Always // Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield)

-22- something more

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across Peter's room. Maya sat on the edge of the bed, flipping through an old comic book Peter had left on his nightstand. Peter, meanwhile, fidgeted with a small science experiment on his desk, stealing glances at Maya when he thought she wasn't looking.

Are you feeling okay?" Peter asked, his gaze focused on a beaker filled with a bubbling liquid.

Maya closed the comic book, offering Peter a genuine smile. "Yeah, I'm okay."

Peter scratched the back of his head, a shy smile forming. "Well, you know, I'm always here for you. And, uh, not just in lizard-fighting situations."

Maya chuckled, appreciating the attempt to lighten the mood. "Good to know. So, what do superheroes do in their free time?"

Peter grinned, abandoning the science experiment. "Well, sometimes they just hang out, I guess."

Their conversation flowed effortlessly from comics to favorite movies and  shared interests. Eventually, they found themselves sitting on the bed, exchanging stories and laughter. Peter couldn't help but marvel at how the room, once filled with tension, now felt alive with a different kind of energy.

As the afternoon sunlight continued to dance across the room, Peter and Maya discovered that sometimes the most precious moments are the simple ones shared between friends – or perhaps something more. The uncharted territory of their feelings lingered, creating an air of anticipation and excitement in the room, and the symbiote, still hidden in the shadows, remained an unseen witness to the genuine connection unfolding between two teenagers exploring the delicate dance of friendship and something more.

The room seemed to hold its breath as Peter gazed into Maya's eyes, his expression a mix of nervousness and determination. The air was charged with unspoken feelings, and Peter couldn't contain the realization that his emotions for Maya surpassed the boundaries of friendship.

"Maya,"he began, his voice soft yet sincere.

Maya turned to face him, her eyes reflecting curiosity and anticipation. "Hm?"

He took a deep breath, the weight of his words hanging delicately in the air. "Friends don't look at each other the way we do."

Maya's eyes widened, the unspoken truth sinking in. "Peter..."

"I-I don't want to rush anything, and I know we've been through a lot lately. But I can't ignore what's between us," Peter confessed, his vulnerability laid bare.

A tender smile played on Maya's lips. "Then what are we?"

Peter reached out, gently taking Maya's hand in his. Their fingers intertwined, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. The room seemed to pulse with a different kind of energy – the quiet excitement of anew beginning.

"Something more"

"Peter, are you asking me to be your girlfriend?"

Peter straightened his posture as he spoke. "Yeah, I guess I am." A cheeky smile playing on his lips.

She nodded, a soft laugh escaping her. "I'd like that." 

The room was filled with a delicate tension as Peter and Maya leaned in, their lips meeting in a gentle kiss. The air seemed to shimmer with the unspoken emotions between them.

As their kiss deepened, an unexpected energy pulsed beneath the surface. The symbiote, dormant until now, sensed the heightened emotions and its latent aggression slipped through, casting a subtle shadow over the intimate moment.

Peter, caught off guard, felt a surge of unfamiliar intensity coursing through him. He broke the kiss, a flicker of concern in his eyes as he noticed the change in the atmosphere.

"Maya, did you feel that?" he asked, his tone cautious.

Maya, too, sensed the shift. "Yeah, something feels... different."

The kiss, though initially sweet and filled with promise, had unleashed a dormant force that lingered in the background, casting a subtle but palpable tension over their newfound connection.