"So what exactly is this play about?" Felicia had already asked more times than she could count.
"Love, and how much trouble it is," Peter answered as he stood outside the school auditorium, waiting for the doors to open so they could finally stop freezing. In late December, the snow in New York fell without restraint. Felicia was shivering, clearly not having expected to wait outside so long.
"Here, you're freezing." Peter took off his coat and handed it over.
"Ooh, how romantic." She smiled and wrapped the coat tightly around herself. "Mm, smells like cinnamon. You sure you don't need it?"
Peter smiled. "I'm fine. I can handle the cold."
"You're just hot-blooded," she muttered, tugging at her collar to expose the hickeys on her neck. "Couldn't you hold back a little?"
Peter blushed. "Sorry, you sounded too good. I couldn't help myself."
"Pervert," she spat, though there wasn't a trace of real anger in her voice. She moved a little closer and sighed. "Sorry about the Osborn party."
"It's fine. I really understand," Peter said softly, rubbing her shoulder. Felicia clearly didn't want to attend that pretentious party full of upper-class assholes and nerds-her words, not his. But he understood her reluctance, so he hadn't pushed her.
"Who does Xiaohong play?" Felicia asked.
"Helena," Peter answered. Mary Jane had landed the role she'd wanted after all and spent two months rehearsing the play. Harry was a little unhappy that she had no time for him, but he hadn't complained much.
Speaking of Harry, though, he didn't seem to be around. Peter looked around several times but couldn't find him. Strange.
The auditorium doors finally opened, and everyone scrambled into the warmth inside. "Finally," Felicia muttered as they took their seats near the front.
They waited patiently for the performance to begin. Peter gave her a rundown of the play, since English had never been her strong suit.
When the performance began, Peter was surprised to discover that these students actually had some acting chops. And the moment Mary Jane appeared, she completely blew him away-she didn't stumble over a single line, and her pronunciation was flawless. He'd always known she'd make it someday. Now the whole world could see it, too.
After the performance, Felicia and Peter went onstage to find the cast. The other actors were surrounded by people congratulating them, but Mary Jane stood alone to one side, which was also strange. Where the hell was Harry Osborn?
"Hey, Xiaohong, you were amazing." Felicia smiled and handed her a bouquet of roses.
"Thank you, Felicia." Mary Jane happily accepted the flowers. "I'm so glad you could both come!"
"So, where are Flash and his little gang? I thought I'd see him here," Felicia asked bluntly. Peter couldn't help pressing a hand to his forehead. Real tactful question there, Xiaomao.
"They... they couldn't make it. Did you... did you see Harry in the audience? He said he'd come," Mary Jane asked, looking dejected.
"Ah, no." Peter forced a smile. "Don't worry, I'm sure something held him up. You were really amazing, Mary Jane."
"Thanks, Tiger." She smiled. "And it's all thanks to you."
"What? What did I do?"
"If you hadn't talked me into auditioning, I never would've come," she said with a smile. "And you rehearsed my lines with me. Otherwise, I never would've gotten the part." She stepped forward and hugged him. "Thank you, Tiger."
"Okay, okay, keep that up and you'll make me blush." Peter laughed and hugged her back. "Besides, I don't deserve all the credit. You put in the work, Mary Jane. Without that, everything else is bullshit. You performed well today because of you, not me."
"Th-thank you," Mary Jane said, blushing.
"All right, enough of the sentimental stuff." Felicia cut in with a guarded smile. "He's my boyfriend, Xiaohong, not yours."
"Oh, are you jealous, Xiaomao?" Peter slipped an arm around her waist.
"No," she growled, slapping his hand away. "Let me know when you two are done getting all lovey-dovey. I'm leaving. See you."
She turned and walked away, and Peter sighed. He turned to Mary Jane with a wry smile. "Sorry. She doesn't like it when I tease her."
Mary Jane smiled too. "It's okay, Tiger. Go after her. I need to call my boyfriend and hear what excuse he's cooked up this time. Honestly, that guy." A few more people came over to congratulate her then. "Jean! Rob! You came!"
