monday 29th of february 2016

Peter had finally admitted to himself that he did, in fact, have a teeny weeny crush on Jessica-Diana Purnell.

Now that it was confirmed, he couldn't stop thinking about her.

Every day in class he would find himself staring at her, admiring each and every beauty and flaw. He wanted to spend a lot more time with her, and ended up at her apartment 'to see Mason' or 'help with homework'. He only assumed he was playing it cool and being totally subtle, but J.D had totally noticed. She kept it to herself though, she thought it was adorable how he offered to buy her ice cream and help her bake.

This brings us to now, a Monday afternoon, where a Physical Education class was taking place.

It was pouring with rain outside, so all four classes were crammed inside the gymnasium, and the teachers had announced that they would be playing group dodgeball. Peter had initially groaned, completely against the idea. Then he remembered that J.D was really good at dodgeball (she had saved him from being hit several times). Now that he was 'Spider-Man', as his new acquaintance 'the Bladerunner' had called him, he could start saving her from being hit.

"Touch the wall, no cheating." Mr. King called out among the chatter. "I'm talking to you, Flash."

Flash rolled his eyes from next to J.D and scoffed, kicking his foot up so his toe touched the wall.

Peter watched from beside Mason as J.D began talking to his bully, and huffed. Mason glanced over with an amused smile. "You're not gonna get anywhere just staring. A little birdie told me that Flash wants to ask J.D to his basketball game next week."

Peter pulled his eyes away from J.D to look at Mason in shock. "W-What?"

"Yeah, so I'd do something, buddy." Mason smirked and patted Peter on the shoulder. "I don't want Thompson making a move on my sister."

"She wouldn't say yes though, right?" Peter asked nervously and Mason shrugged.

"You never know with that girl." He replied, as if he were trying to sound wise. "She knows many things, things even you and I don't know."

"Shut up." Peter rolled his eyes with a small smile, and turned to ready himself for the whistle. He side-glanced at Flash and J.D a couple times, his jaw clenched when his bully made her laugh. Noooooo.

The whistle blew and he took off, leaving Mason to dawdle in the background. He jogged up to J.D's side when he saw a ball headed her way, and went to catch it, but was too late when Flash reached in front of her, stopping it with one hand. Peter shrunk away and stood a few feet away from J.D, who thanked Flash before hitting someone out on the other team.

Later in the game, Peter found another chance to save J.D. The ball was flying through the air, and he ran to stop it, but Flash fucking Thompson stuck his foot out and he went flying through the air. He fell onto his side and groaned, and J.D bent down to help, but Flash beat her to it. He leaned down and helped Peter up. "Hey man, you okay?"

Peter looked up at Flash, who was narrow-eyed and daring him to defy. Peter was struck by the familiar pathetic feeling inside and he pursed his lips and nodded his head. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine."

Flash nodded once. "Good."

J.D sent Peter a concerned look as he ran back to Mason, but he pretended he didn't notice. He didn't want to see the pity she had for him. He wanted to see respect, joy, love? Ew no, that's too romantic.

"Dude, what're you doing?" Mason asked as Peter approached him. "You totally had a chance there!"

"I can't do it." Peter grumbled. "He's a jerk."

Mason rolled his eyes. "And you're pathetic."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, pal." Peter muttered as he caught a dodgeball with ease. "There's no point. He's always gonna win."

"Only if you let him." Mason scoffed and watched lazily as Peter tossed the ball, missing someone completely. "Dude, if you want the girl, you have to prove you deserve the girl."

Peter looked over at Mason, his eyebrows raised. Mason flashed him a grin, and Peter couldn't help but laugh, pushing him slightly to the side.

Maybe the idiot, neko-atsume playing twin brother was right. For once.

+++

Peter walked out of the locker rooms, clutching his backpack straps tightly. He was thinking about his math assignment, his science text; oh, and J.D. Definitely J.D.

He was caught off guard when Flash Thompson knocked him in the shoulder, sending him to the ground. Peter sighed and pushed himself up, feeling confidence surge through him. "Real mature, Flash."

Flash stopped in his tracks and turned around, a smirk on his face. "What did you say, Puny Parker?"

"You heard me." Peter said, trying not to let his voice tremble. "I'm sick of you being such a douchebag."

Flash took a step forward, and Peter noticed J.D walking out the girls locker room with Michelle. Michelle nudged her and J.D looked up, seeing Flash and Peter. She took a step forward when Flash raised his fist, but little did she know that Peter was ready for it.

Peter caught Flash's clenched knuckles easily when they swung his way. Flash's eyes widened in shock, and he raised his knee up to kick him, but Peter stuck his foot in the way, tripping the bully up.

A crowd had formed around them, many students chanting 'fight!'.

Flash jumped up again and dove straight for Peter, who stepped out of the way, sending Flash into the lockers. Then, Flash swung his fist again, but Peter hit it out of the way and rebutted with a punch to the cheek. Flash fell to the floor, and Peter cleared his throat awkwardly. "Y-Yeah! Don't come near me again!"

