Peter Parker always dreamt of his soulmate and couldn't wait for the day they would meet and start their happy ever after.
He just didn't think he'd ever be paired up with the school's mean girl.
Ainsley Stark was the bitch of Midtown School of Sc...
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Peter had never expected to be met at the door of the living quarters of the tower by Tony Stark at 8:29 on a Thursday morning. He was never certain what the older stark spent his time doing during the day but he was almost convinced he was never awake this early. Yet it would seem as though he was being proved wrong already so early in the day.
"Come on in kid, I took the liberty to call you in on an emergency intern expo day." Peter could only give what he hoped was a thankful smile. After all he was just going to text his Aunt May and tell her the truth. But cool now he didn't have to do it.
"Uh kid I just wanted to thank you for last night, without you I probably would have been without my little girl right now. You can go on through she's in her room I'm sure you remember where it is." And with that he was waved off by Tony Stark. Two incredibly stubborn individuals had shown him a sign of opening up and emotions in the last 12 hours. Peter Parker was officially the Stark Whisperer.
He approached the familiar door and his mind automatically went back to that night a couple weeks ago and the same emotions hit him all over again. Was this going to be a repeat of that night? Had he really come all this way to be sent packing. And once again he was rendered almost useless as he stood outside the door his hand posed to knock but never quite connecting.
"Its okay Pete, you got this" He spoke to himself as he went to knock mustering up all the courage that existed in his 16 year old body.
But as fate would have it for both times he stood at this door he wouldn't get around to actually knocking on the door. For the second time the door opened and he felt a sense of deja vu. As stood leaning against the doorway mimicking her exact same posture from weeks prior was a very tired looking Ainsley. It was almost as if she had gotten no sleep from the moment he dropped her off that morning.
"Struggling there Parker?" She questioned and this time her sense of mischief was clear on her face portrayed through both her eyes and the smirk on her face. At first the similarities of their last encounter made him feel anxious for a repeat of the same conversation but he tried to fight it off and recall what had happened only hours earlier. How she'd not only held onto him but how she'd asked for him to come around that morning. And once again Peter found himself standing in the hallway looking in to her room however this time he wasn't quite beckoned in. Rather a hand grabbed his arm and pulled him in.
"Uh sorry you looked like you were going to be stood out there forever" Peter had to turn to look at said girl. Did Ainsley just apologise? OMG he broke her.
"Parker, Parker, Peter, Pete?"
"Did you just call me Pete? It's not a that I don't like it or its a bad thing or anything. But you just gave me a nickname which is like the coolest thing ever. We have nicknames for each other now. I'm Pete you're Aines." Peter had to do a double take for the response to his rambling was for her to laugh. It wasn't quite a laugh it was a little giggle and what in Thor's name was happening.
"Come and take a seat next to me." She beckoned patting the space next to her on the bed. When had she sat on the bed? Peter must have been so in his head he missed it even happening.
"On the bed?"
"Where else Pete?" Ainsley responded putting an emphasis on the nickname and gave what she hoped was a non threatening smile.
It was then that he could physically feel the atmosphere in the room change. As if all signs of any humour or good feelings vanished and he was brought back to that night. Had he still not managed to prove to her that all he wanted was her happiness and safety and that he did not mean her any harm. Peter could feel his chest tighten. Was this what true heartbreak felt like?
"Peter I need to thank you for last night. I can't even begin to fathom where I'd be right now if you hadn't gotten to me in time. But I'm more grateful that you stayed with me afterwards and got me home safely. I've um never felt that scared before and you protected me and made me feel safe." By the end Ainsley's voice had gotten very quiet as she looked down into her own lap Peter hesitantly moved his hand outwards to take one of her own. His heart skipped a beat when she didn't pull away and it missed a second one when she turned her hand over and intertwined their fingers.
"Ainsley Stark I will do anything for you" He replied as she watched her still refuse to look into his eyes rather setting her gaze on their linked hands. The pair sat in silence for a couple minutes, time in which Peter assumed Ainsley was getting used to the very small amount of contact they were sharing and letting his previous works sink in.
"Can I see it?" Were the first words she spoke of as she slowly lifted her head to look at him.
"See what bab- Aines?" Peter had to catch himself no, not yet don't take it too far he started to recite in his head.
"Your mark" Her voice was quiet though Peter just nodded his head as permission.
He then watched as she let go of his hand and used both of hers which were shaking to move his jumper sleeve upwards until his mark was clear. The purple, what was now almost confirmed, webbing stood out clear as day on his skin and Ainsley reached out to touch it. She brushed her fingers over it, not lightly either, and watched as the mark remained in place.
"It's real" Ainsley let out in almost a sigh as it would seem it had finally dawned on her that it wasn't a trick or something just drawn on.
"It's real baby, it's real" Peter could only confirm not stopping himself from using the pet name.
"It's real, it's really real and your mine" Ainsley spoke again as tears filled her eyes
"I promise it's real Aines, I'm yours and you're mine." Peter could only once again confirm what she thought and watch as she had started to cry. He found himself almost acting upon instinct as he lent forward cupping her cheeks and using his thumbs to brush away any tears that fell. He then placed his forehead upon her own.
"It's real and has been there for my life, I'd never do anything like that. But I need you to tell me why you'd think I'd faked it." Peter spoke calmly as though he was speaking to the most delicate or fragile being to exist.
"My birth mother, she had this ability where she could change her appearance at will. The one thing she did for years was alter herself to have the matching soulmark to my dad. He had her tricked for years until in the fight where she left, she shattered the illusion." Ainsley went for the quickest explanation route
"Aines, I would never do anything like that, never to you, never."
