friday 22nd of january 2016

J.D felt like she was flying. She ran along the apartment roofs in her suit, her hair tied behind her head in a tight bun. Her eyes were slightly watery from the blowing wind and rain, but she didn't feel like catching the bus.

She was moving at the speed of light, or as fast as one could. Since she already had built the momentum, she didn't hesitate in leaping over the gaps between each building, sticking the landing almost every time. She felt the rush as she landed on top of Peter Parker's apartment building, stumbling a little. Her dark blue duffel bag bounced at her hip and she fell to the ground, releasing a breathless laugh as her body hit the gravel.

The pouring rain was hitting her body, quickly soaking her, but she barely felt it. After ten minutes of catching her breath, she unzipped her bag and pulled out a pair of track pants and a grey sweater. After changing, she ran towards the rooftop entrance and jogged down the stairs, pulling her hair out of its ponytail, the dark tendrils hanging loosely around her face.

When she reached number one-hundred and twelve, she knocked on the door and pulled her phone from her bag, texting her Uncle to let him know that she had arrived safely. He'd probably have her head on a spit if she didn't.

"Hey there Little Miss Sunshine." Ben Parker greeted J.D with a grin as he opened the door. J.D couldn't help but smile back, the older man's optimistic nature contagious. "Looks like you got caught in the rain."

"Is it that obvious?" She responded with a small smile and folded her arms over her chest, feeling chilly even though it had just turned spring. "How're you?"

"I'm great, excited for tonight." Ben replied and ushered the girl into the apartment. He was dressed in a maroon button down shirt tucked into a pair of grey dress pants. His dark hair was slicked back and he was practically skipping into the living room. "You sure you're okay staying here?"

J.D dropped her duffel bag on the sofa and tucked her hands in her pockets. "Yeah, it's fine. Herb didn't want me by myself for the night so it all works out."

Ben reached into the pantry and huffed slightly. "I would offer you a piece of brownie but there isn't any left."

"I can make some while you're out." J.D volunteered, and Ben chuckled.

"I'd be asking too much of you, knowing how damn good your baking is. But if you're sure, that's fine too." He said jokingly and drummed against the counter in the kitchen. "You know how the TV works, where the food is, you'll be fine. The boys are in Peter's room at the moment, and May has a pizza in the oven, all you have to do is turn it on."

"Hey, Uncle Ben-" Peter called as he stepped out of his bedroom. He froze when he saw J.D standing by the couch, chatting to his uncle. "Oh, hey J.D."

"Evening, Peter." She nodded at him and turned her gaze away, though he stared a moment longer before blinking and turning to his uncle.

"Uh, I was gonna ask what time you and May were leaving?" Peter queried, his phone in hand. "I thought your reservations were at six."

J.D pulled out her own mobile and saw the time. 5:45.

"Shit, May!" Ben called and May came rushing out of their bedroom in a stunning cream dress, her clutch under her armpit and her fingers fiddling with her dangling earring. Ben's grin widened and he stepped over to her, swinging his arm around her shoulders and pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Together fifteen years and you still take my breath away."

May chuckled and waved at J.D in greeting. "Hey, J.D. We'll be back by eleven, twelve at the latest. Don't let the boys do anything stupid, alright?"

"Not a problem, May." J.D smiled and Peter scoffed.

"You trust her more than your trust your own nephew?" He shook his head and playfully huffed as he walked back to his bedroom. "Low blow, guys."

J.D chuckled quietly and ran a hand through her wet hair, turning her back on May and Ben. She heard the chiming of keys and she felt May ruffle her hair and Ben pat her shoulder. She returned the smile the couple sent her, and though she wanted to feel happy, she didn't. Muttering a goodbye, the door shut and J.D was left in the living room with her thoughts.

She loved her Uncle Herb with all her heart, but May and Ben had a natural parental instinct and she couldn't help but feel completely at home with them. She had known them as long as her family had known Peter, which was at least eight years. May was the only woman she also felt comfortable with talking to about puberty, as she was the only maternal figure in her life. Sure, Herb had the odd girlfriend, but he was too immersed in his police work to give relationships a second thought.

Though Mason spent a little more time at the Parker home, J.D was also there frequently for projects with Peter, so she had become well acquainted with the Aunt and Uncle. She was more than happy to bake at their house and stay for dinner, since she and Mason barely ever ate with Herb, as he was usually working. Both her and Mason thought of the Parkers as a second family of a sort.

J.D sighed and began wringing her hands, something she did when she felt she was thinking a bit too hard about something. Without a second thought, her feet took her to the kitchen and her hands went to the cupboards, where she began pulling out ingredients for chocolate brownies.

She also cared to turn the oven on for the pizza, and soon the kitchen was filled with wonderful smells. Eventually, this drew out Peter and Mason, who both eagerly exited the bedroom at the scent of pepperoni pizza. They both saw J.D pulling it out, a batch of brownies uncooked in a bowl on the countertop. Mason reached over to stick his finger in the mix, but instead let out a yelp at the wooden spoon hitting his knuckles. J.D glared at him, the spoon in one hand and the pizza tray in the other. "Don't even think about it, buddy."

"What movie do you guys want to watch?" Peter asked, changing the subject. He picked up the TV remote and chucked it at Mason, who fumbled with it a bit before grabbing it.