J.D walked up to his side and grabbed his arm. He looked down at her and smiled breathlessly when he saw her grin. "Good on you, Parker." She pushed herself up onto her tiptoes so her lips touched his ear, making Peter tense slightly at the physical contact. "How about you be the bigger man?"

She sent him a smile and patted his shoulder with her free hand. Peter pursed his lips and nodded, pulling away and walking up to Flash. Flash looked up at the boy, suddenly seeming weak and helpless, his cheek already turning purple. He flinched when Peter's hand approached him, but then cleared his throat when he realised what was happening. The boy he was bullying was helping him back up. 

Flash sighed and put his pride away for a minute before grabbing Peter's outstretched arm and pushing himself from the floor. Peter pulled away and brushed his hands against his jeans, smiling politely. "You okay?"

Flash nodded, his jaw clenched. "Didn't know you had that in you, Parker." 

With that, he nodded at Peter, glanced at J.D (who couldn't deny the small smirk on her lips) and stalked away, followed by a couple of his friends. 

Peter turned to J.D and Michelle, and giggled. Peter Parker fucking giggled. 

When everyone but his two friends were out of sight, he threw his fists in the air and laughed. He jumped forward and grabbed J.D by the shoulders, pulling her into a hug. J.D rolled her eyes at the gesture, but smiled nonetheless. Peter grabbed Michelle by the arm and pulled her into the group hug. Michelle had joined in on Peter's contagious laughter, and both of them were jumping around J.D, who was watching them, amused. 

Peter couldn't wait to tell Mason, May and Ben. 

He, Peter Parker, stood up to his bully and won.

It felt damn good. 

+++

J.D saw the Spider-Man again that night. 

She was walking around at eleven at night, the streets of Queens nearly empty and almost lifeless. It was raining, which she didn't mind, and decided on walking out in the open rather than undercover. 

She heard the sound of webbing and she saw it hit the lamppost beside her. She stopped in her tracks and squinted through the rain to see the boy in red and blue hanging from the side. His goggles were slightly foggy, and he was soaked from head to toe. "Hey, it's you!"

J.D became visible and approached him, her arms folded and her sword swinging at her side. "How'd you guess?"

"You kind of have a floating knife." He pointed out, and J.D looked down at the object. She shrugged and glanced back up at him. 

"Oh well, I'm glad my friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man is always gonna be there to see me." She said and he chuckled, jumping down from the lamppost. "So, how's life been for you? I saw you stopped a car from hitting a bus on YouTube."

"Oh, yeah." He scratched the back of his head bashfully. "Like you said, I'm just the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man."

J.D smiled and began walking again, hearing his footsteps catch up with her. 

"Rob any stores lately?" He queried and she scoffed, rolling her eyes. 

"Is that what you think of me?" She joked, and he shrugged, though she could tell he was smiling beneath his mask. "And not any that you know of."

"Well that makes me feel great." He muttered sarcastically, and J.D snorted, nudging him with her elbow. It felt odd to be this happy and playful around someone, especially someone she didn't know very well, but it felt good. It felt right. "It's nice to see you again."

"Likewise." J.D said, looking up at him, her lips wide. "Oh, I never told you how much I liked your costume."

"Really?" He asked and looked down at his red turtle neck and blue sweatpants. "Thanks, I guess, but it's not as professional as yours."

"I'd rather have made one myself than have one made by criminals." She muttered, and stopped walking when he grabbed her upper arm. She looked up at him and though she couldn't see his face, she knew he was confused. She pursed her lips and sighed through her nose. What was the harm in telling him? He wouldn't judge her, he didn't know her. "I was experimented on, last summer."

"Shit." He said, and looked down at her through his misty goggles. "I'm sorry, that must've been tough."

"Yeah, it sucked pretty bad." She responded, looking down at the ground. "But, I got these powers, which come in handy if I want to burn an exam or something without anyone seeing me."

The boy laughed and pulled away from her, but for the first time, J.D didn't mind the contact. 

A police siren in the distance made Spider-Man's head turn, and he glanced back down at J.D, before back up where the siren sounded. J.D smirked up at him. "Go on, Spidey. Save the world, I'll still be here when you get back."

The spider scoffed, then hesitated for a moment. "You wanna come with me?"

"I don't do that kind of thing." J.D chuckled, and he tilted his head. J.D sighed and scratched the back of her head. "I'm not a good guy like you."

"Who said anything about me being a good guy?" He questioned, and she shrugged. 

"Have you seen all the videos online?" She asked with a soft laugh. "You're the city's newest hero."

He snorted, and reached forward, grabbing her waist. J.D let out a small squeak and steadied herself. "Oh well, now you get to see what the 'city's newest hero' gets up to."

