Spiders come in different Shapes

Rooftop Life

Peter sat on the building. 

This time not as Spider-man. Not because he was done with it, no, he loved it, the feeling of sweeping through the night like an underrated broom, and the look of justice in people eyes when he saved them, but to be honest what Peter loved the most was the feeling that he mattered, that he meant at least one darn thing in the world. That he would be missed if he died. That, and the suit was really comforting and tight. Like being engulfed in feeling without being touched. 

Ever since the spider bite Peter had been going insane as it felt, his senses now so loaded and crazy, it felt like an entanglement of webs. But no-one but Aunt May and Tony Stark new about his autism, and people expected so much of a genius child prodigy that he couldn't show weakness, even if he could never look anybody in the eye. 

So he sat, high up on the roof of a random brick apartment, listlessly putting his strung together fingers behind his head. He wanted to curl into himself and find a hug, and he wanted to stay up there until no one ever bothered him again, until he didn't have to understand people. Instead, he flapped his hands against his chest for a few minutes. 

Peter Parker was content, he had so much riding on himself. To be smart in school, to be Spider-man and witty and cool in disguise, and to be okay in life. It was hard to be this content. He never thought that someone would ruin it. 

His senses sharpened, and a dull throb in his skull screamed danger. His spider sense. As quickly as he could he spun around. 

His heart throbbed but he let out a sharp sigh of relief, the only people up here were to teenagers. A beautiful curly blonde haired girl, with a look of intense sharpness on her face. And a boy with a tall muscular body, and black hair. 

They didn't look all too dangerous to Peter, but anxiety swarmed in his chest. 

"H-hey, what are you doing up here?" Peter hated how high his voice went, and he rocked gently on his feet. 

"We come up here all the time," The girl snapped, "What the hell are you doing here?"

Peter thought about that for a moment, as the wind flew through the girls hair. He could play the pity card and tell them the truth, and about how his Uncle died a little bit ago, and how his young aunt is stuck with him and he is stuck with himself. He could tell them the other truth, and how he is spider-man, playing the heroics card.

"M'not sure, actually," Peter responded with instead. "But I'm Peter...Parker."

Annabeth stared at this boy for a little bit before taking Percy's hand. Peter seemed vulnerable yet strong, but just looking at him made her want to crawl away in fear. 

She was so frustrated, because it wasn't like he was frightening, he was cute. With curly brown hair, and brown eyes, a doe like thing. It wasn't like he had eight legs and dripping fangs. Not like he was a spider. Annabeth shuddered at the thought, spider's had made her heart stop and the world stop and everything stop, since, well, forever. Being a daughter of Athena made her a sworn enemy of the tiny creatures. It was irrational. Illogical. But so real. 

She wanted to pray to her mother, but instead as the wind cut into her side, she straightened up, and just like she did everyday in the mirror, told herself to be smart about things. 

Besides, Percy was desperately trying to calm her, to make her not kill this kid. 

Peter's eyes stared at her nose, not her eyes, but what dipped right below them. He did this as if waiting for their names to be said back. 

Percy leaned in to her and let his lips brush her ear as he whispered, "Hey, is this boy over here a monster? Cause' if he is, riptides in my pocket." Annabeth could feel his crooked smile against the side of her face, and his breath hot against her brain. 

I guess we'll have to tell him our names, so we don't look like complete jackasses. Be polite to maybe-monsters...they're people too? Percy thought to himself. 

"I'm Percy Jackson," A slight lilt in his voice was smoothed over, he was so used to people knowing who he was. 

Peter was getting nervous, and he flapped his hands behind his back. He just wanted to be alone. 

"I'm Annabeth," She didn't want to give away her last name in the chance he was a monster, so his stupid reincarnated form wouldn't knock down her door one day with a knife. "Who are you, Parker?"

"You mean as a person? I don't think I can list all the things that make me me, or make me human. I don't know what you mean, but I like Star Wars," Peter rambled uselessly, then if to make things better pointed at his May the Force Be With You shirt with a small smile. 

"So a nerd," Percy Jackson muttered under his breath. 

"Yeah," Peter said.

"How in the gods did you get that from me saying who are you? I do not mean your hobby, I mean, like..." Annabeth was at a loss for words, but Percy chimed in. "Just like if you were making a Tinder profile."

Peter's head was spinning, he reached forward to rub it slowly. 

"I'm 16, I live with my Aunt May, I live in Queens, I go to midtown high, I have a Stark Internship," I'm Spider-man, everyone hates me, I have little friends and are in hopes of finding more, I have autism, I have anxiety that keeps me from understanding social norms. 

"HOLY SHIT!" Percy yelled, "You're a genius child."

Peter jumped at the sudden onslaught of noise, with his enhanced senses, his eardrums nearly burst. 

He held onto his ears and knelt on the ground, breathing slow. Annabeth moved to put a hand on his back. 

"Are you okay?" She asked, and Peter couldn't look away because her eyes were a bright gray. Beautiful even. Knowing, smart, perfect. 

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," He got out "I just have sensitive hearing."

Annabeth was suspicious, because that was as bullshit as Hades underwear. Besides, Annabeth and Percy were here on vacation from Camp and everyone, so they wanted to keep it quiet and not strange. 

"Sorry," Percy said. "But bro, you have a Stark internship and go to Mid-smartypants-town School? And you're 16? You'll give Annabeth a run for her money."

"Maybe we should hang out some time?" Peter said hesitantly.

"Yeah," Percy said just as Annabeth was saying. "NO."

She did not want the feeling race through her body again, but at the same time she was endlessly intrigued by Peter Parker. 

As Peter was imagining a better life for himself, with gray eyes. 

"Thanks!" And the smile on Peter's face was so precious Annabeth had to smile as well.