The White Pallax (Peter Parker x Reader)

XXII - New Years!!

Torrents of snow blur the world outside your window into hues of gray and white. Frost crawls up the glass, beautiful designs carved from the cold. You trace one of them with your fingernail, taking in the quiet frozen world of the blizzard. You turn around, pulling away from the muffled quiet into the warm, welcoming atmosphere of your apartment.

Lights are strung up all across the room, flickering in silvers and golds, and the occasional primary color. Garland hung intermittent with the lights. Some homemade paper snowflakes are attached to the ceiling, fluttering softly as warm gusts of air from the heater blow throughout the room. Ned stands on a precarious ladder of chairs to hang his own, which is rather good. Peter and Michelle steady him, though Michelle only halfheartedly. She seems very invested in her book about ancient Egypt.

You stand and stretch your stiff limbs. You'd been released from the hospital only a few days ago. Most of the burns had healed, but some around your shoulder and your fingers had scarred. They almost make the same intricate designs that are frosted over your window.

You trot over to the kitchen to pull the screaming kettle off the stove. Pulling five mugs from the cupboard, you mix hot chocolate into each of them.

"Who wants whipped cream?" You call out.

"Me!" Your friends all respond in unison, Peter shooting a hand up so fast, the chairs wobble. Ned nearly falls to the ground and your heart skips a beat. But you just laugh.

Mugs filled to the brim, you pass them out to your jovial friends. Tony joins the mix, a smile on his face, but something behind it. Probably something the Avengers are dealing with.

You turn the TV on, keeping the volume low. It's Times Square filled with drunk and happy people. It's only eleven thirty, so you still have a half hour until the ball drop. Tony sets out a pan of cheesy bean dip and a bowl of chips. He smiles at you and you grin back, biting into the crunchy chips. Since the hospital, you've spent nearly every waking moment with your uncle. At first it was sweet, then it got annoying, and then you got over it. Now you're back to normal. Mostly.

Peter flops onto the couch next to you. Your hot chocolate sloshes a bit as you sip it, dripping over your chin. Teasingly, you glare at him. He smiles and puts his arm around you. With a gentle finger, he brushes some stray hairs out of your eyes. Taking a curious gulp from your mug, you glance up at him. There's something different in his eyes. Nothing bad. Just different. They seem so full. Like you're only just now seeing the true color of his eyes.

"What?" You ask, raising an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I have a surprise for you in the bedroom," he whispers.

Heat rises in your face. You nearly drop the mug. "Peter, what?"

Peter just offers you a cheeky smile and darts into your room. For a moment, you just sit there, contemplating. If what you think is going to happen is going to happen then Tony will end the both of you. You glance around the room, and your gaze meets Michelle's. She gives you an exasperated look before nodding towards your door. When you stand, she smirks. Again, your face flushes.

Quietly you slip into your room and close the door. You turn around and the scene before you takes your breath away. Candles line the windowsill and the floor, giving the room a dim rosy glow. Orchid petals are scattered across the bed. Across the ceiling in spiderweb are the words I love you.

Struck still with shock, Peter is the one that comes to you. He takes your hand in his and presses his forehead against yours.

"Peter..." you manage, blinking away tears. No one has ever done anything this adorable for you.