TASM Peter Parker Imagines

Our Love Is...

Based on this request: "Reader and Peter are in their 20's and live in the same apartment building. He works as a photographer. She's currently starring in a production of Heathers: The Musical. Reader owns a black and white cat named Sylvester."

Peter Parker is squinting at a brightly lit marquee, trying to figure out how he can make a familiar sign look any different than the scores of preexisting photos already out there on the Internet. A friend of his at the Daily Bugle is reviewing one of the latest musicals to take Broadway by storm, so Peter has been conscripted to get a few shots of the building so they have something to pair with their article.

Truth be told, Peter doesn't know a whole lot about Heathers, but the playbill with its trio of brightly clad killer queens matches the vague murmurs he's heard about it, so that's good enough for him. He takes a step back, trying to fit the logo and a shot of the busy surrounding streets into the same frame. A few more, and then he should be good.

Peter's just about to take his last shot, and then his gaze slips from the viewfinder to rest on the young woman coming out of the theater. She's really pretty, dressed casually in a blue jacket that seems oddly similar to the red, yellow, and green versions up there on the Heathers marquee, and oh my god, that's Peter's neighbor, the one he's been crushing on for what feels like forever, and she's headed right towards him now.

Peter would love a chance to regroup his thoughts and possibly come up with some sort of battle plan, but it's too late now. Y/N L/N is stopping in front of him, and the best he can do right now is try not to pass out.

She arches a brow at him. "I didn't know you were a photographer."

He musters up a weak sort of grin. "I didn't know you were a part of Heathers."

Y/N smiles proudly, which makes a wave of relief crest over him, new confidence eddying around his heart and hopes. "Yeah, I just started a couple of months ago. I play Veronica Sawyer."

She gestures happily towards her blue coat, and Peter feverishly racks his brain for any sort of detail he remembers about the musical's main character. His coworker had prepped him a little bit in case he ran into someone working on the show, but Peter hadn't counted on his questioner being the one girl who makes his heart do loop-the-loops whenever he sees her.

"Ah, right. Veronica. She's the main lead, right? The one who was played by Winona Ryder in the movie version?"

Y/N nods, thank everything holy, so he at least got that right. "Yeah, it's a ton of fun. Are you here with the Daily Bugle? I think I remember them talking about a reporter coming by around now."

Peter shakes his head ruefully. "Only as a photographer, I'm afraid. I don't think the actual interview is happening for another couple of days."

Is he kidding himself, or does Y/N look almost disappointed?

"That's a shame, I'd love for you to see the show." Y/N's face brightens as she speaks. "Actually, you could come tonight, if you want. I'll get the manager to save you a seat, free of charge."

Peter stares at her uncomprehendingly. "You'd do that for me?"

She grins again, and he's lost in her eyes as they shine at him. "Of course I would! You've been a fantastic neighbor. I think I've lost count of the amount of times I've had to ask you to help find my cat."

Peter laughs at that. One of his first major interactions with Y/N happened in the halls of their somewhat crowded apartment building, trying to track down her black and white feline, Sylvester. Peter usually tries to stay away from new people, too used to surprise attacks by villains masquerading as friends, but for some reason he hadn't been able to say no to her. Besides, she always invited him into her apartment for a chat or a cup of tea afterwards, and even on the first day Peter was so hooked on her that he would have followed her anywhere.