Overgrown-an Irondad and Spideyson fanfic

Chapter 41: Who did we fall for?

Yo thx for 130k y'all rock;D Don't forget to leave a vote and comment if you enjoy! Both mean so much to me<33

Peter shivered in his think jacket, hugging himself as he shuffled stiffly cross the street. It had gotten colder recently as the days dragged from fall into winter. Peter had barely noticed it with all the drama going on inside the walls of the Tower he called home.

The teen shouldered the door of the Bodega open, welcoming the warm blast of heat that hit him. He took a quick glance around the small shop, brown eyes flitting to every open seat until he was certain she wasn't there yet.

"Hola Señor Parker!" Mr. Delmar greeted the boy cheerily as he approached the front desk. "Your usual?"

"Nah," Peter declined. "I'm actually meeting someone so if i could have a hot chocolate instead, that'd be great."

  Mr. Delmar waggled his eyebrows knowingly. "Sí, Señor, i understand. One hot chocolate coming right up."

  "Actually, make that two."

  Peter started, whirling around to come face to face with MJ. The teen girl smirked. "Did i scare you?" She said darkly.

Peter took his hot chocolate off the counter without breaking eye contact. "No," he lied. "Let's just-lets get this over with."

MJ retrieved her own beverage with a roll of her eyes. "What's the rush? Got somewhere to be?"

Peter frowned. "Yeah, home actually. Things aren't well there. Would you happen to know anything about that?" He snapped back harshly before taking a long sip of his drink to hide the pain in his face.

MJ took the jab in stride as she took a seat in one of the booths in the back of the shop. Peter followed suit, although reluctantly.

"Look," MJ dropped her voice. "I know that you think what i did was wrong, that all i did was hurt the Avengers. But you have to understand that i didn't do it for you-"

"Then who did you do it for, MJ?!" Peter exploded, slamming his plastic cup down so hard the contents spilled out between his fingers. "Because all it did was hurt not only my family, but me. You told me you loved me, then turned around and did this the very next morning." Peter hated the way his voice shook. He hated how he could barely mask his feelings of betrayal behind a wall of anger. He hated how much offense he took to all the lies when he was living one.

MJ folded her hands neatly in front of her, taking a steadying breath. Her hot chocolate sat abandoned, growing colder by the second. She didn't like hot chocolate anyway.

"Peter..."

"Michelle."

MJ flinched. Here she was, expecting everything Peter had thrown at her so far, but not this. Not the 'first name' card.

"Steve was kicked out of the Tower," Peter continued quietly, rage controlled for now. "There were rioters surrounding the building."

MJ's eyes narrowed. What was he getting at?

"Did you know that Bucky and Steve were in love? Because i didn't. I just found out this morning, after Steve...left."

The teen girl felt her breath leave her lungs. No, she hadn't known that.

Peter nodded grimly upon seeing her reaction. "I didn't think so," he mumbled grimly. "Now, do you realize the damage you've done?"

MJ spread her fingers across the cool surface of their metal table. Winter had always been her favorite season. She liked how the air around her was as cold as she felt, if that made any sense. But now, seeing the sweat from her palms stick to the table, she never felt so averse to the chill.

"Why did you do it?" Peter demanded, heat rising to his face. He was trembling in his seat, filled to the brim with fury. He did not look like the innocent nerd MJ had fallen so hard for.

But then again, she probably didn't look anything like the girl he'd fallen for either.

"I did it because...," she grimaced, hesitating. Because i thought i could save you from the abuse that comes with being a superhero? Because i thought it was the right thing? Because people deserve to know the truth? Why?! Why did i do it?

  Because i had no choice.

  "Because i was worried he'd come for you next!" MJ exclaims, wringing her hands together nervously. "He's..he was a danger. To everyone."

  Peter scoffed. "You seriously expect me to believe that bullshit? You don't care about anyone that much. We both know that."

  Peter shoved his way out of the booth, clambering to get out of the tiny sandwich shop as quick as possible.

  MJ's hand hovered by her cheek, barely caressing the skin. She felt like she'd been slapped-her skin stung, burned, and she was sure her face was flushed. She hung her head, not wanting to be seen.

  If only that were true.

  Just then her phone buzzed. She pulled it out.

Unknown #: good work. 1 down, 5 to go.

  MJ turned her phone off, her whole body tingling with shame. She itched to break something, preferably her phone, but she knew she had to keep herself in check. For if she lashed out, so did they. And even if Peter didn't think so, she did care about him that much.

  Or at least, enough to want to keep him safe, not from Steve Rogers, but the real threat looming over their heads.

  Her phone buzzed again and MJ turned it on with dread.

Unknown #: next, you take down the weakest link: Hawkeye.