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MJ has never been one for school dances. However she always seems to find herself attending them.
Whatever, it's not like there is any societal pressure in showing up as friends with Ned. It's easy being around Ned. They're friends, no unanswered questions. Rather blunt, an awkward sort of blunt that she can appreciate. However; that only goes so far. Sometimes whenever Peter is brought up he goes quiet. The second he has to leave, Ned will try to ramble about how sick Peter is or some sort of personal family problem. MJ is sure there is more to the story. About 67% sure.
MJ knew she couldn't turn down a 90's themed prom dance. She's enjoying herself, a lot of fast paced techno music surrounded by all her friends. Well, besides Peter. He said he'd show up with Ned later, but she knew even as he said that chances were big he wouldn't be going. She'd honestly be shocked if he stuck with his plans on going to the school trip to Europe in two weeks. If he goes, that almost throws her whole theory on him being Spider-Man out the window.
Almost.
Brad comes up to her and gives her a friendly smile. "Cool prom, huh?"
She gives him a tight lipped smile, one that doesn't entirely reach her eyes. "Yeah, it's great."
Brad raises his voice a little so she can hear him over some hip hop song that's now blasting over the auditorium. "Are you thirsty? I can get you something to drink?"
MJ is about to answer when she notices her phone buzzing. Perfect timing. Don't get her wrong, Brad is a nice guy and she likes him just enough, but she is a little worried he might like her a little more than she likes him.
"Actually I gotta..." She pulls her phone out and gestures to it, to which Brad gives her an understanding nod.
"Be right back." MJ says to Ned, but she doesn't even think he heard her. He's off in his own world, doing some robotic dance, very off beat.
Peter runs into the school. The last thing he wanted was to get sidetracked, he had fully intended on making it in time with Ned to the prom, but he can't just ignore his duties either.
This school trip can't come soon enough.
Peter is fumbling with his tie when he hears a familiar voice by the lockers. Is that MJ?
"No I get that." Silence. "I told you ahead of time I was only working till 5 tonight!" Peter slowly approaches her. Definitely MJ. He can barely see her because of her back being turned. She sighs deeply, "It wasn't an attitude. I was just saying." More silence as he sees her put her hand through her hair, "I need this job! I've told you that much before. I should be allowed to take off early every now and then though." MJ finally turns around and spots Peter. His breath nearly catches, she looks beautiful. A purple dress, with her hair straightened. He has to remind himself that now isn't the time to be checking her out. She looks upset.
She seems to collect herself a little however, "Yeah, I can do that. Ok thank you." She hangs up and doesn't waste a second before turning her attention towards Peter. "You actually showed up." He laughs a little, "Yeah well traffic was crazy." He proceeds to walk closer to her. "Are you ok?"
MJ half smiles before pocketing her phone in her bag and scoffing. "Yeah, just my boss being a royal pain in the ass." She deadpans. "According to him it's illegal for me to work from 3:30 to 5. It's easy enough for him to gloss over the fact that I work more hours than him. I came in right from school and worked an hour and a half while he sat on his ass yelling orders, plus I gave him a heads up and..." She rants, before her eyes go a little wide and stopping herself. "Sorry, I'm rambling. But really I'm fine."
Peter is quick to shake his head, "No it's fine. I get it. I mean, my aunt has work troubles too."
MJ nods, and looks down at the ground, still looking lost in thought. "I need this job. It's like I know he isn't going to fire me because he'd be shooting himself in the foot. I'm his best worker. I'm going on 17 and yet I'm still pulling double the hours-" "Uh." Peter cuts her off. MJ looks up, and they're both looking eachother in the eyes. "I'm probably one of the last people you'll ever need to explain yourself to."
She gives him a smile. A smile he has seen on her only a handful of times. He's probably fooling himself into thinking this, but sometimes he thinks that smile is reserved only for him. That's probably wishful thinking on his part. He doesn't know. She can be so hard to read sometimes.
He wants to help her. He can tell she is still overthinking. Something comes over him, "Wanna go dance?" He asks, pointing towards the direction of the auditorium.
