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Midtown High was unusually chaotic for a Tuesday morning, which was saying something, considering a few months ago with the half-blipped disaster thing. Rumors had been flying since first period about something, and now the halls were thick with excitement, speculation, and at least one fire alarm test that definitely wasn’t scheduled.
Peter Parker trudged down the hallway with his backpack slung over one shoulder, flanked by Ned and MJ. His posture said “exhausted, and seconds away from literally passing out in class”, but his Spidey-Sense was tingling—though, to be fair, that might’ve just been Flash’s voice echoing off every locker in a ten-meter radius.
“I’m telling you, it’s Spider-Man,” Flash Thompson basically announced to his goons, who nodded like it was gospel.
He stood in the middle of the hallway, practically glowing with confidence, gesturing like he was giving a TED Talk no one had asked for. “He’s a local legend. Plus, Midtown is the science school, and Spider-Man? Guy’s got webs, brains, and biceps. It’s pure science and swag.”
Peter blinked. Thinking he misheard Flash for a moment there.
Spider-Man? Coming here? To Midtown? What the—
No. No, he definitely would’ve remembered scheduling that. His calendar was just tests, patrols, and a note from May that said “DO LAUNDRY OR I’LL BURN THE SUIT.” He had not signed up for any school visits, and even if he had, why would he do it as Spider-Man?
“What is he talking about?” Peter whispered, turning to Ned and MJ.
“What are you talking about? You’re the surprise guest later right?” Ned said, almost confused.
Peter’s brows furrowed, tilting his head a little as if he was told a joke that didn’t make any sense.
Ned looked like he’d just been asked to disprove gravity. “Wait—you didn’t plan this?”
MJ gave Peter a pointed look. “Woah, is this, like, one of your ‘accidentally volunteering to almost die’ things again?”
Peter held up both hands. “I swear, I have no idea what he’s talking about. I’m not—he's not coming. I mean, he’s not supposed to? This has to be something else— I don’t—”
He was spiraling a little now. Had Fury sent someone? Was it some kind of Stark Industries PR stunt?
Maybe it’s one of the Avengers, Peter thought, trying to steady his breathing. And Flash just got the wrong idea. Yeah. That’s more likely. Someone shiny and famous. Yeah, that.
Flash threw a hand in the air like he’d just solved quantum physics. “I bet it’s a surprise reveal too. Like one of those Avengers press things. Spider-Man’s gonna swing in during the assembly and we”ll get exclusive content.” He turned to his goon with the phone. “You recording? You better be recording.”
“I’m not even wearing the suit.” he whispered to Ned and MJ. “There’s no exclusive content! The only swinging I planned today was—nothing, I planned nothing!”
Ned gave him a sympathetic pat on the back. “It’s okay, man. Maybe it is someone else. Like... Bruce Banner.”
Mj nodded, “Or Steve Rogers.”
“Or Steve Rogers! Yeah!”
That seemed to calm Peter down a bit. He sighed, letting his shoulders relax for a half-second.
Then the PA system let out a sharp, staticky screech, and Principal Morita’s voice cut through the building.
“All students, please report to the auditorium for today’s special Career Week guest. This is mandatory. Please do not touch the fire alarms again—yes, we saw that.”
Peter let out a deep breath and turned to Ned and MJ as the hallway began to empty out toward the auditorium. His heart rate had slowed down, the initial panic of the surprise guest finally wearing off. At least now, he could think straight.
“Okay,” Peter said, rubbing his temples. “Maybe it’s not Spider-Man. Maybe it’s someone else. Someone normal.”
Ned raised an eyebrow. “Someone normal? You’ve gotta be kidding me. If it’s normal, why would anyone care?”
Peter grinned sheepishly. “I meant someone... less... explosive.”
MJ rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide a small smile. “Yeah, sure, Peter. Like who? Hawkeye?”
“Hey, I think Dr. Bruce Banner is a solid guest,” Ned chimed, “he’s got science cred.”
They walked together toward the auditorium, laughing at their own jokes, but when they entered, Peter’s eyes immediately scanned for open seats. The room was packed, and the only space left was right near Flash Thompson and his goons.
“Oh, great.” Peter groaned.
“Guess it’s the best we’ve got,” MJ said, already walking toward the seats. “I mean, at least we’re not sitting in the back, pretending we care.”
Peter grimaced, but there was no way around it. They made their way over to the row with Flash, who immediately turned around with that smug look plastered on his face.
