26 Going On 16 (Peter Parker x Reader)
Request: 🕸 How about Peter is standing at the altar but not as the groom. He always had feelings for (Name) but never got to tell her, in fear of putting them in trouble. After (Name) marries someone else, Peter makes a stop by his apartment to collect himself before going to the party-now regretting not telling (Name) his feelings. He lays on his couch before falling asleep and when he wakes up, discovers that he's a teen again in his old room and he hears (Name) knocking on his door to wake up. When he looks at his phone to see the date, he notices two things. One, (Name) was single because they still hadn’t meet their spouse and two, Peter realized that he had a second chance with (Name). So pretty much a “13 going on 30” type of thing but only reversed plus a twist.
Warnings: Angst, maybe like one swear word
A/N: I know I haven’t written in a very long time, but I finally wanted to write something and I received this AMAZING request! I loved writing this and got a little carried away, I wrote a bit more than what the request asked for. I couldn’t help myself! Plus, I think this is the longest piece of work I’ve written! Well, I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it. **gif not mine, found it on Google. Creds to the creator!**
Tag List: @mp938368 @generalantiope @thatgirlsar @jumperswellies @quicksoldier @kitkatgaming @marvelfandom-stuff @itsmaytimetosaygoodbye @agentraven007 @marvelgoateecollection @thaniya82 @thats-so-rhyan @hymnofthevalkyrie @themcuhasruinedme @themanwiththemetalarm @mslaufeyson @thisismysecrethappyplace @jackiehollanderr @nayr9e @shaydeevee-blog @mxria-hill @littlelonewolfgirl
Peter’s heart raced inside his chest. He couldn’t believe that today was finally here. There he stood, up at the altar, decked out in a tuxedo with light blue flowers pinned to his lapel. He could feel his palms growing sweaty as the entire congregation turned their heads towards the back of the small church. Peter quickly wiped his palms against his pant leg, trying to rid himself of the excess moisture. Slowly, everyone in the pews rose at once, the piano singing out the first few notes. Then, it happened, the church doors swung open to reveal the most beautiful thing in the world: you.
You were absolutely stunning, of course. An absolute vision in white, the dress almost matching your radiant smile. Peter could feel the tears begin to pool in his eyes, but he took a deep breath to calm himself. He wouldn’t allow himself to cry. He wouldn’t waste a single second on tears that would cloud his vision of you. You slowly marched down the aisle, train billowing behind you as your father led you towards the altar with you on his arm. Your eyes met Peter’s, and your smile seemed to grow even wider once you saw your best friend. Climbing the steps of the altar, you threw Peter a wink. Peter couldn’t help the small laugh that bubbled out of his chest. You were perfect.
“Wish me luck,” you mouthed the words to Peter as your father placed a kiss on her cheek.
“Good luck,” He mouthed back, this time unable to hold back the tears any longer. Peter watched your father take your hand and place it in the open palm of your intended. He took your hand as he led you closer to where the officiant stood.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” You giggled, before turning back towards Peter. He could have sworn that his heart was going to leap out of his chest. You looked even more beautiful up close, your rouged lips curling into a smile that you reserved only for Peter- his smile. “Can you hold these for me?”
All he could do was nod, taking the beautiful bouquet of light blue flowers from your manicured hand. Quickly, he brushed his fingers against yours to feel the smoothness of your hand. That very hand that would clean his wounds after he hurt himself during some battle, protecting the citizens of New York from the newest threat. Your touch threw him back into a long distant memory, of when you both were in high school.
“Peter, I swear you are like a magnet for trouble. How did you hurt yourself this time?” You teased, leading your best friend through your house towards the bathroom where you routinely patched him up.
“Some guys in an alley,” Peter winced at the stinging sensation of the rubbing alcohol touching the cut on his face. You mumbled a small “sorry,” and continued to clean out the wound. “They were trying to mess with this old lady.” The lie fell easily from his lips. He was getting better at this, hiding the fact that he was Spider-Man. Well, it wasn’t really a full lie, he thought. It did happen in an alley, it just wasn’t some guys that beat him up. It was rather a new eight-armed doctor that was a recent thorn in the side of Spider-Man.
