Summary: You getting beat up and Peter is super overprotective but also so gentle.
Tugging your hood closer over your face you dug in your locker. You knew you couldn’t hide forever.
“Hey Y/N!”
You started, gripping your locker door. “He-hey Peter,” You greeted, closing your locker and turning away from him. “I have a yearbook meeting, I’ll talk to you later.”
“There’s no yearbook meeting,” he said, more to himself. He easily caught up to you. “That was a bad lie considering I’m the main photographer for the yearbook Y/N.”
“It-it’s for me and the writer’s. I decided all the layout people and photographers didn’t need to be there.” You lied, it felt awful lying to him but if you kept him going on this lie then maybe he wouldn’t ask about your ho-
“Okay then, why’s your hood up?” He asked, leaning forward trying to get a look at your face.
You quickly looked away. “Just- migraine, the light’s in this place are killer.”
“Do you need anything? I think I have some painkillers in my locker kit if you-“
“No,” you answered, “I’m fine, already took some.” You didn’t want to say yes and prolong your time with him, even if it was a lie. Even though you were in some pain. You stopped at a random empty classroom. “I’ll see you later,” You stated and tried to dodge into the room away from him.
But he caught your hand and tugged you back towards him. “Hey, no kiss? I’m-“
You had tripped over your feet at the sudden tug and caught yourself on his chest.
Wrapping his arm around your middle he chuckled. “Sorry, baby,” He said before tilting your chin up. “What the fuck happened to your face?”
You’d tried to pull your face away before he caught sight but you didn’t want your boyfriend to think you were rejecting him. A whimper left your throat as you turned away from his hand. You bit your lip on the side that wasn’t slit.
Peter looked around the hall for any teachers before opening that classroom door and pulling you through. “Sweetheart what happened?” He asked, tugging your hood down. More than just your cut lip appeared to him.
Your right eye and cheek were black and blue, as was your jawline on that side. This while scrapes dusted the other side of your face. As if someone hit you while your face was on the ground.
Rage built in Peter’s chest. He lightly grazed his fingers over the bruising. “Who did this to you?” His voice was quieter than his touch was soft.
Tears flooded your vision as you shook your head and looked down.
He put a hand on the back of your head and pulled you into his chest. He held you as you cried. It burned at his heart that someone did this to you. That he wasn’t there to protect you.
“Baby,” he whispered. “Who did it?”
You sniffled, “No, Pete-Peter. I don’t-don’t want you to worry about this okay? It’s fine, I’m okay. Really… I’m sorry for hiding… I knew you were gonna see but I just wanted to tell you before you did but I kept chickening out and-“
He brushed your hair behind your ear. “Baby, just tell me. I need to make sure something like this will never happen again.”
You shook your head against him.
“Do I need to go all detective on you? I won’t ask again, I swore I would never let anything happen to you and here this happened? You’re /everything/ to me. Just please, it kills me that I couldn’t protect you, at least let me make sure that no one ever does something like this to you again.”
You shook your head. “It-it was Stella and Maggie.” Two girls you’d known since 1st grade that never liked you. There were plenty of times they’d caused you to get hurt, but they’d never gone this far. And why had they? Because you and Peter had gotten together, you were editor of the yearbook, and actually starting to become popular since you worked with a lot of groups because of that job. They were jealous.
He nodded and kissed the top of your head, knowing why it finally reached this point. The two girls pined after Peter once Mysterio outed him as Spider-Man a year ago now. He never fell for anything they tried, once you started dating they tried to break the two of you up. You both ignored them. He supposed it was only a matter of time before something like physical assault happened.
“Don’t do anything, Peter, it’s really okay.” You tried, but as you looked up at him the look in his eyes told you he was not going to listen. You’d never seen him so angry and trying to keep his cool. You were grateful that he wasn’t mad at you, he was beyond the sweetest person you’d ever know. His anger surprised you. “O-or maybe just don’t get into trouble…”
He leaned forward and kissed your forehead.
Peter had Karen search the two girls out and as soon as they were found he was heading right for them.
He dropped down, right in front of them. “Hi ladies,” he said. He wasn’t even in his suit. He needed them to see his rage.
The two girls jumped in surprise.
“Peter,” Stella said, “You scared us.”
Maggie looked wearily at her friend. She knew they were in trouble and here Stella was pretending nothing was wrong.
“We need to talk,” Peter told them. He was trying to not show his anger yet, to make them feel secure.
“What’s up?” Stella asked. “Finally decide you were wrong for picking Y/N and come to ask me out?”
Maggie shrunk some and elbowed Stella in her side.
Stella waved her off and smiled what she thought was sexily at Peter.
Peter smiled back at her, he was shaking with anger. It was bad enough what she did, but now she decided to make comments and attempt to flirt with him? No. The look in his eyes was overtaken with his rage.
Stella took a step back in surprise. Maggie stayed in place with wide scared eyes.
“If you ever even think about touching Y/N,” he started. He let out a deep laugh. He stopped his sentence.
“P-Peter-“
“Shut up.” He snapped. “I’ve been quiet about you long enough. You’ve bullied Y/N long enough. You’re never going to look at her again, let alone speak to or touch her. You might thnk it’s cool that I’m Spider-Man and I help people.” His eyes grew dark. “But I will not hesitate to web you to the underside of a bridge. And my webs don’t last forever. Do I make myself clear? And if you even think about telling anyone I threatened you, you’ll have a very powerful lawyer coming after you for assault and no one’s gonna believe you that I threatened you. Do I make myself clear?”
The two girls were practically cowering against each other.
“Good.” Peter was gone a moment later.
There were light footsteps on your fire escape before a soft tap on the window.
You smiled and moved to open the window.
