[ It's kind of a weird reason why Peter likes the end of the school day the best. Most of the other kids like it because it means the end of classes, and it means after-school sports, after-school hangouts at the coffee shop, or after-school parties. It means ditching homework and maybe a part-time job. It means freedom and no more responsibility, and yeah sure, Peter can kind of get on board with the whole 'end of classes' bit because it means he gets to spider-up and save some people in the neighbourhood.
But for Peter Parker, the reason he likes the end of the school day so much is for the bus ride home. He used to take the train a lot more often, just because it was faster and sometimes he'd luck out and get the newer trains with the air-conditioning. But then Gwen started to take the bus too, which didn't really make a whole lot of sense on account of the fact that she didn't go to Midtown and it was kind of out of the way. But he never questioned it and she didn't either, and it meant they could listen to music together and talk about dumb stuff like who the best dog was on Dogs With Jobs last night. It was kind of like their low-key, no-pressure time alone together; neither of them had to say all that much if they didn't want to, and they could go spidering right after.
A few times Peter would find Gwen already on board, saving him a seat. He'd settle in next to her and she'd pass him one of her earbuds and they'd just spend the ride back to Queens just listening to whatever playlist she had on her iPod.
Today they're doing exactly that and Peter is totally enjoying the music. It's the kind of sound that would be great in a movie soundtrack where the story was deep and introspective. When she glances over at him, he turns back to her too, offering her a smile like, yeah, this is awesome, I'm really enjoying this --
And then suddenly he feels Gwen's hand under his, weaving her fingers through his, and it's like - whoa, okay.
Um.
He doesn't really freak out or anything. More like ... he'd always kind of figured they were just friends (even if he might have had like, the biggest crush on her for a while, which is so embarrassing, but whatever, it's fine) so it was never a thing he wanted to act on in the event that it ruined their friendship. But then she's holding his hand - she's holding his hand - so.
So! The right thing to do, the obvious thing to do of course, is to let his fingers tighten around hers ever-so-slightly, curling around hers, making it known that whatever this is, yeah, he likes this a lot, but also what is happening right now. ]
if peter actually asked her "what is happening right now" she would only be able to respond with i have literally no idea. it's not like she planned this, or even actively thought about it at all until today. well, maybe once or twice. in a general way. in a people do this way. but anyway, it's happening, and it's not quite 100% relief when he doesn't outwardly panic, but it's close, because the way he moves his fingers against hers doesn't feel like a rejection at all. so it's about 74% relief. which is better than 0%.
math. hah.
anyway.
she hasn't held hands with anyone pretty much ever, but definitely since she was bitten by that gross spider. but that doesn't matter! there's no worry about her hands feeling a little harsh or sticky or whatever. peter will know what it is, if it happens. so, let's make it 79%. that seems like a good number. the tension is slipping out of her shoulders, at least, and the grip on his hand seems less calculated and more relaxed too. so that's a start. and her cheeks are a little pink but it has less to do with worrying about peter's reaction and more to do with the fact that they're on a bus full of people she only half knows from stories peter's told her. not that they're paying any attention to them. right? they never have before. but still. they could look, and-
well that doesn't actually worry her much at all. 'cause, y'know. let them see. it makes the heat in her cheeks feel a little different, thinking about the kids on the bus wondering what was going on with her and peter. and not in a bad way.
but. like. now what? ]
Ssso. [ WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS, GWENDOLYN MAXINE STACY ] So. I- [ kinda like this. is where her head was going to go with that sentence, but that's lame, isn't it? she wouldn't have done it if she didn't like it. dur. so. ] I should have asked instead of just peer pressuring you to hold hands with me, huh? [ or that ] This is okay? [ we can make sort of a joke of it, sure. that's an idea. ] I didn't really think past the whole wanting to do it with you thing. [ wait ] "It" being hand holding, not- anything else.
Not - [ anything else. Anything else like that could mean a whole lot of things Peter probably shouldn't be thinking about right now. Things like kissing and touching and - whoa, okay, whoa. No, no. He's just gonna -
Yeah.
He shakes his head. ]
Not anything else, yeah. [ Peter exhales. ] I mean, I guess it'd be kinda weird if you asked me. This kind of thing ... not that I'd know, but people don't usually ask about it right? They just kinda - do what you did. And it's ... [ He lowers his voice, also not because he really cares what the other kids think but because this is just ... so beyond his realm of expertise. ] - it's cool. [ He lets his thumb trace small little circles over her skin. ] Right?
