Consider Me The Boy You Laughed With
this is a preview of my writing style, i would love some tips!!
♪ "I suck. I know I'm late, I know you waited."
includes/warning: sfw, maybe a bit angsty?
synopsis: An NYU student has set up an art exhibit, they invite their best friend Peter to come see the art they've made. When Peter shows up late, of course. Upset, the reader turns to a masked friend to confide in.
“Pete?” I answered the phone a bit louder than I had meant to, disturbing some of the gallery goers. I held a polite hand up and mouthed the word sorry as I turned around. I was basically stage whispering into the phone trying to get Peter’s attention. I told him my art show started at 6:30 and ended at 8:00. It was currently 7:54. Typical.
“Y/N! I swear I’m on my way-” I heard him let out a heavy breath. “I just passed the bodega- I’m around…45th street!” Peter was running late, as usual. His breath was heavy and he was yelling into the phone.
“Yeah– Peter I assumed you were late,” I couldn’t help but laugh a little. “You better be here soon.”
“I swear I will be!” The phone suddenly clicked, marking the end of my phone call with my always-late best friend Peter Parker.
Peter hadn’t walked through the door despite the art show ending at 8:00. Most everyone had started packing up their shows. Most of everyone had left. I turned around and began untacking the paintings on the felt wall. He’d call me later and give me an explanation he really couldn’t explain. I’d forgive him and we’d probably go about the rest of our days repeating the process.
I started neatly sliding the paintings into my art bag, when I heard footsteps increase towards me. When I turned there he was. Peter Parker holding a sad excuse of a boquet, his clothes drenched in water. I hadn’t even realized it had been raining. And a dark bruise on his cheekbone. I wanted to ask about it. I wanted to hug him and ask what had happened but my impatience won. I was too frustrated to move.
“I suck. I should wear a ‘world’s worst friend badge.”
“I’m not sure a badge would fix this.” I replied curtly.
He had a soft smile on his face, once he noticed I wasn’t amused he straightened out. “I’m so sorry. I tried getting here faster. But I’m here and I’d like to see everything…” There was a pause, “you took it down?” Peter glanced at the empty display wall and to my bag. “You’ve been waiting weeks to show me those paintings.” He brushed a hand through his hair. His face towards the ground as he exhaled.
“No I’d say just around an hour and a half,” I glanced at my wrist watch to confirm. “You had till 8’ to see my art show. I’m sorry you missed it.”
“I know— I wouldn’t have been late if it wasn’t important, really.”
“Peter. I think you should go home.”
“Let me help you clean, it’s the least I can do.” He always wanted to help. Always.
“I’d really like to be alone.”
“Please let me help.” He walked closer. I noticed it wasn’t just a bruise on his cheekbone but a cut on his lip. Dark eye-bags. His dark curls were even darker. I took a step back.
“Peter, recently I’ve been questioning a lot. Primarily our friendship, and partly who..who you’re becoming.” I didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t want to bring it up. His jaw was slack, he shifted his weight in his stance. “I’m not sure what’s going on but I’m worried and— I think I need some space.”
He immediately shook his head, “Listen this—“ He gestured towards his face with a finger. “It’s nothing to worry about. I promise! Really, I joined a boxing club—”
“Go home.” I surprised myself with my own objection. Peter's excuses were lost to me. Peter looked at me, his eyes were soft. He didn’t want to leave, I could tell. Something, besides my own voice, told him it was pointless. And then he was gone.
There was soft tapping on my window, the cat jumped from my lap. Soft purring turned into her tapping the window as well. I jumped from my seat to the window, unlatching it quickly. "Hello, Spider."
"Hi, Gorgeous." My heart skipped. The white bug eyes on his mask squinted slightly, his version of a smile or maybe a mean-mug. It’s not like I can really tell.
After a huge attack in Times Square, an attack I got caught in the middle of, Spider-Man had been crawling through my window the last few months. At first it was to make sure I was OK. Now it seems we’re friends.
“So how goes the hunt?” I asked. As I shut the window he made his way to my couch, by crawling on the ceiling and landing on it with a thud.
