I need to share this headcanon with someone...SPOILERS FOR NO WAY HOME AHEAD.
After the events of Spider-Man No Way Home, one of Peter's most prized possessions becomes this old college spiral notebook, filled with pages upon pages of letters to people he knows. Every single time he wants to talk to them, he writes them a letter.
MJ and Aunt May have the most letters written to them, from the most stupid things that happened to him in college to brutal existential crises.
There is one letter to MJ that is just "I love you" over and over and over again for three pages back to back, ending with tear-stained pages and angry scribbles.
Ned's letters follow close behind, filled with clippings and pop culture references and even the occasional "how's the magic training going" or "saw you on the corner store, how you been? It's been forever..." One even states "If you did turn into a supervillain, we'd have some of the coolest fights ever."
He writes to Tony, Pepper, Happy and Morgan respectively. He reflects on his decisions and how far he's come. One letter to Morgan is advice for being a superhero/things that Tony did to push him forward. A letter to Happy discusses their respective grief for Aunt May.
He writes to Uncle Ben and his parents. He knows they still watch over him.
He writes to Peter 2 and Peter 3. He asks them how things are in their universes. He asks if they remember him. He asks how they got over their respective grief. Peter 3 gets multiple letters about fighting personal anger, one long one thanking him for saving MJ. Peter 2 gets a bunch of little-brother questions about being a hero, one about his organic webs, and one short one asking why he stopped him.
Doctors Octavius and Connors get more than a few letters on physics, genetics, nanotechnology, and of course homework. He asks Octavius how advanced his universe is in terms of technology, and if his Iron Spider suit really was built from the same stuff as Otto's smart arms. He asks how they sounded. He scratches that part out. He eventually finds the answers he needs on the internet.
Max gets three letters: one about electrical engineering homework, one about LEGOS, and one asking how he dealt with being invisible.
Flint gets two letters: one asks about his super-collider incident, and one hopes he finds his daughter and that they're happy together.
Norman gets one letter. It goes from hurling abuse to probing psychological questions. With a different pen comes the eventual, relenting acknowledgment of "that murderer's" influence. Peter accepts his job offer. Apologizes. And thanks him for his help with the others.
Peter writes that he'll check back on him sometime. He never does.
Peter: Guilt. Oh, boy. OK, how am I gonna explain this one? Uh... guilt is an emotion that - Ok. Jumping ahead. An EMOTION is something that...
Norman: Hey, hey, hey. Come on. I know what "guilt" is! It's one of those touchy-feely words that people throw around that don't really mean anything... You know, like "paternal" or "mental health".
Tom!peter: that's y/n, she's adopted by you and you just don't know it yet.
Y/n, in the background: LISTEN HERE BUCKAROO, YOU DO THAT AGAIN AND I WILL KICK YOUR ASS SO HARD YOUR VERTABRE POPS OUT OF YOUR MOUTH LIKE A PEZ DESPENSER!
Jealousy’s a Dancer - starker/spidershield, ft creepy Norman
hello you fucking ray of sunshine, can you write one where norman osborne goes to some big ballet production where Peter is dancing (the nutcracker? it's christmas?) and literally just falls in love with my boo and starts stalking him but peter doesn't want to worry anyone and so the tony&gang are so fkn jealous and possessive in diff ways and then norman SNATCHES MY BABE and gets bruised up and hurt in the process and they raise HELL... OR (same anon, ran out of space bc i love everything you write and you scratch my NEED for soft, sweet adorable peter) you can just make it a drabble and make it solely starker or steve/peter or whatever is easiest for you. omfg i love you. i'm gonna go crawl back to hell; the tour bus is leaving without me
This is the nicest way anyone has ever asked for a story ever??? So, um, I love you. Let’s get all sorts of married. And I hope this doesn’t disappoint!
TW: mentions of violence, kidnapping, jealousy, obsession. Mafia Boss Tony and Body Guard Steve, Ballerina Peter
Tony’s face is creased with worry and regret, as he draws Peter into his arms and kisses him firmly on the forehead. “I’m so sorry I won’t make it, sweetheart,” he whispers, and Peter smiles, and surges onto his tiptoes and kisses Tony right on the nose.
“Daddy,” he murmurs sweetly, shaking his head. “It’s okay, really. Steve’s coming and ’m on for five nights, you can-“
“But I’m missing opening night.” Tony groans, “and you’ve been working so hard, and I…” he shakes his head angrily, and there’s murder in his eyes. “I’m gonna kill whoever it was that blew up our shipment, baby. Because they’ve interfered with you and I never tolerate that.”
