3 months later

The city lights sparkle and glisten beautifully. I can't help but smile to myself as I adjust the blankets spread out across the roof. Tonight makes Peter's and my three month anniversary, and an official year and a half of superhero partnering. So, we agreed to celebrate with a special date night.

Because, tonight, we're going to tell Tony about our relationship. But just to be safe, we're having the date first so if things go wrong it doesn't ruin our whole anniversary.

Still, it doesn't change the fact that my nerves are going absolutely nuts. I slip off the bottom half of my mask and gulp down the chilly night air in the desperate hopes it will help me calm down.

The familiar sound of my favorite superhero approaching pulls me out of my worry. I keep my gaze locked out on the skyline, just soaking it in as he approaches. "Happy anniversary, Y/N." Peter whispers and pecks my cheek as he sets down a pizza box and sits on the blanket next to me.

"Happy anniversary, Pete." I smile and lean into his body. "I was worried you wouldn't find this place, but I wanted you to see it. It's my favorite place to hang out on nights like these. It's always so beautiful."

"Yeah, it is." He mumbles, and I look over at him to confirm a hunch. Sure enough, he's just staring at me. It sends a chuckle spilling out my lips and me to hide my burning cheeks. He starts laughing too and gently pulls my wrists away as he speaks."No, no no. Don't hide; you're too cute for that."

"Ugh, you're so cheesy." I jokingly complain, but we both know the truth. I've never been happier than these past three months with Peter. "Speaking of cheesy, hand me that pizza."

Peter shakes his head as he passes me the box, and I hungrily grab a large slice. "Y/N?" He calls after a few long minutes of comfortable silence. I hum in reply and wait for him to finish. "How do you think Mr. Stark will react when we tell him about us?"

"Probably not well." I tell him honestly as I set the slice down. My suit suddenly feels like it's growing tighter the more I think about what can go wrong. It hurts to think about the possibilities. Because, I'm accustomed to being around Peter, working with him to stop criminals, and having our nights like this. "Screw it. He's probably gonna pissed no matter what we say or do. So, we might as well make the most of it."

There's barely a moment of thought, just a burst of confidence as I yank off the rest of my mask. "Y/N, what are you doing?" He questions in a panic, but all I can do is smile in relief. The whites of Pete's mask widen, and it makes me blush all over again. "Wow. Y-you're--wow."

"What? We've been partners for a year, practically dating for three months, and heck-- I think I'm in love with you. So yes, I think it's time that--" My words are cut off mid-way by Peter, who stares at me in bewilderment, and the realization of what I said hits me full force. "Oh, no. Oh gosh. I actually said that out loud, and now I think I'm gonna hurl."

I stand up and pace over to the edge of the roof, making a point to avoid looking at Peter. "I shouldn't have said that. This was not how I planned on telling you this. I mean, I wasn't exactly planning on telling you anytime soon cause I didn't want to ruin this, but I just got so wrapped up it slipped out. And oh my gosh, I'm really gonna be sick. Please, say something." I verbally vomit as I pace back and forth.

The whole time Peter doesn't move an inch, just remains stiff and unreadable. My heart hammers against my sternum in the billowing panic that increases every second of silence that passes. Tears build in my eyes as I stop and stare at the streets below.

Arms wrap around my waist, and I spin around to find Peter without his mask. Everything around us goes fuzzy for a second. He's so much more handsome than I thought at the masquerade. It makes my feelings for him deepen. I fell in love with the boy under the mask for who he is, but now, I can put a face to the boy who holds my heart.

"Y/N," he whispers as his gloved hands grab my face gently and fingertips brush away the tears, "you didn't ruin anything."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I question timidly afraid to speak too loud unless my voice will crack on me.

"Because I-I think I'm falling in love with you too." He mumbles, and I let out a hiccup of laughter. "I was actually gonna ask you to be my girlfriend, officially."

"Really? You don't even know my full name, and you just saw what I looked like three minutes ago."

"So? The same could be said of you, but you still love me." He tosses my argument right back in my face. Even I have to concede to the logic. "So–what do you say? Be my girlfriend?"

I bite my lip as a hundred intrusive thoughts pound their way into my head. But the voices hush when I look at Peter's hopeful brown eyes. "Yes." The word tumbled past my lips without hesitation—without remorse or panic. "Yes, I'll officially be your girlfriend."

"Really?!" Peter cheers and loops his arms around my waist. I can only manage a nod and laugh in reply, but it's enough to satisfy him. His smile only grows as he presses a lingering kiss to my lips and spins me around. "We really should tell Mr. Stark now, huh?"

"I guess so, but after we finish our date." I tease and drag him back to our blanket, wrapping it around the both of us as we resume our date. "L/N. My full name is Y/N M/N L/N. In case you were wondering." I add after a few minutes of silence.

Peter repeats it like the lyrics to his favorite song; a goofy grin dancing across his lips and a glint in his eyes. "It's beautiful, just like you." I roll my eyes at the cheesiness of the comment, which makes him chuckle and press a kiss to my temple. "Peter Benjamin Parker, that's mine."

"Aww, I like it—Peter Parker." I can't fight the smile that overtakes and plasters itself across my face. Nor can I deny the absolute happiness and content I feel right now—wrapped up under a blanket and my now boyfriend's arms. It's enough to make me forget every worry and just enjoy the moment.

...

"It's gonna be okay. No matter what happens, we face it together." Peter assures me as we stand outside the Avenger tower together. He gives my hand a few squeezes and interlaces our fingers. "Ready?"