MJ is caught off guard. Her heart is still racing but for a completely different reason now. Damn it, he's the only person who can do that to her. But she can overhear the lyrics, she notices that there is now a slow song.
"Look into my eyes, you will see, what you mean to me."
Cheesy, but come to think of it she has heard that song before.
"Y-you mean like j-just us?" MJ stumbles out. Peter's eyes widen to a damn near cartoonish degree. He must have just noticed the song that is being played in there. He fumbles his hands around in his pockets, "I-I oh I didn't even realize. I um-"
Something overcomes MJ, she's not entirely sure what exactly. "Friends dance to slow songs too sometimes?" She tries to pass off as a nonchalant observation. "And I mean, we're friends so." She awkwardly shrugs. MJ can't even really comprehend what is coming out of her mouth, all she knows is if she's getting a chance to slow dance with Peter Parker, she'd be an idiot to pass it up.
The room is dimly lit with blue and purple hues as Peter tries to remember what exactly May showed him about slow dancing. She's taller than him, not by much. That won't make him mess up will it? He feels the biggest lump in his throat as MJ gives him a small nod.
He goes in without thinking. He knows if he thinks he might pass out from nerves. He gets closer to her and places his arms around her hips, resting his head on her as he notices her arms go around his neck and buries her head on the crook his neck. Their height difference is comfortable. She really isn't that much taller than him the more he thinks about it.
"Look into your heart, you will find, there's nothing there to hide."
"Thank you." She whispers, in a rare vulnerable moment she's letting him be apart of. She sounds like she's almost fighting back tears. He holds onto her all the tighter in that moment, begging internally that he really is helping her.
"Take me as I am, Take my life, I would give it all I would sacrifice."
He went from being completely overwhelmed, to feeling as though no one else were in the room. He can no longer feel Brad's eyes burning towards the back of his head; he doesn't notice Flash obnoxiously livestreaming the whole prom to his bot followers.
It's just them that matters.
MJ abruptly pulls back, looking him in the eyes. "I'm sorry, by the way. I'm not trying to ruin the prom or anything. I think I'm just tired and overworked."
"Oh, no no no. You're not ruining it at all."
"You better not be lying again." She teases. Peter fakes offense, "And when have I ever lied to you?"
MJ gives him her signature smirk, "Just don't think any of this means I'm in love with you, Mr Ego Parker." Peter laughs, "It's like you said, friends slow dance all the time."
She nods, then gives him a look. A look that gives him more questions than answers. She politely smiles then leans back into him.
If he can slow dance with her, then maybe he really can pull off this Eiffel Tower plan of his. He's still in the rough draft phase of it, but he's liking the progress he made tonight. Maybe there's a real chance with her.
".....So that flower, the black dahila, is it still your favorite?"
"Don't tell me it's not worth fighting for. I can't help it, there's nothing I want more."
"Your eraser is already down to the size of a nub." MJ points out, one eyebrow raised. "What are you even writing?"
"Just my homework." Peter sighs, "For Ms Warren's class, due tomorrow."
"I still can't believe you had the balls to assign yourself into her class when Dell's class was fully open. You know she's a full blooded Team Mysterio?" "Which is exactly why I keep erasing. It needs to be perfect or she could falsely fail me for spelling my name wrong."
MJ smirks, "I still can't get over the fact that someone broke into the art class just so they could change your name into 'Peter Porker'."
"I can." Peter smiles a little, but it falters. MJ knows Peter is more inclined to be optimist in the relationship, but he can only do that for so long; especially when so much of the world is wanting nothing more than to see him fail. MJ rubs her hand on his knee, "It'll be ok. You know that, right?"
"Of course." He quickly snaps his eyes up to meet hers, "Of course I know that. I'm sorry I guess I'm just..."
"Anyone ever tell you that you apologize too much?" She teases. "You're worried." She finishes for him, "And there's nothing wrong with feeling that way."
Peter bites his lip, "I just, I fully believe in that we're gonna get a fresh start. I really do. We'll get out of here and just move on. You me and Ned." He shakes his head and takes a deep breath, "It's just the getting there that I'm not too excited about."
