two sided | peter parker

XXIII | radiate

『ra·di·ate | noun | emanate clearly from』

PETER FIDGETED NERVOUSLY, fixing his tie in the mirror and licking his lips. Invited to the Christmas party, it had been a date he'd been dreading and looking forward to at once. His heart palpitated at the mere thought of it, the boy cursing as he was forced to redo his Windsor knot. Fingers fumbling, Aunt May noticed his shaky actions.

Walking over to him, clad in a black dress that brushed up to her knee and nice black flats, she reached her hands up and fixed her nephew's tie. A sigh left her mouth, the woman looking up at him. "I'm not exactly proud of what you did. I don't think it's right either. If your heart happens to be in the right place this time, Peter. I say, go for it."

Looking down, he nodded feebly as a knock resounded on the door. Behind it, Dylan, Aunt May's boyfriend for the time being. Peter found it a bit harsh to 'replace' Uncle Ben, but his aunt deserved happiness and who was he to turn down her source of happiness for her? "Ready to go?" He offered, tossing his keys in his hand.

Aunt May smiled kindly, grabbing her black purse as it accompanied with the look well. "C'mon, Peter." She beckoned to her nephew, the male nodding again and walking. It was as if his body went on autopilot for the next half an hour, being lost in his thoughts completely as they circled around Y/n's comeback to New York after leaving for a year.

He didn't even notice when they stopped, the door on his side opening and welcoming him to the tower. Stepping out of the car, his breath hitched at the sight of the tower. It was now or never, and at this point? Peter wanted to vomit, run, scream, and punch something all at once. He was on the brink of regretting the entire plan, taking a step back nervously.

May reached her hand out, lacing it with him and squeezing his hand reassuringly. It was absolutely nerve wracking, how a girl he cheated on, a girl that left for a year, and a girl that wanted nothing to do with him could still manage to have him tightly wrapped around her finger. 

Entering the tower with the assistance of some of Tony's guards, it looked like an entire ballroom from Cinderella was thrown into the giant room. The chandeliers held a soft golden glow, the stairs having intricate carpet runners that were bound to cost thousands of dollars. At the middle, a giant Christmas tree filled with ornaments and lights.

Of course, classic Stark move to replace the star with a picture of Tony instead. Peter couldn't help, but snort at the sight, briefly distracted from his own emotions. It quickly changed when he watched Charlie come down the stairs, Faye latched to his arm as the girl energetically skipped down the steps.

The male was laughing as she occasionally tripped or missed a step, her curls bouncing with her movements. Charlie seemed to sense the pair of eyes, his own scanning the crowd before landing on Peter. Raising an eyebrow and giving a slight glare, he picked up the girl and rushed down the rest of the steps, spinning her for the rest of it.

Rest, that's what Y/n desired. Mind for the small nap she had thanks to Eden, she couldn't help, but still feel slightly drained compared to the rest of her friends. She stopped, hearing some slight coughing and cursing coming from Eden's room. Walking in, the girl looked around with confusion and concern.

"Eden?" His room was absolutely empty, save for the bathroom where the boy was. Peeking her head in, her eyebrows furrowed. Eden's nose was bleeding, his hands clamping tissues around his nostrils as his blood stained the white red. "Are you okay?" She reached for more tissues, changing out the ones he held and throwing them in the trash.

He laughed slightly, his brown eyes locked onto her e/c ones. "The dry weather's coming for me, that's all. Don't worry about it." He waved her off, smiling and soon enough, after five or six minutes, the bleeding had come to a stop. Y/n sighed in relief, patting his shoulder. "Imagine if you couldn't celebrate with us. Wouldn't really be Christmas, huh?"

Eden beamed, tilting his head. "That's debatable, isn't it?" Scoffing and smacking his arm, Y/n spun around and walked out with Eden following behind her shortly after. He spoke up on their way to the staircase, "I guess Charlie and Faye are already downstairs? Ebony's on her way?" Y/n nodded, bouncing on her heels. "Talked to Ebony earlier, she's still doing her makeup."

He paused, taking out his phone as it buzzed. Reading the text, a sly grin came up on his lips as he held out his arm. "Latch your arm with mine," Eden advised, Y/n giving him a confused look as she crossed her arms and pursed her lips, one eyebrow cocked in his direction. "Why should I?" The boy merely poked her with his elbow. "Let's spite someone, yeah?"

Catching it, the girl laughing and putting her arm through his. Each of their arms were in the shape of triangles, Eden shooting a wink at her. "Alright, grand hours. Ready?" Y/n snorted, rolling her eyes as they walked through the grand doors keeping them away from the staircase. "Hard to believe he's still hung up on that bullshit."

Eden shrugged, the two walking down the stairs and making stupid jokes along the way. Charlie sat, smirking as his plan worked and Peter looked like steam was about to blow out of his ears. Faye merely giggled, twiddling with her fingers and enjoying the secret revenge as well. At one point, Y/n nearly fell as Menace shot out a piece near the end of the staircase, stopping her.

"Thanks, Menace. Totally owe you one on that one." Y/n sighed, Eden chuckling at her actions and glancing at her. Shaking his head, Eden turned his gaze to Peter and offered him a wink, the two walking straight past him. Peter's fingers dug into his palms, watching as the girl radiated with absolute beauty.

She strode clad in a long, deep v-neck dress that made her look utterly gorgeous. From the gold jewelry hanging off her ears, her neck, the small ring on her finger, and the few bracelets holding onto her wrists, Peter swore that no one had ever looked so perfect. Sitting with her friends, it wasn't long until the three picked up a glass of champagne.

Faye, on the other hand, had her fingers laced around an expensive glass of sparkling cider. Looking up, the last one came down the stairs. She was wearing a stunning violet dress, her glasses still on and her hair still up in the darling little space buns they were in earlier. She had black heels and a perfect smokey eye makeup look going on.

Unfortunately for her, she tripped on the last step and if it wasn't for Peter shooting out a web at the end and keeping her heels glued against the staircase, she would've fell. Ebony paused, staring at the man who was merely a few feet away from her. "Thank you," Her silvery eyes darted into a hard glare. "Now, get this shit off me."