Peter wants to urge his boyfriend not to kill anyone, but really, there’s no convincing Tony when he’s this upset. So, instead, he peppers kisses onto Tony’s beard until the older man huffs a fond laugh and hoists Peter up into a hug.
“You’re going to be superb,” Tony insists, and he smells of gunpowder and and expensive fabric. It’s a smell Peter associates with safety and comfort, and he nuzzles in closer. “You give me the names of anyone who doesn’t give you a standing ovation and I’ll hunt them down.”
Peter giggles at that and promises for the umpteenth time that it’s really, really okay, before Tony finally goes to sort out business.
Opening night is tomorrow, and he’s still a little jittery. But he’s excited, and he can’t wait, and he hopes the reviews are good and-
The front door opens and for a second Peter thinks Tony’s come back and decided to leave the manhunting for another night- but it’s Steve, wrapped up warm from the cold, winter air.
“Steve!” Peter squeals delightedly, bounding into his arms, and Steve chuckles, catching him easily and kissing him gently on the lips. “You just missed Tony!”
“Shit, really?” Steve frowns, setting Peter down gently and unwinding his scarf. “I have to talk to him- something big’s come up- Dubroveski’s doubled his men, I have to go with him.”
Peter nods worriedly, following on his heels as Steve heads for the bedroom. “Do you want me to call him for you or…?”
Steve shakes his head distractedly. “No, no, baby, don’t worry. I’ll pack a bag real quick and catch up with him at the airport.”
Peter nods, and sits on the bed as Steve packs. It then occurs to him that-
“Oh!” He gasps, a little sadly, and Steve’s head snaps up worriedly. “Oh- it’s nothing, really,” he hurries, but those blue eyes are relentless, so Peter’s shoulders slump a little and he blushes. “It’s silly, really, I know how important your work is but- it’s opening night tomorrow and-“
“Shit.” Steve whispers, closing his eyes in frustration. He immediately abandons his bags and comes to sit by Peter on the bed. “Shit, baby, I’m sorry. It shouldn’t have slipped my mind. You know what, I’ll have Clint tail Tony instead and-“
“No, no!” Peter insists worriedly, because Steve is the best bodyguard and Peter couldn’t handle it if something happened to Tony because Peter had been selfish. “You have to go, it’s fine! You can both come to one of the other nights.”
Steve frowns, shaking his head. “I’m sorry,” he mutters, scooping Peter up and onto his lap. “I’m sorry, doll, really.”
Peter smiles warmly, “I know you are. Now come on, if you don’t pack Tony one of his Armani suits he’s gunna be angry that he couldn’t do his fashion power play.”
Steve snorts at that. “It is his go to move.”
***
Norman normally doesn’t care for the ballet.
If anything, he’s annoyed that he’s here. Some bullshit tickets were purchased for Oscorp’s charity fundraiser and here he is, in one of the most expensive seats, watching the Nutcracker.
It’s a cliché of a Christmas ballet and he’s wondering whether he can get away with sleeping through it when-
The boy walks on.
He’s beautiful. One of the most beautiful young men Norman has ever seen. He can’t be older than 21 and his costume is fitted, leaving nothing to the imagination, and he’s cloaked in pink glitter and salmon silk and Norman coils his hands into fists and wants.
Suddenly, he’s very grateful for his vantage point, and for the viewing glasses he has. Suddenly, he’s invested.
The boy is the epitome of grace and elegance as he moves. Technically perfect and wonderfully in tune with the music. Norman was forced to see a lot of ballet performances as a boy and he knows that there’s no wonder this boy was cast as Clara. He’s perfect.
The look on his face when the Nutcracker falls, how he falls to his knees, lips parted in a soundless gasp of pain, how he leaps into the air like he weighs less than a feather-
It makes Norman dizzy with desire. How that supple body would feel writhing under his hands, what the boy’s voice sounds like- no doubt, as pretty as him.
When the boy’s not on stage, Norman leafs through the pamphlet. Peter Parker as Clara. Peter Parker. A pretty name for a pretty boy.
He wants to suck hickies into that perfect, marble skin.
The hours pass by like minutes, and when the curtain falls, he’s up on his feet just like everyone else, but he’s only applauding one person.
And it’s the boy who outshone all the dancing dolls and snowflakes and soldiers.
He’s applauding Peter Parker.
*
Because he’s Norman Osborn, billionaire and tech-tycoon, it’s easy to get backstage, and what surprises him is the lack of anyone at Peter’s dressing room door.
No girlfriend, then? No boyfriend? People are clearly blind.