[ At this point, Peter Parker has almost no clue what he's even saying anymore. ]
[ it's kind of rushed out, a right, ha ha, because his thumb is moving and why is that the biggest deal in the whole world? oh, god. it's like in the movies. not that movies are really her thing, music is more her thing. peter's the one that knows all the good movies. but anyway, it feels like that. like maybe she didn't just throw a giant wrench in the friendship they've had for so long. peter's brushing patterns on the back of her hand and the world is still spinning but it feels itty-bitty at the moment, in a great way. nothing beyond their little bus seat matters when peter parker feels like rubbing his thumb right there like that. ]
I think it's really cool, actually. [ she huffs a breath of a laugh, slouching a bit so she can squish her cheek against his shoulder, not exactly hiding but kind of hiding. she can still look down and see their hands right there, so is she really hiding? nah. ] Maybe even the coolest. [ which ISN'T a cool thing to say but maybe her relief is translating to babbling honesty and for now she doesn't seem to mind it, not when their voices are kind of quiet and private and just for each other. honesty is not so scary, then. ]
[ Peter huffs a breath of laughter too, the same kind of half-embarrassed, half-bashful amusement that echoes Gwen's, and kind of works in time to the thumpthumpthump of his heart smacking thunderously in his chest.
He's never done anything like this before, not with any girl, and definitely absolutely not with one of his best friends in the entire multiverse. But it's - it's thrilling, actually. It's exhilarating. It's like he's webslinging across Manhattan's tallest skyscrapers and he can feel the wind whistling past his ears, feels it under his arms and legs. ]
It's so totally cool. [ Peter adds, shaking his head like he can't believe what they're both saying (and not saying, and god, they're just being so stupid right now? If anyone catches the two of them grinning and holding each other's hand and repeating how cool it is (because this can probably go on forever), he might just die of embarrassment. ]
Hey. Do you wanna - go somewhere? Instead of straight home, I mean. We could just - I dunno. Walk somewhere.
You want to go for a walk? [ she pauses for a second ] That's so normal. [ but her tone doesn't suggest that "normal" is a bad thing. like, at all. it's the same kind of tone she has when he tells her that he heard a new track by some band she introduced him to a long time ago, before she texts him a link to the music video. just another little, brilliant thing. god, she's getting all mushy. her brain is mush. it's fine. it's just hard not to feel a little mushy, you know, when you're holding hands with someone and they ask to go on a walk with you. something so normal, in the sea of weird they both live in together 98% of the time, with spider-drama and her portal watch and peter having tony stark on speed dial. it's kind of nice that her impulsiveness didn't backfire, but instead opened up a little door that... might still be a little nutty, but it doesn't have to be. they can just be two regular ol' teenagers. teenagers who've got one ear on a police monitor pretty much always just in case, but that's besides the point.
it takes her a second, but then she realizes that she didn't actually give him an answer, and she sits up again, nodnodnodding and then shaking her bangs out of her eyes ]
I mean, yeah. Yes. We could get off a couple stops early, yeah? [ her eyes glance sideways for a second before she smiles a little brighter ] I'm kind of craving ice cream. Is that too cliche? Can we grab ice cream somewhere, and, like, walk around?
[ her question trails off a little bit because her phone buzzed on her lap about three times in one minute, and it's getting harder to ignore, so she checks it and of course it's a snap. it's actually three snaps. from ned. she doesn't even open it just yet, she just peeks up and squints around at the rest of the bus. he's on the bus, isn't he. he usually is. how is it that she's been so wrapped up in her must hold peter parker's hand frenzy that she hasn't noticed where he ended up sitting? either way, eventually she's opening snapchat because whatever, it's from ned, and he's peter, and anything ned felt like sending her, he can see too.
only it's a video. a ninja video, as ned is so good at taking. a drive-by trolling, if you will. he must have walked by at some point and she didn't even notice. cool. but either way, it pans by their seat, and then ned must have sat in a seat just a row or two ahead of them, across from them, because the camera gets lifted high and angled down so it's a weird view of them sitting next to each other, then it's just a slow, shaky zoom in on their hands. and then there's a chat reply that says "aw" followed by "you guys are so lame" it's not the worst thing in the world, but oh my god ned is actually the worst sometimes??? ]
That kid should be a secret agent, I swear to Thor. [ but she's laughing, even as the back of her head thunks against the seat behind her so she can look up and sigh ] Why are we friends with him again?