Peter stepped in and scooped you up. “Hi beautiful,” He kissed a spot on your cheek that was not scraped.
You giggled and wrapped your arms around his neck as he sat down on your bed with you in his lap.
“Took care of everything,” he told you with a smile.
“Thanks, baby. I’m sorry you had to do that.” You cuddled into his neck.
He hugged you close. “I love you, I never want you to get hurt and I’ll do everything I can to make sure that you’re safe.”
You smiled and pulled back just enough so you could kiss him.
To say that your two bullies that’d been after you more than half your life hightailed it away from you in fear, well that was an understatement. Peter squeezed your hand and brought it to his lips, leaving a gentle kiss there.
Request by @katiemcrae: Hi me again! I was wondering if you could do a dad!tony x reader(with peter parker x stark!reader in the background) where peter and the reader are graduating from high school and it’s like Rory Gilmore’s speech from Gilmore Girls where the reader is valedictorian and her speech is basically about how she’s proud to be like her dad and all? And it’s like oozing fluff. Girl i just keep having ideas pop up in my head about dad!tony x reader haha thank you for your time :)
A/N: Spouts my usual words of apologies. You sent this in like late May, it’s almost September… so I am sorry. As goes life, but here it is! (Yes this was my college grad cap)
You were nervous.
No. Strike that. You were about to have a total Stark meltdown. The worst part? The ceremony hadn’t even started yet!
“Y/N!” Your boyfriend practically shouted, trying to get your attention.
You shook your head with a start and looked over at him.
He let out a small chuckle. “I called your name like 12 times.”
“Sorry,” you said, sheepishly. “I-I’m just really nervous…”
“You’re gonna do great,” he assured, slipping his hand into yours. “I’ll be right up there with you. You’re gonna do amazing.”
You let out a long whine, “Peter I don’t want to-”
He tugged you a bit closer and pressed his forehead to yours. “Baby, you worked so hard to get to the top. You deserve this. Show off a little.”
“You know everyone already thinks I do,” you said it so quietly, it was true. You were weird, you were a genius and everybody knew that. Everybody thought you didn’t belong there because you really could have already been out of high school. Yet, you just had to stay back like you were trying to look smarter than everyone else there.
“Hey stop that,” Peter said, knowing exactly where your train of thought was going.
The bubble the two of you created was popped as voices, teachers, started to tell students to get moving.
You and Peter were the first two in line, being Valedictorian and Salutatorian after all. You didn’t even want to chance a look behind you.
Peter kissed your forehead and the procession started.
You were shaking in your seat as it neared time for your speech. You wished your boyfriends speech was longer, but of course, he wasn’t really one for public speaking either. Not even the Spider-Man mask ever helped him with that.
“And now,” Peter stated, casting a glance over his shoulder. “I’d like to introduce someone very special to me. My amazing girlfriend and this year’s brilliant Valedictorian, Miss Y/N Stark!”
Your stomach flipped and you didn’t move as Peter turned around and headed back towards you. You shook your head at him.
Peter chuckled. “Come on, baby you gotta. Your dad is crazy excited to hear your speech.”
“C-can’t… I can’t…”
Peter tugged you up from your seat and guided you to the podium. “Don’t make me embarrass us to get you started.” He kissed your cheek and went back to sit down.
You glanced out at the crowd; classmates, teachers, and family members all watched as their applause came to a close. You shot a look back at Peter and he smiled reassuringly at you. You looked down at the cards that were crumpled in your hand. “H-Hi everyone,” You greeted.
You took a deep breath. “Thank you all for being with us today. Your ongoing support gave all of us the drive to get here. Thank you faculty and staff for putting up with the classes antics. For keeping all of us on the right track. Thank you to the heroes that protect us all. Without you guys who is to say any of us would even be here.”
There was a short chuckle from the crowd, yeah, without your dad half the universe wouldn’t exist.
“This isn’t the same exact group of students I started my high school career with, but you all are who I get to end it with. Thank you for making classes enjoyable. We all have so much ahead of us. Whether it’s college or straight to jobs. Maybe it’s even being the next big superhero.” You chuckled, knowing Peter tensed behind you. “I’m kidding, but who knows, our lives are ahead of us. I for one know that without coming here my experiences wouldn’t have been the same and I’m thankful for all of them. Lastly, I want to give special thanks to my dad.”
You finally looked out, spotting him right away, the rest of the team members, your step-mom Pepper, little sister, Happy and May all there with him. “Dad, thank you for risking everything to bring everyone back. Thank you for giving me the best education. Thank you for everything you do to better the world for us. Thank you for making sure my classmates are able to find their own ways and not need any financial support with the generous gift you gave of funding all of them. Especially for letting me be like you. Thank you for long nights in the lab and teaching me. Thank you for being my inspiration in everything I work for and just thank you for always going along with crazy ideas I had. You are everything I aspire to be and if I could be half as amazing as you are, I think I’ll be alright. To my classmates, thank you for showing me that I don’t care about negative opinions, because when you have the greatest support system the negative opinions of others are easy to brush off. You all might think I’m weird for being like my dad, but I wouldn’t change myself if I ever got the chance, because who wouldn’t want to be like their heroes?”
You returned to your seat, Peter leaned over and kissed your cheek.
“That was incredible,” He whispered to you over the thunderous applause of the crowd.
When the ceremony was over you found your large family and with them your dad crying. You hugged him and his arms wound tightly around you.
Prompt: person a seducing person b into taking a few steps back/backing them against the wall (”oh look, how did that mistletoe get right there????”)
A/N: Hello all, sorry it has been 800 years. I am just having a damn time with work. I am sorry if you have requested something from me and I haven’t gotten to it… I will eventually I promise. Until then I am going to do some Christmassy stories so if you have any requests for that let me know! AGAIN with the weird spacing...
