Requested by FluffyMadamina; made this cute & fluffy bc my heart is aching to not feel alone anymore and Ned is just <333 he makes me feel better. He's my favorite MCU character and I need something to lift my spirits so it's necessary that I'm writing this at 4 am instead of sleeping :-)

TOMORROW IS UPDATING DAY. A few of you put out there the characters you wanted me to write imagines of, and Ned was one of them. Tomorrow will include Loki, Kylo Ren, Tony Stark, and Peter Parker imagines! STAY TUNED <3

///

Ned was attracted to so many parts of you. Physically you were gorgeous, mentally you were so ahead of him that he felt like a moron speaking to you (and yeah, he was a smart guy. But his mind was mush when he spoke to you.), and your personality, laugh, humor, it was all so addictive. He craved every word you spoke. Held onto every touch of your fingers against his arms.

He was so over-the-top in love with you, and you didn't see it.

There were some days you where you thought, maybe, just maybe.

But how could anyone like you?

You looked at yourself and harsh words formed. Annoying. Ugly. In the way. Burden. Replaceable.

And you believed them.

Peter and MJ didn't see the way your face changed randomly. How you could all be videochatting happily, and suddenly you would feel out of the loop. In the background. Unimportant.

Ned did. He saw.

But he didn't know how he was going to reach out to you. He didn't know how to get his feelings across.

But gosh, he loved you.

He needed you to know. Then you'd see your worth. Then you'd see it.

He didn't care if you felt the same way. He just wanted to see the look on your face when you realized you were wrong all along.

It was Saturday.

Ned send Peter and MJ a text in a group message. He explained his feelings for you, their fourth friend. They gave him their full support and started to send text after text of tips.

From: Peter

Flowers? Those work 👏

--

From: Michelle

she's not the flower type

--

From: Peter

You're right tbh

Write her a poem?

--

From: Ned

Do i look like a poet dude???

Guys i want to do this today. She has had a rough few days

--

From: Peter

She has?

--

From: Michelle

she was acting distant today. & i thought she was mad at us

--

From: Ned

she isn't mad, she's hurting

so how do i do this

--

From: Michelle

ok ok

listen. i got it

just video chat her and tell her that way

--

From: Peter

???

Did we hurt her feelings

--

From: Michelle

think of how happy she gets when we text or call her

she replies so fast

honestly probably

--

From: Ned

That's bc she wants to feel like she isn't disposable

--

From: Peter

Why does she feel like that? 🙁

How did we not know?

We're bad friends

--

From: Michelle

it's just insecurity

ned knows her better than we do

--

From: Ned

you guys arent bad friends

i know how she feels

i was like her when we all became friends. You can't understand how it feels unless you've been the one that's replaceable

Look. She means a lot to me. If i can make her feel loved and beautiful like she deserves then i want to do it. Even if she turns me down

--

From: Peter

Well... She def won't turn you down!! Good luck bro 🤙

Ned didn't waste any time. He opened your contact.

From: Ned

Hey. Video chat?

--

From: ___

yeah ok hang on i'll call u

You'd messaged half a second later. One minute after that, Ned answered your call. He saw you laying on your bed, hair messy.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey." you smiled. "Where are Peter and MJ?"

"It's just us tonight," he said.

"Oh. They didn't want to talk?"

"I didn't ask. I just wanted to talk to you."

You blinked. "Just me?"

"You surprised about that?" he asked, laughing.

"I thought you just liked talking to Peter alone is all." You brushed your hair back. "So what's up? Do that homework for Biology yet?"

"No," he said, "and I am probably gonna wait 'til last minute." He laughed, and you smiled, but it didn't reach your eyes. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," you said fast. "I'm great."

"You're a liar," he said.

Your eyebrows furrowed. "What?"

"You aren't okay."

"I am, and I don't want - I don't want to do this right now, okay?"

Ned sighed. "___, stop. For like two seconds. I know you haven't been okay for a while, and I don't think you should pretend-"

"No," you interrupted. "No, Ned. I have to pretend! Because I can be here for all of my friends, and they're grateful. But talking to people about how much you hate yourself? About how replaceable you feel? That pushes them away."

"I know," he said.

"You know?"

"I know," he repeated. "I know what that's like. I also know how it feels to hate yourself. But dude, you don't need to hate who you are. You can pick every insecurity you have and it wouldn't change the fact that I'm... I'm, like, in love with you."

He held his breath.

And you held yours.

Until you couldn't take it anymore.

"You love me?" you whispered.

"I think you're so funny. So pretty. So smart. And I see how you look at yourself, because I look at myself that way. I'm replacable, too. But you... you're just... everything perfect."

You smiled. "You don't mean that-"

"Dude. I do!" He grinned. "I'm not scared to tell you anymore."

"Okay," you breathed.

"Okay?" he asked.

You nodded. Slowly. "Then I can say... that I think you're so cute it's stupid. And I-I just. I am more scared you'll replace me - you more than anyone else."

"Yeah, I'm scared of the same. Stupid, huh?" He shook his head and you laughed nervously. "So can I come over?"

"Uh, yeah." You cleared your throat.

"I want to be your boyfriend," he said. "But Pete told me to ask with flowers and a poem, so I'd better prepare."

You ducked your head, grinning. "Bring flowers, if you want. But keep the poetry to yourself."

"Okay." He laughed.

"Ned?" you said.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Thank you," you breathed. "For... for making me feel like I matter."

"You do matter," he said. "You matter so much to me. To all of us, but... you're everything to me." He shook his head. "I wish you'd been able to see it..."

"I'm too scared to get my hopes up about things," you admitted.

"I know."

You smiled.

He understood. He was patient. Kind.

And he loved you.

"Come over," you said. "So I can officially accept the flowers and be your girlfriend."

He laughed.