[ Peter smiles, eyes shifting to watch the way Gwen shakes her head to get her hair out of her eyes in that super cute way of hers. She does that a lot, because her hair's getting long, but he likes it. He likes the way she just does that, or the way she scrunches her nose, or the way she says exactly what's on her mind most of the time.
He almost doesn't even hear her when she suggests they get off a couple of stops early. But ice cream? Oh, yeah. He hears that.
He nods. ] That sounds perfect.
[ And it does sound so totally perfect in a weird romantic comedy kind of way. He's about to straighten up out of his seat, his free hand reaching for the strap of his backpack, when Gwen's phone buzzes and she checks the message.
Oh, god.
A part of him wants to bury his face into the bottom of his seat, but the other part of him just doesn't care. Honestly, like, this feels too good to feel embarrassed or stupid about. Whatever this is, it's going somewhere and he likes it. It feels like an adventure.
He still manages to let out a half-choked laugh though, glancing over their seat to where he can just see the top of Ned's head hidden now. He slinks back and sighs. ]
Good question, Gwen. It's okay, though. We'll see him tomorrow. I'll - uh. Send him a text to let him know we're gonna get off a little early.
[ perfect. perfect is good. she's pretty proud of herself for this Perfect idea, even if it's totally cliche. cliches are what they are for a reason, okay, sometimes she's okay with being predictable.
she reaches for her backpack as well, wrapping up her headphones to stuff them into the bottom of her bag, under her costume and shooters because those cannot get lost. super important.
but anyway, peter is texting ned and it's lame that she's still smiling like she is, but it's exciting, yeah. an adventure. weird and new but totally their own, nothing brought on by drama or danger in the city and that's pretty great.
she thinks, for a second, that maybe she should let go of peter's hand while they head up to the front of the bus, but nope. no. she likes having him right there, so she leads the way, fingers still loosely tangled with his. her cheeks are pink, but it's only because she can see people's eyes drifting between them like magnets, and y'know? that's fine by her. she doesn't even know any of them, so that makes it way easier too.
and peter parker is a frickin' catch, okay. she's okay with everyone knowing that they're ..holding hands now. whatever that means. that's totally cool by her.
the walk to the front of the bus feels like miles and miles, but they get there, and the driver pulls over to drop them at the nearest corner ] --Thanks! [ said bus driver still apparently has no idea that she doesn't belong on that bus, but that's probably fine.
and now... they're here. out in the real world, holding hands, heading out on what feels like an impromptu date. sort of. is this a date? she's not sure. it only feels different because her hand is in his, otherwise they're just hanging out, right? it doesn't mean things have to change. not in a big dramatic way, anyway. hm. ]
I think I might get a milkshake. I'm feeling chocolate chip mint. [ even though it's October and it's kinda cold out and the wind blows and it makes her grip his hand tighter, but ice cream is important. ] With like, extra chocolate sauce on the sides. So much chocolate. [ why is she babbling about this though? literally why. she doesn't know.
well, she does know why, but she won't admit that she's feeling downright giddy over the fact that they're still holding hands. ]
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But for Peter Parker, the reason he likes the end of the school day so much is for the bus ride home. He used to take the train a lot more often, just because it was faster and sometimes he'd luck out and get the newer trains with the air-conditioning. But then Gwen started to take the bus too, which didn't really make a whole lot of sense on account of the fact that she didn't go to Midtown and it was kind of out of the way. But he never questioned it and she didn't either, and it meant they could listen to music together and talk about dumb stuff like who the best dog was on Dogs With Jobs last night. It was kind of like their low-key, no-pressure time alone together; neither of them had to say all that much if they didn't want to, and they could go spidering right after.
A few times Peter would find Gwen already on board, saving him a seat. He'd settle in next to her and she'd pass him one of her earbuds and they'd just spend the ride back to Queens just listening to whatever playlist she had on her iPod.
Today they're doing exactly that and Peter is totally enjoying the music. It's the kind of sound that would be great in a movie soundtrack where the story was deep and introspective. When she glances over at him, he turns back to her too, offering her a smile like, yeah, this is awesome, I'm really enjoying this --
And then suddenly he feels Gwen's hand under his, weaving her fingers through his, and it's like - whoa, okay.