You were desperate. Since meeting Peter you had liked him. He was handsome and funny and so smart. He was brave, a literal hero. But his one flaw was that no matter how hard you tried, he just would not fall for you.
Correction, he’d definitely fell for you. He’d told you so, right along with “we can’t be together”, “I can’t because of your dad and if things got messed up I wouldn’t be able to fix it”, and “if something happened to you because we were together I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”
No matter how many times you brought up that it didn’t matter it apparently mattered to him. Even when you talked to your dad about it, HE didn’t care if you guys were a thing. But that just ended with Peter giving the excuse that if anything happened to you because of him blah blah blah.
The worst part was as the two of you got older, you wanted him more. Being you and in college wasn’t easy, not that it was hard, but you had a particular problem where you wanted Peter and you were getting to the point that you were willing to do just about anything to get his attention on you long enough to reel him in without him being able to back out.
You tried talking about other guys. You tried asking him to go to parties with you, but he never took that bait. You even tried just asking him out once. Albeit doing it subtly, without saying the exact words because you didn’t want to start the conversation about him not being able to, again.
So, you were going to resort to your most drastic plan yet. You were going to make him jealous. And when he confronted you you’d just make a move on him.
You decided that since it was nearing your dad’s annual holiday party, you would use that as your cover. So, you asked a guy from your college’s football team to do you the favor of pretending to be going out with you and yes it could involve a little makeout and him meeting the Avengers. Of course he jumped at the chance.
Everything was set. You planted some mistletoe, got an adorably short Christmas dress, and when the time came you were going to be ready to finally get your guy.
You introduced your fake date to everyone that was there and gave them a quick explanation of your plan so they wouldn’t freak out.
You took a shot, and you waited with your date for Peter to arrive.
Upon Peter’s arrival you began to get touchy feely with your date. You were talking with people and you stepped into him. His hands landing low on your back. Your hand was on his chest.
It wasn’t long before you made your way to Peter. You’d felt him watching you practically the entire time it took to make your way to him.
You hugged him, pressing your entire body to his. Feeling him tense slightly you pulled back away from him and fell into your dates side. “Petey this is Dylan. Dylan this is my best friend Peter.to your date.
“Petey this is Dylan, Dylan this is my friend Peter.” You introduced, Peter loved when you called him the cutesy version of his name you knew it just from the way he blushed slightly every time you did it.
“Nice to meet you,” Dylan said, a wide, charming smile on his face. He shook Peter’s hand firmly. “Y/N told me a lot about you. You sound like a smart guy.”
Peter shrugged as he retracted his hand. The guy definitely tried to hurt him but little did he know. “Funny, she didn’t tell me anything about you.”
Dylan shrugged and hugged you closer to him. “That’s okay, we've been spending so much time together she probably just hasn’t had the time to talk to you about us.”
You smiled up at your fake boyfriend. He was brilliant at this.
Peter nodded, his face going to one of him trying to hide his irritation.
It was then that you heard your dad calling you over so you tilted Dylan’s head towards you and kissed him gently. “Be right back.”
You cast a glance at Peter before continuing on to your dad. He was trying so hard to keep his cool.
Dylan watched you go.
“If you hurt her-,” Peter started but Dylan snorting cut him off.
“What? How do you think you have any ground to stand on to threaten me? She told me she wasn’t ready for a relationship because she was trying to get over her best friend that turned her down but damn dude. You really think after that you can threaten me to not hurt her? If anything that should be coming from me.”
Peter eyed Dylan suspiciously. “Yet she is in a relationship with you anyway?”
Dylan shrugged. “Told her I’d Gladly plsyRebound to help her get over you.”
“You don’t know anything about the actual situation. Why I can't be with her. You wouldn’t understand. You aren’t part of it. Our world is different from yours.”
Dylan laughed. “Whatever man, you lost this one. Let that sink in. She’s moving on and you missed your chance.”
Peter was becoming more pissed off with every word Dylan said. But of course right as he was about to let that show you returned to his side and gave him eyes that Peter desperately wished you'd give to him.
“Dylie come on there’s more people I want you to meet and I want another drink.”
“Yes baby,” he said, a charming smile on his face before he kissed your nose, making you giggle again.
“We’ll be around, Peter,” You said, turning, your already short skirt flying up and showing just enough more skin that Peter basically saw the crease where your thighs met your ass. But those thoughts left quickly as he realized you called Dylan a silly nickname and went back to using the hard r in his own name. It hurt.
You left him, wrapping yourself around Dylan’s arm. You all but snickered as the two of you went off to get another drink.
The party had been in full swing for only an hour and Peter was ready to leave. You were killing him. Even more so when he spotted you and Dylan making out where you were quite obviously but also obviously trying to hide.
So, Peter went in search of your dad to say good night and leave.
Too peters surprise by the time he found Tony you and Dylan were already with him.
Peter groaned quietly to himself as he went over.
“I’m gonna ride down with dylan he's gotta go,” you said to your dad.
“Thank you for having me Mr. Stark. Sorry I have to leave so soon.” Dylan added.
“Not a problem, hope you had a good time,” your dad told him. He spotted Peter behind the two of you a bit away, watching. “Have a good night.”
“Thank you, sir. You too,” he shook Tony’s hand and you began to guide him away. Spotting Peter you offered a cold shoulder.
Tony went over to Peter and clasped a hand around his shoulders. “How’s it goin’ kid?”
“Fine, Mr. Stark… I’m gonna get going.”
Tony arched an eyebrow at him. “Everything okay?” He asked, knowing exactly what was going on.
Peter rubbed the back of his neck. “I just-”
“Want some advice?”
