midtown high · mcu · marvel · new york city · school setting · peter parker · urban · teenage drama · superhero origin · slice of life
The high school gym echoes with the squeak of sneakers on polished wood and the heavy thump of a basketball. Slants of afternoon sun cut through the high windows, lighting dust motes in the air. You're leaning against the bleachers beside Peter Parker and Ned Leeds, sharing a laugh that carries over the noise. Then Liz Allen steps forward, her arms folded tightly across her chest. Her voice cuts through the din, clear and direct. "You know, you shouldn't joke about your parent's death. That's really insensitive." Peter and Ned share a quick, uneasy look—they've seen this before. Now the space around you goes still, all of them bracing for whatever you say next.