𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤

A Hero's Flaw

Parings → Peter Parker x Reader

Warnings → angst, fluff, bickering

Summary → Peter Parker and Y/N, classmates with clashing views on Spider-Man, constantly bicker until they unexpectedly start dating. When Y/N discovers Peter's secret, their relationship is tested, leading to love, trust, and acceptance.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★

You sat at your usual lunch table, picking at the corner of your sandwich. MJ was engrossed in her sketchbook, adding tiny details to a scene that only made sense to her. Ned was, as usual, scrolling through some Reddit thread about Star Wars theories. And then there was Peter, sitting directly across from you, stealing glances at you between bites of his apple.

Peter Parker. Your classmate. MJ's friend. By default, your friend. Except you weren't sure "friend" was the right word when all you ever did was argue.

It all started a month ago.

You had been lamenting over the state of your mom's flower shop-crushed display racks, smashed windows, and shattered pots after a Spider-Man fight. You weren't exactly his biggest fan before, but that incident sealed the deal. Since then, any mention of Spider-Man sent you into a tirade, and Peter, for reasons unknown to you, always felt the need to defend him.

"Y'know, I don't get why you hate him so much," Peter started, leaning forward on the table. "He's literally out there saving the city."

"Oh, please," you snapped, glaring at him. "Saving the city? More like destroying it in the process."

MJ smirked but didn't look up from her sketchbook. She always found these debates amusing.

"He's trying his best!" Peter argued, raising his hands defensively. "It's not like he plans to wreck things. Do you know how hard it is to fight a supervillain while keeping everything intact?"

"I don't care how hard it is, Peter. He's supposed to be a superhero. If he's going to throw someone into a building, maybe pick one that's already abandoned!"

"Buildings aren't labeled 'abandoned,' Y/N!" Peter shot back, his voice rising slightly.

"And who asked you to be Spider-Man's PR guy?" You retorted, crossing your arms.

"Someone has to defend him against unreasonable critics!" Peter huffed, his cheeks flushing.

Ned let out a low whistle, leaning back in his chair. "Here we go again."

"Okay, but seriously," Peter continued, pointing a finger at you. "You're ignoring all the good he does. What about the times he's saved people? The bank robberies he's stopped? The kids he's rescued from burning buildings?"

"Yeah, and what about the innocent people he's hurt in the process?" You fired back. "My mom's flower shop was destroyed, Peter. Destroyed! And all he did was yell, 'Sorry!' like that would magically pay for everything."

Peter winced at that, and for a brief moment, you thought you'd won. But then he leaned forward, his brown eyes narrowing.

"Well, maybe if you knew the first thing about being a hero, you'd understand that sometimes sacrifices have to be made!"

"Sacrifices? Oh, so now my mom's livelihood is a sacrifice?"

MJ finally looked up, raising an eyebrow at the two of you. "You guys do know you sound like an old married couple, right?"

"WHAT?" You and Peter shouted in unison, your faces burning.

Ned chuckled. "I mean, she's not wrong. The bickering, the tension... it's classic rom-com material."