storm | peter parker

I | borderline

Who defines good and evil?

—

HE SIGHED, adjusting the straps of his backpack as he meandered down the hall. It was only a few weeks that spring break would start and Peter couldn't help, but desperately cling onto the idea of it. He'd heard of enough gossip, rumors, and fights between students to last enough for his entire lifetime.

Besides him, Ned rambled about some Star Wars thing that Peter didn't hear very clearly. He opened his locker, shoving his backpack into it as Ned watched him. "So, you up for coming over on Saturday?" Peter, who had spaced out until then, blinked wildly and turned to his friend after trading his backpack for his textbooks, closing the locker afterwards.

"What?"

"You've been spacing out a lot," Ned deadpanned instead of elaborating. "Is it because of your 'Spidey duties'?" He whispered the last few words as Peter nodded slowly. He fidgeted slightly, licking his lips as they started down the hall again. Squinting his eyes and pulling his bottom lip in between his teeth, he mumbled. "Uh, yeah. I-It's because of the Stark internship."

Ned wasn't the best at keeping his mouth shut, not knowing how to disguise the term properly. Ned's jaw fell open as he nodded quickly. "Oh, um, yeah! Is it some kind of new task?" He winked not so subtly, making Peter slightly roll his eyes and hold back a snort. He shook his head quickly, "No, just some tension because there isn't one."

His best friend's brows furrowed momentarily, taking a hot minute to register what the Parker had just said. By the time he understood, Peter was already a few steps ahead of him as he strolled into the class. "So, is there really no villain?" He whispered, looking around for people that were overhearing.

Peter smiled, shaking his head with a soft laugh. "No, there isn't."

Hours had passed, rain thundering down loudly as school finally closed out. Spring break had just started and Peter couldn't help, but want to leap for joy. He'd had enough of school to last a lifetime and he definitely didn't want to go back, much like any other student. Although people had picked on him being a nerd, it was nice watching the freshmen part like the Red Sea.

They cowered slightly whilst the seniors walked out of the school. It was always in that order, upperclassmen seemed to have the most power and the freshmen were practically peasants. Don't get Peter wrong, he'd always treat a freshman nicely and respectfully, but it was also nice to hold that certain 'power'.

Running a hand through his now wet hair, he watched Ned scurry off and into his mother's car. In the middle of third period, he'd been sure to tell Ned that he couldn't hang out today. A small sigh left his lips as he snuck away from the school and pulled on his Spider-Man attire, swinging up with his backpack.

After a few thwips, he reached his home and slid the window up in the fire escape. He quickly tossed the backpack inside of his room, closing the window quickly before swinging up again. Shaking his head, Peter swore quietly as more rain suddenly pounded down. He could see the usual people that occupied the streets of New York rush more.

"Karen, since when did the weather call for this?"

"April showers bring May flowers."

"That's a rhyme, Karen."

"It's still accurate, is it not?"

He didn't bother to respond, silently thanking Mr. Stark for making sure that the suit turned out to be waterproof. Karen finally decided to give an actual reply this time while he was in the middle of another swing from one building to another. "It is guessed to rain about fifteen inches with the next two hours."

His nose scrunched. New York wasn't known for its rain, it was known for the thick accents, diversity, and high crime rate. "It never rains this much," Karen spoke again while he landed on a roof, stretching his back briefly and relaxing his muscles. "Yes, the forecast did not call for it." Peter's brows furrowed. Supernatural, maybe? He didn't want to jump to conclusions.

He swung a few more blocks, knowing that he'd have to be home in about an hour or so. Landing easily, his eyes scoped out his surroundings. A yelp left his lips before he could stop it, throwing out a wrist to latch a web to the girl whose feet stood on the edge of a rooftop. She let out a squeal of her own, back harshly hitting Peter's chest as they fell backwards.

However, she was the first one to speak, standing up quickly. "What is your problem?!"  She hissed loudly, a scowl prominent on her face. He looked her over. She wasn't looking for shelter from the rain like the others and the only thing she had on was an obviously thin gray hoodie, soaked jeans, and a pastel t-shirt. How was she not cold?

His staring seemed to irk her more, "Are you going to answer me or what, arachnid freak?" He snapped out of it when she attempted to place a foot on his wrist. His reflexes quickly kicked in and his arm moved upwards as he did a back flip, landing perfectly. "Okay, chill. First of all, what's your problem? You were planning to jump off a roof!"

His voice jumped octaves near the end of it, making her snicker and cross her arms with a calm glare. "You're definitely a girl. There's no way you're a man, arachnid freak." He sputtered, waving up and down at his masculine figure. She'd be lying if she said that he had no muscles that prodded out from the suit.

Peter shook his head, "I'm a guy. It's Spider-Man to you too!" She snickered, tilting her head to the side lightly as the rain continued to pour on the two of them. Pools of water formed on the roof as the drains in the streets collected the rainwater and sent it to the sewers. She looked up at the sky for a moment and his breath hitched for a reason he couldn't pinpoint.

Y/n caught his eyes, a playful smirk on her lips. "It's 'arachnid freak' to me."