The Party
Later, when Peter got home, he slipped on a binder and he didn't feel the instant relief.
He wished it worked that way. He wished when he, or anyone else like him put on a binder, they could instantaneously feel that little bit better. That little bit of happiness and freedom when you do something to make it feel like your body matches who you are.
No, today, it didn’t happen like that. At least it was better than not having it on at all.
He decided to go watch a show in the living room until Aunt May was done with dinner.
He watched a show that didn’t entirely register in his head for a while.
That was, until it was interrupted by Johnny’s ringtone blaring through his phone.
He walked upstairs into his room, and answered to none other than the flame brain’s voice.
“Dude! Guess frickin’ what?”
“Well, something has you excited, so did you finally manage to prank Ben without getting caught?”
“Dude. C’mon. Don't underestimate me. I’ll get him one day. But that's not it.”
“Then was it-”
“If you are done with the trying to make fun of me with answering my question with answers you know are fake, then i can tell you. Unless you don't want to go to a party with the Avengers, of course.”
If Peter had had a drink in his mouth, he would have spit it out..
“What?”
“Yeah, Sue planned a party up here at Baxter since you came out to everyone and all. She invited a bunch of heroes.”
“Oh my god.”
“I know right! Who do you think will actually show though?”
“I never thought about the fact that all the Avengers and the X-men would know too.”
“Are you kidding right now? When you decided to come out on live television, everyone finds out. They aren't exactly allowed to hide from the public. They need to know what’s going on all the time.”
“It just never occurred to me i guess. I was mostly just thinking about the civilians.”
“Well, now you know. Also, you can't avoid this party. We threw it for you, and it would be super awkward if you didn't come.”
“Ugh, fine. When is it?”
“Yay! It's tonight at 10. Because we know your Aunt doesn't know about Spidey and all.”
“It's still a little early for me to go out don't you think?”
“Well normal people’s schedules don't usually include parties that start at eleven o’clock at night. So you're gonna have to settle.”
“Alright, alright. I'm not gonna be happy about it though.”
“When are you ever happy anyway?”
“That's fair.”
“See you tonight!”
“See you.”
Oh boy.
At around nine, as Peter was finishing his homework, he began to panic.
What are you supposed to wear to a party full of super heroes? Better yet, what do you wear when you need to keep your identity hidden?
After long minutes full of anticipation for being able to meet his icons, anxiety for when he inevitably embarrassed himself, and confusion as to what he was supposed to wear and where exactly in the Baxter building he was supposed to go when he got there.
He ended up just going down to tell Aunt May he was going to bed early, then calling Johnny.
Five minutes later, he was in his Spidey suit and out the window to go try on some of Johnny’s suits.
When Peter looked at himself in the mirror with a dark grey suit that fit so perfectly, he couldn't remember feeling as good as he did then.
Earlier, he felt pretty bad, but now, it almost felt as though he was swinging through the sky that first time again.
As soon as Peter stepped out of the bathroom, Johnny wolf whistled.
“You look great Pete. Really.”
He tried to distract the blush rising to his cheeks with an eye roll.
“I would hope so considering how expensive this suit probably is. How much time do we have until the party starts?”
“About ten minutes. People have already started to get here though.”
“Alright. You ready to head down?”
“Yeah, are you? You sure you don't want to take another hour trying to prepare yourself for meeting the X-men? Or the Avengers?
“You’re one to talk. You spent at least twenty minutes just trying to give your hair a, and i quote, ‘a wind-swept look’.”
“I have to look good! We are meeting some of the coolest people in New York after all. Not all of us get to wear masks all the time without looking stupid.”
“I thought you said you look good all the time.”
“I do! But i don't look perfect without effort! Anyway, are you ready to go or not?”
“As ready i will be.”
Peter grabbed his mask and followed after the blond.
As he and Johnny walked through the doorway into the main room, Peter felt as if there was a giant knot in the pit of his stomach. He tried to will it to go away, but that wasn’t really working.
Then, it got so much worse when he saw a mix of heroes all suddenly looking at him.
The room was then filled with shouts of congratulations and applause.
There were so many people. So many heroes. So many people he has looked up to for years, suddenly congratulating him for something as simple and complicated for being himself?
How is someone supposed to respond in a situation like that? He suddenly felt stupid wearing his costume's mask with his suit.
“Uh- Thanks! Thank you for coming!”
Johnny snorted.