Norman knocks, checks his perfectly tailored suit, and is still winded when Peter opens the door.
This close he can see everything. The smattered of freckles across the boy’s dainty nose. The faint dimples as he smiles. The flushed skin with a few strands of oaky, chestnut hair stuck to his forehead. He’s dainty, so small and slender, and he smells like perfume and flowers. The scent is intoxicating.
“Hi?” Peter smiles warmly, looking at him.
“Peter,” Norman grins, extending his hand. “I’m Norman Osborne. I just wanted to stop by and say that you were- are- absolutely remarkable. An exquisite dancer .The true stand out of the company.”
“Mr Osborne?” Peter repeats, aghast. “From Oscorp Industries?”
Norman grins; sharp and proud. “The very same.”
And then the compliment seems to sink in, and the boy goes an even more delicious shade of pink, and he’s inviting Norman into his dressing room. “Thank you so much- I mean- everyone was amazing though. I mean, Harlequin’s dance? I never could have done that in a thousand years, Ronda is amazing-“
“You’re too modest,” Norman cuts him off, even though he’d quite like to listen to the lovely lilt of the boy’s voice for hours. “Forgive me for being too bold, but could I take you out for a drink to celebrate? Perhaps even dinner? You must be starving after a performance like that.”
Peter flushes again, it goes right down his neck. “Mr Osbourne, you’re too kind, really, but you don’t have to-“
“It would be my pleasure.”
Peter smiles, but his eyes are slightly hesitant. They’re lovely eyes. Like melted amber and caught sunlight. “I’m in a relationship, Mr Osbourne,” he says apologetically, “though I’d love to get a drink as friends? I’m not much of a wine drinker but I’ll never say no to something sweet.”
A relationship, Norman wants to roll his eyes. It can’t be much of one, if whoever it is isn’t even here. They don’t deserve a boy like Peter. They wouldn’t know what to do with those needy fingertips and desperate whimpers-
Whoever they are, they’re irrelevant. So, he plays along. “As friends, I would be thrilled.” And he offers his arm.
Like the perfect boy he is, Peter takes it.
**
Peter is a vision the second night.
Tony is the first on his feet when the curtain closes, whistling and clapping so hard his palms sting. Steve’s applauding beside him- the whole crowd follow suit and get to their feet, and when the curtain rises and Tony sees his boy, he whistles loudly and throws bouquet after bouquet of blue roses onto the stage.
He’s front row, dead centre, so Peter sees him immediately and bows low and gorgeous.
God, he was perfect. Tony is going to come and watch this performance every night. Peter’s hypnotising on stage. As graceful as a snowflake, he was made to dance.
“You were incredible!” Steve gushes once they’re backstage, scooping Peter into his arms and spinning him around in the air. Peter’s still in his tutu- frilly white and fringed with silver, and he giggles with delight, before Tony reaches in to grab his boy into his arms and kiss him hard.
“Bambino, you’re perfect. Sublime. You’ve blown me away.”
Peter laughs, kissing the underside of Tony’s jaw.”I’m pretty sure those flowers will be covering the stage for ages! How many did you buy?”
“Nowhere near enough for you.” He promises, and Peter laughs- head tipping back, glitter shimmering all over his face. He’s gorgeous, when-
“Norman!” Peter beams, and Steve stiffens as someone enters. Tony turns and his eyes widen a fraction- that’ll all the response he’ll show outwardly. But inwardly, he’s furious. That’s Norman Osbourne, what the hell is Peter doing greeting him like an old friend?
Norman smiles warmly, enveloping Peter in a hug that’s far too fucking familiar- Tony’s already reaching for his gun, but Steve’s hand is gentle and warning on his elbow. Norman’s in a fucking three piece suit- deep green with streaks of velvet embroidery, and Tony’s in Tom Ford- his suit is more expensive, no doubt, but Norman’s suits him better.
When Osbourne finally looks at him, he’s smiling like he knows. It’s a tight, smug, cordial smile. “Tony Stark. What a surprise it is to see you at a place so cultured.” His eyes drift to Steve and he chuckles. “And not without protection, of course.”
“Osbourne.” Tony greets bitterly, “and what are you doing here? Preying on the souls of the young, or-“
“Guys,” Peter laughs nervously, moving to stand between them. “Tony, Steve, this is Norman. We met yesterday at opening night when he came to congratulate me and took me out for a few drinks. And Norman, this is Tony- who you already know- and Steve, my boyfriends.”
Tony smirks, mean and victorious, at Norman’s look of surprise.
