Chapter Text
Peter was nervous, this was his first real date since Maryjane had dumped him. He wasn't even sure who he was dating. He was pushed by Harry to move on to find someone new while Maryjane was away on a Press trip. Now he was standing in front of Joe’s Pizza, with a banquet of flowers and the best street wear he could muster. He was nervous, on the dating app Harry had found there was only one girl who really gave him the time of day. The only problem was that her pictures never had one person. Peter had narrowed it down to four repeating girls. All were beautiful in their own right, but Peter wanted to know who he was looking for. Ding his phone rang alerting him that she would be late for the date and to find a seat himself. This did not provide relief as Peter would have to sit alone waiting, he hated waiting especially alone.
Peter walked into the pizza shop pulled out his phone and scrolled twitter looking at recent posts of Spiderman. The door dinged telling the employees that there was another customer at the same time so did his phone. Before Peter could read his messages a young lady walked up to him “ are you peter parker?” Her voice was sweet and low, alerting only him to her presence when Peter looked up and saw horns.
Her horns were deep black almost absorbing the light around them, her hair was placed into pig tails, her eyes were an emerald green, her skin was a sepia brown , and her tail was straight up curled and at the end . Peter was shocked, he hadn't expected her to be so beautiful and especially not so unique. She blinked at him expectantly only for Peter to realize that he had been staring at her for far too long “ yes I’m Peter.” he stuttered out
“You must be Ava.” he handed her the flowers.
She smiled, sitting down in front of him. “It's nice to meet you, you look better than your pictures.” Her laugh sounded so melodic that Peter thought he could listen to it for the rest of his life.
“ You look gorgeous” he blushed at his forwardness, but that was the point of the date to be forward he tried to convince himself. She picked up the menu browsing the options and Peter followed her lead
“I'm thinking… peperoni tonight what about you” she began
“ I was gonna eat the Caesar salad” he replied peter only brought a $20 for the date the pizza was $12 and his salad would throw him over his budget by $3
“Ok, we can share. I'll give you some pizza, and you give me some salad.” the waitress walked over quickly taking their orders and their menus
“ Will this be on one ticket?” she asked
“No”
“yes” they said unanimously as they looked at each other, Peter's brown eyes staring into her bright green ones.
“ its okay could you put them on separate tickets pleas” she smiled at the waitress and the waitress smiled back before walking away
“ It alright I could have paid” Peter insisted knowing that he was broke. He had already fallen behind on rent for the month, and his freelancing wasn't as lucrative as he had hoped. His only saving grace was his savings account that was being funded through his research, which also wasn't paying too well.
“I know but I’d feel bad if you paid on the first date maybe the next on okay” Peter was shocked she was already thinking of the second date. Her reassuring smile sent warm signals through his body, practically begging him to let his guard down.
They began talking about everything and nothing Ava regaled her time in high school and college the lessons she had learned “ And that is why you don't cram three days before midterms.” She laughed, and Peter couldn't help but follow
“Yeah, almost every morning for the entire freshman year he shoved me in a locker, I missed all of first period until my aunt had to get involved.” she laughed again shaking her head
“ Wow, I'm surprised a guy like you would get bullied.” She looked him up and down and Peter couldn't help but squirm under her gaze. He felt like a painting on a wall being examined for the smallest detail. It made him shiver.
“ Thank you. Peter choked, he hadn't ever been told he didn't look like someone who wouldn't be bullied mostly because those people also knew he was a massive nerd. Hearing it from Ava though stroked his ego in all the right places.
“ I've been working out since then so I must have changed a bit.” He wasn't technically lying being Spiderman was a work out and he did majorly change since freshman year.
“Well someone as handsome as you must get all the ladies. What made you choose me for a date anyway?” she inquired genuinely curious as to why she was the top candidate for Peter Parker. He laughed thinking the question was a little rhetorical but once he realized she was serious he took a drink of water before answering.
