Peter buckled his belt and scooped up his fighter helmet from the couch just as the doorbell rang. May smiled at his excitement and got to the door just before him. Ned stood on the other side, all dressed up, replica blaster hanging at his side.

"Dude, you look awesome," Peter held out his fist and Ned proceeded to do their handshake with him.

"You too bro," Ned nodded in approval. "We are going to be the galaxy's greatest Star Wars duo."

"Trio," Peter corrected and slung his backpack over his shoulder. May kisses his forehead and handed him his lunch before the two teens left side by side.

"Bro," Ned raised an eyebrow.

Peter returned, "Bro?

"You actually convinced Miche-MJ to be Rey?"

"Yeah bro."

"Bro."

They both looked at each other and burst out laughing. Ned highfived Peter victoriously, cheering as they left the building.

Peter had almost been convinced by his guy in the chair to just go in his costume. It had been tempting. But he wore it all the time, anyways, so what was the point? To show off? Yeah...that wasn't Peter's goal with anything, really.

Ned suddenly chuckled as they stepped onto a subway train. Peter elbowed him and gave him the why-the-heck-are-you-laughing-like-a-creep look. His best friend chortled quietly and pointed across the car to a guy in a red and blue suit with a web design on it. And a spider on the front.

Peter's jaw dropped as he spotted another one down the car. Then a kid sitting next to his mother clutching a surprisingly well made mask in his hands. Then a teenage girl with earbuds and a backpack.

"You're famous!" Ned whispered with a snort. A flush crept up Peter's face as an old lady glanced at them strangely. His jabbed Ned in the side to quiet him.

They passed more Spideys as they walked the last block to school. Not nearly as many as the Avengers and vampires and ghosts, but still plenty. When Peter and Ned stepped up to the school court yard as Finn and Poe Damerin they were astonished by the transformation the school had gone through over night. People actually looked excited for school. Extravagant shapes and colors flashed everywhere as people chatted excitedly and complimented each other all over the place.

"You nerds look even more like nerds now," a familiar voice startled them. (Well, startled Ned anyway. Spidey sense was great.)

"MJ!" They both gasped in surprise and turned. Their friend chuckled and slapped them both in the arm with her fake metal staff. She looked pretty great in her costume. Like really great. Who knew anyone could rock the homeless scavenger look better than Rey? Well I'm Peter's opinion, MJ definitely could.

"Whoa your costume totally looks real," Peter stuttered out, trying to push down the messy blush crawling up his face.

"You guys don't have such crappy outfits yourself," she complimented - well as close to a compliment she was ever going to get. "Great, how am I going to deny that I know you now?"

Peter smirked and Ned laughed. They were used to her mostly friendly teasing by now...even though she seemed completely serious whenever she said anything.

The bell rang and students shoved to get to class on time. The trio merged with the crowd, sticking as closely together as possible until they pushed into the hallway to find their lockers. They had almost made it to Ned's when another - unfortunately - familiar voice froze them in their tracks.

"Aw, look, the geek squad is finally showing their true colors. Not that it wasn't obvious they had no lives before." Stupid chuckling from a group of boys followed after.

The trio shared an irritated look before spinning to confront their long term bully. Instead they came face to face with Spider-Man and the Avengers.

Okay - the dumb boys in the Avengers costumes didn't look very legit. But Spider-Man, who looked like the leader, actually had a pretty good one. And that was saying something coming from Peter who saw the actual thing and wore it every day.

"Flash?" His jaw unhinged. "What are you wearing?"

The 'Avengers' behind him looked to Thompson with raised eyebrows as if to say what's your excuse, buddy?

"What does it look like, Parker?" He sneered under the mask. "Not even you can be that dim."

The group ohhhhhhed like fifth graders. Peter flushed underneath his fighter helmet. Ned leaned over to whisper.

"Told you ya should have worn the costume." Peter shrugged him off regretfully.

"You don't deserve to wear that," MJ snapped, surprising Peter. She had never shown any empathy for Spider-Man or irritation. She had mostly been unbiased about him really. Ned and Peter were both staring at her when she continued. "Spider-Man would be ashamed someone like you was wearing his costume."

Flash ripped off his mask to find at MJ with a red face. "Spider-Man is a hero. My hero. He could never be ashamed of anyone."

"You're lucky he gives everyone second chances," Ned joined and Peter shrunk in between them, studying the tiles on the ground. "Because if you ever meet him, you're going to need it."

With that the two of them whipped around, dragging a shocked and shamed faced Peter behind them. He squirmed in their grip, but they managed to get him into the biology classroom before he could escape. He jerked his helmet off as the sat in the back of the room. They looked a little startled to find him glaring at them both.

"Wasn't that a little much?" He hissed. "Spider-Man is his hero. And you practically told him his hero hated him!"

"Peter," Ned started slowly since MJ wasn't looking as if she regretted it. "He's been bullying all of us - you most of all - for years. I think it's okay to give him a taste of his own medicine sometimes."

"No it's not!" Peter defended. "Especially when you put words in other people's mouths. Ned, c'mon man, I would have thought you would understand that the most."

His best friend wilted a little under his lecture. Peter bit his lip and looked away, not willing to take the words back. MJ looked firm in her decision.

"I would have done it again," she told him confidently as the teacher started to give instructions.

Peter shook his head and went back at his paper, not looking at them again. He really was disappointed and wasn't going to let them off easy. Ned had known Spider-Man was standing right there, and still not speaking up. His best friend didn't wonder why? Seriously?

He sighed and scribbled down a few notes. He knew they were just defending him - or just Spider-Man, in MJ's case, but still...they didn't have to be so harsh. Even Flash was a human with emotions. Maybe really really deep down, but still there.

He was pulled out of his brooding by an alert on his phone. His eyes snapped up to it when he recognized the silent alarm that he could hear plenty clearly. Avengers Alert. Something bad was happening and Tony needed his help.

Aw, he hadn't even gotten to finish his biology paper!

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Since it's October, I realized I have to do a short for the holidays! So wedding will be next time, promise! Hope you enjoyed!

(I wrote another Spider-Man book btw, superfamily and Irondad and all that, I just didn't want it taking up tons of space here sooooo yeah. It's called Caught In Between, go see it to find the summary, this is too long already 😉)

Also HOW FRICKIN SHIT GUYS 180k READS OR SOMETHING WHOOOOA. Y'ALL ARE AMAZING! I don't deserve this, wow. Not to mention 8k votes! Thank you so much!

- Wanda