“Yo Penis Parker! Wow, didn’t know you were one of the cool kids sitting here,” Flash taunted, loud enough for the people around them to hear. He had that usual shit-eating grin on his face. “I thought you were too busy with your… what? Fake internship? Wasn’t sure you could make it to real people’s events.”
Peter shot Flash a tight-lipped smile. “Yeah, well, it doesn’t exactly take up all my time.”
Flash leaned in closer, lowering his voice just enough so the people around them could still hear, but not too loudly to be overheard by the teachers. “Sure, sure. But hey, maybe you’ve got the inside scoop. You’re like, Spidey’s best friend, right? You know, his sidekick or whatever. You can probably get him to sign your fanfiction when he shows up.” He chuckled to himself, clearly proud of the burn.
Peter stiffened, but Ned quickly intervened, scooting so Peter could move a bit further from the bully “Shut up Flash.”
Flash only glared.
The auditorium went silent as the lights dimmed. A low hum of anticipation rippled through the crowd. The stage lights flickered on, and the microphone crackled before Principal Morita’s voice came over the speakers, sharp and authoritative.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome today’s special Career Week guest… the one and only, Human Torch!”
Peter stiffened, his heart skipping a beat. Flash, who had been muttering under his breath to his goons about how cool Spider-Man was, suddenly froze.
“What?” Flash’s voice was barely audible. “Did they just say… Human Torch?”
Peter's stomach dropped. Oh no…
From the side of the stage, a fiery blast erupted, and the crowd collectively gasped as the flames formed into a human figure. Within seconds, Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch, was standing in front of them, flames dancing around his body, his expression cocky but confident.
The crowd erupted in cheers, but Flash’s voice cut through the noise.
“No way. This is... this is the guy?” Flash scoffed, clearly deflated. “I thought it was gonna be Spider-Man. What the heck?”
Peter barely noticed the annoyance in Flash’s voice. All he could think about was Johnny, standing there like it was just another day. Peter had barely gotten used to the idea of being around Johnny at all, let alone being in a room with him while hundreds of other people were watching. I’m so not ready for this.
Johnny was effortlessly charming, his words flowing easily as he addressed the crowd, but Peter couldn’t bring himself to focus on them. His mind kept drifting back to the times they’d spent together—times when it was just the two of them, laughing and talking with no worry. This? was different.
Ned, sensing Peter’s discomfort, leaned in and whispered, “Dude, you okay? You look like you might pass out.”
Peter let out a breath, trying to compose himself. “Yeah, yeah. Totally fine,” he replied quickly, but it was too late—his voice cracked just a little.
MJ, who had been quiet up until now, raised an eyebrow at Peter’s reaction, then leaned in, her tone amused. “Uh-huh, fine,” she said, her gaze flicking between Peter and the stage. “You sure you’re not just a little starstruck?”
Peter’s face flushed at the insinuation, and he quickly looked away, trying to focus on the stage again. “No, I just—uh—I’m just not... used to all this, y’know?” His words were rushed, too fast, and he could feel his heart beating louder as he spoke.
MJ’s smile only grew. “Yeah, okay, whatever you say.” She leaned back, still watching him, clearly enjoying his discomfort.
But Peter was too focused on Johnny, who was up there being effortlessly charismatic. Every time Johnny’s eyes scanned the crowd, Peter’s heart jumped in his chest, and he didn’t know what to do with himself. How is he so cool?
Suddenly, MJ’s voice came again, teasing but this time with a sharper edge of amusement. “Come on, Peter. It’s okay to admit it. You’re totally freaking out right now.”
Peter’s cheeks burned as his eyes widened. “Oh my god, MJ, please don’t,” he muttered, sinking lower into his seat. He wanted to curl up and vanish. He couldn’t even bring himself to look at her, let alone admit how much he was freaking out. He barely even realized his legs were pressed together as if he were trying to shrink into the chair.
“Hide me,” Peter whispered, nervously half-laughing, and half-wanting the earth to swallow him whole.
MJ smirked but didn’t say another word, only giving Peter a look that was too knowing. She’d figured it out—something—and now she was clearly enjoying watching him squirm.
Ned, of course, wasn’t any better. He leaned in and whispered, “So, what’s the deal with you and him?” His voice was low, but the smile in it was wide enough to make Peter’s face burn even hotter. “Is this a... a thing?”
