupied…giving baking a shot.” She hums in response, “Listen dear…I hate to be the bearer of bad news but he’s here.”
Your eyebrows knit together, “What do you mean?”
“That boy of yours. I’ve been watching him, he’s been standing at the door for the past half an hour.” You walk into the living room and over to the window, peeking through the blinds and sure enough there he was standing in front of the door of the duplex with his head hung low. “Do you want me to shoo him away? My grandson left his toy gun here the other day, you know the one with the foam bullets…I’ll take him out for you, sweetheart.”
Despite being amused by her words, a frown forms on your face, “Stand down, Mrs. Temple. I’ll handle him.”
“Alright, but if he gives you any trouble just let me know. I’ll give him hell.” Her soft voice now stern, “I know you will, remember how you asked me for his number last night cause you wanted to cuss him out?” You can hear her let out a huff on the other end before exclaiming, “He made you cry! I should go out there and jam my knitting needle through his eye.”
“That won’t be necessary, I’ll just tell him to leave and everything will be fine. And oh! Before I forget, do you like funfetti cake? I’ll bring it up for you and Mr.Temple a few slices when it's done.”
“We’d love that!”
The two of you exchange goodbyes and end the call. You take a second to collect yourself, taking a deep breath before opening the window, “What are you doing here?”
His head darts up, “Honey,” the sound of his voice catches the attention of your cat, who jumps on the windowsill to see him. He turns his entire body in your direction, digging his hands further into the pockets of his jacket, “Can we talk, please?”
You shake your head, “I meant what I said, Peter, I don't want to see you. Just go home.”
He opens his mouth to protest but you’re quick to shut the window and draw the blinds close. You walk back into the kitchen, glancing over your shoulder expecting to see your cat following close behind but much to your surprise, he’s waiting by the door. The sight made your heart hurt, “Snaps… I’m sorry buddy but he’s not coming.”
—————————————
Disaster.
That’s exactly how you’d describe the state of your kitchen. Your sink was piled high with mixing bowls and baking pans but it was all worth it once you added the final dusting of rainbow sprinkles to the frosted cake.
“Okay, Snaps, the cake is done, emergency chocolate chip cookies are in the oven. How do we feel about Coming to America tonight?” You ask aloud as you slice into the cake.
You look up at him perched on the windowsill, head poking around the blinds to watch the rain pour outside.“I’m going to run upstairs, you stay he–” you’re cut off by your ringtone, “Hey Mrs. Temple, I was just about to bring some cake up for you guys.”
“He’s still here, dear.” Her words made you feel uneasy, “He came back?”
“I’m not sure he ever left….he’s just sitting there.” You rush over to the window, pulling the blinds back, squinting your eyes trying to catch a glimpse of him on the stoop. “Oh my god! Can I call you back?” You didn't wait for her reply before ending the call.
You can feel your chest tighten as you leave your apartment and make the short walk to the building’s entryway. You inhale sharply before opening the door, to reveal Peter scrabbling to his feet. The rain mercilessly beats against his already drenched skin, he looks completely exhausted. “Hi,” his voice comes out as a whisper.
“Are you out of your fucking mind? Do you have any idea of how sick you'll get?” You scold him, stepping aside and opening the door wider for him to enter.
“I’m sorry,” he croaks out as he follows closely behind into your apartment, you ignore his words and the way Snaps starts to nuzzle against Peter’s leg only to pull away when he feels the cold and wet fabric of Peter’s jeans, “Go warm up in the shower, I’ll bring you a towel and some clothes,” you say walking into your bedroom.
You search through your drawer for something warm, eventually settling on a pair of flannel pajamas bottoms he’d left at your place for the nights he slept over, the sweatshirt you’d slept in the night before, and a pair of your fuzzy socks he stole from you.
You use your knuckle to knock on the bathroom door, “Peter? I’m coming in,” you said, turning the handle. “No, wait!” Peter calls out but he’s too late, you’ve already seen it. His suit.
“What the fuck!” Your eyes go wide as you scan the spider symbol on his chest.