"Why don't we watch Star Wars?" J.D asked as she pulled out three plates. "You still haven't seen Episode Five yet."

"I liked the new one." Peter responded, before a frown took over his face. "Is Episode Five any good?"

"It's J.D's favourite." Mason said, the two boys watching as J.D jogged over to Peter's side and picked up Empire Strikes Back from the drawer, slipping it in the DVD player. "I can't believe a nerd like you hasn't seen all the Star Wars movies."

"I'm not a nerd." Peter scoffed and gave J.D a hand, pulling her up with him. "I've seen the ones with Natalie Portman, if that counts."

"You have a lot to learn young Padawan." J.D patted his shoulder, before walking back to the kitchen and placing the brownie bowl to the side. "You know, there's this astrophysicist that was on the news the other day from New Mexico, she looked an awful like Natalie Portman."

"Probably just a doppelgänger. You see heaps of those these days." Mason responded, already helping himself to food. He was halfway through his mouthful before he screwed his face up in thought. "I wonder who my doppelgänger is. I bet it'd be like looking in a mirror."

"Eat your food, Mason." J.D rolled her eyes and turned to return to her baking. She poured the mix into a tray and placed it in the oven. Her ears perked at the sound of the Star Wars theme playing, and she reached into the cupboard, grabbing a packet of popcorn and placing it in the microwave.

"Aren't you eating anything?" Peter asked, catching her attention. J.D pulled a face and shook her head.

"Nah, I'm not that hungry." She responded easily, and Mason sent her a glare.

"You promised me you'd eat at least a piece." He said and J.D rolled her eyes, shrugging.

"I'll eat some of the brownie and popcorn." She said, and Mason's eyebrows narrowed. "Mase, I ate before I came, don't worry about me."

"Wait, what's this about?" Peter asked curiously, and J.D rolled her head back with a groan.

"Ever since she came back from wherever she was, which she still hasn't told us." Mason began pointedly, and J.D sighed loudly, letting him know that she was almost at the end of her tether. "She doesn't eat much, it's like whoever had her starved her, completely destroyed her appetite."

"She has a name, you know." J.D grumbled, her back still turned to the boys. She could feel their eyes on her, like a hole was being burnt into the back of her head. "And I don't want to share what happened to me, because I already think about it enough as is, and I don't need your extra pity."

She heard Mason scoff, but she didn't bother replying. "It shouldn't come as a surprise that people pity you, J.D."

"We'll talk about it more when we get home." J.D muttered and turned back to the pair, who were staring at her, watching her every move. It was as if the walls surrounding her gained an extra layer whenever someone tried to get her to open up. She would never, ever want to talk about what happened unless she absolutely had to. "The movie's already started."

The microwave beeped, signalling that the popcorn was done, and she pulled the packet out and opened it, instantly welcoming the toasty scent of buttered goodness. She walked past the boys, who had almost finished the entire pizza.

After ten or so minutes, Peter and Mason joined her on the greeny-blue couch, sitting either side of her so they could access the popcorn.

J.D was watching the film intently, her grey eyes cast upon the illuminated television set. The curtains were already closed, so the room was dark and felt like a movie theatre.

When J.D had to get up to retrieve her brownie, her eyes were stilled glued to the screen. She let out a shocked squeak when her foot got caught in Peter's outstretched legs. Before she hit the ground, two hands grabbed her waist and steadied her. She looked over to see his pale face lit up in the white light of Planet Hoth, and she saw his worried eyes staring up at her. "You okay?"

"Yeah, fine. Sorry." She muttered and forced a smile, pushing herself up and quickly retreating to the kitchen.

"Smells good, sis." Mason called, and Peter nodded in agreement.

"You two aren't eating it until it's cooled. We all know what happened last time." J.D said, igniting groans in the room. She placed it on a cooling rack and returned to her seat, careful of Peter's legs this time.

"Wait, so Han and the princess end up together, don't they?" Peter asked, and J.D hushed him, her eyes wide in admiration. Peter glanced over at her and rolled his eyes, though he was slightly amused at how much she loved the film.

"Just watch, Parker." She muttered quietly and took a couple of pieces of what was left of the popcorn. Peter scoffed and turned back to the screen in silence.

+++

"My favourite part wath the bit where they took down thothe walking thingies!" Peter exclaimed, his mouth full of chocolate brownie and his eyes wide. "It wath tho cool!"

"Don't talk with your mouth full." J.D scolded him and he shrugged carelessly as he took another bite. "And they're called AT-ATs or Imperial Walkers. Also, if you liked how they shot them down in this one, wait till you see what happens in Return of the Jedi."

"Can we watch that one next?" The teenager asked quickly and J.D chuckled, nibbling on her dessert.

"Yeah, sure. What else are we gonna do?" Mason replied and jumped up to switch the DVDs.

"Who's your favourite character?" Peter asked J.D, who scrunched her nose up in thought.

"Probably Leia or Rey." She responded. "They're two boss ass bitches."

HEY WEIRD SENTENCE TO END IT ON BUT OH WELL

this is also a big filler so soz and also we needed a little more of an introduction to pete and mason and ben and may so woo that's cool

anyway bye