“Can we not?” Peter hissed back, feeling his heart pounding in his ears. “This is so awkward. He’s literally right there, and I’m, like... Right here!”
“Yeah, sure, it’s fine. No big deal,” Ned teased, eyes flickering between Peter’s flushed face and Johnny, who was still talking to the crowd like he hadn’t just left Peter in a complete state of meltdown.
Meanwhile, Johnny had continued speaking to the students, clearly comfortable with the crowd. Peter couldn’t stop watching him, his stomach twisting with each word Johnny said. His confident smile, the way he moved—Peter was trying to maintain his cool, but it was a losing battle.
“Alright, alright,” Johnny said, laughing lightly. “You might not know this about me, but I actually wasn’t always this... well, this.” He gestured to his glowing, fiery self. “I mean, I had to learn how to be comfortable in my own skin, y’know? And I’m not talking about the whole ‘fire powers’ thing. It’s about confidence, and understanding who you are. When you’ve got that, everything else falls into place.”
Peter’s stomach twisted. Johnny was so comfortable in his own skin. How does he do it? How was he so effortlessly smooth while Peter felt like he might explode at any given moment?
“So, yeah, saving the world’s great,” Johnny continued, pacing a little as he addressed the auditorium. “But, you know what’s also great? Not catching fire during algebra class. Or, like, figuring out how to fly without hitting a billboard. Progress is progress.”
The crowd laughed—Johnny had them, no surprise. But then, mid-sentence, his eyes scanned the room and paused. Just for a second.
On Peter.
Peter felt it instantly, like someone had pulled a spotlight over his seat.
Johnny’s smirk deepened just slightly, and Peter practically shrank into his chair.
“And speaking of progress…” Johnny drawled, gaze still suspiciously close to Peter’s section. “Sometimes you meet people who help you figure things out. Who keep you grounded. Or, you know, make fun of you when you accidentally melt a microwave.”
Peter’s entire soul left his body.
“Oh my god,” he whispered, ducking his head.
Ned and Mj were clearly choking back laughter beside him.
Johnny didn’t call Peter out by name—thank god—but the teasing tone didn’t let up.
“Those kinds of people? Keep ‘em close,” Johnny continued, hands in his pockets now as the last flickers of fire disappeared from his shoulders. “Even if they won’t let you live down that one time you fell off a fire escape and played it cool like it was part of the plan.”
Peter buried his face in his hands. “That was one time,” he groaned under his breath.
MJ leaned in, grinning way too hard. “Huh. Fire escape, huh?” she said innocently.
Peter didn’t answer. Couldn’t. He was too busy melting into his chair.
Johnny, meanwhile, moved on with the talk like he hadn’t just casually exposed Peter to emotional death via implication. He started talking about teamwork, and choosing your own path, and being more than your powers—Peter heard none of it. His ears were burning.
Ned nudged him again. “Sooo,” he whispered, “how long has this been a thing?”
“It’s not a thing,” Peter hissed, voice strained. “It’s... an undefined... maybe. And I didn’t think he was gonna look at me.”
MJ just snorted. “Sure, Parker. Totally not a thing.” Then, leaning back with a smirk: “This is way better than Career Week.”
Peter just slumped lower, face in hands. He didn’t even notice Flash murmuring about this whole event being a “letdown”
Peter kept his face buried in his hands, but the noise around him was escalating. People were whispering, laughing, phones were coming out. The second Johnny said his name, the entire vibe of the room shifted like someone had dropped a match into gasoline.
And now—
“Oh,” MJ said, eyes wide with glee. “Oh, he’s coming over here.”
Peter peeked through his fingers just in time to see Johnny Storm stepping off the stage, his signature fire trailing harmlessly behind him in small flickers that sizzled out before hitting the floor.
“Stop. He’s not. He wouldn’t—” Peter was spiraling again.
But he was.
Johnny was grinning like a cat with a laser pointer, making his way up the bleachers row by row like he had all the time in the world. Students parted for him like he was royalty—some leaned in to say hi, others just stared like they couldn't believe what was happening.
By the time he reached Peter’s row, half the auditorium had turned to watch.
Flash, who’d been sitting nearby still fuming about Spider-Man not showing up, snapped to attention.
“Wait. What—what is he doing?” Flash said, half standing. “Is he—he’s coming over here?”
