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English
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Part 18 of the highlight reel.
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Published:
2021-05-18
Words:
1,898
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1/1
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42
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204
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Electric Love

Summary:

“I can’t quit the play,” Peter finally says, throwing him out of his thoughts, “We’re doing it together, man.”

“No,” Ned explains, “MJ and I are doing it together. You can’t even make it to practice on time.”

Peter frowns, Ned immediately going to amend it when Peter sighs and says, “You’re right. I’m sorry, dude. I know this was supposed to be our thing…”

“It’s fine,” Ned’s quick to say, shaking his head. “I know you’ve been busy.”

Peter’s frown deepens at that, looking back to Ned with an unreadable expression on his face as he says, “Not too busy for you.”

Notes:

I cannot be held responsible for my whims. They have total control at this point.

Work Text:

“MJ…”

“Pose for me, Leeds.”

Ned snorts, throwing his hands up and sticking his tongue out— waiting for her to snap the picture. 

She looks through the viewfinder of the camera, Ned feeling a little awkward that she’s taking so long.

He’s tired and sore and ready for the day to be over. It hadn’t been his idea to sign up for the spring play— it was Peter’s— but it doesn’t surprise him that of the three of them who signed up for it, only he and Michelle actually followed through.

Typical, but Ned didn’t mind.

He hears the snap of the camera and finally relaxes, MJ smirking as she takes the Polaroid out. 

“Aren’t you supposed to shake it?” He asks, walking over to her as she shakes her head.

“Urban myth. It’ll ruin it,” she replies, Ned nodding. He didn’t really know a lot about art or photography, not like Peter or MJ did. Ned liked to cook— flexing his creative muscles in the kitchen and in chem class. It was his favorite thing to do, before the spring play took up all of his time, listening to the two of them playfully argue about which camera was better (MJ’s) and what time was best for the perfect shot (sunrise). 

Peter was busy, more than normal— something that Ned tried very hard not to worry about. It was bad enough having to see him after homecoming last year, even worse to realize that last year was really six years ago.

The spring play probably wouldn’t have been Ned’s first choice for readjusting back to existing. But he did it anyway.

Especially if it meant that he got the chance to hang out more with MJ. 

“Nice one, Leeds,” she says, mostly to herself as the picture develops— passing it off to him as he takes it. 

“You make me look good,” Ned says with a smile, earning a smile back from her as she rolls her eyes. 

“Only working with what I got. You’re a good subject, Nedward. Unlike some people.”

Ned snorts, the two of them sharing a knowing glance only for the door to slam open— both of them turning to see Peter looking hopeful, only for that to be dashed when he sees the empty hallway.

“Did I miss it?” He asks, Ned going to try and make him feel better only for MJ to quickly reply.

“Yep. Pretty sure you’re cut, Parker.”

Peter groans, walking in with his backpack in hand— Ned frowning as he looks at him up and down.

“What happened? I thought you were…” he trails off, miming the Spider-Man pose. Peter’s eyes grow wide as MJ laughs, Peter looking around frantically.

“ Dude .”

“No ones here, relax,” MJ says with a laugh, “we’re the last ones.”

She tilts her head, Ned watching as she looks at Peter appraisingly before asking, “Seriously, where were you? Where’d you even find that hoodie? I thought you lost it.”

Peter looks down to his blue Midtown hoodie, Ned being keenly aware that it looked too new to be his as Peter says, “May got me a new one. I had to makeup a test with Mr. Harrington.” 

“ That’s why you missed practice?” Ned asks incredulously, Peter smirking at him. 

“Why do you make it sound impossible?”

“Because it is,” MJ counters, Ned sharing a look with her before looking back to Peter— only to realize with a start that he hasn’t stopped looking at him.

“I mean it, man. I promised I’d join the play with you and I know I haven’t…” Peter clicks his tongue, making a face before continuing, “I know I haven’t been doing a good job lately. But I wanna make it up to you.”

Ned feels something in his gut that he thought he’d gotten over, from the way Peter’s voice sounds and the way he’s looking at him— Peter quickly clearing his throat, turning to MJ before saying, “To both of you.”

“Don’t worry about it, nerd,” MJ says affectionately before bringing her camera up. “You can make it up to me by posing for a picture.”

Peter laughs but does what he’s told, throwing an arm around Ned before saying, “With your camera? You’ll have to take it twice.”

“Ha ha ha, get closer,” MJ says, Ned’s heart pounding now as he smiles— Peter pulling him closer.

Ned knows he’s gonna look ridiculous in this photo, gripping his backpack strap tightly and trying very hard not to focus on Peter’s body heat right beside him— MJ mercifully taking the picture quickly before being it down and watching it develop.

“How’s it look?” Ned asks, Peter’s arm still around his neck in a move that’s normal and casual and yet causing him to sweat a little— feelings he very much had hoped would’ve turned to dust just like he had a few months ago stubbornly coming back to the forefront as MJ purses her lips.

“Still coming out,” she says evenly, flicking her eyes up to him. “Think it’ll take some time to develop.”

Ned feels like his heart stops— hearing something in her tone before she smiles, Peter finally bringing his arm back from around him as she looks between them.