Peter freezes, paralyzed by fear, this was not how you were supposed to find out. “It’s not what it looks like!” he blurts out, voice laced with panic. He watches your shoulder slump back and your eyes well with tears, you’ve never felt worse.
“Please, don’t cry. I can explain–” the sound of the oven’s timer going off causes you to shift your focus, shoving the towel in his hands. “I laid some clothes out for you,” was all you said before hurrying towards the kitchen.
—————————————
You were sprawled out on the couch, staring at the ceiling trying to make sense of it all. Every moment you spent with Peter replaying over and over again in your head, mentally berating yourself for not piecing everything together sooner. All the cuts and bruises you’ve cleaned and iced, the dates he missed ‘cause he ‘lost track of time’, every question he’d answer vaguely or just flat out avoid, every question you wanted to ask but held your tongue afraid you would come off as pushing or invasive and he’d leave.
The sound of the bathroom door opening and closing followed by Peter’s faint footsteps and a soft meow causes you to shut your eyes, bracing yourself for the impending conversation to be had. You listened intently as his steps got closer and closer until they stopped right in front of the couch, you had a feeling he was standing over you and your suspicions were confirmed when a droplet of water falling onto your forehead caused you to open your eyes.
The sight of Peter cradling Snaps like a baby immediately comes into view, “Sorry about that,” he says, shifting your cat to support him with just one arm, and using his now free hand to wipe your forehead.
“It’s fine,” you mumble, sitting up and scooting over, patting the spot next to you.
An awkward silence falls over the room, neither of you not knowing where to begin, “Thank you for doing this– for letting me in.” Your leg bounces as you try to work up the nerve to finally address the elephant in the room, opening your mouth to speak but shutting it when no words seem to come out until, “So…you’re Spider-Man?”
Peter swallows thickly, “I am.”
“Oh,” you say nervously fiddling with your fingers, “I guess it makes sense.”
“It does?”
You shrug your shoulders, “The longer I think about it…yeah. I’ve always assumed that whoever was under the mask was too smart and too courageous for their own good, no one fits that description better than you. And then there's every single injury you’ve ever had ever, no one trips and falls that many times, Pete.”
He was just about to say something until he hears you, whispering to yourself under your breath, “I can’t believe I dated a superhero.”
“Dated?” He repeats back your use of past tense only adds to the unsettling feeling in his chest, you were giving up on him and he deserves it.
You hum in response, “I know May told you what I said– about there only being a certain amount of times you can let someone disappoint you, and you are way past your limit. I think it’s better if we both just accept this is how things were meant to be. Look you can stay tonight but I think it’s best that in the morning all we are is strangers.” Your voice wavers at the end and it makes his heart plummet.
Tears pool in his eyes, “S-strangers?”
He shakes his head repeatedly, “No, no, no. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go–”
You furrow your brows at him, “And how exactly was this supposed to go?”
He hangs his head, glancing down at the cat looking back at him, Snaps stretches his paw out to touch his face, “We were supposed to talk it through, I went to the show- I bought flowers, they’re in my bag they're probably ruined now but I have them! I was going to tell you about being Spider-Man but then you weren’t there so I came here.”
“Me knowing about Spider-Man doesn’t really change anything.”
“It doesn’t?”
“I guess It does-” he picks his head up as the words leave your mouth but it is quick to drop it again when you finish your speaking, “-just not in the way it counts.”
“Oh,” he can feel his entire body deflate, “What does that mean?”
You let out a defeated sigh, “It means I understand why you were always running late or missing dates completely, and why you’ve shown up here sometimes looking as good as dead.”
“But…?”
“But it changes nothing about us, our relationship has never been a priority–”
He’s quick to cut you off, “That’s not true.”
“But it is, Peter. You’ve had a million chances to prove otherwise and you haven’t. I love you-”
“I love you too.”
“-but I can’t keep doing this, I don’t have it in me anymore,” you wipe away the tears that start to roll down your cheeks. “You just aren’t reliable, Peter.”
“What if I could be reliable? Give you stability?”