Um.
He doesn't really freak out or anything. More like ... he'd always kind of figured they were just friends (even if he might have had like, the biggest crush on her for a while, which is so embarrassing, but whatever, it's fine) so it was never a thing he wanted to act on in the event that it ruined their friendship. But then she's holding his hand - she's holding his hand - so.
So! The right thing to do, the obvious thing to do of course, is to let his fingers tighten around hers ever-so-slightly, curling around hers, making it known that whatever this is, yeah, he likes this a lot, but also what is happening right now. ]
no subject
if peter actually asked her "what is happening right now" she would only be able to respond with i have literally no idea. it's not like she planned this, or even actively thought about it at all until today. well, maybe once or twice. in a general way. in a people do this way. but anyway, it's happening, and it's not quite 100% relief when he doesn't outwardly panic, but it's close, because the way he moves his fingers against hers doesn't feel like a rejection at all. so it's about 74% relief. which is better than 0%.
math. hah.
anyway.
she hasn't held hands with anyone pretty much ever, but definitely since she was bitten by that gross spider. but that doesn't matter! there's no worry about her hands feeling a little harsh or sticky or whatever. peter will know what it is, if it happens. so, let's make it 79%. that seems like a good number. the tension is slipping out of her shoulders, at least, and the grip on his hand seems less calculated and more relaxed too. so that's a start. and her cheeks are a little pink but it has less to do with worrying about peter's reaction and more to do with the fact that they're on a bus full of people she only half knows from stories peter's told her. not that they're paying any attention to them. right? they never have before. but still. they could look, and-
well that doesn't actually worry her much at all. 'cause, y'know. let them see. it makes the heat in her cheeks feel a little different, thinking about the kids on the bus wondering what was going on with her and peter. and not in a bad way.
but. like. now what? ]
Ssso. [ WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS, GWENDOLYN MAXINE STACY ] So. I- [ kinda like this. is where her head was going to go with that sentence, but that's lame, isn't it? she wouldn't have done it if she didn't like it. dur. so. ] I should have asked instead of just peer pressuring you to hold hands with me, huh? [ or that ] This is okay? [ we can make sort of a joke of it, sure. that's an idea. ] I didn't really think past the whole wanting to do it with you thing. [ wait ] "It" being hand holding, not- anything else.
no subject
Yeah.
He shakes his head. ]
Not anything else, yeah. [ Peter exhales. ] I mean, I guess it'd be kinda weird if you asked me. This kind of thing ... not that I'd know, but people don't usually ask about it right? They just kinda - do what you did. And it's ... [ He lowers his voice, also not because he really cares what the other kids think but because this is just ... so beyond his realm of expertise. ] - it's cool. [ He lets his thumb trace small little circles over her skin. ] Right?
[ At this point, Peter Parker has almost no clue what he's even saying anymore. ]
no subject
[ it's kind of rushed out, a right, ha ha, because his thumb is moving and why is that the biggest deal in the whole world? oh, god. it's like in the movies. not that movies are really her thing, music is more her thing. peter's the one that knows all the good movies. but anyway, it feels like that. like maybe she didn't just throw a giant wrench in the friendship they've had for so long. peter's brushing patterns on the back of her hand and the world is still spinning but it feels itty-bitty at the moment, in a great way. nothing beyond their little bus seat matters when peter parker feels like rubbing his thumb right there like that. ]
I think it's really cool, actually. [ she huffs a breath of a laugh, slouching a bit so she can squish her cheek against his shoulder, not exactly hiding but kind of hiding. she can still look down and see their hands right there, so is she really hiding? nah. ] Maybe even the coolest. [ which ISN'T a cool thing to say but maybe her relief is translating to babbling honesty and for now she doesn't seem to mind it, not when their voices are kind of quiet and private and just for each other. honesty is not so scary, then. ]
no subject
He's never done anything like this before, not with any girl, and definitely absolutely not with one of his best friends in the entire multiverse. But it's - it's thrilling, actually. It's exhilarating. It's like he's webslinging across Manhattan's tallest skyscrapers and he can feel the wind whistling past his ears, feels it under his arms and legs. ]
It's so totally cool. [ Peter adds, shaking his head like he can't believe what they're both saying (and not saying, and god, they're just being so stupid right now? If anyone catches the two of them grinning and holding each other's hand and repeating how cool it is (because this can probably go on forever), he might just die of embarrassment. ]
Hey. Do you wanna - go somewhere? Instead of straight home, I mean. We could just - I dunno. Walk somewhere.
no subject
it takes her a second, but then she realizes that she didn't actually give him an answer, and she sits up again, nodnodnodding and then shaking her bangs out of her eyes ]
I mean, yeah. Yes. We could get off a couple stops early, yeah? [ her eyes glance sideways for a second before she smiles a little brighter ] I'm kind of craving ice cream. Is that too cliche? Can we grab ice cream somewhere, and, like, walk around?
