Chapter 36
Peter stood by the door, hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets. MJ stood beside him, hair windswept from the ride, red curls catching the light like fire.
She looked around at the towering ceilings, the antique portraits, and the faint distant thump of someone sparring in the next room.
“Okay,” MJ said, eyeing the manor. “So when you said ‘my family’s intense,’ I didn’t realize you meant ‘Gothic superhero royalty’ intense.”
Peter gave her a sideways look. “You’ll love them. Eventually.”
The door creaked open further.
And then came the flood.
“She’s here!” Steph shouted from upstairs.
“Form a line, people,” Jason called, already leaning on the banister with popcorn.
Cass gave MJ a curious once-over before offering a small, approving nod. “She’s cool.”
MJ blinked. “You barely said two words—”
“She’s always right,” Peter said quickly. “That’s a good sign.”
Dick appeared next, warm smile in place. “You must be MJ. He never shuts up about you.”
Peter groaned. “Dick—”
“No, really,” Dick continued. “It’s actually kind of sweet. He even smiled in the Batcave once. We thought he was broken.”
Damian entered last, arms crossed, eyes sharp. “If you hurt him, I will break you.”
“Damian,” Peter warned.
MJ just grinned. “Don’t worry. I bite back.”
There was a long pause.
Then Jason burst out laughing. “Oh she’s perfect.”
⸻
Later – In the Kitchen
MJ was on the counter, barefoot, eating Alfred’s cookies like she owned the place.
Peter leaned next to her, eyes soft. “So? What do you think?”
MJ shrugged playfully. “They’re alright. Bit dramatic. Lot of brooding.”
Peter laughed. “Takes one to know one.”
She reached out, fingers brushing his cheek. “But I see why you stayed. They love you. Even if they’re terrible at showing it.”
He looked at her then, really looked — like he couldn’t believe she was real. Here. With him. After everything.
“You sure you want to be part of this chaos?” he asked quietly.
MJ leaned in and kissed him — slow, grounding, full of promise.
“I already am.”