A year to Remember. Part 2, the Internship

The Mistakes of a Weirdo

Growing even redder, he once more buries his face in his hands. "Ok Fine! I do!". MJ rolls her eyes at his exaltation, staring him down until he calms down. "Yes ok? Couldn't help to after talking to him. I mean, he's such a sweetie, how could you not?". Touché, she didn't.

"And today?", She asks, the implicit question on his changed behaviour received. He chuckles. "The dance, first time I got to meet him. His messy hair, soft brown eyes, bright smile...", He once more blushes, MJ unable to help her small laughter. "I wanted to see him again, I needed to see him again", he mumbles, "it's stupid, but he's amazing".

"You like him?", She sighs, he nods. "You want to ask him out?", he freezes, the idea of asking Peter out paralysing, yet he still nods, agreeing. Even if the context truly unsettled him. "Ok" , she claps her hands gaining all his focus again. "You can't speed down there anymore. Not only is it a violation of his privacy but it's also creepy", She scolds, Pietro slouching and pouting like a scolded 5 year old. "Then what am I supposed to do?", he asks, almost at a shout.

MJ shakes her head, tisk-ing. "Why must I always clean everyone's messes". Pietro scowls offended, MJ unbothered as she moves on to the answer; ""You're coming to lunch today".

He falls off the bed. "Lunch? With him? Won't that be suspicious?", he cries, panicked of both MJ's warning and the fears it unlocked. She stares back unimpressed. "Yes Lunch. Yes with him. And please", he stares down at him while he pulls himself up. Her knowing smirk shining as she details her plan, "If they ask, I met you through Pepper, you lost a bet so you had to come. Or I was asked to babysit. Both equally credible".

Pietro nods slowly, understanding her plan but weary of her hardened stare and pouting at her implications. It got worse. "But do realise any relationship you try to have with him wouldn't be fair for Pete".

Pietro's struck frozen. "Why?", He asks, akin to a whine.

"Because he doesn't know", she supplies, "He doesn't know you are Cheetah and until he finds out any relationship you try and have won't be healthy. You will be violating and abusing his trust and he deserves better than that". Pietro shuts his eyes, scrunching his face defeated it as he face plants onto his bed, speaking through his sheets. "Why is this so complicated!".

MJ sits on his bed again, him twisting his neck so his face just sticks out from the tangle of blankets and up at her. "Because caring about someone and wanting to do what's best for them is always complicated", she frowns. He moans into his blankets, clearly frustrated. MJ poking his side, making him jump irate. "Hey! What was that for?".

"You care for Peter?", She asks without hesitation or emotion in her voice, bluntness shutting Pietro's fire down, him staring at the teenager in front of him thoughtfully. Him shrinking into the teen he was, tamed.

"Yeah".

She leans in, getting a clearer look of his face through the loose ivory locks on his head. "You want to protect him?".

"Yeah"

Got her answer. "I'm not saying that it does", she clarifies, the third question the most precarious, "but would you do what was best for him — what he needs — even if it meant sacrificing what you want?".

Pietro slows, unsure, wanting to be certain and honest with his answer. It was weird on him, yet the answer the most resonant. "Y-yeah".

"Even if it meant never seeing him again?".

MJ internally winces at his kicked puppy look, not happy to be here or distress him like that, but having to regardless. Pietro closes his eyes, exhaling sorrowfully as he answers. "I want to believe I would".