“Peter we’ve already been down this road before–”
“It’s different this time,” he insists, “I haven’t been able to balance being me and being Spider-Man, I’ve lost so much because being Spider-Man has completely dictated my life and I was fine with it because all heroes have to make sacrifices but none of it is worth it if it means I lose you too.”
Snaps wiggles out of Peter’s arms and onto the floor, giving Peter the chance to grab ahold of your hands, “I can be both and also give you stability, you deserve better and I’ll do everything I can to be better. I don’t want to lose you, Honey, I don’t. Please, let me show that I can be reliable–that our relationship is a priority.”
Your silence is deafening, you do your best to avoid Peter’s pleading eyes as you weigh options,
“Parker, I swear to fucking god you better pray your lucky number is a million and one because this is the last time I’m ever doing this with you.”
He perks up immediately, eyes glistening as he processes what you said. His mouth opens but you start to speak before he’s able to get a word out, “If we’re doing this then there's a few rules I’d like to set and they’re all non-negotiable.”
“Lay it on me.”
“Date night. Twice a month, no expectations. I don’t care if we go out or stay in, I just want a couple of nights off with my boyfriend. You flake, you’re out. Got it? ”
“Got it.”
“Wait, that made me feel like a bitch, to clarify that doesn’t apply to serious situations. I’m not going to stop you from helping or anything like that, I just want two nights out of the month reserved specifically for us.”
“I knew what you meant,” Peter reassures.
“Could you call or text me when you get home after you’re done with Spider-Man stuff? I’d like to know you’re safe.”
“Consider it done. Can I add a rule of my own?”
“Go for it.”
“Can you leave one of the windows in the bedroom unlocked for me? Since you know now I figured I could come over right after patrol and skip the whole ‘changing in an alley somewhere’ part.”
“I can do that.”
You stand up and start walking to the kitchen, “This isn’t a rule, it's a favor but could you run this up to Mrs.Temple? And before you ask, yes you can have some.”
Peter trails behind you, eyes sparkling when he finally sees the baked goods on your countertop. “God, I love you,” he says, giving you a wet kiss on the cheek.
—————————————
Peter’s knuckles knocked against the door, he could hear shuffling around the room before the door opened revealing Mrs. Temple with a big smile plastered on her face.
“Oh it’s you,” she says, her smile faltering.
He holds out the plastic cake dish for her to take, “Uh yeah, Y/n’s asked me to bring some cake up for you guys.”
“Mmmhm…I heard what happened,” she eyed him up and down, “and by the looks of you being here, I assume my sweet girl forgave your ass?”
Peter nods, “She did–”
“We’ll I’m glad things worked out,” she steps closer, poking him in the chest with her finger, “But if you ever make my baby cry again, it will be the last thing you ever do.” She takes the dish from his hand, her next words were lower than a whisper, “I know a guy.”
“Well, you and Y/n have a goodnight, tell her I’ll give her a call in the morning,” she adds before retreating back into her apartment.
“I don't think I’ve ever been more terrified of an elderly woman than I was just now,” were the first words to leave his mouth the second he returned to your apartment.
“Oh god, did she threaten to shoot you?”
His eyes bulged out of his head, “She has a gun?”
You wave his question off, “No it's just a Nerf gun.”
His mouth forms into an ‘O’, “so the implication that she could put out a hit on me was a bluff?”
“No, she really does know a guy, he’s nice.”
—————————————
Extra:
Your head rested against Peter’s chest, the soft thumping of his heart mixed with his hand rubbing your back made your eyelids feel heavier.
“Pete?”
He grunted in response.
“Why didn’t you go home? When I told you earlier?”
“Home is where the heart is.”
You pretend to gag at his statement, “That was too cheesy, even for you.”
“It’s not cheesy, it's the truth and it’s endearing.”
You should’ve known better than to go out with your so-called friend.
A few years back Lois Lane was your best friend. Now you are only an excuse for her to go to a bar or attend a party without one of her flings.
She always was the one drawing all the attention toward her person. In high school, during your freshman year and after you landed your first job at a cat magazine.