Peter slipped away and ran outside to catch up with Felicia. "Xiaomao, wait!"
"Oh, finished flirting?" Felicia strode through the snow-covered parking lot without looking back.
"Flirting? What are you talking about? I was just congratulating her!" Peter protested.
"Yeah, sure, whatever you say, Ti-ger." She ground out the last word through clenched teeth.
"Felicia, wait." Peter caught her hand and pulled her into his arms. She struggled to break free, but he didn't let go. She needed to understand. "Listen to me, Xiaomao. Mary Jane is my friend, okay? I admit I used to like her, but that was before. Everything changed the moment I met you."
Felicia turned her head away. "I don't want to hear it."
"Hey, look at me." Peter turned her face toward him. "I'm not leaving you, and I'm not replacing you with anyone, especially Mary Jane. Do you understand?"
"Mm." She lowered her eyes, too embarrassed to meet his gaze.
Peter sighed and lifted his head. "Tomorrow's Christmas Eve, right?"
"Mm." Her voice came muffled against his chest.
"Well... I was going to give this to you tomorrow, but..." He pulled a small black disc from his pocket.
Felicia glanced at it and blinked. "What's this?"
Peter pressed the button in its center, and a holographic picture of the two of them appeared. "I made it at the Baxter Building. I know we only just started dating, and something too expensive wouldn't be appropriate, but... I thought you'd prefer something thoughtful."
Felicia looked at the hologram. It was from their first date, when they'd gone to the movies. She smiled and turned to him. "I'm sorry, I just... I've never been like this before. You're my first serious boyfriend, and sometimes I feel like I can't hold on to you. You're always working, we barely have any time together, and..."
"Hey, this is my first relationship too. Let's take it slowly, okay?" Peter kissed her cheek. "Merry Christmas, Xiaomao."
She accepted the gift and smiled. "Merry Christmas, Tiger." Then she kissed him on the lips.
Peter took her home, then went back to get ready. It was time for the Osborn party, and he'd be attending alone tonight.
He wore his homecoming suit. It was an Osborn Enterprises party, after all-fancy enough and pretentious enough. But he had no intention of going unarmed. He wore his Spider-Man suit underneath, with the Arc Reactor switched off so it felt more like thermal long johns than a superhero uniform.
His mask was tucked into his suit's inside pocket in its inactive, flat form. His bracers were hidden up his sleeves.
He took a taxi to Osborn Tower, which was already packed with people when he arrived, all in expensive formalwear, filing into the building as though they were going shopping at the mall. Norman had said he had a major announcement tonight, though, so this was probably like a shopping frenzy for rich people.
Peter got in with almost no trouble, simply showing security Norman's text as proof of his invitation, along with his driver's license. He shared an elevator with a beautiful blonde and her male companion. They pressed the button for the top floor, so apparently that was where he was headed too.
The elevator doors opened onto an elegant banquet hall, with people streaming inside at a visibly rapid pace. Peter walked in and slowly made his way to a corner, trying not to attract attention. He looked around. A buffet was set up at the back, servers circulated with snacks and drinks, a band in the corner played soft classical music, and right in the center stood a large, cloth-covered circular device about two stories tall.
The concealed machine was clearly the reason everyone had gathered tonight, but he couldn't sneak over and lift the cloth for a look. It was heavily guarded, with the guards watching it like hawks. He could cause a disturbance, but unless Iron Man dropped out of the sky, he doubted anything would rattle these bodyguards. He could call the Human Torch over to show off, but Susan had said the Fantastic Four had to stay out of the public eye when dealing with people like Osborn.
No way around it. He could only wait. Peter looked around and recognized a few faces: the mayor of New York, the district attorney, several police inspectors judging by their uniforms, a few celebrities he knew, and even more prominent figures he didn't. He occasionally spotted scientists, too. They looked out of place here, since they were all nerds with no fashion sense, just like him.
He was about to wander around and find something to eat when he spotted Harry and Flash together in the distance. They were discussing something. He was just about to make a run for it when Flash looked up and immediately zeroed in on him.
