VII's 12 Days of Winter Writing

Day 10: AU - Library

Peter paused. "Wow. You guys've been married for a long time."

Dr. Banner laughed again. "Yeah. Sometimes it's hard to imagine. But then again, we've known you and MJ since the end of your eighth grade, and we've also bet that you guys would get married since you asked us how to ask someone out properly." He sighed. "You've come a long way, Peter."

Peter stood on his ceiling, half-speechless. "Thank you, sir," he managed. "Thanks for being here."

"No problem, kid." Dr. Banner sighed. "Hold on– yeah, Tash?" There was a short silence on the other end of the line before the scientist came back. "Well, Natasha wants me, so I'll be going now. Good luck, Peter." A beat, then he spoke again. "You know, you're kind of like a son to me."

Peter's throat felt dry. "Thank you, sir," he whispered. "You–you're like a dad. Or– or that uncle who's even better than a dad! Thank you."

Dr. Banner chuckled. "Alright. Bye, kid."

"Bye." Peter sighed as the tone rang.

He hopped in front of his mirror and put on his blank nano suit.

"Which shirt does MJ try to take off?" he mused. Peter shook his head. "Nope. No. That won't work. Just... a regular, normal, run-of-the-mill shirt. It's raining. I could wear a sweater. Or a vest. Or a button-up– wait, no, that's too formal. I need to look sharp but not formal. Hmm."

He stared at himself in the mirror and sighed.

"Powers of a spider but no sense of fashion," he muttered. "Or common sense. Just great."

-

In the end, Peter ended up in his regular clothes, the ring box in his pocket. He swung by the Cadenza to get their coffee and grinned when he saw Ned.

"Morning, Peter," his best friend said happily. "I've got your stuff right here." He put two cups and a tray of snacks. Ned leaned on the counter as Peter tapped his card on the pay thing. "So is this it? Are you doing it today?"

Peter nodded.

Ned pumped his fist in the air. "Can I be your best man?" he asked excitedly. "I need to find that notebook we had from 11th grade! We made your wedding plans there! I'm so–" he grinned. "Peter!"

Peter smiled at his friend's antics. "You know," he reminded him. "I haven't asked yet."

Ned shrugged. "Face it, Pete. You're a hot item. Who would pass up a grab at this?" On 'this', he gestured up and down Peter's body. "And soon, you'll be off the market and wedding bells would be ringing and doves would be flying–"

"Ned," Peter interrupted. "Ned."

"Yeah?"

"I'll see you later, Ned," he said. "I'll call you after."

Peter left as he saw Ned do a happy dance behind the glass case of pastries.

He walked to the library and went inside, carefully keeping the food hidden until he reached the usual nook he and MJ studied in.

Peter grinned as he spotted his girlfriend reading by the window, rain pattering persistently against the panes.

MJ looked up and smiled. "You got the goods?" she asked.

Peter lifted the coffee and she smiled wider.

"Hi," she greeted him, kissing his cheek as he handed her her cup. "What's up?"

"What's not?" Peter answered.

MJ threw a piece of lint at him and settled into her seat, back into her book.

They sat in a comfortable silence before Peter glanced up from his own procured study and his seat on the floor at her feet.

"MJ?" he asked.

"Hmm?"

Peter swallowed. "You know how partners sometimes end up married like Dr. Banner and Ms. Romanoff?"

"Yeah?"

"I was thinking, you know, since we're partners, and we're dating–"

MJ shook her head. "You sound like an idiot," she said softly, with a smile.

Peter grinned inside. Everything is going to plan. He rolled onto one knee, bringing out the ring. "Well, will you give me the honour of being your idiot forever?" he asked, with his heart in his eyes.

MJ looked up from her book and down at him, eyes wide. "Peter–" she covered a grin. "The ring."

The ring was a thing he picked out in that glass shop in Venice, years ago. It was just a simple band of silver and a piece of stained, red glass. There was an inscription on the inside that was very easy to see, especially for MJ. He had gotten that done when they got into MIT.

In all places, worlds, and times. An excerpt from an adventure a long time ago. The rest of it reads, I love you, and I will always love you, and I promise I won't ever forget you.

Peter looked up at her.

MJ smiled and nodded 'yes'.