Flower Child (Peter Parker, MCU)

He's There, the Fire Monster of the Opera

Overture — Andrew Lloyd Webber, from The Phantom of the Opera

Lila was still at the refreshment stand as Peter walked into the theater. Despite the emptiness, it was a beautiful scene: red velvet curtains and chairs, gold accented balconies and decor provided an upscale experience. Not the ideal choice though, for opera went over Peter's head, but it was still beautiful.

Michelle was standing by herself, watching everyone file in. She seemed to be taking the setting in herself, observing the same detailing in the theater that Peter did. As much as he and MJ were getting along more the past year, he still had trouble knowing where he stood with her. That didn't stop him from trying to be nice.

"You look really pretty," He said after a moment. Not his best, but the statement was true. She did look really pretty.

Michelle raised an eyebrow at him, a sidelong look sent his way. "And therefore I have value?"

Panic crept into his throat, and Peter's eyes widened in panic. "No. No, that's not what I meant at all. I was just —"

"I'm messing with you," MJ teased, actually teased. She let out a quiet laugh before saying, "Thank you." There was a quick moment before she awkwardly added, "You look pretty, too."

Peter smiled at her in appreciation before mumbling his thanks. Any further conversation was interrupted by Betty and Ned, who were close to the doors and ogling loudly over opera glasses. Apparently, it was a very romantic idea to share a pair for the next four hours.

And strangely enough, MJ seemed to agree. "So, are you and Lila gonna go in on a pair?"

"You mean, like, sit next to each other?"

She seemed rather hesitant to agree, but Michelle took a deep breath before saying, "Yeah."

"Parker, are you in position?" Nick Fury said. The entire walk up to the opera from the hotel, Fury had been intermittently speaking into the device that sat snugly in Peter's ear.

Panicking, he knew he had to answer. "No."

MJ, and Fury, both seemed taken aback by his reply. "No?"

"Why the hell not?"

"No, you don't want to sit next to her or no to the glasses?"

Peter placed a hand over his ear in panic, quickly moving it so it looked like he was adjusting his hair. He shook his head and smiled nervously. "No, no, I'm sorry, I just — I sort of thought you were gonna sit next to Lila."

"Well, luckily there's two sides to these chairs," MJ said, her eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. "I can — uh — I can make sure her other side is empty, too." Her eyes traveled down to where everyone else was sitting, and Peter followed her stare to Brad, who kept glancing back at them and the door nervously.

Peter understood what she meant, and a part of him was really grateful that she said nothing despite understanding. He'd never had confirmation until Brad said that he liked Lila, but it was validating to know that he wasn't the only one that saw it and (he hoped, anyway) disagreed. Peter didn't want to mention it, but he had overheard MJ telling Lila about Brad's crush earlier when they'd arrived at the hotel. He tried to play it cool, but he hung on to every word of that conversation. He sort of thought maybe MJ had mentioned it on purpose because he was so close by (he wasn't going to pretend that he didn't know Michelle knew how he felt about Lila, she was too smart), but motives were soon forgotten when Lila confessed she genuinely had no idea, and seemingly no interest.

"That would be — that would be really cool, MJ, thanks." Peter was going to have to leave within the next minute, if the yelling in his ear was anything to go by. "I'm — uh — I'll go grab a pair now, you're welcome to use them, too."