"Parker!" Flash called with a smile. He pointed, and Harry quickly fixed his eyes on Peter too. Great. Just great. The two approached briskly, wearing identical smiles. Fuck.
"Osborn. Flash." Peter nodded to them. "I knew I'd run into you here."
"Hey, Peter, what are you doing here?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Your father invited me," Peter said. "He said there was some announcement I'd be interested in."
"Oh, right. Of course he would," Harry muttered.
"This party is so boring," Flash complained. "There's not even any beer. These adults are no fun!" Just then, a supermodel walked past, and all three watched her go. "Still, uh, this party is pretty important."
Peter rolled his eyes. "Sure is." He turned to Harry. "Why weren't you at Mary Jane's play?"
Harry blinked. "Shit, that was today?!"
Peter nodded. "Yep."
"I'm screwed. I'm so dead! I couldn't help it, my dad wanted me helping him organize all this!"
Peter shrugged. "I don't care, Osborn, but I'd suggest you call her and explain right away."
Harry sighed. "Yeah, I will, Peter. Thanks."
"Hey, Harry, didn't your dad say to bring Peter to see him when he arrived?" Flash asked.
"What? He did?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Yeah, remember? Ten minutes ago, he told us to bring Peter over if we saw him."
"Oh, right. You're right. Come on, Peter, let's go." Harry sounded even more dejected. Had he just been trying to hide the fact that Norman wanted to see him? Why? Because... because Norman admired him and was always using him to put Harry down. Of course he wouldn't want the two of them meeting and giving Norman another reason to belittle him.
The three headed toward the center of the crowd, with Harry leading the way. Peter and Flash followed. The people around them only glanced at them before losing interest. Good. That meant not many people knew him yet. Otherwise, things would get troublesome.
They reached Norman, who was talking to the couple Peter had met in the elevator. Another couple stood beside him: a short, stocky man with messy brown hair and a kindly-looking woman around his age. The man looked familiar, but Peter couldn't place him.
"Father, Peter's here," Harry said quietly.
Norman turned, first glaring at his son for interrupting his conversation. But when his gaze landed on Peter, his eyes immediately filled with joy.
"Ah, Peter! Wonderful, you made it. Come, come." He pulled Peter forward and waved Flash and Harry away. Both looked reluctant, but one sharp glare from Norman sent them scurrying off with their tails between their legs. A pair of cowards.
"Connor, Natalie, Otto, Rosie, allow me to introduce this young man, Peter Parker." Norman put an arm around Peter's shoulders, showing him off like a proud parent. "He's a school friend of my son's. Only recently did I discover just how extraordinary his scientific talents are."
Peter froze at the name "Otto." Otto Octavius, second only to Norman Osborn himself on the list of Peter Parker's archenemies. That was the short man before him, holding Rosie's hand, both wearing wedding rings. She was his wife, which meant... Fuck... the plot of Spider-Man 2!
"So, Peter, you're interested in science?" Otto asked with a genuine smile. "Tell me, what's your favorite field?"
"I... I..." Peter swallowed. "I don't really specialize. I just study whatever interests me."
"Oh? And what interests you at the moment?"
He thought for a moment before answering. "Alternative energy."
"Ah, then you've certainly come to the right place tonight." Connor was an elderly man with gray-white hair, and his female companion was young enough to be his daughter, though judging by where he had his hand, she probably wasn't.
"Sorry, what do you mean?" Peter played dumb. Of course he knew why. Otto Octavius was going to create a new energy source by making a miniature sun. The enormous cloth-covered device was his experimental equipment, which meant he was starting the experiment tonight!
"You see, my husband is one of the leading scientists in the field," Rosie said, patting Otto's shoulder. "Tonight, he's going to create the world's first clean energy source and change the entire world."
Peter raised an eyebrow. "I think Stark has already beaten him to that."
Otto laughed. "True, Stark's Arc Reactor can power his suit, but my experiment can power an entire city."
Peter raised his eyebrows. "How?"