Johnny stopped at Peter’s row, standing a step below them now, hands loosely clasped behind his back like he was giving a press conference. His expression was more polished now, but the glint in his eye said otherwise.
“Peter Parker,” Johnny said, his voice carrying clearly but evenly. “Didn’t expect to see you here today.”
Peter froze like a deer in headlights. “Uh. I—yeah. Hi. I go here. Um...”
Johnny gave him the faintest nod, a professional smile in place. “Right. Midtown. Good school you got here.”
Ned looked between them, squinting. MJ, meanwhile, had her chin in her hand like she was watching live theater.
Flash’s jaw dropped. “Him? You know him?” he blurted out.
Johnny didn’t even look at him. “Mr. Parker and I have crossed paths a few times in community outreach programs,” he said smoothly, still looking right at Peter.
Peter felt himself slowly dying inside. “Yep. Outreach. That’s… true.”
Johnny tilted his head just slightly, still composed. “You know, Peter’s got a surprising number of skills. STEM, problem solving, some hands-on tech experience…” Then—just for a moment—his mouth twitched. “And absolutely no instinct for staying out of trouble.”
The crowd laughed. Peter turned a dangerous shade of red. MJ bit the inside of her cheek.
“You’re enjoying this,” Peter whispered, barely audible.
Johnny gave him a flash of a grin. “A little.”
Then, more loudly: “Anyway, good to see a familiar face in the crowd.” He turned to the students nearby. “You’re lucky. Parker’s sharp. You should ask him questions when this is over.”
Peter buried his face in his hands. Again.
Flash looked like his brain was short-circuiting.
MJ leaned into Peter’s side, voice low. “He’s being so professional. It’s so much worse.”
“Please,” Peter hissed, “don’t look at me. Don’t perceive me.”
Johnny gave a final nod to the row before heading back down the steps, still all business—but Peter caught the quick glance over the shoulder, the tiniest smirk, just for him.
———
Peter had made it twelve minutes into lunch without imploding. That was pretty good, all things considered.
He was sitting in the corner of the cafeteria with Ned and MJ, poking at his sandwich like it had wronged him personally. His brain was still rotting from Johnny’s public callout. MJ had stopped teasing—for now—but she kept giving him looks. Knowing looks. The kind that meant this story was going in the group chat.
“So,” she said casually, “you and Johnny ‘community outreach’…”
“Don’t,” Peter mumbled, face in his hands. “Just. Don’t.”
That was when Flash arrived.
He stomped over, tray in hand, and slammed it down on the table like he was presenting evidence in court.
“Alright,” Flash said, already pointing. “No. No way. You’re gonna explain this. Right now.”
Peter looked up, groaning inwardly. “Explain what?”
Flash leaned in. “Johnny Storm knew you. He called you out by name. Said you had skills.” The air quotes were aggressively overacted.
“Maybe he just recognizes talent when he sees it,” MJ said, not looking up from her fries.
Flash ignored her. “What—did you bribe him? Did you—what—blackmail him?”
Peter blinked. “What would I even blackmail him with?”
Flash didn’t answer. He was ramping up. “Nah, this is like a stunt or something. You begged him to say your name, right? You knew he was coming. You’re not even cool enough to be used for pity PR.”
Then he shoved Peter’s tray aside like it was in his way, food skidding a bit across the table.
Ned stood up. “Hey!”
Peter put his hand out over him, holding him back. “Ned, It’s fine.”
Flash took that as an opening. “No, see, this is just sad. You probably wrote him a letter or something. You got some creepy fan email going? You think that counts as—?”
That was when the air changed.
Not figuratively. Literally. A sudden shift in air pressure, a warmth that rolled over the cafeteria like a pre-storm breeze. Every voice lowered. Heads turned.
Johnny Storm was at the far end of the cafeteria, walking straight toward them.
Not smiling.
Not glowing.
Just moving like a slow, inevitable force of nature.
“Hey,” Johnny said once he reached their table, voice even. Low. Dangerous. “You got a problem with Parker?”
Flash blinked, the color draining from his face. “I—uh—I was just joking, man—”
Johnny stepped forward. Not a big movement. Just enough. His posture was relaxed, but there was a sharpness to it now. A quiet, cold edge that made the hairs on the back of Peter’s neck rise.
“You mess around with people smaller than you a lot?” Johnny asked, voice quiet, calm, deadly. “Or do you save that just for Peter?”