I nod and hold onto his hands for dear life. "As ready as I'll ever be." We both offer the other soft smiles as we head inside for our appointment with Mr. Stark.

We find him waiting for us in the living room, lounging on the couch and watching us with a curious gaze. "So, how's patrol going?"

"It's going well, sir." Peter adds, the words muffled from the mask, and I can tell by his twitching fingers that he's fighting the temptation to take it off. "We actually didn't come about that."

"Okay." Mr. Stark says as he set the glass down on the table with a clink and motions for us to sit. "What did you come to talk about?"

"Mr. Stark, we—" I stutter, unable to find the exact words to say, "we're—that is—"

Peter's head turns toward me and tugs his mask off as he finishes for me. "Mr. Stark, we're dating." He says, and the statement hangs in the air between us. Peter and I exchange nervous glances as the seconds tick by like hours.

Tony clears his throat and slaps his hands on my his knees as he stands. "I'd like to speak to you two individually. Y/N, my office."

I nod and wordlessly follow him out of the room with one last look at Peter to offer him a hopeful smile. Although, we both know this isn't going to end in any of the 'good' scenarios we imagined.

The door shuts behind me with a thud. I try to keep myself from dwelling on just how ominous it sounds, or the silence and judgement radiating from Mr. Stark.

"Do you have any idea how dangerous this is? I gave you two explicitly clear rules. I didn't think I asked too much of you by saying no romance and no revealing your identities to the other."

I interrupt when he takes a breath in the lecture, "Sir, if I may say something." He plops down into his seat and motions for me to continue. "You didn't make a mistake. Peter and I make a good team; we work well together and have a unique bond. That being said, being partnered with Peter and getting to know him has been the best thing to ever happen to me.

"He doesn't deserve to be punished for being himself. If anyone should receive punishment, it's me. Because I'm the one who came up with the initial idea of meeting up outside patrol, and I'm the one who pressured him into it." I plant my feet and cross my hands behind my back like Mikey used to coach me when we played Army. It's comforting, and it helps to stabilize the nerves. "Peter Parker is the best thing that has happened to Queens, heck to the world. He's the kind of person born to be a superhero.

"All I ask is that if you want someone to punish, let it be me. I'll remove myself from patrol with Peter, give you back my suit if that's what you want, if it keeps Peter as Spider-Man. But I do ask that I still be able to help out when and where I can."

A small chuckle escapes me as I continue, "It's another thing I've learned from Peter. Because people like us have a responsibility–to help and protect those without our gifts. If we don't, we're just as bad the people doing the harm."

Tony's expression remains unreadable as I continue on, knowing he's still angry. "I know nothing I can say will help this situation. We lied to you, and you have every right to be upset with us. But Peter and I have made a better team since we started getting closer. It's impossible to ignore that. And I want you to know, I care about him. More than I can explain. So I will take whatever punishment you give. Heck, I'll take it willingly, but only if you leave Peter out of it. This is his dream; and even though it's mine too, it would kill me to be the reason he lost it."

Mr. Stark watches me for a long hard moment. I hold my breath in some desperate hope it will hide my nerves. "Okay." He states and holds his hand out. "Hand over your suit. I'm pulling you off patrol until further notice. Until I change my mind, you'll be joining me in tech development."

"And Peter?" I question hopeful that I'll be taking the brunt of the punishment.

"That's for him and I to discuss." He tells me with a tone that tells me not to question him further. "I'll give you a moment with Peter, but I expect your suit to stay here. Send him in when you're done."

I nod somberly. The dream of Peter and I being Avengers together now seems faded and out of reach, but it doesn't feel impossible. Still, there's a different dream that's taken its place. A dream of Peter being in my life—of being happy.

His head perks up as I round the corner. There's a hopeful glint in his eyes that makes me feel a little better. Although, it drops when he sees my slouching shoulder and twitching fingers. "Do I wanna know?"

"It wasn't that bad." I tell him with a soft smile. "I'm off patrol indefinitely. Mr. Stark is assigning me to work tech development with him, and he's taking my suit for now."

"I guess our 'Avengers Adventures' will have to wait." He whispers with a bitter chuckle. "And this way, we can have real date nights. I can take you to the movies, to meet Aunt May, and to our school dances. Maybe it will be a good thing."

A laugh escapes my lips as I brush away the tears. "How is it you're even real, Peter Parker?" I question and let out a sigh as he pulls me into his warm chest. "I should go. I still have to leave the suit and get home. Let me know what Mr. Stark says?"

"No, stay. I'll walk you home." Peter insists, but I shake my head and peck his cheek, which makes him crumble. "Fine, but call me when you get home. And coffee in the morning?"

"Sure thing, bug boy." I whisper him and offer encouragement before he faces Tony. He keep his arms wrapped around me and rests his chin on my head for a long moment. It's another quiet moment that brings a smile to my face as I nuzzle into him and his crazy amount of warmth. "Night, Pete."

"Goodnight, Y/N." He whispers into my hair and lets go. My heart swells in happiness at the thought of spending more time with him, especially without superhero obligations to interfere.

It helps dull the pain of taking off the Phoenix suit for what could be the last time.

I just remind myself it will be okay. Like my mum always says, "Everything happens for a reason." Mr. Stark may be taking it away, but my relationship with Peter is still intact. And if I'm meant to be Phoenix–to be something special–then I'll earn it back.

Maybe this is all for the best. I just have to trust Mr. Stark's judgement. Even if there are times it doesn't make sense, I have to have faith.

It's the thought that repeats in my head and keeps the tears at bay as I wind through the quieting New York streets home.