Lois Lane. The rising star.
You have always been in her shadow, and this will never change. If you are shy, meek, and introverted, people easily overlook you.
Just like tonight. Lois is once again the center of the party. She chuckles loudly and bathes in the attention she gets from the men in the room.
You sigh deeply, wishing you didn’t follow her invitation to the party her employer throws only for her.
Her latest article got all the attention, while your job led to nothing but articles about birthdays, other people’s weddings, and missing cats.
Your career is just like your love life – non-existent.
Her laughter fills the room, and when she looks your way you hope Lois will save you from drowning in self-pity. Sadly, she turns her back on you to talk to someone else than you.
She always does this. Sometimes you believe she’s the cruelest person on the planet. Maybe she only keeps you around to show you how much better her life is.
“I’ve never seen you around here,” crap, someone found you standing in the corner. Now you have to engage in small talk. You wring your hands and force a smile on your face. “Hi, I’m Clark Kent.”
“Hi,” you glance at his offered hand and murmur your name. “I’m not working here.”
“I got that,” he flashes you a stunning smile. “I assume one of the gentlemen brought his charming girlfriend with him. A shame he left you here.”
“Oh, no,” you shake your head. “Lois invited me and she’s…” You bite your tongue. This man is a stranger, and you don’t want him to believe you are the kind of person talking behind your friend’s back. “She’s busy and I’m not much of a partygoer.”
“Honestly, I came here to hide in the shadows. I’m not much of a partygoer myself,” he grins and finally drops his hand. “So, what do you do for a living.”
“I’m a…” You are embarrassed to admit that you are working for an unimportant online magazine that barely anyone reads. “I write articles.”
“Oh, I’d like to read some. Where can I read them?” He gives you a soft smile. “Anything I should read first?”
“I write about missing cats and such,” you drop your eyes to avert his gaze. “Nothing important like you and Lois. I guess no one even reads the things I write.”
“I’d still like to read your articles.”
“It’s fine, really,” you sniff, and wring your hands again. “I know that the things I write about are boring. No one wants to know about Miss Fluffy ending up stuck in the neighbor’s car. You don’t want to read the things I wrote about.”
“Never underestimate your talent,” Clark tries to cheer you up, but you don’t believe a single word leaving his lips. “I’m sure you are a very good author.”
“No. I’m not.” Your fake smile drops. “I know my place, Mr. Kent.” You get defensive and step back. “You should go back to the party and talk to more interesting people.”
“What about?” He asks as you try to find a way to sneak out of the room without drawing any attention toward you. “Why don’t you come with me and talk to some of the people in the room?”
“I told you, I’m not much of a partygoer, or good at making small talk,” you wince at your words. You sound like the pathetic loser you are in your opinion. “Uh-I should go now.”
“What about Lois?” Clark takes a step toward you. “Don’t you want to say goodbye to her at least?”
You glance at Lois and quickly avert her gaze. She’s not in the mood to hold your hand or talk to you. “I think she’s good without me.” Your voice cracks. “I don’t even know why she invited me.”
“Wait—” Clark tries to stop you, but you hurriedly make your way toward the exit. “Y/N, don’t just go.”
You are out of breath when you finally leave the building. Feeling like a fool for coming here to watch Lois celebrate another milestone in her career.
Before you can go back and apologize to her for leaving without saying goodbye, you hurriedly cross the street.
One moment you want to reach the other side, and the next a car speeds toward you. You gasp, and close your eyes, waiting for the impact.
You don’t feel the car hit you, and you don’t end up dead on the street. You’re suddenly high up in the air, clutching Superman’s suit.
“You should be more careful.”
“I-“ you look up at the superhero you heard so much about. Rumors said that he was dating Lois Lane not so long ago too. At least you read an article telling you so. “Clark?” You furrow your brows as the same soft eyes you saw not moments ago look back at you. “How…?”
“What? I—” He seems to be confused. You’re the first person to uncover his secret. “Y/N, you can’t just run over the street. That’s dangerous.”