Flash tried to laugh. It came out more like a wheeze. “C’mon man, I didn’t know you were—like—friends or whatever.”
Johnny’s expression didn’t change. “You think I only step in when it’s personal?”
Flash was visibly sweating now. “I—I didn’t mean anything by it. I swear—!”
Johnny tilted his head just slightly, still calm. “Good. Now piss off.”
Flash stood there, frozen, until Johnny took one small step forward—just a shift of his boot on the floor. It didn’t look threatening. But it sent Flash scrambling.
“I’m going, I’m going!” Flash squeaked, grabbing his tray and bolting like someone had pulled a fire alarm just for him.
Silence.
Then murmurs.
Then the cafeteria exploded with whispering.
Peter was still staring like his soul had temporarily left his body. “Johnny,” he hissed. “You just threatened a student.”
“I didn’t touch him,” Johnny said smoothly, turning to him, smile reappearing like a switch flipped. “And technically I’m a guest speaker, not a student, so I’m in the clear.”
He sat down next to Peter like nothing had happened, sliding in so close that Peter instinctively scooted half a millimeter to the side.
“You okay?” Johnny asked, voice softer now, warm again.
Peter stared at him. “Am I okay? You’re making a scene here in the cafeteria!”
“He shoved your tray,” Johnny said. “I’m pretty sure that’s a war crime.”
MJ, chewing a fry, nodded. “He deserved it. But wow, you’re good at that brooding menace thing. It was kinda terrifying.”
Johnny shot her a grin. “Thanks. I try. Mj right? Oh, and Ned, nice to finally meet you two.”
He shook both of their hand, Ned muttering something along the lines of “nice to meet you Torch-sir”, which Johnny dismissed as they were of similar age anyways.
“Why is this happening,” Peter groaned, rubbing his face. “I’m never gonna live this down.”
“Why would you want to?” Johnny said, genuinely confused. “This was awesome! Just don’t tell Reed.”
Then, before Peter could respond, Johnny stood and offered his hand. “C’mon. You’re not hiding in the cafeteria for the rest of the day.” He says, before turning to his friends, “I’ll be borrowing Peter if that’s ok with you guys yeah?”
Mj and Ned waved a hand, signaling to take him away.
“Where are we going?” Peter asked, not taking it.
“I’m doing the full tour. Obviously. I’ve got a whole free afternoon.”
“You’re not enrolled...” Peter hissed.
Johnny winked. “That’s never stopped me before.”
———
Peter had fully intended to disappear after lunch. Maybe fake a stomach ache. Maybe just phase through the floor like Kitty Pryde and cease to exist for the rest of the week.
Instead, he was now walking the halls of Midtown High with Johnny Storm at his side, because apparently Peter Parker had lost all control over his life.
“I mean,” Johnny said, slinging an arm over Peter’s shoulders like it belonged there, “I wasn’t kidding. This school’s kinda cute. You guys have, like, three vending machines. That’s fancy.”
Peter flinched like someone had thrown cold water on him. “Dude—can you not?”
Johnny gave him an innocent look, not removing his arm. “What? You always look cold in these hallways.”
Peter muttered something under his breath and tried to shrug him off. Johnny let his arm fall but kept walking just a little too close, brushing their shoulders every few steps. Peter pointedly didn’t acknowledge it.
They passed a group of freshmen loitering near the water fountains, who all stopped and gawked, mouths partially open, phones very much out.
“—holy crap, they’re talking—”
“—I thought Parker was like, a loser?”
“—they’re actually friends?!”
Peter kept walking, face rapidly approaching tomato-level red.
“This is where we do robotics club,” he mumbled when they reached the engineering wing, voice slightly strangled. “After school stuff. For people who don’t have… PR teams and fan apps.”
Johnny barely looked at the room. His eyes were on Peter. “You built that Stark-level drone here, right?”
Peter blinked. “What—how do you even know—?”
“I pay attention.” His voice was light, but there was something careful in it.
They turned the corner. More students glanced, slowed, stared. One girl nearly walked straight into a locker and whispered, “Oh my god, he’s following Parker.”
Johnny didn’t seem to notice. He was busy fixing Peter’s collar—which had been fine—and saying, “You look good in this jacket, by the way. You never wear this one when I come over.”
Peter slapped his hand away. “Would you stop touching me in the middle of the hallway?!”
Johnny looked delighted. “Why? You getting shy?”
Peter groaned. “I will disappear.”