“While I appreciate you being all chivalrous trying to save some old lady, but you should have called the police, Peter. You aren’t as tough as you think. You could’ve got really hurt,” Your words were chastising, but Peter knew the only reason was because you cared for him.
“I know, I’ll be safer this time. Promise,” He held out his pinky finger, and waited for you to wrap yours around his. Sighing, you placed the bandage over his cut before intertwining yours with his. Your lips curved into a smile- his smile- before grabbing onto his hand.
“C’mon, we’ve got Calculus homework calling our name.”
The booming voice of the officiant is what pulled Peter from his reverie. “I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss the Bride.”
No! Peter yelled in his mind. This isn’t how it’s supposed to happen. He was the one supposed to be up there with you, front and center, not off to the side holding your bouquet. He was the one supposed to be kissing you, sealing your hearts together in matrimony, not him. It all happened so fast, your fiancé- now husband (Peter blanched at the word)- leaned forward and captured your lips in his. All Peter could do was stand off to the side in shock as the church erupted in applause and congratulations for the happy couple. Time seemed to slow around him and he remained frozen in his place as you and your husband raced down the aisle, eager to start your new life together.
Where did it all go wrong?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter had a few hours until the reception, and he didn’t feel like celebrating. While the rest of the wedding party went out for drinks, Peter instead slinked away, complaining of a headache that wasn’t there. He promised the rest of the party that he would be back in plenty of time for the reception, he was just going to head back to his apartment for a few hours and take a quick nap to get rid of the headache.
“Don’t be gone too long, the party can’t start without the Man of Honor!” Some bridesmaid giggled, already on her second glass of champagne. Where she got it, Peter didn’t know. He didn’t care. He just wanted to be by himself.
The drive back to his apartment was uneventful. It would have been quicker if he just swung through the city with his webs, but he didn’t want to be quick. He wanted to drag out his time before he had to return to being the happy and dutiful Man of Honor for the girl of his dreams. No, Peter wanted to go back to his apartment, have a stiff drink, and pass out for a few hours of blissful nothingness.
Key turning in the lock, Peter was finally home. Kicking off his shoes, he sat on his couch. Peter felt nothing but pity and regret. For the past ten years, he has been in love with his best friend, but he was too much of a coward to admit it. He had all the time in the world to tell you his feelings before your now husband walked into your life. He even had time after that to admit his feelings to you. Hell, he even had time during the ceremony to yell “Stop! (Y/N), don’t marry him! He’s not right for you, but I am! I’m in love with you and have been for ten years, marry me instead!”
It was too late now, and it will always be too late for him. Peter could feel the bile rise in his throat at the thought of never being with you, and he almost ran to the bathroom, afraid he was about to be sick. Instead, his head pounded not with a headache, but rather with “what if’s.” Groaning, Peter flung himself back onto his couch, throwing his arm over his eyes. Instead of thinking about you marrying the wrong man and him being too much of a coward to tell you his feelings, Peter succumbed to the welcome darkness of sleep. At least there, in his dreams, he could be with you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pounding on the door is what woke him up. Peter groaned, wanting to fall back asleep and avoid all of his problems. It was easier than having to go to the reception and pretend to be happy that you were married to the wrong man.
“Peter, wake up!” Your voice called from behind his door, followed by more pounding. “We are going to be late for school! If I get one more tardy, I am going to get detention and it will be all your fault!”
Peter’s eyes flashed wide open before he bolted upright on his couch. Rather, his bed, as the sight of his childhood bedroom in May’s apartment filled his view. Confusion swam through his head as he scrambled off the bed, legs entangling in his sheets, causing him to fall out of his small twin-sized bed.
“Did you just fall out of bed, Peter? Are you even up yet? C’mon, dude, Mr. Green is going to kill me for missing Calculus again!” Your voice shouted through the wood once more.
“Ye-yeah, I’m coming! Just give me a second!” Peter called back, shocked at the sound coming from his mouth. Gone was the deeper voice he earned after going through years of puberty. Instead, he discovered that his voice was higher-pitched and cracked regularly. What was going on?
Peter stuck his hand under his bed, fishing for his phone amongst the dirty laundry that was shoved under. His fingers found the old cracked phone that he used to own. Turning it on, Peter’s brows furrowed and then shot up once he noticed the date on the screen. 2017?
