Daughter of a Witch

The Dance and Questions

The glow of the city illuminated the streets of New York as Y/n Harkness adjusted her dress for the hundredth time, her nerves humming under her skin. It wasn't like she wasn't used to big events-being the daughter of Agatha Harkness and Rio meant she'd been around powerful witches, Avengers, and chaos most of her life. But tonight was different. Tonight, she was going to her first high school dance, and she was going with Peter Parker.

Peter, the sweet, awkward boy who hadn't quite said they were dating yet, but who held her hand and smiled like she was his whole world, was the reason her heart wouldn't stop racing. They hadn't defined anything, but the feelings were there, strong and undeniable. They had been friends for so long, but recently, things had changed. And now, tonight, they were going to their first dance together.

When Peter arrived at her apartment, all smiles and slightly mussed-up hair, he complimented her in that shy, genuine way that always made her heart skip. "Wow, Y/n... You look... perfect," he said, eyes wide as he took her in.

She smiled, feeling her face heat up. "Thanks, Pete. You clean up pretty nice yourself."

The ride to the dance was filled with light banter, the kind that kept them both at ease despite the undercurrent of nerves. Y/n knew her moms, Agatha and Rio, had been peeking through the curtains when Peter came to pick her up. She could almost feel Agatha's protective aura from across the city, but that was how her family was-protective, loving, and magical in ways most people couldn't understand.

Once they arrived at the dance, the usual awkwardness of teenage gatherings surrounded them. The gym had been transformed with streamers and soft lights, a DJ playing music that was just a little too loud. Y/n found herself enjoying it despite her initial reservations. She and Peter danced, laughed, and stayed close together, their connection clear.

But then there was James.

James had always been around at school, always hovering. He wasn't a bad guy, just one of those boys who couldn't take a hint. And tonight, he was worse than usual. From the moment Y/n and Peter arrived, James kept glancing their way, his eyes lingering on Y/n with a jealousy that was hard to miss.

At first, Peter didn't seem to notice, too focused on making sure Y/n was having a good time. But James, emboldened by the dance, finally made his move. During a slow song, as Peter spun Y/n around, James approached, stepping between them with a grin that set Y/n's nerves on edge.

"Hey, Y/n, you look great tonight. Why don't you ditch Parker and dance with me?" James said, the words laced with smug confidence.

Y/n stiffened, glancing between James and Peter. "James, I'm dancing with Peter right now-"

But before she could finish, Peter stepped forward, his normally easygoing demeanor turning sharp. "Back off, James," Peter said, his voice low but firm. He moved closer to Y/n, protective and unwavering. "She doesn't want to dance with you."

James rolled his eyes, his smirk growing. "What's your problem, Parker? Afraid she might want someone better?"

The tension crackled in the air, and Y/n could feel the shift in Peter's stance. He wasn't just being protective-he was standing his ground, defending her. It was oddly comforting, seeing him like this. She placed her hand on Peter's arm, calming him just a little, but the irritation in Peter's voice remained.

"Y/n doesn't need to be 'saved' by you, James. Just leave us alone," Peter said, his eyes flashing.

James took a step closer, but before anything else could happen, Y/n squared her shoulders, stepping in between them. "Enough. James, I'm here with Peter. If you can't handle that, then go find someone else to bother."