They passed the library, the lab, the too-cold chem hallway that still smelled faintly of burnt plastic. Peter rambled quietly just to fill the space between all the gawking students. MJ had definitely sent something to the group chat by now. Maybe a selfie with Johnny in the background.
Everywhere they went, voices trailed them like smoke.
“—He’s here for career week right??”
“—They look kinda close...”
“—He’s totally showing him around. That’s wild.”
Peter tried to tune it out. Johnny, on the other hand, seemed unbothered—if not actively enjoying the attention. He walked with a confidence that bordered on gravitational. Always just a little too close. His fingers brushed Peter’s sleeve once. Another time, he fixed the strap of Peter’s backpack like it personally offended him.
Peter swatted him away. “Seriously, stop—people are looking!”
Johnny smiled without apology. “Let them look.”
And that, somehow, made Peter want to melt through the floor even more.
They paused at the stairwell between floors, caught in the hush of soft light through the tall windows. Peter exhaled.
“Alright, I guess this is kinda nice,” he admitted quietly. “I mean—don’t get me wrong, I’m still dying inside. But less.”
Johnny looked at him then, properly. And smiled—not the smirk, not the flashbulb grin. Just something quiet. Something real.
“Good,” he said. “I like seeing where you spend your time. I like knowing what your world looks like.”
Peter turned away before his face could catch fire. “Ew, you’re so sappy.”
Johnny leaned in just slightly, shoulder brushing his. “Aw, but you like it.”
Peter groaned and lightly shoved him. “I tolerate it.”
Johnny laughed, the sound low and warm. “That’s a win in my book.”
They stopped at the end of the art hallway, the late bell echoing faintly through the building. Most students had disappeared into classrooms, leaving the hall unusually quiet.
Peter turned to Johnny, voice low and tired. “Okay. Ground rule.”
Johnny raised a brow, already amused. “Ooh, is this relationship stuff? I love relationship stuff.”
Peter gave him a look. “I’m serious.”
Johnny held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”
“You can’t just—show up out of nowhere and scare the crap out of me in the middle of school,” Peter said, crossing his arms. “Like… do the whole ‘flame on’ thing in an auditorium. Or sneak up on me in the cafeteria— Or! threaten a student like Flash Thompson.”
Johnny blinked. “Technically, that last one was self-defense.”
“Johnny.”
He grinned, shameless. “Okay, okay. No popping in unannounced.”
Peter narrowed his eyes. “Say it like you mean it.”
Johnny pressed a hand to his chest. “I solemnly swear to give you at least twenty minutes' notice before dramatically appearing in your life.”
“…that’s not even—” Peter groaned. “Whatever. I’m not explaining to Principal Morita how you melted the water fountain.”
Johnny laughed. “No promises.”
Before Peter could fire back, a voice crackled over the intercom: “Mr. Storm, please report to the front office. The Career Week coordinator has requested your assistance.”
Johnny gave a long, exaggerated sigh. “Duty calls.”
He turned back to Peter, voice dropping to something warm. “Thanks for the tour, though. I like knowing where you spend your days. Even if I did make half of your school maybeee start writing on the school’s blog post about this whole thing as we speak. ”
Peter rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his smile. “You’re unbelievable.”
“That's why you like me.”
Peter shoved him lightly. “Just go already.”
Johnny winked and backed away with a small salute. “See you soon, Webs.”
Peter froze. “Hey— Don’t call me that here!”
Johnny just laughed over his shoulder and disappeared around the corner.
———
It had been, for the most part, a normal day once again.
Peter hadn’t mentioned anything to Ned or MJ about yesterday. No torch-shaped chaos. No hallway gawking. No dramatic exits. Just chemistry, lunch, and surviving gym without Flash throwing a dodgeball at his head. Cool.
He was halfway through a conversation with Ned about how the school vending machines hadn’t been restocked in two weeks as they walked out the front doors, the spring sun warming the pavement.
“I’m just saying,” Ned was insisting, “if they’re gonna charge two dollars for off-brand granola bars, I should at least get one with chocolate chips.”
Peter chuckled, shifting his backpack. “Yeah, well, the real crime is the school pretending raisins are a fun surprise—”
The words died in his throat.
There was a ripple of noise, subtle at first, like the sound of a crowd catching wind of something interesting. A group of students slowed near the gate. A few others turned completely around.
Ned squinted. “Wait… why are people—?”