“How can this be happening?” Peter mumbled quietly to himself, dropping his phone and carding his fingers through his hair. Somehow, and he didn’t know how, Peter was back to being 16 and was no longer a 26-year old. Just like that, it was like the past ten years- or, the future ten years- no longer existed. Was this some time-fluke? Did one of the Avengers mess up the space-time continuum and reversed time by ten years? Or was this all a dream? Did you really just get married?
Peter stopped in his tracks. If he was 16 and back in his old room, then that would mean that you too are 16. That meant that you hadn’t gone off to college yet and met your fiancé. You never met him and never started dating him and never got engaged and never got married.
“I still have my chance,” Peter whispered to himself, a smile erupting onto his face. He couldn’t believe it! Somehow, by some miracle or accident, Peter was 16 and still had his chance. This time, he wouldn’t mess it up. No, he would get it right this time. He will tell you that he is Spider-Man. He will tell you his true feelings. He will pick you up and kiss you and say “I love you.”
“Peter, I swear if you don’t come out of your room in one minute I am leaving without you!” You yelled, pounding on the door.
Peter snapped out of his realizations and stood up. He was going to tell you right this minute because nothing else in the whole world mattered more than you right now. His hand found the door knob and he yanked his door open, a little too hard, and took the door off its hinges.
“Peter, oh my God, what did you do?!” You exclaimed, motioning to the now broken door in his hands. There you were, right in front of him, just as beautiful as ever. Your hair was longer, like it used to be when you were in high school, and you had your backpack slung over your shoulders.
“Doesn’t matter,” Peter breathed out before letting go of the door and taking you in his arms. He pulled you tightly into his chest, squeezing you to him as he nuzzled his face into your hair. You smelled of your favorite shampoo, and Peter wanted to hold on to you forever.
“Dude, you just yanked your door off its hinges! May is going to flip!” You admonished, slightly confused as to what was happening. You circled your arms around his waist and hugged him back. “Are you okay? You’re acting weird, despite the fact that you just broke your door.”
“I am absolutely perfect,” Peter grinned, pulling back so he could look into your confused and worried eyes.
“Are you sure? You’re not taking any steroids or drugs, right? Because a person just can’t do what you just did.”
“I’m not on any drugs, I promise. I’m so glad to see you,” He couldn’t stop smiling.
“Okay, something is definitely wrong. Are you sick?” You asked, putting your hand onto his forehead to check his temperature.
“No, I’m not sick,” Peter grabbed your hand that was resting on his forehead. Instead, he interlaced his fingers with yours. “I am absolutely, one hundred percent, positively okay. (Y/N), I love you.”
“Love you too, Pete,” You dismissed his weird outburst. “Do you need to stay home from school? I can tell Mr. Green and get your homework for you-”
“(Y/N), will you stop and just listen to me?” Peter interrupted, before taking a deep breath. “Look, I haven’t been completely honest with you these past few years. For one, I’m Spider-Man. Second-”
“You’re WHAT?” You were the one to interrupt this time, your eyes growing to the size of dinner plates.
“Yes, I’m Spider-Man,” Peter flicked out his wrist and his web-shooter appeared, hidden underneath his sweatshirt. Webs sprayed against the wall to prove his point, and your eyes somehow got even wider. “I’ll explain more and answer your questions later, but right now I have something more important to tell you.”
“More important than revealing that you are a superhero?”
“Yes, now please listen,” Peter took both of your hands in his and looked into your eyes. “(Y/N), I love you. Not just as a friend loving another friend, but something more than that. I love you like Romeo loves Juliet. I love you like no best friend should. I love you in the way that makes me want to sweep you off your feet and take you out on cheesy dates and hold your hand and comfort you when you cry and kiss you whenever I want. (Y/N), I’m in love with you.”
Peter waited for your response, but you just stood there in shock. Your eyes darted across his face, as if you were reading a book, trying to understand the words that were just spoken to you. “Please, say something.”
“So, what you’re saying is that you love me?” You whispered, meeting his eyes.
“Very much so, yes,” He smiled nervously. “More than you could ever know.”
“Oh. Well that changes things.”
Peter could feel his heart drop the very pits of his stomach. He could feel his face fall too, and went to let go of your hands.
