PETER 🕷

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OKAY, I FEEL LIKE CRAP FOR LYING TO HER.

Again. It feels like the only thing I've been doing, but I don't know how to stop it. I'm too far along in my plan to win her over as 'myself' (which is working, by the way), and sometimes the situation is too risky for the truth.

Like now.

We got word of an illegal weapons-trade on the outskirts of the city, so the Avengers and I were tasked to go take it down. I told [y/n] I had to go back to my apartment and 'get ready', but really I went off on superhero business.

It's out of my control, okay? I still have my role as Spider-Man to take care of, and [y/n] had to finish up the rest of her experiment anyway. A part of me did wish I could stay with her, though. Just to spend time with her. She plagues my thoughts in her absence, and takes up all my words in her presence.

But, once again, out of my control.

"Jesus, Mcfly, are you listening?" Mr. Stark's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Eyes on the target, remember?"

I was so caught up in my own thoughts, that I completely forgot I was swinging through the air. One of the weapon-dealers had tried to make a quick escape, and I was sent to catch him while the other's took down the HQ. I could still see him scrambling down an alleyway a few paces ahead of me.

"Yep, I'm on it!" I said.

Shooting another web in front of me, I watched as it wrapped itself around the rail of a balcony. Thrusting myself onto the side of the building, I shook the web from my grip, beginning to run on the alley-way wall.

"Going somewhere?" I called out into the dark.

The dealer spun around in fear, tripping over his own feet and skidding to the ground. Before he could get up, I flipped off the wall, shooting a web at his ankles and sticking him to the concrete. Bulls-eye.

Pacing towards him, I caught a glimpse of the time on the corner of my mask's screen. 5:42. Oh no, I'm running late.

"Karen, text [y/n]," I said.

Stopping over the man, I stepped on his back, holding him down. "What would you like me to say, Peter?"

"I'll be there in 30, someone was screwing around on the tracks again, so the train's delayed."

"Message sent to [y/n] Agreste."

"Thanks. Now, can you tell Mr. Stark to come pick up this guy at this location? I've got to get back to Manhattan."

"Of course, Peter."

The man was groaning underneath me, but I had no more time for trash-talk. Webbing his arms, legs, hands, and back, I made sure he looked like a proper cocoon. Couldn't afford him escaping before the rest of the Avengers got here.

I looked at the time again. 5:49. I had about 10 minutes to swing by my apartment, change into new clothes, and swing back to the tower. It was definitely a risky plan, because I'd have to quickly change out of my spider-man suit before she made it down the elevator.

Queens wasn't too far from where I was, so not even two minutes after I'd left, I was almost home.

"Hey Karen, call Ned," I said.

"Calling Ned." After a few dial tones and a narrow dodge of a telephone pole, the call was patched through. I heard my friend's voice on the other end. "Hey Peter, what's up?"

"Ned, I need help picking an outfit."

"For what?"

"My date. With [y/n]. Sorry, I forgot to tell you, I was doing Avenger-stuff." I landed on the side of my building, pushing my window open and clambering inside my room. "I need something nice."

"Wait, back up. A date?"

"No time to back up, I swear I'll tell you everything later!"

"But Peter, this is a big—"

"Clothes, Ned, Clothes!"

There was a pause on the other end, and I stumbled out of my suit. I kept the mask on for the phone call, but quickly shut the drapes over my window. Ned finally spoke again after what felt like a year.

"Okay, wear your nice pair of jeans, plain white shirt, and your short sleeve navy button-up. But don't button it. I'm serious. Don't button it, Peter, you need to look chill and casual."

"Chill and Casual? Yeah, that's perfect. How did you know?"

"If you went on a date with your soulmate, it wouldn't be the kind at a fancy restaurant. I know that."

"Hey! I can take her on a date at a fancy restaurant."

"Peter, you can't afford that."

"Right, true." I threw open my dresser. "Thanks for the help, Ned, but I've got to go."

"Good luck. Don't screw this up!"

"Karen, end the call."

My nerves were piling over myself, and I was definitely panicking. I was going a million miles an hour. I felt like screaming when my shirt got stuck on the top of my head, and I was wasting precious seconds. I couldn't be late for our first date.

By the time I managed to change into my new outfit, put my suit back on top of it, get my backpack, and climb back out my window, it was 5:57. Being a few minutes late was inevitable.

I still can't believe my plan worked. She asked me on this date. Even though she thinks her soulmate is my alter-ego. Okay, maybe I'm a genius. But, like Ned said, I cant screw this up—I owe it to her to make this the best date of her life.

As I swung through the city, I caught a glimpse of a flower stand at the corner of the street.

I should get her flowers.

Flipping onto the pavement, I skid across the sidewalk and ignored confused glances from the pedestrians. Spider-Man is stopping at a flower stand? Spider-Man is next to me? He looks shorter than I thought he'd be.

"Uhhh, here, keep the change!" I warbled, slapping a twenty on the counter and grabbing the nearest bouquet I could find. "Thank you! Bye!"

Oh god, I really hope she likes pink lilies, because that's what I have in my hand. I really need to be better with time management.

When Stark Tower came into view, I exhaled in relief. It was 6:03. Not too late. Landing in the nearest alley way, I checked to make sure there were no cameras before starting to change out of my suit.

Pizza, New York, and a date with my soulmate. I couldn't help but smile as I made my way towards the tower. My suit was tucked away in my backpack, and I had a bouquet of flowers in my hand. This was it. The big moment.

"Karen, text [y/n] I'm here."