“Okay,” you hastily say. I mean, you are floating above a building, your life in a stranger’s hands, and you won't argue with him. “I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“You can worry me any time,” he wraps one arm around you to bring you closer to his chest. “How about I bring you home?”
“Does…uh…Lois know about your secret identity?” You can’t stop yourself from babbling.
“No,” he whispers lowly. “I guess she wouldn’t have left Clark Kent if she knew I got a secret,” Clark smirks when you look at him with wide, fearful eyes.
“You won’t drop me, right? I swear I won’t tell anyone about your secret.” You claw at him. “No one would listen to me anyway.”
“Do you honestly believe I’d drop you?” He quirks a brow.
“No…I mean…you’re a hero…right?” You pout. “I didn’t want to find out. It’s just…your eyes give you away.”
“I should wear sunglasses from now on,” he laughs while floating toward the next building to land on the rooftop. “If you promise to not tell anyone about my secret, I believe you. And I won’t drop you, sweetness.”
“Hmm…” You nod thoughtfully. “Did you date Lois as Superman too?”
He laughs now. “No. She didn’t know we were the same person. Lois broke up with me for Superman and the stories she wanted to write about him.”
“Oh, that’s awful,” you pat his chest, admiring its firmness. “I’m sorry this happened to you. Sometimes she’s just…” You trail off while patting his chest. “You know…”
“Let me bring you home,” Clark stops you from defending your friend. “Please.”
“Can we…uh…walk?”
“I’m already in my suit and got no clothes to change back into Clark,” he lies. Clark could easily change back into his alter ego, but he’d love to fly you home.
“Does this mean you want to fly?” You suck in a breath. “Do you have a seat belt or something?”
“I’ll bring you home safely, Y/N.” You end up back in his arms. This time you sling your arms around him and hold tight onto Clark for dear life. You close your eyes and hide your face in his chest.
You squeak when he pushes off the building. “Now that you know about my secret, do you want to fly with me again someday?”
“Uh-“ you blink your eyes open but still claw at him. “If you bring me home safely, we can do this again.”
“It’s a date then,” he smiles and flies into the night, making a detour to hold you a little longer…
Faced with a choice between you and Lois, Clark has to decide who lives and who dies
Warnings: angst, fear of heights, literally a life and death situation guys, unrequited love (maybe), vivid imagery of drowning, kind of ambiguous but happy ending (you’ll see)
WC: 1.1k
6k Follower Celebration Bingo
Library- @hannibals-favourite-meal-library
“Isn’t this a predicament Superman? Your ex-lover and your best friend in such precarious situations, across the globe from each other. You’ll only have time to save one of them.” The LEDs of the monitors behind Luther seared into Clarks eyes but he refused to look away. Already his muscles were tensed, ready to dart away at any moment. “I wonder which one you will choose, I know which one I would.”
Luther smirked, eyeing the monitor that clearly displayed your panicked face as you struggled against the chains wrapped tightly around your soft body. “She is quite the fighter, isn’t she?”
“Why are you doing this Luther?” The man rolled his eyes, finally turning to look at Clark.
“Why wouldn’t I? You are a nuisance, self-righteous, and aggravatingly nosy. If I kill one of them, and I will, I think you’ll learn your lesson. So, here we are. Lois Lane, the only woman you have ever loved, suspended over a cliff somewhere in Europe,” Luther gestured to the image of Lois, her head raising as his voice repeated over the feed and Clark realised that they could both hear what was happening, “and your best friend. The woman who has never stopped supporting you, somewhere in the Pacific with an anchor attached to her, I’m sure you can imagine what her fate is.” The man had the audacity to laugh then, as your expression fell and you stopped struggling.
“You don’t have to do this Luther. Just let them go and I’ll spare you.”
Lex hummed. “You know, you’re right. This is quite boring by my standards, let’s shake it up.” Suddenly, a ground of masked men surrounded you, briefly blocking the camera before there was a scuffle and the feed cut off. Before Clark could react, another camera turned on, showing the criss-crossing metal beams of a crane as cables in the background shifted in the high winds. “Give them a minute, would you? Not all of us can move so quickly.”
