Peace of Mind

Peter couldn’t help but smile at the thought of him and MJ in the kitchen. He was resting his head on his pillow, looking up at his bedroom ceiling. The pillow still smelt like her. Before MJ left, they tried cooking together. Peter playing one of his playlists as they try to figure out how to cook with limited ingredients.

Peter on the cookbook and chopping, MJ on the stove and mixing. They shared a few dancing moments as high-energy songs came on. Head bops and shimmies throughout it all. After a few errors, they had successfully made the easiest dish in the book. Ground beef tacos! MJ had been smiling. Even during dinner - the food and Peter talking, made her forget the soreness in her eyes and the awful thoughts in her head...

She was okay. Just like he promised.

When she was about to leave, Peter and MJ shared a long tight hug. Peter telling her to call him if she needs anything and when she gets home. That way he knows she got home safely. But now he couldn’t sleep. It’s 1 AM, MJ sending a goodnight text hours ago. Peter had a lot on his mind.

MJ finally opened up to him, the first step done. What’s next? Then, he had the avengers. He and MJ aren’t official, or at least he doesn’t think they are. Yet. But he knew the avengers will not make meeting his crush easy. Even after all of that, Peter had gained some worry. What if MJ, knowing Spider-man’s identity, gets pulled into the hell hole of supervillains and gets injured. Because of him.

It made his heart hurt more knowing that there are more ways MJ could get hurt. She doesn’t need that right now, she’s going through enough. He couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t even close his eyes without opening them a few seconds later.  He got up, putting on a hoodie and slippers. He brought his phone in his hoodie pocket and left the apartment as quietly as possible. Not wanting to wake up May after her long shift at the hospital.

He took the stairwell up to the rooftop, going out and feeling the cold air. A deep breath in, he walked to the edge of the roof, leaning against the wall like fence that stopped anyone from falling off. He isn’t afraid of heights, he is a spider after all. He knows he shouldn’t worry. If something did happen to MJ, he would be there to protect her. In every way he can.

The thought of MJ dying lingered in his head. Making him feel sick. He dropped his head, looking down at the street hundreds of feet down. The street lights creating shadows on the concrete. Store lights closed and doors shut. The sound of the late-night cars passing by.

He wonders where those people are going, probably home. Another deep breath in. Looking up at the sky now, the stars were visible. They aren’t often. After being in space that one time, he’s always thought about going back. Not to fight, but to explore it. It made no sense to him considering he belongs on earth but if given the chance, he would go back.

Miles away from where Peter stood, MJ was resting her head on her desk. Pulsing headache and eyes so sore, trying to keep them open was a difficult task. She couldn’t sleep either, she hasn’t been able to sleep for months now. After leaving May and Peter’s home, she was alone again. Her mood quickly changing back to how it usually is.

She was drawing, trying to make the most detailed and complex art piece she could with a pencil. Only so she has a thing to pass time with. Drawing had slowly gave her the warm and friendly feel it used to. Her curtains were pulled apart, letting in any moonlight through the window. She wasn’t sleepy despite her head completely down on the table. She wondered if Peter was awake still. Should she text him?

She sat up, looking out her window. The stars were visible.

“That’s not something you see every day,” She says to herself.

She got up, the window now open. Immediately being hit with cold air, her skin developing goosebumps. She hopped out her window, over her desk and unfinished drawing. She was on the roof balcony now, sitting close to the wall to avoid falling. This balcony-like roof was not built for a human to sit on it, but she did anyway.

A deep breath in she looked up. She found different shapes the stars were making, the moon was full too. No clouds floating in the dark sky.

Both Peter and MJ have been looking up at the sky right now. Deep breathes in, they take out their phones. Opening each other’s contact and press call.

“Hey,” they said at the same time.

“I was literally about to call you,” Peter laughs.

“Beat you by a second, I’m surprise you’re awake,” She tells him. And just like that, Michelle feels okay again.

“I’m surprised you’re awake. It’s almost 2.”

“I haven’t been able to sleep for a while. I think the last time I got good rest was at your place today. But that was nap so it doesn’t really count.”

“Any sleep you get counts as sleep Em, good or not.”

“I guess so. I’ll fall asleep eventually, plus you’re awake too. What’s up with you Pete?”

“I’m on the rooftop, needed some air.”

“Spider-man’s happy place, everything ok?”

“Yeah, bit nervous for the sleepover,” that was only a half-lie, “Sam and Bucky are gonna make shit so much worse.”

“Why? Because I’m coming along?”

