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Chapter 297 - Chapter 297: Planning

[Third Person's PoV] 

Felicia still sat comfortably on Peter's lap, straddling him, her legs on either side of his waist. Peter's hands rested low on her back, cradling her gently while keeping her steady atop his crossed legs.

"What?" Peter asked, noticing the intense, thoughtful look Felicia was giving him. She was holding his face in her hands, her fingers brushing along his cheeks as if she were deep in contemplation.

"I've got an idea," Felicia said slowly, her voice playful but thoughtful, still caressing his face. Thanks to his mask being pulled up just enough to reveal his mouth and nose, her hands gently rubbed against his rosey cheeks.

"Would you like to share with the class?" Peter asked, raising a brow, genuinely curious and a bit amused. He couldn't begin to guess what idea was forming in that mischievous head of hers.

Felicia smirked. "Honestly, when I mentioned earlier how you've been constantly on the move ever since summer started… it got me thinking."

"That's dangerous," Peter muttered, earning a playful slap on the top of his head from Felicia.

"I'm being serious," she said, shaking her head, though she smiled. "Ever since summer began We haven't had a real break. We are always doing one thing or the other; it just doesn't feel like summer. It's more like days without school and that's pretty much it, it's uneventful"

Peter blinked, tilting his head. "What are you talking about? My dates with you and the others are my breaks. You think I only go on dates to do my boyfriend duties on satisfying you all or something?" he asked, mock-offended. "It might not seem like it since I'm a guy and all but I actually enjoy them too, you know. They aren't exclusively for girls to enjoy"

Felicia leaned in and kissed him gently. "Good answer," she said with a grin. "But that's not what I mean, I think you know that already. I mean we haven't gotten on any vacations that screams out we're on summer holidays. So I was thinking about we all planned a beach trip together, we deserve a break, especially you" 

Peter's eyes lit up. "A beach trip, huh? That actually sounds kind of awesome." He paused, a small grin tugging at his lips. "Heh."

Felicia narrowed her eyes in amusement. "You just imagined all of us in bikinis, didn't you?"

"Perhaps," Peter said with a cheeky smile. "But in all honesty, yeah, let's do it. It's a great idea. I think we could all use a break."

"Yay!" Felicia squealed, throwing her arms around him and pressing a dramatic, exaggerated kiss to his lips. "Mwach! I'll start planning it with the others. So don't stress your adorable little spider-brain about the details."

She trailed a hand down his chest, her touch light and lingering, then leaned in again, kissing him softer this time, with a wistful sigh. "As much as I'd love to stay here and get a little more… hands-on, I think I've taken enough of a break from my duties on being a Hero."

Her hands reached back over to the back of his neck, Felicia tilted her head back dramatically and groaned. "Ugh! But I really don't wanna leave!" she whined, swaying like a child refusing to be put down.

She pouted, then kissed him once more before whispering, "Pamper me a little longer before I have to go."

"Alright, alright," Peter said with a small chuckle, pulling her closer. Felicia clung to him like a stubborn kitten, burying her face in the crook of his neck. Her grip was firm, almost as if she wanted to melt into him and never let go.

Peter sighed, the kind of deep, soul-cleansing sigh that seemed to wash away the weight of the world. He mirrored her action, tucking his face into her shoulder, holding her as tightly as she held him. In that moment, it felt like nothing else mattered.

Eventually, her muffled voice broke the silence. "Okay… for real this time, I have to go," she said with genuine regret.

Reluctantly, they pulled apart. Felicia kissed him one last time for a good measure, lingering just a second longer than usual.

"Love you," she said, her voice soft.

Then, without warning, she leaned back and let herself fall off his lap—and right off the rooftop edge. As she tumbled backward, she winked and blew him a kiss. A shimmering portal appeared mid-air behind her, catching her mid-fall. She vanished through it, and it sealed shut behind her.

Peter was alone once more.

With a sigh, he flipped to his feet in one smooth motion and tugged his mask down over his face.

"Aria, call Fury," he said aloud.

A glowing green cellphone icon blinked to life on his HUD, and after a few moments of ringing, the call connected. The unmistakable voice of Nick Fury crackled through.

"I take it this is to tell me you personally delivered Stark home?" Nick Fury asked immediately.

"Not even a hello?" Peter replied with a smirk. "And yes. How'd you know?"

"I'm starting to get a sense of what kind of person you are—and what you tend to do," Fury said, though Peter could hear the slight grimace in his voice, like he already regretted admitting that.

"Fury~" Peter said, drawing out the name playfully as he walked along the rooftop ledge, balancing like a gymnast on a beam.

"Don't," Fury warned.

"That's both flattering and insulting. Honestly, you're making me blush," Peter teased, bending down to pick up the empty pizza box. "So you've been thinking about me and what I would do huh?" 

"Did you not hear me when I said 'Don't'" 

"I did, I just chose to ignore it.," Peter replied, his tone mischievous. "And for the record, you just basically called me predictable. Me—of all people. That's offensive."

He focused his chi into his hand, burning the box into fine ash that scattered in the wind.

Though he couldn't see it, Peter could practically feel Fury rolling his eye on the other end.

"Thanks for the help with Stark, Spider-Man," Fury said, his voice brief but sincere. "Your help was appreciated."

Peter smiled. Fury was many things, but ungrateful wasn't one of them—a trait Peter deeply respected.

"Anytime, Nicky. Anytime," Peter said, cartwheeling along the ledge before ending in a fingertip handstand. The red "call ended" icon flashed on his HUD.

"I better call it a night," Peter muttered, shifting to balance on a single finger. "I've got a feeling tomorrow's going to be just as long."

He pushed off with one finger, flipping mid-air like a spinning top, arms crossed until he shot a webline to a distant building and swung away into the night.

Later, Peter stumbled into his room, hair still damp, and collapsed face-first onto his bed. He shifted under the covers, ready to drift off—until a soft knock came at the door.

"Come in," he called with a tired but warm smile.

Aria phased right through the door, her body outlined in a faint purple glow as she carried a blanket in her arms.

She looked down shyly and asked in a quiet voice, "Can I… sleep with you tonight?"

Peter chuckled softly and lifted the covers. Aria grinned and scampered across the room, crawling under the blankets like a little bedbug.

She popped her head up beside him, still smiling bashfully. "Thank you," she said, hugging his arm and resting her head against his shoulder.

"I should be the one thanking you," Peter replied, turning his head to meet her gaze.

"Why would you thank me?" Aria murmured. "I didn't do anything."

Peter raised an eyebrow. "You think I don't know it was you who sent Felicia my way—You probably did some simulation on how our talk would go and decided on which one would be best for me to talk to, didn't you?"

Aria's cheeks reddened. "How'd you figure that out?"

"Felicia operates mainly in Long Island," Peter said with a scoff. "There's no reason for her to randomly show up in Manhattan."

"Darn. Busted," she mumbled, burying her face in his chest to hide her embarrassment.

Peter laughed, wrapping his arms around her gently. Aria snuggled deeper into him.

In a muffled voice, she asked, "Are you feeling better now?"

Peter smiled warmly and pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head in a fatherly gesture. "Yeah, I'm feeling much better. Thank you, Aria."

"You're welcome. Good night, Daddy," she said, wrapping her arms around him tightly.

"Good night, Princess," Peter replied, pulling her closer, one arm protectively around her small frame.

Aria, her forehead resting against his chest, smiled faintly as she closed her eyes. Wrapped in her father's embrace, she let sleep take her—secure in the safest place she could imagine.

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