“I’m going to rip you apart, molecule by molecule.” Red creeped into Clark’s vision, slowly casting a haze of rage over everything.
“Now, if you kill me, you won’t get a hint as to where your women are. So be a good boy and watch. Ah, there she is.” Two men had you by your arms as they dragged you through the crane’s walkway, your eyes squeezed shut. Clark knew how badly you hated heights, descending into panic attacks if he even mentioned taking you out on a flight. His chest burned with fear. “And now, we have a level playing field. So, who are we picking?”
Your chains were thrown onto the edge of the structure, almost out of the camera’s line of sight, the huge iron anchor balancing treacherously by your feet.
“Kal!” His eyes darted over to the second monitor where Lois was now fighting against a pulley that was quickly tugging her towards a sheer cliff face. Only her hands were bound by thick rope but he knew that as soon as her full body weight pulled on it, the rope would snap.
“What’s the hint?” He snarled, ripping his gaze back to Lex Luther who was now beaming.
——————
The cold wind was like knives against your exposed skin, cutting into every nerve on your body. You desperately prayed that you would go numb soon, not wanting your last moments on this Earth to be ones full of pain. Your nails bit into the palms of your hands as another gust of wind made the crane groan and sway. It was all you could do not to scream.
Yet you kept your mouth firmly shut because you knew that if you said or did anything now, it would only feed into Clark’s guilt. He was going to pick Lois and you wanted to give him peace of mind. You forced your eyes open to watch the sunset. Your death would not be quick, even with the dizzying height, it would not be enough to kill you. Instead, you would be dragged to the depths as salt water filled your lungs and your screams forcefully ripped from you.
You wouldn’t blame Clark as you sank, you hope that you could instead think about his smile as the dim light above you disappeared into the blue.
You would not tell him that you loved him, refused to leave that weight on his soul when he already carried so much pain within him. But you would imagine a life with him, a kid, maybe two in a small townhouse somewhere quiet, as the pressure and cold consumed you.
Lois’s voice crackled through the intercom by your head, distorted and warped. A band of fear wrapped tightly around your chest, pressing down harder than the metal chain keeping your arms pinned to your sides. You forced yourself to breathe in the salty air, knowing that it could be your last.
“I’ll be ok Clark, don’t worry about me. Just be happy, that’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.” And as the sun dipped below the horizon, you let your eyes shut again, your entire body relaxed. “I’ll be ok.”
Metal scrapped against metal. You were pulled forwards.
The wind screamed.
You could see the vivid blue of his eyes.
You were weightless.
You could hear his laughter.
The chains rattled.
You saw the moment you met him; the rain around you, a single umbrella between you.
The sound of waves crashing was getting closer.
He was always so kind, so warm. You never knew a man better than him.
Gravity slammed into you, knocking a pained cry from your lips. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.” Warmth enveloped you as something crashed into the ocean, droplets of water splashing against your ankles. Your cheek was pressed against something hard as a loud, frantic beating filled your ears. “You’re safe.”
Soft fabric wrapped around you, soothing the burn of your skin. Shakily, you reached up, your limbs stiff and aching. “Clark?” With all the strength you had left, you opened your eyes.
You were barely 5 feet up front the ocean swell, a hazy ring of bubbles below you was the only indication that something had been dragging you down at all. Clark was indeed there, holding you tightly to his chest as a huge abandoned oil rig loomed behind him, half of it on fire. His eyes were wide, fearfully examining every inch of your body before his shoulders drooped and he sighed in relief.
“No broken bones or internal bleeding. Thank god.” His lips descended onto your forehead, pressing kiss after kiss to your cold skin.
“You picked me?” He pulled away only enough to look into your eyes.
“I always will.” A hand cupped the back of your neck, drawing your face upwards. Your lips parted as he glanced at them. “I will do anything to keep you safe.”
And as the fires behind him, Clark finally kissed you, washing away the smell of blood and screams of pain that he had inflicted upon those who took you from him. No one would ever hurt you again.