“Yeah, but not in a bad way. I just know they’ll be teasing me and just be huge dicks. Like they always are.”

“I’d like to see that.”

“You’re evil, you know that right?”

“But you love me,” MJ smirks.

“Yeah I do,” He pauses for a second before taking a breath in, “Hey uh, when you meet the Avengers, they’re gonna ask if you’re like a friend or I dunno girlfriend to me. What should I say?”

“Do you want me to be your girlfriend Parker? Is this how you’re asking me?”

“Yes, or well maybe. If you’re okay with that.”

“Awkward Peter,” MJ laughs.

“Huh?”

“I either get awkward Peter, bold Peter, or gentlemen Peter with you. Right now you’re being all awkward and nervy.”

“Why not all at the same time?”

“You’d explode,” dodging the question MJ quickly changes the subject, “So what do I have to bring for this sleepover?” 

”Oh...” He noticed the sudden change of topic, not wanting to make a fuss about it he replies, “Just regular clothes, but you are meeting the avengers so dress accordingly.”

“What does that look like?” 

“I guess what you usually wear. You have pretty good style.” 

“Thanks, I’ll figure it out in the morning. We’re only staying there for a night, right?” 

“I think I’m staying until Monday, you’re free to join me. But I could always drop you off home if ever.”

”I’ll stay with you until then, how about the other avengers?” 

“They staying until Monday too, that’s really the only reason why I’m staying that long. If it gets overwhelming, just go to my room. I’ll go with you if you need company.” 

“I think I’ll be okay, hopefully at least. But uh don’t disappear randomly without me knowing. Not because Im being possessive, just that I don’t do well around people I’m not comfortable with.”

“Roger that ma’am!” Peter exclaims, trying to get rid of the awkwardness he only notices. 

“Never say that ever again.”

“Yeah, I regretted it after saying it...” Without thinking fully he asks, “Wait so Em, when was the last time you actually had a goodnight rest?”

“Probably months ago, why?”

“How upset would your parents be if I just came over right now?”

“Wait wait what?”

“Well you said you slept well when you were with me, it’s almost 2 AM. We both can’t sleep, I think maybe if I slept over there, we could get some sleep... Together, if that’s alright with you?”

“Yeah, of course, I’m so glad you asked actually. My parents are on a business trip, don’t have to worry about them. Get here quick, I wanna hug you.”

“Michelle Jones, affectionate and touchy? Never saw that one coming.”

“I will make you sleep on the couch.”

“I’ll shut up.”

“Yeah that’s what I thought.”

-

Peter rushed over to MJ’s. Not in his spider-suit, completely ignoring MJ not answering his girlfriend question, he ran quickly on the streets of Queens, New York. Making his way the MJ’s complex. She lived in a much nicer area compared to his. The apartment buildings were more modernized and cleaner looking. This would be his 2nd time at her home, the first being for a study thing a few months ago.

MJ lived at the top of her complex, having a two-story condo. Rather large for a family of 3. When he got there, he knocked once on the front door before MJ opening it. She was wearing an oversized shirt, shorts, and hair up into a messy bun.

“Took you long enough,” MJ welcomes.

“I had to navigate my way around this large city. Plus I usually travel around new york in my spider-suit,” He replied to her, taking off his shoes.

“True, you want anything to drink?” She asks leading him around her home.

“I’m okay.”

“Alright well, my room is up here. No funny business.”

“Em,” Peter says knowing damn well they’re just sleeping, zero chance any ‘funny business’ would happen.

“I’m messing with you!” She jokes, opening her bedroom door.

Peter walked in, looking around her room. Her window was wide open, all her curtains pulled apart, and her desk cluttered with art supplies. Her bed wasn’t made but still looked put together. She had a bookshelf that was stacked with a variety of books. He recognized a few from the times he watched her. On the other side of the room, was a TV over her drawers. On top are picture frames of her family and oh.

“You kept this?” Peter asks, holding up a picture frame of him and her at a school trip.

“Yeah, I look good there.”

He smiles at her softly. He noticed the small grin on her face too, eyes puffy but bright. He put the frame back to where it was. MJ was closing her window, closing every curtain too except the one in front of her desk. After, she got into her queen-sized bed, patting the space next to her for Peter to lay down on.

He does just that, pulling the covers over the two of them as MJ cuddled into his side. Peter held her close.

The maybe couple got comfortable. The moonlight from MJ’s window creating shadows around her room. The stars still brightly shiny as the two got sleepy rather quickly, cuddling each other. 

“Night Pete.”

“Goodnight Em.”