Summary: Michelle Jones would've never thought to have been saving a nearly dead Spider-Man on her apartment roof during a cold winter December night.
Nor did she ever think she'd be falling for a certain teen who loves talking with his best friend about Star Wars themed construction sets. . .
/or/
After a nightly patrol goes horribly wrong due to a malfunctioning suit; Spider-Man is now a wanted fugitive. . . Faced with old foes and new alike, Spider-Man and Peter Parker face a danger that hits more close to home than it ought to.
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Michelle slowly begins to unravel a dark family secret, all while trying to balance education, the Decathlon team, and a unlikely crush on one of the most dorkiest kids in Midtown High.
Idea inspired from @annas (Archive of our own user) check that story out: . The Peter Parker Problem. . . It's great.
I don't own the Characters or Music.
Keep in mind: My story is inspired by annas story. I am not stealing ideas; my plot is probably way more different. I've been wanting to write a Peter x Michelle fanfiction for the longest. . . annas story just-- created a spark.
No. . .
A fire.
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Tending To Those In Need
=
Chapter Three: Ego
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~Peter~
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Peter's side of the story
It all went wrong so quickly. . . Too quickly. . .
Ego wasn't a big thing to Peter Parker. Yes, he has some-- but he'd never thought it would cause this much trouble. . .
--
Everyone understood that the winter in New York; was unforgiving. To underestimate it; was to basically punch Bruce Banner in the face, and not expect him to Hulk-Out.
Well, it'll be understandable to expect a multi-million dollar onesie to keep Peter warm while on patrol; until trying to hang onto a speeding car as it swerves sends him barreling into a nearby lake.
With his luck, of course; the suit's heater will bust. And it will all just go downhill from there.
--
God-- Peter knew it was cold. But never this cold. Peter trembled violently in his suit, he cursed profusely as he looked for any trouble.
It's been four days since the suit's heater busted and it was taking it's toll on the young hero. As he perched on a building top; shoulders slumped he was startled by a voice.
"Peter, your body temperature is low." Karen stated. Peter coughed,
"Well, can you cut the heater on?" Although Peter already knew the answer, he was hoping that it would repair itself.
"No, I cannot. Would you like me to contact Mr.Stark?"
Peter's eyes widened.
"No! No! Karen. I can handle it until he gets back."
"My systems need updating."
Peter scoffed.
"I'll do 'em."
Peter shivered once more.
"Hey Karen,"
"Yes, Peter?"
"When does Tony get back?"
"Approximately, in two more weeks."
"Aw, Man. . ."
--
"And tell me again why you didn't call Mr. Stark?" Ned asked looking at his sick-looking friend with sympathetic eyes.
As they walked through the cafeteria with their trays, Peter shrugged his tired shoulders.
"I can't tell him the suit's broke. He'll have to take it and I can't go on patrol. . . And he won't even trust me!"
Peter dodged a few people before looking at Ned, who was shaking his head.
"Dude, you already look horrible. You should tell Mr. Stark before the suit gets even worse. . . Or you catch pneumonia or something."
With that, Ned continued to their regular table, which was in a corner. Peter's eyes locked onto the angelic figure, whose eyes were glued on her book. Her brows furrowed in interest and concentration. Peter wished she'd look up and notice him. . . Well-- not right now. Peter felt horrible, and he was pretty sure he didn't look half as decent either.
Peter arrived at the table, instantly discarding the meal in front of him. He held his tired head with his left arm, and focused on trying to keep his eyes open. . . While also trying to listen to Ned talk about his new Lego Star-Wars set.
The small heat that the heater emitted was doing nothing more but making Peter more drowsy.
Peter inwardly, wanted to do nothing more, but sleep. For the past four days Peter's body has been almost frostbitten on multiple occasions. So instead of sleeping, he was using a blow dryer to thaw out his frozen appendages.
"Peter,"
Peter felt a sudden jolt of pain from his side. Clearly, he'd forgot to tell Ned that a purplish bruise currently resided there.
Peter jumped at the action, to say the least.
He focused on Michelle, whose eyes were locked on him. His body felt completely warm at the sight of her dark eyes.
"What's wrong with you?"
Peter felt awestruck. . . Did Michelle Jones. . . Ask him, about himself?
He looked at Ned for a moment, they both shared a look of confusion.
Peter needed to say something. . . Anything. His mouth, momentarily, couldn't summon words. . .
"Why are you being nice?"
Peter wanted to crawl under a rock and shrivel away into nothingness. Was that the best he can do? . . Was that really what came out of his mouth?
Michelle just eyed him, that gesture alone, made his heart quicken a little.
Shit, Shit, Shit. . .
Peter lifted his head from his hand and let it drop.
"I ah. . . I uhm, the heater in the apartment broke. Tony should be over to fix it today." Peter lied. He groaned inwardly-- Aunt May would give an arm before she'd let Peter sleep in a cold apartment.