“Found a small group Fisk’s gang but I couldn’t tell what they were scouting for.” The cat had jumped onto Spider-Man’s chest. Already purring as he spoke. He detailed his recent patrols and how the led up to tonight, something about a fight around 45th street. “How did the art show go?”
“Fine..” I replied looking away from him as I spoke. Obvious tell. It honestly had surprised me that he asked.
“Peter came late. He had a bruise on his cheek. I should have asked if he was ok but instead I sort of told him I needed space. Which isn’t true, in fact I’d rather not have any but— I think it’s what he needs.”
It was silent. And then he spoke.
“Why do you think he needs space?”
“Because—“ I paused. How embarrassing, I’m sharing my troubles with a vigilante dressed in blue and red spandex. I was already embarrassed with my mind doing mental backflips. “The more I’m around him the more I realize I have these feelings for him— feelings I don’t know if I wanna unpack.” If I wasn’t flushed before I sure was now. “It’s stupid really.”
“It’s not stupid—” Spider-Man moved the cat off his chest as he made room for me to sit. “I don’t mind hearing about it.”
I took a seat next to him and let out a sharp breath. “Peter has always been there y’know? Or at least..he was. I think when he started getting distant is when I realized how much I really depend on him. I mean— I can be on my own sure but…I wish he was around like..all the time.” Spider-Man was sitting there, I noticed how his mannerisms became less him and more..well they reminded me of Peter. “But there’s also one other problem.“
“No. And it’s not really I problem it’s just that, there’s this guy who crawls through my window almost every night..he and I talk for hours. I can’t help but think he’s flirting with me, but half the time I can’t tell. Cause he wears a mask.” I made a point to move just a bit closer. My voice was softer now.
“Well this certain masked vigilante doesn’t just go into random girls apartments—not unless he really likes them, or— he knows them.” I heard him falter at the last part. Suddenly, it clicked. He knows me—probably why he uses a tool to pitch his voice lower, probably why he seemed so keen on my health after the attack.
“You know who I am?” I asked him incredulously. I narrowed my eyes. “You shouldn’t have let that slip!” I could feel my smile growing wider as I thought of all the possibilities.
“I never said that! I just implied that I really like you— why don’t you focus on that.” As I danced around the couch making my way to my desk, I felt his arms wrap around me. Suddenly I was flipped back onto the couch. “Cool it! No phone books or—or year books..listen I never said I knew you.” He was laughing a bit as he said this. I could tell he was serious about keeping his identity a secret though.
“If you like me so much you should really ask me out.” I replied. He slumped back into a normal seated position. I followed suit.
“First, I can’t really take you out to dinner if I’m off fighting criminals and two, I think publicly dating Spider-Man could put a target on your back.” He nudged my shoulder.
“I guess you’re right— but what if it wasn’t Spider-Man who took me to dinner..what if it was whoever was under that mask?”
It was quiet for two seconds, it felt like an eternity. I wish I could tell what he was thinking.
I was confused..why was he asking about Peter?
“How do you feel about Peter?”
“I— he’s my best friend.”
“But, I do feel more. I’m not sure it matters now, he and I aren’t speaking and it was on my terms. I don’t get what Peter has to do with this.”
“Peter has everything to do with this.”
“What?” I let out a small laugh. I didn’t understand. “I don’t—”
“It’s me. I’m—” He stood up and moved swiftly to the window. Leaning on the sill.
“It’s you? You..what? Look, I think you’re really cool— and it’s sweet that you like to talk to me. I get it, if you’re superhero duties get in the way of well things..”
“No that’s not what I mean..” Suddenly I noticed his voice changed. I had gotten so used to the technologically altered voice he used in front of me. Now, hearing his voice, his real voice I realized why he used a fake voice. I didn’t really want to believe it. But then he pulled off the mask.
My heart dropped, there he was. Peter Parker, my always late best friend.
AN: HII!! So I want to start writing but I fear I may need some tips, and of course people to write for, if anyone wants to give me prompts and ideas that'd be great too!
do I continue this oneshot?
yess
write something new!!
Voting ended onMay 26, 2025
