The Waterspout

In Which Peter Goes on a Date

Peter took MJ out for Thai.

Well, in theory. Ideally, it was Peter that did the taking out. In reality, however, Michelle Jones showed up at his door in a skirt (which about made Peter's jaw hit the floor) at five o'clock, nodded approvingly at his not-too-formal button down, and dragged him outside to where she'd rented city bikes. She then proceeded to lead the way (in her skirt) through busy Queens streets and alleyways, always handy with a middle finger when some creep got too forward.

Peter spent the whole time panicking.

Not really because he wasn't super practiced at bike riding, but because the faster MJ pushed them on the bikes, the more she looked behind to check on him, and the more she smiled.

And Peter found that he really, really liked this girl.

He was guilty, for a little bit, because it had only been four months since Liz. A bit more, now. Five? Not much, anyway. Was this normal? Wrong? Was he disloyal, or irresponsible, or something?

Then MJ expertly dismounted the bike without a single snag of her skirt before the tiniest Thai joint Peter had ever seen, her movements smooth and graceful, and Peter decided he didn't care.

Because damn.

She looked at him. "Are you going to get off, or just sit there like a fish out of water all evening?"

Peter, to his imminent distress, found that he'd stopped pedaling. He desperately tried to regain his balance, but even his spidey senses failed him atop the bicycle, and he ended up sprawling across the pavement.

MJ laughed, rolling her eyes. "We haven't even gone in yet, and you're already an embarrassment. Get up, Spandex Butt."

"Spandex Butt?" Peter asked with as much incredulity as he could muster. He got up and straightened his shirt and pant legs, glad he hadn't ripped anything.

"Would you prefer Arthropod-Kid?"

"You could just call me Peter, you know. We have names for a reason."

"Only so we can butcher them," MJ replied brightly. "Now come on. Thai."

"Right."

"You're not very good at this," MJ observed after he awkwardly attempted to get them a table, stuttered a bit too long, and she took over. The waiter took their orders right away, as both of them knew their Thai favorites inside and out.

"Yeah..." Peter ran his hands through his hair. "The last girl I worked up the nerve to not even date's dad end up being a crime boss who wore a flying metal suit and was selling weapons made from alien tech."

MJ raised an eyebrow.

"I wish I was making that up."

"Homecoming?"

"Yeah, how did you-- you know what, nevermind."

MJ lifted her chin, grinning. "He can be taught!"
Peter paused. "Did you just quote Aladdin?"

She looked away for a second, but quickly returned her gaze to him. "Problem with that?"

Peter laughed. "No! No way. I've got to have all of the Lion King memorized by now."

MJ smiled, an actual smile, not her usual smirk. Peter tried to remember what they'd been talking about.

"I thought you were more of a..." she gestured obscenely-- "old live-action adventure and sci-fi guy."

"Oh, I am, but everyone enjoys a bit of Disney. More than a bit, in my case."

"Alright then, spill it. What's your favorite princess movie?"