Peter, sensing that it wasn't enough added,
"But I'm fine though." And to top it off, he gave Mj a half hearted smile.
Peter shakily let out a breath.
He looked at Michelle, who sipped her coffee.
"You don't look fine,"
Peter's mouth went dry. He looked at Ned once more.
"Probably just a little cold." Peter said, hoping he wouldn't have to lie any further.
He was beyond relieved when Michelle returned to reading her book.
Peter then turned to Ned, who was scoffing down his Pizza, to began talking about Lego Star-Wars again.
But against his will, Peter's mind drifted to the girl in front of him. And for the first time in four days; causing a genuine smile to spread across his face.
--
Tuesday night is when Peter starts to really worry. . .
"--And then they're releasing a whole new line of Micro-Builders!"
Ned, enthusiastically explains the newest edition of Lego Star-Wars sets, that he plans to purchase.
Peter was only half listening, as he crouched on the ledge of the building. Violently shivering.
"Hey, Ned. Bud. I'm gonna have'ta let you go. I got a lead on the stolen Stark tech." Peter said, eyes locking on two guys loading a truck with stolen tech.
"Alright Pete, Kick some ass for me!" Ned says, before hanging up.
"Karen, can you switch to Web Granades for me?" Peter asked.
"Alright, switching to Ricochet Webs."
Peter shook his head.
"No, I said 'Web Granades'!"
"Im having trouble understanding you, Peter."
"Nevermind."
Peter groaned. . . He needed this suit fixed.
--
Peter jumps off-ledge and silently lands behind the first, rugged looking man. They'd just finished loading the tech.
Peter taps his shoulders. The tall man turns around. Before the man could yell, Peter webbed his mouth shut before jabbing him hard with his right hand. As the man topples, he grabs a pocket knife. He swiftly swings at Peter, who sluggishly, but quickly dodges it.
As the man swings aimlessly, Peter trips backwards over a crate, causing Peter to yell.
"Hey, Paul you good?" The other man comes from behind the truck, curious to what the sound was.
As Peter sees him draw his gun, Peter bounces up, and kicks the crate into the tall guy's knees; causing him to fall face-first onto the pavement, knocking him out instantly.
Peter webs the unconscious guy up. Peter's breath was heaving out of his chest. His body felt as if it were going to give out. He leaned against the silver 18-wheeler to gain composure.
"Wait. Karen, where's the other guy?" Peter asked, with short breaths.
Before the A.I. could answer, Peter sees the guy running with a bag full of dangerous gear.
God-- Why tonight?
Gathering what little strength he has left, Peter shoots a web at a nearby streetlight; before hurling his figure in the air.
Landing behind the perp, Spider-man powers after him. The man fires his gun two times at Peter.
Peter zips a web and swings at the man, knocking the gun out of his hand.
"Hey!"
Peter walks sluggishly up towards the man. Out of breath, tired, and. . . cold.
Peter shivered.
"Dude, just hand the tech over." At this point, Peter was pleading.
The man shook his head before trying to run off. Peter instantly webbed the man's feet and hands; still holding the long string of web so the man couldn't get away.
"Karen, scan him for any more weapons-- I don't want him to kill me."
Peter paused.
"Activate Instant-Kill?"
"What? No! Why would I?--"
Peter shook his head.
"Should I activate Instant-Kill?
"No! No! Karen!"
Peter exhaled shakily.
"No Instant-Kill. . . "
"Repeat?"
"I said, No killing Karen. . ."
"Voice recognition, error.sjyfvnkjff--"
Karen was acting up. Peter's heart raced. He'd thought he fixed her!
Peter watched in horror as Karen made his web emit electricity. As if everything were in slow motion, Peter seen as the man shook violently; before crumpling to the ground. . . Unmoving.
Peter's blood ran cold.
This. . . This couldn't be happening--
"No.. No.. NO!" Peter yelled, his voice wavering. His whole body was shaking, his heart thumping.
He fell onto his knees.
Not knowing what to do. He held his throbbing head in his hands. His eyes watering.
He's got to be ok. . . He had to be. . .
Peter hesitantly crawled over to the unmoving man. Holding his head over the man's chest.
Nothing. . .
Peter felt his heart drop to his feet. Peter tried to help the man in any way, but he heard shouting slice through the thick air. . .
His head was throbbing with the sound of approaching sirens.
He got up, he looks around with teary eyes, He sees people running towards him. . . Screaming at him-- cops.
He shoots a web towards the nearest building corner.
Zipping from building to building. . .
Trying to get away from the eyes. . .
Trying to get away from the screams. . .
Trying to get away from the man he just killed--
And also get away from the voices banging relentlessly in his head. . .
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Hey, like always, I'm glad people are fond of this story. I hope this chapter was to your liking. Review is love. . .
-TheAuthorWhoWrote