A/N: well, considering the state of the world today, i've had a lot of free time, which means i've acquired plenty of chapter buffer for this story! been wanting to put it out there for a while now but - ya know. the internet is scary :p
so, welcome to Smoke and Mirrors, a Marvel AU by yours truly. real quick, here are some things to expect:
i don't normally incorporate OCs into my writing, but here we are. i had this idea since, like, 2017, and i realized the only way i was gonna get to READ it is if i WROTE it. so i did. and yeah, there's an OC in here, and she's a main character. give it a chance? please? i think she's kinda cool, and i'm super proud of the plot idea :) she and Peter do share a few romantic-y moments, but (SPOILER ALERT) they don't end up together. so if you're a spideychelle fan . . . me too. i feel ya.
trigger warning: this story does contain dark themes and elements, touching on topics such as severe depression and anxiety, PTSD, violence, character death, alcohol and various levels of crime. there are lighter elements, too, and plenty of humor, but i want to make sure everyone is aware of the heavier stuff. read at your own risk!
every chapter is named after a song, and lyrics of those songs are included in each respective chapter! the story itself is named after "Smoke and Mirrors" by Imagine Dragons. i don't own any of the songs. none. i can't even sing.
the first few chapters focus on my OC, because i needed to establish some mandatory backstory stuff. but after a couple chapters, the perspectives blend and we get to see Peter and all his buddies :) bare with me, fellas.
all that said, enjoy a quick extended summary, and the first chapter after this! i don't have an updating schedule, but hopefully they'll be fairly often. onward!
EXTENDED SUMMARY
Peter Parker is a good guy. And after the drastic events of homecoming, he is having trouble juggling his double lives and the responsibilities that come with them. As sophomore year gets harder and his stress rockets through the ceiling, he needs something to take his mind off the demands of being a part-time superhero.
Taylor is—a bad guy. Having grown up without parents and being traumatically shell shocked by tragedy as a child, she harbors fiery bitterness for the world and a certain billionaire/genius/playboy/philanthropist. Her hatred has led her down the dark path of vengeance, and she is willing to do anything to accomplish that goal.
Peter. Taylor. Two entirely different people, separated drastically by the chasm of their own separate lives. But both have secrets. When worlds collide and Taylor and Peter's realities are forced to blend, they fight to keep their secrets hidden, because if they fail, the consequences could be devastating.
Join Peter and Taylor as they tumble through the obstacle course of life, each of them hiding something from the other. And with enemies that join them for the ride, things might get more complicated than either of them are expecting.