Flower Child (Peter Parker, MCU)

An Octopus Stops Traffic

Peter was undeterred by the doors slamming, in fact, he was more motivated than ever. He faced away from the Sanctum and dialed the one number he never thought would exist in his contacts.

Music hit his ears before the person who picked up did. "Dude, what?" Flash asked him. "I'm busy."

"Flash, where's the MIT mixer?" Peter asked, rocking back and forth on his feet. He was slowly re-energizing, and could feel it coursing through his body.

"Why?"

"Because I need to come and talk to someone. I'm trying to get Ned and MJ a second chance at getting in."

Flash, being Flash, asked, "What's in it for me?" Peter rolled his eyes at this, but Flash continued. "I'm risking a lot just talking to you."

Jaw clenched, Peter looked around at the empty street. Ideally, he'd already be moving. "Okay, I will, um... pick you up and swing you to school for one week?"

"For a month."

"For a week," which was more than he deserved, Peter thought.

"... Two weeks."

"Flash, please, come on and help me."

Flash's voice grew more hushed. "You know what I want."

Peter nodded, though no one was around to see his concession. "Okay, I'll tell everyone that you're my best friend. Flash, please help me."

"Cool, cool, cool. So, there's this lady, she's the assistant vice chancellor. You can plead your case with her."

Peter nodded, feeling his plan amp up his body — he was raring to go. "Okay, perfect. Where is she?"

"Oh, she left."

"To go where?" Peter asked, looking across the street like the assistant vice chancellor would suddenly round the corner.

"To the airport."

"Okay, okay. Which airport?" Peter ran down the street and leapt into the air, getting his bearings and heading east.

"JFK, I think."

"Can you send me a picture of what she looks like? I'm going to go talk to her."

"Sure thing, dude. Hey, will you sign my book, too? I bet I could get a couple more people to buy it if you—"

"Flash, I'm sorry, I'm having trouble hearing you!" Peter yelled into the phone. As he found the nearest bridge across the East River, he hoped the roar of wind would make his story believable. Promptly, he hung up his phone.

If she was going to JFK, then Peter would actually have time to change clothes. As much as he wouldn't mind showing up in his plaid shirt and jeans, he wanted to make a decent impression for his friends' sake. And, he also figured he'd have a little bit of extra time, because if there was anything Peter could count on, it was traffic on the way to the airport.

He reached his bedroom window in no time, and was already dialing the next number in his plan. "Northeastern University, Office of Admissions, how may I direct your call?"

"Hi," Peter turned his phone on speaker, and began hastily tearing his clothes off. He bounced around his bedroom and threw open the closet. "My name is Peter Parker, I was hoping to talk to someone about a rejected application."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"I don't," Peter snatched the suit and pants and found that they were slightly wrinkled. He sighed, knowing that would have to do, and began his hunt for a shirt and a tie. "But I can make one!"