After sighing he nodded.
“She’s my kid, Peter. Any danger she’s in she’s already in it. Whether she’s with you or just a person you have regular contact with. Even if she was a stranger. You still feel obligated to protect her. But you’re letting yourself think that if she dates you the. She's in so much danger. But she's got you so what's it stopping you for? You still love her.”
“But-,” he was going to argue, but he just couldn’t. He knew Tony was right. “What if I screw everything up?” His actual biggest worry finally being stated aloud.
Tony sighed this time. “That’s not abnormal. Everyone thinks that when they want to be with someone they’re close to. But i for damn sure know that you're a great kid and will do all you can to be there for her. So would you just go get her already?”
Peter turned just as you were getting off the elevator. He quickly turned back to your dad. “I can’t. What if she turns me down because I had turned her down a while ago?”
Tony looked at the now nervous young man in front of him. “Pete, you won’t know until you do it. Go talk to her.” He gave him a shove in your direction.
He found you getting another drink at the bar. “Hey,” he greeted.
“Hey,” you responded, a giggle slipping past your lips.
“Y/N, can we talk?”
“We are talking silly.” In the back of your mind you knew he was being serious, but with the drunken state you were in, you couldn’t help finding everything funny and were unable to take things seriously. Which also there in your mind was that you were going to screw everything up because of how drunk you’d gotten. But making out with a guy that you didn’t want to be with and trying to make it seem you were was hard sober.
Peter sighed at the state you were in. “I mean… can we go somewhere private to talk, like your room maybe?”
You brightened up at that, almost forgetting that you were gonna ask him yourself so you could put that mistletoe to good use. “Yeah, totally.” You grabbed his hand and pulled him off towards your room.
He wasn’t sure how this was going to go, but he was really hoping it wouldn’t end badly. When you reached your door he stopped you. Thinking it would be a bad idea to go into your room in case things did end badly, he didn’t want to let you hold that negativity in your room.
He was working your plan better than you were. You turned to face him. “Petey…” he looked so hesitant. You leaned back against your door. Retaking his hand you pulled him forward. “Petey, can you please just… give me one night. Just fuck me and go and it can be meaningless sex and we never have to talk about it or how I feel about you ever again.
Your words surprised him. “What?”
You slid your arms up his torso and put them around his neck. “I just wanna know what it’d be like to be with you, Petey. If you won’t give in to dating me just fuck me instead. Just once, so I can have you just for a little while.” You could feel the tears in your eyes roll down your cheeks. You when from flirty to depressed in seconds flat.
Peter’s stomach sank as you spoke. He reached up and cupped your cheeks. “Y/N,” he whispered, wiping your tears and making you look at him. “I would never take advantage of you being drunk. And I’m so sorry I’ve been so stupid. I know I’m bad at the whole relationship thing and I just…. I didn’t want to ruin anything our put you at risk. But I realize I have by not giving both of us what we both want.”
You stared at him surprised.
“So,” He said taking a deep breath. “Will you please forgive me for not saying yes when you asked me and will you please let me take you on a date?”
You nodded fairly quickly.
His head tilted back as he sighed in relief. That’s when he spotted it. “Is that mistletoe?”
You glanced up and blushed, seeing you’d been caught. “Guess that means you gotta kiss me now, huh?” You smiled sheepishly.
Peter chuckled, “Yeah, yeah I guess I do.” He cupped your chin and pulled you in.
Any hesitation about this that he felt was gone the moment your lips started moving with his.
Summary: Your friend sets you up with her friend, but what happens when you start to like this handsome guy that delivers to your job?
A/N: I feel like I haven’t posted in 800 years. This isn’t great but I just needed to write SOMETHING.
The look on your face should have told your best friend that you were done with her pestering. Once again she was mentioning some guy she wanted to set you up with.
“Come on, he’s a great guy,” MJ stated to you once again.
“Mary Jane,” you started. “I’m not going on a blind date, with anyone. It’s not my thing. I’d rather meet someone on my own and make a connection. Not feel obligated to like the person because you set us up. This is the last time I want to hear anything about this. I’m sick of it!”
She sighed, “Will you talk to him at least? Just text. You never know you might like him. I think you will at least. Plus then if you don’t like him you don’t have to worry about hurting his feelings to his face.” She reached over and grabbed your phone. Immediately she texted her friend.
You reached out for your phone but she kept it out of reach, and being in a cafe you knew better than to leap over the table at her. When she handed it back the message was sent.
‘Hey Peter, it’s MJ. This is my friend Y/Ns number she’d really like to get to know you so don’t screw this up!’
You groaned. “Dammit M, what the hell!”
“You won’t regret talking to him, I promise.”
Shaking your head you set your phone down. “Fine.” You didn’t tell her you were interested in someone, it would just end in too many questions that you didn’t even have the answers to.
It was a few hours later when you finally heard back from him. It was a simple ‘Hi Y/N’
‘Hey’ you responded. Then followed up with ‘sorry about MJ. You don’t have to talk to me’
Peter frowned to himself. He really did want to. MJ really knew how to talk you up. You sounded really sweet and cool. Even if you two just ended up as friends. ‘If you want me to leave you alone I will, but I wouldn’t mind getting to know you. It’s not like we have take it any further than that if you don’t want to.’
You debated his words. He had a good point. ‘Alright, I can manage that.’
And that was how it started. You became fast friends, only after about a month you wanted to meet and he always managed to get out of it somehow. It was rather a turn off.
Peter didn’t exactly want to miss the few times you tried to meet up with him. He was just busy. It wasn’t easy neglecting people that needed his help. It also wasn’t easy when he had packages to deliver to pay his bills.