“Boyfriends.” Norman repeats, still a little starstruck. “So modern.”
“Peter knows what he wants.” Steve murmurs lowly, and Norman sizes him up, before accordingly stepping back. This isn’t his arena, Tony knows. Norman may have a legitimate tech business but he has a number of goons who Tony’s run into before. Ties to the seedy underbelly of New York.
And now Peter knows him. Norman’s come along- must have done his research about Peter- knew Tony wouldn’t be here and-
“I won’t keep you.” Norman smiles, all polite and fake, “I just wanted to say you were spectacular again, Peter. We must have lunch sometime.”
“Oh sure!” Peter beams, curls tumbling into his eyes. “Text me anytime.”
“Texting.” Norman chuckles again, heading for the door. “So modern.”
*
Peter is, understandably, angry when Tony bans him from ever seeing Norman again.
Steve tries not to get too involved, because he knows how quickly Tony’s jealousy can shift to anger, but Peter is yelling now, and Steve can’t bear it when they fight.
“He didn’t even know I was with you!” Peter cries, out of his outfit now, and in his warm, pink pastel pyjamas. He’s still got speckles of glitter across his freckles, but his cheeks are flushed with indignation.
Tony lets out a patient sigh. He’s still in his suit- he’s been pacing agitatedly since they got back, calling some of the others to see if Norman had been sniffing around their operation- and he leans against his oak desk and shakes his head. “Baby, you’re too trusting. He’s lying to you-“
“I’m not-“ Peter glares at him, choking a little, “I’m not an idiot, Tony, he’s not using me! He just- he just wanted to be friends-“
“He’s dangerous.” Tony growls, standing up straight. “I won’t let you put yourself in danger. You’ve known him for what, a day? And you’re already picking him over me?”
Peter gapes at him, swiping his hand viciously through his curls. “Picking him? Tony, I just don’t want you to tell me who I can and can’t see! He’s been nothing but nice to me-“
“He’s using you, Peter, don’t be so blind!” Tony yells.
Tears, crystal and sparkly, slip from Peter’s eyes and he wipes them away as fast as they appeared. Steve gets to his feet and crosses the room, pulling Peter into his arms. He gives Tony a warning look, but the brunet already looks contrite. “That’s the only reason anyone would even talk to me, right? To get to you?
“That’s not what I meant, piccolo, I just worry about you.”
Peter turns away from him, and buries his face into Steve’s chest. He hugs him tightly, rubbing his hands up and down Peter’s small frame. Steve doesn’t trust Norman either but…Norman had looked surprised to see the two of them- to learn about their relationship to Peter. Plus, Tony keeps Peter so well hidden- how could Norman have known-
Tony can’t bear it any longer, before he crosses the room in three long strides and wraps his arms around Peter too, so their boy is cuddled between them. “Let me look into it first,” he pleads quietly, “just to make sure- just to check. Peter, if something happened to you, I-“ his voice wavers uncharacteristically, “I’m not sure what I’d do. But I’m pretty sure a murderous rampage is fairly high on the list.”
Peter looks up, cracking a small smile, and threads his fingers through Tony’s. “And if you don’t find anything?” He asks, sniffling.
Tony pauses, but under Steve’s glance, he sighs. “If there’s nothing then, I won’t stop you.”
*
Try as Tony might to find something, he doesn’t.
It seems more and more likely that Norman found Peter quite by chance, which is just…furiously unlucky.
But true to his word, he doesn’t stop Peter from hanging out with him.
His jealousy gets the better of him a lot of the time. He’s a possessive bastard. Steve’s managing to be above it all, and Tony tries to listen to his advice but it’s hard.
Because all the things he loves most about Peter- his big, honest eyes, his innocence, his belief, his ability to see the best in absolutely everyone- well, it’s all the things that are allowing Norman to elbow his way in.
So far, Norman and Peter have only met up twice- Norman had magically appeared at Peter’s final night of the ballet, and they’d gone out to brunch at a small bistro up on Terrace street the next morning.
Nothing’s happening. Nothing’s happening, Tony knows that. He trusts Peter- he knows that Peter would never, ever cheat. And Peter’s so open about everything- he keeps his phone unlocked and Tony’s seen him texting over his shoulder- all the messages to Norman are polite and courteous and-
Peter is an angel.
But he’s their angel. He’s with Tony and Steve, and-
Tony is greedy. He doesn’t want their boy out with anyone else and-
“Tony,” Steve says urgently, walking into the room with a frown on his face. “Has Peter called yet? I told him to message by six, but he’s still not back.”