Peter followed his line of sight.
Johnny.
Leaning against his obnoxiously fancy car like he hadn’t caused a minor PR crisis yesterday. No flames this time. Just jeans, a fitted jacket, and sunglasses—cool in that infuriating, effortless way.
Peter stopped in his tracks. “Oh. my. god.”
Johnny hadn’t spotted him yet, which only made it worse. There was still time to vanish. Maybe duck behind the senior art project sculpture—
“Is that the Human Torch?! He’s back?!” A girl near the fence stage-whispered to her friend, who gasped, nearly dropping her phone.
Another student said, “That’s definitely him. It’s even his car, look!”
Peter started sidestepping toward the side entrance.
“Oook… Act casual,” he muttered to Ned. “Walk. No eye contact. We never saw him.”
“Wait, is he here for—” Ned blinked, before turning to Peter and letting out a puzzled gasp.
“No confirmation,” Peter hissed. “No theories. No eye contact.”
But Johnny’s head turned. His smile blooming the second he saw Peter, even in the huge crowd.
“Parker!” he called, loud and delighted. “There you are!”
Peter flinched like he’d been hit by a truck.
A few people around them actually turned in surprise. Peter could feel MJ’s stare from somewhere behind them. Flash muttered something like “again?” and shoved past a group of kids to get a better view.
Johnny was already walking toward him, easy and confident like he owned the sidewalk.
Peter’s brain screamed retreat, retreat, but he was frozen.
Johnny stopped right in front of him, peeling off his sunglasses with one hand. “You weren’t trying to sneak past me, were you?”
Peter opened his mouth. Closed it. “I was—just going to—leave?”
Johnny raised a brow. “Without saying hi? I was clearly right there—?”
“I didn’t think you’d be here, I told you remember?” Peter said quietly.
Johnny’s grin softened, less fire and more warmth. “Sorry, no promises.”
Before Peter could answer, someone in the crowd muttered, “Dude, is he and Parker like— you know??”
Another followed with, “Holy crap, they weren’t kidding.”
Peter buried his face in his hands. “Ugh…”
Johnny, smug, leaned in just slightly. “So… Lunch? I already messaged Aunt May, ‘said I’ll drive you home after.”
Peter didn’t answer—but he didn’t move away either.
Peter dragged his hands down his face and turned slightly, guilt flickering in his expression as he looked back at Ned and MJ, who had caught up and were both giving him very knowing looks.
“I swear I didn’t know he was coming,” Peter said quickly, voice low. “I—I thought he had work or, I don’t know, fire stuff—”
“Fire stuff?” MJ deadpanned, one brow raised.
Johnny looked amused. “I like to think of it as community outreach.”
Peter groaned. “I’m sorry, guys, I really didn’t mean to ditch—”
Johnny stepped in casually, still smiling. “You don’t have to ditch anyone. They can come with us.”
Peter blinked. “Wait, what?”
“Yeah, why not?” Johnny said, looking to Ned and MJ now. “You two free? We were gonna grab food. You’re welcome to join. My treat. Just message your guardians though. Incase of an untimely villain attack.” He joked.
Ned’s eyes lit up instantly. “Oh my god, yes. I mean—if that’s cool. This isn’t like, a superhero double date or anything, right?” he asked, voice lowering to a slight whisper.
Peter visibly choked.
MJ, who was already pulling out her phone, smirked. “Free food and secondhand embarrassment? Count me in.”
Johnny tossed Peter a wink, already heading toward the car again. “Come on, Pete. Back seat’s got room.”
Peter sighed like the weight of a thousand galaxies was on his shoulders (or could just be from the sea of students, literally gathered around to witness this moment), but he followed.
They all piled into Johnny’s absurdly sleek car—Peter awkwardly pushing Johnny’s hand off his thigh at least twice—and within five minutes of driving, Ned had already pulled up a list of every decent food joint within twenty blocks.
“There’s this place that does Korean corn dogs dipped in ramen bits—”
“Oh absolutely yes,” Johnny said immediately. “Peter?”
Peter, who had is arms crossed and earphones plugged in mumbled, “Sure. Whatever. Sounds great.”
Johnny elbowed him softly. “Aw look at you, You’re so easy to please.”
“Stop talking, just drive…” Peter muttered, face red.
MJ leaned back, the wind from the open window flipping her hair, and looked smug. “This is better than a movie.”