You were really developing a crush on the delivery guy that came to your work. He was perfect. Curly brown hair and brown eyes. A nice build and he was always so sweet to you.
And God, since that first day he came in and left with a wink at you, you were hooked.
As much as Peter liked you, and while he wasn’t much of a flirt, there was a beautiful young lady that worked at one of the places he delivers to. When she bat her eyelashes at him he couldn’t stop himself from winking at her as he left.
That was the routine. You’d small chat with the man every time he was in. He flirted with you in subtle ways.
Only every time he left you thought of Peter. Frankly, you did find yourself liking him, a lot. He was sweet and really seemed to care about you. If only he’d meet you. You want to know if things would work between you if you were more than friends.
But getting ditched all the time was not something you wanted to happen. And if he was like that now, what was to say it wouldn’t be that way if you did start to date?
So that morning you texted him ‘Lets meet up friday night, please?’
Peter responded a few hours later, right before his delivery to your work. ‘Yeah, I’d like that.’ He really would, but only because he had a feeling in his gut that you might actually like him and if that was true he wanted to break things to you easily. You might be perfect, but suddenly this new woman he’d met, well she was wonderful. And it wasn’t a set up like how it was with you because of MJ.
‘Friday night at 7? We can get dinner.’
‘Sounds good’ he put his phone away before walking into your job.
You smiled warmly at him. “Hey,” you greeted.
“Hey,” he said setting a package down on the counter. “Listen, are you free this weekend at all? I’d really like to take you out. If that’s okay I mean…”
Your face flushed but you nodded. “Yeah, not friday night but saturday for sure.”
Peter smiled wide, he offered his hand to you. “Peter,” he introduced, you’d been referring to him by his last name since that was what was printed on his shirt.
“Y/N,” you replied, a thought of how strange that was popped into your head but you knew there were plenty of people in the world with the name Peter so it was probably just a coincidence. And since it couldn’t be that he was really the other, at least if things didn’t work between you and MJ’s Peter, you would get to go out with this Peter, and at least you knew he liked you too.
The thought also swept through Peter’s head, but it couldn’t be right. He pushed it aside, but he if it turned out you were MJ’s Y/N, well then it turned out to be a win win.
The two of you made plans before he left.
You weren’t exactly sure how you were hoping things would turn out, but you hoped they would end up for the better.
When friday night finally rolled around you were nervous. You texted Peter, it’d been an entire day since you’d heard from him. Frankly, you were surprised he even answered you when he did.
‘Hey! Sorry I’ve been awol. Work’s been really busy and I’ve been running around too. I will be there in 10 minutes!’
You sighed to yourself, you were hoping he wouldn’t stand you up, again. You weren’t going to be that girl that got ditched at her table at a restaurant when you could have just said no and maybe been out with your delivery guy Peter right now.
Peter dropped down behind the restaurant and quickly changed out of his suit into some nicer jeans and a collared shirt. He shoved his suit in his bag and webbed it to a wall. He jogged up to the front of the small restaurant and went in. He realized he didn’t know who he was looking for so he gave your name to the hostess and she brought him off into the place. The second he spotted you he almost laughed to himself. He couldn’t really believe it.
You were too busy texting M.J. that you hadn’t noticed he was there until he sat down. When you glanced up you were surprised and a little embarrassed. “Oh my God.”
“We must really meant to be together if we managed to get set up two different ways,” Peter joked.
“I can’t believe this. This isn’t some joke right? Like you didn’t know it was me did you?” You asked. “Because I had no idea it was you and I feel a little shitty right now, for kind of being interested in someone that I didn’t know was you, if I’m being honest.”
Peter thought your words over. “Well I didn’t know you were the same you. I can’t say I didn’t have interest in either of you,” he put in air quotes. “But I’m kind of relieved you’re the same person because your personality is incredible, you’re funny and sweet and you are the most beautiful person I have ever met.”
You blushed deeply, “are you just trying to butter me up because we both kind of screwed up?”
He offered a small smile at you. “No, I’m saying it because it’s true and I hope that this little screw up we had can be looked at as a good thing. To me it just says it was meant to be. I’d really like to date you.”
“I guess you’re kind of right,” you agreed. “You sure about that? You don’t have any other prospective girls waiting to go on a date with you, do you?”
He chuckled. “Apparently I like you so much I liked you twice.”
You smiled gently and let out a soft chuckle. “Same goes for me… but one thing, if we’re gonna do this can you just promise not to make plans with me if you aren’t going to follow through? It’s kind of hard trusting someone when your first few dates you were ditched.”
Peter rubbed the back of his neck. “I am really sorry about that. I can’t really promise that I won’t screw up but I want you to know I’m going to work my ass off to make sure I don’t hurt you. Because I want this to work.”
“Good, so do I,” you said, reaching across the table and intertwining your fingers with his.
He smiled and gave your hand a gentle squeeze.
20 years later you still laughed about how you got together.
Summary: You are a freelance photographer, the problem? You’re in competition with a certain someone and you can’t figure out how he gets his shots when you’re both in the same place at the same time but you never manage to see him.
A/N: More than 2,000 words is a long story for me lol. Here’s this, it’s alright, got kinda weird and off the tracks I had set for it but whatever. Enjoy!
You sat down in front of Jameson at the Daily Bugle. You had been his freelance photographer for a few months now. It was a fun part time job, you loved your camera and you loved being in bad places at good times. Well not good times, but good for you because they were your opportunity.
Luckily enough J loved you. You were practically one of his prized possessions. You were the best photographer in the city, that’s what he always said. You weren’t afraid to take risks to get the best shots possible.
You were his number one. Until one day there was suddenly a new guy at the Bugle. He was sitting at Betty’s desk when you left J’s office. He was cute, he was really cute. Up until you noticed the camera around his neck. You were not going to have someone moving in on your turf.