“He hasn’t.” Tony mutters worriedly, reaching for his phone. “Who’s he out with?”
“Norman.”
*
This is all rather humiliating, if he’s honest.
His head still throbs from where it was slammed into the brickwork, and he thinks his lip is busted from the struggle he put up as he was loaded into the back of a limo.
It’s a nice limo, he thinks dully, looking up at the open roof. He can see the stars rolling by. There are plush leather seats and it smells clean.
Tony’s limo is nicer, though. It has a mini-fridge stocked with all of Peter’s favourite snacks, and there are comfy throw pillows everywhere.
“I wish it hadn’t had to be like this.” Norman says, and Peter lets out a muffled noise through the gag, to see the man looking down at him. “But he’s got you so wrapped around his finger, pet. They don’t care about you. They weren’t even there at your opening night. They let you come out with me. Besides, Stark’s involved with- dangerous operations. Someone like you shouldn’t be anywhere near his line or work.”
Peter rolls his eyes in annoyance, shimmying onto his back. His vision is still a little dizzy, but all he can think of is how smug Tony is gunna be.
Damn, Peter should have listened to him. He’s always right, in the end.
Right on cue- a horrible screeching rings out as another vehicle scrapes along the side of the limo. Norman jolts up, but Peter just curls into a ball and tucks himself as far under the seats as he can- just like Steve taught him.
The screech happens again, and then the driver swerves and they crash to a halt-
Cold wind whips in as the door is wrenched open, and Steve is there- tugging Norman out of the car, and then-
Tony’s there, and he’s scooping Peter out and removing his gag.
“You were right,” Peter gasps, even as he’s carried bridal style in Tony’s arms to their own car. “I’m sorry.” He nuzzles into his throat. “You’re right, I should have- I should have listened to you-“
“Precious boy,” Tony mutters, yanking a blanket from Clint to wrap over Peter’s shoulders as he’s buckled in. His touch is quick, but careful, his fingers dragging softly over Peter’s skin. “Never change.” And he kisses Peter’s forehead-
That’s when he notices the little trickle of blood, and his worry morphs into cold fury.
Peter tries not to smile. That’s Tony’s killing look. Norman’s going to die.
“You hurt, baby?” He hisses, hands curled into fists and Peter leans in to kiss him on the lips.
“I love you,” he says instead, and Tony kisses him back- distracted for a moment- before he goes to join Steve.
Peter can briefly hear Norman begging, but then the door is being shut and radio is being flipped on.
“Steve put some ice packs in the bag,” Clint says, “he thought you might need ‘em.”
Peter smiles, reaching for one and pressing it gingerly to his head. He thinks he might fall asleep. “Tell them I love them?” He asks drowsily, and Clint smiles warmly at him.
“Sure thing, kid. But trust me- they already know.”
Finally finished Marvel's Spiderman and on one hand Norman Osbourne is a slimy piece of shit, whose selfish and callous attitude, despite good intentions, effectively endangered and killed possibly hundreds of people. He's smug, wealthy, and has the attitude that makes you want to to drop off the side of a building.
On the other hand, the fact that someone held him off the side of building and rather than weep and whine he DOUBLED DOWN and told his captor how having super-tech robot arms still couldn't change the fact that he was a loser took balls and was gold and I can utterly respect that.
“Okay, so let’s make our Peter Parker look/sound as much like Ben Tennyson as possible without yanno actually being Ben Tennyson...I feel his colour co-ordination needs something else though.....I KNOW LET’S ADD MORE GREEN!”
There was already a scene that almost made me think of Ben twiddling with the Omnitrix too when he was screwing about with his web-blasters. Not to mention the whole Robbie/Yuri voice thing confused me for a hella long time.
I watched the video today which previewed some of the cast involved with the series. Seriously loving Gwen and Anya and I hope to god they’re amazing team members together. The last thing I want between these two is an ep where they’re both fighting over Peter because ROMANCCCEEE/HET SHIPS HAVE TO HAPPEN!
Also not sure how I feel about Josh Keaton as Norman Osbourne, I mean before Drake Bell took on Spidey’s voice we had Josh playing Spidey in Spectacular Spider-man. ALSO ALL I’M GONNA HEAR IS SPACE DADDY BEING KIND OF A PRICK. (Damn Voltron.)
But yeah, Looking forward to the show - I still have new Ducktales to watch and the one Tangled episode I’ve been waiting for since it was announced a few weeks back and from the preview of it they previewed at D23...holy crap there’s gonna be some drama in that ep and I know I’m just going to want to hug Pascal and Punzie super hard after watching it.