"It sucks." She agrees, "High school sucking is nothing new though." Everything in her wants her to warn Peter. Wants her to remind him that things may not go their way even when they're out of high school. But right now she figures that's the last thing he needs to hear.
She'd give her life for him, so it's easy to simply tell him what he wants to hear. Whatever they go through, she'll make sure they go through it together.
"You know it's true, everything I do, I do it for you."
Betty is having a Halloween party, which was heavily advertised since there would be no parents at home. If Peter was being honest with himself, he really didn't want to go. He's not too happy with her for working with J. Jonah Jameson. you know, the man who helped ruin his and most importantly, those closest to his lives. But Ned really wanted to go and practically insisted he and MJ go too. Peter is starting to suspect Ned may still have feelings for her, but he keeps to himself since he knows Ned would deny it.
He and MJ managed to escape from the crowd though, in a small room that had it's own small wine cellar. That was when MJ asked Peter if he ever has gotten drunk before. He hadn't, she asked him if he would like to and said if he wasn't interested, she would drop the subject. Long story short, he was interested. He needed this, no adults were around and for once he is going to allow himself to not worry about anything.
Peter knew he was drunk the second he stopped second guessing the words coming out of his mouth. First came the giggling, the games, the falling over one another, that then lead to wanting nothing more than to be close. "You taste so good." Peter heavily whispers in between kisses. They're on a couch and he's leaning over her. This was the furthest they have ever gone, Peter's hands going underneath her shirt, and MJ's hands rubbing his neck up and down.
"Never leave me." She whispers, "Never ever ever, ok?" She begs, as she breaks off their kisses and rubs her head into his neck.
"God baby, never." They really aren't too big on pet names when sober, that sealed it.
MJ begins humming a familiar tune. Peter giggles, "What's that?" He whispers, laying down briefly next to her. She playfully smacks his arm, "Our soooong, you jackass!" MJ answers in between giggles. Peter winces, "We have a song?" He thinks on it for a moment, and through his hazy thoughts he remembers.
"Bryan Adams!" He yells, before starting to babble. "I just didn't think to count it because we weren't a couple yet and because we weren't a couple yet I didn't count it."
"It was a magical night dumbass!" MJ slurs.
"It was." Peter agrees, as he begins to leave a trail of kisses on her neck, when she speaks up again. "Remember what we talked about wanting to do the other day? But then-but then didn't? Because my dad came home early?" This is when Peter pulls himself off of her and looks her in the eyes, a look that simultaneously looked dazed, but completely understanding too.
He blinks, "I-I....you're ready?"
She nods, but then has a bit of sobriety coming over her. "But only if you are too."
"Uh...uh huh." He smiles, then clumsily makes his way over to the door to make sure it's locked. Once that's done, he runs back over to the couch, "I brought protection just in case."
After that, not much else was spoken between the two. The only words muttered was Peter asking frequently if she was ok. She was more than ok.
"There's no love like your love."
Peter knew letting her go was the right thing. She was better off. Ned was better off. But it hurt like hell. After getting his GED, he got into Empire State, where he met Gwen Stacy. He liked her. The thing was, he liked her a lot. Cared for her. But there was a problem.
He was always comparing her to MJ. He still loved MJ, so he couldn't fall in love with Gwen. It wasn't fair to her. They lasted for 2 years, but their relationship was rather off and on. They remained on good terms.
After Gwen he met a woman named Felicia Hardy. She was very different from both MJ and Gwen. He didn't have to worry about her, he knew she was capable of handling things should they go dicey, so it was nice. But once again he found himself comparing her to MJ. They probably wouldn't have lasted either way, she seemed to fall more in love with Spider-Man than Peter Parker.
After college Peter has tried to focus more on himself. He did eventually have to sell his soul and work for The Daily Bugle. The pay there is bullshit, but it's at least enough for him to be able to afford his rent. Plus he works on the web design stuff, which he can easily do from home, so he rarely has to look J Jonah in the face, it's a win win.