“Don’t worry,” she says, smirking before holding Ned’s gaze. “It’ll be ready soon.”

 

 

“Maybe you should quit.”

Peter laughs, Ned looking over to him as they lean against the gym mats. 

They’re taking five, whatever that’s supposed to mean, while Flash valiantly explains why Blipped kids shouldn’t have to participate in the yearly fitness test. 

It was weird enough that they didn’t exist for five years and Ned, if he was honest, agreed with Flash on a lot of his points. Hysteria about Blipped people and non-Blipped people had gotten annoying, the school going so far as to encourage Blipped kids to wear masks half the day since it was allergy season.

Peter ditched the mask as soon as they called a break, ironic if you asked Ned, now the two of them just leaning against the mats and waiting for whatever decision Coach Wilson was gonna make.

“I can’t quit the play,” Peter finally says, throwing him out of his thoughts, “We’re doing it together, man.”

“No,” Ned explains, “ MJ and I are doing it together. You can’t even make it to practice on time.”

Peter frowns, Ned immediately going to amend it when Peter sighs and says, “You’re right. I’m sorry, dude. I know this was supposed to be our thing…”

“It’s fine,” Ned’s quick to say, shaking his head. “I know you’ve been busy.”

Peter’s frown deepens at that, looking back to Ned with an unreadable expression on his face as he says, “Not too busy for you.”

Ned feels his mouth grow dry again, swallowing something down on his throat. 

Peter’s really close to him again, and he always is but Ned’s really aware of it now— biting the inside of his cheek as Peter holds his gaze and says, “I made you a promise, man.”

Before Ned can reply and try to figure out what the look in Peter’s eyes means, he hears the snap of a picture— the two of them turning back to MJ who brings her camera down.

“Hey!”

“What?” She asks, tilting her head as she looks down at the developing Polaroid. “You’re not the only one who’s bored.”

“At least let us pose,” Ned argues, MJ eyeing the two of them before getting a funny look on her face— adjusting her fingers to hold the first photo so she can take another. 

“Alright. Look comfortable,” she says, closing one eye and scrunching up her face like she always does when she’s focusing. 

“How comfortable—“ Peter goes to say only for MJ to take another picture, snickering as Ned sighs.

“Dude we weren’t ready for that one either.”

MJ says nothing, taking the picture out from the camera.

“I don’t know,” she says in a tone he can’t read, smirking at Ned. 

“Might be close.”

 

 

“Dude what the fuck ?”

“It’s fine, Ned,” Peter tries to wave off, wincing as he sits down on the back theater steps.

“It’s not fine. This is the opposite of fine, Peter!” Ned sharply whispers, frowning as he looks at the cuts and bruises across his face. “You look like you got into a fight.”

“Do I at least look like I won?” He jokes, his tone light but Ned’s not having it— frowning as he sits on the step beneath him.

“That’s not funny. I saw it during break. You looked like you were dying.”

“But I didn’t,” Peter argues, wiping the back of his nose. “And I’m here on time.”

“ That’s why you were rushing? To try and get here on time? Peter—“

“I had to make it here, Ned,” Peter says sharply, Ned freezing— only to see Peter wince again.

“Sorry, I’m— I’m just. I…” he takes a deep breath, Ned waiting for him to compose himself as Peter exhales slowly. 

“I just wanted to be here. For you,” Peter says meaningfully, eyes dancing around his face in a look that he’s started to see more and more since they came back— a look that Ned doesn’t dare try and put too much hope in.

“I know you’re here for me, dude,” Ned says quietly, putting a hand on his shoulder in a move that should be casual and normal and easy but feels anything but. “You always have been.”

“No,” Peter says, shaking his head. “I haven’t. I’ve— I’ve kinda been the opposite.”

Before Ned can argue, Peter turns a little more towards him— Ned’s stomach twisting into knots he can’t explain from the way Peter’s looking at him as he says, “I want to be here . For you .”

Ned blinks— his mouth dry and his heart stuttering at the possibility of what Peter is saying, a possibility that can’t actually be real— only to feel like his brain feel like static when Peter rushes forward, lips lightly pressed against his.

Ned blinks and it’s over, Peter staring at him like a deer in headlights. 

“Shit,” he says weakly, “um. Was that…. Not…” 

Ned takes the leap, pulling at Peter’s shirt and bringing him back in for another kiss— one that Peter melts into.

His lips are chapped and kinda taste like blood but Ned couldn’t care less, the twist that he felt in his gut now feeling like electricity zapping him from the inside out from the feeling of his best friend’s lips on his.

When they part, Ned opens his eyes and sees Peter’s smile— Ned feeling like he could run a marathon as he brings his hand down.

“Finally,” MJ says, both their heads snapping over to her, “I thought you guys would never get the picture.”

Ned laughs, MJ walking up to the two of them with a smile on her face— waving her camera in hand. 

“Ready for another shot?”

Peter looks back to Ned, seeing the flush across his cheeks and feeling his own warm from the soft look in Peter’s eyes.

“Think I already got one,” he says with a grin, MJ laughing before Peter turns back to her. 

When Ned smiles this time, camera flashing and whitening his vision— all he can think is that maybe for once, Peter had finally found a promise that he could actually keep. 

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