Come in said the Spider to the Wasp

Slow Dance

The six of them looked around. It was lovely. The gymnasium was dimly lit, there were crappy paper decorations hung all over, and teenagers in formal wear were discussing things that really didn't matter. It was a high school dance. Gwen and Pietro walked in with arms around each other's waists. Steve had MJ on his arm as any gentleman would, but they were far from as affectionate as Gwen and Pietro. Peter and Jan were arm-in-arm; not all over each other, but obviously close.

A quick song started up that made Steve cringe. Gwen and Pietro went to dance, and Peter was about to ask Jan, but he spotted a blond head that just begged to be tormented. He moved quietly, as Natasha had taught him. He was behind Flash in time to hear him speak.

"Man, I always knew parker was a freak," he said loudly and slurred. Chances were he was spiking the punch. "I mean all ya had to do was look at the geek. We're just lucky he never bombed the school!"

"Aw, I would never do that," Peter dead-panned, making Flash jump a foot in the air while turning around. "Hey Kong!" Peter said amiably.

"H-hey Mr. Parker," Kong said nervously.

"Relax man," Peter said, oddly glad that his old bullies were scared of him. "I'm just here to attend the dance."

Three girls were standing with Flash and his crew. Their skirts were suddenly ruffled by a sudden gust of wind. "What was that?" asked Liz Allen. She turned around to see Gwen giggling like a maniac in Pietro's arms. "Gwen Stacy is that you?" she asked incredulously.

"Yet, and this is my boyfriend, Pietro," she said, dipping her head to touch Pietro's. "Don't scream, but yeah, he's a mutant." Liz stiffened with fear.

"Y'know, I think I may know her uncle," Pietro said with a wicked grin.

"N-n-no!" Liz practically screamed. She backed away and made a sudden burst for the ladies room.

"You were right," Pietro said to Gwen. "She is fun to play with." And with a whoosh and a giggle, they had zipped off again.

"Behave!" Peter and Steve yelled after the pair. Jan just laughed at the two.

Mary-Jane touched Steve's arm. "I'm gonna go mingle, okay?" she asked.

"Sure," Steve said. "Have fun." Now both of the women and Peter cringed at how much he sounded like a father when he said that.

"Hey Jan," Peter finally said. "Let's dance," he took her hand and guided her to the dance floor. It was a fast fun song playing so they just kind of jumped around and moved. Peter honestly didn't know how to dance, and Jan could tell. Then a hip-hop song started that made Steve want to run for the door. Jan, on instinct moved in close to Peter. They danced like that for a few minutes; hips touching, eyes locked. They looked off to the side, and the intimate mood between them was broken as they saw Gwen and Pietro practically doing it on the dance floor. They had a good laugh at that.

A slow song started and Peter became a little uncomfortable. Jan saw this and took the initiative. She took his arms and put them around her waist, and then put her own around his neck. She laid her head on his chest and they danced. "Jan… can I keep you?" Peter said after a few moments.

Jan didn't look up at Peter. "Peter… we can't… this has to be the last time… we…"

"No!" Peter said in a strong whisper. "Jan… I know you think I'm just a kid but…"

"Oh, Peter that's not it at all. I care about you. More than I can ever say, I care about you."

"Then what is it?" he asked.

"Peter, I'm twelve years older than you," she said flatly.

"So," he said. "I don't care."

"Now, while I'm young you don't care. But what about when YOU'RE twenty-eight, and I'm forty? You'll be entering your prime and I'll be shriveling up."

"Jan…"

"No!" she demanded. "Tell me. When all your friends are getting married to their young wives… er, husbands. What about you?"

"Then, hopefully, I'll be getting married to a shriveling, stubborn, gorgeous, woman," he countered.

"You'd wanna marry me?" she asked, looking up into his eyes for the first time since they started this conversation.

"Yes Jan. I would love to marry you… not today, but eventually." He smiled. She loved his smile. It was a kind smile. It was a smile that told her he would protect her no matter what.

"But the media… the law…." She started, obviously grasping at straws now.

"Screw the media. I don't care what they used to say about me, and I don't care what they will say about me, or you." He kissed her on the forehead. "And so we can't have sex for a couple years," he shrugged. "No big deal. You are worth waiting a lifetime for." He looked her right in the eyes. "I don't care if I could never have sex with you. I love you. I just want to be with you."

Her eyes turned watery. "You… you can't mean that," she said, not wanting to believe someone this good actually exists.

"I do. I want to hang around you, talk to you, laugh with you, cry with you, and be next to you when I wake up."

"Peter… we CAN'T." she said emphasizing it. "We just can't."

Peter hung his head. "If that's what you want."

She was crying even as she said it; "Yes. Its what I want."

Peter's own tears began to slip from his eyes. She hated herself for making him cry, but she had to. It was wrong… wasn't it?

"Can I have one last dance with you though?" he asked. The song "Save Tonight," by Eagle-Eye Cherry started.

She held onto him once more. "one last dance," she said.

The dance seemed to last forever, as if it was the only place she wanted to be. But it was also all too quickly over. They looked at each other for a moment, trying to find the words to express themselves. Their searches were quite quickly quelled as an explosion opened up a wall and two very large headaches entered.