You went to your not official desk, just to wait things out. There was no way J was going to go with this guy. But something really had you on edge about him.
As soon as the guy came out of J’s office thanking him, your stomach knotted uneasily.
“Y/L/N,” Jonah yelled. “Your pictures out for this issue, the new guys picture is in.”
Your chest felt like it had caved in. All this really meant was that you weren’t getting paid today. “Oh… okay,” You said, putting your best puppy eyes and pout on.
“We’ll make a deal. Everytime there’s a big article whoever gets me a better picture is the one that will get printed. The new guys got talent, but you know I like you best. Just take good pictures and you’ll be fine.”
“Yessir,” You answered, packing up your things before saying goodbye to everyone and heading off towards the elevator.
Not to your surprise the new guy was waiting for the elevator still.
“This thing is really slow,” He commented as you stopped a bit of ways from him. You were rather pretty, but you seemed upset, he figured he’d try to make small talk to see if he could cheer you up.
“Yup,” You answered bluntly.
“I’m Peter, Peter Parker,” He extended his hand to you.
The elevator dinged and the doors opened so you ignored him and got on.
He pulled his hand back and got on with you.
As soon as the doors shut you turned to him. “Listen here Parker. This is my place to sell pictures. So why don’t you take yours and shove off. You aren’t needed here.”
Peter looked at you surprised.
The elevator was not fast enough.
“I’m sorry? I can’t control if Jameson picks my pictures. But I need the money and this is the only thing I’m really good at.” Peter argued.
“Just go somewhere else then.”
“No thanks, I’m good here,” Peter stated. “Jameson said if your pictures are better than mine he’ll take yours anyway. So, if you’re better than me you have nothing to worry about. Maybe it was just a one off time. But, this isn’t a permanent job, it’s just freelance, don’t take it so seriously.”
Finally the elevator opened and released the two of you.
You glared at the back of Peter’s head as he left.
He normally wasn’t like that but something about how you were challenging him really brought something out in him.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
It had been two straight weeks of Jameson not picking your pictures. Frankly, you didn’t blame him, Peter was amazing. You wondered how he managed to get so many good and creative shots of Spider-Man.
Yet, you were not going to give up. If he was so good at getting incredible shots, well then you just had to amp things up. You needed to really get in close on a fight. So, that night when you went looking for one of Spider-Man’s fights you swore you were going to really get in on it.
And you did. It was incredible, thrilling frankly. You didn’t see Peter anywhere so there was no way he’d get shots like this.
The following morning, bright and early, you made your way to the Bugle. As you approached the building you spotted him. He was coming from the other direction and you both stopped in front of each other at the doors.
“I’ve got you this time,” You shot at him.
Peter rolled his eyes. He knew you were at that fight last night, but there’s no way you could have gotten a better shot than he did based on where you were hiding. “If you’re so sure,” He opened the door and held it for you. “After you my lady.”
You walked right past him, the two of you stayed silent in the elevator up. You both walked right into Jay’s office and placed your pictures on his desk.
He opened each envelope and surveyed them.
You rung your hands nervously.
Jay looked up at the two of you. “I’d love to sit here and go on about what a menace Spider-Man is, but this is something more important. I’m going to use both of these pictures.”
It was better than nothing.
“Thank you, sir,” Peter said.
“Yeah, yeah, now get out before I change my mind.”
“Thank you Mr. Jameson,” you said smiling at him. “I really appreciate it.”
He nodded.
The two of you walked out together and waited for your pay.
“What was that about getting me this time?” Peter teased you as you made your way out.
You shot a glare at him. “Honestly, I could care less, at least he took one of mine finally. Just have to do better next time. Also how did you even get a shot at that fight? I didn’t see you anywhere.”
He looked at you, slight panic in his eyes. “Oh, uh well I must have just been hiding really good or something, that’s all.”
You eyed him suspiciously. “Does someone else take your pictures because you’re too scared to get caught up in the fight?”
Peter shook his head. “No! I take my pictures, you probably just don’t pay attention to everything around you because you’re busy taking photos.” He scurried off the elevator, hoping you wouldn’t grill him about it.
“Yeah, okay,” You scoffed.
After that you spent just about every night trying to find good ways to get pictures of Spider-Man. However, you also spent your time looking for Peter. You needed to know how he did it. He was so good and frankly, you wanted to be better and learn from him. Not that you’d admit that to him. It was fun messing with him. He was cute when flustered.
After the third week Jameson asked you to start taking pictures of other things, events in the city, accidents, stuff like that. Really he just wanted to make sure you got paid.
But he let Peter get the pictures of Spider-Man.
Another week later and you were being called to Jameson’s office. To your surprise Peter was there too.
“I have an assignment for the two of you. Next weekend is my son John’s birthday. Since he comes back from space a few days before that we’re having a party for him. I want both of you there to take the pictures. You aren’t to get in anyone’s way, I’ll pay you after, and if anyone asks you you’re professionals not some kids I let take pictures for the paper. Got it?”
“Yessir,” You and Peter both agreed. You were excited to be doing something so big for him. If you did an amazing job he might recognize you and give you the chance to start getting Spider-Man pictures again.
“And dress nice, I don’t want you two embarrassing me.”
When the day finally came you were beyond ready to get started. So, you made it to the venue a little earlier than you probably should have. But that was good, you could get photos of the place beforehand, maybe you could even sell them back to the place.
It wasn’t long before Jameson showed up. He made small talk with you, told you where you could and couldn’t go, and then proceeded to question Peter’s whereabouts. It was getting close to when people would be arriving and he wasn’t going to pay Peter for being late and not getting good shots.