[ her question trails off a little bit because her phone buzzed on her lap about three times in one minute, and it's getting harder to ignore, so she checks it and of course it's a snap. it's actually three snaps. from ned. she doesn't even open it just yet, she just peeks up and squints around at the rest of the bus. he's on the bus, isn't he. he usually is. how is it that she's been so wrapped up in her must hold peter parker's hand frenzy that she hasn't noticed where he ended up sitting? either way, eventually she's opening snapchat because whatever, it's from ned, and he's peter, and anything ned felt like sending her, he can see too.
only it's a video. a ninja video, as ned is so good at taking. a drive-by trolling, if you will. he must have walked by at some point and she didn't even notice. cool. but either way, it pans by their seat, and then ned must have sat in a seat just a row or two ahead of them, across from them, because the camera gets lifted high and angled down so it's a weird view of them sitting next to each other, then it's just a slow, shaky zoom in on their hands. and then there's a chat reply that says "aw" followed by "you guys are so lame" it's not the worst thing in the world, but oh my god ned is actually the worst sometimes??? ]
That kid should be a secret agent, I swear to Thor. [ but she's laughing, even as the back of her head thunks against the seat behind her so she can look up and sigh ] Why are we friends with him again?
no subject
He almost doesn't even hear her when she suggests they get off a couple of stops early. But ice cream? Oh, yeah. He hears that.
He nods. ] That sounds perfect.
[ And it does sound so totally perfect in a weird romantic comedy kind of way. He's about to straighten up out of his seat, his free hand reaching for the strap of his backpack, when Gwen's phone buzzes and she checks the message.
Oh, god.
A part of him wants to bury his face into the bottom of his seat, but the other part of him just doesn't care. Honestly, like, this feels too good to feel embarrassed or stupid about. Whatever this is, it's going somewhere and he likes it. It feels like an adventure.
He still manages to let out a half-choked laugh though, glancing over their seat to where he can just see the top of Ned's head hidden now. He slinks back and sighs. ]
Good question, Gwen. It's okay, though. We'll see him tomorrow. I'll - uh. Send him a text to let him know we're gonna get off a little early.
no subject
she reaches for her backpack as well, wrapping up her headphones to stuff them into the bottom of her bag, under her costume and shooters because those cannot get lost. super important.
but anyway, peter is texting ned and it's lame that she's still smiling like she is, but it's exciting, yeah. an adventure. weird and new but totally their own, nothing brought on by drama or danger in the city and that's pretty great.
she thinks, for a second, that maybe she should let go of peter's hand while they head up to the front of the bus, but nope. no. she likes having him right there, so she leads the way, fingers still loosely tangled with his. her cheeks are pink, but it's only because she can see people's eyes drifting between them like magnets, and y'know? that's fine by her. she doesn't even know any of them, so that makes it way easier too.
and peter parker is a frickin' catch, okay. she's okay with everyone knowing that they're ..holding hands now. whatever that means. that's totally cool by her.
the walk to the front of the bus feels like miles and miles, but they get there, and the driver pulls over to drop them at the nearest corner ] --Thanks! [ said bus driver still apparently has no idea that she doesn't belong on that bus, but that's probably fine.
and now... they're here. out in the real world, holding hands, heading out on what feels like an impromptu date. sort of. is this a date? she's not sure. it only feels different because her hand is in his, otherwise they're just hanging out, right? it doesn't mean things have to change. not in a big dramatic way, anyway. hm. ]
I think I might get a milkshake. I'm feeling chocolate chip mint. [ even though it's October and it's kinda cold out and the wind blows and it makes her grip his hand tighter, but ice cream is important. ] With like, extra chocolate sauce on the sides. So much chocolate. [ why is she babbling about this though? literally why. she doesn't know.
well, she does know why, but she won't admit that she's feeling downright giddy over the fact that they're still holding hands. ]