Chapter 1
Peter Parker was not having a good day, he’d woken up late for school, spilt coffee all over himself, and Flash was being more insufferable than usual. Most days Peter would put up with the taunts, better him than someone else right? But today he was grumpy and he didn’t even have MJ around to deal with flash for him. After one particularly scathing comment about the hoodie he was wearing and its owner, Ned since Peter had to discard his own hoodie and shirt after the coffee, he snapped.
“Would you just shut up?” He spat, spinning around to properly face the bully. Flash had a smug smile on his face, clearly pleased that he’d gotten Peter to react. “Me and Ned aren’t dating, and even if we were it’s not of your business. What, are you jealous or something?” Peter regretted the words the moment they came out of his mouth. Sure MJ could get away with saying such things to Flash, but Peter was not MJ. The bully’s face contorted with anger, a sign that Peter would likely be sporting some nasty yellow and purple bruises for the rest of the day.
“Watch your mouth Penis” Flash growled, his tone dangerous. He stalked closer to Peter, making the vigilantes muscles tense uncomfortably. Fortunately, before flash could get another word in a voice cut into the conversation.
“Leave him alone Thompson,” the voice was angry in a way that made Peter scared to look, “you’re only making an add out of yourself.” Peter finally looked over, recognizing Caspian Gray in an instant. The boy was new to Midtown High, to New York as a whole, and was the talk of the school. Caspian was handsome in an unconventional way, short fluffy curly hair dyed black and red in what Peter believe was a peekaboo dye. His eyes were thin from his Asian heritage, an olive green that looked like they were staring into your soul. Peter reasoned that they probably were, it wouldn’t be the weirdest thing he’d come across. He stood tall, at about 6 foot and had more piercings on his face and ears than Peter cared to count. He was scary when upset, so much so that flash turned pale at Caspian’s intervention.
“We were just playing around, right Parker?” Flash stuttered out, running away with a weak excuse when Peter failed to reply. Caspian redirected his attention to Peter, and if his heart started racing? That was only for Peter to know. Well, Peter and Harley, who was notified whenever his boyfriend’s vitals changed drastically. Harley would have a field day if he learned Peter was freaking out of a pretty boy defending him, he would likely even remind Peter that they were polyamorous and suggest he shoot his shot.
“Are you alright? I didn’t mean to fight your battles for you but-“ Caspian sighed, seemed a bit lost for words. His voice broke Peter out of his internal thoughts about how annoying Harley would be when they saw eachother next.
“But flash is an ass?” Peter finished for him, he a nervous smile on his lips. “It’s alright, I appreciate it really.” That seemed to fix the almost down trodden expression on the taller teens face, returning them to his usual uncaring expression.
“I don’t understand how you put up with him, I would’ve punched him by now” They mumbled after a moment, shoving his hands into his pocket. Peter shrugged, deciding it better not to use his usual response and get yelled at by another person.
“Well uh- thanks again. I’ll see you in Acadec?” He asked, not waiting for a response before he retreated back to Ned, heart racing. He sat down at the lunch table, fishing his phone out of his pocket to find three unread texts from Harley and one from Mr. Stark.
Mr. Dr. Stark: answer your boyfriend he’s freaking out worrying about you.
Kid: on it 🫡
Cowboy 🤠: you okay Pete?
Cowboy 🤠: Heart rates high
Cowboy 🤠: flash isn’t bothering you again is he?
City boy: everything’s fine, flash was bothering me but it was handled.
Cowboy 🤠: need me to kill him?
City Boy: nah, I’ll tell you about it later
With that Peter put his phone away and smiled at Ned who was looking at him expectantly.
“What were you doing talking to Caspian Gray?” Ned asked excitedly, because a friendship with the pretty new boy was the closest either of them would ever get to popular.
“Nothing really, he just stepped in when Flash was bothering me” Peter said, a small smile on his face. That only seemed to excite Ned more and they quickly fell into an easy conversation.