TASM Peter Parker Imagines

A Fiery Heart

It's funny- for all the time you've spent in this school, in this city, you'd think you'd learn how to deal with Flash Thompson. He's a jerk, sure, but you're used to him, aren't you? There's no reason he should be able to come up with anything new that would make your blood boil, or at least not like it is right now. However, it looks like your skin still isn't quite thick enough where this one guy is concerned.

Flash leers at you from where he stands in front of his locker a few feet away. "Hey, L/N. You do something new with your makeup today? You might actually not look awful for once in your life." You raise an eyebrow, studiously keeping your eyes trained on the binders in your own locker. "Is that a compliment, Flash? I'm almost touched."

The boy scoffs. "Oh, don't get me wrong, you still look terrible. Maybe I'm so surprised that you don't look like complete garbage that even below average is good to me." You hold back a scathing retort. Honestly, it would be a good idea to just ignore Flash and let his words roll over you- you can tell that he doesn't think about you outside of these few minutes spent insulting you, so why let him get to your head?

Then again, you've been up late at night for the past week, so your patience is wearing a little thin. You feel like a worn, ragged thread, already starting to fray away into nothingness. So, you don't even deign to respond, concentrating instead on getting your books into your backpack before classes start for the day.

Flash, apparently, was looking to get a reaction so he could get some entertainment for the day, and seems disappointed by your lack of response. "You don't have anything to say about that, huh? You know you're nothing to look at?" You can feel your temper rising, but struggle to control yourself. It wouldn't do to lash out at Flash now, especially when you know what a lack of control could bring.

However, you can't deny that your heart rate is starting to rise as Flash continues on. You can hardly hear half of his words over the thundering of your pulse in your temples. Just as you swear that you won't be able to hold yourself together any longer, a hand descends onto your shoulder. Instantly, you feel better- you recognize the sound of the approaching footsteps, the familiar scent of warmth and rainy nights that comes with it. Peter Parker, arrived just in time for you to not completely lose your temper.

Peter taps your shoulder one last time, as if silently reminding you that he's still here and won't let anyone make you feel bad about yourself, before purposefully stepping in between you and Flash. "Give it a rest, Thompson. You're not exactly a looker yourself." Flash frowns. "What's that supposed to mean?" Peter snorts. "It means you're kind of hideous, Flash. What else was it supposed to mean?"

Flash glares, but before he can take another step forward, you link your arm around Peter's, smoothly pulling him away before anything happens. "Let's go." Peter walks with you down the halls, but not before Flash promises the usual array of insults and retribution to come. You can feel yourself stiffen up, but do your best to relax before Peter notices that he's getting to you. However, it appears that your efforts were all for naught- just as you turn the corner, Peter leans closer to you.

"You have to stop letting him get under your skin, you know." You sigh. In the end, Peter will always know you well- maybe even too well, on times like this. Then again, what did you expect? You've been dating for a few months now. Peter knows everything about you, except for one very, very big secret. That secret is different, though. No one else knows, no one apart from you.

"Well, I tried to ignore him, but it didn't work. I don't know, he just bothers me. Like, why can't he just mind his own business and leave me alone?" Your voice raises unintentionally as you speak, and Peter chuckles, pressing a kiss to your forehead as you walk down the halls. "He'll never do that, not in a million years. I love you, Y/N, but sometimes you can be a little too fiery."