“ You were the only one who was understanding of my schedule or didn't ghost me after the first text.” At first Peter thought he would never get a date; he thought he would wallow in sorrow after Maryjane had dumped him. Feel bad for himself until Maryjane either pitied him and took him back , or he would live alone forever. It was Harry who told him there were plenty of fish in the sea and to ‘get out there’. Peter found hope in the many women who matched with him but it was short lived as most of them were shallow or uninterested. He was genuinely grateful for Ava. She was one of the few women who seemed well adjusted who didn't care about things he couldn't control ,or his bank account and wanted to have a conversation. That conversation led to them meeting.
“ That's crazy ya know you weren't my first pick either.” She said, leaning back and moving her eyes around the shop
“ I was gonna go for this guy but then he flacked on me once he found out I was a mutant.” She looked him in the eyes, trying to gauge his reaction to the news Peter was getting ready to answer her but she cut him off.
“ Most of the guys I matched with were put off by the fact I'm a mutant so I decided not to tell you I hoped you'd be cool since our conversation was cool.” Her large ears flattened the tips pointing to the ground pined towards her head and her tail stopped swaying back and forth hiding under the table.
“ I'm sorry.”
“ its okay” he nodded understanding the omission if he had told any of the women he was Spiderman he doubted he would get half as many matches as he did
“ I figured you were either an alien or mutant” he stated laughing at the absurdity of aliens being a casual thing in New York
“Yea I cant really hide the tail horns and ears if I wanted to hence who I choose joes as our pizza place” she gestured to the store as an example
Peter didn't know any mutant friendly places, not that he knew mutants needed mutant friendly places. He was blissfully unaware of the struggles of being discriminated against for something you were born with; he almost felt bad at his ignorance until Ava started again.
“Yea the place is owned by a mutant which is rare but not too rare. I'm glad though ,not only does that mean we get a discount but that also means we don't have to worry about weird stares” she smiled at him.
Once again the feeling of warmth flowed through him. Her smile was beautiful and comforting, no hint of malice behind them. It was welcoming and understanding Peter almost wanted to hide her face so no one else could see her beautiful smile so he could keep it all to himself.
“ well i have no problem that your a mutant and I'm always happy to receive a discount” the salad had arrived faster then the pizza but once they both received their food they began to eat
Peter enjoyed half a pizza while sharing half a salad. He almost thought he was cheating her, but Ava didn't seem to mind. After they ate, they talked a little more before heading out of the pizza shop. They walked the New York streets until night began to fall, talking about books and movies Peter enjoyed that Ava was pretty well read, reading all the boring classics he could think of, and even having opinions on them.
“Well, this was nice,” Ava turned towards Peter, “ but I have to go, my roommate is gonna think you kidnapped me once eight o'clock hits.” She laughed, her tail once again curled at the end while standing, and her ears were pointing upwards and flared towards him. Peter smiled in return, nodding at her statement
“ I wish I could spend more time with you” he mumbled out loud forgetting she was standing in front of him
“ oh, really,” she looked him up and down before walking closer to him. She smiled. Her ears were flared towards him, sitting at the center of her head. Her green eyes seemed darker. She took one more step towards him. He could feel the warmth radiating from her body
“ Well there's always that second date I mentioned earlier,” he began to blush at the closeness, his head practically spinning at her, she smelled like wild flowers, juniper, and tree bark. He was surprised that anyone from New York could have such a fragrant, wild smell like hers. He thought it was maybe a mutant thing, thinking of Logan's foul stench that had a hint of wilderness to it as well.
“ I'd like that” he whispered to her before she kissed him. It was sudden. Peter wasn't expecting to move so fast as to get a kiss but he fell into it fast grabbing her waist he pulled her closer to him trying to deepen the kiss. Peter bit her lip and Ava moaned into the kiss before pulling back
“ As much as I would like to make out with you my buss is here” Ava said pointing behind Peter were the bus stop was she smiled one last time pecking peter on the cheek before running off to the bus
Peter was left alone once again out of breath and a bit squirrelly nothing he couldn't handle though as he smiled to himself maybe being dumped wasn't so bad after all.