"And no other could give more love."
"There's nowhere unless you're there. All the time, all the way."
MJ sighs as she turns her car radio off. She's not sure why, something about that song gets under her skin. She noticed it as it played when her dad married her step mother 3 years ago. When that song came on, she had all these unexplained feelings. Memories? Probably not, she has always had a good memory. But there's just something about it that makes her unable to listen to it.
She parks her car in the book store parking lot, and notices her phone going off. She really has no interest in checking it. She spent the last 4 years at MIT growing as a person and experiencing what the world has to offer. She's sick of her family and friends trying to tell her she's taking her life in the wrong direction. She got out of New York for college, now that it's done she can do her journalism anywhere she wants.
MJ makes her way into the book store and scans for something new. She's tired of the same novels over and over again. She looks over towards the door when a young man who looks to be about her age walks in. 'Cute', is her first thought. Then she mentally slaps herself. None of that right now. After a 3 year long relationship she can't be getting back into that. 8 months isn't long enough to move on.... right?
The guy is giving her a wide eyed puppy look. Almost like he recognizes her? Weird. She tries to think nothing of it as she continues to scan.
"Hi." A voice speaks beside her, and she looks to her left and sees the same guy right there. She gives him a friendly smile, even if all she wants to do right now is shop and not talk to a random stranger. "Hey." She gets a better look at him, he has to be around her age. He looks no older than 22ish, 23ish.
"This might sound a little weird, but do you know who I am?" She tilts her head, "Uh...sorry, can't say I do. Did we go to the same school or something?" She asks, trying to get an idea if they're really around the same age or not.
"Uh...I just meant um." He seems to try to gain some composure back. "I went into your work place like 5 years ago? It was like Peter Pan's donut shop?"
Peter genuinely wasn't expecting to run into her. He only came here to fill in a job application. He's been applying almost anywhere. The more work he's getting the sooner he can stop working for The Bugle. Her eyes grow wide suddenly, "Oh, you were the customer that asked about me going to MIT right?"
"Yeah." His smile meets his eyes, he's genuinely happy there's a part of her that can remember him in some capacity. "Now I remember." She nods with a knowing smirk. "Hard to forget a customer like you. You looked lost that day, I kept almost expecting for you to ask for directions or something."
'You don't know that half of it, and thank god for that.' He thinks to himself. "Well anyways I uh, just saw you and had to be sure you were the same person." He laughs a little, "Sorry if I bothered you." She waves nonchalantly, "It's fine. Don't worry about it, Peter."
He walks away before stopping himself. What... what? He turns around, "How do you know my name?" She looks back up, "You.... told me your name? It stuck out to me because usually customers don't tell me their names, it's not like I was working at a Starbucks."
Peter mentally slaps himself. Of course. "Right right, sorry." "Anyone ever told you that you apologize too much?" She replies, smiling at him.
Peter smiles. That's some deja vu right there. "Right uh...have a good day." He awkwardly stumbles away and heads towards the exit, completely forgetting about the application he meant to fill in.
Knowing that she's happy is more than enough to make his day. At least that's how she appeared, and for now that's enough for him. She moved back to New York? He wasn't expecting that. If he were braver maybe he would've asked her innocently to meet up with him at some time for a coffee or something, but he's not about to back track. He needs to let her go. He'll never forget the look on her face when she was plummeting to her death. The way she looked at him. The way that had Peter 3 not been there he would've lost her that night. He still gets nightmares, so many what if's from that night.
He loves her too much to put her back in danger.
"I'd fight for you. I'd lie for you."
One year later, MJ is thriving. Her journalism career has taken off, she has everything she could ever want for herself. Her own home, a great job, good friends and closer to her family again.
So why is there an empty space? She knows she has everything she could ever want. Right?
One night, MJ is waiting at a restaurant for a blind date. One of her friends set up her; so annoying. She figured she might as well just do it though, hell what could it hurt. Sounds like a terrible idea though. As she waits for him, she plays with her napkin anxiously. That's when she notices shaking. A very violent shaking. What the hell? An earthquake in New York? Or is this another alien invasion or some other crazy shit?