However, he did finally manage to show just as guests started to arrive. Luckily, Jameson couldn’t grill him about it because people were already walking through the doors.
Your attention was divided between the guests and Peter. He looked rather good with a button up shirt and black pants. Better than the typical flannel or sweaters he wore. He made his way over to you. “Hey,” He greeted awkwardly as he gave you a once over.
“Hi,” you offered back, taking a picture of some people by the entrance shaking J’s hand.
“You look really nice,” He complimented.
That took you aback, you looked at him, slight blush on your face. “Th-thanks, so do you.” Then you noticed something. There were dark bruises peeking out from Peter’s collar. Your first thought lead you directly to that he had a girlfriend and they were hickies. You felt rather embarrassed now, chasing after guys wasn’t something you were big on, which was why if someone asked no one would know that you really had a crush on Peter. They would say you hated him. But you had your own way of liking a person. However, you wouldn’t have bothered at all had you known he was taken.
Suddenly you were looking away and silencing yourself.
Peter got a few shots of some people at the bar before wondering why you weren’t pestering him like you normally would be. Frankly, he enjoyed it, enjoyed you. But you obviously weren’t interested, so he wasn’t going to embarrass himself by letting you find that out. He could feel your eyes on him every few seconds. When he finally caught what you were looking at his brow arched. “Something wrong?”
You blushed and looked away. “Nothing. Just didn’t think you’d be the type of guy to show up to a special event you’re getting paid at with hickies on you. That’s all. I’m going to go get close ups of Jay with people.” You walked away before he could answer you.
He watched you go in surprise. He knew there was bruising, but he was surprised that it looked like hickies. He thought it was a very obvious handprint, a very large Kingpin handprint. But it wasn’t like he could tell you that, yet he also didn’t want you thinking they were hickies. He knew he had to come up with something.
Only he didn’t have the chance because things in the party started to pick up because the guest of honor had arrived.
It was another hour before Peter finally got to speak to you.
“Just so you know, I’ve never had a hickey in my life,” he admitted to you.
You looked at him confused, “That’s a blatant lie, Peter.”
He shook his head. “Seriously! I’m 20 and I’ve never had any. And I wouldn’t show up to something like this with one even if it was. It’s bruising yeah, but from a hand.”
A deep blush shot across your face. “Okay! Too much information. I don’t need to know about the kinky shit you’re into!”
Peter’s eyes widened. “You’re ridiculous! Get your mind out of the gutter! I was almost strangled to death!”
You stared at him, surprised he was yelling at you, especially in such a hushed tone, but more so that someone had tried to kill him. “What?”
He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I got caught, not a big deal. I’ve had worse from bullies in high school. I just… I just didn’t want you thinking that it was something it wasn’t, alright?”
A thousand questions swirled in your mind. But one really stuck out. “Why was it so important for you to tell me that?” God, you really wanted it to be because he liked you and didn’t want you to think he was with someone. But, you didn’t want your hope showing. It must have flickered in your eyes though because Peter’s look turned nervous.
Time practically slowed for him as the buzzing feeling started in the back of his head. The look in your eyes surprised him, like you might actually have some interest in him. But that wasn’t his top priority. Glass shattered behind him. His first instinct was to reach out for you and cover you on the ground.
The maniacal laughter from above pulled his attention fully away from you. There was a room full of people, the Green Goblin above, and little time for him to get away so he could suit up and take him down.
“What are you doing?!” Both of you heard Jonah yell over the screams and panic of the party goers. “Get this! I ain’t paying you to lay around!”
After being knocked to the ground, your mind finally kicked back into gear. You untangled your camera from Peter’s and started shooting.
“Oh my God, Y/N, we gotta get out of here!” Peter said, only he really just meant you.
“Not a chance!” You told him, pushing past people to find a somewhat safer position that you could still get good shots from.
He needed a plan and fast, he wasn’t paying attention to what the goblin was shouting, but he knew if he didn’t get away Spider-Man would not be showing up. Which right now was not a good idea considering Jonah was about ready to take Goblin on by himself.
People struggled against one another to make an escape from the room. Peter decided he should take a chance and slip in with them before he missed his chance to be out of both your and J’s line of sight.
The second he could break away he was discarding his clothes, hopping out a window and entering through Green Goblin’s broken window. First he got rid of Jameson and his son. No reason for more people to get hurt than necessary. Even if Jonah protested against Spider-Man profusely.
His next order of business was Goblin. Of course there was the usual banter, and fighting. It was difficult if fight in close quarters like this. He especially hated that you were still in the room. However, he knew if you didn’t get pictures of this then you and him would be in deep shit with J and he was not about to lose his job. He’d just make sure you were out of the way and if you were in the way, then he’d do something about you.
However, it didn’t last long and things were not going Peter’s way. When Goblin spotted you he knew right away that he had a hostage. Peter tried to get to you first, but he was seconds too slow as Old Gobby scooped you up right off the ground.
Fear overtook you. You were so excited about the great shots you were getting, you didn’t even realize he was heading for you until it was too late.
Your scream pierced Peter’s ears.
Finally Green Goblin decided to take things outside.
Peter followed after the two of you. As quickly as things began were as fast as Peter wanted to end them.
When it came to ending this fight, it was between saving you or going after Green Goblin. And never would Peter hesitate between saving a life and going after a villian.
He caught you, feet before you hit the ground. Only, your camera hit the ground, shattering.
Peter didn’t realize, but you did. Your life might be safe, but your way of life laid out on the cement as Spider-Man swung you to safety on a rooftop.
“Are you alright,” He asked, changing his voice, once you were finally set back down on your feet.
The tears in your eyes worried him, but he couldn’t fully let that show. He wasn’t Peter right now.