Before J.D could reply, he pointed his watch to the sky and shot webbing into the air. J.D held onto his neck and watched as they flew through the night, her eyes wide in awe. She didn't even notice her new companion side-glancing at her every few seconds.

They landed on the ground in front of a smashed jewellery store, and Spider-Man immediately stepped inside, J.D in tow. She curiously looked over his shoulder and activated her powers, becoming unseen. She walked around him and over to the source of the noise, and she perked up when she saw two men stuffing diamonds and other expensive jewels into a duffel bag. She grinned and quietly tiptoed over to them. 

"Well hello there." Spider-Man announced cheerfully, making the two men freeze. J.D fell to her knees silently and crawled to their feet, slowly and silently untying their shoelaces. 

"Who the hell are you?" One of them snapped in a thick Brooklyn accent. "The police?"

"Do I look like a policeman?" Spider-Man asked, almost in shock at the thief's stupidity. "Honestly, first you break into a jewellery store and immediately set off the alarm, and then you assume I'm a cop? Do you have like--a fever or something?"

J.D was barely listening, she was too concentrated on tying the robbers' laces together. When she managed to successfully do so, she jumped back up and stood in the corner, folding her arms and leaning against the wall. She pulled her dagger from it's scabbard and began spinning the blade in her hand.

"Are you threatening me?" The man from Brooklyn snapped, and pulled a gun from his belt. He pointed it at the Spider, who shot a web at it and pulled it back, catching it easily in his hand. 

"Did it sound like I was threatening you?" He asked, tilting his head. "Blade, did it sound like I was threatening him?"

J.D became visible, making the two robbers let out surprised yells at the sight of her. She swung her dagger around in the air, shrugging. "Not that I heard." She took a step forward and stuck the point of her blade at the robbers. "Are you sure you were listening to him?"

"You're just as pathetic." The other one snapped. He was wearing a black ski mask like his comrade, but didn't intimidate J.D at all. "You think I'm scared of a pathetic little girl?"

"Try me." She said dangerously, and took a step towards him, quickly swinging the knife and slicing through the duffel bag. Her swift movements made all the jewels fall to the floor, creating a tinkling sound as they dropped onto each other. She scoffed as the man pulled a knife and held it in front of him. She quickly turned invisible and kicked it out of the way, startling him. Then, she sliced her knife through his belt, and his trousers fell down. 

The sirens had been growing louder since the enhanced had been in the store, and J.D looked over at the door when she saw two men in blue uniform burst inside. Spider-Man looked behind him and cheered. "Glad you guys showed up!" 

"Get on the ground!" One of them yelled, and J.D's eyebrows furrowed when she saw them shove the hero to the ground. Spider-Man scoffed and gestured to the thieves. 

"We did your job for you!" He snapped, and grumbled in annoyance as he was tackled down, his hands behind his back. 

"Who's we?" The policeman asked, confused. 

The two policemen both let out yells of pain when J.D punched them in the face, sending them to the ground. She grabbed Spider-Man's hand and pulled him up, the pair running out the door. 

J.D stayed for a second longer to watch the police inch closer to the robbers, who tried to make a run for it, but didn't get very far, as they tripped over their own feet that were tied together. She sniggered and took off down the street, a cheerful skip to her step as she caught up with her new friend, who grabbed her by the waist again and sent them off into the night. 

J.D and Spider-Man spent most of the night together, talking about the darnedest things. They looked up at the night sky from where they were sitting under a big willow tree in Doughboy Park. Both of them were soaked to the bone and huddled close under the shelter, finally feeling the cold. 

"You know, I don't think I've ever gotten this close to a stranger before." He muttered and J.D chuckled, looking up at him. "And I don't even know your name or what you look like without the mask. You know, hiding the eyebrows is probably a good idea, they say a lot about someone."

"You can't say anything." She rolled her eyes jokingly. "I don't know what any of your face looks like."

He scoffed and reached over to pull his ski-mask off, and he just made it past his lips when J.D stopped him. "What are you doing?"

"I don't want to see you." She decided, and smiled at his frown. "It takes the edge off. Plus, if you're cute, I wouldn't want to end up having a thing for you, would I?"

"You're a strange one, you know that?" He asked, though his thin, pink lips curved up. "I guess you're right. It's kind of relieving to have a stranger to talk to that doesn't know anyone you know."

"We're strangers?" J.D gasped, feigning hurt. "And here I thought we were becoming friends."

"If you want to call it that." He chuckled, and watched as she stood up, brushing herself off. "You going home?"

"Might as well. I've got school tomorrow and I need at least two hours sleep to seem somewhat awake." She responded and helped him up. With one last smile, she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his cheek lightly, before she disappeared in front of his eyes. 

She stayed to watch him blush a beet red, then she turned on her heel and ran into the pouring rain. 

AW CUTE FILLER

it's highkey great bc they both have crushes on each other just the different versions of each other and i'm here like yesSSSS GET SOME FAM

anyway

the next chapter's gon b hella sad so prepare your tissues