“No, wait!” You quickly held onto his hands tighter. “You misunderstood. It changes things because I love you too, more than a best friend should, and I never thought that you liked me and was too nervous to tell you and-”
Just like that, Peter’s heart soared from the deepest pits of his stomach. Holding your face between his hands, Peter stopped your rambling by crashing his lips on yours. He carded your fingers through your hair, pulling you as close to him as he could. It felt like Peter had been drowning his entire life, or atleast the past/future ten years, but as soon as your lips touched his, it was like he could finally breathe. He couldn’t believe it, you were here in his arms, kissing him back as if your life depended on it.
“I love you so much, (Y/N),” Peter broke away once the need for oxygen was too great.
Looking up into his eyes, you placed your smooth hand against his cheek, drawing him back in for another kiss. “I love you too, Peter.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter was beyond nervous. He could feel his heart racing in his chest as guests milled about in the pews. Peter stood at the altar, bouncing from foot to foot as he tried to calm his nerves.
“Would you calm down, kid? You look like a little kid that really has to pee,” Tony said from behind, clasping a hand on his shoulder. A small amount of relief washed over Peter as he hugged Tony.
“I’m just too nervous, Mr. Stark. And excited,” Peter nervously chuckled as Tony clapped him on the back.
“Don’t be, you have your whole life ahead of you. This is the beginning of a new chapter in your life, and you will be so much happier. I know I am,” Tony reassured as Pepper walked towards them, towing little Morgan behind her.
“Someone wanted to say good luck,” Pepper smiled as she let go of Morgan’s hand. Morgan ran up to Peter, throwing herself into his waiting arms.
“Hey, aren’t you supposed to be in the back with the flowers?” Peter joked, balancing Morgan on his hip.
“I needed to tell you something,” Morgan giggled. “It’s a secret.”
“Oh yeah?” Peter quirked up an eyebrow. “I’m all ears.”
Morgan leaned in and cupped her tiny hands around her mouth so that no one else would hear what she had to say. “She looks very pretty, like a princess.”
He couldn’t help the blush that began to rise to his cheeks when he imagined you in your dress. “She does?”
“Mhm,” Morgan nodded, before scrambling down from Peter’s arms. “I’ll bring her to you!” And just like that, Morgan bolted down the aisle in her little flower girl dress to await your arrival.
“Well, that’s my cue,” Pepper sighed before enveloping Peter in a hug. “She really is beautiful.”
“See you on the other side, kid,” Tony smiled as he followed his little family.
Just then, May sidled up next to her nephew. “Your mom and dad would be so proud of you. Your uncle, too.”
“Aw, c’mon, May. No sad tears,” Peter enveloped his aunt in his arms as she tried to hide her tears.
“They aren’t sad tears, they’re happy ones,” May sniffled, dabbing under her eyes so she doesn’t ruin her makeup. “I am so proud of you, Peter, and so happy for you. She is absolutely perfect for you.”
“I hope I’m perfect for her,” Peter nervously laughed.
“Don’t be silly, of course you are,” May gently hit his shoulder. Just then, everyone seemed to settle into their spots and the pianist took her seat. “It’s time. Good luck.”
“Thanks, May,” Peter smiled, facing the doors of the church. Slowly, everyone in the pews rose and faced the doors, and the pianist began to play. Then, it happened, the church doors swung open to reveal the most beautiful thing in the world: you.
This time, Peter wasn’t standing off to the side as you marched towards the altar. No, this time he was right in the center as he watched the love of his life walk towards him. You were absolutely incredible, more stunning than the last time, whatever that was. Peter never did figure out if it was a time fluke or just a very, very bad dream. He didn’t care. All that mattered was that you were walking towards him in a beautiful white gown, smiling the smile that was only reserved for him.
He couldn’t help the tears that decided to stream down his face. Once your father handed him your hand, he lost it. The only thing that consoled him was the fact that you were crying too, as the two of you walked towards the altar.
“Good luck,” You mouthed the words to him, squeezing his hand as the two of you took your places before the officiant.
Peter didn’t need luck, not today. He was already the luckiest man in the world to call you his, and now, he was making you his for the rest of time. Instead, he mouthed the words “I love you,” as the officiant began the ceremony that would begin the rest of his life with you.