“Fine…,’ You mumbled. “Just a broken camera now laying in the street. Woulda preferred you saved that instead of me.”
The eyes of his mask widened as his did. He looked back over his shoulder and down to the ground. “I’m so sorry,” He said, accidentally forgetting to sound different.
You looked at him a little confused, but there was no way. No possible way. “It’s fine,” You told him. “Thanks for saving me… I really thought he might kill me.”
“I never would have let that happen.”
A light blush painted your cheeks as you nodded.
He helped you down from the building and was disappearing from sight before you could even think of asking him anything else.
You didn’t bother to go back and pick up the remains of your camera. Instead you went home and tried to prepare yourself to lose your only source of income.
The following morning you went straight into the Bugle, fully expecting to get shouted at.
However, when you walked into Jameson’s office you were very surprised.
“Your pictures were absolutely amazing,” Jonah praised you. “I can’t believe how incredible they were. Those ones of the fight were even better! Spider-Man and Green Goblin crash birthday party of American Hero! Great pictures to go with a great article! I’m paying you twice what I paid that Parker kid. He didn’t get a single one of the fight!”
You stared at him in utter shock. “Um… Mr. Jameson… I-I don’t-”
“You’re taking what I give you kid! Now get out of here before I change my mind. You’re back on the action pictures since I can’t trust Parker to get them when it counts.”
You nodded and exited the office.
Betty offered you your pay. “Here ya go, sweetie.”
“Betty… I-... I didn’t give him my pictures…” You admitted.
She looked at you confused. “Of course you did. Peter handed them in when he stopped in this morning. He said he got yours developed for you. Were you drinking at that party last night?” She chuckled and went back to her work.
You were even more confused now than before. You hurried out of the building and called Peter, luckily his number was given to you by Betty when he started. She always got and gave out other’s numbers just in case anyone needed to get ahold of somebody. It rang a few times before he answered.
“Hello?” He asked, there was a lot of noise behind him before suddenly it cut off.
“Peter?” You asked, just to be sure.
“Y/N?”
“Hey, where are you? We need to talk.”
He was silent for a moment, like he was thinking. “Uh, right now isn’t a good time.” There was a loud crash and a shout in the background. “Shit-”
“I’m alright!” A man shouted in the back.
Peter sighed, sounding exasperated.
“What is happening wherever you are?” You asked.
“Just working on something with someone. Look, if this is about last night-”
“Yeah it is, but like I said, I want to talk to you face to face. So where are you?” It was more of a demand this time.
“I’m at Avengers Tower,” He finally admitted.
You laughed. “No seriously.”
“Serious. You gotta come here if you want to talk, I can’t leave right now. Just tell the desk lady you’re here to see me and she’ll give you directions.”
When you arrived, you really thought it was a joke, but to your surprise it wasn’t.
You were directed to take the elevator all the way up. When you got off you were thinking this was definitely Tony Stark’s penthouse.
“Hey,” Peter said, approaching from some stairs.
“Okay, what the hell is going on?” You started on him, still looking around the place in awe.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I kind of work with Mr. Stark,” he admitted. “You wanted to talk?” He ushered you towards a couch.
“Are we even allowed to sit here?” You asked.
“Peter’s got free reign of the place,” a voice said behind you.
You turned around in shock. You never imagined meeting Tony Stark, especially on such a personal level.
“Please, make yourself at home. Let F.R.I.D.A.Y. know if you need anything.” He was heading off somewhere else before you could even register what just happened.
Peter took gentle hold of you wrist and tugged you to sit on the couch.
“I need answers. Lots of them,” you finally said to him.
He sighed. “I figured you did…”
“First, how did you hand in my pictures this morning? My camera broke into a million pieces last night. You were nowhere to be found during that fight so how’d you find it? Why did you even turn them in as mine when you could have just said they were yours? Why would you do that? Jameson paid me double what he paid you and I don’t even know what pictures you gave him! What are you doing here of all places and with Tony Stark?”
Peter chuckled, “I really thought you would have figured it out.”
Oh you did, you definitely did. You could only stare at him.
“I’m sorry about your camera,” he said. “I promise I’ll get you a new one. As for the pictures… I went back to see if I could salvage anything. It took some work but I got them and decided to just print them with mine and give them to Jonah. You really got some terrific shots. You deserve the pay for them Y/N, really. I… all I care about is that you’re safe, okay?”
“I can take care of myself you know,” you shot at him, embarrassed that he thought he had to save you.
“Look, I know you can, I’ve seen you sneak around my fights really well, believe me I know. But you definitely weren’t saving yourself when you were falling to your death.”
You punched his shoulder. A silence fell between you as you thought everything over. But after a few moments you finally broke it. “You’re really Spider-Man, huh?”
Peter nodded. “It’s a secret, promise you won’t tell? Especially Jonah, I think he’d really fire me then.”
You laughed with him and nodded. “Deal. But you have to tell me one more thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Why tell me at all? I honestly don’t believe you just go around telling every person you save your secrets.”
He blushed lightly, and even though you knew it wasn’t true you did find it cute when he got flustered.
“Oh my God! You were just hoping you’d get laid for being a hero and saving my life!”
Peter’s eyes widened, his blush flared deeper as he panicked. “No! I like you but definitely not that!”
You laughed at him.
He looked at you and realized you were just kidding around. He released a sigh. “You just love watching me get worked up like that, don’t you?”
“Yup!” You eagerly replied. “As for this liking me business. Why don’t you do something about it?”
Peter was surprised by your response. It took him a minute to even realize what was really happening. “Can I take you out on a date?”
“Mmm,” You pretended to think about it, making him more nervous than before, like he mistook the signs you were giving him. “Of course Peter, I’d love to.”