Behind That Mask: Peter Parker x Reader

She tried. She tried to stay calm when Michelle had announced their sudden relationship.

Why, why, why did it hurt so much? Why? 

It hurt but it didn't. She supposed it was the pure shock she'd gotten from the announcement. 

It had probably showed on her face, because Michelle had consoled her afterwards. But Michelle didn't really know how she felt about little Peter Parker. 

Calm down, Y/N L/N. Calm down. Breathe. You have no control over what Peter and Michelle do. It's their lives. You can't control them, no matter how much you want sweet little Peter for yourself.

Ugh. People. 

She never thought she'd want to go on patrol so badly. She wanted out of this school. She wanted nothing of its people. She wanted nothing to do with anyone, even if patrol was just an hour long. 

---

She tried to tell herself she wasn't mad, but that was such a lie. God, it was such a lie. 

Y/N-as-Anima had taken to flying high up in her human form but with the giant wings. Occasionally she would swoop down and help whoever was in distress just to make someone feel good, including her. She needed to feel happy at the moment. So far, she'd helped stop some robberies, some muggers, saved someone from falling off a building, and the latter. 

SHOOT. 

Dang it, dang it, dang it.

The other day, she'd invited Michelle over to do homework and have fun at her place. She'd forgotten in the light of the other events that happened.

So after kicking down a pickpocketer, Y/N swept on the wind back home.

---

Y/N folded her wings silently and slipped through the window to her room. She turned around and silently closed the window as well. She exhaled and pulled off her mask, then turned back around.

"OH. MY. GOD." Michelle gaped at her. 

Dang it, Michelle. Curse your existence.

"You know what, Michelle? Shhhh." Y/N sat down on her bed, glowering at Michelle. "I don't need the whole world to know about who and what I am." 

"But y-you're A-anima." Michelle stammered. 

"How long have you been in here?" She demanded. She yanked off her gloves. 

"Not that long. I've just been waiting on you." Michelle answered, clearly shaken. "Stop changing the subject. My best friend is ANIMA? The shapeshifter?"

"If you ask me to shapeshift in front of you right here and now, I will throw you out the window." Y/N replied harshly, letting the wings disappear. "I swear, Michelle, this timing is absolutely perfect."

"Your sarcasm is absolutely perfect."

"Tell me something I don't know."

Michelle sat in stunned silence. Y/N folded her arms. What a day. 

"How long have you been... you know?" She asked quietly.

"For a while now. I patrol for an hour everyday after school." Y/N said shortly as she yanked off her tailcoat. "But please, please, please don't tell anyone, I beg you."

"Does your family know?"

"No, they don't! If they knew who and what I was, they'd make me stop! Please, Michelle, you gotta do this for me." Y/N begged. "They've given me so many safety talks and I don't want them to know I've been practically shoving those rules away for an hour a day."

She quickly removed the rest of her Anima costume and threw it back into her bag. Oh god, oh god, oh god. 

"I swear I won't tell anyone, Y/N, trust me." Michelle held her hands up.

"Not even your boyfriend?" The words tumbled out.

Michelle's expression became guarded. "Not even Ned. Not even Peter."

"Then thank you." She said curtly before changing into more comfortable clothes. 

"So, something else I want to say before we work..." Michelle said quietly. "I saw your expression when I announced Peter and I were dating."

"What about me?" Y/N replied as she folded her outfit and tucked it into her drawers. 

"You looked betrayed, I guess. That's the right word, I think." Michelle was still speaking quietly. "Were you really that surprised?" 

"Yes, honestly." Y/N managed a smile. "Because it was unexpected. But hey, Peter came out of his shell, didn't he? I'm happy for you two." 

With that, Y/N went to the kitchen to grab snacks. Michelle looked after her and sighed.

She whispered to herself, "Y/N, there is still so much you don't know..."