Saving Grace

Sixty Four

Peter doesn't know what to do — how to react. The Vulture, the man who nearly killed him, is standing right there in front of him, and he doesn't know what to do.

He told Grace and Mr. Stark he'd leave it alone, for one, and trying to fight this guy now would only make things worse — especially if he doesn't even stop him and/or gets hurt trying. Even if could do that, he doesn't have his suit. He has practically nothing.

And then there's Ned.

Ned, who has liked Liz Allan for a whole year. Ned, who has been trying to ask her out for months now. Ned, who is so excited to finally be going out with her that Peter thought he would explode.

Ned, who's Peter's best friend and has been for years now, someone who's been with him and supported him through everything that's happened. Peter can't ruin this for him. He just can't.

Can he...?

"Peter?" he hears. It's The Vulture — Liz's dad. He's probably said it more than once.

Peter tries to smile, takes the man's outstretched man and shakes it. "H-Hi, sir. Sorry."

He laughs a little as he lets the boys in. "S'okay, son. You got a heck of a grip." He looks over his shoulder as he leads them into the kitchen. "You nervous or something? From what I understand, you're not on a date tonight."

Peter laughs a little bit, though it sounds nervous. "Yeah, th-that's true."

"She was very clear about that," Liz's dad laughs. When they enter the kitchen, Liz's mom is standing at the counter. She smiles when she sees them.

"Hi, Ned. Peter. You look boys very handsome."

Ned smiles. "Thank you, ma'am."

"Thank you," Peter says, eyeing the Vulture.

Liz's mom is still smiling. "Well, I'm gonna go get the girls."

She starts to walk off, but Ned awkwardly and nervously asks, "Um, could I, uh, use-use your bathroom really quick?"

Liz's mom smiles and points him to the bathroom, then heads upstairs, Ned sitting the corsage down before running off too, leaving Peter alone with the Vulture — a fact he is well aware of.

He squints at Peter. "You alright, Pete?"

Peter looks at him quickly, having previously made an effort not to look at him. "Ye-Yeah."

"Because you look pale," the Vulture continues. "You want something to drink? Like a bourbon or a scotch, something like that?"

Peter's eyes widen a little and he shakes his head. "I'm not old enough to drink."

The Vulture laughs, claps Peter on the shoulder. "That's the right answer."

A few moments later, Ned comes back out, grabbing the corsage again and sending a little smile to Peter — an 'I'm okay' sort of thing, even though Peter knows he's too nervous to be okay.

He goes to speak anyway, but then they hear voices coming from upstairs.

"Just a little bit!" Liz exclaims as if she's pleading with someone.

"No," a distinct, tired voice argues back. "Who am I trying to impress, anyway? It's just Peter."

Peter could almost smile as MJ unceremoniously clomps down the stairs, clad in a pretty purple and yellow dress and her black boots, her hair tied back as it usually is. It's very familiar, and it helps Peter in the crazy moment of everything being wrong. Liz's dad is the Vulture, he has a girlfriend that he isn't going to the dance with, and Ned isn't even wearing his hat. It's absolute madness. MJ, however — despite the dress — is just the same.