Herself and all the other restaurant patrons hide under their tables, and the shaking lasts for another minute until it settles. She takes a second to catch her breath, before peaking back over the table. Anxious chattering echoing through the restauring but it looks as though things have mostly settled.
MJ sighs and takes her seat again. That's when she starts to feel weird.
Peter makes his way into the restaurant, just grateful the shaking didn't get too out of hand.
"Uhh, blind date?" He says to the server, to which he is lead to his table to find.... oh god.
He is met with MJ looking up at him, with wet eyes. Of all the people in New York? Really? "Peter?" Peter tries to play it off and laughs a little, even if his heart is racing. Maybe one small blind date can't hurt, but he can't let it go further than that. "Yeah crazy. We seem to keep bumping into eachother."
"Peter." Her breath is heavy, "Oh my god I remember."
He shakes his head disbelievingly, "Yeah first the donut shop, then the book shop now here."
"I remember everything." Her eyes are piercing through him, to which he feels his heart stop. There's no way. Dr. Strange's magic has to still work right? Unless...oh god unless that shaking was Dr. Strange reversing some sort of spell or something? Peter remembers the shaking the first time he did a spell. So that's what that shaking was just now?
"Uh.....remember what?" He asks, trying to play dumb. "Peter you told me you'd find me and explain everything. You found me but then just.... stopped there." Peter can see her hands are shaking. "Why? Why didn't you tell me? Do you have any idea how crazy I have felt for years? Not knowing what exactly was bothering me? Do you realize how that made me look?"
He has a lot of explaining to do. It doesn't stop with her too, oh god, if he ever bumps into Ned again he knows he's going to have a lot to answer for as well.
Peter took MJ outside of the restaurant and they went on a walk. He explained everything, from beginning to end. Why he did what he did, and he just hoped he could leave tonight without her hating him.
They eventually sat down on a bench. "Well... I get why you'd keep that to yourself in that case. I still don't love it." MJ says, playing with the bench handle and keeping her eyes glued to the ground. "I am so sorry MJ, really I am. I promise if it wasn't so complicated you would've known through me." She nods, "I believe you." She replies, before adding, "But there's one thing about what you just said that I refuse to accept and it's the part where you said you can't be in my life."
Peter begins to shake his head, "MJ, no. I won't let you put yourself in danger ever again."
"That's not your choice!" She yells, "That was my choice to make and you've been taking it from me for years now !I won't let you take it from me because from what you said you still love me, right?" She asks, her eyes glossy with unshed tears.
He looks at her for a moment, then nods. "Of course I do."
She nods and grabs his hand, "How is that fair to you Peter? You're human, you can't be trying to carry the whole world on your shoulders. I'm right here right now telling you I want to be with you. I told you I wasn't going anywhere and I know I meant it when I said it."
Peter gives her a look before sighing and asking for her phone. "I'm going to give you my number. I don't want you making a big choice like that in one night."
"Peter-"
"MJ I'm serious." He sternly states, before putting in his number in and giving it back. "Please, I'm begging you to think on it. Take a month. We can text, facetime, things like that. I want to get to know you all over again because you've had a lot going on and so have I. I want us to get to know eachother all over again." He stands up from the bench. "If next month once things have settled you still wanna try this." He does the Peter Parker shrug and gives her a smile, but she can tell he is hiding a lot of pain behind it. "Then maybe, ok?" She considers his words for a minute, then nods before he leaves.
They do just that. They spend the next month texting eachother often, facetiming, creating new inside jokes between the other. A lot of late night deep secrets shared between the two. They rediscover one another. Their jobs, new hobbies they've gotten into. Their fears and concerns.
MJ shows up at his door a month later, smirking. "Face it tiger, you just hit the jackpot."
It takes a little more convincing than she would've liked, but he eventually saw how serious she was about this. How much he needed to learn to respect how much she wanted him, and respect the fact that he wanted her just as much.
"Walk the wire for you, I'd die for you."
"You know it's true, everything I do."
"I do it for you."